juggling

Moms are jugglers by trade. I've been juggling for weeks now. Blogs just have to fall by the wayside when life gets crazy.

make lunches. . vacuum. . run the carpool . . throw in a load of laundry . . help with a scouting goal. . . start a school science project. . . change a diaper. . . think about dinner. . . shower and change. . . text a friend. . . play memory (and LOSE). . . take a few pictures. . . teach 3 piano lessons. . . break up a fight. . . listen to 15 minutes of reading. . . update the star chart. . . actually start fixing dinner. . . start a blog post. . . finish that load of laundry. . . scrub markers off of the 2 year old. . . clean the bathroom. . . kiss the baby. . . clean the living room. . . clean the kitchen. . . clean up the dinner. . . make the beds. . . make a grocery list. . . clip coupons. . chat with hubby about the day. . . organize coupons. . . and on and on and on.

I wouldn't know what to do if my day flowed with any kind of sane order.

It's all in order in my own chaotic brain.

Somewhere in the middle of this craziness. . . .
the Golfer and I have finally started a project together. After much coaxing, and some convincing plans from Ana at AnaWhite.com.

We priced out the beds at local furniture stores. $600-$800.00 for a twin bed with a trundle. Made of cheap composites and veneers. The floor models were trashed. That's when he caved. It may have also had something to do with the fact that this little stinker got INTO her bed all by herself. That means she'll find a way out. . . soon.

We are building the farmhouse bed with a trundle. The trundle is done. . . . it only took 2 hours to build and sand. It took me longer at the store to get all of the materials. . . all by myself. . . yup, that's right. I was nervous, but we organized before I left and when I got there. . . I actually knew what I was doing.

Now, onto the bed. I can't wait to post the finished photos.

Keep juggling. . . and smiling!

Once upon a time there was a queen that had a shirt that just didn't ever fit right. Let's be honest, it made the queen look pregnant when she was not, and she didn't want anyone asking her if she was. :) So, the queen refashioned it into a not-so-perfect-but-cute-anyway sundress for her little princess. The queen and the princess lived happily ever after even though the queen may be a tad bit addicted to refashioning. The end.

Birthday Bunting Tutorial

I made a birthday bunting for the golfer on his big day. It's made of paper and fabric. Stuff that I already had around the house. Here are some instructions on how to do it:

Step 1. Make a pattern for your scrapbook paper flags. Using this will assure that your flags are all the same size. Mine was about 8 inches long and 8 inches across the top.

Step 2: Find some bias tape that will be long enough to accommodate the letters you will be using.

Step 3: Cut flags out of scrapbook paper.

Step 4: Using a circle cutter, cut a center circle for each flag. I used all different colors for mine.

Step 5: Glue the circles on your flags.

Step 6: Peel backing off of self-stick chipboard letter. I had some around. I bought them a couple of years ago at Target.

Step 7: Center the chipboard letter on the circle

Step 8: Sew flags in between the 2 layers of the bias tape. Make sure to leave an inch or 2 of extra fabric at each end to hang the bunting with.

Summertime sewing

In the desert the summertime is our indoor time. 110 degrees is NOT your friend, unless you have a sweet pool. We don't. Therefore, we create.

I decided to take on knit fabric and shirring. The verdict is. . . . I LOVE IT! Hello, what have I been waiting for? Get yourself a ballpoint needle for your machine and some shirring elastic and go to town! This cute little knit paisley fabric was on sale at Joanne. 1 yard made this oh-so-sweet little 3 tiered sundress for my little one. I already had the brown one from old navy, and it is one of my favorites, so I decided to re-create it in knit. It's so soft and flouncy!

This next one is re purposed from a baby doll top that I bought at Goodwill. I love that yellow fabric.

Step 1: unpick the seams at the straps to move the straps closer together.

Step 2: Move the straps in. Measure to make sure they are spaced evenly and pin in place. Then sew the straps to the shirt following the seam that was already there.

Step 3: I pinned the top of my shirt with a couple of pleats in it, so that it would match up with the width of the fabric in the back of the shirt.

Step 4: Cut off the sides of the shirt to fit the little person who will be wearing it. I cut mine just outside of the pin.

You should be able to do this with any similar cotton baby doll top. Mine was a small top and I re-fit it to a size 24 month dress. Just sew up the sides to finish it!

desk set complete

I found this little goody on Craigslist a couple of weeks ago. Let me tell ya, the old chair was grating on my very last nerve. It was comfy and free, don't get me wrong, but also very large and in charge in my small office.

This new one is just what I've been waiting and watching for. It's a bit scuffed up, but I don't mind because the desk is also a bit scuffed up.

Sadly, I do not have a photo of the old chair. I'll give you a little idea of the beauty that we had to give up. In your mind, just merge these two blue chairs. Ours was the lighter blue color, but the shape of the royal blue chair. It smelled and may have held traces of cheetos and baby puke. I'm sure you can see why we had to let it go.

Ahh, isn't this much better.

I also scored this little beauty at Goodwill a month or so ago. Perfect for my magazines and "desk clutter."

birthday suit

No, silly, not THAT kind of birthday suit. I'm talkin' about a little romper patterned after one that she wore last year at this time. It's her birthday at the end of July. You could make one too.

1. Start with a GIANT t-shirt. (Mine was in Men's clearance at good ole' Wally world) This is another gray one that I have a plan for.

2. Find a contrast fabric. (Mine was a little shirt that she wore last year. . too small now.)

3. Find an article of clothing to use as your pattern. I don't cut them up, soyou could borrow from a friend if you don't have anything that you like.

4. "Measure twice, cut once!" My mother always used to say
5. Don't be scared. After all, it was a 3 dollar shirt.
6. Cut it a little bigger if your pattern clothing no longer fits.
7. Use some creativity.
8. Straps and number are made using contrast fabric.
9. Print a number or letter that you like to use as a pattern


10. Sew carefully, knit is a little harder to seam-rip
11. Don't worry about raw edges. Knit doesn't fray.
12. If the pants have you perplexed, just go with a little romper skirt.
13. Put them on your cute little model, and take a few pictures.

happy sewing!