I have been busy....

I have not be on here is a long while :) I was busy getting a psychology degree and raising three children, but I am back!  I recently purchased some (lots) of vintage patterns and I cannot wait to get started on them.  The other day I wanted something new to wear but since I live in South Texas it is crazy hot here so I needed something lightweight and cute.  So I whipped up a cotton skit during nape time, I love projects that can be made super fast.

What do you think???  LOL after taking this picture I realized that my 3-year old smeared something all over my mirror.  Oh well such is life!

A natural alternative to Bug spray

I receive an email today from one of my favorite blog sites Bloom, Bake & Create, it was for Lemon Balm Lavender Bugs Off Spray.  This sounds like a great natural alternative to Off Bug spray.  I cannot wait to make up a batch, here is the instruction on how to make it.  I have not tested it yet and these pictures and the information are all from Lyndah@Bloom, Bake & Create

Lemon Balm Lavender Bugs Off Spray  Print This Post

lemon balm – enough to fill up a quart jar

lavender – cup or so

apple cider vinegar – enough to cover all of the herbs

Crush with fingers the fresh lemon balm and stuff into quart jar. Add lavender. Cover with apple cider vinegar. Shake or stir every day for 7 days. Strain and pour into a spray bottle. Store in cool, dark place. Should be good for the season.

Some substitutions: catnip, lemon grass, eucalyptus, lemon eucalyptus, lemon thyme, mountain mint, and jewelweed.

Ingredients for Lemon Balm Lavender Bugs Off Spray

I harvested a bowl of lemon balm which I crushed and stuffed into my quart jar. I added some of my Grosso lavender from last year’s harvest. Then they were covered with apple cider vinegar.

Shake or stir every day for 7 days. Then strain out the herbs. I used a knee-hi stocking. My old supply of them from dress up days sure come in handy.

Straining herbs

Now pour this strained liquid into a spray bottle.

Pouring into spray bottle

And there you have your Lemon Balm Lavender Bugs Off Spray.

Lemon Balm Lavender Bugs Off Spray

Thanks again Lyndah@Bloom, Bake & Create

Help please!!!

I am trying to figure out how to put a button on my blog (for my blog) and I almost have it but it is still not correct.  If any bloggers out there know how to do this can you please help me, THANK YOU!!!

Tonight is Friday Night Sew In Join us!

Here's the link for the Friday night sew in, I so excited this sounds like so much fun.  Come join the fun.

http://handmadebyheidi.blogspot.com/2011/05/friday-night-sew-in-for-may-20th.html

Gracie's new Izzy & Ivy hat

Well, I finally finished my 3-year old's hat. I bought two Izzy & Ivy hat patterns awhile back this one was Sally Sells Sea Shells by the Seashore sun hat.  I have been waiting till I had the time to sit down and figure this one out and I am glad I waited because I have to say this was the most difficult pattern to follow.  With spelling errors and too much information on the area that did not need that much instruction and not enough information on the area that could really use a better step by step and even some more pictures.  This little hat took me three days to finish and let me tell you I have been sewing for a long time and creating my own patterns.  I do not I get stumped by patterns hardly ever and if I do I can easily figure it out after a short amount of time.  This hat turned out really cute but I do have to say after being stuck on one step for two days I skipped their instructions and did it my own way and I am glad I did because I was able to skip so many unnecessary steps.  I will make this hat again but I rewrote the instructions so I would remember how I put it together.  Next is to try to make the Izzy & Ivy Jack 'n Jill hat, one for my oldest daughter and one for my son (the Jack part of the pattern).

The girls Easter dress

I did not realize that I did not post the finish pictures of my girls Easter dresses or skirts that is.

Hello from my phone

sweepstakes

http://www.recipelion.com/sweeps/Cuisinart-Giveaway

Tip of the day...

Like to garden or just have a few plants around?  Do you have a coffee machine that uses K-cup?  Or a friend who does?  Try this, take the foil off of the top, fill it full of soil, stick 2-3 seeds in the soil, and water.  The hole in the bottom is perfect for drainage.  This is a perfect way to recycle and reuse something that you already have in your home. 

Serging day :)

I have been down for the last few days with allergies but today I am back to sewing or for right now I guess I am serging.  I have a stack of 8 flounces and several other pieces that need their ends and bottom edges to be serged and that is the good thing about this pattern I do not have to hem any of it. YAY!!!  So I have a movie on and a fudge brownie sundae to keep me company.  :)

Here is my 3 thread rolled hem 

If any of you have serged before you know how much it vibrates at full speed, well I was trucking along watching my seams and not pay much attention to things around me that I didn't notice my glass rods (for flameworking) getting ready to attack me.  So now I will watch everything around me. :)

Here is my yummy fudge brownie sundae

My pile of rolled edge flounces, now to working on the other pieces. 

I just learned about these today, I can't wait to get some.

Today I am a surgeon

I am re-attaching puppy dog heads today. I do not know how these stuffed animal heads always come off but here I am again stitching them up. :)

Here's a clue...

This is the fabric I am using to make one of my girls Easter dress :) What do you think of these colors?  Bright and Springy don't you think???

2010 Halloween

Here are the custom costumes I made for my children and I thought I would share them with you.

A Scorpion, a Buzzy Bee, and Cleopatra.  That scorpion costume was fun to design and to make.

Something for my son.

I always spend my time making cloths and such for my girls but I hardly every make anything for my son, so the other day I asked him if he wanted me to make him something and he told me that he wanted a scorpion shirt (his new thing).  After trying to figure out if I wanted to paint him a shirt or make an iron on decal (whoops didn't have any iron-on paper). I came up with a great idea I found a cool scorpion picture that he approved and photoshopped it to change it a bit, I then took an old white tee shirt and cut out a piece a bit smaller than a piece of paper, I lightly sprayed glue onto a piece of card-stock, I than applied the tee-shirt to the card-stock, I smoothed it out really well, then I put it in my printer, and I printed in right onto the material, I took it to my iron and heat set it.  We will see how long that will last after all of the washes.

Well, here is how it turned out.  He should be happy :)

Update...

Ronnie loved his shirt.  I was thinking about this technique, this would be great to cover up stains on a shirt that is still in good shape.  Just a thought.

Time to come up with some Easter Dresses.

Well, I have 2 girls one is almost 11 and the other is 3 & 1/2. I usually will make them matching Easter dresses but this year is different I was informed that my oldest does not want to match her little sister anymore (I wondered when this would happen).  I do not have that much time to come up with something for both girls but the good news is I think that I have the fabric to make them so this time (and this time only) I will not have to go shopping for fabric. :(  I bet hubby will be happy to hear this. LOL! So to the drawing board I will go.  It is cool and cloudy outside and all of my school work is done and the house is in pretty good shape, that means I can play today, yay! I will see what I can come up with.

Grace's Finished Dress

So, I am finally posting the pictures of her finished dress.  I ended up taking it almost completely apart and while I started out following someone's blog instructions for this dress I only kept a few of those original idea's in the end. The ruffle down the front and the cap sleeves are pretty much all that are the same.  After I had one of those sewing set backs I usually would put it down and leave it alone forever, but this time I took my seam ripper and ripped the ruffles off of the front then took my rotary cutter to the dress and cut it down the middle of both the front and the back.  I stuck with this one till it was perfect in the end, well perfect for my girl. :)

Grace's dress

Well it is almost finished with her dress just a few more adjustments and some buttons on the back.  I found the tutorial on another blog for this dress after a few changes to fit my girl and here it is. I will post the finished pictures later today. But for now here are a few unfinished pictures.

Sewing

I am in the process of making a supper cute cherry dress for my 3-year old.  I will be posting pictures soon.

It's been a few days...

Well, I guess that I have not been on here in a while, even though I am a 31 year old mother of three I am also a full time Psychology student and I just started two new class last Monday and it has been taking a lot of my time, ugh! I have a stack of projects that I am wanting/needing to attack so in the next few weeks I am hoping that I will be starting my tutorials.  Lots of sewing will be happening soon. :) 

Last Nights Yummy Fun

Yesterday I decided to bake some cinnamon rolls, YUM!!!  I love homemade food...for me I love to make everything from scratch but I know that not everyone has the time to do this and at times I do not know how I have the time but I make the time.  These turned out great I wish I could share them with everyone because I "only" made 24 huge rolls even the kids can't make a dent in this one, guess the neighbors will be getting a treat. :)

Here are a few crafts from the past...

Here are a few and I mean a few of my crafts from the past, till I can get a hang on my new classes I guess I will not be hitting the craft table or the sewing machine for a bit...it is a sad time in my house when no crafts are being made. :)

 

a book thong :)

and another

yes, and another

Okay this is enough for tonight.

No crafts today :(

I spent much of my day off of school in the doctors office and cleaning house so I am hoping that tomorrow will be a fun craft day, stay posted to see. I went to Michaels and bought a lot of yarn but I had no plan for it so we will see what I can come up with.

My Story

Hi, my name is Elizabeth I am a 31-year old Air Force wife, mother of three, a full time student, and a Great Dane owner (tons of funny stories about him). I love to spend time with my children, cook everything that I can come up with and create, and do ALL types of crafts. Cooking is my number one passion but crafts are right up there with it. I LOVE to sew, crochet & knit, embroider, draw, paint, make jewelry, lampworking, and working with clay. I figured why not start a blog about my cooking and crafting adventures that you can enjoy as well because they do not always turn out as expected and that is where the adventure begins. So, in the days to come the fun will begin!!!