This Doll has EVERYTHING!!

Ok...not YET!! :) I've been busy trying to save money by NOT buying American Girl outfits! So far, it seems to be working since Ms. Priss gets excited every time I make something new for Jasmine...yep, that is her AG Doll's name! Here are a few things keeping me busy...

This was the first thing I made. It is just an easy coat and beret made from a few scraps of fleece. I wasn't sure if I would be able to sew such small seams, so I didn't want anything too complicated. Can't get any easier than fleece. Having no hems or edges to finish makes it less scary and it went super quick!! The pattern was from some free American Girl patterns I found and downloaded. The coat is Molly's raincoat.

Ms. Priss was so excited to have something new! Some of her BFFs wanted to get in on the "momma-made" trend!

Some super quick jersey nighties.

These nighties were made with one of the slip patterns. Cut up tee shirt for some "free" fabric, and add appliques from even more scrap pieces...instant goodness!

Some undies. Now, the pattern told me to do a stretch zigzag stitch along all of the edges...not liking that at all. Is it really needed for stretch jersey? I used a 75/11 stretch needle, but it still seemed to "eat" my fabric...what happened?? PLEASE make some suggestions oh wiser friends of mine!! :)

This one is Ms. Priss' favorite!

She is currently going through a cheetah faze! I used a McCall's pattern for this outfit. I got them while they were 99 cents at JoAnn's. Now if I can just replicate that charm!! HA!! I am currently working on a pair of corduroy boots, I am hand-stitching them because WOW do they have some itty bitty pieces!! And, oh...I did a matching cheetah bag too, but it didn't make it into the picture for some reason!

Yesterday, while Ms. Priss was "busy" on her Nintendo DS, the Middle Child and I made Jasmine a wardrobe to hold all of her new clothes.

This was made from a diaper box, contact paper, scrapbook paper, and a chopstick!! The Awesome Man said he would make a "real" one out of wood soon!! YAY!! My woodworker is back in business now that Football Season is OVER!! Ok, not yet but when the Saints lost...so did his interest in the NFL. YAY!! I mean, not for the Saint losing :( but for having my DIY hubby back!! Anyway, it was pretty simple, just cutting and sticking. We made some "hangers" using chenille stems, that idea could be re-worked since the clothes are a little bigger than one stem so maybe I'll try one and a half!

Well, lots of other things going on...just don't want to overload you on photos! I'll try and post more sooner! The MAIN reason I have been soooo busy is THIS guy:

Meet Houston. This was my Husband's Christmas present. Since this picture was taken, he has probably doubled in size!! Could be all of the SHOES he is eating!! UGH!! I have to be very adamant about PICKING THINGS UP!! And with three children, FIVE if you are counting the two GROWN boys...which I do since I am PICKING up after them too (?!), I have to make sure EVERYTHING is off of the floor or it is fair CHEWING game for this one!! I have my kennel cleaned and READY!! Many of my friends have suggested crate training, which I am WELL aware of because that is what we used for Floyd, but because of Abby (the world's BEST dog) we have gotten spoiled to the ways of a WELL trained dog. But, now that not one, but TWO of my Crocs have been eaten...I am ready!! :) Wish me luck and until later...

Welcome 2011!

Sorry...I know I am ELEVEN days into 2011, but I've been trying to keep my resolution to keep my house cleaner and more organized!! I know, I know...it is my resolution EVERY year!! But you know how it goes..."if you don't first succeed, try, try again!!" I am trying!! I've got my Christmas stuff down and put away...YAY!! I also spent a WHOLE day going through my THREE children's closets!! I was tired of tripping over BAGS and containers FULL of clothes that needed to be sorted and put in the attic! It was giving them an excuse to NOT keep the room clean! And this is a 20x20 foot room ya'll!!! Now I just need to go through all of the toys and throw out the broken ones!!! And you know how I HATE to throw stuff out!! :)

So anyway...I promised to be back with the gifts I made for some adults in my family...so without further ado....for my Momma:



I did all of the mouse ears on my monogramming machine, then sewed them onto the tee shirt. I wanted them to be BIG and DRAMATIC! What do you think?




And one for my lil' sister...


My daddy is not going to Disney World with us! :( We will get you off the porch ONE DAY, daddy!! xo



I had a hard time trying to think of something for my daddy!! But then I thought...PEPPERS!! He LOVES hot stuff! He grows his own peppers and makes his own hot sauce...that's some dedication ya'll!! :)


Did ya notice the pocket? Can't have a tee shirt withOUT a pocket!! HA!

Ok...so the last gift has been about 2 years in the making!!! Not because it is sooooo hard, or BIG even...but because I am the WORSE procrastinator in the WHOLE world!!!

My momma's sister was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. When I found out, I knew immediately that I wanted to make something for her. She lives in Texas, so we couldn't be with her during all of her Chemo and then Radiation Therapy. My idea was to make something she could have with her that would give her the feeling that we were all there "wrapping" our love around her! I know, sweet right? The problem is that I just didn't get it done!! She only has one child..but that child gave her three really great grandkids!! But because my Aunt is soooo full of love, she has always thought of my siblings and me as her own...just like my mom does my cousin...so of course our children are her extended grandchildren!! Makes sense, right?

She is Nana to all of the children!!

I did the big kids' hand prints with fabric paint on cotton jersey fabric. The little ones got their foot done! :) I started this when my brother's daughter was 2 months old!! She will be 3 in July!! I do have a little bit of defense for why it took some time...my cousin was pregnant with her oops third child at the time...so I needed to wait until after she was born so I could include her. Also, my family lives about 2 hours from me...not an ideal way to get everything I need! :)

The backing is a really soft cotton jersey fabric with a black damask-like print!! LOVE IT!

So I FINALLY finished it and gave it too her for Christmas!! Of course, she cried...which had us all tearing up!! She has been in remission for over a year now...we are blessed!!

I want to thank the generous givers at Sew Forum for the embroidery designs I used! I LOVE the little pink ribbon bird! I still haven't ventured into actual "quilting"...maybe this will be the year! Because of all of the super soft jersey I used, I wanted this quilt to be more like a fluffy comforter! It is smaller than what I originally intended...hey I had to cut corners to get it done!!! HA! Obviously 2+ years was not enough time!! ;)

Well...that is all for now! I have done a lot of sewing the last couple of weeks, and my SMS giveaway winner received her package...after a failed attempt..UGH!! So I will be back soon with more! Ms. Priss got an American Girl doll for Christmas...that should tell you what I've been sewing...I am REFUSING to spend $30 on DOLL CLOTHES...sheesh!! I know I will give in and look for sales because when you buy outfits, they also send charms that go on her necklace...I can't make those! :P So if any of you know of any AG doll clothes tutorials out there...send me an email and LINK!!! Until later...