By Lisa Gutierrez on 04/04/2011 This weekend, I finally set about making a painted fabric silhouette for Andrew. I made Nathan’s in late April 2008. He was almost 3. Considering Andrew is that same age, I thought I should get on the ball and make his.
I hung it up, yesterday:
I used the same method I used to make the other: I stretched some fabric over a 12×12 canvas and stapled it on the back. Then, I printed the silhouette onto freezer paper, cut it out, and ironed it onto my fabric. I used acrylic paint and foam brush to paint around the stencil. Let it dry a bit, then peeled off the paper. I coated it all with some glossy mod-podge.
A few things:
–I still got air bubbles! Big boo to that, but you can hardly tell unless you’re right up on it (get off my wall!).
–The orange floral fabric is a little busy, so I’m going to have to outline the silhouette a bit to give it more definition. If I could do it again, I’d probably reverse it–iron down the outside of the stencil and paint inside the silhouette.
Do you have any silhouettes of you or family members?
I have a few more projects to share, this week. I can hardly wait! They include an embroidery project, a knitted pillow, and my adventures in gardening. Stay tuned!
p.s. I am an April sponsor for my girl thursday and I am in fabulous company! You should check out THIS POST for coupon codes to some wonderful shops, including goodknits! Don’t forget: in celebration of Spring and friendship, all orders will ship with a little braided friendship bracelet. :)
Have a great week, everyone!
By Lisa Gutierrez on 03/30/2011 
It’s been a few weeks since I shared photos of my littlest. With Nathan in kindergarten, Andrew and I spend a lot of quality time together. He’ll be three (3!) in less than 2 months and that blows my weee mind. He’s learned his colors and shapes and can count to five. I suppose we could start working on numbers more.
He never really entered a “terrible two” phase, but I do believe he is a strong-willed child. I have had to learn how to get around it and sort of “trick” him into thinking my ideas are his. I do this a lot when I want to get photos of him.
He gets annoyed when I try to keep him in a certain spot for long and makes it perfectly clear with his facial expressions. It doesn’t help that he’s at the age of awkward smiles. SO, unless I get a candid photo of him in a good mood, all his smiley photos look totally forced. Ages 3-5: the awkward smile phase. He’ll grow out of it in a few years. Right now, he’s just too occupied with much more fun things than my silly camera.
Like the big firetruck! Look, I turned day into night.
Which leads me into a little bit about my newest camera accessory. Cactus wireless flash triggers! I received them in the mail, last week. A late birthday present from my wonderful husband. A whole new world of off-camera flash has opened up for me and I am excited, scared, inspired, excited, and scared some more! I’ve taken a few photos with them and I’m so disappointed. You mean I have to PRACTICE?! (sarcasm)
Let’s see where this leads me.
By Lisa Gutierrez on 02/13/2011 
Daddy left on his semi-annual business trip to Las Vegas, this morning. He goes twice a year and I still turn into Mopey McMoperson when he leaves. I think the boys just thought he was working really late. Thank goodness my family likes to keep these guys entertained. I’d be even more frazzled if I had to do it alone. They are electric. Always on! Always go! Always this! Always that! They go to bed when I tell them, though, so I will continue to just count my blessings and ignore the rest.
They were pretty colorful, today. Nathan is wearing purple Levi’s. The color was called ‘parachute’. I loved that! I found them and the purple Vans in the kids clearance section on kohls.com. I knew they’d be PERFECT for him because he loveloveloves purple. He’s always asking to wear these pants. I wish he didn’t get so dirty, because they are always getting thrown in the wash and I know they’re going to wear out really quick. I’m going to keep my eye out for extra pairs. I should have bought more!
I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend. I will be spending Valentine’s Day with my two sweethearts and lamenting yet another February 14th with my husband in a different state.
Don’t forget to enter the woven doily giveaway!
By Lisa Gutierrez on 02/10/2011 
Bending gender rules everywhere, my littlest asked DEMANDED I put my apron on him, today. Why? Because it’s new. AND PRETTY!
And has lots of pockets that are the perfect size for cars. They’re big enough for fumbly little hands to dig around in.
He would load the apron up and climb the stairs to race the cars down the banister, one at a time. When he was empty, he would go down and pick them up. My oldest actually got a little jealous of the apron action and said tomorrow HE should get to wear it. Okie dokie!
I think I’m going to be putting them both in aprons when its time to pick their toys up off the floor.
In case you wanted to know, I bought the apron from the one and only my girl thursday! Go ahead and check out her Etsy shop and fall in love with everything. Then, head on over to her blog and fall in love with her!
By Lisa Gutierrez on 02/04/2011 
Okokok, it’s winter–I get it!
The weatherMEN in this dear city all had snow in their forecast for us, this morning! They closed the school district, declaring a snow day. My son was supremely excited! He even went to bed at his normal time in order to wake up early and frolick in the snow.
Alas, there was NO snow, this morning. Nada, zip, zilch. Oh, but don’t you worry your pants off, there was plenty of ice to entertain him for a bit. My sister didn’t have to work on account of the ice on highways, so she took him around the house, picking up frozen leaves and whatnot.
After breakfast, we got to work making Valentines for his classmates. I used the idea found here (via this February round-up of sorts on Smile and Wave) and we made enough for the whole class and his teacher. After we finished, I grabbed a blank sheet and started with lines. He added hearts. I wrote “love” in cursive, so he wrote it twice in his adorable handwriting. He outlined my hearts, I outlined his. It was a collaboration of the best kind.
<3
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