Just a quick post as I'm getting ready for work...
I found this blog, and thought this might be another good way to create some fun clothing items, and have a useful place to donate them (I also love to donate blankets to Project Linus):
This site accepts donations of pillowcase dresses and simple elastic-waisted shorts for children in Africa!
http://www.littledressesforafrica.org/blog/
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Destashing Update
While not as fast as I would like, I have made a little progress :) Luckily, I have LOTS of friends who are having babies, so I have made up some "pee pee tee pees" (or tinkle tents.) I saw some for sale at a local maternity store, and thought, "I can make those!" so I digitized a design to make them, and just finish them up on the sewing machine. A great way to use up scraps of cotton, terry cloth or flannel! (For those, who are not familiar with the joy of changing a baby boy, trust me, these are more useful than I first had thought they'd be!)
I've also given away a couple of hooded towels, and embroidered some baby bibs (all with materials from the stash!) Of course, I MEANT to take pictures of them, but forgot and then brought them to work today and already gifted some of them!
So far, I've also avoided going into a craft/fabric store, BUT I had forgotten that I have had some great finds at the Target $1 aisle!!! I found myself browsing the section of the store, and looking at inexpensive ribbons, placemats, tote bags, etc and thinking of all the things I could make with them. Some even found there way into my cart (but luckily, reality struck, and I quickly put them back!)
But, it reminded me that I have a small stash of 9 (yes 9!!!) insulated zippered lunch totes that I purchased from Target this past summer that I have been meaning to embroider. I made one for Theresa, and she uses it all the time, but she doesn't need 9 of them LOL! But, as usual, I just KNEW that I needed lots of them, so I have them in purple, pink, and turquoise! :) I guess the kids' friends will be getting them for birthday gifts from now until I'm out!
I've also given away a couple of hooded towels, and embroidered some baby bibs (all with materials from the stash!) Of course, I MEANT to take pictures of them, but forgot and then brought them to work today and already gifted some of them!
So far, I've also avoided going into a craft/fabric store, BUT I had forgotten that I have had some great finds at the Target $1 aisle!!! I found myself browsing the section of the store, and looking at inexpensive ribbons, placemats, tote bags, etc and thinking of all the things I could make with them. Some even found there way into my cart (but luckily, reality struck, and I quickly put them back!)
But, it reminded me that I have a small stash of 9 (yes 9!!!) insulated zippered lunch totes that I purchased from Target this past summer that I have been meaning to embroider. I made one for Theresa, and she uses it all the time, but she doesn't need 9 of them LOL! But, as usual, I just KNEW that I needed lots of them, so I have them in purple, pink, and turquoise! :) I guess the kids' friends will be getting them for birthday gifts from now until I'm out!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
American Girl Dolls
Theresa turned 6 this past Tuesday, and for her birthday, she really wanted one of the 18" American Girl Dolls (she already has the 15" Bitty Twins) that looks like her. So, there is an American Girl Doll store in the Dallas Galleria, and we just happened to have to go to Dallas last weekend for a friend's wedding, so it seemed like the perfect way to celebrate!
It was an amazing (and amazingly crowded) place!!! Two stories of shopping for dolls, clothes, accessories, even a beauty salon, ear piercing, and bistro to "lunch" with your doll! We skipped hair and lunch (over an hour wait!!!) but DID get the doll's ear pierced to match Theresa, and shopped for the doll and 4 outfits.
But...it was also pretty pricey! Not bad in lieu of a party, but not something I can afford to buy often.
What's a mom who can sew to do??? Find good (and simple patterns!)
So, that was my mission this morning! Yes, I KNOW you can buy them in stores (and I do have them) but I honestly don't enjoy the tissue-thin pattern paper, so I wanted something from an e-book.
I came across this site, which offers inexpensive ($3.99/pattern) and FREE patterns, so I'm sharing it with you!
http://www.libertyjanepatterns.com/search/label/FREE%20SAMPLE%20GUIDEBOOK
I have NOT tried them out, but that is my goal.
Right now, Theresa wants a wrap-top sundress for her doll to resemble the 2011 American Girl of the Year doll, Kanani (http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/172848/ctc/XSCOORD) - a girl from Hawaii. They would NOT sell the dress separately, and since Theresa doesn't look like Kanani, she didn't want the doll. So, she told me I could "make" her one! (that's what I get for telling her I wouldn't buy anything from the store I could "make")!
One more project for the list, AND I am going to need some Hawaiian print fabric......
It was an amazing (and amazingly crowded) place!!! Two stories of shopping for dolls, clothes, accessories, even a beauty salon, ear piercing, and bistro to "lunch" with your doll! We skipped hair and lunch (over an hour wait!!!) but DID get the doll's ear pierced to match Theresa, and shopped for the doll and 4 outfits.
But...it was also pretty pricey! Not bad in lieu of a party, but not something I can afford to buy often.
What's a mom who can sew to do??? Find good (and simple patterns!)
So, that was my mission this morning! Yes, I KNOW you can buy them in stores (and I do have them) but I honestly don't enjoy the tissue-thin pattern paper, so I wanted something from an e-book.
I came across this site, which offers inexpensive ($3.99/pattern) and FREE patterns, so I'm sharing it with you!
http://www.libertyjanepatterns.com/search/label/FREE%20SAMPLE%20GUIDEBOOK
I have NOT tried them out, but that is my goal.
Right now, Theresa wants a wrap-top sundress for her doll to resemble the 2011 American Girl of the Year doll, Kanani (http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/172848/ctc/XSCOORD) - a girl from Hawaii. They would NOT sell the dress separately, and since Theresa doesn't look like Kanani, she didn't want the doll. So, she told me I could "make" her one! (that's what I get for telling her I wouldn't buy anything from the store I could "make")!
One more project for the list, AND I am going to need some Hawaiian print fabric......
Thursday, January 13, 2011
13 Days of Keeping My Goal.....
Okay, so far this hasn't been as hard as I expected. Of course, it helped that I had to go back to work (I'm a teacher) get all the kids back in school/daycare, and just been busy, busy, busy. This also means I haven't really gotten a chance to do ANYTHING, or really start on any of my projects or UFO's either :(
Then last week I got a stomach bug that was going around with the students, and my husband came home and KNEW I was sick, because it was probably the first day I had had "child-free" in over a year, and I didn't do ONE bit of sewing or crafts!!! If I could have brought my sewing machine into the delivery room with my son, I would have still been working on a last-minute project for him! LOL! (hmmmm..not a bad idea if there ever is a "next time," that might make labor go faster) :)
Anyway, I am hoping to be back in the swing of things this weekend, as we have a 3-day weekend (so do the kids, but I can still get some sewing done around the baby's nap, and the big kids will stay busy in the sewing room or the living room long enough for me to get SOMETHING started) I'm obviously having withdrawls from it. :)
I do have several friends who are expecting, so I think that "baby" stuff will be what I focus on...will post pics :)
What are y'all working on right now?
Then last week I got a stomach bug that was going around with the students, and my husband came home and KNEW I was sick, because it was probably the first day I had had "child-free" in over a year, and I didn't do ONE bit of sewing or crafts!!! If I could have brought my sewing machine into the delivery room with my son, I would have still been working on a last-minute project for him! LOL! (hmmmm..not a bad idea if there ever is a "next time," that might make labor go faster) :)
Anyway, I am hoping to be back in the swing of things this weekend, as we have a 3-day weekend (so do the kids, but I can still get some sewing done around the baby's nap, and the big kids will stay busy in the sewing room or the living room long enough for me to get SOMETHING started) I'm obviously having withdrawls from it. :)
I do have several friends who are expecting, so I think that "baby" stuff will be what I focus on...will post pics :)
What are y'all working on right now?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)