tutu for frannie

Bug has just recently discovered naming her dolls/animals, and she has found a favorite bear and named her "Frannie". When I made her the dress the other day, she found the leftover tulle and insisted that her favorite baby Frannie have a tutu to match. I didn't bother with elastic, just used ribbon as a casing and sewed it up. Both Frannie and Bug seem to be pleased with it!

new dress

My sister in law and I have been throwing around the idea of me making dresses for all the grand kids on my hubby's side for family pictures. I finally feel like I will have enough time in the next couple weeks to make six, so I put an example together today to show her. Since we live out in the boonies (an hour and a half away from a craft store that sells clothing fabric) I used what I had in my stash, so the colors aren't perfect, but it gives me an idea of what to change for next time, and Bug is pleased with it just as it is (even if she absolutely did not want to pose for pictures).I will make a couple changes I think-

• black and white damask print for the top,
• have four layers of the tulle instead of two,
• match the under 'slip' color better with the tulle.
• I also think I will make the slip layer a little looser, it is pretty straight now and I want a little more volume.
• make the length just below the knee instead of mid-calf

craft fair fun

I had a booth at the local craft fair in Victor, Id over the weekend with a couple friends, and it was a lot of fun! This also meant that my hubby had the kids all day for three days, as I worked the booth in the morning and at the Hospital at night. Luckily, he is great with them! Thanks, hubby! This was the setup of our booth the first day: We made some changes the following day, and added Audrey's hair bow stand later in the day, but it was similar overall.
{so for my inventory - one month of sewing while working 24 hours a week I managed to make 28 tanks and 24 dresses, 16 taggies, and 6 sets of 2 burp cloths. I already had the quilts done, thank goodness! They are all hidden behind the tutus.}

The highlight for me was when a mom held this dress up to her little girl, and she insisted on leaving with it. She was quite upset I had to snag the tag out of it for the price, but it totally made the weekend for me. I also sold two quilts, so hubby is happy they are out of the back room taking up space. Apparently he thinks there should be a limit on the amount of baby quilts I can hoard while we have no baby... don't tell him, but he does have a good point. I am glad they went to good homes!

This week will be some 'fun' sewing projects I have been dying to get to, and possibly a trip to Utah. We'll see.

today

The kids and I were running some errands, and stopped by the thrift store on our way through town. I missed bag sale day Saturday, but still scored a couple shirts, a princess dress, and some misc. things the girls threw in the cart. Because apparently we NEEDED a banana slicer. As I was leaving, I overheard Ellen, one of our favorite employees say to her friend "I can't wait to see what she makes with those! She just makes the cutest things for her girls... you should see the dress (Moo) was in last time!"
It totally made my day! Thanks, Ellen!

oh what a day

Once a year we drive through Yellowstone National Park with Nick's family. I always look forward to it, even though it is usually 12+ hours in the car with little kids. Yesterday we started in the car at 7:00 am and got home a little after midnight, most of the day spent driving. It's somehow still fun. So, I took the day off sewing - which, by the way, was harder to do than it sounds! - and we had a blast! We saw three bears, a handful of elk, lots of Bison (mommies & babies to bug's delight) but the highlight? Moo loved this rabbit! I even snagged a family picture-wish the kids had even looked at the camera, but it's fun to document this time in our life just as it is.
... and now back to sewing!

burning the midnight oil

What do you do at midnight? Tonight after work (I get off after 12:30 am) I finally got around to finishing my craft vendor apron. It's a good thing my kids aren't early risers :) I started with a belt from the thrift store and some leftover tank fabric, and this is what I got: What do you think? It needs a little tweaking, but the size is just about right and it will work for this week. The ribbon belt goes around the back and there are d-rings so it stays on. Maybe I'll sell something, eh? I can only hope!

Update: I sold stuff! Enough to cover the entrance fee we had to pay for the summer, so anything on top of this is bonus! Okay, I guess I should say after the money I have spent on fabric, labels, elastic, etc. it will be a bonus, but right now it's just nice to have sold my items!

big ideas!

I had great ideas of making a craft vendor apron, sewing more tank tops, and cleaning my house today. I should not have made those plans. Instead, my sister asked me to watch her four 'big kids', (thanks Aunt Fish for helping!) and Bug ended up with a nasty rash and off to the doctor's office we went. Luckily, it's the same rash she gets every spring and it's not really serious... sun reaction maybe? So we painted, played wii, ate nachos and ice cream, went on a walk... it was a great day even if I got nothing accomplished before work!... and now you can all see how pathetic my house is decorated. One wreath. I have no idea where to start, and we have lived here for three years. The big catch? I can only use thumb tacks, no nails. Ugh. Any ideas?