Wishing for unicorn hair Easter dresses

I had every intention on making 4 dresses and a tie this year. I had great plans for white heavy embroidered paisley eyelet fabric with kelly green sashes. They were going to be adorable, until I found the fabric I needed and it was more than double the moola I wanted to spend. I had a small heart attack when I added it up in my head… 9 yards x $$ = $$$… uhm no. Bridal eyelet, why oh why must you taunt me? I lovingly refolded the gold dipped fabric that must have been woven with unicorn hairs and put it back, not before gazing at it and touching it once or twice and sighing. It’s beautiful. It’s gorgeous. It’s stinking expensive.

So this is what we did instead. I found a great sale and bought Kennedy and Mary the cutest dresses in pink and brown an got skirts and t-shirts for Kaci and Ashlyn. All I had to do this year was embellish 2 shirts- done! Kaci’s skirt came with a diaper cover so I cut it up since she doesn’t need it and used it to make Ashlyn’s flower. Ash thought it was hilarious that she had a diaper cover flower on her shirt. I used ribbon and lace from my stash for Kaci’s shirt.

Not the gorgeous white paisley eyelet gowns with kelly green sashes I wanted but a whole heck of a lot cheaper and less stress. I eventually found a coupon for my dream fabric and did get a smidgen of it. I’m weak. Someday it will make a great cup cozy or hair scrunchy for my visit with the queen ;).

Have a happy Monday!

Happy Everything Trip

We had such a great time on our surprise trip, and I’m not just saying that. We had a blast. It was a happy belated 10th anniversary, happy first overnight stay without kids ever, and happy birthday trip all in one. I was just happy to get out of town without packing the portable crib and silly songs!

We listened to adult radio stations. We ate at restaurants that don’t have kids menus. We stopped at an antique mall on the way, something mothers with 5 children never do unless you want to buy lots of broken glass cats and owl lamps.

We drove through this pass without needing to stop for a throw up bucket and dramamine, so nice. You can bet your sweet bippies I was heavily applying my fake brake the entire time though. We swapped cars with Cody’s parents and left them with our bus and I was really disappointed it didn’t have crap handles. Our bus has several on the passenger side. I really missed them and hope they don’t mind the claw marks I left on the door.

With my superior passenger seat driving skills we made it. Seattle!! I had never been before so I just soaked everything in. This was the view from our room.

Have I ever mentioned that I have the most amazing husband ever? He booked us a room in the shopping district. I love him. We were right in the middle of everything. We didn’t have to drive the entire weekend (other than to get there and back home). Want to go shopping, lets walk a block or two. Want to watch a movie, 3 blocks. Want to eat at the Space Needle, 2 blocks to the monorail. Want to see Pike’s Market, 5 blocks.

The market was Cody’s favorite stop. It was a ton of fun and even has a quilt shop in it. I was truly surprised at how big it is, 3 stories. We even got to see a few salmon chucked back and forth. Here are my favorites from Pike’s-

I really want this piggy bank! Of course I would need the coins already inside as well. Just to get me started ;).

The infamous gum wall. I would say that’s it is the single most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen but we went to “Bodies” while we were there so I’m not complaining.

Whoever “ANNA” is is a lucky woman. Her name stretched in yellow gum, how romantic. Now that’s love. I wasn’t about to touch it and I was really afraid to get my hair stuck in there. The wind was blowing something fierce and Cody wouldn’t let me leave until he got a picture. I just knew I was going to get stuck and have to have a bowl cut to get it all out. And yes, Cody did touch it…

We didn’t have a plan the entire time, we just followed random groups of people into random buildings. That was the most fun ever. Not knowing what we were going to do or where we were going made the trip. We saw it all, and I mean all, and had more fun because of it.

Seattle I love you. See you next year (hint hint Cody).

Because I can

Ideas pop into my head all the time. Sometimes the good ones stick around and sometimes they pop back out. I had a shower epiphany I couldn’t shake and thought it was such a fantastic idea that I told my entire family- Fabric paper airplanes! I was met with silence and an “okay, you do that then”.

They didn’t get it. I’m not sure I get it, but do you really have to? They’re just cute.

I thought about keeping them to myself and have been making them since January, you can tell I made a few for Valentines day. I don’t want to be the only crazy making these so here’s how to make them, because you can to dang it.

Please do not copy or sell my tutorial or the template used in the tutorial. If you’d like to blog about this feel free, but please link back here and give proper credit. Please do not copy the entire tutorial to your blog, site, and so forth. Hate to be a pain but it’s become an issue (and a pet peeve).

*Fabric Airplanes*

Materials-

Two 5” squares of fabric per plane

Wonder under or another brand of double sided, paper backed, fusible adhesive

Iron and ironing board & glue gun.

A copy of the template below printed at 5”, cut out.

1. With your iron on the cotton setting iron the wonder under to the wrong side of one square of fabric. Peel off the backing and iron on your other square of fabric to the backside of your first fabric, making a fabric-fusible sandwich. This should all be one piece now.

2. Line up the bottom and side of your template with your fabric and cut out, making kind of a house shape. Save the triangles for later ;).

3. Fold your fabric in half vertically and iron, making a nice crease. The side facing you will be the inside so if you have a favorite print make sure it’s facing the ironing board before you continue.

4. Fold the side in until you line up with the middle crease. Press. Looking familiar huh. Do this with both sides.

5. Fold in half again and fold one side towards the outside. Do the same with the other side making your wings.

6. Viola`, It’s all folded and pretty. Now add a dab of hot glue in the middle or stitch closed.

If you’d like to add a message to yours, stamp on some twill tape or ribbon and tuck it in the back of your aircraft before you glue or stitch it closed.

They also make a really cute bunting. I did this on my sewing machine stitching through some clouds I cut out of embossed papers with white thread on top and blue thread in my bobbin. I didn’t stitch the planes though, I just glued those puppies on when the clouds were stitched. This is where your little saved triangles come in if you want to use them- awh!

Have a fantastic Tuesday and please send me some pictures if you make some!

On a similar note, how do you feel about flickr groups? I thought about adding one to the blog for all the projects that are made using my tutorials but I’m not sure anyone would upload to it. Would you? Do you like looking through them? Any thoughts, good or bad, would be appreciated!

Ruffling and Rolling

I’m very technical here. I know you already know that by my use of such terms as “wonky” and “thingamabob” in each of my tutorials. I’ve come to find out that the foot I’ve so lovingly named my super foot is really called a rolled hem foot and not an 1/8” hemming foot. Doesn’t really matter to me, but to those of you trying to get your little sewing mitts on one it would probably help if I called it by the right name.

A few of you mentioned that you would like to see this little guy do it’s magic. I wanted to do a tutorial or video but then I found one. Perfect. Pretend this is me, without so much introduction. My foot even falls off the same in the beginning of loading the fabric ;).

A few of you asked for more info on my ruffler foot and I’ve got to be honest. I don’t know how to use mine. I just play with it. It’s a great foot but it’s more of a toy for me at this point than an actual working foot. Mine works, I just don’t make it work very hard. Here’s a good free pdf from You Can Make This By CarlaC Dolly Designs called the Ruffler Unruffled. Nice for those of us who’s feet didn’t come with instructions what so ever. I’ve browsed through it once but I’m a visual learner so I looked today and Carla made a video with her using it. I like seeing it run.

So hopefully that will give you guys something to brush up on this weekend. Ruffle and Roll to your hearts content. It’s really fun.

Before I jump off here and leave my blog for the weekend I wanted to let you know about Amanda of Ike and Ella. She just opened a shop called Ike and Ella and is celebrating the grand opening by donating 15% of all proceeds until the 14th to Autism Speaks in her sons name, as well as a giveaway on her blog. I love a good cause so if you’re thinking of picking up something new and cute for the little ones this week check out Ike and Ella.

Have a great weekend, mine is starting now with more cleaning and packing!

A little of this and a little of that.

I’m knee deep in mom stuff trying to get ready to leave this weekend and feeling a bit overwhelmed.  Really overwhelmed, so it was so nice to see that I got an award today from The Pine Cone Tea Cup .  Not just any award, the sunshine award!  I’m sure she awarded me for the yellow background and not my whining ;).  Thanks Heather!

It’s been a while (since the great computer crash of 2010) but I also got an award back in February from Rachel of Holy Craft. The Beautiful Blogger award!  Thanks so much Rachel and sorry I’m a loser and didn’t do this sooner.  Both of these bloggers are also awesome crafters so you need to go check them out.

One of the rules is to state 7 things about yourself. I love being random and I love talking about myself (totally kidding- kind of) so here goes-

1.  I don’t follow the “rules”, I make my own and stick with them.  Sewing, blogging, eating, fashion, monopoly- you name it and I have a different set of rules than what I’m sure is considered the norm.  I’ve always liked having things done my way, even if I’m the only one doing it that way, and tend to be called bossy.  I blame it on being the oldest.

2.  I like playing devils advocate even if I agree with what was originally said or done.  I just like looking at things from all points of view and enjoy an open conversation.  I don’t like hashing over things though and I hate real conflict. I know, you really can’t have both.

3.  I used to play M*A*S*H on a daily basis as a pre-teen.  Some of you won’t have any idea what I’m talking about but some of you will and I know you played it to, so don’t laugh.  I still have some of them from back in the day and I’m so happy that game did not really predict the future!

4.  I really can’t whistle. I have teeny tiny lips.  I don’t think that matters at all but to me that has to be the reason.

5.  I’ve become a coupon junky and can’t stop.  I love getting free stuff just by using coupons and pairing it with sales.  I think I embarrass Cody with it but I don’t even care.  I make him look at my receipts and savings because I’m so proud of myself.  I got 26 food items for free last week alone.  Nothing else to buy- just free.  It really is an adrenaline rush for me.

6.  I won’t swim.  I can, I just don’t like being in a warm pool of water with other people.  It’s like sharing a big bath tub with strangers- without soap mind you- yuck!  I’m also afraid someone will drown and I won’t know what to do.  Sprinklers are just as fun if you ask me.

7.  Here’s my original life plan from 17-  Go to college with my best friend and major in business.  Get married at exactly 24.  Live in California. Have my first child at 28.  Have only 2 children.  Birth those children under general anesthesia because only “dumb” people would volunteer to feel it.  Have a nice large chest thanks to those 2 kids I baked.

Here’s what really happened-  Graduated high school engaged.  Had my first baby at 18 5/6 ths years old.  Have not moved farther than 15 miles from my home town since being married and I’m pretty sure I’ve never been to California.  Had my 5th baby at 28.  Will eventually have more children.  Had a natural birth (not by choice).  Have absolutely the same little chest I had before, only not the same… sigh.  Love absolutely everything about how my life turned out and wouldn’t change a thing.  Except the general anesthesia part.

 

Thanks again Heather and Rachel!  Off to bed I go.  I have a long day ahead of mucking out bedrooms and taking Jeremy’s rotting finger in to get fixed- long story.  Have a great night!

My favorite things

Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens… just kidding, I know you all were thinking it though. I thought I’d share what some of my favorite tools are, just for kicks. Some are have to have that I use every time I sew and some are just to save my sanity occasionally. Here we go-

Ah, the high tech elastic insertion device. A must have. The bigger the better. I like diaper pins the best, they glide through easier.

This little baby is my favorite tool ever. Ever. How do you turn a loop without a loop turner? You don’t. You scream and yell and don’t make skinny straps. Bunnies will cry watching you try to turn a strap without one.
I use this to turn all my dress and shirt straps right side out. It turns a very tedious job into a 5 second one. If you make clothes this is a must have. For about $6 ($3 if you wait for a notions wall sale) it’s worth every cent and more. Plus it saves bunnies from dehydrating.*

Another favorite and a big splurge, my gingher scissors. I got mine for a steal but they hardly ever see the light of day. They are too sacred to use to snip threads. They stay in their little tin with the protective black thingy on them. I love them and when I find a project worthy of them I know they will cut like butter. They are that awesome. I have a pair of regular scissors to cut threads and another pair of regular scissors used solely to cut out fabric. My ginghers just look purty. I have a scissors problem but I’m not willing to deal with it yet.

Another basic favorite. My self healing mat, rotary cutter, and clear ruler. I pull these out every time I sew and I use my mat when I craft to. My set has lasted 8 years, I’m sure you can see how thrashed my mat is in all my tutorial pictures. I didn’t fully appreciate them until a few years ago and now I can’t live without them.

My ruffler foot. I bought a generic one for my machine and only pull it out a few times a year, but every time I do I remember how much I love it and think I should use more often. Much like my ginghers…

My 1/8” hemming foot, oh how I love thee. It saved my fancy Easter dresses a few years ago. It’s my super foot. I only use it on sheer or silky stuff since it’s so little. I only use it a few times a year but for only $4.99 regular price it’s worth it’s weight in gold. I’m on the look out for a 1/4” foot that I know will get used a ton.




These are just a few of my favorites. You don’t have to have some of these things but if you’re ever in the fabric store and see a great deal on them I suggest giving them a whirl.

*Just so you know, I have never been paid to do or say anything on my blog so these are just my humble little opinions of my favorite things that I use, and I can’t be sure that bunnies will cry and get dehydrated but you don’t want to risk it.

What are your favorites, must have or just like to have?

The lowdown on the duds

I was asked quite a while ago how my shirts hold up in the wash. Well I didn’t want to report until I did sufficient testing and I’m happy to say that they look just about the exact same as they did when I made them.

I’ve washed these shirts no less than half a dozen times and so far so good, even the glued on “S” looks just fine. I turn them inside out and wash them on a regular cycle with my regular wash loads. I don’t waste my time hanging them to dry either. Into the dryer they go (inside out) and so far so good.

Since the great computer crash my photoshop isn’t working right, can’t get it to stay open. Sorry for the cruddy pictures while I figure it out.

There are a few loose strands of fabric where I left the edges raw on the background squares but I knew that would happen. The only thing that isn’t holding up as well as the others would be the green twill tape “E”, but I saw that one coming. I thought the black ric rac would bleed since I didn’t pre wash anything but nope.

The candy jar shirts look same, no threads or anything. I would show you Kaci’s shirt but she stuck a sticker to the plastic part. It needs a good goo gone session. These have to be dried inside out, unless you want plastic candy jar stuck to your dryer. Another handy tip: if you want your jar to look like a jar and not a crumpled piece of plastic (like mine right now) you have to take it out of the dryer while the plastic is still warm and smooth it out. I’ve tried ironing it out (from the inside) to straighten it when I forgot to get it from the dryer right away and it didn’t work. It left button imprints on the plastic and that’s not good, but one wash later it went back to normal.

I crossed my fingers for the black ric rac, but everything else I knew would wash okay because of this little secret and I zig zagged the crud out of my seams on the socks so they wouldn’t unravel.

To make this post the longest one I’ve ever written I thought I should add, I’m leaving town this weekend by myself! It’s going to be so fun but I’m more excited about the next weekend. Cody is surprising me for our Anniversary (Feb. 5th) with a weekend away. 2 weekends kid free! He won’t tell me where we are going or what we’ll be doing but it’s the first time we’ll both be away from the kids at the same time -together- ever. I KNOW! I hate to admit this but I’ve never hired a babysitter that wasn’t family. Ever. Jeremy is 10 and has no idea what a real baby sitter is. I know they’ll be in great hands this time but I’m still kind of freaking out. I’m also a really bad sport when it comes to surprises so I’m really preoccupied right now.

So here’s what I’m trying to say I guess, I’m not meshing with the apron top pattern remake at the moment. I think it’s just because my brain is fuzzy and thinking about everything but sewing right now. I think it’s best to put the pattern on hold until I come back. I don’t want it to come out all wonky because I was trying to force it. I’m going to let it come to me when it comes. I do have another fun tutorial that’s already done and I did while my computer was down so I’ll share that in the mean time. No thinking involved ;). Think boy.

Have a fantastic Tuesday!

Button, Button, Who’s got the button?

I have them and my gosh, I could die and go to heaven. Well maybe not because you can’t take things with you when you go and I would want to take these-

“Color Crazy” Buttons from Tessa Ann

The minute I saw these buttons I new she made them just for me. I know she did, she just didn’t know it yet ;).

Today is my Creative Team Spotlight over on Tessa Ann’s The Button Shop Blog. I shared a little about myself, which is very hard to do by the way when you don’t want to sound like a dork, and shared my project using her super fun handmade buttons.

Ashlyn found a shirt at the store that was *sigh* another character shirt. That girl just might kill me. I thought the design was cute, the colors were fun, the character junk not at all. We fixed it up using fabric and tulle flowers and polished it off with the color crazy buttons. I love it and she adores it.

These are my favorite part of the entire outfit.

I made the knit fabric pom poms and glued the buttons on. I love the little black and white hearts against the pink poms.

Thanks again Tessa Ann! I can’t wait to get busy on next months project… it’s going to be so darn cute I can hardly stand it.