pillow pets

I have been putting of buying pillow pets for my kids for several reasons. The biggest one was Shannon had announced she had tutorial for several and after she posted pictures of hers they were much cuter than the one in the stores. Plus I felt it would be cheaper and mean more if I made them.

My oldest, (12 by the way) came home with one. This upset my 4 year old and I had to get started right away. Shannon posted her zebra, but I was scared to try it. The face looked HARD, but I did not want to disappoint my little guy. It was success, but then the youngest started to take his and it was a fight all night long! So after bed the pink one was born.

Who knew the excitement over pillow pets. I even over heard the little guy say to his friend "you want to see my pillow pet? It's really amazing, my mom made it" It made my hart melt.

So Shannon, I thank you for a great tutorial and so do my kids.

Since i was not planning on making to I just went a head and cut the first one out without making a pattern piece and then when I went back I ended up with a bigger head on the pink one...

we are opting to go with no eye for the pink since she is so little, I'll add them when she is older

I have been putting of buying pillow pets for my kids for several reasons. The biggest one was Shannon had announced she had tutorials for several and after she posted pictures of hers they were much cuter than the one in the stores. Plus I felt it would be cheaper and mean more if I made them.

My oldest, (12 by the way) came home with one. This upset my 4 year old and I had to get started right away. Shannon posted her zebra, but I was scared to try it. The face looked HARD, but I did not want to disappoint my little guy. It was success, but then the youngest started to take his and it was a fight all night long! So after bed the pink one was born.

Who knew the excitement over pillow pets. I even over heard the little guy say to his friend "you want to see my pillow pet? It's really amazing, my mom made it" It made my hart melt.

So Shannon, I thank you for a great tutorial and so do my kids.

Shorts for the little guy

Recognize these shorts? That's right Made again. Oh I couldn't wait to make these, I went right to work the night Dana posted them. I do love them, so does the little guy. I have plans to make a shorter version for the oldest.

I love the flat front

computer bag

So I feel like I am always over a Made Danna always has great ways to make items I have been wanting. A while ago she posted about her great computer bag, I was so excited when I saw the pictures. Then I saw it was more of a how to not a tutorial (no measurements, or pictures) and put it off for a long time.

Then I became a home health nurse 2 weekends a month and with this job comes the carrying of a computer. So I thought I would revisit her post and see if I could do what she did. I mean do we really need things hand to us on a plate? My problem is I love to sew, but the creating part is always hard for me. So I read it several times to give my self the confadence and off I went.

I have to say I loved loved the bag when I first completed it, however it has since started to fall apart. I am thinking the fabric I chose was not the best (I wanted as close to Dana's as I could). the cheap liner is staying together though, but the nice fabric I bought is now falling apart, so I will have to sew a new one. Let me say all my fault here.

So this is not a tutorial but I thought I would give you some measurements that I used and some photos's

Here I add the two pockets just like Dana (well I tried to be just like Dana)

for the front and back pieces I cute 17widex 11.5 tall, then 2 of the lining

My back zipper, I think I had the most trouble with this part :(


The front flap, with the liner already. I didn't write down the exact measurements for this piece. But I cut it the same length, but about 1 inch shorter on the side (total)


Zipper for the top closure. The side pieces are 3x17


To strips for the D rings, I just went for it, I didn't measure

For the side pieces I cut 2 of each lining and main 11.5x3.3
For the bottom i cut 1 of each lining and main 16x2.5

I did line mine with foam as well. Sizing for foam
front and back 16x10.5
Bottom 17x2
sides 2.5x10.5

Then I stitched as I would any other bag, at the end before I closed up my opening for turning I stuffed in the foam

A new sun hat

A recent favorite project has been this sun hat. I made Savannah one last year and it barely fit, but it worked. Last year I did not add straps and new this year it was a must. I made it this past Sunday, I really wanted it done before we did an entire day at the beach. Savannah is fair skin like her daddy and I was so Scared about her face getting burned.

She loves it and even asks for it at times.

I used snaps to add the straps. I really like the look of sun hats without straps. So in hopes that someday I wont have to use the straps:)

I am still experimenting with taking photo's

Outfit look familiar? I couldn't wait to make this one. But I will wait to blog on that for another day.

If anyone is interested in measurements or a how to let me know. I wrote things down, but didn't take pictures. But hey it wouldn't hurt to have a back up.

skirts and more skirts!

Boy do I love livin in Florida!! I think I need to find a way to balance inside and outside activities though. It appears we are outside so much that, all the things we use to do inside are put to the side. Things like TV show's, wii, board games, cleaning, computer and more. Not so bad for the kids, it just seems I'm slacking a little.

Ok, So even though I have been slacking here are a few things I have made. I am sewing like usual, but not finding the time to blog about them, which I do miss.

So for today I am cramming skirts all into one post.

This first one is actually for me, however after this post, I decided I would not model for the blog anymore. Why not have my daughter do it, since she loves it and I can make items fit her like other photographers (using close pins).

So using this tutorial. Got me this beauty and I love it. I couldn't be happier with the end result. And better yet, I was able to salvage an failed attempt at a maxi dress. So I was a very happy girl.


The rest were for my 12 year old daughter. We went to the fabric store and boy did she have high expectations of her mama! The original idea was for her to pick a project to sew. I am trying to teach her, but she always goes for the hard stuff. She originally wanted a form fitted dress with a zipper down the side . I finally got her out of the store with this fabric and her giving up and mama sewing it for her. We will keep trying. No pattern or tutorial used. I made it up as I went along. 2 rectangle pieced of fabric, bottom gathered and a zipper in the back, which looks way crooked.

It is kinda short, but right now her goal is...as short as accepted at school. No more than 4 inches above the knee.

This was originally for me, however I made it to short. Pretty easy, I took 2 different types of lace tea died them (or should I say try). 1 type of lace would not color at all! Anyway I used a liner and stitched the lace to it, then did an elastic band. I made this last summer, but it just sat in the closet. Then one day when I was out shopping I found this and thought I could make the one in my closet work for my daughter.

This one is the ever famous circle skirt from Made.

Of course I had to shorten it, to make the "current style"

I have to say, I am enjoying making clothes for my oldest. She brings me a challenge at times and I don't want to let her down. After she wore these skirts to school, a couple of her friends were asking if I could make them skirts. I turned them down for now, maybe later when I am not so scared of rejection.