My Sense of Security - Please Say a Prayer.

Hey Everybody-

Thank you so much for continuing to check in with me. I really do love the blog world and love hearing from you all and connecting, etc.

Anyway -

I've had a horrible week - my house was broken into, many things stolen - some that can be easily replaced, and many that cannot. Our sense of security has been drastically changed. I feel very blessed that my family was not hurt and we have been able to keep this news from my children. The intruders did make a huge mess, and have created major upheavel in our lives, but at least we were able to clean up enough that the kids haven't caught on yet.

My computer was stolen. It has everything business related on it among many other things. I don't know what to do with myself without it -

Luckily, I'm able to do a little bit on my husband's computer, but needless to say my blog posts during the next several weeks/months??? (who knows) will probably be sparce.

Please say a prayer that this jerk gets caught and doesn't wreak the same havoc on another family. I also pray that whatever life circumstance led him/her to do this will somehow improve. I have to believe that this person was desperate; although it's very hard to know what to do with the anger that has come of this.

Isn't She Beautiful

I had to share this picture of this darling little girl. She's the daughter of a great customer of mine and she's wearing one of the Yo- Yo pins from my collection. What a sweetie.
It's such fun seeing how people enjoy using the things that I love to make.

A Turkey on My Head

Much to the horror of my family - I'm posting this picture of me in a vintage apron stirring the Thanksgiving gravy in... ,yes, a turkey Drumstick hat. (At least it's hiding the "Yentl" hair, which is starting to grow out thank goodness!)

Thanks to my sister :) - for the hat, not the hair.

Just to show - I do have a sense of humor, odd as it may be. I'm trying desperately to keep a straight face.

We definately had some laughs over this one!

Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm trying to get myself back in gear after dealing with sick kids and 22 hours in the car headed to Indiana, and 22 hours in the car back to Texas.

All is well here now thank goodness. Getting geared up for Christmas!

Lavendar Snowman Jammies

Wow - these were so easy!

I didn't mention in my previous post that the pants come in just 1 pattern piece. You cut 2 of one piece - so essentially you eliminate having to sew the side seam - just a little something that made them eaiser to construct.

I used these great clear glass vintage buttons on them - I just hope they hold up and don't break or something. I've been holding onto them for awhile now - and I love them with the snowmen because they remind me of ice or snowflakes. Picture's not so great - they look shinier in person.

I used the same pattern as mentioned below - Butterick 4222. Love it.

My girl loves her new jammies!

Now, I want a pair too!

Tractor Jammies

I went to the fabric store last week with both kids to buy 3 yards of fusible interfacing and walked out of the store with 3 yards of fusible interfacing, 2 yards of lavendar snowman flannel, and 2 yards of yellow tractor/farm flannel. Not on the list, but that's what happens when shopping with the kids. Even they can find something they want at the fabric store.

So, I promised to make them both new jammies.

My boy loves his "Tra-tor" jammies and wanted to suprise his sister when she hopped off the bus this afternoon.

They are a little long in the sleeves and pants - guess I'd better hem the pants so he doesn't take a spill.
We're all glad to see the smile on his face after a weekend of barfing - not fun.
I used this pattern from Butterick - very, very simple. I skipped a few steps by using my serger on the hems and seams. I'll be using the same pattern for my girl so I'll share photos of that soon too, as long as the rest of the family stays healthy!

Christmas Gift Idea - Fabric Covered Address Book - Free Tutorial

I found these calendar/planners at Target the other day in the Dollar Bin area. Who can resist looking anyway? I really need a new one about this time of year because January activities need a place to be recorded now. So, I bought a few of them in hopes of doing something creative.
Well, I had about 1 hour today while my boy slept and this is what I did!After opening out the book, I traced around it.Then, extended the ends by about 3 inches (I'm making a pocket to slide the ends into). I cut along the new ends and along the original top edges.
Next I finished the edges by serging them. You could turn them under and hem (in that case, you'll need to add a little length before you cut), or I think it might look neat to just leave a raw edge, but stitch about 1/8" away, that way your cover won't completely unravel, but it'll still have that raw, frayed look.
(I had to use 2 pieces of fabric, that's why you see the seam down the middle)

Next, iron the ends in about 3 inches. You'll want to lay your book down and make sure you've got the length right.

Then, just stitch along the bottom part of the pocket as close to the edge as possible so you can slide your book in. (eeww - as my daughter says....that ironing board looks nasty.)
Ta Da - this is what it looks like from the back.

I added some lace, my label and some really cool vintage buttons to the front. I think the buttons are glass - they're not plastic and they are heavy. I don't really know that much about vintage buttons, but I know when I like them.

You could do absolutely anything! Applique would be great.

I think I may make teacher gifts from these.

Here's the front:

If you get a chance to try this, let me know (just don't hog all the dollar bin goodies at Target!) Sorry the pictures aren't the best - remember I only had 1 hour!
I just noticed that my buttons are sewn on crooked - that was done while my boy was hollering to get up from his nap, oops.

Craft Club Cards

We met for Craft Club again Tuesday night and Susan led us in constructing these cards -
Now I've got a head start on Christmas cards for the season. Thanks Susan!

I'M GOING TO SEE DANCING WITH THE STARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you know me, you know I LOVE /DANCING WITH THE STARS, well, they are coming to Dallas!!!! and, I'm gonna be there!!!!
I bought myself and one other lucky person (not my husband, he's already said that he would pay someone to go in his place) a ticket!!! That's OK, he'll be jealous when I come home talking about all those hot ladies in skimpy oufits!
I am SO excited!

I'm starting to feel another GIVEAWAY coming soon - so stay tuned!

All Day Sew-A-Thon

Wow! I had the entire day yesterday to sew. I started at 9am and stopped at 5pm. My hubby took control of the kids for the day so that I could have the whole day to concentrate on sewing. I am so thankful! I ended up shipping just about everything I have to my sister, so I needed new merchandise to re-stock Etsy and to have something to sell at our Christmas festival in a few weeks.

I was able to pound out 5 diaper/wipe cases, 5 burp clothes, and 1 tag blanket, and a handful of hang tags. It was actually a little disheartening to me that that is all I could get done in a day. I guess I don't realize how much time I put into this little venture of mine when it's just 15 minutes here, 2 minutes there, 30 minutes here, etc. I also have a much bigger appreciation for those of you that have a rolling business (something I aspire too, but then I'd have to hire a sitter!). I don't know how you all do it. Then again, many people ask me how I do it.....so, I guess you just do what you love. I would not spend all of the time I do in my sewing room if I did't love it.

And, I use the words "sewing room" very loosely. My "sewing room" is actually my dining room, immediately to the left of my front door. So, if any guests come to our house, one of the first things they are greeted with is my mess of a sewing room - not a pretty dining room. I do have a level of guilt about this. However, I've gotten into it so deep that I don't know where I could possibly move everyting (except to the curb - and that ain't gonna happen!). So, I figure if I'm going to occupy this space in my home, I'd better make it worth while - so,....I keep sewing.....

Where is your sewing room? Do you have a sewing room? How do you justify it? Just curious. Us creative types need an outlet for sure, but sometimes it's pretty difficult to fit that into our everyday lives.

Here are my results from yesterday......(thanks again Honey for taking the kids all day!!!! I really, really appreciate it!!!!)

Today it's back to cleaning up dumped out baby powder on my son's floor, a spilled bottle of grape juice in my kitchen, vomit (yes. vomit.), water poured onto my couch, and cracker crumbs ground into the same couch.....Ahh, well at least my kitchen floor smells PineSol fresh now!

Craft Shows Here I Come

Just wanted to share with you a few pictures of the items I'll have for sale in Indiana these next few weeks. The first show is Saturday, November 15th and the second is Saturday, December 6th. I will also be setting up in my town during the Christmas Tyme Celebration on the 6th. I'll be at Milestone Portraits again (same place we had our pictures taken a few weeks ago) I'm headed to the post office to ship everything off to my sister as soon as my boy gets up from his nap and his sister steps off of the school bus.

Along with the hats and diaper/wipe bags, I'll have an assortment of other items - pillowcase skirts, glamo camo items, fleece hats, and bibs. I really wanted to have more ready, but this was all I could get done. My sweet hubby has offered to take the kids all day Sunday so that I can have the entire day to sew. So, hopefully I'll have more items to add to my Etsy shop. Getting antsy for some apron sewing!

Help - I Look Like a Boy

We have all done it, I know. So, I'm looking for some support here. And why I'm choosing to further humiliate myself by showing this picture, I don't know....but here goes my story...

My hair had gotten so past needing a trim that I had really gotten angry with it and was ready for it to be chopped. That's not a good scenario because my montra at the hair salon has always been, "it's just hair, it'll grow back". Well, let me tell you - mine better grow back quick!

I was relatively happy with my style that I had before, but it had just gotten soooo long and heavy that I wanted some weight taken off. I also thought - it's fall, a new season, I could use something a little new. So,... I asked her to do a little something different. Well, I now have bangs, and I've lost my little swinging sides - which, granted, I did "OK" before the scissors came after me. That was supposed to be the "weighty" part.

What made it worse, is that she "styled" it. Now, I don't know about you - but for me, that has never panned out.

I left looking like a poof head with wings under my ears. I took the picture from the side because I think it actually looks a little better than straight on. Guess I"ll walk around with my head turned all day. Picture something like the do's from the 50's - big and poofy on top with the flips on the bottom. I did the little "flip" hair do about 7 years ago - it was cute then, but please, oh please, I don't want to see it again. I do really like my hair stylist as a person, so I don't want to hurt her feelings and I've been "with" her longer than any other hair person-

I suppose that's why I said "Woah! Wow! umm,....Sassy!" - what stupid comment!!! Why couldn't I just say - "put down with the hair dryer and round brush before I fling it out the window"?

First thing I did when I got home was put my boy down for a nap and take a shower and pray that the extra $10 I spent for her to "style" it would wash down the drain. It did....and I now I look like a boy. O man, what have I done?!!!'

I really do look like a boy. I may have to get into wearing scarves on my head. Maybe some cute clips would help it look more feminine. I guess it can be hard to have short hair and still have it look soft and, well, feminine. My hubby says it doesn't look all that bad. I know he's trying to make me feel better, but the word "Yentl" has come up in conversation several times.

So, then we meet my hubby for lunch. He had originally suggested meeting at Costco for $1.50 hotdog/drink combos. (Way to go honey - that's the way to stretch a dollar!). My boy was all for "hot doggies" with daddy. Well, during my hairchop, he called and convinced me to meet him at an overpriced (but, Oh sooo delicious) greasy spoon for hamburgers. I caved. Paid $2.25 for my son's hotdoggie from which he ate one mouse bite. Of course, I ate every bit of my greasy, yummy cheeseburger and fries while lamenting over my hair. Total lunch cost around $20, when we could've eaten at Costco for $3 total!

I'd better just stay home the rest of the week so I don't spend any more "stupid" money. Gotta get to sewing anyways.........

2008 Mom-Preneur Shop A Thon at Tip Junkie

This holiday season Tip Junkie is challenging us to buy gifts from fellow bloggers and women. Many of us have Etsy stores and other websites which feature our hand crafted items. This is such a great opportunity to support each other and our visions of helping to support our families while nurturing the creative spirit in each of us. Please stop by Tip Junkie's Mom Preneur Shop A Thon and check out all of the great items for sale. Don't forget to stop by their blogs and shops. If you like what you see, pass it on to friends and family. You can also blog about it on your own site. We women can join together in this tough economic time and raise each other up!
Don't forget that many of the items are hand crafted and may take extra time to make and mail - so shop early!
You can find me - Whoopsie Daisies under the Little Bit of Everything category at the top. You can look for the picture below. I'm thinking of moving down to the Vintage category though soon.
Thanks for all of your support!

Drum Roll...........And We Have A Winner!!!!!

I'm so excited - this was so much fun! Thank you all for all of your comments. I had a great time reading all of your thoughts and suggestions.

The winner of a Child's Hat is.... JINXY AND ME!!!!

Here's what she had to say: "I like the sweater! It's really pretty - I would wear it in a heartbeat. I would love to win a child size hat. Thanks for the giveaway!"

Congratulations! I'll be contacting you soon! You'll be receiving the hat in the picture.

The final tally on the sweater: Yay's: 42 Nay's: 26

That's enough Nay's for me to make some changes to my sweater. Not that I feel like I have to please everyone, but as much as I hated to admit it, I did feel like something was missing, or that it just wasn't quite done. So if you suggested that I take the lace off, sorry, that's not gonna happen - because frankly, I don't see how that would make it any more than a pullover I cut up. Once it's done, I'll post the final results.

In honor of this most successful GiveAway, I've decided to hold more! So, stay tuned for details!

Creepy Birds and Other Things

We went camping over this past weekend and I had to take this picture. These are buzzards sitting on the electrical tower. They were so creepy - you could hear them flapping their wings and smacking against each other and the metal on the tower. I could also hear the electricity buzzing along the lines - nice backdrop to camping in the great outdoors, huh? And a note to my sister - "NO, these are not eagles!"

It wasn't all buzzards, we made smoores over the campfire too - of course my picky kids only ate the chocolate. I haven't ever shared a picture of our doggy - I thought he looked so handsome here. He LOVED camping - he even did pretty well on the floor of the camper during the night. We're looking forward to more fun weekends - just campsites without buzzy buzzards and electricity - and o yeh, flush potties might be a nice addition too!!!!

I have gotten some sewing time in this past week. This is a Yo Yo pin I made for a customer - I just loved the pink and brown together. She is going to pin it to a chocolate brown hat for her little girl.

This is a custom order I did after a customer spotted my apron in these same fabrics. We got an early start on Trick Or Treating last night at church. Just had to share a picture of "Belle" and the "Lion". My boy basically drug his sister all around the parking lot and kept saying, "Tricky Treat, Roar!" all night. Too cute. (Yep, that a Jedi in the background)

My sister is doing a few craft shows for me and I've been trying desperately to get some products ready to send to her. The first one is November 15th - so it's really fast approaching. I'm cutting, glueing, like crazy.

Thank you for all of your comments on the Giveaway! I've had a great time reading all of your comments! I don't have a tally yet on the sweater - but I'll be sure to share once I do. Of course, my hubby thinks he's in the lead, but I'm not sure! I do think the sweater is destined for better things - whether that's a spot in the back of my closet or some more cutting and sewing.

You still have until midnight Friday to leave a comment and/or link me to your blog for an additional entry. We'll draw a name Saturday! Good luck!

Got to run.....my 2 year old has water blasting from the sink in the bathroom and I have no idea what the damage is!! Better go check it out - then run to the store for some cold medicine and tissues - we're all coughing and stuffed up this week.

GiveAway Time is Here!

and just in time for the holidays too! Lucky you.
I decided since this is my blog, I can change my mind, and I have. Instead of looking at this (like previously mentioned)
I'm just not a curtain person. I picked these cute little panels up in Round Top a few weeks ago and would like to use them, but I'm struggling. I've decided not to put you all through the pain, I'll just show you the results when it's done - probably another 6 months from now!Anyway, I'm having you look at this:I crafted it one day earlier in the month when I was feeling feisty with a pair of scissors and not so much love for a blue sweater I'd had forever. I decided to cut it up the front, add bias tape to the edges, add lace to the front, and a cool vintage button on top.

Problem is, my hubby thinks it's utterly hideous. I mean, he doesn't think it should be worn out of the house, it's so bad. I've already slung it on a few mornings when it's still dark outside to haul my girl to school in the wee hours.

Do you all think it's that bad????

You have to vote, that's the thing. That's it. You tell me, is it really that bad? If so, I promise never to wear it out again, period. If not, well, it may end up being my go to cardigan this winter. I will willfully accept the results.

So, here's what you have to do:

#1 Leave a comment, either Yay, or Nay on the sweater

#2 AND go to my Etsy Shop site check out what's for sale, and what's been sold and tell me your favorite.

Easy Peasy. If you post about the Giveaway and link me from your blog, I'll give you another entry.

What do you win???? That's really what you're after, I know!

You win a crocheted hat - either in child's size or baby's size - just let me know in your comments which you'd prefer. I'll pick the exact hat once the contest is over.

I'll accept entries starting today, Monday the 27th, thru Friday the 31st.....

Each entry will be place in a hat, and one winner will be drawn on Saturday morning.

You don't have to be a blogger to enter, just provide me with a valid e-mail address.

If the winner doesn't respond within 3 business days, another winner will be drawn.

Be sure to check out Bloggy Carnival for more Giveaways!

Good Luck!

Vintage Overalls for my Boy

I had to share a picture of my boy in this pair of overalls. I'm calling them "vintage" because I know they are at least 32 years old, maybe a little older. My husband wore them as a little boy and I believe my brother-in-law (my boy's uncle) wore them as well, so they are special.

He spotted the crows in the front yard in this picture.
I can't make out the brand very well on the front label, but the brass buttons say "FLY's". The label on the front looks like it has a butterfly and some other wording, but it's very worn.

Anyway, I love them and am so glad that my boy can wear them too. He looks like a little farm boy.

Craft Club Crafters at it Again!

We met last night at Shannon's house for our monthly Craft Club get together. Her husband said it looked like a sweat shop in their dining room when he returned home. We had fabric scattered all over, scissors flying, irons steaming and sewing machines humming along until about 11pm last night - but well worth it!
Here's what we did:

Here's the back.... cute, don't you think??Close up of the front.....I had trouble getting the color just right on my camera, the colors are actually more vibrant. Also, the other girls are supposed to e-mail me their photos - so when they do, I'll be sure to include them here.

What has your craft club been up to lately??

Top Ten Things I am Avoiding Lately (and it's NOT Dancing with the Stars)

1. the pile of laundry in the laundry room (as well as bits scattered thither and yon throughout the house)
2. unmade beds
3. dishes on my counter that need to be "handwashed" - don't you hate those??? (I've gotten in to the habit of taking my travel coffee mugs with me when I take my girl to school in the early, early morning, unfortunately, you can't put those things in the dish washer, it'll result in coffee spilled down your shirt, early, early, in the morning....which just leads to more laundry....)
4. creating a Family Budget. I've vowed to do this, but ugh, it's a pain. Got to do better about those spur of the moment purchases (like diet cokes in the afternoon between the hours of 2-4pm...it is Happy Hour afterall at Sonic! Half price drinks! - and more caffeine to get me through the afternoon)
5. cutting back on caffeine (who has the time?)
6. excercise (enough said.)
7. bills and receipts staring at me from my desk as I type this
8. dust "drapes" on my ceiling fans
9. putting curtains up in my kitchen
10. putting curtains up in my boy's room


Here's what I have been doing:

*Anticipating the Dancing with the Stars episode tonight!! WaHoo!!
*Sewing, cutting, crocheting, little hats and Yo Yo's
*Changing diapers
*grocery shopping
*Kindermusik this morning with my boy
*eating the crumbs left over from purchased bake sale goods this weekend.
*blowing my nose (I've got some sort of crud, allergies or a cold or something annoying)


What have you been up to????

Lookee

I've never been real happy with the hang tags that I've had on my products. So, yesterday amidst a clingy toddler, I was able to create these..............

I didn't even need to take a trip to the store for any supplies, just used what I had on hand. I'm hoping they give my items a more cohesive look at craft shows, etc. since 90% of my things are one of a kind and can look quite different.

what do you think?