where did you go?

It's been a while since I used my blog but a lot has happened since December 2015... After we enjoyed our honeymoon phase of about 3 months we learned we were expecting! (must have been a great honeymoon eh??) 

I went on the roller coaster ride of being pregnant for the first time which was a lot of 'is this normal?' and increasing my consumption of McDonald's cheeseburgers and ice cream. I also learned that baby showers are way more fun than wedding showers. Everyone is beyond generous when a new baby is on the way, we received love, support and gifts from people we had not seen in ages! It's a very exciting time for everyone.

We welcomed our beautiful little girl into the world at the end of August 2016 and instantly our lives became brighter. I am so fortunate that I was able to spend a full year off work with her. I soaked up every minute of it! There was lots of laughter, adventures, shopping, playdates with our friends who were also off, etc. There was also lots of tears and meltdowns - from both baby and me - and lots of messes to clean up. But this little human is a magical creature who erases all the tougher times instantly with a giggle, smile or mama. 

What else is new... I still eat lots of ice cream - it's delicious, who wouldn't?! I've been back to work at my full-time job since last August and our daughter is thriving at her daycare centre. We are so blessed with a good sleeper, good eater, (has become recently) very social and a great helper. I am so grateful for this opportunity to witness all of her milestones and growing up from the front row. She's a wonder!

Sharing special moments at work with my little sidekick
September 2017

what language are you speaking??

I'm sure this a common question of most new parents of a toddler, but seriously! What language are you speaking? This gibberish that has the odd word thrown in that makes sense is a combination of hilarious and frustrating. I hope it turns into English sometime soon for both of us so we can communicate with one another better.

I've joined the Thirty One Gifts family as an Independent Consultant

Ashley's Thirty One Gifts Launch Party​

I recently decided to join the fabulous world of Thirty One Gifts as an Independent Consultant following a very fun, successful online party at the beginning of November. Prior to my party I had heard of Thirty One Gifts through a few Facebook group invitations, but didn't own a thing! In preparation for my party, I crafted a wish list of products that I really wanted and the list kept growing - it was out of control!

Since my party I have received so much love and support from my friends and family saying "are you selling this stuff? if not you really should be! You're already selling it by talking about how much you love it!" And that's the truth, Thirty One really does sell itself because it is so functional, stylish and provides great solutions within your every day life. Whether it's for you, for your home or for your family - there is something for everyone at Thirty One Gifts.

Who doesn't love a good tote that's functional and stylish at the same time? And does anyone else drool over home storage and organization solutions like I do?

If you answered yes to either one of those questions, let me be your Independent Consultant to share the wonderful world of Thirty One Gifts with you!

Here's four easy ways to be TOTE-ally involved:
1) Ask me to join my exclusive Facebook group for the inside scoop and up-to-date news and promotions

2) Browse the online catalog and make your wishlist and orders: https://www.mythirtyone.ca/2595850/shop/Home.
The website is divided into categories to help you shop -

• Accessories (zipper pouches, beauty bags, etc.)
• Gift (gift cards)
• Home (several storage solutions) 
• Jewelry
• Purses (many styles include fashionable and functional)
• Stationary (card sets) 
• Thermal (this line is amazing!!! Can't say enough about the leak-lock protection)
• Totes (day trips, overnight, weekends - they have it all!)
• Utility (most popular items for work and play - the Deluxe and Large Utility Totes fly off the shelf. Lots of amazing storage totes here too)
• Wallets (fashionable and practical. The All About the Benjamin style is very popular)

3) Consider hosting a party to benefit from awesome Hostess Exclusives (that's how I got hooked) - parties can be in-person, online (via Facebook and/or my Thirty One website), or via catalog orders. Ask me about hosting!

4) Connect with me for any questions you have! As your friend and bag lady I'll give you my honest feedback and recommendations!

Last but not least... I'm inviting you to help me celebrate my exciting news through my Launch Party. It is open for orders between now and Saturday January 23rd at 9:00pm. As part of the Launch Party I will be hosting an open house drop-in event at my house in Peterborough on Sunday January 10, 2016 between 12:00-4:00pm. Feel free to stop in and see some products in person and ask me any questions you have.
Please share with your friends and family - all are welcome!

Amazing patterns, brilliant solutions to our everyday lives, and affordable to boot! Let's shop together!

Visit my Website

#sewing: Pencil Case pouch

I've been sick the entire Holiday break which hasn't really made me ready to head back to work on Monday. So I spent this weekend doing a little self-love shopping and treated myself to some new work accessories - Journals from Chapters, a work bag from Winners and a little sewing project by ME!

Happy New Year 2015

Original tutorial borrowed from a Pinterest find on Haberdashery Fun blog

Materials Needed:
* Colourful fabric of your choice cut into two rectangles of 13"L x 6.5"W 
(the original blog post indicated that she found double-sided fabric with two patterns and a quilted backing. I did not have this so instead I sewed together two different fabric squares from Walmart and it did the trick. Just not as sturdy as the type she used)
* Thread
* Double Sided Bias Tape
* 12" Zipper
* Pins
* Rotary Cutter and cutting Mat
* Sewing Machine

#step 1: prepare fabric
Cut fabric into two rectangles of 13"L x 6.5"W of each pattern. Sew together with right sides facing outwards. These will be your your two rectangles for the rest of the project.

Cut your bias tape into two strips of 14"L. Pin along the raw edge length wise of your rectangle and sew.

#step 2: attach your zipper
Trim the edges of your 12" zipper so it is a total length of 11"
Cut two small strips of bias tape and attach to the each end of the zipper. This will be your zipper tabs. Sew into place.

Lay your zipper facing up on the cutting mat, and take one of your rectangles and line it up on the bottom edge of the zipper (with the bias tape edge). Pin into place and sew.

Repeat this step with the other rectangle piece. Turn your zipper/rectangle piece around and lay your other rectangle with bias tape edge on top of the other edge of the zipper. Sew into place.

#step 3: sew edges and bottom of bag
Fold over your bag along the zipper edge with your outside pattern facing each other. Pin the sides of your pouch and sew along each side with a 1/2" seam allowance.
Next open your zipper and then sew along the bottom edge of your pouch.

#step 4: inside edging
Cut two strips of bias tape into lengths of 6.5" - these will be to line the edges of your pouch. Keep the pouch turned wrong side out (with your outside pattern fabrics on the inside of the bag). Attach the bias tape on each side edge of the pouch and sew into place. Do the same with the bottom edge by cutting a 13" strip and sew into place.

#step 5: creating the corners of your pouch
In hindsight I see this step as optional depending on the style of pouch you are looking for. If you would like one that has a little poof dimension to it then follow these next steps. If you would prefer your pencil case to lay flat, skip these steps and turn your bag inside out to have your right-side patterns facing outwards again.

Cinch the corners of your pouch into a small triangle with a 45 degree angle. Lay flat and draw a line 1.5" from the tip of the triangle. Pin and then sew a straight line across the line you traced a moment ago. Repeat for the other corner. 

Cut the excess fabric off along the line you just sewed, and cut small strips of bias tape to attach along this edge to hide the stitching. Repeat on the other side.

Turn your bag inside out to have your outer fabric/pattern facing outright and et voila you have a pencil case!

Pretty Pencil Case

Lots of room for Office Supplies

Happy Sewing!

<3 awaLL

#sewing: Festive Holiday Table Runner

Why go out and buy a table runner for the Holidays when you can whip one up in a jiffy!?

Materials Needed:
* 1.5m of Quilted Batting Fabric
* 1.5m of Holiday fabric
* 2m of Braided edging
* Thread
* Rotary Cutter and cutting mat
* Iron and ironing board
* Pins

The amount of fabric I purchased was enough to make two table runners and 4 place mats in the end.

#step 1: prepare fabric
measure the desired length of your table runner by measuring the length of your table. Mine was about 6ft in length and I shortened up the width to 22"
Using your rotary cutter and cutting mat, trim your fabric to the desired length and widths.

#step 2: prepare to sew
place your Quilted Batting fabric on a even surface, then place the Holiday Fabric with right-side facing down on the quilted batting fabric. Pin into place, leaving a 4" opening along one of your edges to turn the table runner right-side out.

#step 3: sew together
sew along your three edges, leaving the 4" gap along one edge.
turn the table runner right-side out, lay flat and pin the 4" gap closed to sew along this edge

#step 4: finish with Braided edging
Take your Braided edging and pin into place along the edges of your table runner. Sew into place for a nice finish.

Et voila! You're all done!

Happy Holidays

Festive Candle Holders and Table Runner

It's Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas

Happy #sewing!

<3 awaLL

#knitting: Toque without Circular Needles

Last winter I made my first attempt using circular knitting needles and failed miserably. I couldn't figure out how to get the pattern to stop curling and got tangled up. So I gave up and stuck to the scarf and headband patterns I had mastered instead.

But at family Christmas, my boyfriend's Nana brought a bag of knitting and told us to pick whatever we wanted. I grabbed a pair of mittens and a matching toque because I figured I was FAR from making my own at that rate... I expressed my frustration with circular needles and told Nana that I would love to learn one day rather than give up. Much to my surprise, Nana had a pattern for a toque that did not require the use of circular needles!!!!! HALLELUJAH!

So I have some awesome yarn from Michael's Craft Store and I'm ready to give it a go... Here's the pattern and I'll post an update once I have tackled (and successfully knitted, I hope) my first toque.

Loops & Threads Country Loom - super bulky yarn

Pattern: 

Use 2-5mm Knitting Needles

 

Cast on 78 sts

1st row: K2 *P2,K2  - repeat from * to end of row

2nd row:*P2 K2  repeat to end of row

Repeat these 2 rows  until work measures about 11" (28cm)

Start to shape top of toque:

1st row: *K2 tog, P2tog  Repeat  from * to last 2 sts, K2tog   (39 sts)

2nd row: P1 K1 to last st P1

3rd row: K1 P1 to end of row

4th row: P1 K1 to last st P1

5th row: K1 P1 to end of row

6th row: P1 K1 to last st P1

7th row: * K2tog  repeat from * to last st, K1   (20 sts)

8th row: Purl

9th row: (k2tog ) 10 times. Break yarn, leaving a long end and thread it through the remaining sts, and pull it tight

Fasten off and sew center back seam.

#knitting: Throw Blanket

My knitting projects have been limited to scarves and headbands in my few years of experience, so I thought I would get adventurous and knit a blanket. I started the blanket with great ambition and three balls of yarn. Well I quickly learned that a blanket would require MANY more balls of yarn. So after a couple of trips to Michael's (after picking up the wrong colour on the first trip), I now have a blanket. 

Here's what I learned...

Materials Needed:
- Yarn (I used Loops & Thread brand from Michael's Craft Store; Cozy Wool, Super Bulky 6; 104 yards/95m)
2 balls for bottom blocking strip at each end
2 balls for blocking strip after that
4 balls of yarn for the middle section)

- Knitting needles (I used size US 19 or 15mm)

Cast On about 100 stitches
Knit stitch from start to finish on row 1
K1, P1, K1, P1, continue this pattern to the end of Row 2 and 3
Knit stitch from start to finish on row 4
K1, P1, K1, P1, continue this pattern to the end of Row 5 and 6
Repeat this pattern until the end
Bind off on last row

For my blanket, I went back after I finished the blanket to bind off on the first Row and along the sides. I did this by picking up the stiches on one needle and binding off on the other. 

But what I'm wondering is, what if I bind off on the last stitch when I reached the end of a row? I wonder if this will make the edges of the blanket finish nicely to look like there is a border...
This is where I am still learning, so I welcome feedback from the Knitting Community to help me out!

My First Knitted Throw Blanket 2014

Happy Knitting
<3 awaLL