some other creations

I've been wanting to try out this little top pattern/tutorial that I found a couple months ago. So,


there was this fabric
that I've had my eye on since early spring, but just kept passing by...I thought the tutorial and the fabric would pair up nicely. I stopped by Joann's in early July and found their clearance to be half off...and what fabric do you think I found in clearance? That Oh So Cute sparrow fabric. So, I purchased the rest of the bolt (not much, 2+ yards maybe?) for $2 a yard and made these two matching dresses for my girls. The pattern is meant to be a top, but I lengthened it to be a dress. They turned out pretty cute. Oh yeah, I also made a pair of bloomers for the baby who's still in a diaper. I found a tutorial for that using a pair of our own shorts for the pattern. If you try to do that, be sure and pick a pair of shorts made out of similar fabric to what you are sewing. I used shorts made from t-shirt knit material, and was using a cotton shirting material. The bloomers were a 'bit' difficult to get around those chubby baby thighs!!

The 12m size is on the right side and the 2t is hanging on the left side. I think I need to mention that we like our dresses longer. These hit about T length, or mid-calf. I'm really happy with the way they turned out. My next clothing jaunt will be trying out the Spring Ruffle Top tutorial on Made by Rae. I am hoping it works out because I think it's quite cute!

This photo turned out kind of pale...not sure if that's because it was hanging on our mailbox, against the white siding...or my camera!

Ok, now for the best picture of all...wait for it...

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a MAN bag

I bought this fabric last FALL at a humongous fabric outlet store in Amish country, Ohio. I bought a ton for $2 a yard, enough for this bag and one for my son which I posted here. I got my son's bag done in time for Christmas but wasn't able to get my husband's done in time. So, he got it for his birthday, almost exactly 6 months away from Christmas. His birthday is ToMoRrOw! I wanted to make an adjustable strap for this bag but I had a hard time finding a good, durable strapping material that was manly. I found a great Army Surplus store and found these straps. I bought two of them, and a carabiner. So, anyways, on to the bag!

Front view, with view of the carabiner and straps.

Pockets under the flap. There are two pen pockets, and two slide pockets, one small and one large.

The back of the bag has a zipper pocket.

The stand-in carabiner because I want one that is a locking kind.

Inside of the bag has a zipper pocket divider. Terribly difficult to sew over the seems where that divider is attached! YIKES!

Front view of the bag with the flap open.

This was quite difficult to attach the lining to the outside body of the bag. A heavy duty machine would've been great for this project! You won't catch me making too many of these! Any questions, please ask! Overall, I'm happy with the project and so is the hubs. He's what really matters, right?

a SALE at the website!!!

We have spent the better part of 4 months trying to determine what would be the best route to take concerning an e-shop and a website. Since we are in the VERY early stages of a business, and this is all new to us, it has taken a while. However, after a third try at a website, we have finally decided to stay with this one in particular. Well, that is, for NOW at least! Please, go on over and have a look see at what we've come up with! Leave a comment, tell me what you think, and if you find a type-o, please let me know. You know, it's tough to catch your own sometimes!

In addition to the new website we are launching, our new Artfire shop has also just opened for business!!

Ok, now for the sale item. We are featuring an item until the end of July over on the website. For those of you who liked the Cross-body Hipster on a previous post, you may want to go over and have a look see!!

Never let Mommy wield the HAIRBRUSH!!

Have you ever wondered what happens to a wet headed baby when the MOM gets ahold of the hairbrush? Scroll on down to find out! Poor thing looks like she's tearing up from the embaressment. My third child, and second daughter is the only child I have with curly hair, and she also has the longest hair of either of my kids, by this age. So, I confess, I do LOVE to play with her hair when it's wet because I know it will dry that way and look incredibly cute!

Ahh, pardon the laundry basket and wipes container in the background!

...when it's wet, it is already flowing down her back (nearly), and the bangs are past her eyebrows. If she was a boy, it would be cut by now! I don't know what to do with all of this hair!

Ahh, a bit more tame now :) (different binkys as well) Same day, hair dry after bathtime.

I love her to pieces. Some days are difficult, but I read of so much heartache on this dear internet of ours, and I am almost DAILY reminded that life is just a vapor. I am doing my best (I hope) as a Mommy, to savor these times, and days as if they were my last.

Calling all Penny Pinchers!!

There are a few things I've tried to save money since getting married and becoming a mom. I thought I'd share mine for those who are interested, and ask if any of you have some tips yourself. Thanks for reading!!

*for Mom's, try breast feeding rather than formula. One can of formula is going for about $22 right now. At the height of their drinking, a baby will use about 8 cans a month. YOU do the math!
*buy store brand diapers. For Target/Walmart, a box of about 90 diapers costs $14--compared to Huggies/Pampers $20.
*better yet, try cloth diapers. (EEEEK! I have yet to get my husband to agree to this yet! haha)
*a baby wipes, store brand box with 6 packs cost about 8-$9. I recently tried making my own wipes using paper towels, a plastic shoe box, (or a regular wipes container) mineral oil, baby soap, and boiled water. So far, we love it! Depending on the type of papertowels you use, it should cut your costs in about half.
*learn a new skill/craft/hobby and use this new skill to start making gifts @ Christmas. It DOES save money.
*buy a baby food grinder--a jar of baby food, approximately costs 50 cents. If you ONLY used store bought baby food, you would be spending roughly $15 a week on baby food alone. I use the grinder for just about any type of food. If you happen to be serving a meal that can't be ground, then go ahead and use the store bought baby food. You would still only be paying a fraction of the cost!
*to stretch the baby food you do use, add a tablespoon or two of infant cereal.
*try canning your own food. (I only have experience in apple sauce, but this alone has saved us app. $150 this year.) If you don't grow your own, you can frequent the produce stands, buy fresh produce, and can it. It is still cost effective in comparison.

*try creating a menu each week and only doing your grocery shopping based off of that menu. I was able to reduce my weekly grocery budget by $25-$50 through doing this.

Well folks, that's not an exhuastive list, but all I can think of now! Please share anything, tips or otherwise, that you do to save money in your house!!

Crossbody Hipster

The crossbody hipster is what I came up with after having scoured the net for a tutorial of a small hipster type of bag to hold the essentials. On vacation this year, we were going to a great little amusement park and I really wanted something to take that would hold just the little bit that I needed to have on me. This bag has an adjustable strap, two pockets on the front, and a zipper closure. I also made a matching wallet as mine got chocolate on it at the grocery store. (yeah, that's a whole nother post!) So, I use a rectangle 8x10 plus seam allowances for the basic pattern. The strap is 1 1/2" wide, by however long I can get it! :) Usually that length is 44-45" long. I did not interface the strap! I planned to tie the strap so I didn't want it too stiff. Sorry these photos aren't the best! I was taking them on vacation as well and I didn't have a ton of options.

This is the front of the hipster. There are two pockets just the right size for, as you can see, a littlbe bit o cash, or a cell phone.

The inside carried my compact brush, a travel pack of wipes, card holder, and cash.

A closeup of the tied strap. This is how it's adjustable. You can tie it shorter or longer. I didn't see the need in using a slide for this since the straps are soooo skinny. What are your thoughts on that?

Here is the matching wallet. It is quite similar to the purse itself, just a bit smaller. I added a removable wrist strap so that if I want to just use it as a wristlet, I have that option.

I used a metal swivel hook and D-ring to attach the wrist strap.

This is easy to do. I would be interested in putting a simple tute together if there is enough interest garnered. Thanks for reading!