Well I have a few things for you today.
The first is a technical update on the website.

As most of you know, when I first started this site, it was a way to market and sell some of my handmade creations to all of you.  As my life changed (I mostly blame my babies...SO worth it!) and my style continues to shift, I made the decision to shut down the shop part of my site. 
I kept the site going, planning to use my blog to continue to update my friends and readers about my life (especially since we moved cross country). I also have used my blog to document and share my craft projects, with a possibility of accepting custom orders from any of you.  I have now changed my site so that this page (my blog) is my home page. This changed my site address, which means if you follow me via and feed readers or RSS, you will need to update the address to receive future blog posts. 

www.whispersofjoy.com

Also, I am going to make a confession!
I struggle with this blog!
...
...
Oh. Yeah. You already knew that! It's only a LITTLE bit obvious,
with my lack of consistency in posting :)

I guess the thing is, I truly enjoy blogging and I would love to be able to regularly post and update. But as many times as I have made resolutions to do better and post more often, I have come to realize that at this point in my life, it's just not reality.  Keeping up with my 3 preschool/toddler age kids, my husband, my home, and the other basic commitments and activities we are involved in, my blog is NOT a priority.  And I've come to accept that.  Now I just hope my readers do to! :) 
I have decided that I WILL keep my blog, but won't try to force myself to be a committed blogger. I will post when I feel like it. When I have something to share; be it a project, kid update, topic, question, or WHATEVER!  Some weeks I might post 3 times, and some MONTHS I may not post at all.  It's all about flexibility. Forced blogging isn't fun anyways. Sometimes when I read other blogs, I'm inspired. Then I wish that I could do better here at Whispers of Joy. Then I get discouraged again. So there's my struggle.
And now that I shared with you the way this blog will work from now on, you know too.  Come back when you can! Hopefully there will be new things on occasion. 

On to the fun announcement...
I'll be doing another booth at a local bazaar this year!
Remember this and this?
The craft events that I participated in throughout past years were so much fun to me.  This year seemed like a good one to jump back into the craziness. We've lived in Minnesota for about a year and a half now, so we feel pretty settled into our home (that's a whole other store for another time) and life here. Also, here's my 'baby':

Yeah...not really. :(
So anyways, since I don't have any clinging attachments right now, I thought it would be a good time to do it.  For the last couple of months I have been collecting, crafting, re-purposing, painting, sewing, gluing, sanding, designing, and creating. What fun! I have expanded a bit, and don't do as much for baby supplies as I used to.  I have discovered that variety is more interesting, so I have expanded into different products, styles, and designs. I enjoy creating a lot more when I can try new things and have a more unique products, in comparison to having many of one thing. That's another reason why I quit selling the way I was on this site. I STILL have a bunch of pacifier clips from when I 'mass produced' them a few years ago! I still use them for Vayah, give them as gifts, and so on, but got burned out on making so many! Lesson learned!
Here's a sneak peek of a few of the many things I've been working on lately...

As you can see... a little mix of this and that.  There's so much more, but this is just a little hint of some of my new things.
I may be putting a few things up on here in the next couple of months for sale before the craft show. Or maybe not. You know me! ;)
Either way, whatever doesn't sell at the bazaar WILL be available for sale online soon after. If you see something you like that you'd like to pre-order, let me know! I'm always up for custom orders for my readers.

AND....
as many of you have probably been waiting for...
there WILL be a giveaway!!
I haven't decided yet if I'm going to do it before my bazaar (Nov 2nd), or after, when I share ANOTHER big secret, but will keep you updated and let you know.
Throw some ideas at me... what kind of prize would you like?

Baby items?
Home Decor?
Christmas Decor?
Party/Photo Props?
Gift Certificate?

Help me choose! I want to give something that YOU want to win!
I'd love to hear your feedback.

Thanks for being patient with me as a blogger. Your support is so much appreciated.  Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Are you one of those people who need to write things down?  Do you have reminders all over your house? Or do you like having a message board or menu board?
This is probably one of the easiest and fastest projects you can do. Seriously.
I’m not sure if it was inspired off of Pinterest, or where I first saw it, but I know I’m not the first one to use this idea!

Simply take a picture frame (even a dollar store one like I used!)of any size and cut a cute piece of paper to put inside. Get some dry-erase markers and scribble away on the glass! You could get really fancy with the papers or embellishments you put inside to make it cute or to match your other décor.  I just used a fairly neutral paper that had a similar background color as my kitchen.  It’s a fun and kid-ish print because I’m also letting Skyler use it!

I am trying to do ‘school’ with Skyler every once in awhile (hopefully more regularly this fall), and am looking for fun things for toddlers to do.  He loves using this board to ‘draw’ on, and hopefully will learn to write his letters, numbers, shapes, etc on it as well.  I’m tempted to make more for other areas of the house, since I have quite a few dollar store frames sitting empty in storage. I also was at a thrift store not long ago where they had huge frames for posters and such that would be neat to make a calendar in.
I’ve used it for scripture memory verses, Skyler’s art, and even love notes to my hubby! It could be used for so much more. I’ve also learned that dry erase markers will work on so many things-windows, refrigerators, mirrors, and so on.  Get creative and make messages all over your home for yourself and your loved ones! Easy Peasy!

Over a year ago, I really started getting into making these blankets.
They take quite a bit of patience, but I enjoyed doing them, especially picking out the fabrics (isn't that always the best part?!?)
Here are a couple that I completed awhile back

A fun owl quilt made with basic cotton fabric

I love this print!

These quilts have about 4 layers of fabric, so they are great for winter or for laying babies on top of on the floor our grass.

For this one i used flannel fabric to make it warm and soft.
I made a flower pattern with the chenille, which didn't turn out exactly as I had hoped, but I'm excited about the idea!

The back side

Both blankets are oversized, I can't remember the exact measurements, but right around 40"x40" I believe.

I have both blankets, so if you would be interested in either one,
contact me for more info.

Thanks for stopping by again!!

Quite a long time ago, in our previous home in the Pacific NW, I had done this wall hanging for our family.
A photo of each of us as well as a letter for each of our names.
It was such a simple project, I thought I'd still share it to inspire you, even though I no longer have it up! New house, new baby! I may have to make a 'V' for our little dolly so I can display it again, though.

I also have to tell about the decor on the shelf.
The cross is part of the table decor from our wedding, and the hand sculpture is one of those plaster molds of mine and my groom's hands on our wedding day! Those things are so neat! When my little brother was born, my Mom did one of his little baby hand being held by my Dad's.
Such a neat keepsake!
(which must still be packed in some box in our garage currently! Ha!)

I didn't take any pics while making these, since I don't really plan ahead for blog posts (if you can't tell!). But I started by just drawing out letters on cardboard, then cut them out. I used a natural looking yarn (jute string would give a similar look) and just wrapped...and wrapped...and wrapped!

Then I hung them next to our pictures with black ribbon and a thumb tack.
The tack is in between the ribbon, so you can't see it.
Here is a shot of the whole display, in the hall going to our bedroom.

I recently got pictures taken by my cousin Dara, (which I am so excited about! Will share more on that later) so I'm working on getting some prints of the kids for these bare walls in this house!

And now that I typed this whole post with one hand, I'm going to go put this baby in her bed! I think this is a skill many moms have, right?! Have you ever learned how to 'hen peck' on the computer one handed because of the wee ones in your arms, or while you nurse them? :)

May your week be blessed and your thoughts inspired!

Meet Vayah Faith...
born June 13th, 2012
8lbs 4 oz / 20 inches

We're so excited to have a little girl join our family!
I don't think I realized how much I was hoping for a girl until I had her in my arms.  :D  Skyler was quite positive we were having a girl since the day I told him a baby was coming, so I thought maybe he knew somehow.  When we called and told him he had a sister he calmly said,
"I thought so." :)

For anyone interested, here's a very brief overview of the birth story:
(if you're not, scroll down to the pictures...I don't want to bore you!)

My due date was June 9th. That day came and went and I enjoyed mild contractions off and on for about a week during that time.  Tuesday, the 12th, came and I knew something was starting. Contractions slowly built (very slowly!) all day. My family (from OR) arrived that day, so we were set to head to the hospital at any given time.  The boys stayed in their motorhome with them that night, as we fully expected to be gone by morning. Fro and I walked and tried to keep things going until contractions were about 5 minutes apart. I didn't feel like they were very hard though, so we went for a walk hoping to feel ready to head to the hospital when we got home. They stopped. ARGH! I had mild ones every half hour for the rest of the night/morning...afternoon...argh! Finally around 5pm the next night (while Fro was at the farm doing chores) things started to pick up again, and fairly quickly! They were by far harder than the night before and got closer together as the evening passed. We headed to the hospital a bit after 9pm, checked in (such a process!), I got in the tub when I could as we planned for a water birth.  I loved the water and felt like I could relax much better. Vayah Faith made her entrance at 11:30 sharp, just in time to still be born on her grandma and great grandma's shared birthday! 
Praise God for another healthy blessing!!
After some complications with cramping, clotting, low levels in iron and hemoglobin, dizziness, and so on, we arrived at home on the 15th with a darling little girl to join our family.  It was a bumpy start on my end of things, but Vayah was perfect! Skyler was completely in love, protective, and adoring to his little sister. Rystin wasn't sure what to do but stare at her and pet her head, but he is getting more used to her and loving her more all the time. There have definitely been lots of changes and adjustments for them, but handling three littles at home hasn't been bad at all.
Vayah has probably been the most 'needy' baby I have had so far. She likes to be held if she is awake, especially during certain times of the day, and is much LOUDER than the boys were!! :)  But I can't complain at all because at 5 weeks she has been waking up only once a night for awhile now! I feel very blessed to still be getting a decent amount of rest.
She is growing so fast and starting to smile much more and even coo a bit.
Newborns are so fun! I could just hold her and cuddle with her all day (not that my boys would ever allow such a thing!)  :)
Here's a few pictures of all of us with the new little girl...

These last two pictures are outfits that I made before Vayah was born. The blue one I made when pregnant with Rystin (finally getting used!), and the other I made this last spring.  All these girl flowers and ruffles are just so fun!  Hopefully more to come!

Thanks for coming to check out our new little bundle!