Our Big Sunbeam

Jensen's First Sunday as a Sunbeam

This big boy is a Sunbeam if you can believe it. He hasn't been taking it too well though. When we remind him that church is coming up he says "No" or "All Done".  Jensen loves routines and the transition from playing and eating snacks for two hours to sitting on a chair listening to a lesson isn't the easiest thing to get used to. Can't really blame him. The past couple of weeks Quincy or I have been sitting in his class with him. He does fine with us in there but if we even think about leaving him, he cries. He has a very sweet older lady for his teacher Sister Bailey. But this week he had a substitute which ended up being a familiar face to Jensen. A Mom that does the Zumba/babysitting co-op with me. She was such a big help to him and us. She said bring him in and drop him off which I did. (I felt like I had already been through this two years ago dropping him off in the nursery. I can't believe that we are repeating it again.) I hung outside his classroom and I could hear him crying but he stopped after a couple of minutes. She's good or maybe it was the lucky tie that he wore (see below). He stayed the whole time with her and he even came out of sharing time smiling and with a new CTR ring. We'll see how it goes next week with his normal teacher, but at least we know he is capable. Plus he has already been assigned to give the scripture and prayer next week.

Side note: Jensen loves wearing ties to church just like his daddy. He has a couple but I I have been wanting to make him a tie for a year now to match his sister's skirt that I made. I kept looking for an easy tie pattern which I was about to give up on until I went to my new Internet love Pinterest. Typed in little boy tie patterns and this one popped up. It was super easy and I made it before Olivia was even over.

First week Jensen went to Sunbeams all by himself.

 Yay for Sunbeams!

Overdue Projects

This past month I had a goal to get some of my overdue projects done. These are projects that I keep writing on my cute 'things to do chart' month after month after year. They kind of were haunting me. So last month I knocked out three of them. This post is mostly for my mom. I keep telling her things that I have been working on and she asks me to post them. So here they are mom.

#1 Magazine Rack

February 2011 - 8 months later

This shouldn't have been such a big project but it turned out to be one. I've had this magazine rack in my guest bathroom for years. It's original color was hot pink. I got it at JoAnns on a heck of a deal if I remember correctly. It use to match the I Love Lucy guest room perfectly. Since that decor is no more, it stuck out with the black and white motif. So in February this year I grabbed what I know best, my spray paint, and went to work. I had it almost finished when it started bubbling at the end. (Always make sure you shake your spray paint real good.) So I got frustrated and it sat in my garage all summer. I kept meaning to fix it but it's hot here and I didn't want to be sanding it out in the heat melting away. Last month, when the nights were finally cool here in Vegas, I sat outside and sanded the heck out of those bubbles and re-spray painted it. Then I added the labels that make me smile and now I feel somewhat organized in the magazine department.

#2 Pillows for Master Bedroom

December 2009 - 21 months later

Yikes! That sounds like a long time to be on anyone's to do list. Two Christmases ago my mother gave me new bedding and I ended up with 4 duvet covers. Even though I do like lots of pillows on my bed, I draw a line at 2 duvet pillows. I was just going to make boring ones but lately I have been looking on pinterest and came across all these cute ruffle pillows. I said that's it. That's what I wanted to do. I didn't have a pattern so I don't know if they turned out the best. Also looking back I should of went and bought red thread. Oh well, they are done and who really sees them besides the hubby and me?

#3 - Olivia Quilt

November 2007 - 46 Months (if I did my math correctly!)

Yeah, see why these projects were haunting me? Quincy actually bought this Olivia quilt kit for me for our first anniversary. Not a typical anniversary present but it was what I wanted. I was pregnant with Jensen but I didn't know if he was going to be a girl or boy yet. I really thought he was a girl and I would decorate in Olivia. A month later I found out it was a boy. So away Olivia went into the closet. I did want to work on it when I found out I was having Lucy but it just didn't seem to happen. I got an itch to actually work on it when we decided to give Lucy an Olivia party. I thought it would be a fun gift for her. This was my first quilt to piece together and was a good one to start with. It is mostly long panels so it went super fast. Now I just need to learn how to quilt it. Any takers?! Hopefully it doesn't just sit in my closet for another 46 months!

I am so glad I got these projects done when I did because this month is dedicated to potty training both kiddos. Wish me luck!

Scrap Fabric Skirt Tutorial

Every time Lucy wears a certain Gymboree skirt I always get asked if I made it. Since everyone thought I was capable of making it I gave it a try. It was way easy and turned out just like the one I copied. The best part is you can make it out of scraps of fabric very easily.

The size of the skirt is 18-24 months but can easily be adapted by changing how much elastic you use for the waist. Also you can just add inches to the measurements below to make it for an older child. This is kind of a no-fail skirt if you ask me.

Here's what you need:

1/8 yard from 1 fabric (top piece)

1/4 yard from 2 different fabrics (middle and bottom piece)

I cheated and got my fabric at Hobby Lobby. I love their selection and always am looking for something to make out of their fun prints.

Next time I will use my scraps for sure.

The last thing you will need is elastic 1/2 inch to 1 inch thick. I used 5/8 inches wide and 19 inches long.

1. Cut the fabric:

Top piece: Cut 2 - 14 inches by 4 1/2 inches (use the 1/8 piece of fabric)

Middle piece: Cut 2 - 19 1/2 inches by 5 inches

Bottom piece: Cut 2 - 27 inches by 4 1/2 inch

2. For all three layers you are going to sew the sides together at 1/2 inch. If you have a surger finish those edges off for a professional look.

3. For the top layer you are going to sew a casing just a little wider than your elastic. I did mine an inch wide. To sew a casing fold down 1/4 inch and then fold down an inch. Then sew close to the edge around the bottom to make the casing. Remember to leave an opening to get the elastic in there. Ya, I forgot this step and had to unpick. But don't put the elastic in just yet.

4.For the bottom layer you are going to sew a half inch hem. Similar to what you just did on top for the casing but this time you don't need to leave an opening. I folded down 1/4 inch and then folded down 1/2 inch. Then sewed close to the edge.

5. For the second and third layer you are going to do a wide stitch along the top so you can gather it. I did two rows of stitches right next to each other. Then I pulled the top two threads to make it gather. Use the bottom of the top layer as a guide to see how much you have to gather.

6. After you have gathered it, pin the middle layer in place on the bottom of the top layer. Sew around it at 1/2 inch.

7. Then pin the bottom layer to the bottom of the middle layer. Sew around it at 1/2 inch.

{Have I lost you yet?}

8. To make it have a finished look top stitch over the two ruffled layers real close to the seem. I did mine on top of the seem.

9. Next feed the elastic through the casing with a safety pin. Sew the two ends of the elastic together. (Measure your models waist and take it in an inch or two.) I go back and forth with my sewing machine about ten times just so it won't break later. Then sew up the hole to finish the casing.

And that's it! A fun summer skirt for your little one.

Lucy put on the skirt herself over her pajamas the day after I made it. She wanted to wear it that day. As you can see it's inside out though but she knows how to make her mommy feel good.

Sew Simple and Sew Cute

Way back before the fair I made Lucy and her cousin Demsie matching dresses for the fair, but since it was bad weather they never even put them on. I wanted to make this smocked dress ever since I saw it on Martha a year ago and finally checked it off my to do list last month.

It really was sew simple to make and isn't my model sew cute!

Finally a ponytail for this blondie!

If you plan on making it for your little girl, here is a tip for you that might make it a little bit easier.

This is the elastic thread that I used. I found it at JoAnn's. You need two of these packages to make one dress. I ended up cutting each strand in half and winding just one half around my bobbin. That ended up making two rows with just a little leftover.

Other than that the lady on Martha gives a good how to.

The coolest part for sure was watching the dress shrivel up after you soak it and iron it. It just shrinks! If only I could put water on myself and shrink. Ha ha!

She's outta here!

Little Miss Strikes Again!

A couple of weekends ago Quincy was being a computer hog, but for a legitimate reason. He had to speak in church. Since there was nothing to watch on my DVR I decided to get the sewing machine out and make Lucy a skirt. I got this pattern from my sis-in-law, Missy, months ago. She always has the best taste in patterns and fabric and well . . . everything!

It is a super full skirt but that's why it's so cute and it will fit her for awhile. When Lucy put it on for the first time she did her little strut down the hall showing it off. Who does she get that from?! She has a matching hat that I made last summer to go with but she wants nothing to do with that. She continues to crack me up everyday!

Lucy likes to blow kisses. She even makes the smack sound with her lips.

Jensen played along for one shot.

This one is for my mom. She wanted to see my long overdue haircut. Five inches off!

Rag Rosette Headbands

So this is one of the crafts that I wanted to come home and make when I saw them at Swiss Days in Utah. They were everywhere but again I knew I could make it way cheaper. I actually did make them awhile ago but have been lazy and haven't got around to blogging about it. We did this for a Young Women activity so its been on my mind again. Plus anyone that sees it wants to know how to do it. So thank you Missy for showing me how to make the rag flower part. And now I will share with you!

1st Part: How to make the headband:

1. Cut two strips of fabric 2 inches x 3o inches. (These are folded in this picture.)

2. At about 10 inches from the bottom I tapered mine so there isn't so much fabric at the ends. I just angled the ruler and cut with a rotary cutter on both sides.



3. Next, sew them together. Right sides showing and right along the sides. It's okay if it looks raggy because the bow is going to look raggy too. (Now the first one I made I sewed it right sides together, left a hole, and then turned it over and top stitched it. It was really hard getting it turned right side out so I don't recommend it, but if you like a cleaner look go for it.)


That's it for your headband. Super easy!

2nd Part: How to make the rag flower.

1. Take a strip of fabric about 2 inches wide x width of fabric. (Can be shorter. It will just make a smaller flower)
2. Fold the fabric in half and tie it in a knot at one of the ends.


3. Twist and turn the fabric next to the knot. Hot glue as you go about an inch or so at a time.
Keep going around until you run out of fabric or your happy with the size. Just keep the fabric folded so the backside doesn't show through.

4. To end it just take the last little piece and hot glue it to the back.

* I have just made these for gifts without the headband. I just put a clip on the back and called it good. I myself am not a headband kind of girl. I like how these flowers turn out because they are so colorful and it doesn't really matter what the print is. Perfect for scraps of material you have no idea what to do with.

3rd Part: Put the headband and rag flower together.

1. I sewed them on by hand but I am sure you can get away with hot gluing them.



2. Add a button or brad in the middle if you're feeling it!


I added two more flowers on the side. And there you have it, a rag flower headband.

My super cute model. She isn't so easy to snap pictures of anymore.

I made this headband with Lucy in mind but she kind of looks like Karate Kid wearing it. The poor girl needs hair. Anyway, I thought what is she going to wear with it now that I have made it? So I made her this pillowcase dress with the remaining fabric. That was another thing on my list to make. It turned out a little big but that's okay it will {hopefully} fit her next summer and probably the summer after that too. If I was going to make it again I would use one of Lucy's current dresses for a guide with the arm holes. I did them way too big. Just a little tip.

Just the rag flower on a stretchy headband.

This one is my favorite flower since it has lots of different colors in it.