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!!!!

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!!!!!!

Fairy, Frankenstorm and Farewells

Yes, yes... I know... Today's title is very much like yesterday's! LOL BUT the post is very different.

I finished Cailey's costume yesterday! YAY!!!!! She LOVES it!!!!! BUT because of the Frankenstorm the Halloween party was rescheduled. Now, ordinarily that would not be such a big deal BUT since we are moving at the end of the week, we won't be able to go. Cailey was SO upset. SO, Momma Hope (she sort of adopted our family and I LOVE HER SOOOOO MUCH!!!!) is going to take Cailey and Colin trick or treating to all the church members' houses so she can show off her costume. LOL That made it better. ;)

I was lucky enough to be invited to lunch Friday with Momma Hope, Grandmomma Verna and Marie. These are 3 very special ladies. I already mentioned that Momma Hope sort of adopted my family into her heart and Grandmomma Verna is her mother. You will never meet anyone as kind and generous and loving as those 2 special ladies. Marie is taking over Bags of Hope and Love for me here. She is SUCH a blessing!! I am so thankful for her!! We had a very nice lunch with lots of chatting. LOL I am so thankful that I got to go before we moved.

Today at church I said my final farewells to a very special group of people. God blessed me so much when He had Momma Hope stop at my door and invite me to her church. My life will be forever changed just from knowing those special people.

Pastor David passed around a church directory and had everyone sign it. SUCH a special going away gift. I will always be able to look at it and remember each and every one of them.

I cried and cried and cried. I know God has a purpose for us. I know that we are moving to Georgia for a reason. I may not know that reason for a while but I know there is one. Like a friend said today, it may only be to support our family better but that is a reason!

I have pictures of Cailey's fairy princess costume!!!! I am sooooo very very sorry that I forgot to take the pictures for a tutorial. I'm not sure that I would have done a very good job with the tutorial anyway..... I was flying by the seat of my pants on that costume!!! LOL











































She LOVES her costume!!! YAY!!!!! :)

Deanna was disappointed about the Halloween party, too. I was going to make her a long black skirt today. Last night was did a trial run with the Dios de los Muertos make up. It looked REALLLY good. She wouldn't let me take any pictures, though. :/ I'm thinking she might want to dress up on Halloween. She will be helping Grandmomma Verna hand out candy while Momma Hope and I take the little ones trick or treating. :)

I was going to finish Colin's dino costume today. All it needs are eyes, teeth and nostrils... But since the party was cancelled, we spent the day flood proofing the sunroom. Well, not really flood proofing.... more like cleaning and making sure all the books were above the flood level. SIGH... PLEASE PRAY that our bottom floor doesn't flood again!!!!!

We had a little silliness going on last night. Check out these pics!!!







Clown Cailey!







Clown Colin!









Hubby the Clown!!! I still can't believe Colin talked him into this!!! Sorry the pic is blurry but I only got one shot..... LOL







Joshua the Clown!!!



Deanna put the wig on for a split second but wouldn't let me take a picture... LOL I was hoping Jacob would show up today so we could get one of him. Where is that boy???? He TOLD me he was coming today!!!! He better not make me call all his friends... ;)



They are saying that the worst of the Frankenstorm will be tomorrow night into Tuesday. Pray for us!!! The Hubby is still planning on going into work and that means I will be getting up at stupid:30 in the morning to drive him through the Frankenstorm. Yay..... :/

I will start going through closets tomorrow in preparation for the move. Fun.... LOL And toys boxes will need to be thinned out... Pray for me on that one. Colin will NOT be happy!!!!



HUGS and PRAYERS for all of those in the path of the freaky storm!!! Just remember that God is in control. We can depend upon HIS strength!!! He will take care of you!

Fall Festival, Frankenstorm and Farewell

We headed out to the Frog Level Fall Festival this morning. This was our third time. I LOVE the Frog Level community! I made sure to buy a t-shirt this year. Last year it was cold and rainy so I bought a sweatshirt.... LOL I am really going to miss it here. This was the first place that I truly felt at home since I left West Virginia 20 years ago. Pray that I can find a "home feeling" in Georgia.

Cailey rode a pony but Colin said they were too stinky. LOL  And of course we had to get candy apples and cotton candy!





























Well, I guess everyone has heard about the Frankenstorm that's approaching. It couldn't have waited until AFTER we moved??? LOL But I can't complain... At least it will be out of the way for Halloween and Moving Day!!!!

We went out last night and stocked up on canned food and drinks. We have plenty of batteries and flash lights. We might could use some more candles, though..... I am charging all the electronics!! And I need to find our corded phone. The last time I saw it Colin was playing with it. LOL We lost power during Irene and from what I understand, this has the potential to be a lot worse.

We have cards and board games to play with the kids. I also have a Nook and about 1,000 paper books to read! LOL

OH!! I need to remember to fill the tubs, sinks and washer with water! We have a well so if the power goes, so does our ability to flush!!!!!!

Please, pray that we don't get flooded like we did last time. We lost A LOT of books and toys when Irene and then Lee came through. It worries me..... We were bailing out the sunroom while the storms were raging. NOT FUN!!!!!!







I went on my last drop off for the Concord Bags of Hope and Love.  We took 11 bags!!!! YIPPPPEEE!! There were only 3 left in the office. It was a little sad, though. My last time doing it here.... But I am looking ahead! It will be great to get another one started in Georgia! Spread the Hope and Love!!!!!



I am still slaving away on Cailey's costume... BUT.... I forgot to take pictures. I am SOOOOOOOOO sorry!!!!!! I will have to come up with another tutorial for you.... :( I need to get this costume DONE!!!! LOL I have just had sooooo much going on that it's taking me forever to get anything accomplished!!



My blog views have been VERRRRRY low the past week... Not sure what is going on. Is it because it has been a long time since my last tutorial??? Or is Wordpress acting up?? My numbers haven't been this bad since the first week of the blog! LOL

Stuff, Stuff and More....Stuff.....

WOW. I can sure pick a title... Oh, brother... LOL

So, what have I been up to?? Let me tell you all about it. ;)

I have Colin's dinosaur costume almost all the way done! YAY! All it needs are eyes, nostrils and teeth! LOL















I have most of the Snoopy costume done. I need to finish the head and make the hands and feet!





This is the back of Snoopy. ;)





THEN I will be working on Cailey's Tinkerbell. All kinds of ideas are floating around in my head about that one!

We have been sorting through the girls' clothes in anticipation of our move. SIGH... Still SOOOO much to do.  The toys need to be thinned out in a BAD BAD way. My books will be SLIGHTLY thinned out. Just a smidge, really. ;)

This football game is NOT going the way it ought to! Come on, Mountaineers!! You are #5!! You are playing an unranked team!! GOOD GRIEF!!! I wonder if it has to do with those ugly new helmets they are wearing... LOL

The killer toothache is back. BLECK!!!! My cousin and her cutie patootie little guy were supposed to come up and visit today. Because of my toothache I had to cancel. WAH!!!! We were going to go to the pumpkin patch. :*(

Yesterday I got to spend a couple of hours with my BFF. She lives about 4 hours away and we only get to see each other about twice a year. Unfortunately my tooth started up last night so I went home early. :(

Here is a pic of my 2 youngest with her 2 kids. :)





I guess when we move we won't be able to see each other twice a year. NOT HAPPY!!!! BUT hopefully when we get settled we can invite them down. FINGERS CROSSED!!!

We have put off homeschooling until we are moved and settled. There's just too much going on right now. We will just have to make the time up by going later into the summer. OHHH, maybe I can talk them into doing January through September as a school year!! I have really been considering that. It would just work so much better. There's always so much going on in October, November and December. It would be nice to use those months as our break. The summer is always so hot that no one wants to go out and do anything anyway! Well, except for the pool.....

OK, tooth is killing me. I think I will try to lie down and rest. Maybe if the pain eases up I can take a nap!