Pre-K Graduation and busy weekend ahead.....

Yes, my oldest son has graduated Pre-K/Preschool and will begin school in Sept. 

It is a very emotional time for me. 

He has grown up so quick and I really have missed most of the last 2 years. 

When he started Pre-K I made a promise and stuck to it! 

I brought him to school everyday and sat in on 'Circle Time' and participated which included me singing off key, I really don't think the children noticed ;-) 

The preschool didn't mind and thought it was awesome that I was able to be there for him.

He was there 3 hours a day which is about the amount of time I saw him after work. 

As much as the teacher and his classmates influenced him and how much he learned in those 3hrs everyday makes me think that the 4hrs I spent every night eating dinner with him and reading to him

he will in fact remember.

I will now have the entire summer and perhaps longer to spend with my family. 

Time to sew and be creative.  Time to perhaps teach my sons the basics of crafting and sewing.

They know how to use scissors and glue so maybe just a needle and thread for now.

You know the big thick needles that you can thread yarn through and perhaps some cardboard with pre-made holes that would be a better start for my 3yr old son Taylor right?

Do your children sew?  How old were they when you first introduced it to them? 

Speaking of sewing, I have spent hours in fabric stores, quilt shops and online for 4 weeks now

looking for the perfect prints and solids for my Grand Re-Opening. 

I amazed myself while washing everything the last 2 days how nicely my ideas of paired fabrics

'flow' together.

Got the READY

Got the SET

this weekend is SEW time baby! 

See you soon,

Angelina

 

Being nice is a good thing.........

Months ago, when I began my planning to open April Violet back up I was nervous.

I was worried that people would judge me and call me crazy for leaving a full time job in this economy.  I was worried that I may not be able to provide for my family adequately.  The fact of the matter is I do not have the personality it takes to sell used cars and I really don't enjoy it.  Being too nice just doesn't get you paid in that line of work and well, that's just the kind of person I am. 

Today was one of those days where you have to fight for yourself or get stomped over and I just don't have the energy for it anymore.

I spent many hours a day away from my family and now I will be right here when they need me......... 

right where I belong, where kindness is encouraged as well as appreciated.

Today I am so sure of my decision and feeling so filled with joy and happiness!

I look forward to bringing you the sweetest wares for the little ones in your life.

Know that each item made is made with love and fueled by my passion to create.

Thanks for following along on my journey

Angelina

P.S Here is quick peek at some of the Diaper Fabrics:

Linking here:

My weekend with my family and some sneak peaks......

Enjoyed a nice weekend with my family.  It really doesn't get any better than this :-)
Today the boys got to take their Dodge Charger out for a ride while daddy held on for a ride.  I have so got to get a picture of this.  Chris used to skateboard well before I met him and he bought Christopher Jr a child sized one when he was about 2yrs old.  Well, Chris is a grown man now and he still knows how to have fun as well as make practical use out of the simplest things.  The only skateboard we have at our house is Christophers, Chris has more than a few at moms and to keep up with the boys when he takes them out by himself he hops aboard the little skatboard and holds on for the ride. 
Pretty smart right?
I will get a pic of this very soon to share, it's a sight to see.

After a nice little ride in the hot sun we filled up the sand box turtle with water, made a kiddie pool and they had a blast!
Now they are fast asleep, my precious sons I love you soo much! 

My oldest dear son, Christopher Jr

My "Baby Taylor"

Now I have got to get busy.  I have 2 weeks left to prepare for my Grand Re-Opening and here are some quick peeks at some of the yummy fabrics......................................

These are just a few of the fabrics for the dresses. 
I will add a sneak peek of the diaper yumminess tomorrow night.
Thanks for stopping by see you soon!

About me and how April Violet came to be...

Hello!  My name is Angelina and I am the mom behind April Violet.

I am originally from R.I where I spent my childhood years.  R.I is full of many of my favorite people and things, Family, the ocean and yummy food!  My Grandmother

who is just the sweetest woman I will ever meet in life taught my sisters and I how to sew by hand and crochet.  She has alot of patience because there were three of us girls ages 6, 12, 15 at that time.  I didn't take much to crocheting but sewing really interested me.  For one thing I wasn't very good at crocheting so sewing was just going to be it.  We weren't wealthy but we knew how to make due with the things we had or were given.  I can remember my father bringing me a HUGE roll of spandex 

Yes, Spandex we are talking early 80's  and he told me this should keep you busy for a while.  It did!  The first thing I made with it was an Indian/Tribal costume.  It was gorgeous! I will have to find a picture and scan it to post here, I know my mother still has it!

Top, skirt, headband and beads to match, my family was very impressed.  Me, not so much, I knew there was more practicing and and many more things to try before I would impress myself.

In my early teens we moved to V.A and I fell in LOVE with Va.  I really did alot of growing here in Va and this is my home.  I have met a variety of people and personalities over the years and each person has touched my life in one way or another.  I continued to sew but only as things needed repair or I wanted to inexpensively update our home. 

I met a wonderful man named Chris while working at a service station in Dc and we became very close friends.  He and his family helped me through a very rough time and during all of this we were falling in love with eachother.  It really was and still is just beautiful.   When we found out we were expecting my sewing drive kicked in!  I was working full time while pregnant so I didn't have too much time to sew.  A few diapers here and there and a blanket.  When we were expecting our youngest son I was a stay at home mother and had time then to sew.  He was really shocked how I just dove in and started sewing what he called "The coolest things."  Chris had no idea that I knew how to sew but realized very quickly I could and how much I enjoyed it.  Our sons had a 'cool' selection of cloth diapers, blankets, pants and shorts.

I started working from home and selling my wares online.  I was shocked at all the websites that allowed me to help provide for my family from home. 

Now, my Mother whom has always been so supportive of my dreams has four girls and we have seven sons between us.  I sewed alot of boyish things for a long time.  In 2008 we found out my baby sister would soon have a girl, the first girl to be born in our family in 23yrs.  That opened a whole new avenue for my sewing.  Little girls dresses for my sweet little neice Arianna, how EXCITING!   I decided I needed a name if I was going to branch out and start selling my dresses as well.  April Violet.  This name is the name of one of my sisters. 

and so it all began..................

Thank you for taking the time to read a little about me and the start of April Violet,

Angelina