Happy Anniversary to you!

Thursday was my 1st blogiversary! I've been blogging for over a year now and it all started with this post . Some of you have been reading my rantings for one entire year. Before you run off to cry in shame I have a present for you. I've been working this week on an apron dress for Ashlyn and thought I would share a tutorial so you can make your own. Not a great present but with my 200th post coming up I'll give actual stuff away then ;o). It is extremely easy to make- if you can straight stitch you can make one. There is a button hole but you can sew that by hand if you have to, but try to be lazy and do one will you?

Let's get started shall we? This tutorial is pretty picture intense so bear with me, the instructions are short and sweet (I think). Let me start by saying that this dress is my own pattern that I drafted myself -unless yours doesn't turn out- blame your machine or something ;o). With that said let's keep this in the spirit of fun and giving, please don't sell my patterns. We all like freebies so lets keep it that way.

The dress I made is a size 6/7. My little one wears a 6 and there's plenty of room for growth so I'm saying it's a 6/7. The bodice pattern includes a size 4/5 but could easily be enlarged or shrunk for different sizes. I'll show the 6/7 measurements in red first followed with the size 4/5 in parentheses.

For one dress you'll need:
Bodice Pattern
11 1/2" (10 1/2) of 3/8" elastic
2 pieces of 2"x 2 1/2" mid-weight fusible interfacing
thread
an iron
1 to 1 1/2 yards of fabric (more if you are matching stripes or fruits in my case)
1/4 yard of lining fabric

Cutting:
Cut 1 each of the bodice pattern from the lining fabric and dress fabric making sure to put the edge marked "fold" on the fold of the fabric. Cut one rectangle that is 28" (26") wide by 21" (19 1/2") tall, this is the skirt back. Cut another rectangle 28" (26") wide by 18" (17 1/2") tall, this is the skirt front. For the straps you will need 2 rectangles that are 21" (18") by 3". In the picture I cut an extra chunk of dot fabric for a ruffle but decided not to use it so ignore that little polka dot bit in the top right.
You should have 2 bodice pieces, 1 skirt back, 1 skirt front, 2 pieces of interfacing, 1 piece of elastic, and 2 straps.


On to sewing! All seams are 1/2" seam allowance unless otherwise stated.

Step 1- Iron interfacing pieces to the wrong side top corners of the bodice lining. This goes inside the bodice and won't be shown, just keeps the button holes nice and tidy.














Step 2- Pin the dress bodice and lining bodice pieces right sides together. Sew around arm holes and top edge leaving the sides and bottom open. Turn so the fabric is right side out. You may need to clip the arm curve to get it smooth, Press.























Step 3- Fold the bottom edge of the lining fabric under a little less than 1/2" and press. Set aside.











Step 4- Run a gathering stitch along the top edge of the skirt front 1/4" from raw edge and then again about 1/2" from the raw edge.













Step 5- Pin the skirt front to the bottom of the bodice right sides together matching middles and side seams, make sure to leave the lining free. Pull the threads to gather the skirt and distribute the gathers evenly, pin in place. Baste 1/4" and check to make sure you are happy with the gathering (make sure it's not gathery in one place more than another). Stitch in place 1/2" from raw edge. Now you have the dress front-yay! Set aside.

























Step 6- Fold over the top raw edge of your skirt back 1/4" and press. Fold again 3/4" and press, pin in place to form the casing for the elastic. Stitch very close to the edge of the fold. Thread your elastic through the casing leaving about 1/2" of elastic sticking out the ends. Pin in place and stitch close to edge (this keeps the elastic from going anywhere while you finish).















































Step 7- Pin the skirt back to the dress front matching the top edges and the side seems, leave the lining free. Stitch the sides together (I zig zagged the edge after sewing my straight stitch but that's optional). Once your skirt back and dress front are sewn together at the sides press the seam towards the front of the dress. Pin the bottom of your lining over the gathered edge of the skirt front and over the side seams of the dress. Flip your dress over to the right side and top stitch around the inside of the front bodice making sure you catch your lining underneath. Set aside.





























































Step 8- Take your strap fabric and fold it in half length wise right sides together, press. Stitch around the raw outside edge leaving one end open for turning. Do this for both straps.

















Step 9- Turn our straps right side out and press flat. Fold the open edge of your straps under 1/4" then again 1/2" and pin in place on the inside back of the dress (the elastic part). I placed mine about 3" away from the side seam. Stitch in place.










































Finishing-

Step 10- Fold the bottom hem of the dress under 1/2" and press. Fold again about 1" and pin. Stitch as close to the folded edge as you can.










Step 11- Button holes- I don't have an exact on this because every one's straps may be different. What I did was make a practice button hole the size I liked and placed it on the inside of my bodice. I used this practice button hole as a template for marking and then I stitched my button holes. I would suggest keeping them under 1" and about 1/2" or so from the outside edge. If the button hole is too big the knot you make for the straps will come through and the dress will fall off. Not cool.






You are done! Look how cute and easy this is. I promise it's not hard at all but if you run into any snags let me know and I can walk you through it. Now grab your model and tie on on her so you can share your cute pictures of your finished dresses with me.

Be still my heart...

My most favorite quilt is being given away next thursday- eek! THE quilt that I'm going to try and throw together in crib size for mini me. See the pretty pile of fabric in the post under this one... it's for that quilt, I just wasn't going to admit it until mine turned out some what close... I didn't want to put her perfect quilt to shame. I think it's the cutest quilt ever and I'm double crossing each finger and toe hoping I win because I love it that much. I really need it for when the baby gets bigger, or just for me to wrap myself up in it's cuteness.

If you would like to try and take it from me, I mean win, go head over to Camille's Blog (of Thimble Blossom's fame) and enter. Don't forget to tell her who sent you so I can cross my toes three times. If you do win I hear quilts make the best baby gifts ;o).

Saturday in a nutshell

We had such a great short trip yesterday. We left a little late because Cody washed our car inside and out but I'm so glad he did, it feels so much better in there. It was dusty and dirty with trash everywhere and at least 3 rotten sippy cups floating around- yuck! I managed to get there just in time to miss helping my Aunts decorate (I swear I didn't do it on purpose) so to burn a little time before the party Cody took the kids to eat lunch and I went to JoAnns. With Cody's new job he has been getting home very late so he hasn't gotten to spend much time with the kids lately, some nights he didn't see them at all so it was nice to have an entire day with him. I was impressed that Cody took the kids inside the restaurant to eat- alone. All 4 of them by himself, something I wouldn't have done and the reason our car looked like it did ;o).

JoAnn had an awesome sale, I just wish I would have had a little more time and $$ and I could have done some serious damage. I found everything I need to make Kennedy the cutest girliest quilt ever (top and back with trim and thread-everything!) and even got some scrapbook paper, material for a new belly band for me, and some funky orange fabric for who knows what all for under $25. I love awesome fabric that's on sale, it makes my heart sing and my sewing machine quiver. I miss having a place to shop here... sniff sniff.

~Grandma and Grandpa~
The Anniversary dinner was fantastic. It looked great, the food was awesome, I brought a ton of it home for today including an entire bottle of Olive garden salad dressing- Tina I LOVE you! Almost everyone was able to come- we missed you uncle Joe and family and Kira! I loved seeing my family again. I didn't love the slide show they played all evening. It was great except for the picture of me in a Halloween costume I had to wear to work when I was pregnant with Jeremy, as if being a pregnant adult wearing a ridiculous costume wasn't enough. Thanks mom. The funniest thing about the evening was when Grandma and Grandpa opened their gift. The kids decided to send them on a cruise to Mexico so they filled a gift bag with self tanning cream, sunglasses, sun block, a model cruise ship, and fake passports with their names on it and they still didn't understand what was going on, so cute.

~My Mom and Dad~

Dad, this is what you get for trying to make faces at me when I was taking your picture- it's your own fault.

~Jeremy~

Refusing to smile but not being able to help himself so he covered it up, stinker.

~Ashlyn~

~Mary~

This is not an innocent face, see the blow up microphone. It was her weapon against the boys.

~Cody and Kaci~ Kaci was a monster yesterday and we noticed when she finally fell asleep around 8 that her cheeks were red and she was warm- great. So I stayed home from church with her today and I just hope she didn't infect anyone yesterday. Most people gave her a pretty wide berth, she kept screaming and hitting so I'm pretty sure no one will get it ;o).

Have a great Monday.

If you're bored- Vote!

If you're bored between now and sometime in May and have nothing better to do I added a poll on my sidebar for the baby's middle name.

The heavens have aligned, pigs everywhere have sprouted their wings, and a little place I know and I'll probably end up in has frozen over solid. Why do I say this- because Cody and I have picked out the baby's first name! It's usually a battle for us that includes months and months of arguing. We had such a hard time with Ashlyn's name we let the public decide and had a voting box in our living room for months- not kidding. I wanted Hailey but sadly it wasn't the popular vote, I'm just glad no one voted for Cody's favorite (Felicia). This time I gave Cody a list with 7 names on it and he looked it over, picked two that he liked and we agreed on Kennedy. I love my husband so much! I LOVE Kennedy. It's one that's been on my girl list since before Jeremy. There are a few problems with a girl named Kennedy though like an acceptable nickname and a girly middle name to balance out the masculine-ish first name. I don't want anyone to call her Kenny. We have 3 months to figure it out so it's all good.

If you have an opinion I'd like to hear it! Good, bad, or ugly let me have it. I'm still going to name her Kennedy but all opinions will be considered- assuming there not too ugly.

I'm off to my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary shindig this weekend and I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone again. I should be able to get some really great pictures, not to mention Jo-anns is having a great sale and I have to hurry and make a girl quilt.

Have a great weekend.

Touche`!

I am a girl. I admit that. I also admit to crying while watching chick flicks, eating more than my weight in chocolate each month, and trying to squeeze cream or cream cheese or butter into every recipe I can. I admit to shopping probably a little too much but each and every item I buy is a necessary item- really. Cody doesn't always think so. Take for example my sewing machine ruffler foot. I love it and sure I've only used it twice in a year but when I start ruffling everything I'm going to need it. It saves me time and the huge headache I get when trying to pull a gather to get a regular ruffle only to have the threads brake. It's pure genius I tell you!

Every time I talk about it Cody gives me that look. If you're married, ever been married, dating, or had a male figure in your life at one time or another you've seen it. It's the "I can't believe you wasted xxx amount of $$$ on that. You never use it, wear it, or look at it so why do you need it" look. I get that look often. I still buy things anyway.

Look what I found in my window this morning...

Why on earth do you need gum-o-flage? It's pine scented and flavored, contains resinous glaze and chlorophyll, and looks like a green prop from the Shrek movies. The man works around wood on a regular basis, you'd think he could just grab a chunk of real pine and just suck on it for a while and that's free. Heck, I would even go find a pile of real wood for him and he can pay me the $5.5o a pack- it would even be organic. Do deer really get close enough they can smell your breath? I'm just asking. So my love I'm giving you the "look", touche`

What's a smocket?

Well it's a super cute smock with a pocket of course! I kept running across a link to make one from The Mayfly blog on several different sites forever ago and I finally did yesterday. It turned out so cute and didn't take very long to make. I find I can get a lot of sewing projects done when I don't have a car for 2 weeks and my washing machine is broken. Now if only my dishwasher and oven would brake then I would have even more time... no just kidding.

I think the pattern for the smocket is great but I'm going to do a few things differently when I make one for the baby and Mary. This one is Kaci's and even on her skinny little arms the shorter ties by the neck are not long enough so it's quite tight in her arm pits. The Mayfly mentions the pattern is about a 2t and I agree if it weren't for the tight arms, as is it's probably an 18 months. Longer ties in the front for the next few and it'll be great. I can't wait to make more. I love instant gratification sewing. If you have a little girl or know a little girl go make a smocket!

I'm off to go find quarters for my laundry... I can't wait until my washer's fixed.

My boy

My son, my only son, is the most helpful guy on the face of the planet. Well not all the time, we all have our moments, but most of the time he's so helpful. I just had to brag about Jeremy today because I woke up at 7:00 this morning to him unloading the dishwasher. I never asked him to do it and he knows he has a free pass from chores in the morning just to make sure he gets his teeth brushed and ready for school on time but he did it anyway. What 8 year old boy unloads the dishwasher without being asked, begged, or threatened? Mine!

He loves to help me in the kitchen occasionally. He grated cheese and chopped green onions like a pro last night. He loves using sharp utensils so I have to channel his knife obsession into a good thing like being my sous chef. He is a boy.

He's so good with his little sisters, I find him packing Kaci around all the time and she just eats it up. She loves her "Jim". Sometimes he's a little too helpful with the youngsters but I'll take any help I get. He really loves them to pieces, sometimes literally when he tries to show them the new wrestling move he made up or his karate moves.

I just love this boy! I can't describe it but it goes something like this- I'd love him if he were a lazy little thing that refused to eat his brussel sprouts (which he loves by the way). I'd love him even if he picked his nose, after he washed his hands of course. I love him for him and I have the pleasure of having such a great boy. I'm so lucky!

By the way, I've adjusted to the fact that I'm having a girl. I know my last post sounded a little anti-female but that wasn't my intention. Just shocked is all. I celebrated Saturday and bought a pile of cute girly fabric. Our tiny fabric store had a 28% off sale so I got a little of this and a little of that to make some cute things for the baby. I'm going to have a ton of fun on this one!

A huh? day...

I have big news at the bottom so stay tuned but for now you get to read my ramblings and then hopefully it'll all make sense in the end. Hopefully.

I've been working really hard getting my quilt top finished for the last 2 days. I was a few blocks behind at the last class so I needed to get them done. I'm really proud of myself, I finished the 3 blocks I was missing yesterday and 3 more today to finish my border pieces. The blocks are done and now they just need to be put together and quilted. It looks so cute when I lay them all out. Blue puppies, kids playing, red polka dots, red chenille back- soo boy.

So I've spent two days non-stop, except for the occasional nutty bar and bag of cheetos, so I could have the quilt top done to blog about my little guy and his new little quilt.

This is where the big news comes in-

Yes, I'm wrong again (for the 3rd time in a row), and we are going to have a little girl. I'm positive. I saw "it" at least 5 times, probably six. I asked her at least 5 times, probably six to double check. We looked from every angle and there's nothing extra there.

I'm not disappointed, she's perfectly healthy and just as active as can be with perfect bits and pieces and measuring exactly where she should. We are so lucky to have the awesome kids we have and I'm so excited to be adding to our family, boy or girl. I just feel kind of huh? I don't know how to describe it and I'm sure anyone who's been wrong before has felt the same way. I just thought the odds were in my favor this time and I was sooo sure!

I tried to buy something girly to mark the occasion but only having a Wallys makes it really hard to find something totally cute, so I bought this dress. I'll be headed to Boise soon and I'm sure I can find more than one something then.

I'll have to take the two blue car rompers I bought back. Hhumm... 4 girls in a row.... still trying to wrap my brain around it... 4 teenage PMS hormones in a row. POOR Jeremy in about 10 years. Pray for him will you.

Keeping the inmates at bay...

I've always been a big fan of having my kids do daily chores. You know what they say, idle hands and all and I think there's nothing wrong with teaching your kids to pick up after themselves and to earn things, not just get things. I haven't been the best at keeping them interested in doing chores or finding a method that allows them to learn life skills without the side effects- whining, arguing, fighting- all those things that make the hairs on the back of my neck just curl and that vein in my forehead explode until I give and do the dang chores myself.

This idea uses "tokens", I chose buttons like my blog because I have a bazillion, that they earn for doing their chores. They can then use those tokens to cash in on some extra privileges. I've seen Super Nanny use this sort of method with fake flowers and pots but the button thing really spoke to me. I still love you Super Nanny, I really do.

Here's my spin on it. I kept the kids daily chores the same but added a button value to it like brushing your teeth and hair (or hairy teeth as the case might be) is worth 2 buttons. If they do their chore without being reminded to do it they get an extra white button, I changed the color mostly so I could keep track of how many chores they really do (the colored buttons) compared to extra things (the white buttons). It's the annalist in me and I'm anal that way... it doesn't really matter. Once they have enough buttons they can redeem them for an extra privilege like chocolate milk or an extra treat which costs them x number of buttons. I also incorporated the house rules into the mix. I think they go hand in hand, chores and rules that is. For each rule they break after they have been warned they get a time out and a button or so taken away depending on the offense. Everyone but Kaci has a list of chores. Mary has been doing chores since she turned 3 and you would be surprised how much a 3 year old can do (and will do).

I printed out the rules, the chores, and the redemptions and the different values of each and put them in frames on the wall so the kids could see what I expected of them and what they would get in return clearly laid out in front of them each day. The frames would be much cuter if I could find the gosh darned black paint that Kaci keeps hiding from me, oh and cute little buckets or tins for the buttons would have been cute to, but I digress... That's a big deal for my eldest. If he doesn't get told something over and over again or if it isn't in plain view every 5 minutes it doesn't exist. Also big for Cody and I so we're always on the same page and every things the same whether it comes from mom or dad.

So far it's been working like a charm. Better than that- it's heaven sent. I actually heard Ashlyn and Jeremy say "I want to clean my room" and "What else can I do". My house is cleaner and with the little things out of the way I was able to tackle some big things I haven't had time to get to.

Cookies as an earning prize doesn't hurt either...

Seriously though, go and be merry and make yourself sane with buttons and chores and cute lists and happy helpful children... I'll never be the same!

Halfway

Today marks the beginning of my 20th week- I'm officially halfway done baking this child, YEAH! I feel great (and fat). The big ultrasound is set for next Friday and hopefully this baby will cooperate so we will know what we're having. I'm not big on surprises, seriously, not at all. I'm not mean like some of my in-laws who find out and not tell so I will be sharing when I know ;o).

What do you think, girl or boy? According to the old wives tales this is what I've come up with so far- 'cause it's scientific and stuff you know.

If you get moody during pregnancy you are more likely to have a girl.

If others can tell that you are pregnant when looking at you from behind, then you will have a girl.

If the mother's age at conception and the year of conception are an even number, the baby is a girl.

If you suffer from acne during pregnancy, you will have a girl.

What side does the mom-to-be lay on while she's resting? If she lies on her right, it's a girl.

If young boys (pre-school age) ignore you, expect a boy.

If you dream of boys, you will have a girl.

A girl!

(~I say boy though~)