Monday, February 22, 2016

A BIT OF CATCH UP AND THEN A WEEK-END WRAP UP....


I am going to see how quickly [maybe!] I can get a post up and still cover everything I want to, lol. Lets see, I will back it up some to last week.  As you know I have been sewing baby things for the coming new great grandbaby that is due in May.  But then I decided to switch gears for a little bit and put together some new summer/spring clothes for Miss Claire who will be a year old in a couple of months.  Melody picked out 4 pieces of fabric and sent them to me to get started with, and then I added in some of my own as well of course, lol.  I started with the little bloomers and matching hair tie, [that I already showed you] and then went to a cute little one piece romper.  These are really popular right now and this particular pattern is soo easy.  I made a couple of these for when she was born, and just switched to the 12 month size and am hoping it fits her well.  I LOVE this little pattern and the fabric Melody picked and sent for it was perfect.  I added on some crotch gripper snaps for easy diaper changing.  I am happy to report that I can use the ones that come on a tape as the pattern is finally big enough to accommodate them.  Didn't work too well for the newborn size so hubby had to attach regular snaps for me.  Truthfully the pattern didn't call for snaps at all, but who wants to take something completely off for every diaper change?  Especially one who doesn't want to lay still long enough to get one like an older baby does?  So I just added them on.  Let me show you this...

TIES AT THE TOP WITH WHITE SATIN RIBBONS THAT I HAVE HEAT TREATED SO THEY WON'T RAVEL.  [yes, still haven't remedied the crummy quality of pictures!]

ADDED GRIPPER SNAP TAPE....WORKS PERFECTLY!

MATCHING HAIR TIE  ISN'T THIS CUTE FABRIC?

Then I went on to whipping up a couple of pairs of little leggings.  If ever there is something easy to make it is these.  Honestly from cut out to finish might take 30 minutes, and that's if I am taking my time, lol.  I could make a hundred of them and not get tired of it either I think.  If ever I can find a cute nice knit fabric [that doesn't cost a fortune....knit is quite pricey]  I am ALL over it to make some of these.  The little matching hair tie I make as well are pretty quick and easy, though a little "fiddly" to turn inside out, lol.  I decided to make her another white eyelet top as well as it goes with both pairs of leggings I made and is off of the same group of patterns as the romper.  It also ties at the top with satin ribbons, and is possibly a half hour or so of work. Let me show you these...

BOTH  PAIRS SHOWN WITH THE SAME TOP, LOL.  NO DOUBT MELODY WILL HAVE OTHER LITTLE TOPS THAT WILL GO AS WELL.  I LOVE HOW THIS EYELET FABRIC HAD A SCALLOPED EDGE THAT WAS PERFECT FOR THE BOTTOM OF THE TOP.

CLOSE UP OF THIS FABRIC...I LOVED IT!  [joannes on sale!]

AND THIS SWEET LITTLE ONE...[also at joannes on sale!]

AND I ADDED THID SWEET LITTLE LABEL TO THE FRONT LEG OF THIS ONE...THOSE LABELS ARE SOO CUTE BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANY MORE OF THEM.  I WAS ABLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE THE STITCH ON MY MACHINE THAT IS LIKE AN OVERCAST SEAM SO IT LOOKS LIKE A SERGER SEWED THESE.  DIDN'T TAKE A PIC OF IT THOUGH
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MATCHING HAIR TIE....STILL NEED TO MAKE THE ONE FOR THE OTHER PAIR!
Which brings me to Friday's dilemma, lol.  I found some really cute fabric a while ago and bought a little of it with the idea that I would use it to make her a little dress.  I found a cute little pattern while Simplicity's were on sale for a buck last week and figured I'd give myself the WHOLE day to make it up.  I knew it was going to be a little bit more work then I usually put it to making something, as it had a couple of things I was not real familiar with in making.  Most of the things I make I've made a bajillion times and I don't look at directions and really don't even think much while making them.  So I started in the morning when I was good and fresh and got going.  From the very moment I opened the pattern package I knew this was going to take some time, and sure enough it took me a good hour to just find the right pieces and get everything cut out, marked and ready to sew.  Honestly I must have been having some kind of mental block on the day or something as I struggled and struggled and STRUGGLED getting it right.  Looking back I honestly think if I had used a DIFFERENT fabric for the lining of the bodice I wouldn't have had near the problem.  But I used the same fabric as the dress and I was constantly it seemed mixed up or confused.  I couldn't seem to grasp the written directions [I do sooooo much better on video tutorials where I can SEE what they are doing!] and found myself reading parts of it over and over and over and still saying..."WHAT?"  lol.  Goodness I was sooo frustrated.  I ripped out seam after seam and looking back I can't be sure what on earth my problem was.  I did get interrupted a few times on the phone but still.  Anyway...it took me most of the day to put together JUST the bodice [though there is a lot to the bodice] and I finally put the thing up for the week-end and I will address it all AGAIN today, lol.   All that's really left is the skirt of the dress, then attaching it to the bodice, putting in the zipper, and making the waist band and bow.  Should be easy peasy after that bodice, lol.  I will show you the bodice, though I should probably wait until the whole thing is together.

LOOKS LIKE NO BIGGIE I KNOW, LOL.  THE WAIST BAND AND BOW WILL BE OUT OF THE SAME GREY FABRIC AS WILL THE LITTLE PANTIES TO BE WORN UNDER THE DRESS.  THE SKIRT IS OUT OF THE FLOWERED FABRIC OF COURSE.  HAVEN'T DECIDED WHAT THE HAIR BOW WILL BE YET.   CAN'T SEE IT FROM THIS PIC BUT THERE IS A SIDE PIECE UNDER THE RUFFLE THAT FORMS THE ARM HOLE.  

We had a great week-end and I need to tell you about in 10 minutes to keep on schedule for this day so I will try to hit just the highlights....Sat hubby and I went and saw Risen at the wonderful theater near us that has the comfy leather reclining seats and costs only 5 dollars if you get there before noon. It's not only what I feel like paying, I am always SOOO comfy as well, lol.  The movie was really good and very entertaining.  I found a couple of very slight scriptural flaws but no big deal at all. All in all a very good telling of what it most likely was like after Jesus rose from the dead and everyone was scrambling around to figure out if it was true or where His body had gone.  After this we headed over to my oldest son's house so that hubby could help 15 year old Lindsey with some fast pitch pitching practice.  She has made the JV team at school and they intend to use her for pitching. Which is kind of a surprise as she hasn't done much pitching at all.  Melody however pitched for years and took many professional lessons, and so therefore both hubby and I are VERY aware of how it is suppose to look and be done, so between the two of us we helped her practice.  My job was a lot easier as I just sat beside her pointing out things she was doing [either right or wrong] while hubby had to catch her, lol.  A lot more work.  She honestly looked pretty good, and soon hopefully we can get her pitching a change up as well as a fast pitch and a drop. Too bad though as what we REALLY needed was Melody who could probably still pitch in her sleep, lol.  After the pitching lesson, Leah made us dinner.  The most delicious shrimp tacos, Jamaican rice, and black beans.  Honestly it was SOOO yummy I no doubt ate way more then I should have.

And then on Sun we picked up grandsons Cody and Jeffie and headed down to San Diego, first to go to church and then to take 3 more of our grandchildren and go to lunch, shopping for birthday presents and finally to see Kung Fu Panda as a celebration for the two new 7 year olds.  It was a wonderful day from start to finish.  We had not been to my son's church since Christmas Eve, and after the service I remembered why we drove down there every Sunday for over 4 years!  He is just soo good!  It always feels funny saying this about your own son, though goodness knows I would freely if he wasn't, so I tell myself it's OK if I do.  He is a gifted teacher and I honestly just love the way he preaches.  He not only thoroughly explains and teaches the verses he is covering, but adds in several practical applications as well [most of them personal] and keeps us all laughing and nodding along through it all.  I was just soo blessed.  Honestly if the drive wasn't a good hour and twenty minutes [if traffic is perfect...which it usually is on Sunday] I'd consider just going back to going there every week.  We took 3 of their kids [we left 2 year old Vinny who was going home to nap] and headed out then to lunch, then shopping for birthday presents for the two 7 year olds, and ended with seeing Kung Fu Panda which was surprisingly entertaining, lol.  We went briefly back to my son's house [we had to trade cars with them so we could even fit all the kids in, lol] and let them all play for a little while as well.  The cousins enjoyed being together and grandpa and I enjoyed every little minute of it.  But let me tell you it was an exhausting day.  Parenting is DEFINITELY made for the young let me tell you, lol.  After we dropped Cody and Jeffie back off we didn't pull into our driveway until close to 7 o'clock.  We were both beat and tumbled onto our couches for a little TV before bed.   How blessed we are with our 12 grandkids it would be hard to describe.

LUNCH AT FAT BURGER

PSOING BEFORE THE MOVIE IN FRONT OF WHAT THEY CONSIDERED A "COOL" DISPLAY....THE TWO NEW 7 YEAR OLDS FRONT AND CENTER



POSING WITH THEIR GIANT ICEE DRINKS GRANDPA BOUGHT...THEY HAD POPCORN AND CANDY TOO....GRANDPARENTS CAN DO THAT, LOL
 
NO, I did not do this in 10 minutes...closer to 20 and now I must fly.  I want to finish that dress today, AND I am going to embroider Lindsey's name on to her softball bag, and my DIL Larissas name on to her coaching shirt and jackets.  Hope you all have a GOOD day, a GOOD week, and enjoy all God has blessed us with.  Blessings to you all!  Debbie

6 comments:

  1. My, you did well to get all that in just 20 minutes. You have been a very busy girl! But, what fun you have had - except for that bodice. You are indeed blessed to be so close to many of your grands and they are adorable by the way. I can't wait to see the completed dress. I love the little eyelet tops with the leggings. Too cute!

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  2. You are a human dynamo for sure! Yes,the eyelet tops are so cute and the leggings too. It's just fine for you to brag about your son and his good preaching. Wish I could hear him. Yes, do show us the finished dress when you are through. Happy week!

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  3. Love the eyelet tops!! A cute white top can get a lot of mileage. I used to dress my girls in white a lot. Claire is a well-dressed baby girl! (And I can't believe she has a birthday soon!)

    Sounds like a fun Sunday with the grands! ("Parenting is for the young" is something I have been heard to say too.) :)

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  4. Ohhhhh...you are giving me ideas for my little Shirley doll! LOL! Leggings and eyelet lace...hmmmm. Your grandchildren are so blessed to have such loving, attentive grandparents. Your outings always look like so much fun.

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  5. Wednesday blessings to you my friend, Have I told you recently just how amazing you are-your sewing skills are incredible! Wish I had half of your skill. I've never sewed with knits before-I'd definitely need some lessons. Oh I love those leggings and the eyelet top is so adorable. You've been busy; I've been having a hard time getting around to everyone.
    Hard to believe Claire is going to be one soon. Hope you have a great evening!
    Hugs, Noreen

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  6. Debbie, you made some adorable little outfits for sweet Claire! So hard to believe she will be one soon. Seems like yesterday that she was born! Love the romper with matching hair tie. And those leggings...so cute. I don't think I will be making any more for my niece. I will just go to Kohl's.
    : ( Kris

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I am so glad that you would take the time to comment on my thoughts and feelings, it is such a blessing to me!