Friday, March 26, 2010
Not Dead, Just Feel Like It
I just wanted to post that I'm still around and working on a garment. (A dress I think I may look like a sausage in, but it's good practice. And perhaps I will lose a few more pounds....hahahaha, yeah, right, sure, and maybe simians will aviate out of my posterior.) Thing is, without getting too downer heavy, I had a horrible cold and then as soon as that was over we've had problems with the selling of our house in TX. These problems have gotten me very upset and tense. And a little depressed and weepy (and a little gag-y). It's not just the house selling, but the money issues with moving and paying a rent and a mortgage. The credit cards have come out too often in the last month or so. Anyway, I'm sure God will help me endure and He will provide. If you practice religion I would appreciate prayers to help me with this difficult situation.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Easter Wreath and Kid Craft Boat
This past weekend I decided to finally do my Easter wreath for my front door. To be honest my front door has been naked except for a hook since Christmas. I was trying to do a St. Patrick's wreath, but I didn't like how it came out. I made this with things from my local Dollar Tree (with the exception of the spray paint).
The ring itself was a light beige, but I like darker colors so I spray painted the heck out of it last Friday. I had found wire rimmed ribbon with the festive egg pattern and wrapped it and ended with a bow (securing with hot glue at strategic points) and then using a pink wire rimmed ribbon folded in half to make a loop to hold it. Next I hot glued plastic fillable eggs and Styrofoam egg ornaments to the bottom. I glued them not only to the wreath, but to each other in places so if one comes loose it can hang on to another egg.
Second, our Kindermusik homework. We were sick last week so we missed class. I kept meaning to look in our lesson book to see if we had any homework, but it slipped my mind till earlier today. It turns out we did have homework. We had to make a boat. With no car and only what we had on hand this is what we came up with...
First we drew a triangle on a cereal box (it was about 6 inches or so) and a matching one out of construction paper (scrapbook paper would have been cute too). We probably could have used card stock, but I wanted something sturdier. I had Alex cut it out the triangles. At this point a more thinking ahead mom would have had their kid decorate the construction paper with markers or stickers (or stamps, or whatever). I was not that mom.
We then used tacky glue to glue the paper to the printed side of the cereal box. I hole punched a hole for the sail. Then I cut at all the points. Fold each side up and fold each corner over one another. I then cut off one of the overlapping corners and hot glued the remaining corner together. Now you have a triangle with sides, a nice base so no one goes overboard.
We then took a straw and put it in our hole. We cut ours to a little more than 5 inches. Secure it on bottom (I'm a hot glue nut so that's what I did). Then we drew a sail out of construction paper and Alex cut it out. This time I was a little smarter and I let him decorate the sail with markers. I think hole punched three holes in it. I cut the top of the straw at an angle because it helped it slide right though the holes. We are both pretty jazzed about it. It of course could be embellished and cleaned up a bit, but I like the made by a three year old charm of the rough edges and crazy marks.
The ring itself was a light beige, but I like darker colors so I spray painted the heck out of it last Friday. I had found wire rimmed ribbon with the festive egg pattern and wrapped it and ended with a bow (securing with hot glue at strategic points) and then using a pink wire rimmed ribbon folded in half to make a loop to hold it. Next I hot glued plastic fillable eggs and Styrofoam egg ornaments to the bottom. I glued them not only to the wreath, but to each other in places so if one comes loose it can hang on to another egg.
Second, our Kindermusik homework. We were sick last week so we missed class. I kept meaning to look in our lesson book to see if we had any homework, but it slipped my mind till earlier today. It turns out we did have homework. We had to make a boat. With no car and only what we had on hand this is what we came up with...
First we drew a triangle on a cereal box (it was about 6 inches or so) and a matching one out of construction paper (scrapbook paper would have been cute too). We probably could have used card stock, but I wanted something sturdier. I had Alex cut it out the triangles. At this point a more thinking ahead mom would have had their kid decorate the construction paper with markers or stickers (or stamps, or whatever). I was not that mom.
We then used tacky glue to glue the paper to the printed side of the cereal box. I hole punched a hole for the sail. Then I cut at all the points. Fold each side up and fold each corner over one another. I then cut off one of the overlapping corners and hot glued the remaining corner together. Now you have a triangle with sides, a nice base so no one goes overboard.
We then took a straw and put it in our hole. We cut ours to a little more than 5 inches. Secure it on bottom (I'm a hot glue nut so that's what I did). Then we drew a sail out of construction paper and Alex cut it out. This time I was a little smarter and I let him decorate the sail with markers. I think hole punched three holes in it. I cut the top of the straw at an angle because it helped it slide right though the holes. We are both pretty jazzed about it. It of course could be embellished and cleaned up a bit, but I like the made by a three year old charm of the rough edges and crazy marks.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Cranky Sharing Time
So last night was going to be like every other Friday. Some pizza and some flicks with my guys. Then I got the lame idea to go to Joann's because I didn't want to go into town this weekend and they were having a McCall's pattern sale.
As I've stated before, Joann's is pretty much all we have here with the exception of a high priced quilt shop. My mom used to work at Joann's when I was in high school (or college, sometimes it all bleeds together) and her and her co-workers were always helpful.
When I got there I saw two people working. An older woman and a "young" girl (younger than me). Another "young" girl arrived after I got there. I'm used to my Wal-mart back in Round Rock Texas where there was a woman always working that was really into fabric and helping people. Even at the Joann's in La Frontera they were kinda helpful. I know just from living here the last three and a half months that people in West Virginia don't believe in customer service. Like anywhere. Restaurants, stores, auto repair, anywhere. The Wal-mart greeters have frowns when you come in. Whenever I find someone that's helpful I go directly to them when I get where ever I am going. OK, whatever.
After finding my patterns and notions I needed I went to find someone to talk to about interfacing because I couldn't find the weight I needed. The older woman was ringing people up and the two girls were in the front of the store just yakking away. When I approached them they looked at me like I was interrupting their deeply important conversation. Then they really had no idea what I was talking about and weren't willing to help at all. Didn't even want to leave to go look at the shelf with me.
Then I find some other fabrics I needed and the older woman cut them for me. All the while one of the girls is yakking at her (instead of helping the customers that are lined up at the register or are wandering around looking for associates to help). I have no idea where the other girl is, but I'm confident she sure wasn't helping anyone.
I then remembered something else that I needed so I went to go find those fabrics. I come back to the table and there is finally someone else there (not in uniform so I don't know how anyone would know she works there) and she was good with the customer service, but she admitted she doesn't sew so she couldn't answer any questions. Frustrating.
Almost all the fabrics I bought were on sale, but I have an inkling I got mischarged on at least two. (So new rule, only go to Joann's when I'm bright eyed and bushy-tailed.) Then I had spent too much. I usually do a tally in my head while I'm shopping, but it got away from my and went from $40 to $90 awfully quick. (Damn fabric!) So, and I know how neurotic this is, I can't sleep because I spent too much money and I've given myself a stomach ache.
I know where I went wrong. I should have strolled in there gotten my patterns, my notions, and then only two regular priced fabrics for my two coupons and strolled out. No, I got over-excited like a new puppy (without the peeing on the floor, of course) and kept getting fabric. And, much like a puppy with an abusive master, I will keep going back to Joann's even though I feel like crap when I leave.
Just wanted to share...
As I've stated before, Joann's is pretty much all we have here with the exception of a high priced quilt shop. My mom used to work at Joann's when I was in high school (or college, sometimes it all bleeds together) and her and her co-workers were always helpful.
When I got there I saw two people working. An older woman and a "young" girl (younger than me). Another "young" girl arrived after I got there. I'm used to my Wal-mart back in Round Rock Texas where there was a woman always working that was really into fabric and helping people. Even at the Joann's in La Frontera they were kinda helpful. I know just from living here the last three and a half months that people in West Virginia don't believe in customer service. Like anywhere. Restaurants, stores, auto repair, anywhere. The Wal-mart greeters have frowns when you come in. Whenever I find someone that's helpful I go directly to them when I get where ever I am going. OK, whatever.
After finding my patterns and notions I needed I went to find someone to talk to about interfacing because I couldn't find the weight I needed. The older woman was ringing people up and the two girls were in the front of the store just yakking away. When I approached them they looked at me like I was interrupting their deeply important conversation. Then they really had no idea what I was talking about and weren't willing to help at all. Didn't even want to leave to go look at the shelf with me.
Then I find some other fabrics I needed and the older woman cut them for me. All the while one of the girls is yakking at her (instead of helping the customers that are lined up at the register or are wandering around looking for associates to help). I have no idea where the other girl is, but I'm confident she sure wasn't helping anyone.
I then remembered something else that I needed so I went to go find those fabrics. I come back to the table and there is finally someone else there (not in uniform so I don't know how anyone would know she works there) and she was good with the customer service, but she admitted she doesn't sew so she couldn't answer any questions. Frustrating.
Almost all the fabrics I bought were on sale, but I have an inkling I got mischarged on at least two. (So new rule, only go to Joann's when I'm bright eyed and bushy-tailed.) Then I had spent too much. I usually do a tally in my head while I'm shopping, but it got away from my and went from $40 to $90 awfully quick. (Damn fabric!) So, and I know how neurotic this is, I can't sleep because I spent too much money and I've given myself a stomach ache.
I know where I went wrong. I should have strolled in there gotten my patterns, my notions, and then only two regular priced fabrics for my two coupons and strolled out. No, I got over-excited like a new puppy (without the peeing on the floor, of course) and kept getting fabric. And, much like a puppy with an abusive master, I will keep going back to Joann's even though I feel like crap when I leave.
Just wanted to share...
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Alex's St. Pat's Shirt
I mostly finished Alex's shirt.
It has no buttons, but I knew with the cool weather that he was going to have to wear something underneath anyway. He really likes this. When Alex was born the motif of the nursery was Frog Prince (my favorite color is green) so throughout his life he's had a lot of things with frogs on them. (I also call him The Allie Gator so he's got a bunch of those too.) I used the shirt pattern from Simplicity 2907 and the fabric is from Joann Fabric. I re-did one of the sleeves (the super poofy one) so now it's totally a boy's shirt.
I was going to applique a tee to go with it, but there was a slight problem with the tee I was going to use. I had bought a bunch of tees from Target on clearance. They were just in a big stack at $1.50 a piece so I bought a bunch. Fast forward to a few days ago when I pull out one that I'm thinking of appliqueing. I unfold it and....it has little girl sleeves. I checked the rest of them and it's the only one. Bummer. I should have just used the tee he's wearing, but I didn't remember he had it till it was too late.
Next up....I have no idea. I found the Mickey Mouse shirt I had been working on before the move and I could probably work on that, but I'm not sure. I have a bunch of those It's So Easy It's Simplicity patterns I'm thinking would be quick and good practice. I will have to go shopping for odds and ends though (bias tape, zippers, lining fabric, etc.) because I always miss something on the back of the envelope when I'm shopping.
Happy St. Patty's!
It has no buttons, but I knew with the cool weather that he was going to have to wear something underneath anyway. He really likes this. When Alex was born the motif of the nursery was Frog Prince (my favorite color is green) so throughout his life he's had a lot of things with frogs on them. (I also call him The Allie Gator so he's got a bunch of those too.) I used the shirt pattern from Simplicity 2907 and the fabric is from Joann Fabric. I re-did one of the sleeves (the super poofy one) so now it's totally a boy's shirt.
I was going to applique a tee to go with it, but there was a slight problem with the tee I was going to use. I had bought a bunch of tees from Target on clearance. They were just in a big stack at $1.50 a piece so I bought a bunch. Fast forward to a few days ago when I pull out one that I'm thinking of appliqueing. I unfold it and....it has little girl sleeves. I checked the rest of them and it's the only one. Bummer. I should have just used the tee he's wearing, but I didn't remember he had it till it was too late.
Next up....I have no idea. I found the Mickey Mouse shirt I had been working on before the move and I could probably work on that, but I'm not sure. I have a bunch of those It's So Easy It's Simplicity patterns I'm thinking would be quick and good practice. I will have to go shopping for odds and ends though (bias tape, zippers, lining fabric, etc.) because I always miss something on the back of the envelope when I'm shopping.
Happy St. Patty's!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Mommy's Little Princess?!
Soo...the sleeves on the shirt I'm making for Alex didn't turn out so good...
This one is puffy...
This one is folded...
And this one got eaten by the shirt monster...
I foresee some seam ripping in my future.
This one is puffy...
This one is folded...
And this one got eaten by the shirt monster...
I foresee some seam ripping in my future.
Monday, March 8, 2010
St. Patrick's Shirt
Shirt's done!
This was one of the more difficult things I've made. The collar was a b...witch. I don't think I'm completely done with it. I had a hard time with the buttonholes for some reason. Then the buttonholes I made were too big so I'm going to have to stitch them up a little. I think I want to add a hook and eye to the top to make it lay a little better. I also probably could have gone a size smaller, but I didn't want to risk it. There are four "ninja pockets". (As in you can't really see them unless you are looking. Like a ninja...of love?)
Next I'm working on Alex's St. Pat's shirt. It has frogs and I'm thinking of appliqueing a t-shirt to go with it. Since the jammies I made him turned out too big I was at a loss on what pattern to do the shirt in since the two patterns I was considering didn't have XS. Just Small which is for I think size 5 so my three almost 4 year old would drown in it. Then I realized I had something I'm going to call Pattern Blindness. I had bought Simplicity 2907 for the vest and hadn't even seen the dress shirt pattern for up to size four. (The vest is totally on my to do list when I find the right fabulous material.)
One shirt down, one to go. Hope I can keep up the speed and get the shirt done before St. Patrick's Day. It will be cute either way, but I had envisioned it for St. Pat's.
Since I finished it today I'm going to share it on Made By You Monday on Skip To My Lou. Bam!
This was one of the more difficult things I've made. The collar was a b...witch. I don't think I'm completely done with it. I had a hard time with the buttonholes for some reason. Then the buttonholes I made were too big so I'm going to have to stitch them up a little. I think I want to add a hook and eye to the top to make it lay a little better. I also probably could have gone a size smaller, but I didn't want to risk it. There are four "ninja pockets". (As in you can't really see them unless you are looking. Like a ninja...of love?)
Next I'm working on Alex's St. Pat's shirt. It has frogs and I'm thinking of appliqueing a t-shirt to go with it. Since the jammies I made him turned out too big I was at a loss on what pattern to do the shirt in since the two patterns I was considering didn't have XS. Just Small which is for I think size 5 so my three almost 4 year old would drown in it. Then I realized I had something I'm going to call Pattern Blindness. I had bought Simplicity 2907 for the vest and hadn't even seen the dress shirt pattern for up to size four. (The vest is totally on my to do list when I find the right fabulous material.)
One shirt down, one to go. Hope I can keep up the speed and get the shirt done before St. Patrick's Day. It will be cute either way, but I had envisioned it for St. Pat's.
Since I finished it today I'm going to share it on Made By You Monday on Skip To My Lou. Bam!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Chugging Along
Still working on my shirt. I've found it hard to find time to work on it. Space is an issue as well. I conquered all four pockets and got them on the front sections, have the front and back stitched together, and have the sleeves pinned. Then I almost fell asleep at the machine so I'm thinking I should stop. So far I think it looks pretty good.
My goal is to finish my shirt this weekend and start and finish Alex's shirt next week. Then we will be St. Patrick-tastic for the day! We will see if it actually pans out that way.
Our "office" room is filled with boxes so we don't have anything else in there. This means when I sew I take over the dining room table. Usually when I'm working Alex and Brian are in the living room so I feel like I'm an outcast all alone in the other room.
Last week I spread out my huge cardboard sewing board on the bed and traced and cut out pattern pieces all Sunday. My husband told me later he missed me all day. I'll figure out how to make it work...eventually.
My goal is to finish my shirt this weekend and start and finish Alex's shirt next week. Then we will be St. Patrick-tastic for the day! We will see if it actually pans out that way.
Our "office" room is filled with boxes so we don't have anything else in there. This means when I sew I take over the dining room table. Usually when I'm working Alex and Brian are in the living room so I feel like I'm an outcast all alone in the other room.
Last week I spread out my huge cardboard sewing board on the bed and traced and cut out pattern pieces all Sunday. My husband told me later he missed me all day. I'll figure out how to make it work...eventually.
Monday, March 1, 2010
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