It's Stocking Time Again...

For the past few weeks I've been deep into corduroy skirts and jumpers that I'm making for both of my girls. But I've decided to take a break from them and start on making Christmas Stockings for my kid's classmates. See last years Christmas Stockings.

Now that I have 2 in school I'm making more this year. Twenty for my son's class and 18 for my daughter's class! I decided to shrink the pattern a bit to 80% so I could get more out of the fabric and fusible fleece. The size change has made a big difference.

I'm making Tinkerbell and Lightning McQueen for my daughter's class:

and Hello Kitty and Racecars for my son's class.

I'm using this HK Christmas flannel I've had like forever. But I only had about a half a yd of the pink and the green so I'll have 4 of each color for the girls.

The kid's last day of school before the holidays is Friday, 12/18. So far I think I've gotten a great start. I hope to be finished by the end of this week.

I'll use next week to figure out what I'm gonna do for their teachers. What is everyone else doing for Christmas class and teacher gifts?

Thanksgiving Turkey Cookies

Doesn't sound to inviting does it? LOL I saw this idea on a Pillsbury coupon for their sugar cookies and decided to make them for my son and daughter's class.



Thanksgiving Turkey Cookies Recipe

I used store bought sugar cookies, which saved so much time. They were very fun and easy to decorate! I made a total of 42.

I used chocolate frosting to attach the candy corn and the green/ white flat sprinkles for the eyes. (I had a hard time trying to find the green baking candies as the recipe called for. The sprinkles worked out great though)

The eye was made using a black edible marker. And orange icing was used for the mouth and feet.

A special thanks to Michaels and Target who were open until 10pm! Me and my last minute 'bright ideas'.

35 Years Ago

35 yrs ago God blessed my parents with a gift of a 2nd child, but I got a gift that day as well! I was born to the Most Wonderful Parents a child could ever hope for, I’ve had an exceptional childhood, I have friends & people I’ve met that are priceless, I’ve traveled & have had wonderful life experiences! God is good! I have the most loving husband & 4 beautiful kids! All this in 35 yrs! I can’t wait to see what God will be gifting me with for the next 35!

Since today is my 35th birthday, I decided to take it way back to the very beginning. Here is my baby picture!

Happy 3rd Birthday Xavier!

Happy Birthday Little Man!

Today is Zay's birthday! We celebrated his birthday as a family on Sunday. I'd made reservations to take the kids to the Explorium for a Little Builder Brunch with Bob the Builder. The food was sponsored by Publix and was delicious!

There was cake too.

Xavier won a door prize which was awsome!

The kids got face/body paintings.

There was a Photo op with Bob the Builder himself!

Xavier on a mission to fix or build something! lol

The kids played in the Bob the Builder play area and checked out the exhibits.


Bye!

We'll be having the birthday dinner tonight (Hotdogs & chips, icecream cake) and giving him his gifts. I have 2 movies from Red Box so the kids can watch tonight. The older 2 got out of school early today b/c of the hurricane heading this way and they don't go tomorrow so I don't have to rush them off to bed tonight.

Halloween Is A Wrap!

After losing many hours of sleep I finally finished my Halloween costumes. Most of my sewing was done in about two weeks.

There ended up being some costume changes so superheroes ended up not being the overall theme. I bought costumes for my sons. Malcolm was Ben 10, he loves this cartoon. Got his for $10 sometime back. He was happy and I couldn't beat that price.

I had the hardest time trying to decide on a costume for Xavier. For some reason I hate clown costumes so those were out. I don't do animals, fruit or veggies. Also costumes with face masks wouldn't work b/c I knew he wouldn't keep them over his face. I pulled out one costume but it was poorly sewn. I was reminded that it was just a costume but I hate paying money for something I coulda made myself and made Better! But I just didn't have the time to. So I ended up with a Commando Squad costume which was made well and only cost $14.

Nia was Super Woman. This costume was so much fun to make! I added a headband and the red stars on it and the arm bands. A loop was added to the belt along with the gold lasso.

Here are the shoe covers that are made up like boots. I'm so glad I used vinyl. I also made up a cape at the last minute using Simplicity 2567, Style A (I only cut 1 on fold instead 2 and zigzagged the edges)

Here is Kalynn as Dorothy of the Wizard of Oz. Pattern used -Simplicity 4024 - Style A. I love this pattern, especially the rick rack detail around the neck and sleeves!

Kalynn found another Dorothy!

Here's the whole gang together!

In Memory of Earl Roberson, Sr. (My Daddy) Dec. 28, 1931 - Oct. 7, 2006

It's been 3 years but it still feels like yesterday since God called you home. Sometimes the tears are heavy and sometimes light, lately they've come very often. I still hear your voice and hear your encouraging words. I feel your precense. I like to imagine sometimes what you're doing now: Laughing (you loved to laugh), smiling and still serving God, even in Heaven. We love you, ALWAYS!

You know I use to always wonder what would happend when I lost my Daddy. To me he was the greatest man and I could never imagine not having him around. When the time came in '06 and we knew that he would be leaving soon God worked it out so amazingly. Prior to him passing my brother was in Iraq and I was living far away in California. However, God worked it out so that not only had my brother made it back from Iraq twice but he had gotten out of the military and was living back at home and I had moved closer to home, from CA to FL. So while I was home visiting for 2 weeks before I was due to have my 3rd child back in FL, we got the news about my Dad's condition. B/c I wasn't working and my 2 kids weren't school age I was able to transfer all my medical records and stay in Mobile (have my son here a month later). So during Sept and Oct our whole family was under one roof! I realized that the though his time left on earth was near but that question I wondered years ago (to myself) was being answered. God was saying everything was gonna be alright. He had provided us the comfort from each other and we were all together to help each other. I couldn't change what was happening but God's grace allowed me to go through it not feeling lost (as I thought I would feel) sad or angry. I was able to go through it thinking of how blessed I was to have had him in my life and for so long. Thankful that I was there from the beginning and the end. And it allowed me to have a sense of peace to this day. In my mind years ago when I wondered what I would do when I lost my Daddy I wasn't even talking to God but he still heard my cry!!!!!!!!!!

I Learned the Neatest Thing...

I went out in search for a pair of jeans this week. Does anyone hate jean searching as much as me? I tried on several from one store and I was so surprised to find a pair that was perfect! They weren't too tight, which wouldn't require me to wear them in to loosen them up a day before I would wear them out! Am I the only one who has to do this? lol Anyway, the only thing wrong was they were too long! I went ahead and bought them b/c other than the length they were perfect.



I tried them on yesterday several times, folding them up and pinning them. I figured hemming a pair of jeans would involve cutting them off and putting in a new hem. Sounds logical and simple but I was dreading it b/c I knew that once I cut them and folded/ sewed a new hem they just wouldn't look the same. So I did the next best thing and searched google (how to hem a pair of jeans) to see what other people were doing. I am so glad that I did!



I found several links that discussed how to hem a pair of jeans and keep the original hem. That peaked my interest. Reading the instructions sounded fairly easy too.



So I finally sat down and followed the video that I found:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as0pFvo5Q4M

I got excellent results!

It's hard to see where the fold of the jeans meets the original hem!

Superheroes for Halloween?

That's the plan at least. My oldest wants to be Wonder Woman for Halloween. I purchased the McCall 5727 pattern some time ago when it was on sale for .99. I finally bought some fabric for it at WalMart last week. I plan to make Costume B.

I was going to buy this blue fabric w/ white stars at spandexwear.com. but after I bought this shiny fabric from WalMart ($2 something a yd) I loved the idea of the silver stars instead.

(Fabric from WalMart)

The problem is I would have to cut my own stars from the silver fabric but this is way more time consuming plus I have to worry about raveling. But I do like how shiny the WalMart fabric is. So I'm gonna stick with the shiny blue fabric and I just purchased these silver stars from http://www.ebay.com/ to iron on.

There is also a pattern for the red boots. I guess I will give that a try. I'm thinking of using a red pleather/ vinyl, something shiny.

My 4 year old wants to be Spiderman. There isn't a pattern for Spiderman but McCall 5952 has a pattern for a jumpsuit which I can used and then create my own pattern for the 'red/ black' webbed fabric that goes on Spiderman's pant legs, chest and arms. But I really don't feel like doing all of that! I've been trying to talk him into being Batman or something that there is an exact pattern for but he's not falling for it. lol

As for the younger 2, (1yr old girl, 2 yr old boy) I'm not sure what I'm gonna do for them yet. Any ideas? I want something easy but I would like to stick with the Superheroe Theme.

Is anybody else thinking of or working on Halloween costumes yet?

I Know.....It's Been A Long Time!

Okay, so I've found this thing called Facebook and it's been monopolizing ALL of my time! Well, most of it anyway. I just haven't made the time to post anything on my blog and I'm sooo behind on my regular blog reading. I've also been getting up really early and going to the gym so by the time I get the kids in the bed I'm usually not too far behind them and falling/ going to sleep! Night was usually my sewing/ blog posting time.

I haven't done much sewing as of lately. But I do have pictures of the sewing crafts done at Church camp. Camp wrapped up at the end of July. I had a really nice time helping the kids (12, 13 yr olds). They were really excited too. I wasn't too crazy about some of their choises of buttons and placement but I let them decide. lol

I made a purse for one girl who had come the last 2 weeks of camp. I put most of it together and let her sew up most of the outer bag. I really like how the High School Musical turned out. I've gotta do more of these.

This is the purse that I finished for my daughter for the 4th of July. I had it on display along with the purses the kids did. (A red/white gingham was used for the lining to coordinate with HK's shirt)

I attempted to make wallets again. I didn't finish the first time I tried. You can't tell by the pictures but the basketball fabric is covered with a clear vinyl. We started running out of time so I kinda prepared the inside of the wallets before hand and they sewed it up and finished it off with bias tape.

I started out trying to use sports vinyl for the inside of the wallet but it was too difficult to cut straight and handle so I chose a blue cotton. It worked better but next time I'm gonna use a heavier fabric. I have one in mind but I forget what it's called. But I'm very pleased with how the wallets turned out.

Happy 6th Birthday Nia!!!

Yes, we're still partying!

Today is my oldest daughter's birthday and she is 6 years old today. I can't believe it!

One minute she's just a baby surfing the waves...

and the next....she's all grown up!

We had a wonderful day today. Continuing the celebration at Chuck E Cheese's, then off to lunch at McDonald's and finally ending up at the movies to see Ice Age 3.

And we're still not done because now she's planning out the rest of everybody's evening!

(Coming later: Pictures of the B'day party for both girls)

4th of July Outfits

Finally, I'm getting around to posting the pictures of my kid's outfits and purses I made. I made 2 purses. One was for my Goddaughter, which I gave to her along with a patriotic Hello Kitty t-shirt. I got the shirt after the 4th last year so I was waiting until this year so I could give it to her with the purse.

I'll add the 2nd purse with the 4 HK purses I have made up to sale.

I let my daughter use the other one on the 4th but I'm still making her one. I didn't get a chance to finish it before the 4th. Hers is being made with red denim and red/white gingham.

Butterick 5009

The Girls

New Look 6792

The boy's shirts are from Butterick 3475

Happy 1st Birthday Kalynn

Happy 1st Birthday to my baby girl!

Kalynn Jai

You have brought so much joy into our lives.

It's been so much fun to watch you grow and find your place among your brother's and sister. I can tell already that you're not gonna take any mess from anybody. You've already shown that you can hold your own when your siblings take something from you! (Kalynn likes to bite toes!) LOL

We love you very much!

Here is Kalynn, doing what she does best!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Since the kids are in Church Camp and my oldest daughter's b'day is on Saturday, we're gonna celebrate both of their birthdays today at church.




I'll share pictures later. (I still have to post pictures of the kid's 4th of July outfits)

Drowning in Red, White and Blue

After today I don't want to see anymore red, white and blue! I got a late start working on my kid's 4th of July clothes but I finished. I did a dress rehersal with the kids this morning and made the necessary adjustments.

Here are pictures of the fabrics I was working with. I'll share pictures of the kids in their outfits tonight!

Have a wonderful and safe Independence Day!

Not Sewing, Still Crafting

So much has been going on that I haven't had a chance to finish anything on my To Do List. I haven't had a chance to sew much of anything as of lately but I have been doing other crafts.

I've been busy at church over the last 2 weeks. We wrapped up Vacation Bible School a week ago. I attended the adult class and I chose to do some crafts on our subject of witnessing. I made a tote bag with the words JESUS SAVES.

I also made 3 t-shirts for my kids. I'd had the white t's for quite sometime but hadn't done anything with them. After printing what I wanted on transfer paper I ironed it on. They turned out really nice. Here are pictures after the kids had worn their shirts.

Front (This was the VBS Theme)

Back

Church camp started last week. I've been there helping out everyday and last Thursday I helped the kids make Father's Day cards. I found this cute idea on the internet. It was a really easy easy craft to do and the kids enjoyed making the cards. Here is a picture of some of the ones that were made.

In addition to coming up with other crafts the kids can do over the next 5 weeks, I will start teaching sewing to some of the students next week. I will be teaching the girls how to make purses. But I haven't decided on what the boys can make. They are ages 12 & 13. One kid suggested wallets so I've been looking for a wallet pattern. Remember the wallets I attempted to make a while back. I never finished b/c I didn't like how the bias tape was looking, but they were pretty easy but I'm not crazy about teaching teen boys how to sew on bias tape. Something about it makes me think they'll have a hard time and I want them to be able to do the sewing. Maybe I'll give it a try. Then I thought about making those drawstring backpacks that kids have all the time. I don't know. Pillowcases are another thought. Does anyone have any ideas? Something that doesn't require lots of fabric preferably.

Coming Up

I've been slacking a lot lately. I'm currently in Atlanta and I've been here since Thursday. I'll be leaving early in the morning so I really must get some sleep. On my mind now is all the projects that I have Coming Up. I really must crack a whip when I return.

1. Hello Kitty purse for my husband's cousin's daughter (I promised to start working on it before the week is out)
2. Hello Kitty 4th of July purses (1 for my daughter and 1 for my Goddaughter, hopefully I'll be smart enough to make some early enough before the 4th so I can sell them. I have how many days left????)
3. Finish 4 shirts for my boys (2 must be done by the 4th)
4. Make 4th of July outfit for my girls (I have the pattern and the fabric, I haven't cut anything out yet)
5. Birthday planning for my 2 girls in July and some sewing for the birthday girls. I'm not sure what I'm going to sew yet.

Those are jut some of the things I have to work on!