MEEEEEPPPPPP (an even more excited from of squeee)

I'm guest posting today at Project Run and Play!!!!

Click the link and head on over to see my tutorial for how to create this look with decorative top stitching

I just can't believe I am getting to be a part (a very small, tiny part) of Project Run and Play!!!!!!  MEEEEEEP  ;o)

Knock off dilemma...

Ok - As you already know I am going to be guest posting at Elegance and Elephants in the  'Knock it Off' series.  You would think by this point I would have my project nailed down, the finish product done, pictures taken, and simply the blog post left to write.... well, ummm that would have been the case.  But it seems my knock off button is temporarily on the fritz.

I love knock offs!!!

 This coat is a knock off of a gap coat

This jacket is a 'simplified' knock off of a J Crew look (it's funny, Peekaboo patterns has an amazing knock off pattern of this jacket - but I didn't know that when I made my variation ;op)

And these shirts are a knock off of a fashion tee I found on Pinterest (from guylook.com, but it isn't available any more)

So what you may ask is the problem????
Well, when I agreed to do this series I didn't have a project in mind, so I started looking everywhere for inspiration.  I wanted to try not to do something that I had seen on anyone's blog recently, but I don't know the blogging world well enough to ensure that I achieve that.  I also knew that it would be a refashion, so I needed to work with supplies I had on hand.
I landed on this

JCrew Dress

No, baby girl does not need one more Christmas dress - but this just caught my eye and I KNEW I had the perfect fabric for a fancy dress (an old cranberry satin bridesmaid dress - who says it can't be worn again!)

With the help of my genius sister, I figured out how pattern the ruffles (thank you LBB) and created a pattern.  I cut the pieces, rendering the dress to shreds of its former self, and then started trying to do a rolled hem on 14 CURVED pieces of satin... I don't own a rolled hem foot, my serger does not do a pretty rolled hem, I refuse to leave a raw edge on a fancy garment (I just can't do it - the bias challenge on PR&P helped me, but I still can't do it).  I got to the point that I almost threw the whole thing away.  My mom came to my rescue with not one, but two machines with rolled hem feet - and together we spent 2 hours (over nap time) learning how to do a rolled hem and doing it, with varied levels of success on 14 curved pieces of satin.  And that is where that project has ended for now.  I just don't love the way it is turning out.  It isn't perfect, it isn't even close to perfect, it currently just makes me sad ;o(  I think the satin is too heavy for a garment originally made of taffeta.

So then I was in love with this top:

JCrew Tunic Top

So I mocked one up - it isn't bad, but it needs some alterations to be right (and can I just say I HATE when garments aren't shown on a model - makes it so hard to guess the true fit of the original).  I also feel like it just doesn't have the WOW factor.  It is a great staple for baby girl's wardrobe though.


And then there is this:

MILLY Leather trimmed dress $375

I love it... I have the materials to make it.  I'm just worried that on my baby it isn't going to work (this is a women's design).  That whole straight dress on a sitting crawling baby (not yet, but by Christmas).  I could give it a little more A-line and maybe a kick in the back - she'd wear it with leggings and a long sleeved T underneath.


So what say you, gurus of the inter-webs???  Finish project A, alter and complete a final version of Option 2, or toss everything else out the window -start from scratch and whip up #3?  I'm starting to run out of time ;op


Help so that I don't have to bow out un-gracefully!!!!!

Handcrafted Christmas : Food Lover Ideas

So I am well on my way towards my desire for handmade gifts for my family.... well on my way as far as ideas go that is ;o)

I have the fabric bought for some PJ pants, and fabric bought for a casserole carrier, and I made a mock up of the pattern I plan on using for something for my niece (oh, I have three of them you say ;op).

But for now, I want to talk about great gift ideas for people who love to eat and drink - that is EVERYONE, right???  This is the non-edible collection, I'll have a list of edible gifts as we get closer to Christmas!

Gifts for Food Lovers (non-edible)

*click the link below the picture for instructions for each idea from the original source

Monogrammed Mugs

Customized Plates

fabric coasters

paint chip coasters

chalk board cheese platter

Chalkboard Wine Glass

Etched glasses

casserole carrier

Painted Wooden Spoons

Cupcake Stand

*this is great because it comes apart to store and ship, you could also give a variety of plates so that your recipient could change it up depending on the occasion.

What I love about all of these gifts is that they are completely customizable  to the recipient   You can use a theme, name, a design - whatever you want to create a 'one of a kind' gift.  These are also practical gifts that will get used - unless your gift-ee never eats or drinks... then you'll need to wait for a different collection of ideas ;o)

Magic Monday: introducing 'A Handcrafted Christmas'

Every year I struggle to buy gifts for those I love most.  I want to get them the perfect thing, something they will love, something they will use, something that will not become one more element of clutter in their home.  I search and search, I do price comparisons, I browse blogs promoting top ten gift ideas for men/women/children/spouses/etc.....  And by the end I have worked myself up to the point of near nervous breakdown and either order something random off amazon or say 'screw it, I'll get them something doubly cool NEXT year'.

(stock image)

This was ok until my poor nieces and nephews grew out of the toddler age and into the age of cognizance.  They now see me as the 'crazy aunt suzanne' who maybe loves them, but not enough to remember a gift for Christmas or their birthday.   I feel horrible.  I'm at a loss.  I do much better if I am sent a LIST!!!
But even with a list, I'm not perfect.  I am not naturally gifted at 'Gift Giving' - which in a family of givers is a really hard thing.  For the past few years, I have allowed infants and pregnancy to be my excuse for my lameness.  I've promised that 'once I'm not pregnant, I'll do better'.  Well that time is here... the first non-pregnant Christmas in a while and I am bound and determined to hold true to my word!

So what is a girl who finds herself overwhelmed by the retail world to do to have a non panic attack inducing holiday season???  Why not make it herself!

I have thought about the things that I might find useful or want - that are compatible with being made at home (my goal is to come up with things that you would think came from a boutique store or etsy shop).

And thus the birth of 'A Hand Crafted Christmas'.

I'm still working out all the details, lets face it - men are hard, hard, hard, HARD (hmmmm, that may have come out wrong).  But I am trying to come with ideas even they will appreciate.

Here's a sampling of the LIST:
- PJ Pants
- A White (and black) Christmas Box - this is my favorite scheme yet!!!
- Casserole Carrier
- FOOD (hahahah, there are so many great eatables out there - and even if you don't NEED them, they rarely get wasted!)
*if you've looked at my 'Gift Ideas' board on pinterest you'll see other inspiration.

Once a week I'll show a glimpse of a gift I am working on, along with some great ideas for gifts you could create at home as well.  You'll watch my success and failures and hopefully encourage me along the way.

So if you are a family member of mine (or dear friend who thinks they should be on my gift list) start putting in your requests now... or who knows what might end up under your tree!

What are some of your favorite handmade gifts - what is a handmade gift that still makes you cringe or giggle to think about???

NOVEMBER!!!!

This really is my favorite month!  To me it is the time of year that it truly feels like fall and I can break out all my awesome fall layers, coats, and boots.  It is the month I was born which makes it pretty darn cool.  And it is the month where it becomes acceptable to play Christmas music 24/7 ;o)  (wait, that's just me... oh, well you're just missing out then!)

I am super stoked about this November!

First:  I will be starting my Handcrafted Christmas Series next week.  I'm attempting homemade and semi homemade gifts for most of my family this year... we'll see how it ends up, but it should be fun to watch it either succeed or crumble into a pile of chaos!

Second:  I have been asked to participate in an awesome series by Heidi at Elegance and Elephants called Knock It Off November

This is the first time I've been asked to guest post for a series and I am so EXCITED!!!!  She already has a great accessory post up and tomorrow will kick it off right with her knock off outfit.

Third:  I will be sharing a guest post tutorial over at Project Run and Play.... any guesses as to what I might share????

Fourth:  My sister and I are going to start doing some shared posts.  Let me just say that my sister is AMAZING!!!  She is a military wife and mama to three kids, she sews, designs, creates patterns... and is I think one of the original followers of LBB ;op  We haven't worked out all the details yet, but whatever we do together will be way more inspired than what I could ever do on my own.  Check out her blog to see some of the awesome stuff she has done: The Kestlyn Collection.

And FIFTH - my awesome husband has set up a date night for us on Saturday.  We haven't had a proper (all by ourselves - in our hometown) date since baby girl was born, actually since I was about 7 months pregnant with her.  I am happy to get out just with hubs and catch up and just be us. *we have gotten out sans kids a couple of times, just with other couples or to do non 'date-y' things.* 

What are you excited about this month???

Halloween... decisions, decisions...

(this photo was from our OBX trip in Sept, but it is so perfect for today!)

So today is Halloween - notice you haven't seen any other posts on my blog about this holiday... Halloween is actually one of my favorite holidays - come on, give a theatre girl some costumes and free chocolate, and whats not to love?  Sadly this year, things just haven't turned out as planned.

Sandy canceled my pumpkin decorating party, I've had a sinus infection for a while,I got food poisoning on monday and just haven't had the energy to crank out fun crafts or the zoo keeper hats I had planned for hubs and I.  We got the kids out to a local trick or treat at the Ball Park, but didn't get any pictures of them in costume.  And now it is cold and rainy and the kiddos are mucus filled little monkeys.

So do I dress them up and drag them out in the rainy cold while they are already sick???  Do I dress them up, drag them out to the indoor trick or treating at the mall???  Or do we as a family say, 'whatever, we'll do it up right next year' and instead go to the gym (and possibly infect numerous other kiddos)???

I want pictures and memories and proof that I was the awesome mommy who didn't miss chances for celebration in the midst of chaos... but sometimes mommy just wants to roll over, cuddle up with a blanket and a mug of tea, and watch a good movie.

Oh well, tomorrow is November - and will bring with it lots of fun new things.  Stay tuned!!!

Whew, what a day...Now what's for dinner?!?!?

I'm tired, I'm under the weather, and I'm buried under piles of editing for work.... and then there are the three kiddos, the not so clean house, the never ending laundry sitch... Whew, these sure are the days.

So what do you do to keep it all running smoothly?  Do you have a weekly system... things you try to accomplish each day... a pact with your spouse to pretend that these days never existed and to pretend when the kids get older that everything was perfect when they were babies????

B is going through a stage where he just wont sleep longer than about an hour- 1.25 hours.  Think he is outgrowing naps (please say NO!!!)?  I don't get him right away, but he usually doesn't fall back asleep.

That is just the ever changing game, right... just when you think you have them all figured out, they switch it up on you.

At least I can keep the family fed:  Here's two staples I'll share  - and yes, even the boys GOBBLE these down.
First:
Winter's Chili:
In crock pot- Set on low 8 hrs or high 4-5 hours
1 large can Dark red beans (you can use any bean or two regular cans of two different kinds)
1 can chili ready tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes and green chilies
1.5 cup frozen corn
1 cup pepper strips (either fresh or frozen)
1 tsp salt
2 chicken boneless skinless breasts

*trow it all in, set it and forget it.  Shred the chicken and mix in prior to eating.  Eat with corn chips or cornbread and watch it disappear.... nom nom nom


And often there are left overs, thus the birth of....

Taco Pasta:
Add 2-3 cups left over chili (whatever you have)
1 can diced tomatoes (use chili read or diced tomatoes with green chilies for an extra kick)
1/2 pkg of cream cheese
1 cup shredded cheese (either sharp cheddar or a Mexican blend)
little bit of salt to taste
-Combine above ingredients in a large pan on medium on the stove top (I add the cheeses last, once everything else is heated through)
add 1 Box rottini noodles - cooked
Stir and serve!

Quick, easy, and a kid favorite!  We have lots of chili remixes in our house.

What are some of your easy go to dinners for busy days?

And because I can't have a post without pictures - here is what baby girl wore apple picking.  I did not make any of this, it is just the perfect modge podge of randomness that I absolutely LOVE.  My modern day Little Red - her dada did not let her wander from the path though ;o)