Bandanna Pants!

I saw little pants made out a bandanas some time back and have always wanted to make some.  Tonight the mood hit me.  I have to finish my doll, but decided to give the pants a try first.  I just cut a pattern from looking at a pair of shorts.  I think they turned out cute.  To get the best look out of the full bandanna - you are limited to making them sort of one size.  These are too big for Charlotte and maybe too small for Lily.  I may have to try cutting some bandannas down to make some pants that fit Charlotte right now.  Different patterned bandannas would probably look okay cut smaller.  

These Charlotte will have to grow into.

So easy . . . it took about 20 minutes to make them.  I love the pattern of the bandannas around the waist and legs. 

turn that frown . . . upside down

I started dressing a new doll tonight.  She is sitting here with her feet in the air - letting her shoes dry . . . tomorrow she gets accessories, a name, and a story. 

Sunday Games . . .

Richard and I started the day off playing tennis.  I think we were both a little beat up for some reason . . . but it is always good to go out and run.  It was a beautiful day to play!  I am hoping we can get out again tomorrow since we have the day off . . . or maybe go for a bike ride. 

Jake and Kasey came over early so I could make Jake some new bean bags for his corn hole yard game.  I sewed them up - he filled them . . .

 . . . and eight bean bags (although they are actually filled with feed corn) - to play Corn Hole.

Jake and Brent built the corn hole toss game a couple of weeks ago.  Jake had a Cleveland Indians set that Kasey had given him, but they had wore it out . . . it wasn't built all that sturdy to begin with.

They did a wonderful job.  I especially like the stripes that Jake painted on the boards.  We had a great time with the game today.  The boards fold up so they can be carried and stored easily.  Great day with family . . . it doesn't get any better than that! 

love weekends!

 

It has been a wonderful weekend so far . . . walking, tennis, lunch with Brent & Ashley (and Owen), staying up late watching movies . . . and working on some dolls.  I have orders for 3 more dolls - I better get busy.  I also want to fit a bike ride in today.  Long weekends are the best!!!!!

Time with Charlotte . . .

I took Charlotte with me on my walk the other night.  She loves to go for a walk - she just loves to be outside period.  I didn't know how far I would be able to go with her . . . I was prepared to head home if she started to get fussy.  She jabbered on and on a good deal of the time, smiled everytime I looked at her, and seemed to really liked it when I ran . . . and no getting fussy - I was able to get in 4 miles.  I will have to take her with me more often.

Spending time with Charlotte is amazing!

Color and memories . . . and little girls

More color to inspire . . . I love fabric stores with all the colors and textures.  I'm sure that is partly because of all the time I spent in them as a child with my mom and my aunts. 

I remember being excited when I was old enough to pick out the fabric that I wanted for the clothes that my mom sewed for me. 

I also remember being tired and groaning to myself after a day of shopping - when we had to go into one more fabric store . . . and my mom and my aunts would take what seemed liked forever to make their purchases.  I can just hear their voices talking over whatever project they were working on.  It makes me miss them now - and wish I lived close enough to take them all shopping. 

I remember visiting them as an adult . . . they were probably all in their late sixties - and we spent the day shopping.  It had been a long day and I was tired, and we had to stop at one more fabric store . . .

My mom and her sisters are amazing women with amazing energy!

Thanks to them I can walk through a fabric store and simply enjoy the color.

Thanks to them I am who I am . . . their values,

their love for their families, their love for each other, their creativity and their strength . . . and their love for me.  I can only hope I can pass on to my children and grandchildren what they passed on to me. 

Wow . . . all that from looking at fabric.  : )

And my little ladies . . .

 Lily (waiting for her piggy back ride) - with gloves and sandals???   That is our weather these days.

Charlotte in her Beatles t-shirt . . .

That face makes me think she's not quite so sure she likes The Beatles . . .  or maybe she's not quite sure about what Grandpa is telling her.  : )

One more picture . . . I'm a Grandma - I can't help myself.  This picture of Charlotte just makes me smile!

SMILE and have a GREAT day! 

Peace - Love - Bluejays

This has to be the best preschool t-shirt ever.  I've seen apples, pumpkins, stars . . . and now peace signs!!!!!

Our preschoolers are going on a field trip later this week.  I was down that way this morning and couldn't help but notice the t-shirts they are making to wear that day.  Peace - Love - Blue jays . . . (our school mascot)

The teacher told me that if I brought in a white t-shirt they would make me one . . . what a great shirt!  Lily happens to be in this class, which means we will have matching peace sign t-shirts . . . that is sure to make her smile. 

strings of pom poms

I made a few more pom poms while watching movies this weekend.  I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to do with them while I was making them.  I decided just to string them together and figured I would fine a place to hang them up.  I like this string the best . . .

. . . but these blue and purple ones work perfect over this framed chalkboard.  Which reminds me . . . I need to mess with my chalkboard paint some more.

I liked the board before . . . but this is way better. 

Stella even gets a little left over pom pom on her collar.  From the face she is making . . . she isn't too thrilled about it.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

I've always wanted to try this.  They are a little rough looking because I used a dull letter opener to carve the letters.  A sharp blade would work much better . . . but then - if it was me using the sharp blade . . . I may have cut my finger.  But they stamp just fine . . .

Just a little Friday afternoon fun . . . LOVE, LOVE, LOVE stuff like this!

Pom Poms

I decided to try my hand at making some pom poms - after seeing the pom pom magnets that Jessica made at scrumdillydilly.  My first poms turned out sort of scraggly . . . I still like them though.

So I gave it a few more tries.  You can buy an actual pom pom maker, but I just wrapped the yarn around two or three fingers.  I remember making these with my Mom when I was little.  She would always use the piece of cardboard that ribbon or bias tape came wrapped around . . . it seemed to be the perfect size.

 

I could probably trim them some more. . . and trim them a little smaller so they look as nice as nice as the ones that Jessica made.  I really like her magnet idea - so will probably make some smaller ones. 

They really are simple and fun to make . . . . I will have to get into my yarn and see what colors I have to play with and come up with something fun to do with them.  I am thinking I also need to make some small ones - (probably with some finer yarn) to use on of my dolls.  

I remember a rug sort of thing that my mom had that was made of very small pom poms.  She always had it on top of her cedar chest . . . it is very pretty.  I found out only a few years ago that she made it while she was dating my dad and that he would come over to her house and help her with it.  I have to laugh thinking about my dad making pom poms - it doesn't really fit with the man that I knew . . . but he was 21 and in love with my mom . . .

It's Friday!  Here's to a great weekend!

inspiration . . . and sharks

When making my Shabby Charlotte dolls I tend to use what I have on hand, but I am always on the lookout for bits of this and that . . . ribbons, buttons, charms, etc.  Richard even does this now - if he finds something on the ground that he thinks I may be able to use on a doll he brings it home to me.  I found some the above ribbon in the dollar bin at Michael's.  I especially like the red stitched one . . . it reminds me of baseball stitching.  I've been wanting to make a baseball doll - that ribbon will be perfect.

I found this ribbon on clearance . . . 24 little rolls of wonderful colors and designs.  I especially like the one that reads . . . love you to pieces.

I find little things like this - especially the colors, give me so many ideas. 

I believe I have mentioned that I work at an elementary school . . . I walked into a classroom that we use for our after school program and saw these wonderful sharks again.  I have seen them before - but keep forgetting to go snap some photos.  Today I had my camera with me . . . so had to post some pics of them.  I think they are great!  

Lou Lou Shark . . .

 Children's art is many things . . . it is a display of their imagination, a teaching tool, a way to understand a child's mind.  Children's art can connect them to others or enhance their knowledge of a book.  To a child - art is fun . . . it can give them a way to let out their feelings and ideas, make decisions,  and express their choices. 

Picasso wrote, "Every child is an artist.  The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."

cute little skeletons . . .

I decided to put some simple earrings together tonight.  I should be putting hair on a couple of dolls that people have ordered (which I still may do) . . . but I was in the mood for beads - especially these cheap little skeleton beads.  I think they are fun! 

I used a couple of these skeleton beads when I made a Shabby Charlotte voodoo doll and I have quite a few left . . . in different colors.  I think I may need some pink skeleton earrings also.

Random Wednesday Stuff . . .

Life is good . . . I'm sticking with that!  So much going on in my life these days.  I'm trying to enjoy every minute of it . . . rather than focusing on how crazy busy I am.  Wait . . . I love being crazy busy - so "Life is good!"   This mug was a gift from my husband (he knows how much I like fun coffee mugs and will surprise me once in awhile with one.) 

I love the colors in this picture.

I have always like miniatures . . . I may have posted a picture of these before - but while I was looking through pictures last night - I noticed this one again.  They are such cute little things.  I found the fox and dog charm at a yard sale in Iowa.  (My aunt thought the dog may be an old Cracker Jack prize.)  The birds and little pitcher belonged to my mom, and the little blue guy in the background was sitting on top of our mailbox one day . . . I thought he would be happier on this shelf with some company.   

One of last week's chalk board messages . . . This was all that needed to be said on that particular day.

Tealight candles wrapped with tape . . . they are so much more fun this way!  I need to use them in some small clear votive olders - so I can enjoy the colors - perfect for summer.

And little Miss Charlotte . . .

Life is good!

Pins . . .

Sometimes I look at something that I have looked at a thousand times - and notice something that I never have before.  That is what happened with my quilting pins the other day.  I was pinning together a t-shirt quilt that I am making for a friends daughter . . . looked down at my pins and noticed how pretty they looked.

I love color!  I have found that if you take the time to notice things around you - even something as small and common as these pins can inspire you.  What inspires you?

 

"Color is a power which directly influences the soul."
                                                          ~ Wassily Kandinsky

Mille . . . Cee Cee . . . and Murphy

Millie is a quiet little doll who tends to keep her feelings to herself.  Once you get to know her – you will find that she has a wonderful sense of humor and loves to laugh and have fun.  Millie’s name says a lot about her.  It means – “hard worker” and “gentle strength”.   Millie has a soft spot for family pets . . . she carries a little treat in her bag – just in case she sees a dog that needs some special attention.   She also likes teapots – set her next one and she will always be there to make you smile.

Cee Cee is a tough little doll who realizes that attitude makes all the difference.  She is optimistic, kind, and will do anything she can to help the people she cares about.  She likes to keep busy – especially in the garden.  She is a true cowgirl and is happiest when she is outdoors.  Cee Cee loves animals and loves to talk . . . so take the time to listen – you may just learn something.  She carries a special little box with her always – with a message inside just to remind herself to enjoy and make the most of everyday.

Murphy is a zombie with a big heart and Irish through and through.  He likes to watch funny movies, play video games, listen to music, and go fishing.  He has a creative side . . .  and can turn a piece of metal into a work of art.  Before Murphy was a zombie he was a very hard worker – which is probably why as a zombie, he is still quite disciplined . . . so no need to worry about him taking a bite out of you.   He would much rather order pizza and drink a beer  . . . or have an occasional shot of Jack Daniels.  He wears a fish hook on his vest – as a reminder of a special someone . . . the greatest thing he ever “hooked”.