Father's Day Gift

For Father's Day the boys and I made these for daddy. There's more info here about how we actually made them.

New Pin Cushion

I've been wanting to make this pin cushion for a while and finally got around to it. I won't give instructions on how to make it, but you find them here. I've had this set of vintage jello molds that I got from my grandmother and although I don't use them for jello molds my boys like to use them to hold dip for veggies. However, I never use all of them and thought they would make a great base for a pin cushion. It really was an easy project (although the glue stinks something terrible) and now I have a cute little pin cushion sitting on my desk.

Hopscotch Camis GIVEAWAY!!!!

Aren't these just the cutest little tops and I have the cutest little niece that would look perfect in one of them (in about 6 months : )
Hopscotch Camis GIVEAWAY!!!!

Mother's Day Gift

I made this for my Mom for Mother's Day. It's a big piece of canvas and I painted it and then put pieces of scrap paper that I had stamped or written the names of God on. I really liked the way it turned out and she seemed to like it too.

Super Hero Cape

I made this Super Hero Cape for Reece for his 2nd Birthday and he LOVES it. I just free hand drew the cape outline and it worked fine.

I made a couple of mistakes with this one that I won't make when I make one for Seth and Wyatt. I did the order of the felt backwards. I started with the white and went out to the initial and I should have started with the initial because it wouldn't bond after the white circle. Also, the neck hole is too big so it gapes a little bit. Oh well, it's still super cute (at least I think so).

A New Tree Tee

This was just a plain green t-shirt that was handed down to me. Since I have plenty of plain t-shirts I decided to try something on it that I had seen on another blog. I used a bleach pen to draw a design on it. I went with a tree because the shirt was green. I learned a couple of things on this little project. First of all, if you're going to do a big design, like I did, then make sure to work in sections. The bleach works fast, so it will bleach out the part you start with quickly and then look a lot lighter than where you finish. I had to go back over where I ended to make it more even. Also, make sure you have a full bleach pen. The one I started with wasn't full so I ran out halfway through which made it kind of spit out bleach at the end and get some spots on the shirt. As you finish the section you're working on just rinse it in cold water to get the bleach off and then lay it out to dry.
I'm happy with the finished product because I know that noone else will have something like it and it was free.

The Lunch Date Blouse GIVEAWAY!!!!

Check out the amazing giveaway going on over at Grosgrain right now! I would absolutely love to own this blouse and while I'm not sure it would fit me, I know who it would fit and she would love to get it as a gift.
The Lunch Date Blouse GIVEAWAY!!!!

Check out these Awesome Purses

I found out about this fantastic group from another blog that I read. If you're looking for a great gift for a special woman in your life head on over and buy them one of these fantastic purses. This opportunity is providing for women in Haiti by teaching them a skill. A SKILL!! You can't beat that. Plus, it recycles fabric for another purpose (which you know I love). So seriously, check this out, by some purses and support an amazing cause.
From their website:
Heartline Haiti is a mission that runs a Sewing Program to provide women a means to support themselves. These purses have been handmade by women in the program located in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. They are made by hand of recycled fabric and burlap sugar sacks. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, and poverty, famine, disease, and hurricanes have made it very difficult for the people there. This is a great opportunity to buy a cute, handmade bag that will help support a local woman living in Haiti. This is a real way to bring change to the nation of Haiti; one woman and one bag at a time. You are taking a personal interest in her and her life. It's working too. These ladies are buying their own sewing machines, paying for their children to go to school and buying stoves with money still in their business accounts.

Crayon Rolls

I made these crayon rolls for Christmas presents for the boys. I combined two tutorials I had seen on other blogs. I really liked the fold over flap from Little Munchkins (for some reason I couldn't link directly to the tutorial, so go to the blog and there's link on the side for the tutorial) and I liked the vinyl lining and cord stop closure from Skip To My Lou. So, I combined those two to make mine. I used Crayola Twistable Crayons for a little added special treat for the boys and I think they'll be happy. I definitely see more crayon rolls in the future for friend's birthday gifts. They were really easy to make.

All three rolled and ready to go

Great Giveaway on Kiddio

There's a great giveaway for your pick of a fantastic dress over at Kiddio. So head on over and check it out!!

From Outdated Peasant Shirt to Updated Peasant Shirt

You'll have to excuse the nasty hair and no make up, but that's what happens when you're at home raising three little boys.
So, I've had this shirt for quite a while now. I used to wear it a lot (years and years ago), but I haven't worn it in ages. It's out dated and I just don't like it. So, I decided to make it into something I would wear instead of just hiding it away in the back of my closet. First I cut the sleeves off because I didn't like the elastic three quarter length sleeves it had and made it short sleeved. Then I took off the nasty brown beads it had sewn on the embrodery. Most of them had rubbed down and looked pretty bad (as you can see from the picture. The result is a MUCH cleaner look. I also shortened the tie tassles. So, instead of hanging to my belly button and drawing attention to my not so perfect midsection they hang with the rest of the decor on the shirt. I'm really pleased with how it turned out. I just wish I would have done it earlier in the summer so I could have worn it during our hot weather.

See the nasty worn down beads
Tada...Finished product

I won a Giveaway!!!

I am super late in posting about this, but it happened while we were on vacation in DC. I actually won a GIVEAWAY!! Can you believe it?
It was a fantastic giveaway too!! Jessica Levitt over at Juicy Bits gave me the cutest fabric pictured below. AND can I just state for the record that she has the BEST business cards I've ever seen?! They are cardstock, but she has stiched them onto not one, but TWO pieces of fabric with PINK thread. They are to die for! Anyway, I've got a couple of things that I'm mulling over to do do with the fabric. She was super sweet and in the giveaway asked the contestants what their favorite colors were, then she sent me fabric with the colors that I had stated. I'm so happy. So, head on over to her blog and get inspired. The Monster Party she threw for her daughter's 4th birthday is fantastic. I've got a 2 year old's birthday in January and I'm thinking I may copy some of her ideas : )

Finally, a Refashion

After months of wanting to get this done I finally got around to making the pajama pants from a sheet that been sitting in my linen closet for years. I don't know how old the sheet actually is (it was a hand-me-down from my mom), but I thought the little pink detail was super cute and I loved that I didn't have to hem the leg because I just used the blue top of the sheet as the bottom "cuff" of the leg. I've never done elastic in a waist before and that was a PAIN in my behind! If anyone has any suggestions I would gladly take them. I used Simplicity pattern 3573. I made them quite a bit shorter than the pattern because I don't want to be tripping over them on the stairs. I'm really happy with my first refashion. I have enough of the sheet to make a matching top, but I don't like the top on the pattern that I have, so I've got to come up with something else.

Great Giveaway on Another Blog

There's another blog that I read all the time called Splendid Things. She always has great craft things (I LOVE the cabinet door screen she made) and she is having a giveaway this week. It's not something she made, but it's still something pretty darn great. So, head on over and check it out.

Bookmarks for Bookmark Swap

I completed my bookmarks for the bookmark swap I signed for with Ibbybee. I am really happy with how they turned out and I hope the girl that receives them likes them too.

I embroidered red flowers on denim fabric for this one and I think it's really cute.

I made this one with three different blue and white fabrics. One of the fabrics had a yellow stripe and that's why I used the yellow thread.

I made this one with cardstock and I inked the edges. I glued the top of the smaller piece to the larger piece so that you can mark the page that you want. It's got a coordinating big green dot sticker. I think it's pretty cute too.

Threadbanger

I've just recently discovered Threadbanger and OH MY WORD!! They have some of the coolest ideas I've ever seen. I can't wait to make the embellished summer tank and if I can find enough old ratty t-shirts then I'm definitely making the t-shirt picnic blanket/backpack. I love the episodes that they have. It rocks.

Wardrobe Refashion

I just sent off an email to sign up for 2 Months of the Wardrobe Refashion Challenge. I'm super excited about this. I read the posts that current members put up all the time and I love what they're doing so I can't wait to be a part of it. Check it out here.

McCall's Sewing Book 1968

My mom gave me an old book of her's that I am just loving. It is McCall's Sewing Book from 1968. One of the sections that I found particularly amusing is Wardrobe Needs Section.
At Home: The homemaker often makes the big mistake of thinking she does not have to look her best when doing her daily chores. Actually, ill fitting clothes lower her morale and make her less able to cope with everyday trials. This doesn't mean she has to dress up, but it does mean that she should look neat and trim. (Obviously this person has never chased 3 boys around a house all day.) If you look well and feel comfortable in slacks or shorts, wear them when working in the home. But be sure you look well in them and that they fit properly. A simple shirtwaist or wrap-around with flared or pleated skirt will often present a much more attractive appearance and be just as comfortable as pants. For evenings at home a simple dress is always in good taste. But dress up a little if you wish. It adds a touch of gaiety or elegance to a family gathering. However, the degree of dressing-up depends on your situation. Fancy pants or long skirts may look ludicrous in one place, marvelous in another.
For Shopping: By this, we mean shopping in a city dipartment store. Slacks and shorts are taboo. Again, simple dresses and suits are best. A comfortable topcoat which can be worn over suit or dress is most useful. (I wonder what they'd say about shopping at Target?)

Holly Hobby

While looking through a box of my old belongings I came across this old pillow that used to lie on bed when I was a little girl. As I only have boys there's not much use for it now. However, I do think that she would be so cute sewn on the bottom of my plain jane blue or maybe pink tank top. So, I'm wondering how easy it would be to remove her from the pillow and then reattach her to the bottom corner of my tank. I thought putting her in the middle of the shirt would look too "little girly", but I thought I might be able to get away with the corner. She's about 8 inches tall. I know I also have the matching blanket somewhere. I need to go digging for it and se if I might have a smaller version.

Bookmark and Book Swap

Yeah, I've signed up for my very first swap!! I signed up over on IbbyBee for a bookmark and thrifted book swap. I am so excited! We will make 3 bookmarks and send along a thrifted book to the person that we are partnered with. We've given a list of 3 genres of books that we're interested in so that our partner has a clue as to what we like. One bookmark has to made of paper, one has to be made of fabric and the third is up to the crafter. I really can't wait to find out about my partner and get started.