baby kicks

Here are some pictures of my latest in baby gift giving - handmade shoes! I found the free pattern here. A few mods here and an embelishment there brought me to the final product.

I've also been experimenting with some appliqued onesies, as well. Put it with the shoes and you have a nice, little, color-coordinated package!

Inspiration

I realize I'm becoming somewhat of a slacker on posting to my blog. It's not that I don't think about blogging...in fact maybe I'm thinking about it too much. I just want to make sure I'm happy with what I post and when. Still trying to figure that all out...

I find myself spending much of my time looking, admiring, and loving so much of what is out there in the world of blogs. I can't help but be amazed at the gifted people I share the blogosphere with. Check out Marta's words, Rachel's style, Sally's smiplicity, Nicole's photos...wow! Talented ladies!

With that, I'm starting to realize the trick is not in finding creative inspiration, but in not letting the dreaming keep you from doing. I need to do a lot more doing. What good is dreaming without doing?

The goal: Get going and doing!

autumn!

5 reasons I love fall:

1. More freedom to layer my clothes

2. Pumpkin goodies - pumpkin rolls, pumpkin pies, pumpkin cakes...mmmm!

3. Admiring the leaves as they change colors

4. Crunching fallen leaves beneath my feet

5. Harvest sunsets

With the new season, I've decided to change the layout of my blog, so bear with me while I experiment the next couple of days. :)

happy thoughts

Here is a little gift envelope I made for Lynn with the help of my new toy (more details on that later). The colors were inspired by my Amy Butler fabric.




Now I don't really consider myself to be a designer label person, but fabric is an exception! I LOVE all these colors - so versatile. I even have a new purse in the works. One of the other projects I was able to use it on was a button cover.



If you follow the craft blogging world, you know that button covers have been all the craze lately. I found instructions on how to make a cover without buying the kit - see the tutorial here. After that I just used a simple half hitch knot to attach a ponytail holder and voila! Super cute hair accessory!



** Special thanks for Jodie, Melissa, and Megan - without their gift certificate this fabric purchase probably wouldn't have taken place. **

My BYU Musical Debut

In case you were wondering who that was playing "Come Ye Children of the Lord" at approximately 10:40 Monday morning from the BYU Bell Tower, it was me. Yes, you read that correctly - I played the bells that rang out accross the BYU campus for everyone to hear. A few incorrect notes, but I played it (with some added flare at the end). I had never played a carillon before, so I deserve at least a little slack (don't know what a carillon is? find out here). It was amazing!

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

for sale?

Wow! It's been quite a while since I've posted about something I made! So here you go - two handmade bags designed by me. I gave them as gifts back in July and I hope the receipients will put them to good use. :)

This also brings me to a question I've been asked: do I sell the things I make? While I don't currently have things "up for sale," I can take custom orders. If you see something you like on my blog - or have an idea for something and want to see if I can help - please either post a comment or send me an e-mail ( it is karlaehlers (at) yahoo (dot) com). I love to see others excited about the things I make!

Happy Labor Day!

Three whole years

Today is my three year wedding anniversary! I'm so blessed to have a wonderful friend to share life's experiences with. We've had so much fun over the years...trading watches in middle school, talking too much in Biology, late night phone calls, countless games of Mancala and Guess Who? He really is one of the big joys in my life!

California Dreams

Jeff and I had a great time in California! We had quite a few things planned, but still had enough free time to sleep in, take our time, and enjoy our long-awaited break.

Our trip began with our flight into LAX. I loved my window seat, especially because I got to watch the beautiful lightning storm going on outside. Jeff was content to listen to his iPod and pretend we weren't really flying. It's funny how different we are. :) Jeff's Aunt Terry came to pick us up at the airport when we got in. She was kind enough to let us stay at her little beach house in Hermosa Beach, wait on us hand and foot, drive her fun convertible, etc. She is wonderful!

Wednesday monring we met up with Jeff's sister, Shallie, who is working in Claremont for part of the summer. After that we went to In-N-Out, which we LOVE! It was funny - the cashier wouldn't take the order from Jeff because he was wearing his Giants jersey (a Barry Bonds jersey no less). He simply looked away and said, "I can't take your order while you're wearing that shirt. You're in the WRONG part of town." No joke! Luckily he took the order from me, even though I wouldn't agree to withhold sharing my chocolate shake with Jeff! After that we made it to the beach for a while before going to...

The Giants/Dodgers game! We planned the whole trip around when the Giants would be in town. The atmosphere was incredible! With the home run record so close to being tied and the Dodgers fans who hate the Giants and hate Barry Bonds even more, it made for a once in a lifetime experience. Although Barry didn't hit a home run that night (except in batting practice), we enjoyed our Dodger Dogs, watching crazy fans get ejected, and cheering for Barry.

The best part was seeing how happy Jeff was. He has been a Giants fan since he was a little kid and he had that 10-year old excitement at the game! In fact, it's still there everytime he talks about it. :) The excitement was only slightly dampened when we had to exit the game amidst the heckling of the Dodger fans. One of them told Jeff he had something on his shirt that he needed to get off!

Can you see the excitement on this kid's face?

Barry and the brutal Dodgers fans, who heckled all night - even after he had been taken out of the game.

Barry at the plate with a few of the MANY camera flashes that went off every time he swung the bat.

Jeff and me, posing with Barry. Can't you see him? He's in between us!

NOTE: I had Jeff proofread all of this. He said it was good, except that he would have put more about the Giants game. So...if you want more details, please talk to Jeff. He LOVES to talk about it!

Thursday we took Shallie back to her camp and drove back to Hermosa Beach for a little shopping. Then Terry took us out to Cheesecake Factory (YUM!) before we left for Hollywood to see Wicked. WOW! What a show! The music and acting were incredible - we were both getting goosebumps all night. Go if you ever get the chance!

Driving Shallie back to Claremont in Terry's convertible. The beach is just beyond the motel in the background.

Pantages Theater in Hollywood where we saw Wicked.

Friday morning we drove to Yorba Linda to see our friends Jason, Chelsi, and their little Brooklyn. We had so much fun with them! We went to Crate & Barrel (we had never been there), Huntington Beach, and rounded out the night with a dip in their jacuzzi, "cliff jumping" into the pool, and a movie. We had so much fun!

Jeff, loving every minute of Crate & Barrel (ha ha)

Huntington Beach

Saturday morning we woke up and went to the happiest place on earth...Disneyland!

It was definitely busy, but Jeff and I were both surprised at how quickly we got through everything. We had planned to stay until close at midnight, but by 9:00pm we had ridden every ride we wanted to (except the Finding Nemo Subs - no way we were going to wait 2 hours for that one) - we had even gone on our favorites (Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain, and Pirates of the Caribbean) twice! I guess you go through the park a lot quicker when you don't have a group/family in tow!

Jeff, demonstrating the thrill of Autopia!

This is a classic photo of us on a roller coaster. I'm laughing, smiling, and screaming in enjoyment. Jeff is ducking, enduring, and holding on for dear life in semi-enjoyment. I love it!

Sunday we got to sleep in (AAAAAH!) before going to church with Terry. After that we had some relaxing time back at the beach house. After that we took an evening stroll on the beach and watched the sunset. It was beautiful! We went back to Terry's and were able to catch the fireworks over the pier before we went to bed.

Beautiful sunset!

Monday...the last day. We threw on our swim garbs and set out for the beach. We attempted at body boarding one last time before heading back to beachless Utah, and I finally caught a wave on my last try! Then it was on to packing, the airport, and landing in SLC before 4:00pm. Jeff's Uncle Carl and Aunt Deb were kind enough to pick us up from the airport and feed us dinner before we headed back to Provo. All in all, we had a great trip!

Now all we have to show is pictures and tan lines!

Sunny California

Hooray! Our California vacation is finally here! Jeff and I have been planning this for months. We have a ton of fun stuff planned: the Giants/Dodgers game, Wicked, Disneyland, the beach, seeing friends and family, eating at Cheesecake Factory (hopefully!)...we are pumped! I'll be sure to post pictures and details when we get back.

Happy travels!

Tag - you're it!

I've decided I'm a big fan of tags. I can make a tag much quicker than a full-blown card when I'm crunched for time (which happens to be quite often). Here are a couple of my latest.

I'm also a fan of paper punches (like the flower one Jeff gave me for my birthday). I've heard from a reliable source you can use them on a sheet of labels to make your own stickers. I think I may have to try that.

Bitty Booties™

I finally did it! After months of wanting to try this pattern out, I actually sat down and took the time to make Heather Bailey's Bitty Booties™. The pattern is well written and easy to follow. Plus, the pattern is open for whatever little embellishments you fancy. I barely finished these in time for Kristen and Sophie before they left for Boston.

The soles (don't you just love that fabric?!)



And the pretty tags on the back (the finishing touch)

Do you want to try your hand at Bitty Botties™? Get the free pattern here. You can also learn how to do yo-yos (the flowers) here. Heather Bailey is amazing!

Busy as a bee

My, my! What a busy week its been! Ariel and Paige's showers (not to mention all the time to put their gifts together), putting the finishing touches on the gift I made for Amy (my first customer!), planning and teaching how to make headbands for Enrichment (that was fun), co-ed softball games (summer wouldn't be complete without them), giving Jeff a haircut (long overdue), going to Patio of Fire (we had a blast and won t-shirts! get the full scoop here)...I think I'm ready for a break! Luckily I have the weekend to recoup and get ready for the busy week ahead.

And don't you worry - I have grand plans for a headband tutorial, so you can all enjoy the headband love. You'll also be seeing pictures from the aforementioned projects sometime, too. Have a great weekend!

Balloonies

America

At this very special time of year, I wish I had something profound and inspiring to say. Since my words can't due true justice to the occasion, I'll quote from the Gettysburg Address given by Abraham Lincoln in 1863.

“It is for us the living…to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.”

I hope that amid the parades, barbeques, and fireworks of the 4th of July, we will all feel the weight of what it means to be American - that because so much has been given to us, we indeed have a great responsibility to understand and defend the freedoms many have given their lives for.

I recommend everyone visit this website. It has some great ideas on how we can understand, support, and defend America, the Constitution, and the freedoms we enjoy.

Happy Independence Day!