Cleaning House again

Last year, I started off with this grand plan to have a clean house within 30 days.  (See that meager beginning here.)  Now, it's the first Monday of 2011 and it's time to attack the house again.  I'm so glad I saved my cleaning schedule!!!  That'll help me stay on track once again as I purge the junk and clutter from the recesses of my closets! 

Pray for me please.  Pray that the Lord will help me to be ruthless as I toss out un-needed items and junk that I've hung on to for years because, "I'm gonna use that!"

Easter Dress Fabric Shopping

This afternoon, I had to take The Teen to get the hardware off of his chompers. Just look at this beautiful smile!!! You cannot imagine how many shots it took to get this photo. It finally took a threat from the orthodontist to get this grin. What a handsome teen!!!

Yeah, I know his eyes are half closed but I guess I settled for what I could get.

In order to kill 3 hours of orthodontist time, I left the Teen and went in search of fabric for my girls Easter dresses. I chose these beautiful cotton florals AND

This gorgeous polyester Taffeta. You can see that it has a grain to it. There was another word after "Taffeta" on the bolt but I can't remember what it was. It started with an "M" though!
Now, for the hard part. Choosing which fabric to make the Easter dress out of. Hmmmm.

Easter Dress Pattern Shopping

I went to Walmart today and did some looking around in what's left of their sewing department. Even though they've moved all the fabric out, the patterns were still available. I'm really upset about them getting rid of the sewing department. You have no idea! Some of that $1.00 a yard fabric is really cute! But alas, I'll have to find another source. In the meantime, I came home with the following patterns. I'm trying to find simple pull over stuff as I really don't want to take the time to mess with zippers or other fasteners.

Simplicity pattern #2711 - Isn't this cute? I especially like the pin tucks on the front.

Simplicity #3510 - Another cute pullover
Simplicity Pattern #5695 - Pullover
New Look Easy Pattern #6309 - Now this one does have a 14" zipper up the back.

However, I think I can modify it to pullover.
McCall's Easy Stitch N Save Pattern #M5908 - Also a pull over pattern

I'm leaning towards the first picture or the 2nd to last one for the Easter dress but the other patterns can be used for other outfits later. Wish me luck!!!

The Easter Dress experiment

On Friday, I did some more sewing. I finally finished this one for my Kangaroo.

She seems to like it.

Here's the flip side.

Then after daydreaming a bit about Easter dresses, I tried to do this with the same pillowcase pattern. I'm not too keen with the way it turned out. There's just no shape to it. It's made with a lavender cotton underdress and a chiffon sheer overlay.

During the sewing process, I began seeing a different dress in my mind. I just have to find a pattern. I'm thinking of doing something like this without the sleeves or collar.

So, what do you think?

Oops! I did it again!

I've neglected my blogging duties for a little too long. Therefore, I'm typing this nonsensical post to let you all know that I am still here. I've been a tad busy trying to figure out what to sew. I've been digging through fabric (thanks to my under bed diving the other day in search of poodle skirt materials) and re washing it all, ironing it, folding it, and imagining what it might turn into. Easter is coming up and my girls need new dresses.

That being said.....I'm still around. Just focusing on other things right now. Rest assured that there will be many posts of the finished product (and possibly some of the process) very soon!!!

Rockin' with Literacy - 50's Day

Last night at 7 p.m. I happened to go to my refridgerator to get a drink of juice. As I placed my hand on the door, I noticed a note that I had placed there last week. I had forgotten all about it. It was about tonight's Rockin' with Literacy Book Fair at my Little Bird's school. The children were encouraged to wear 50's garb instead of their uniforms to school.

After a brief panic attack, I dove under my bed for the box of fabric I have stored there. The creative juices started flowing and in less than 2 hours I had created a poodle skirt for my dahlin' girl.

Isn't she the cutest?

Here's a poodle closeup.

Am I good or what!!!!? Sometimes I amaze myself! :D

30 Days to a Clean House

Last year sometime, I had read an article about Spring Cleaning. I couldn't remember where I had found the article, so I did a search on the internet in hopes of stumbling across it. Well, I found several references to it, and even a link or two to the magazine where it had been printed. But no article!

So, I took what information I learned...the name & date of the magazine I had seen it in (Woman's Day, June 2008)...and went to the local library where I knew I would find the magazine I was searching for! Aren't I resourceful? LOL

I found the article, and made a copy of the 30 Day Spring Cleaning schedule. So, am I up for the challenge of getting my house sparkling clean? I don't know...yet. However, I invite you all to join me as I begin this lovely little project on Monday! Let's start cleaning!!!

Family Tree Quilt

I made this 2 years ago for my parents in law. I'm thinking of making another one this year but don't know which family member to give it to. I might just have a drawing at the Christmas gathering with the lucky winner taking it home.

If you look real close you can see the individual family names that were hand embroidered on the quilt top.

Random Ramblings

I'm such a bad blogger. I haven't posted any thoughts on things for quite some time. I really need to recommit to this if I'm truly gonna say that "I have a blog!". I've been working on some more little "passport" projects similar to the one I did for our Epcot adventure. Only this time, I'm focusing on the Louisiana state parks. Some states already have a passport for their state parks, but our Sportsman's Paradise doesn't. Next year's family vacation is also on the drawing board (thus my passport for Louisiana).

At first I wanted to take another "road trip" to some far away place like Glacier National Park or Yellowstone National Park. However, I was rethinking it and thought visiting every state park at home. Then move on to the "neighbors" of Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas. We can still have great vacations without all the time on the road. Once these places are knocked off the traveling list, then we can to another big road trip. Yellowstone would definitely be a two weeker for us since I just can't stand to be in such a beautiful place and only spend a short day there.

I'm also planning for my Christmas gifts this year. Some projects I've made in the past include:

1. A queen sized Family Tree quilt complete with hand embroidered individual family names on the "tree".
2. A double sized denim quilt with fabric painted hand prints from some of the grandkids, for my dad.
3. Stuffed letter pillows.
4. Personalized pillow cases.
5. Personalized camoflage velcro fastener wallets - bought from the Dollar Tree and then personalized with a gold paint pen.
6. Baskets with 1/2 pint jars of homemade Mayhaw and Blackberry jelly and a package of Martha White biscuit mix and muffin mix.
7. Baskets with jars of bean soup mix and a handmade hot rice pad that releases a sweet smell when a hot pot is placed on it.

I know there's more but I can't remember what they are at the moment. I really should start keeping a list so that I don't "repeat" gifts! LOL If I can find some pictures of what I've done, I'll post them at a later time for you to see.

Disney: Pre-Trip TeeShirt Projects

Just wanted to post a few pictures of the Tee Shirts that I had been working on before our Disney Vacation. Since we were at Disney all last week and I had no WIFI signal (not for free anyway), I couldn't post anything. However, I do have a post trip report and pictures that will be coming to the blog world soon.

For DQ

For The Teen

For the Hubs

For the girls

For me

Disney: The Short Sets

Well, here they are!! The short sets I had blogged about last week (?). I haven't blogged much since then (if at all) because I've been busy sewing and will have to catch up. I've decided to make some pillowcase short sets for our days at the other parks besides Magic Kingdom. We plan to have 3 days at the Magic Kingdom so I'm pretty sure the girls won't want to wear the outfits all the time. Then again, I have been known to be wrong.

Okay, well, before I go chasing a rabbit....here are the outfits. Oh, and I made matching hairbows too. Well, except for the Cinderella one....I bought the wrong shade of blue for that one. I really have been on a roll.

P.S. It is NOT wise to iron Organza!!! :D

Disney: One down, Four to go!

I spent a couple of hours putting together the first outfit last night. I put the finishing touches on it this morning before heading out for The Teen's History assignment. Here's Kangaroo granting me a Princess pose (check out those royal hands!!!) while wearing the outfit created for Sleeping Beauty.

I'm thinking of making a couple of changes. Maybe putting a Princess Aurora iron on transfer in a lower corner of the tank top. Or even adding a light pink "skirt" to the tank top since it looks kind of short. Then iron on the fairies on the little skirt part.

So what do you think?

Louisiana History 8th grade Assignment

The Teen has an assignment that he neglected to tell me about. Thank goodness it isn't due until next Friday. The only way I happened to know about it is as a result of a conversation with another mom! Turns out The Teen actually had 4 notes in his booksack regarding this assignment. However, his excuse about forgetting the History assignment is that he was concentrating on his Science assignment which is also due at the end of the week. That one is to make a model of the solar system. A solar system assignment is nothing compared to the History assignment. What in the world IS this assignment anyway?

It's a Louisiana Scavenger Hunt. The Teen is supposed to collect as many items as he can, at least 15 from a list of 30. The collection can be put together in any creative design. Examples: poster, box divided into sections, booklet, mobile, etc. He can also use a combination of the examples.

I have suggested a few questions for the Teen to ask his teacher. For example, on the items listed as "a picture of..." can that include a google image printed off the computer? OR Does the teacher want a postcard or something to that extent?

Anyway, here's the list of items required for the assignment.

1. A picture of the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana.


2. A magnolia leaf.


3. A picture of LSU or Southern University (ask the teacher does he want campuses?)


4. One pair of Mardi Gras beads


5. One Mardi Gras doubloon


6. A sample of moss


7. A brochure on Louisiana (tourist spots, festivals, etc.)


8. Five labels from Louisiana products (Where the product was made must be on the label)....a side note here....did you know that Community Coffee is actually a Mexcian product and NOT a Louisiana product? It's just packaged here.


9. A dried crawfish, shrimp, or crab


10. A favorite Louisiana recipe


11. A drawing or picture of the Governor's Mansion


12. A picture or drawing of the Superdome or statue of Andrew Jackson


13. A tape or music of Cajun music (we got a CD...I hope that counts!)


14. The emblem (including name) of the Saint football team (picture or drawing)


15. The emblem (including name) of the B.R. hockey team (picture or drawing)


16. A map of Louisiana. With a blue marker trace the Mississippi, Pearl, Sabine, and Amite rivers. Put a red star for LA capital city. In yellow, shade in your parish. Put a black dot to show and label your city.


17. A list of U.S. Senators and Representatives for the state of Louisiana


18. A photo of you holding or standing near a type of Louisiana wildlife (not your pet!!)....another side note....18 months ago, we had a nuisance alligator down in the bayou behind our house. We called a Wildlife and Fisheries fella who came out set a trap. He ended up catching a 6 ft female. She doesn't look like 6 ft in the photo though. That's because the tail is actually 3 ft!


19. A cotton boll (Not to be confused with a cotton ball!)


20. A picture, photo, or drawing of the alligator with 5 VERY interesting facts about the animal


21. A picture, photo, or drawing of the cypress tree


22. A picture or photo of a Louisiana paddle wheel boat or ferry still in operation


23. A piece of sugarcane


24. A picture, photo, or drawing of the Brown Pelican


25. A picture, photo, or drawing of the Catahoula


26. A photo of you standing in front of the State Capital.......we went downtown this afternoon to get some of these photos. I took this one when I remembered something about putting the subject in the photo "off center". It looked a little strange when he was standing directly in front of the building.


27. An 8 x 10 drawing of the Louisiana state flag


28. A recipe of how to make roux


29. A photo of you standing in front of Tiger Stadium


30. A photo of you and Mike the Tiger

Whew! We really had fun doing this project. However, I was a bit disappointed that my son only cares to do the minimum required for his assignments. If extra credit is an option, he could care less. Arrrghhh! Teens!!!

Disney: Sewing Projects

Whoooo! I have embarked on quite the task! This week, I went and purchased all the fabric I needed for my Diseny sewing projects. Today, I spent this afternoon getting all the pieces cut out. Now, I'm forced to take a break until Tuesday away from my project due to other obligations. However, Tuesday will definitely be spent getting some of this large "jigsaw puzzle" put together. I anticipate finished projects by the end of next week. Photos of my girls modeling will definitely be posted!!! In the meantime, here's the cut outs!!

So what do you think?

Disney: Dressing my Princesses

We're going on our FIRST EVER Disney Vacation in 44 days!!!!!! We are soooo excited!!! I have really struggled with how to dress my family for our time in the parks. I finally decided to make my girls some princess short sets and have the rest of us in matching tee shirts with iron on transfers of our favorite Disney characters. Here's some photos of what I'm planning to do in the next 3 weeks. I'm taking a bit of this and a bit of that to come up with some cute short sets similar to what you see in these pictures. By the way, the following pics came from Tinkerella Creations on Etsy.com.

Aren't they just adorable outfits? So, I went to Hobby Lobby and bought some patterns, fabric, and ribbons. I figured I'd make some of these for my girls. Again.....I'm not making EXACTLY what you see in the pictures. If you want THAT, go to the link and purchase it from Tinkerella Creations.



Here are the patterns I'll be using and modifying.




Oh, I'm also making our own autograph books and Epcot passports. I'll upload some pics of those later on. There's just nothing like the creativity on Disboards.com!!!!

Do you like to sew? I'd love to see some of your creations!!!