Write a little something...

I found this tutorial a while ago, I am planning on making more but I made this one for my mama for her birthday. It turned out so cute, I am considering heading back to Micheal's for a couple more of these pendants.

Our First Day of School

4th Grade, 1st Grade, Pre-K & Tot School

Here are my four little pupils ready and eager to start their day.


Well that is except for Trenton who doesn't like group time Isabelle who doesn't want to do anything but worksheets and wants me to be her teacher only and Cordelia who was already trying to shirk her required school work.
Piper liked her school work she played on her little blanket with her little plastic eggs full of little puff balls in her little plastic jar for 30-45 minutes seriously I rarely see this child still anymore. But as you can see she loved it!

It is beginning again

We are starting school next week or maybe the week after, I am reluctant. I admit it as excited as I am to start I am still nervous. I want to do better and doing better isn't one of my best qualities. We will be using My Father's World Exploring Countries and Cultures for Trenton and Cordelia and a Letter of the Week curriculum with Isabelle. On top of school we are doing co-op, baseball, softball, dance x 2, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Keepers at Home. I am still making a handmade Christmas and great many other things. I feel a little like I am drowning and it all hasn't even started yet.

Exrtreme Makeover! Playhouse Edition

So really it wasn't much of a makeover, but it was a hit. I found this Barbie Playhouse on Craigslist for $50 a gift for my Is-a-belle. But of course I hate Barbie and thought a fairy abode would be more appropriate. So after a trek through Michael's clearance racks and a tube of glitter I had a perfect little fairy house with it's very own magical fairy door(bottom right).



I also added a little table in the back window where a table once was


and a pretty awning and matching folding stools that I made using this tutorial


It is taking up our entire playroom for the next few days hopefully the weather will clear up soon and I can make its permanent residence outside.

Pottery Barn Inspired Beach Decor Tutorial

I saw this hibiscus garland at pottery barn kids. I thought it would look lovely in the girls beachy room unfortunately I couldn't afford it and it wasn't the right color for there room so I made my own version



and a quick tutorial on how too. I spent about $5 on mine I had most of the materials except for raffia and some decorative wire to attach the flowers too.

I copied the pattern I made you can make it as big or small as you like I did a small and a large flower in each color fabric that I had.


Items you will need:
Fabric of your choice (I can't say how much it depends on what size you make mine all came from my scrap stash)
Stiff Fusible Interfacing
Small hole punch
Sewing Needle
Coordinating thread
Raffia
Decorative Wire

1. Cut two hibiscus flowers from fabric and one of interfacing. You will also want to cut fabric for the center of the flowers, I used a coordinating fabric and cut with pinking shears.


2. Iron the three pieces together (follow interfacing instructions).



3. Punch two holes near the center of the flower. And two holes the same width apart on the flower center piece.


4. Next you will need to sew a large running stitch around the center circle of the flower then pull to gather the flower and tie off.


5. Then I used a large plastic crochet needle and thread the raffia through the flower and center circle and onto the decorative wire and tied it tight with a knot. Once it is tied on I frayed the raffia a bit and adjusted the petals.


Then repeat with each flower until you have a garland the length you want. You can also add some hot glue to the back to keep the flowers from moving down the wire when you have them all were you want them.

Upcycled Creations

I love changing old clothes into something new especially for the kids and especially when it costs nothing! My husband had gotten a bag full of nice golf shirts unfortunately they were much bigger than I would ever want my husband to be. So they were going in a bag for Goodwill but I hoarded a few and have been holding on to them for a while with a couple pairs of ruffled leggings in mind for my girls. So when better than a rainy day to create.

First you need large shirts.

Those stripes on the left will make you dizzy by the time your done. Remember to match your stripes or at least bigger stripes the pants on the right are a little wonky.

Next you need a pair of leggings to use as a pattern.


Save the bottom strip of the shirt for the ruffles this way there is no hemming involved.


Don't they look sweet and comfy:

Things that torment me!

Its that time of year again for spaghetti straps and skirts, sidewalk chalk and sunshine.

And apparently snow boots in sub-tropical climates.