Halloween 2010 (one day early)

This year I had: (1) LEGO mini figure, (2) Bobby Socks girls, (1) Black Knight- inspired by good ol' Monty Python, and (1) Spiderman.
Lots of sugar, good time by all.

Race T

This Saturday I will run my 5th marathon. To celebrate (and try to aid my brothers in their hunt for spouses) I made my own race day T. Wouldn't it be great if it worked???

My babies

Almost time to send 3 back to school, so sad.

Building a cabin

The kids and I were able to spend last week in TS helping to build a cabin. So much fun (and work), the kids have never fallen asleep so quickly and slept so soundly as they did those nights!

My new filing cabinetaz

I am slowly organizing and purging each room of our house this summer. To aid the former, I bought a couple of filing cabinets from the thrift store, painted with leather brown spray paint (3 cans, plus 1 of primer) and then modge-podged on some fabric I found at Hobby Lobby. Much more interesting and quite do-able. Helpful hint: To make cutting the fabric easier, make a pattern out of paper first.

Annual 4th of July Water War

Each year on the 4th (or 5th) of July, we have a gigantic water war in our back yard, kids vs. dad. We all have a great time, and as official photographer/videographer I am off limits, making it that much sweeter. This year Carson got horribly sunburned, but we didn't find out until that night, then were crushed with guilt.

Finally!

Last week this kid woke up and decided that he was potty-trained (forget that I'd been trying to convince him for the past year and had finally given up). I'm not entirely sure it will stick, but it would be great if it did!

Brand Stenciled T

To honor his ranching heritage, I stenciled one of the family brands onto a T for Ethan. I am happy to report that he loves it. Now, if it will only instill that ranch work ethic...

Ribbon box tutorial

Usually I forget about the presentation of a present, but for small gifts, I needed to come up with a cute way to gift. Thus came about the ribbon box. All you need is 2.5" wired ribbon (actually you can use any size, but I used 2.5 inch).
Step 1- Cut 1- 16" and 1- 40" piece of ribbon (this can be adjusted for larger or smaller boxes. To calculate your own, follow these instructions: The shorter length should be approx 6x the width of the ribbon used (A). For the longer length, tie a bow to your liking, untie it, and measure the length of ribbon used (B), then add the shorter length (A) to your bow length (B). The resulting number is the longer length needed. It sounds harder than it is.)
Step 2- Fold both ribbons in half to find their center.
Step 3- With wrong side facing up, layer long and short ribbons together, lining up centers to form a T shape. Make sure longer ribbon is on bottom.
Step 4- Take ribbon to sewing machine, straight stitch on the inner side of the wire-edge all the way around the overlapping ribbon, forming a square.
Step 5- Mark the height of your box (I used straight pins to mark mine and measured 2.5" away from the square I had just sewed)
Step 6- Line up adjacent edges and stitch from the corner of the square out to the pin. I tried both a straight stitch and a zigzag and thought the zigzag looked much nicer.
Step 7- Repeat with 3 remaining corners.
You can stop here and have a nice box, or for a more finished look, continue...
Step 8- Fold the short ribbon ends back on themselves, wrong sides together and zigzag the outer 3 sides. Repeat with other side.
Step 9- Fancy cut the long edges or leave plain. Sear the edges with a candle to prevent unraveling.
Step 10- Insert small gift, fold in short edges, and tie long ribbons into bow.

I TRI-ed it and I liked it

Last Saturday I completed my first triathlon (Olympic distance- 1500 meter swim, 23 mile bike, 10k run). I was supposed to do it with a friend, but she injured her knee a few weeks before the event, so I was on my own. Good thing I have my own personal support team that comes with me everywhere. The race was a lot of fun and I think I'll do it again, it just takes up a LOT of time.

Fabric Mini-bolts

I first saw these mini-bolts here and just had to follow her example. The bolts are cut (10"x7.5") from scrap cardboard that I had around the house (mostly diaper boxes). Then I folded and wrapped my fabric- anything 1/2 yard or greater is large enough- and secured it with a pin. It fits perfectly in the cube storage shelving that I already had. Now it's like I have my own fabric store and there is a lot less digging through unlabeled boxes.

Bead-Trimmed Scarf Tutorial

My first tutorial. On my 33rd bday, I wrote a list of 33 things I'd like to do in the following year, one was to try and write tutorials for some of the projects I do. So here is my first attempt.
Since Riley is constantly taking my winter scarf to wear everywhere, I thought I'd make her very own fancy scarf.

Materials needed:
2 yards each of 2 contrasting fabrics (I actually used only 1 yard of each and just cut out 2 rectangles and sewed them together to make one long strip)
1/2 yard bead trim (I found mine in the upholstery trimmings section at Hobby Lobby)
scissors, pins, sewing machine, iron.

Cut 1- 72"x6" rectangle (or 2- 36"x6" rectangles) from each fabric. (If using 36x6 pieces, sew short ends of same fabric together to make one long 72x6 piece of each).
Fold short ends under 1/2" and press.
Pin fabrics right sides together matching up long sides. Stitch long sides at 1/2" seam allowance to make a long tube, making sure your pressed under edges line up.
Turn tube right sides out. Press.
Cut 2- 5" pieces of bead trim.


Pin trim into the edge of the tube, leaving as little of the twill tape showing as possible. Stitch as closely to the edge as you are able (I used my zipper foot for this step). Repeat with other edge. Top stitch long edges with 1/4" seam allowance to give the scarf a crisper line.
Hand scarf over to anxiously awaiting daughter.




I didn't realize how many more pictures I should have taken until my project was complete, so I apologize for my hasty sketch and promise to do better next time!

Girly-girl apron

Riley went to a birthday party last week for one of her good friends who loves to bake, so I made up a quick (and very cute) ruffly apron for her. I liked it enough that I made one for Riley, too. I'll post the instructions later, but have been wanting to show off our end product.

Project for Dad

Since Kiechel will begin his first desk job ever in the next month, I wanted to make him something a little special to keep on his desk. I used Picnik to color in my letters, turned out rather fun, even if I do say so myself!