Hello Sandwich + Martha Stewart = Awe-Inspiring Crafts

Most of you are familiar with Martha Stewart's blog and maybe even and the Hello Sandwich blog.  But did you know there's a Hello Sandwich x Martha Stewart craft blog?  I stumbled upon it a while back and have meaning to share about it.  There aren't a lot of posts on the site yet.  However, the crafts you will see are absolutely delightful.  Check it out and tell me what you think.

Work Hard, Play Hard

  That's me in the khaki jacket.  

Mammoth Lakes, CA

I took an unplanned two week break from blogging due to that "big project" I was working on.  After I finished the first phase of it, my family and I took a week vacation to Mammoth Lakes, CA.  It's a great place to get away and as you can see, the views are beautiful.  If you like hiking, biking, golfing or fishing I highly recommend visiting Mammoth in the summer.  It's also only an hour away from Yosemite which I'll share a little bit about later.

For the first time our family was able to go horseback riding together.  In the past, my daughter was too young for the one hour trips.  After the experience, we all decided this was a must-do activity anytime we visit Mammoth.  We went on our tour with Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit.  

Twin Lakes, Mammoth

Snowcreek Resort, Mammoth

We've been to Mammoth three times now and we always stay at the Snowcreek Resort.  This is picture of the view when we step out the front door.

 Mono Lake, Lee Vining

We drove out to Mono Lake one day, it's about 45 minutes away from Mammoth. It was close to the end our trip so the kids were spent when we got there.  It was one those "saw it, lets go home" moments for the kids.  So basically, we visited the gift shop and I took this picture.

On our way home we drove through Yosemite.  This photo was taken yesterday, August 24th.  It was bright and clear when we drove through Tuolumne Meadows.  As we got closer to Half Dome, the sky began to get more hazy.  When we were in Yosemite everything seemed to be running as normal despite the fires.  

Book Review: All Things Paper

All Things Paper by Ann Martin

If you've been following along on this blog, you know I enjoy paper crafts.  There's something very gratifying about being able to turn a humble piece of paper into a piece of art.  So when Ann asked me if I would like to take a look at her new craft book All Things Paper, of course I said yes.  Ann Martin is also the author of the blog All Things Paper where she posts paper craft tutorials and writes about various paper artists and their work. 

All Things Paper contains 20 projects from 18 leading paper crafters, artists, and designers. Since there are a variety of artists contributing to the book, you get a wide array of projects and styles.  The other benefit is many of the projects incorporate a specific paper technique such as screen printing and quilling.  I personally find craft books like this useful because it allows me to build on the techniques and come up with my own projects. 

One thing that stood out to me about this book was the detail in the directions.  I've never seen a craft book with such detailed instructions.  Because the steps are so well thought out, I believe a beginner level crafter could pick up this book and start making the projects.

Below are a few pictures of  projects you will find in All Things Paper.

Fringed Flower Card by Agnieszka Malyszek - The designer shares how to make this flower which includes a unique technique using mini binder clips.

Citrus Slice Coasters by Casey Starks - Included in this project you will learn about the art of screen printing.

Antique Key Pendant by Ann Martin - For this project you will learn quilling techniques and tips.

If you want to find out more about All Things Paper, click here.

My Not so Happy Baby Story

If you're just tuning in now to this blog, first let me say that I did not recently have a baby.  The story I'm about to share took place ten years ago.  Even though I blog, I'm actually a very private person.  What you see on this blog  usually just scratches the surface.  I like to keep this place fun and predominantly about crafts.  However, recent events have pushed me out of my comfort zone.  So today I'll be sharing about my baby story.

Recently my sister in law gave birth to a baby boy.  Of course we were all over joyed for her and planned a trip to  Walnut Creek Kaiser to see her. And that's when the memories came flooding back of when I had to take my new baby boy to Walnut Creek Kaiser.  Only they weren't happy memories.  A wave of emotions swept over me from sadness to anger to resentment.  That's when I realized just how traumatized I had been from the experience.

Back track ten years ago, I had my son at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center.  There were a few complications with my delivery but nothing that bad.  After the normal stay, I brought my son home and thought everything would be fine.  The next day we were visited by a nurse and learned that he had jaundice.  Unfortunately it got worse as the days went by and I had to bring him to Walnut Creek Kaiser.

I went there thinking it would just be another Dr. visit but instead found out that my son would have to stay at the hospital.   I had to stay there too.  I was completely unprepared for this.  I hadn't packed any bags.  I was assured by the Dr. that they had a room for me and that my husband would be able to say with me.  When I arrived there, that was far from the case.  I was stuffed in a room that was obviously being used as a storage closet for medical equipment.  And worst, I was told my husband would not be able to stay with me.  I can just remember crying.  I knew I was going to be alone.

A very rude nurse checked us in which was a foreshadowing for what was to come.  The nurse began to fill out the paperwork for my sons charts as asked what ethnicity he was.  I explained that he was Caucasian and Japanese.  Her reply, "so he's a half breed". At any other time I would not have accepted this answer but I was sleep deprived and had no fight in me.

I remember it was around evening when I entered my son's hospital room.  I was forced to say goodbye to my husband and left alone in the room with my son.  He was placed in a container for light treatment. In that little box he had to wear an eye mask to protect his eyes.  He was to stay in there at all times and I could only take him out to feed him and change his diapers.  I couldn't just hold him.

Later in the night when I woke up to feed him, I realized the eye mask slid down covering his nose and mouth.  It completely scared me and I decided I would have to stay up all night and watch him to make sure it didn't happen again.

The next morning I told the nurses about the eye mask but they brushed it off like it was no big deal.  Throughout the day nurses would come in to check on my son.  They would just ask me if I was nursing him.  One nurse came in and told me he was not getting enough milk and brought in a breast pump for me to use.  A couple hours later a second nurse came in yelling at me that I had enough milk and questioned why I said I didn't have enough milk.  I had no idea why she was saying this too me.  I was too tired to even try and explain that I never said that.

The whole day things like this went on.  All day I was rudely treated by nurses.   In the room I sat alone with my baby.  I had no immediate family close by.  No family or friends came to visit me. All I did was feed my son and change diapers.  I don't think there was even a TV or phone in the room.  I was sleep deprived and weak from not eating.  Because I was not the patient, no one brought me food.  It was not until the evening that I was able to eat when my husband visited me.  His stay was too short and once again I would be alone all night and day.  It was truly one of the loneliest times in my life.

The next day I was exhausted after not sleeping for two full days in a row.  With my short window of time, I took a shower.  My next goal was to go down to the cafeteria and get some food.  Every time, I had my little 1 1/2 hour window from feeding the baby I tried to get something to eat.  Instead I was trapped with a nurse.  By lunch time I thought for sure I would  finally be able to get something to eat.  As I was about to leave for the cafeteria a social worker was sent in to talk to me.  Yes, a social worker!  To this day, I still do not know why.

In the evening as usual, a nurse was sent up to take a blood sample from son's heel.  I remember her clearly.  She looked like she dressed to go out to the club.  She also was on a personal call while she took the blood sample.  I just remember my son crying through the whole process.  Thankfully my husband was there this time. There was finally someone to speak up for me on my behalf.  But soon he would leave again and I would be alone. 

Some things are a blur but I believe by day three my son was ready to go home.  He was healthy again. I was happy and thankful for that.  And I was thankful to be leaving the Walnut Creek Kaiser. 

I'm sharing this story for all those moms who didn't have their "dream" baby story.  I also hope that others reading this will see the importance of supporting new mothers.  I really felt all alone during this time and I don't believe any of my family members (including my husband) understood the torture and loneliness I went through. 

Show and Tell Stuffies

About a year ago my daughter received an American Girl doll craft set for her birthday.  And about a year ago we started on this project.  We first started on the tiny racoons so technically he took a year to make.  Once my daughter finished the tiny raccoon, she then moved on to the large raccoon.  He took only two days to make! Amazing how a long summer day with no TV can motivate a child.

 

Serious sewing going on here.

The finished raccoon stuffies.

I wish I had a project I could share too.  I've been working on a large project but I have to keep it under wraps for now. 

Book Review: Martha Stewart's Favortie Crafts For Kids

 Martha Stewart's Favorite Crafts For Kids:  175 project for kids of all ages to create, build, design, explore, and share

When I saw Martha Stewart's Favorite Crafts For Kids would be hitting the market soon, I secretly crossed my fingers I would receive a review copy.  And lucky me, I was offered one so I'm sharing about it with all of you today!

Martha Stewart's Favorite Crafts For Kids contains 175 projects for kids to make.  As you might have guessed, many of the projects are from the website and past magazines. 

Usually for book reviews I pick out a few project I like and share them with you.  But since this book is for kids, I let my daughter pick out her favorite projects to share. 

Pictured above are sheep my daughter made from one of the projects in the craft book.  My daughter picked out the project and we read the directions together.  She's seven years old and was able to make the sheep on her own.  She was even able to draw and cut out the sheep shape for the construction paper.  I thought I was going to have to help her with this part but I was pleasantly proved wrong.    I don't have the original picture from the book to share with you but they look just the same.  The only difference is the the sheep are hanging from string.

Ice Pop Shop made out of wooden craft sticks

Solar System Bedroom How-To

July 4th Rocket Favors

If you would like to check out more of Martha Stewart's Favorite Crafts For Kids, click here.  There's even a sample pom pom animal project.