Monday, September 29, 2008

Halloween Dress/ Witches Costume

I'll be the first to admit that these are not the best pictures of me, but of the four Bo took they are the best ones. That is what I get for asking him to pause his new video game and take my picture.

Anyway, I'm almost done. I still have to add the zipper, cut and fray check the sleeves, hem, and add decorative buttons. I think I can do all of this by Thursday night. That's correct I need a Halloween costume by Thursday. Hopefully, when I finish Bo can take better pictures of me.



Saturday, September 27, 2008

I'm still here!

I'm sorry about the unexpected blog break. The move at work took everything out of me, and at night I would just come home and sleep. I have started to sew again, but I don't have anything to show for it right now.

I did receive some birthday money. Of course, I had to spend it. Before I get into the books I purchased, I have to apologize to Betz White for not purchasing her book Warm Fuzzies even though I had it in my hands and I carried around the store. I finally decided that I would probably never make anything out of it, and I'm trying not to purchase things I don't think I'll use. But man I was tempted to purchase it, and I still may change my mind and buy it later. It had beautiful pictures and great ideas.


A Is For Apron - I love that it has a history of the apron in it along with vintage aprons. I can't wait to make several of these projects especially the deep pockets and spotless aprons.


I have been looking at this magazine since it came out. I want to make some of the Whee mini skiers that are featured on the cover except I would love to make them not so whee, but actually with some large pinecones I have. Also Betz White has a featured project in it.


I have looked at this PEEPS book so many times and I finally decided to purchase it. I think my Easter decorations will be mostly PEEPS this year.


This Gooseberry Patch book is just a good overall Christmas book. There are several ideas in here that I think will be good gifts to give to my co-workers. It also has some great recipes that I could make and send to Bo's office for the holiday. I leaning towards the Chocolate -Pecan Bars or the Lemon-Orange Rolls, but there are many others that I could choose from.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Getting Nowhere Fast!

I feel like I have been working on my Halloween costume forever, and I don't have anything to show for it. Hopefully, I will have something to show you tomorrow.

On top of this we are moving office buildings. My organization has not moved in over 30 years. It seems like a lot of work to move across the street, but the much larger building will be so nice to work in. We have stirred up more dust than you could imagine and I have gone home every night for the last week with a headache. We should be in and settled by the end of the week. Life should be back to normal then.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Continued Birthday Celebration

Bo and I are lucky that his parents live halfway between us and my parents. Both of our families get along really well so we decided to celebrate my birthday with both of our families in his hometown.

We got there a little early so that we could got to the new The Johnson Center For The Arts. They are having an exhibit of Andy Warhol. This is a really big deal for a small town in Alabama. Who am I kidding this is a big deal for any town in Alabama. We really enjoyed the exhibit and would recommend it to anyone who lives close.

After the taking in the art Bo and I enjoyed dinner and then cake with our families at his parents house. I had two different cakes. This is my mother-in-laws famous Strawberry Cake. One of my favorites. Isn't it pretty?

This is my Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake that my parents got me. My other favorite type of cake. Who could ask for anything more?
Nephew took to my In-Laws piano. He loves anything to do with music and the piano was no exception. This entertained him the entire time he was there.

Tomorrow, I hope to start sewing my Halloween Costume that I cut out today before we left. I also need to fix a pair of Nephew pants.

Friday, September 19, 2008

They say it is your Birthday!



Today is my 31st Birthday and I plan to celebrate.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Modeling My New Jacket

I just wanted to show you my finished jacket. I love it! Even if the other ladies at sewing class made fun of it. I learned several things when making this.
1. Putting in a separating zipper isn't hard at all.
2. I didn't understand how to put the pockets in, and now they seem to stick out from under the jacket sometimes. They just need tacked down.
3. Stitches in fleece need to be perfect the first time because if you rip them out they more likely will rip the fabric. If any has any tips on how not to do it I would appreciate it.
4. Still no good places to have my picture taken.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Tinkerbell Jacket

This is my version of McCall's 5252. I made it out of Tinkerbell fleece that I purchased at Joann Fabric over Labor Day Weekend. This jacket is missing the zipper. This only because I have never put a zipper in a garment before, and I plan to work on it tomorrow night at sewing class. I can't wait to wear this at Disney World in December.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

The ATL

I guess if one word could describe Saturday, it would have to be overwhelming. Bo and I spent the day in Atlanta. I love to visit Atlanta for the day or weekend, but when I leave there I'm glad I don't live there. I am way more small town than that. First, we went to see Dave Ramsey live. Bo and I have already taken Financial Peace University a couple of years ago. This was a refresher course for us.
Second, we stopped at IKEA. Neither Bo nor I knew exactly what to expect when we went there. So many people in the blog world talk about IKEA so I had to go and see what all the fuss was about. All I can say is WOW! After I left there I felt like my sensors were overloaded.
Next stop The Varsity -" What ya have? What ya have?" When in Atlanta you must eat at the varsity. But having them yell "What ya have?" makes me kind of nervous, but there chili cheese burger and onion rings are Awesome!
Then on the way back my car turned over 100,000 miles. All those miles and so many memorise. Here's to my car going another 1000,000 miles. Bo was so sweet he actually pulled of the interstate on to an exit so that I could get this picture.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Here's Your Sign!

Bo and I went and saw Bill Engvall. It was a nice evening out.

Friday, September 12, 2008

You've got mail!

When I was a kid, my brother and I would argue over getting the mail. This got to the point that my mother made us rotate the days we got to go get it out of the mail box.
Now, Bo and I argue over who gets the mail. Mostly, because Bo get the bills and junk and I get the good stuff. (I have agreed to let Bo get the mail on the days that the trash can needs to be picked up from the curb.) Well, yesterday was Bo's turn and needless to say he did get a bill and junk mail, but he also pulled out a large envelope. I knew immediately that it was from Messy Karen! This is what I received from Messy Karen:

This is how she labeled the inside package. It was just so cute, I had to take a picture.

Fabric, wonderful fabric. It was folded neatly, washed and ironed.


Then there was this bonus item.

Messy Karen included the materials and instructions to make Anna Maria Horner's Bookmarks. I was going to make these last night, but I decided to watch Project Runway and Tabitha's Salon Takeover. I don't know if I liked Tabitha's show or not. I may have to watch a few more episodes. I can't thank Karen enough for this wonderful package of fabric!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Basketball Pants

Okay, this is the deal: My sister-in-law asked me to make my nephew 5 pairs of pants for fall/winter, and I would love to get them done as soon as possible. The only thing is I need to find a pattern that fits him. The ones pictured below were made to see how they fit. These pants are now sitting in an envelope waiting to be mailed to my mother so that she can tell me about the fit, but she won't see Nephew until Sunday. Afterwards, Nephew can were these as pj pants.


Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Just A Little Work

Happy Birthday Sister-In-Law!Today is her 30th birthday. Here is to many many more years.
On the sewing front - I didn't get as much done as I wanted too. I got two pattern pieces cut out, Simplicity 3856 andMcCall's 5252 . Tomorrow, I hope to get the fabric cut out and maybe sew a little.

Monday, September 8, 2008

A Little Sewing

I made another of Heather Bailey's Square Deal Pin Cushion. I made this one in some leftover snowman fabric. I plan on giving this one as a Christmas present. So, my dad loved the coaster that I made for my Sister-In-Law so much that I had to make some for him. I hope he likes these. I don't have any sewing planned for tomorrow night, but I do have several things that need cut out.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Weekend Company

Bo and I had company this weekend. This company wanted to watch Disney most of the day. Bo and I watched shows we have never seen before. We did make good use of the Wii Fit Board as you can see it can also double as a table for a toddler.
I made Nephew a Clever Little Cape by Apple Cyder. I asked Nephew if I could take his picture with it on. He shook his head no, but I tried anyway. This is Bo trying to put it on Nephew.
This is Nephew immediately taking it off. He did carry it around with him, but he didn't want to wear it. Who knows he may grow into it. I would recommend this pattern to anyone. It went together really quickly.I haven't posted this no-sew blanket I made. These are great for gifts. This one is really soft.
Finally, I don't usually post my good deal that I get a CVS, but today's deals were to good not to talk about. All of these items pictured cost me $8.33 out of pocket.
I now need to go help Bo clean the house. Hopefully, I can sew tonight.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Historic Moment

Okay, no sewing tonight. I had to watch Sarah Palin's speech. I guess all those years of Political Science classes drew me in. I couldn't tell you the last time I actually watched a political event. Since getting my degree I have stopped watching and talking politics, but I had to watch this. I am to young to remember Geraldine Ferraro's acceptance speech, but I'm all about women making history, and maybe one day we will have a woman President.



Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Visit to Joann Fabrics

My fabric store choices are limited to Hancock Fabrics, Hobby Lobby, and only one of our four Wal-mart sells fabric. None carry a great selection or variety. When we go to the beach I have to visit the local Joann. What follows are my purchases...

Actually, I didn't purchase this fabric, my sister-in-law did, but I'll be sewing it. So I guess it counts as fabric for me. SIL wants me to make Nephew pants that look exactly like several pairs that are found in Ragsland . These will be my next major project.
I purchased this fleece with plans to make a no sew blanket as a Christmas present which I've finished already. I love these as gifts. The Tinkerbell fabric will be used to make either McCall's 5252 or McCall's 3402 for our Disney trip.
This just other fabric I wanted or fabric that will be used in Halloween Costumes.
Notions I purchased that were 50% off, and I can always use something new. The large yardage of elastic is for Nephew's pants.
This is going to be used to make a cape for Nephew. This weekend we played "capes" with just the yard of fabric. Nineteen months olds have the best belly laughs. I wish I could bottle it and listen to it on days when I need a good pick me up. I hope to have this done when I keep Nephew this weekend.
Bo's 84 year old great aunt broke her hip today so thoughts and prayers would be appreciated.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Back from the Beach

We are back from the beach! I would live there, but as of right now I'll have to be happy with visiting. I'm so lucky Bo loves the beach as much as I do. Panama City Beach is full of memories and we make new ones each year. Here are a few from this trip...
I know that I get my creativity from both of my parents. Just look at what my dad made himself. He has to use a cane on stable ground so no doubt he would need one in the sand. He couldn't find anything that would work so he went to Lowes to find what he needed. He ended up using PVC pipe to make an all weather cane that he could use in the water without worrying about ruining it.

I have seen several pictures of Crocs on vacation this summer. I'll add my picture.

Nephew enjoys the beach.

Nothing, but clear skies. We set up to stay on the beach all day.
Teaching Nephew how to play paddle ball. He took to this really well. Then he wanted to learn how to play shuffleboard.
This is what the water looked like when we left.
It was double red flags, but we still saw people getting in the water.
I hope you enjoyed these pictures. I hope to sew tomorrow.