My Anna FAIL

There it is, people, and it is NOT pretty. SIGH.... What a mess!!!! I am very disappointed in myself. This is SO NOT what I had in my head. 

BUT, I will take this as a learning experience. LOL Now I know what NOT to do. 

Cailey is happy, though. Really, that's what matters most. 

Let me break it down for you.

The bodice. SIGH... And that's the 2nd try. 

I embroidered the designs on the front. I do NOT have an embroidery machine but I do have a zigzag stitch. SO NOT THE SAME!!! LOL 

Then there's the point that will not lie flat. Possibly it's the gold lame fabric to blame... 

But that SKIRT!! Oh, my. What an epic fail! 

I appliqued the flowers and the blue at the bottom. It's so sloppy and of course the shiny taffeta shows every little pucker.

So, what would I do differently??

One - I would buy the spray adhesive if I ever decide to applique slippery pieces to slippery pieces, again.

or

Two - I would use Paint and create iron-ons. LOL THAT seems like the best idea right there! WHY didn't I think of that sooner??? Too bad I'm out of fabric or I might give it a try. 

Thankfully the cape turned out well and it hides most of the awful dress. 

Have YOU ever had an epic FAIL??? 

On another note.....
I am a little behind on my posts. I've been dealing with a nasty toothache and abscess for a couple of weeks. I finally dragged myself to the doc. Then I proceeded to have an adverse reaction to the antibiotic. I ended up in the ER with massively swollen feet and ankles. I was told to put my feet up, get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. HA HA HA HA!! That hasn't happened. But I am feeling better! The swelling has gone down some and the pain is manageable again. Hopefully it is all gone by tomorrow night! I have to take Cailey and Colin around the neighborhood for to trick or treat!!

ANYWAY, this has put me way behind on my Halloween sewing and baking. Deanna still wants a high-low skirt and Mad Hatter's hat (fingers crossed that I can pull this off in a DAY). And I still need to make zombie cookies, a skull cake, and spider cupcakes. HELP!!!!!! 

Remind me to start early next year... Like maybe JULY!!!! LOL


HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

One Pattern, Endless Costume Ideas

I bought a pattern just over 2 years ago to use for Colin's costume. My first time sewing a costume, EVER!!!!!

I think I paid $1 for it at a Hancock's or Joann's pattern sale.



He has always loved dinosaurs and wanted to be one that year. Perfect!!  

 This is the dinosaur costume I made with McCall's 6185.

Then I had a friend contact me asking if I could make her son's costume. He loves Snoopy but all the costumes she could find were crazy expensive and not well made.

Using the SAME pattern, just sizing it up, I made Snoopy!!!

Then this year Colin wanted to be Pichu, a Pokemon. Oh, boy.... HOW ON EARTH???? 

Well, I broke out that same old pattern, once again sizing it up. 

And we have Pichu!!!! 

It's all in the details! You can buy one single pattern and make it into whatever animal, Pokemon, clown, joker, monster, what-have-you... just by changing out the details! 

Sizing this type of pattern up or down is super easy since the pieces are so basic. 

$1 pattern, endless possibilities!!!! SEW EXCITING! ;)

What do you think???? Colin is absolutely thrilled with his costume! YAY!! Score one for mom!!!

Thank goodness, because the Anna dress is quickly becoming a major FAIL!!! SIGH.... At least we can cover the dress with the cape, right????


      HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! HAPPY SEWING!!!!!

Our Week in Review - October 18-24, 2014

It's been a busy week!! Are there any other kind??? LOL Today we are headed out to a fall festival. We missed it last year since we lived somewhere else. SO GLAD to be back here!!! 

I have been going crazy trying to find the time to get costumes done. OMG!!! Where has the month gone??? Do me a favor. Next year remind me to start costume sewing at least 2 months in advance. PLEASE!!! 
As it stands right now, Pichu is finished, Anna is nearly done, and then I have to start on a quasi Mad Hatter for Deanna. HELP!!! There aren't enough hours in the day!! Of course, it doesn't help that Deanna is ALWAYS last minute with her Halloween requests. LOL

Here's our week!!

We dyed Deanna's hair purple. LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! Don't love how my hands turned purple for a couple of days... LOL

I cheated and bought a cookie kit for Cailey and Colin to decorate. They then proceeded to eat ALL the cookies..... 

I baked owl brownies for one of our co-ops. We have a monthly party to celebrate any birthdays in that month. We have a picnic and everyone brings a snack to share. These were a big hit! There were none left! WOO HOO!! Not like last month when I brought store bought cupcakes.... Hey, I was pressed for time! ;)

These are the landscapes that Cailey and Colin painted in art class that day.
This led to a big discussion on art between Colin and myself. He thought that he wasn't "good at art". I brought up Google and showed him various unconventional artists, Picasso, Pollock, Lichtenstein, Matisse, and Warhol. Then we talked about how art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. We talked about how his art work wouldn't and shouldn't look like Cailey's, mine or anyone else's!! It should be all his. 
I think I got through to him. He seemed MUCH happier afterwards.

Then we had our other co-op. It was a miserable day, all rainy and chilly, but we went and had fun anyway!
I brought a bunch of supplies to make paper bag monster puppets. 

Another mom brought a cool sticky spider toss game. (I forgot to get pics of that.)

Another mom brought ingredients for ghostly goop. This was a HUGE hit with the kids. (And a science experiment, too! LOL)

The same mom brought needle felting supplies in case any of us would like to try it out. I did and I love it!!! I always wanted to try it but thought it looked too difficult and time consuming. It's neither. It's SO MUCH FUN!!! I love it. I think I am going to order a beginner's kit from her. Like I need another hobby... LOL

The other day I got a surprise anonymous package in the mail. It contained that gorgeous hand stamped necklace. I can't tell you how much that thoughtful gift touched my heart. I will always be a West Virginia girl, no matter where I am or how long I've been gone. West Virginia is in my blood and in my heart forever. 
That gift is me. I wish I could thank the person properly. It made my day, week, month, no it made my year. Not only the fact that it is SO ME, but to know that someone out there thought enough of me to send it. That someone out there cares enough to spend their time to search out the perfect thing to speak to my heart. Thank you. The words don't seem enough.....

Funny Friday - October 2014

October Funny Friday

Today’s post is October’s Funny Friday,, a regular feature published on the last Friday of every month. Funny Friday is a collaborative project. Each month one of the participants submits a picture, then we all write 5 captions or thoughts inspired by that month’s picture. Links to the other bloggers’ posts are below, click on them and see what they’ve come up with. I hope we bring a smile to your face as you start your weekend.

Here’s today’s picture. It was submitted by The Bergham’s Life Chronicles .

1. Looks like Harry Potter got mad at his uncle this time.

2. This time Humpty took a flying leap off the wall.

3. Oh, no! I'm getting carried away!

4. And they said the sling shot ride was safe!

5. That was the last time Humpty jumped on a trampoline.

Click on the links below and let some other bloggers make you smile:

Sanity Waiting to Happen

Cluttered Genius

Stacy Sews and Schools

The Bergham’s Life Chronicles

Follow me home

Baking In A Tornado

Someone Else’s Genius

Confessions of a part-time working mom

The Momisodes

Blogging with Friends - DIY Anna Cape (Frozen)

Welcome to another edition of Blog with Friends! 
We have some GREAT stuff for you this month! Tons of Halloween goodness! 

For my part, I am going to show you how to make a super easy, super warm Anna cape. You still have plenty of time to whip this up. (It would also make a great present.)


WHAT I USED 

About 5 yards of fleece 
4 yards of trim
1 frog enclosure
Small piece of black fleece


STEP 1

I used my go to pattern piece (made from one of Cailey's shirts) to cut the back of the cape. 

I just sort of free handed the shape towards the bottom.  It goes out and the bottom has a slight curve to it. 

I added 27" to the pattern for the length. 

Cut 1 on the fold.


STEP 2

I cut 2 pieces for the front. 

This picture shows the curve of the front pieces. 


STEP 3

This is where you'll cut a circle for the top of the cape. I was scared of this at first but it was actually very easy!!

Fold the remaining fleece into fourths.


STEP 4

Measure from your child's neck to where you want this part to fall. For Cailey it was 17".

Place your measuring tape about a 2" from the corner and start marking a curve 17" down. 

Cut a curve at the top and cut the big curve at the bottom.


STEP 5

Open it up and cut straight down the middle to the neck.


STEP 6

Pin the shoulders and sides together and sew the seams.


STEP 7

Now, the neck line was very large but that's good! I made a big pleat in the back and top stitched it down.

Why was that good? It gives the back a lot of volume while pulling the front and giving it even more of a curve. 



STEP 8

Lay the circle part on top of the main cape, wrong side to right side. Pin it in place and sew them together.



STEP 9

I forgot to take pictures of how I cut the collar.

I cut 2 pink pieces and one smaller black piece.

Sew the pink pieces together and turn right side out.

Top stitch the black piece in place.

Cailey's collar was about 17" long and 3" wide.



STEP 10

Now, pin the collar to the cape, right sides together.

Sew in place.

This is how it looks when you're done.

You can always go back and stitch in the ditch if you like.



STEP 11

Next, I pinned the trim to the right side of the top of the cape, just along the curve. You can go all the way up the sides to the neck if you like, I just didn't buy enough trim. LOL I never would have thought that i would need more than 4 yards!!!! 



STEP 12

Remove the cat from your work area and sew the trim in place!! 

ARGH!!!!!



STEP 13

Pin the frog in place and sew the loops down with a zigzag stitch. 


YOU'RE ALL DONE!!! 

Well, you can go back and hem the cape if you'd like but fleece won't fray. ;)

Cailey absolutely loves it and asked if she could wear it all the time once Halloween is over. LOL


NOW! It's time to check out all the Halloween awesomeness from my friends! ;)




I LOVE THESE SOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!! They are Bloody Buddies from Karen at Baking in a Tornado. So stinkin' cute!!!!





Check out this gorgeous Nevermore Wreath from Someone Else's Genius. LOVE IT!!!!





This is the cutest thing!! A Halloween Gate from Shellybean at Follow Me Home.

I need to make this for my mantle!





Lydia at Cluttered Genius shows us how to decorate on the cheap!! I am allll for that!!! ;)




Melissa from Home on Deranged will show you how to have a VERY fun, Not So Spooky Halloween!! FUN!!





                   HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!