Irish Crochet Rose

This is what my craft table (dining room table) looked like when I went to bed last night...and, uh, still looks like. I hate when I do that.

At least a little girl will have something to wear today.

I made this dress by blocking one of Ella's dresses that fits her pretty good and just altering it a little. I put the closure in the back and made it long sleeves. I also left a raw edge on the bottom then added one more layer of fabric slightly gathered. I found a pattern on how to make an Irish crochet rose in my Good Housekeeping Needlecraft book and I knew this would be the perfect finishing touch on a rather simple dress. So easy and so cute! My mind is already racing with what I can do with these.
I just wish I could make a pair of these real quick. I'll take a pair for myself also. LOVE them!

(Soil.etsy.com)

Off to start on my to do list:

*Clean up my huge mess

*Trader Joe's for a couple missing ingredients

*Start Zucchini Cheese Soup &

*Pumpkin Bread Pudding

*Finish Thanksgiving Craft with kids

Just need to add our leaves with what we are most thankful for this year.

*Finish soup and bread pudding

*Clean kitchen

*Uncle Ed's house

*Papa and Nana's house

*Be thankful for all we have

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Silly Me

Sometimes I seriously make myself laugh.

Today is the day before Thanksgiving and I thought, "Hmmm, I better make something for Ella to wear tomorrow". I pulled out some fabric and was about to start sewing when I realized I did not have my sewing machine because I had lent it to a friend while we went on our trip. Not to worry, I would just start on a little no-sew sweater or something before I could retrieve my machine. Here is where I again am chuckling about my choice of sweaters to alter. I found this 18 month boy's sweater which Julian received as a hand-me-down and I don't think he ever wore. I think my thinking was that it could possible be one of those cute little cropped sweaters over a little dress.

So I cut it down the middle making a little cardigan, opened my trim box and went a little crazy hand stitching.

I don't know if it will make it for Thanksgiving but it was kind of therapeutic just hand-stitching something. Luckily it only took about half an hour. Next time I will put a little more thought into what I decide to alter.

Ella is so sweet. After I had her try it on, she told me she better take it off and put it in her box of special clothes that I am saving. She knows I only save items I really like or that has significant sentimental value. HA!

Well, I now have my machine and the kids are sleeping so I better get started on Ella's Thanksgiving dress.

Nicaraguan Skies

I have always enjoyed admiring cloud formations or the color the sky changes at different times of the day, but we just don't get the brilliant skies that a tropical environment gets. We took an amazing trip to Nicaragua and everyday I was in awe at the beautiful skies.

I LOVE...

1. My new sewing box. This beauty was dug up at one of those HUGE rummage sales in a church parking lot with more incredible finds than I could wrap my greedy little arms around. I even had 2 small helpers carrying some of the goods. Next year the wagon is definitely coming along. So, I finally made it to the line to pay, having no idea how much anything cost, and the sweet grandmotherly lady took a quick glance at everything spilling out of my arms and said, "Oh, how about seven dollars?" Maybe she felt sorry for me or something. So my sewing box cost, uh, nothing in my book.

2. Cinnamon. I love it on everything this time of year. It just tastes like autumn to me.

3. Ella tying a scrap piece of fabric to her ankle and the other end to a pillow as her surfboard leash.

Awesome!!
4. My stash of trims. I need to find a better way of storing these, but for now when I look at this mess it makes me happy. 5. This book. I'm already laughing. Last night Andy came home from the bookstore with one of the best surprise gifts I have received in a long time.
My first job was at Baskin Robbins. Yes, good memories. I quickly worked my way up the corporate ladder from scooper all the way up to cake decorator. So when Andy saw this book he knew I would appreciate it. The cakes are hilarious and will definitely make you laugh out loud, but then you read what the author adds and you will be back to a long silent mix between a laugh and a cry, kind of like the sound of a wounded animal...at least that's how I sound when I laugh REALLY hard. Tears. I guess the above cake had been e-mailed to everyone (except me) and the author, Jen Yates, had the idea to start CakeWrecks.com which led to the book. Genius.

(sorry my pics are so bad, I got a little too excited and snapped these a little too quickly)

It says 'Cake Camouflage' at the top.

I'm just imaging I am the recipient of this cake.

Author writes "Boy, Cole & Alli are NOT going to be happy about this. 'What, we're not good enough for the large font? Huh? HUH?' "These are just a few funny ones. I didn't want to ruin it using the hilarious ones here if you are going to buy the book.

Wreaths

Need...no, want new wreaths this year. I am trying not to buy any holiday decorations this year, so everything will need to be handmade. This, to me, is a lot more enjoyable anyhow.

This one is cute but maybe a little too woodsy for me.
(Freckled Nest)


Love this!

This one from Bluebird I am definitely going to try. Love the color combo.

Their Own Style of Play

Sometimes I try to set the kids up with something to play with or create a new game that I think will be so much fun for them, but the most fun is usually had when they create their own play. What imaginations these two have!

"We want to be bandits, can you make us some masks?" Of course this is while I am in the middle of trying to cook dinner, but how can I stifle their imaginations? So the impromptu masks were made.
Great dancing to the music of the waves crashing and the only audience was the setting sun.
Sled rides

Giggles, whispers, and occasional fits of laughter was all that could be heard. Even Yoshi was having fun.

CLACK, CLACK, CLACK, CLICKITY, CLACK, CLACK, CLACK. The louder, the better.

This is almost a daily source of fun...for them.

Exploration=hours of entertainment. Who needs mommy's silly games?

The Little Turquoise Button

Sometimes the little miss gets a say in what I make for her and other times it's just a lot easier without any input. The only problem I have found is that, for whatever reason, if she does not have any input she usually does not want to wear the just off the machine, mama is so excited to try on her, new piece of clothing. So for this little number she picked the turquoise button and, I must say so myself, actually really makes the dress.

I think it may have to do with the pride she feels in having contributed.