I have a visual brain...

I have been itching to sew lately. I have a basket full of mending that is in desperate need of attention. but that's not fun.

From February 2012

I bought this awesome book months ago, but never got to try anything out. We moved, the Holidays and on and on.

I finally got to a project this week!! I am so proud. There was a time when a simple sewing project did NOT take two weeks preparation and contemplation. That time is not now.

From February 2012

ANYWAY. I got the "Treasure Pocket Pants" all cut out and went to "STEP ONE". I read it.

I said, "WHA??"

I read it again. "With RIGHT sides together...."

People. I am NOT a novice. I can literally sew pretty much anything. I mean, I have done A LOT of sewing in my time.

And STEP ONE of the FIRST project I attempted in this book full of beautiful clothes that I want to make, and I am stumped.

I tried several different ways it COULD be explaining it, to no avail.

Derek wan't home to explain it to me.

(When my visual brain fails to understand written instructions, I turn to the pictorials to explain it to me. These particular pictorials were NOT helping and it seemed that the crucial point of confusion did not HAVE a picture. That is when I typically make Derek read it to me and explain it.)

I angrily packed up and grumped. I was stuck on STEP ONE.

Grrr.

I puzzled it over the next 24 hours. I could NOT make sense of this stupid step. The frustration was I KNEW if I could get that step out of the way, I would be golden.

Finally, I forgave the book for making me furious. I got everything out and tried. Again.

And I FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT! I had been doing it backwards.

Sheesh,.

THEN I sewed the legs on wrong. Twice.

Then I sewed the front and the back to one another in the wrong place.

I eventually got it all worked out into a pair of actually wearable pants.

From February 2012

From February 2012

Henry likes them. He got the first draft because he's been needing a new pair of pants anyway. He had a couple of jealous brothers at the unveiling. I now have three more pairs to make.

Best get going. At least I know I can get past the dreaded STEP ONE now.

Pinterest is Bad For Me

 I done saw this hoodie on Pinterest. 

Source

I done fell in LOVE. 

I done decided I could make it MYSELF. 

Oh Pinterest. You flighty temptress. 

So, I found a pattern of a jacket that looks NOTHING LIKE THIS but it was the best I could find. 

Then I started hacking the crap out of some material. 

A week later: 

From Drop Box

I'd show it on, but Derek is no where to be seen and the mirror in the bathroom is making me look fat today.

Suffice it to say, it was A PAIN to make. Seriously. 

But it's lined with flannel. 

It's SO comfy. 

There are too many mistakes to count. 

Seriously. 

But autumn begins tomorrow. 

Perfect timing. 

And I did two button holes vertically and one horizontally. Oops. 

I don't care.

I plan to wear it every single day. 

Just so you know. 

Pinterest is bad for me.

I will tell you...

I will not tell you how I am riding high of the fiery wings of libertarianism today.  No, I will not. I will not tell you how unspeakably angry it made me to be forced to pay unspeakable amounts of money for the privilege of driving around on the stupid-@$$ streets of Utah.

Because these are "first world" problems. And people are dying of all kinds of horrible things in other places. Even America.

So I will water down my fire and tell you that basil, when left to its own devices makes beautiful flowers.

From June 2011

And I'll tell you that Ezra LOVED his spicy guacamole. LOVED.

From June 2011

From Drop Box

He also discovered today that his brothers are hysterical and laughed at their crazy antics like never before. When Henry "goo-goo-gah-gah"ed at him, he laughed so hard! I have no idea WHAT Henry said, but my goodness, it was classic.

I'll tell you that my boy officially LOVE mint brownies.

I'll tell you that I am grateful for Mondays and for Family Home Evening.

I'll tell you that we are moving into Derek's office on Friday, and if you know anyone who needs a therapist in SLC, please, oh please, send them our way.

I'll tell you that tomorrow is our eighth wedding anniversary. And that you can expect more mushy talk tomorow. Deal with it.

I'll tell you that I love and adore my life, white whines and all. I love it.

We are blessed.

And our d-a-m-n cars are now legit according to the stinking state of Utah.

A Picnic Blanket

From June 2011

See my new pride and joy?

Yes, the baby is ADORABLE, but I'm referring to that which he is sitting upon.

It's a PICNIC BLANKET. A quilt, for starters. 

From June 2011

 Big enough for even myself to stretch out on.

From June 2011

With fancy elastic loops for easy rolling and carrying. 

From June 2011

And instead of a a soft, cozy bottom, it has a nice water-proof vinyl bottom. Perfect for wet grounds and beaches and dirty public picnic tables and really anywhere you possibly want to eat out-of-doors. Wipe clean? Yes please. Protection from dirt of all kinds? Sign me up!

From June 2011

Perfect place to plunk a baby? Well, then I'm sold.

From June 2011

Wait! One more!

From June 2011

I mean, ridiculous right? Anyway, the picnic blanket was on my mind all winter while I waited for the weather to warm up. Now it has. And I have big plans for this little quilt/table cloth. SO excited.

SUMMER TIME!

A "Quick" Project

You know when something *should* take 30 minutes?

And then it takes 3 hours? I think that is the only way I ever saw home repair get done as a child...

ANYWAY, so I decided I needed to make a skirt. I'm trying to be more a PERSON and less a yoga pants/tshirt mom when it comes to clothes, ya know? So, I decided "everyday" skirts were a must.

I couldn't find the pattern I needed (I think it's in the garage...) so I went at it alone.

10 minutes in, I decided it needed pockets. This is an "everyday" skirt after all. Pockets are essential.

So, pockets. This tacked on an additional 30 minutes.

Then I finished it off.

Beautiful!

Too short.

Crap.

Now for a RUFFLE!

Ruffles are lovely. Ruffles take a long time.

Ezra was awake by now. Oliver was awake by now. My nap time project had now overstepped it's boundaries. I knew if I cleaned it all up, I'd never finish. I tied a grumpy Ezra into the wrap, and soldiered on.

And hour later, a RUFFLE!

But now, um, the hem is uneven.

SON OF A BISCUIT!

20 minutes later a hem.

And, it's too big.

I DON'T CARE, IT'S GOOD ENOUGH.

See?

From May 2011

See? Pocket AND a ruffle. An everyday skirt indeed. Plus, I'm wearing it on a Thursday. Maybe if I do this often enough my children will stop asking why I'm going to church in the middle of a week. 

From May 2011

The finished product. 

The cutest baby in the world.

From May 2011

From May 2011

Enough of the pictures! Put me to bed. 

So I did.

Cheap Frame Redo

I bought these GORGEOUS prints and needed something simple and um, basically cheap or free way to frame them. So, I measured 'em up real nice and took my handy tape measure to the DI (Mormon-land's version of "Goodwill" and found some frames that were close in size.

Then I made them MINE! 

From May 2011

(Don't be JEALOUS of the artwork. YES those are ground hogs hugging and YES that is one of those RAD velvet marker posters...)

First: Take the darn thing apart, remove the HIDEOUS artwork and do what you want with it. Keep the cardboard backing. You're going to need it. 

From May 2011

Sand the frame. Use a light grit because really, these are cheap little frames and they can't handle a rough grit. Just enough to keep the paint sticking.

From May 2011

Paint it. I went with black due to the artwork I have and well, I had it. I used regular old craft paint. Again, it's what I had. I used a little foam brush. It was very easy.

From May 2011

Lay the frame to dry. 

Next take fabric of your choice and lay it under the cardboard backing. Cut the fabric to be about an inch or two larger than the cardboard all the way around. 

From May 2011

Tape the fabric tautly once on each side. I used masking tape. It works.

From May 2011

Hot glue the entire piece of fabric all the way around, pull it taut as you go. Make sure it's nice and smooth, and tight as you go. NO wrinkles!

From May 2011

Next, center the art work on the front side and tape it down with masking tape. Don't glue it! What if you change your mind later? This is re-doable for Heaven's sake! 

From May 2011

Wash the glass, and put the frames back together. 

Hang and enjoy.

From May 2011

This entire project cost me $6.00, plus the cost of the art. 

Nice, huh? 

So, before you think you need to spend bazillion of dollars on expensive framing, try the DIY repurpose way. If you hated spending marginal amounts of money for a nice project, then goodness, go and get it professionally done! You have my permission.