What a Weekend!! Packages, Zipper Bags, and Moving in the MIL!

Yes, you heard that right! This was the weekend of the big Move-In! My MIL lived with us before for about 3 years, but when I was expecting the Middle Child, I knew it would be too hard for me to care for her. So she went into an Assisted Living Facility, but now she is back! So, if my posts start to fall more behind than usual, I hope you will understand and check back in on me from time to time :)

Now...enough about me, let me tell you about my friends!!! I am so thankful that I started this blog and have had the opportunity to meet such an awesome assortment of amazingly TALENTED people! Every one of you, that has commented or followed or just viewed my creations and silly ramblings mean so much to me! I am blessed and I just want to take this time to say "Thank You". Now about those "talented" friends and the PACKAGES!! I WON!! I won a giveaway over on Kindershop Online!! Even though I won by default, because the original winner didn't leave an email or way of contact, I still consider myself a winner!!! Look what I won:

Thanks SO much, girl! I love it! And look at those cute buttons! I know it is a little hard to see, I took the pictures in a rush! But there are buttons shaped like pencil sharpeners in there!! Too Cute!! And aren't some of these little projects just so simple, but cute!

There are patterns for bloomers, a dress, simple pants, stencilling (above), and a diaper bag, that is so simple and sleek that it doesn't even look like a diaper bag to me!! Can't wait to try that one!

And some cute little softies, and bookends, and taggies, and a soft rattle!! So sweet!

I really like this book....now what to make first???

Well, before I can make anything new.....I have to finish up my orders! Before the Big Move, I was able to finish up some zipper bags, a couple of birthday crown and tu-tu sets, and started on some embroidered tees and onesie/ bloomers set!! This week I'll be trying to finish those up, and starting on my sweet little niece's Halloween costume, and a Halloween inspired birthday hat/ bib set! Whew!! Busy! Busy! Before I show you the zipper bags, I want to take this space to thank my friend at Hootie...gives a Hoot? She is so sweet, and being the loyal bloggy friend that she is ordered something from me, and sent me the most beautiful card!!

Isn't it lovely? And did I mention that her 15 year old daughter drew it?? The TALENT!! For an Art Fundraiser at her school, she drew this fabulous depiction of The Nutcracker Ballet and it was put on cards! I LOVE IT!! Thank you so much! This little lady will be one to watch! You can check out all of her creations over the years HERE! I only hope that my children develop such love for art! And that I have the ability to inspire them like her Momma so obviously does! So far so good!! :)

Ok....on to the zipper bags!

This one is made from an outdoor canvas.

These are made from a really soft, velvety vinyl. They are for twins who both love soccer! I hope they are "different" enough!

And this ONE!! WOW, can I tell you what having a Teflon foot does for sewing on sticky vinyl??!!! ZIP, ZIP and it's DONE!! Thank you so much Allie! I know I've thanked you before, but REALLY!! :) I have a Brother sewing machine, and I got a universal Teflon foot on EBAY for $8!!! Awesome! Anyway, this one needed a new Travel bag for her son's toothbrush! Maybe a little too big, height-wise, we'll see!

I guess that about wraps up my musings for tonight!! I hope you all had a great weekend and look forward to the week ahead!! Keep me in your thoughts and send me the strength I know I'll need in this time of adjustment! If all goes as planned, I'll be back with finished orders, an AWESOME Pretty Pleated Purse review from a pattern I got from Tenth Muses Studios, and a new little thing I am FINALLY starting....a PIF, which means Pay it Forward!! I jumped in on the PIF fun through Urban Craft, who is witty and talented! And I knew that because I have the GREATEST bloggy friends, I wanted to participate in this. So, I will pick a couple of you to send random things that I think you will like! It is my way of giving back to a community that has given SO MUCH to me! I really appreciate you all!! Until later...

Embellished Tote and a Sweet Lil Mouse

I have been CRAZY busy this week with orders *WOO HOO*!! Which I am hoping to finish up soon! While I've been waiting for design choice emails, I've been getting the Middle Child ready for Pre-K! Another *WOO HOO*! :) We decided, because she is "the middle child", that she needed to start a Pre-K 3 program, instead of waiting another year. She is only going two days a week, but she is SO EXCITED! Tomorrow is her first day, and I couldn't let her go with just her plain ole school tote bag!! On the other side of the bag is the screen printed school logo, but I got permission to EMBELLISH...so away I went!! I gave her the choice of polka dots or flowers...guess what she chose? I think it came out super cute, and she LOVES it! Now I'll stop tooting my own horn for today and give you a link that shows you how to make a REAL back pack!! Eva at Uniquety drew up her own pattern and away SHE went, but with pictures....and step-by-step instructions!! I see one of those in my future, because they are just AWESOME!!

Speaking of AWESOME, have you visited Wee Folk Art yet? Love their patterns...and did I mention they are FREE?? Look what Ms. Priss made:

EEK! A mouse! Bookmark! Isn't it so sweet? I did the ears, eyes and whiskers, but she braided the tail...at least more than half of it anyway! And she stitched it together! She brought it to school today, and everyone oohed and aahhed over it!! Kimara and Michelle just come up with the cutest things, and they are so easy....well SOME of them are! :) I don't EVEN want to attempt some of the more difficult stitching techniques...but it is nice to know that when I am ready...they will be there!
Well, if you have noticed I've added a few things on the left! I have a slide show for some of the Embroidery Fonts I have...and let me tell you I HAVE ALOT MORE! I don't think I am ready to even start trying to do a Designs slide show OR an Applique one!! This stuff is time consuming!! But, I will be more ORGANIZED...and that my friends is my ultimate goal! :) Until later...

Team Tu-Tus

In South Louisiana we take our football seriously. How cute would it be to go tailgating in these tu-tus? I love making these because the color combinations are unlimited. And it is good practice for me to try all different colors so I can work on my color mixing!!

I am so ready for the Fall. It is my favorite season. Not only am I ready for cooler weather, but there is just something nostalgic about Autumn. The smell of leaves burning always takes me back. The beginning of a new school year was something to get excited about. Getting new clothes, shoes, and school supplies was a big deal around our house since my mother was always the avid budgeter. We would go on two big shopping trips a year, once at the beginning of school, and once before Easter. We would get our Easter outfits and summer clothes.

Oh, but enough about me....

Above on the right is, of course, an LSU tu-tu. I love the polka-dotted ribbon, it just adds a little something.


And next, the New Orleans Saints tu-tu. I used a pale yellow with the black, and added some gold sheer organdy ribbon. I think it came out pretty good!



Here is one for the local college, The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Rajun Cajuns

Aren't the red and white polka dots darling? This particular tu-tu found a new home with a sweet little girl who just turned one! You know, I've been debating combining the UL colors with the LSU ones because here in Lafayette there are a lot of families that consider themselves "A House Divided". That is because maybe one parent went to UL and the other to LSU. See....SERIOUS football fans!

And this one is from my hometown, or close enough... Southeastern Louisiana University Lions
This is where I went to college, but at the time they did not have a football team. The college opened its admission and was named the Fastest Growing University for a little while, then they had to close the admissions again because the school grew BIGGER than the small town could accommodate!! I've got the parking ticket receipts to prove it!! It was a nightmare! A couple years ago they finally started the football program back up, and the locals have a College football game to go to on Saturday nights once again!!

Do you have a favorite team? What are the colors? Remember...I'm trying to learn! :)

I have a couple of these Team Tu-tus in Hammond. They are featured at Baby Rossie, which has some gorgeous Cribs and furniture for the nursery. And the bedding they have on display are always unique and current! It makes me want to have another one, just so I can have a nursery to decorate.....NOT!!!

But seriously, it is a sweet store. Well, I am off to finish some orders, which I am SO EXCITED to have. This economic downturn has seriously affected my sewing and crafting habits! So if you see anything you like...and you don't think you could make it yourself.....I would LOVE to make something for you. These tu-tus are 8 inches in length and start at $15 for sizes that range from newborn to 24 months. Have a great weekend, until later...

Big Sister Dress

Last week I joined a Group on the Acadiana Moms site that is for moms who make things. I lurk there from time to time because it has lots of good information about happenings around Lafayette. I was very excited to find so many talented local moms! Some have Internet businesses, and others just like to dally in sewing and craftiness in general. For example, Nicole has had a successful Internet business for some time now. She makes fabulous bows and tu-tus, and lots more pretty girly things! She is the one who invited me to join the group, and has been very sweet and encouraging. Thanks Nicole! You can check her out at Fat Potato Designs. She has also began featuring some local creations from other moms on her site!

Well, I couldn't figure out how to post pictures on the Group page, so I just left my blog link and invited them to check out what I've been up to...a couple days later I got a sweet email from a mom-to-be wanting a dress for her daughter to wear for the VERY soon arrival of the new baby! She kinda knew what she wanted, but was not sure there would be enough time for me to make a dress before the birth. I assured her that I am the WORST procrastinator on the PLANET, but would try my hardest to get something done SOON!! (For everyone out there waiting for something from me....I am SORRY!! She bumped you!) We corresponded by email ALOT, until we knew for sure what she wanted. She chose this dress style, which is very similar to the Itty Bitty Dress, from Made by Rae, who is AWESOME and just had a sweet baby girl! There is also a toddler-sized version you can find here. Here is the slight difference:

I added this tie in the back. The dress was a little big, so to fix it, this is what we decided on. Several options were given that involved ribbons for trim in the front and ties in the back, but ultimately she just wanted same-colored ties. I really like the colors, which I had nothing to do with...thankfully!! When she first told me what colors she wanted, my non-color coordinated brain said "WHA....?" But I gotta tell you, I really like the lime green on Navy. You see, this is why I need people to TELL me what they want, and NOT leave it up to me!! My brain doesn't wander far from conservative colors. I am too afraid to "mix it up"!! My luck, when I actually do try....it won't match! :) Well, here is one more shot of the dress on my "model"!

Check out that bottom hem....I hand-stitched it!! See Allie, I'll be doing your Portholes before you know it!! :D Until later...

Birthday Crowns

My good friend's niece/godchild had a First birthday party this weekend! She shared it with another little girl who also turned one. So my friend calls me up, actually comes by Friday evening and decides she DOES want me to make something for her. And for the other little girl. And by the way, the party is tomorrow at 3, can you have something done before then? AND she brings a bottle of wine, so we can get "snookered" and decide what to make! Even though I've been asking her for about a MONTH, "do you want me to make something for your niece?" "Doesn't she have her 1st birthday coming up?" "What is her theme?" I would ask her these kind of things every time we spoke. She would say, "Nah, I'll just get her something, I don't want you to have to make anything." "Oh, yeah, but I don't think it is going to be anything big." And, "I don't know if there is a theme, she and another little girl are sharing the party." Infuriating isn't she!! :) Good thing I love her! We had a great time, and finally made it into my sewing room, where we decided on Birthday crowns, because they are cute and fast.

And thankfully she told me EVERYTHING the way she wanted them. She even gave me a little education about matching colors. After all, she is a teacher. After she picked the colors, trim and embroidery font and colors we "visited" some more, then she left and I would love to say I got to work, but....let's just say there was no need for me to be trying to pick up a pair of scissors and cut a STRAIGHT line!! :D So instead, I went to bed!

But I got up bright and early and got to work! I think they came out okay considering...I know there are a couple of wonky stitches, and my embroidery machine decided to color outside the lines in some places, but overall...not bad!! Hope you all had a great weekend! Until later...

Sew easy...a Six year old can do it!

We've been working on Ms. Priss's hand stitching. What do you think?


Although Beatrix sent me some beautiful clip arts to print out and use as a template, our girl insisted on drawing her own and then cutting it out. She can't help it....she gets the WONKY honestly! :) These are magnets for her bed...that is if I ever finish the painting of it! I did put the buttons on, but everything else is all her! I love it! She did only one a day, her attention span is not the longest....she gets that honestly too!

Here are some of the back to school items in action...



If you look closely, you can just make out a headband I made. She is my walking advertisement! And just loves to say, "my mommy made this for me!" *sniff* SO proud!

So, as you can see, hand stitching is so easy. It might not be pretty at first, but with practice, you'll be churning out neat little stitches and pretty little hand stitched items. At least that is what I keep telling myself!! :) Wee Folk Art decided to add MORE designs to their Contour Barrette patterns. awesome. And Kimara is just the sweetest. There is a little mouse bookmark design I showed Ms. Priss....she squealed and will be ready to do it this weekend! She already has a list of people she wants to make some for. Hopefully it will hold her attention long enough to finish ONE!

Join in on the Hand sewing fun over at Sew Mama Sew! All you need to do is make a comment and you'll be entered to win a hand sewing kit! Also, don't forget the giveaway over on Kindershop. I just received my order from her Etsy shop....LOVE them. They are Pit Boo Boo pads...all you mommas need to try these. They are freezable/heatable double stitched Boo Boo pads that have CHERRY PITS inside of them. They smell so good, and what's great is that they don't freeze into a big BLOCK of ice, it is moldable and it doesn't get too cold...my kids LOVE that! I ordered the sweet little owls, and a set of Fireman fabric ones...awesome! The pits come from the "Cherry capital" Traverse, MI (did I get that right?), Allie is that anywhere around you? You might have to take another road trip! ;)
Well it's off to bed with me, I have to make a breakfast "punch" for the AWESOME teachers at Woodvale Elementary tomorrow morning! The PTC is putting a little Welcome Back Breakfast buffet in the teacher's lounge for them to run in and grab little bites during the morning! Aren't we the sweetest parents??!! Until later...

Back to School

The 2nd grade Supply List had a Heavy Duty zipper bag (found at WalMart) as one of the needed supplies. Now what kind of Crafty Momma would I be if I sent Ms. Priss to school with one of those? She also had a friend with a birthday last week, so she got one too!


The girls had fun going through all of my embroidery designs looking for the perfect self expression to add along with their names. And they got to pick the font and all of the colors! Right down to the color of the mermaids eyes, and stripes on the kitty!
I've had this upholstery fabric forever, and have made other things with it. I love being able to go to my stash and find what I need! I haven't done a zipper in a while, but after carefully reading the directions on the package, I decided to wing it! :) By the second one, I felt like a pro. Maybe it is time to try a skirt or dress?

And no matter how much I tried to dissuade the cheap $9 backpack, this was the one that was needed:

So I tried to find the perfect monogram match, and I think I did pretty good!


Hopefully the backpack will make it through the year. I prefer JanSports myself!

The last items are my attempts to join in on the fun over at Sew Mama Sew! It is hand sewing month. There is so much talent going on over there so click on over and check out the cuteness!

These little cuties came from Wee Folk Art. Well the pattern for the barrette covers, and the little flowers and cupcakes did. This is what I did on my mini Vacation! I had to finish them up once I got home, but I think they are not too bad. I think I have a long way to go to become as good as the ladies over there. If you like hand sewing, you really need to check out all of their AWESOME and free patterns! A truly inspirational blog! Of course, if we are going to talk about hand sewing.... then you really need to visit some of my other bloggy friends that are WAY better at it than me. Allie even makes her own designs and shares them with all of us! She is so sweet and super talented! And there is always some beautiful hand stitching going on at Kindershop Online! Her flowers are NEVER wonky! Go congratulate her and enter her 100th post giveaway!! Amy did some fancy stitching for her mom, called Sashiko embroidery and was even doing it right before they wheeled her in the delivery room!! Now she is hand stitching while holding her beautiful new baby girl! Ladies, I am so happy I stumpled upon you, you are all so talented and truly an inspiration to me! And like my friend Stephanie so wisely said after she hand sewed a softie, "I was in need of some sewing for my soul." So all of you out there who wish they had a sewing machine....just pick up a needle, thread, embroidery floss, or whatever you like to use and make something. And don't forget to leave a comment over at Sew Mama Sew! during this week, you could win a Hand Sewing Kit!

Back to the Grind....almost!

WOW! It has been over a week since my last post! I feel I am being negligent! We got in Tuesday night around midnight (thanks for the nice LONG stopover daddy!), and I have been trying to get it together since! I am most definitely NOT a cleaner....I HATE to clean, and my poor house was left in such disarray when we went on our mini-vacation to the beach that I have been trying to clean it since Wednesday!! I say trying because those of you with small children know that as soon as you clean one room and move on to the next....well let's just say that first room is not so clean when you go back in it!! ARGH!!!! Thankfully the place we stayed had a washer and dryer so I was able to come home with clean clothes, but since there were DIRTY clothes here when I left....well, I've been doing some washing as well! So, all of this means there has been little time to sew since coming home! But thankfully, I have some things I held back on my last post....so here we go.


A cute little polka-dotted hooded towel, with a matching ribbon! It held up really well on the beach, with daily washing and drying. Although the little satin ribbon I used on the bow is starting to unravel a little. I love the font on this towel, it is Carmen, and I got it from a generous giver over on Sew Forum!

Next up is a beach bag made from a vinyl tablecloth I purchased at Target at the end of last Summer for $2! It is a quality vinyl which held the monogramming stitches and did not suffer any damage from being dragged on the beach!


I used the vinyl on the inside as well, so it was VERY easy to keep clean, didn't mind wet towels or swim suits, and the sand wiped out and off easily! I just used a Velcro tab closure across the top, because this bag and the two more girly bags were usually stuffed full!

The straps are also from the tablecloth, but this time I inserted them between the outer bag and liner, going over them a couple times as I top stitched it closed.

Remember all of the shirring I was talking about? Well here it is! I was doing a pair of the cute gingham bloomers for The Middle Child and started doing the elastic thread around the leg hem, when I realized....this isn't the leg!!! It was the waist!!! OOPS! Well, my kids have a couple of pairs of shorts with shirred waistbands, so why not?

The more rows you do tightens it a little more, so I just had to have her keep trying them on until we got the right fit! I like this because #1 no casing or elastic to insert, and B I think it is a more comfortable fit around the waist! I think that when I start on my Pajama Week, which I have been trying to convince all of my bloggy friends we need to do!!, I would rather do this type of waistband instead of the regular elastic since it doesn't fit so "tight"! What do you think?

So I had this skirt already made, just waiting for the casing and elastic.... It is a little long because there was no length taken for the casing, so I can add another band of fabric and add straps to make it a dress, or add straps and give it to Ms. Priss as a top, or even a skirt since it is stretched around a size 6 "dress" form, I use that term loosely, of course...it is just a plastic body form that came with a bathing suit I bought! :) I haven't tried it on her yet, but I think it will be stretchy enough around her waist. AHHH I love having these options! Elastic thread is AMAZING! I also made a pair of pink gingham bloomers and a red gingham top for Ms. Priss, but didn't take pictures. Maybe next post...I will be displaying all of my back-to-school items, since it will be starting next Tuesday!! The Middle Child will be starting a Pre-K 3 program at the end of August. Just me and The Boy two days a week! Will I be able to get more accomplished? HA!

And in closing, Amy from During Quiet Time tagged me with an interesting idea...
1-Collect the book that you have most handy
2-Turn to page 161
3-Find the 5th complete sentence
4-Cite the sentence on your blog
5-Pass it on to five other blogger friends

So here's my dilemma...The two books next to me are Sewing Green by Betz White, which I love, but it only has 142 pages. Next is Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little ones, which I also love, but page 161 is a picture page...flipping to page 162...I guess this would be the 5th complete sentence:

"With the coordinating solid fabric, follow the manufacturer's
instructions to fuse the Wonder-Under to the Wrong side of the fabric, then
cut:
- 1 heart applique', using the pattern piece."

So there it is...I am not going to tag anyone, since I just did one, but feel free to participate in this one, let me know and I will link to you! Until later...