We will have promotion Sunday at church next week where the church presents a bible to all of the new third graders. I made this array of bible covers with little ribbon bookmarks for the kids. (Thanks for the pattern Tracy!) Won't they be cool?
Mom & I teamed up and made these pretty barette holders for the girls. You clip their barettes to the ribbons that are hanging down. The flowers on the belts weren't fastened at the point when this picture was taken, but they are now hanging on the wall full of their hairbows!
I fell in love with this hibiscus fabric and for some reason if I love a piece of fabric, I have a hard time making something with it unless it is just the right thing...I think I did this fabric justice. My daughter loves this twirling dress. The dress is Butterick 4718 with sleeves from Simplicity 4658. One other alteration is that I lined the bodice...I am so "over" facing pieces. The dresss fits a little loose and long, but that is good since she will probably only wear it twice more this summer.
The top of this one is made from McCall's 5798 View A and the bottoms are Simplicity 3749 View C. LOVE LOVE LOVE this cutie patootie outfit on this cutie patootie kid!
This is Simplicity 4658 with a lined bodice instead of using the facing. I also added three inches to the length. She LOVES it and can't wait to wear it a couple of times before the fall hits. It is very loose fitting so she will have at least one thing to wear this spring!
Made these with some designing help from my friend Tracy -- the girls LOVE them -- they looked good for our 4th of July vacation...I didn't pose them for this picture -- I merely asked them to "try to look normal and quit doing crazy stuff please"...ha! My older daughter is wearing McCall's 5798, and my younger one is wearing McCalls 4814
I hadn't done one of these in a long time...and now I remember why I like making them so much -- they're socute! -- this one is for Kim to smock for Palmetto Kids.
Our baby chicks aren't ready to lay eggs yet, but a friend dropped off 6 full grown laying hens so we now have eggs -- 3 the first day and three yesterday -- so here is a photo of our first three eggs! and the coop, which is a little further along now.
The girls will be sporting these new tops this week at Myrtle Beach, the small one on the barbie is for their younger cousin, but they thought the model was cute!
My friend Tracy and I whipped up 4 of these assembly line style using a pattern and, of course, adding length, but I can't seem top put my hands on the pattern right now...anyway, a pillowcase top...bandana fabric...Texas here we come!
Let my youngest pick her own fabric for her ruffled top and reconstructed jeans. "Thank you" goes to Claire for ripping a hole in the knee and passing them to us...they were perfect. I actually ran out of the butterfly & floral fabric before I got the ruffle on the bottom, but I think it looks even better with the stacked ruffles on the pants It really didn't take much more effort...Top is Simplicity 3749 View B (with a ruffle added). Major alteration is that I lined the top insted of the facing and bias strips for the armpits...makes for a more professional look and also (usually) makes it iron free!
Made these two pajama sets today -- my girls picked their own fabrics and they LOVE this pattern with the "triangles at the top." They think they are like grownup pajamas -- Butterick 4383 View D
I made these last night (and added the fringe tonight) for my daughter to go to her dance studio sleepover -- she kinda "designed" them herself -- the dance studio's colors are blue and hot pink so she wanted them to look like this to win the pajamas contest -- I used Butterick 4383 View D for this one -- I just added about two inches in length to the shirt and shorts -- the shirt will tend to show tummy if I cut to the pattern lines.
I used pattern Simplicity 4364 View C (without the Jacket) and made this dress. My daughter is going to a birthdayt party tomorrow so this is what she is giving her friend -- If I can pry it out of her hands! It is made from a nice sparkly pink fabric. So girly!!
If you've never made the Original All Bran Muffins -- you need to buy a box of this cereal and go home and make them - I'm not kidding, they are moist and delicious!
This blog entry is about the dress on my old daughter. This was made using McCalls 5574 view C -- I think it has a big girl look. It even has some gathering worked into the "bust." I loved making it because it doesn't even have any zippers.
I made these using Simplicity 4206 View C and sewed View E (the shorts) underneath to turn this skirt into a skort -- if you want more directions on how to accomplish this click here for how I described it. The girls LOVE these and plan to wear them out to dinner tonight -- aren't these the funnest fabrics you've ever seen!?!
Reconstructed some jeans that had started tearing at the bottom by cutting them off at capri length and adding a ruffle.
Made this shirt as an adaptation of Simplicity 3749 View B. Adapted because I lined the entire top instead of using a facing...and added the ruffle. This was fun, quick, and my daughter LOVES it!
My Remote Control Organizer is on page 118 of this book with my very own name right under it...how cool. It is available by Lark Publishing or I can get it for you at a 40% discount they tell me - I got my own copy in the mail yesterday. I think I have three other complementary copies on the way to me, but we'll see if that ever happens. You can see the finished product stuck somewhere in my craft cabinet in my bedroom or at this link
I smocked this over the past two weeks -- starting back to work is interfering with my sewing addiction! Cute bunnies, one turned backwards...bullion eggs in the baskets and french knot daffodills beside the bunnies. This will be turned into a Mary De style dress for a friend's 3 year old granddaughter
In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Blend in ½ cu flour, salt & pepper. Gradually stir in 3 cups of chicken broth (3 cups of boiling water and 4 bullion cubes works). Cook, stirring constantly until smooth and thickened. Stir in chicken (cooked, deboned & chopped) & vegetables (I used a bag of broccoli stir fry). Simmer a while – stirring occasionally - great leftover too.
Serve over homemade bisquick biscuits – so very good!
This was another one I created for my 5 year old's birthday present from me. She LOVES dresses so I also made some shorts with this fabric to wear underneath so the kids at preschool don't get flashed on the monkey bars.
It is from Simplicity 3668 View B and I have to tell you that I have fallen in love with another pattern...it several nice details that all patterns won't give you -- the upper bodice is lined, the front has pleats that are adorable, and it has a "V" cut in the neckline that is so classy looking...I can't wait to use this pattern again as it went together so very quickly and easily. She wore it with an off white shirt underneath and it looked so pretty.
This is made from Simplicity 3902 with only minor alterations. I put more ric rac than they call for -- I wanted it on the sleeves, hemline and all the way around the neck and I don't regret it. This is a fairly simple pattern going to gether pretty quickly and it has more "twirl" than other patterns I've made similar. I made this for my 5 year old's birthday present from me -- complete with shorts to go underneath so the other kids won't know what color her underwear is every day at school. She LOVES this one.
My youngest started Preschool last week and they have a naptime and their little Pillow & Blanket has to be stored inside a shoebox...so I let her pick out her own pillow fabric and ruffle from my stash and this was her choice. It has the flap in the back like a pillow sham and the inside pillow is also made from this lavender swirls fabric. She LOVES it and thinks it is the softest thing ever...the whole thing is just a bit smaller than a piece of standard paper...so it is small and cute! Total project time about 1 hour.
I have several pieces of news…I start a long-term substitute job on Monday as the Pre-Algebra teacher for the 8th grade until the end of this year (old teacher is moving) and have the promise that I can continue into next year, too. Just what I wanted! I passed my subject area PRAXIS II examination for math with a 190 out of 200!
Also enrolled my 5 year old in a 4K program in town
I think this may start interfering with my sewing addiction...Maybe I can smock a little between classes!
Fell in love with a "Cupcake" style crocheted hat I saw on the internet and found a pattern -- they have a lot of different hats you can crochet on this site...for FREE! If only the kids weren't sleeping I'd run in there and measure their heads!