an old hobby

Cruz has bugged me for MONTHS and MONTHS for a pair of tractor pajamas. It's not like sewing is hard, it was just on the bottom of my list. So after 11 months, I finally pulled out my sewing machine and surger again. After last year's Halloween project, I burned myself out and hid them away in the back of my closet. When Betsy was here, we took a trip to the fabric store. This is always a mistake for me. I find too many cute fabrics, and have too many ideas. Now I have a stack of projects that have been sitting on my counter for 6 weeks. This stack is also on my to-do list (the list I made after seeing Betsy's. I only want to cross off a couple things a week but so far, I've been very productive.)This week is the week for sewing.

Cruz got his pajamas last night. I even added the applique to the shirt to make it complete. He is in heaven! He even got a second pair of dinosaur pajamas. It's too easy to make him happy.

P.S. For the record, I'm not making - sewing Halloween costumes this year.

Project Runway

I don't know what to say. I have really put myself to the test. I usually only make Halloween costumes every other year. Last year was the Three Little Indians and a Cowboy. This year I really tried to talk myself out of it. I don't know who to blame:

• ME - was it just that I was bored at nights and trying to find something to do?
• MY FRIEND - who graciously offered to watch my kids in between events I had going on yesterday that allowed my three extra hours all by myself. This allowing me to actually walk around and look at patterns and fabric. A deadly disaster?
• JACOB - and his great taste. Not kidding. This will be left for a later post.
• MY MOM - who so nicely left her surger here for an indefinite amount of time. It's 12 years old and has only been used once before, by me.

So the stars were aligned. I met up with Jake and we went to the fabulous fabric store - MOOD - I mean WalMart. The rest is in the picture. Now I have a deadline. Four costumes in two weeks. Granted I want pictures, so less than that. I will know after the first costume, if I finish it by Sunday, I know it can be done. So I must give up my blogging quest for awhile. Hopefully Jake can keep you guys all entertained. Happy Stiches and Surges everyone!

Another pet peeve

Today, I feel like I've accomplished plenty. Between watching 7 kids, I've managed to sleep in, do six loads of laundry, clean the house, upstairs and downstairs (I guess I should say straighten since I cleaned everything earlier this week), make two pair of pajamas, and now blog. Now that I've boosted me up, onto the blog story. Below is one pet peeve that I have of Jake's pajamas. Somehow they end up three inches too short.I know that pajamas aren't seen and are only worn to bed. But seeing this every night really bugged me. I guess you can add that to my OCD list. So this morning I pulled out the flannel I bought over three years ago (on sale for a dollar) and was going to make him a pair that was long enough. After measuring him and it said to make a small, I figured he always bought a large and proceeded with the large. The results were hilarious. Both Jake and I could fit in them. So here is the second try. Mission accomplished. Tomorrow will be my pair. Although finding the size is another situation.....

All in a day's work

The last couple of days it's been the typical housewife scenerio for me. Grocery shopping, helping teachers at school, cooking, laundry and cleaning the house. (Might I add, Jake insists that cleaning a house shouldn't take longer than ONE hour? I keep telling him he's crazy. It took me three hours to do just the upstairs. I didn't even get started on the basement. I also really hate bathrooms and now I have three to clean!) Anyway back to the post. Then while shopping at Wal-mart, by chance I walked by the fabric department and saw some cute summer dresses hanging up with new fabric that had come in. I couldn't resist. I decided to make two dresses for each girl. I guess it was time to pull the sewing machine out early this year. This dress only took me one day to make.... Okay, I lied. It took me honestly 15 minutes. It comes this way. Gathered at the top and straight on the bottom. You measure around the chest minus an inch and have your piece cut. Come home sew up the back, put in a hem, and add the ribbon for sleeves. Easy as one two three. The hardest and longest part was getting Katanya to hold still so i could measure her and find where I needed the hem. The best part was....it was under five dollars to make!
I couldn't get her to hold still for me to get a couple shots so here is the best back view. They even have material for older girls that you can do the same thing, or there is a pattern that you can add sleeves. Oh yeah, why would anyone pay over 6 dollars for the pattern? People obviously did because it was out of stock but come on, use your brain. It's pretty cut and dry.

I only have one dilema after pulling out the sewing machine and buying fabric. In Cruz's words...."Mom, I want a diego boy dress."

Oh no.