Summer Starts

The end of May starts the official beginning of summer, or so "they" say. So the end of May, pool, BBQ, and family is all synonymous with summer.

We didn't spend the holiday with family (sniff sniff). I opted to work in exchange for another day off.

But, fun must go on.

It's never too early to teach the youngest ones how to begin the summer. These cell pictures were texted to me so I could be in on the fun.

Sewing Part 2

It's time I finish Part 2 of my sewing project of the RWB (red white & blue) casual wear for a baby pageant in July. Sewing Part 1 is here. It's the post on creating the skirt. This post, Sewing Part 2, is on creating the top.

With measurements of the chest and length of shoulder to waist, I have began. I made the paper pattern from the measurements and chose a shiny stretchy bright white fabric to use as the lining and a shiny sheer fabric for the outer fabric . Folding the pattern in half and placing it on the fold of the fabric to cut.

For shoulder straps I have used the same ribbon as the sash ribbon on the skirt. .I measured from top of bodice across top of shoulder to top of back bodice. Cut 2, doubling the measurement and adding 2 inches to the double length. Because I will stitch a gathering line down the center of the ribbon to form a ruffle.

With right sides together of the bodice top and lining, pin a ribbon shoulder straps on each side where they should be, having the ribbon sandwiched between the two layers of the bodice. sew lining to top fabric along the top edge.

Turn right side out, and see that shoulder straps are straight. Middle of back will be the opening. Middle of back will be the opening. Finish each side of opening by turning under sewing. Use snaps or velcro as fasteners. Hem bottom edge of top.

A 4 1/2 inch sequin star will be my center embelllishment on the bodice. Center it on the right side of the front of the bodice and either use fabric glue or hand stitch into place.

Using the same red ribbon as the shoulder straps, place ribbon at waist of skirt and tie large bow at back.

You may notice a difference in the skirt from the Part 1 post. I took the red ruffle off because that red was not the same color red as the red ribbon used for the shoulder straps and the sash and bow at the waist.  And just leaving it with the blue and white ruffle it looks just as good.

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gin

Southern-ness

There are huge wild magnolia trees growing all around our area. I never had to plant one. In fact, there are more than I care to have. Most of the blooms grow higher than one can reach to cut them. But now and then I do manage to reach a few and cut them to put in a vase.

They are a part of the southern culture and are the state flower for LA and MS.
I often take them for granted and they are finished blooming before I go searching for a fresh bouquet.

The large leaves stay green year round and I have used just the stems of leaves in wreath projects and other home decor.

I've cut a bloom for a vase today and am going to remember to enjoy them this season.

Summer Craze

I'm linked with Oh Happy Day.
Another  picture I took recently while shopping on Mother's Day at Bass Pro was of this is the women's section.

It could be me if I were way skinny. Or if I were way tan. Or even if I were way younger and cuter.

I am working on the skinny part. Of which I will never see skinny again, but hopefully just a little smaller.
I am working on the tan. I just like to be a little darker in the summer because the white legs are a little eye blinding.  I, at times, use the self-spray tanning products. They work great if you spray yourself evenly. And not over do it and turn yourself orange instead of tan. Yes, I have had stripes of tan up and down my leg. And even have been a burnt orange shade before. But eventually you can get to looking almost real.

The bottle I am using at the moment is Loreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Mist. I find it doesn't take much to get a lite tan. And I spray mist myself 2 times a week to keep my legs and arms with just a tint of tan to tone down my whiteness for the summer.

Ok, so I'm a little crazy.

gin

5 Of My Many Favorite Blogs

If you are here reading my little old blog,  then you must love to read blogs. We all have our favorites. That's what started me blogging was reading other blogs. Here's 5 other blogs you should read sometimes. They are listed in alphabetical order so no favoritism is shown.

40 Shades of Pink  - How SuperWomen Get Things Done
This was my very first blog to read and I am still reading. She makes every day things seem so easy while she takes care of  her marriage, family, home and professional career.

A Bow and A Bible - A blog of faith and hope of first time parents who faced their baby's death at 21 days old.

Chasing Rainbows - I am a new follower to this one. And Oh Wow! I couldn't put my laptop down. I am reading her older posts first making my way up to her current. It's like reading a book. A great book. I can't put it down.

Life Rearranged - She says, "Life doesn't always go as planned. Help others anyway." That pretty much sums it up.

Mable's House - She named her blog after her dog. Married for many years, had a baby, suffered post-pardum depression, works, and an author of 1 book so far.

Sharing Daily Steps - I'm giving her a shout out to grow her blog. She has a lot going on when she blogs. We tell her "Daily Steps" means daily. We hope she picks up the pace.

Two Bags Full - Her travels, her blessings, and her knitting all rolled into her daily adventures.

That's more than 5.



gin

Fav Photo

Blog everyday in May  today says "A favorite photo of yourself and why".

How could this not be my most recent fav photo of me?

Why? Two cuties that I can't get enough of.



gin

Day 16

I joined up to Blog Everyday In May, but I am not the best participant. They are on day 16. I am on day 7.

Day 16 is "what is your lot in life and how are you overcoming it."

I am not aware of what my lot in life is. Some one may have to tell me. My early years made me what I am today. And I might add it was far from the perfect fairytale life I would have created for myself. Is it wrong to say I am thankful for how everything was weaved together and came to be and has carried me thru to today.

Jeremiah 29:11
New International Version (NIV)
11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Oh happy day

Not an ordinary day. Not feeling well, but hung around the house doing nothing making for a happy day.

Star appliqué I had ordered arrived today so I can continue working on the 4th of July baby dress. Sewing Part 1 is here.

And made dinner easy with Digiorno.

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gin

MOTHER'S DAY: the good, the bad, the ugly

Mother's Day is all about sweet and gooey and lovey dovey and much much more. There's the good the bad and the ugly, too.

The good -- since I'm the highest ranking mother of the crew (there are 2 other mothers in the crew) me and the highest ranking father stood in line at the restaurant to get a table while the crew gets there at staggering times and waltz on in and sits with no waiting time. Not only Mother's Day but we celebrate a birthday after the restaurant escapade with birthday cake And ice cream. And I get the most lovey dovey of all cards.

The bad -- no pictures were taken of the crew. I take full responsibility since I am the highest ranking mother.

The ugly -- what mother does not mind going to Bass Pro for the guys to shop for themselves on Mother's Day. I embarrassed what crew was with us. Because I had to have some pictures of me on Mother's Day.

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I am linked with Funny PostPartum Lady

And I am Blogging Everyday in May (almost everyday).

gin

Starting the Day

I was the recipient of a McDonalds gift card recently, thank you most kind one at Sharing Daily Steps, and chose to use it this week. Went thru the drive thru ordering a med coke. FYI all size drinks are $1 for a limited time only . But I paid for it with cash. What was I thinking?

Why do they put fast food places across the street from each other or beside each other?

Then I turned into Burger King drive thru and ordered chicken strips. Gave the lady my McDonald's gift card. She tried several times to scan it, and kept telling me it was declined. Embarrassed of course, I kept asking her to "retry it cause I just got it and I know it's good". After her trying several more times, she tells me it's a McDonald's card. Embarrassed of course, but laughing and wondering what is wrong with me, I apologized a hundred times, dug out some more cash and paid, went to the next window, took my food and gladly left.

  

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Sewing Part 1

I am attempting to make a casual wear outfit for a RWB (Red White & Blue) baby pageant.

I have a few design ideas in my head. I've bought the fabric, which is red white and blue of course. I've found a free plain baby circle skirt pattern that I have printed. Here is the free pattern and instructions. Then the rest I am creating as I go along.

This is a long post so I am showing a picture of the 90% completed skirt. I only need to permanently attach the red sash at the waist after I double check the fitting at the waist, attach a trim on top of the top ruffle, and steam iron it. Ummm, maybe that's more than 10% to complete.

The elastic is in the casing, just waiting for a fitting to complete the waist, and the red sash is not permanently attached yet either.

And the back, again red sash is not permanently attached and not tied in a decent looking bow.

BACK

To begin adjust your pattern to size you need. The pattern is for 3 months. I need 6-9 months so I am tweaking it for the size I need.  Hopefully her site can explain this to you.

But, I cut my pattern as a half circle, placed on folded edge of fabric to cut, an resulted in a full circle.

                                                      

I zig zagged the waist edge to stabilize it and to keep it from stretching and fraying until I decide how to do the waist. And made a 1/4" hem on bottom edge.

I am adding  tiny ruffles to the bottom of the skirt. One each of red, white, and blue.
I cut a 3"  wide strip of each color 2 times the diameter of the bottom of the skirt. The skirt bottom edge is 60", so I need 120" long strip of each color. My fabric is only 60" so I cut two 60" strips 3" wide of each color.

Working with one color strip at a time, I stitched the ends of the 2 pieces of the same color together to form a complete circle. I folded the circle strip in half long ways and stitched with a long stitch for pulling the thread to gather.

I found it easier to pin the stitched strip to the bottom of the skirt in four equal places, then I pulled the stitched thread to gather the strip as I stiched it to the skirt, adjusting ruffle strip evenly around. I sewed it leaving just a rough edge, I did not turn the edge under as I sewed because it was basically too hard and each ruffle strip is sewn on top edge of the previous ruffle anyway, so no rough edge will be seen. Plus I will add a small edge trim on top of the top ruffle to finish it off for a nice covered finished look.

Working with 2nd color strip pin in 4 equally distanced places on top of first completed ruffle. Gathering between pins as you sew. And it will look like this.

Third ruffle strip goes on top of 2nd completed strip. Pin and gather as you sew.

                         

                                                 
It's coming along with a flouncy twirly shape. There are a gazillion strings to trim off.

Using the same pattern I cut an underskirt/lining out of a shiny sheer. Sew a ribbon trim around the hem line.

Pin the underskirt/lining to the top skirt at the waist being sure when finished the wrong side of the top skirt is on top of the right side of the underskirt/lining. Stitch together along top waist edge. Then make casing stitch for elastic depending on how wide the elastic is you are using.

Almost done with skirt. Looking like this.

I am still looking for a narrow white ribbon to stitch along top edge of unfinished top ruffle edge. I wanted to use the same ribbon I sewed around the underskirt/lining hem, but I don't have enough and I can't find another roll of it in the store. Still thinking about this and what to do.

Last step for the skirt, is to hand  tack in 4 places a shiny sheer wide red ribbon to the waist and make a big long bow in the back, but, after I do a fitting and make sure the waist size is correct.

Then later lightly  steam the entire skirt instead of ironing so the ruffles and underskirt/lining won't become to flat.

Now. Next I have to do a top for the skirt. My idea is to use a tiny sleeveless tank top and embellish it to get the wow look. i have a large blue sequin star ordered for the bodice that has not arrived yet. That is Part 2, to be posted in a few days.

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And, Blog Eveyday in May

gin

New Week New Plans

Plenty of projects on my plate for this week that I need to get busy and complete.

A RWB (Red White & Blue) baby dress to make for a holiday event.

I  started it Sunday night and am about 1/2 way thru. I have the skirt almost complete. Then I have to start the top. I have the vision in my head of how I want it to look when finished. So I am kinda making it up as I go along.




Rocking chair re-new project. These are 2 old old old rocking chairs from my husbands grandmother. I have a simple quick plan to give them a fresh new look. It's so quick it should only take 1 afternoon. Maybe by mid week I can do this.





Mother's Day gifts to complete. I am a photo-holic.
I love photos in any size shape or fashion. So why not pass my love of photos on as gifts. I have to get something ordered and have it ready for Mother's Day.


These should be more than enough to keep me busy this week.

gin