Party gifts

My daughter went to a birthday party for two of her friends who are sisters and have birthdays a month apart. I have had this purse pattern for quite a while now and thought it would be perfect stuffed with goodies for just such an occasion. The size is perfect for a young girl and was very simple and quick to make. I went to my old standby of stiff ticking and made envelope style bags to use for wrapping the gifts. After my daughter chose the faunt she liked I printed up their first initials and cut them out of the extra fabric used for the lining of each purse and also cut out some wonder under to iron the letters to the outside of each package. I added a piece of velcro to keep the flap closed and sent E off to her party. The mother thought the wrapping was the gift and was surprised to find purses also. Now instead of being in the trash the wrapping can be used to hold whatever the birthday girls choose.





This was my first time using magnetic snaps and I just love how easy they are and how they make the purses look much more professional. The fringe was picked out by my daughter, I think because of all the sparkle, which is hard to see in the pictures. It is very elastic and I ended up having to sew it on by hand because it just stretched and gathered the purse using my machine. Next time I would use something with no stretch, maybe make some cute piping.

Costuming

I was able to find time to make all of my kids their costumes this year. I took them to the fabric store and asked them what they wanted to have me make. They all had very definite ideas. My oldest wanted to be a navy seal, next down wanted to be a cowboy, my daughter wanted to be an Kaya the American girl and the youngest said he did not want me to buy anything for him because he would be something we already had in the dress up bucket. He ended up being Davey Crocket after changing his mind daily about who he would be. I guess it's a 5 year olds prerogative to constantly change their mind.


On the way home after all of the festivities Jake kept telling me how much he loved his army clothes. Makes it all worth it.


After I had cut out this shirt I figured out how to make the crazy shaped yolks on the back and cuffs so it was to late to give this cowboy shirt that much detail, next time. It's really not hard I just never gave it any thought before, being this is the first western shirt i've made. I did use pearl snaps for the front and sleeve cuffs as requested by this cowboy and I was able to find some nice suede leather on sale for the chaps.


For the Indian dress it is hard to see but I sewed individual fringe across the front of the chest and sewed a colored bead to the top of each piece of fringe where it is sewn to the dress.


I made this costume 4 years ago for our middle son when he dressed up as the Lone Ranger. Caleb was wearing a raccoon tail hat earlier but the tail fell off and he thought he did not look like Davey without the tail so off came the hat for the rest of the night.



We went to a harvest party at our church and our cowboy got to ride a mechanical bull, he was in heaven.

While In The Mall...

I have!

Same song second verse...

A couple of years ago I made my eldest son a Davey Crockett costume. Well...he's requested it once again. He's grown past usage of the old costume so I will be making him a new, larger one. The youngest wants to be Davey also but we'll see...My daughter has her sights set on being an Indian princess. If I start early enough I may be able to get some pretty hand sewn beading sewn onto her costume. My middle boy wants to be the Lone Ranger, after all he did receive a genuine leather cowboy hat for his birthday and some vintage pearl(fake) handled cap pistols.

Knitting Pretty

Lots of pockets for lots of knitting needles.


Zipper enclosed pocket for small items you don't want to loose, row counters, tapestry needles, scissors and such.


I made this knitting bag for a friend. It was fun to make although I must admit it would have been funner if I had been the one to choose the fabric. Oh well I think it turned out great and I am glad she is enjoying it. I must make one for myself, as we are approaching the colder months where I find myself knitting more than in the warmer months.
I picked up some self striping washable wool yarn for a skinny scarf today. I can't wait to get started, but first it needs to cool down a bit for me. I don't enjoy knitting when it is so hot and the yarn feels like it is sticking to my fingers and making me hotter.

Anticipation

(taken fall 2008)

Looking forward to the return of fall colors in our neighborhood.

Origami

Havin fun with paper folding here. Keeps kids entertained for hours and costs nothing, just use old magazines.