Sidetracked

I tell ya, once you enter the crafting world it's hard to get out.  My list just keeps growing and growing and growing.  I was doing very well and then I find something else that I just had to add to the list.  I got so excited about it that I couldn't help but get started.  So here you have it...the beginnings of what is called a fashion doll.  I can't wait to see how the finished product turns out.  It will be all hand sewn.  It is all made of felt.  The free online pattern is actually only supposed to be 6 inches but I wanted something a little more substantial, so I free handed a pattern as close as I could to the original that should be 12 inches.  The clothes should be very easy to get on and off.  When I found this pattern I knew I had to give it a try.  It seemed like the perfect gift for a two year old.  So once I'm finished, I'll have to find a nice hiding spot and hang onto it until Bren's birthday in December.  The wait to give it to her is going to be the hardest part.  Kadyn has been watching me make it.  I'm afraid she may want one too when it is all said and done.  This is why I think I might make a boy companion to go with the girl.  That way they both can play with one.  Anyhoo...this is what I have so far.  I've put in one night and a whole day's worth of work to get this far.  I think I'll be finished with the first doll in another two days.
 

One day while surfing around on the net, I ran into a blog post with sewing tips.  There were two that really seemed....clever.  The first was to hem your fabrics before you wash them so they don't unravel.  The second was this....

No I didn't glue them on there.  They have velcro on them.  Now I don't have to search for them because they're nice and handy every time.  Just wanted to pass it along in case someone else might find it as handy as I did.

On a different note, I'm really looking forward to the holiday weekend.  We have plans to go to Springfield on Saturday.  I need to exchange our our library books for a fresh batch(we still use the Springfield libraries), shop at goodwill, hit the farmer's market, visit the splash park and have a picnic, and one other little errand.  I'd like to make a swim at lake happen at some point this weekend, but that may be iffy it rains.  Not sure if we will see any fireworks this year.  I hate fighting fireworks crowds.  It is also a big turn off that they never start until the kids' bedtime.  Then there's the chance that Bren may freak out at the loud pops.  She's still at that iffy stage when it comes to that stuff.  So....we'll see.  Either way, fun will be had this weekend.  Bring it on!

Budding artist and fashionista

Bren is finally starting to get a bigger attention span for art.  She tried her hand at pallet painting the other day and colored for a long time too.  Usually it's a few strokes of the crayon and then she's done. 

Kadyn loves dressing up.  Sometimes the outfits she comes up with out of her dress up box are hilarious!  Bren is all too willing to be her live model for some of her creations.  I just love watching them come out of their room sporting some of this crazy attire.  It is so cute, don't you think? 

Organizational sewing

For some time I've been wanting to sew an organizer for our van. I had a pattern, but it seemed a bit complicated and required interfacing.  We don't have a fabric store in town, so doing a project like that would require a trip to Springfield to get necessary supplies, plus I'd rather make things with stuff I already have on hand to save time. 

I found a very easy pattern online and had everything I needed to do the job.  It was very easy to sew.  I'm happy with the way it turned out.  This little number has allowed me to completely clear the floor in our van.  I used to store things in a plastic bin that slid around everywhere and looks unorganized and cluttered with stuff.  Now everything has it's own neat little compartment.  I love it.  I love it so much so, in fact, that it gave me the idea to make the same thing to organize my craft stuff for the kids.  I have a ton of little odds and ends that I have collected throughout the years to do crafts with the kids.  I usually have them all thrown into plastic bins, but often I can't find what I need very easily as it is buried somewhere in one of those bins. 

This organizer isn't the most attractive thing I've ever made, but it does the job.  It eliminated us spending extra money on more shelving for our laundry room.  Instead I just hung these little numbers where that extra shelving would've gone.  I actually think it works out better as now I don' t have to worry about a shelf being in the way when I lift up the lid to our washing machine. 

Unfortunately, these are heavier than I thought they'd be and the hooks I put on the wall started falling off, so I had to tie one end to the shelf above.  I'm contemplating getting sturdier hooks or just tying both ends to the shelf above.  We shall see.  Anyhow, I had fun doing this.  Organizational stuff fuels me.

Jeff had a label maker, so I was able to make these nice, neat labels to go on everything.  I had SOOO much fun making labels. I went a little label crazy and started labeling anything I could get my hands on until.....I ran out of label paper.  Bummer.  Anyhow, I made two organizers for the laundry room, one above the washer and one above the dryer.  What's crazy is that I still have an entire white bin full of paint that needs a home and two drawer towers stuffed with craft paper, coloring books, etc.  I have so much kid craft stuff it's nuts.  It's hard to believe that often I find crafts that require me to go buy something I don't have.

Picnic project still growing

I thought this last piece would complete my picnic project, but now I'm contemplating expanding it. I  haven't decided really. I found this awesome king sized red, white, and blue quilted picnic blanket at Walmart that rolls up into a carry tote that was SOOOO cool.  However, I also found this idea of sewing together beach towels to make a picnic blanket that seemed so clever and cool too.  Homemade always seems to mean more, so it's certainly tempting.  I would have to buy the towels though. My towels are so ratty, and I'm afraid I wouldn't be excited about the end result with those towels.  We are going to some thrift stores this weekend.  I'm hoping to find something there.

Anyhoo....this is the sandwich wrap that I told you I was going to make for the lunch sacks I made earlier.  For some reason I had trouble getting the velcro centered, but overall they should work just fine. Just toss in the washing machine to clean or wipe clean.  What I LOVE about these is that they can serve as a place mat or plate for your food.  Therefore, if you're caught at a picnic table without a table cloth, you don't have to worry about your food touching an unclean table.  Each wrap I made matches it's lunch sack.  I can't wait to use them. 

Just whipped it up

Kadyn is notorious for leaving her water bottles at places.  She left her last water bottle at a restaurant in Garden City.  Needless to say, we won't be going back for that one.  So I purchased her a cheaper one this time and needed to find a way to help her keep better track of it.  Therefore, last night I whipped up this little number.  She LOVES it.  She's worn it all morning.  I think I may make the strap a little bit longer, but overall I'm pleased with the way it turned out.  (That weird string on it is actually supposed to be tied in a bow, looks like it may have come untied for the pic)  I even lined the inside with flannel to soak up any sweat from the bottle.  It was an easy, fun, and quick project.

I found some other water bottle slings on etsy for outrageous prices which also had key holders and pockets and nooks and crannies for things.  What a neat alternative to a fanny pack.  I may have to try to create one of those diddies on my own for a special someone for Christmas. I think I know just who may benefit from one of those.  She begged me to delete a picture of her sporting a rather large fanny pack.  Yes, you know who you are sweet lady, ehem:)

The link to the tutorial is:


http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2009/05/water-bottle-sling.html

A life change...possibly

 I have been meat free (with the exception of sea food) for 6 months now....until today.  I accidently bought spicy chicken patties two weeks ago.  Jeff doesn't care for chicken patties and the girls don't like spicy.  I could have taken them back, but Walmart policy is to trash all returned food items.  It doesn't matter that the seal hasn't been broken.  I can't bare the thought of trashing perfectly good food.  There are too many starving children around the world. That, to me, would be wrong.  Therefore, I ate chicken for the first time since December.  I have allowed myself seafood mostly because it is SOOOO healthy and also because it gives me an option at some restaurants that don't otherwise cater to the vegetarian.

When I set out on this journey to be meat free, I mostly was just doing it to perhaps make a tiny statement to the food industry about the treatment of the animals that are being produced for food.  I have no quams with the idea of eating meat.  I do, however, take issue with unsafe food handling and inhumane treatment of the meat we eat.  That movie Food Inc., as you all know, did a number on me.  Anyhoo, I really didn't think I could do vegetarian, and I guess since I still eat seafood I am not a true vegetarian.  However, it proved to be easier than I thought to eliminate beef and chicken from my diet.

Our tastebuds have tried foods like we have never tried them before.  I've had probably as many failed recipes as I have had winners, but it feels good to cook up food that I know is doing good things for our bodies.  It is actually a little easier on our pocket book as well.  And the best part is, I was able to loose all the weight I set out to loose at the beginning of the year with minimal effort.  I feel good, I like the way I look, I fit in a size of clothing I never thought I'd EVER fit in again.  I eat just about as much as I want, I still get my little sweet fix, and my tummy feels full and happy.

With all those perks, why wouldn't I continue my path of semi vegetarian eating? There are just too many pros that outweigh the cons.  Granted, I am stuck having to finish off this package of spicy chicken patties, but for the most part, I don't see myself changing my diet at all for the next year, or two years, or three. I am not willing to say this is absolute.  If there is one thing I have learned as I age, it is that no matter how passionate we may be about something, we can change our minds.  We'll see.  Perhaps I'll tire of the extra work being mostly vegetarian can be.  All the cutting and preparing veggies can be burdensome.  The stress of having to cook them up when you don't feel like it because you know they will go bad if you don't get to them in time.  That does get old, I must admit.  

Anyhow, just having a reflective day since it was the first time I ate chicken in 7 months.  Wanted to share.

Golfing with Dada

I promise Jeff was golfing too.  He was the one taking the pics however, so we didn't get any of his action.  The girls really enjoyed a little coaching from their golfing hero.  I took one wack (ehem) ok maybe two, then decided to melt in a lawn chair and ponder how the girls could have so much energy in such sweltering heat.  Bren actually enjoyed playing fetch with the golf ball much more.  Who needs a real dog when you have a Bren?  Kadyn, I'm afraid, may have my golfing gene.  She spent more energy swinging and missing than actually hitting the ball.