In Need of More Bobbins!

On the 29th I was going crazy trying to find something to make L with her octopus fabric. I looked for what seemed like FOREVER! I finally found a tutorial for a simple skirt. I had to look around some more though, to find out how to size it up to 3T since the tutorial was for 12 months. 

Measured L's waist, doubled the number for the fabric, kind of. My fabric wasn't quite wide enough. Then cut the elastic 1 less than her measurements. 

I know the blue doesn't match the octopus fabric perfectly, but it still looks super cute! It's also a little big, I guess since she's tall and skinny I should always subtract an extra inch from her waist, haha! A little big isn't bad though, that just means she'll fit into it a little longer!

This is where the blog title comes up.

Ryan's grandma had dropped off a king sized sheet for me to practice my tank top pattern with on the 31st. It's a much harder pattern than I had expected, but I'll blog more about that once I finish my second attempt, and the second attempt is what brought on my next project: BUCKET HATS!

I cut out the fabric for my second tank top and then realized all of my bobbins were already full and I needed one for orange thread. I searched Pinterest relentlessly until I found this adorable pattern that I thought would work perfectly with the fabric I had.

The first attempt went awesome, until I tried to do the decorative stitching around the rim. I accidentally sewed part of the "body" of the hat into the brim so that when you turn it to the blue side it doesn't look so hot. As you can see below, I left out the decorative stitches on my second attempt, haha! L called it her "magician hat" and made her toys "magically" appear inside of it! 

Now for some rambling that DOESN'T involve sewing. ;)

L just loves to swing! She pushes it as far back as she can with her feet, then lifts her feet up so it swings so hard the swing feet hop up. It's hilarious to her that I freak out because it could flip over. :P

She actually let me do something to her hair! Normally the entire time I try to put it in a pony she says "owww" like I'm pulling it all out or something. I guess the trick is to do it while she's taking a bath!

Yesterday I made a trip to Pick L up from her "gamma's" house. Gamma, L, and I then went on a, very disappointing, trip to look at pricing on computers. I was hoping I'd be able to find something under $400 for just me, the only program needed on it being Photoshop Elements 10. I was informed by Mr. Nerd-of-the-Year that to have Photoshop I need a computer with at least an i5 processor, 750gb hard dive, and 6gb memory. At Best Buy my "best buy" would have been $600 + tax. Next we went to Sam's Club. They had a better computer for $550 + tax, which is awesome, but still too much. (Even for a Christmas present, which is what I was hoping for, haha!) Fingers crossed that Ryan keeps getting awesome painting jobs and that I get some photo sessions lined up!

L crashed on the way home, and since it was after 6pm she slept through the night. Poor baby must have been pooped!

When you're stopped at a train, boredom sets in and you do silly things like take a selfie even though you look like a grease-ball from sweating all day. Haha! :P

Photo Session: Kyleigh

Please do not copy and save these images. Thank you!

This was a fun session, despite the fact it was ridiculously hot and humid! L had fun tromping through the woods pretending we were lost, and of course "helping" Mommy take pictures. (Her form of helping consisted of sticking her baby doll in front of my lens right before I snapped a picture. Haha!)

I was glad to get a chance to do a session, especially one with someone who WANTED to have their photos taken. It really does suck that there are so many photographers in this are. It makes it hard to be able to take photos regularly, there are always large gaps in between each of the sessions I schedule. At least I do schedule some though, some is better than none! Cross your fingers more will come my way. :)

For anyone interested, my sessions cost (as of July 28th, price may change) $25 for 10-15 edited photos on a disk. If you want them done out of (my) town, a travel fee will be applied depending on the distance.

My (many) Projects Update

Ryan was working in Kansas for about 2 weeks and during that time, I got MOTIVATED.

I decided L's playhouse needed a new location, so I set to work. First, I cut down a dying rose bush planted by a trellis that was way too short. Then I attempted to kill the grass and weeds by covering them with a tarp. I'm impatient so, needless to say, I didn't leave the tarp down long enough to do anything. I bought 3 bags of river rock, went back for 3 more, and still need another! I put them down, moved the playhouse, and then started to frame it in with bricks.

I also started cleaning out a flower bed overrun by irises and in need of a weeding. Cleaning up the end that Zora has destroyed by walking through while on her outside leash wasn't too difficult. I just had to do some weeding and dig up dead iris bulbs. Then I posted a "free irises" ad on a Facebook re-gifting site and had a woman wanting 20. After doing my homework and learning that you can separate irises, 20 was not enough! It hardly even made a dent.

I finally put to use a tutorial I found before I even bought my sewing machine: travel tissue covers. I started by studying this tutorial and then got over excited and cut out 8 covers worth of fabric. Turns out I cut too soon! I thought the liner was optional. Well, it's not, haha! I had to scrap 4 covers worth of fabric because I didn't have enough to cut out a lining for them.

My premeditated cuts.

My first attempt without liner isn't pictured, but it was HUGE. I'm not really 100% how it ended up that way, but what can you do. The ribbon tab gives away the face that a liner is required as well. As L and Daniel Tiger would say "Keep trying, you'll get better!"

My second attempt (cupcakes) came out a little big and lopsided. Plus I missed a layer when doing the final stitching so there is a small area with the underside of the fabric visible.

Then came zebra! I did much better this time! It came out a little lopsided, otherwise perfect. This attempt made me realize, if I want one fabric type I don't need to cut a smaller piece, I can simply cut 2 pieces the same size. Fantastic!

Now I'm on a roll! They are all perfectly sized with (little) signs of flaw! Plus, I've found a way to salvage some of my very first cuts. Anyone that doesn't think Dollar Tree is amazing is CRAZY! I bought the largest white shirt they had and am going to use that as a liner. It's a genius plan if you ask me, but I guess I'm biased. Haha! While I was there I bought (2) 6 packs of travel tissues. The plan is to sell each for $1 and make a $9 profit after spending $3 on tissues and the t-shirt.

This is my most recent tissue cover, and once again, it's big! It's more of a coin purse size and I have no idea what happened.

 Look forward to see more travel tissue covers in a future post!


On a, practically daily, trip to Wal-Mart L decided she needed some markers. Fantastic! Markers and a 3 year old, what could go wrong? Lucky for her, we found these lovelies. Day 1: 4 master pieces! (Which were all made for Daddy as welcome home presents, of course, haha!)

"Take my picture!""

Tuesday was a fun filled day of playing in the sprinkler and taking pictures! I was actually VERY surprised when Lexi said "Take my picture, take my picture!" when I brought my camera out. Usually she's a non-stop mover the instant I try and snap a photo. I was glad to be able to dust off my, much neglected, Canon though. As much as I love photography, I don't shoot often enough.

"Say: SPRINKLER!"

Silly faces!!

Abu

Zora

"Mommy, let me take your picture!"

Can you see how much Abu LOVES L hugs?!