Fly on the Wall - June 2015

Welcome to a Fly on the Wall group post. Today 18 bloggers are inviting you to catch a glimpse of what you’d see if you were a fly on the wall in our homes. Come on in and buzz around my house.

Buzz around, see what you think, then click on these links for a peek into some other homes:

 Baking In A Tornado

 Spatulas on Parade

 Follow me home 

 Menopausal Mother

 Stacy Sews and Schools

 Battered Hope

 Just A Little Nutty

 The Momisodes

 Someone Else’s Genius

 Disneyland in Kentucky

 Juicebox Confession

 Dinosaur Superhero Mommy

 Sanity Waiting to Happen

 Southern Belle Charm

 The Sadder But Wiser Girl

 Searching for Sanity

 Go Mama O

 Eileen’s Perpetually Busy 

 People Don't Eat Enough Fudge

Well, I'm pretty sure a fly would have been bored to tears at my house this month. :/ We haven't really been doing much of anything. 

We're done with school. We just finished testing this week. 

It's too hot to do anything outside or go anywhere. SIGH..

We were having a nice cool spring then out of nowhere the gates of hell open up and spew out this heat!!! BLECK!!!!!!!!! Make it go away!!!!!!! How long until fall????

Anyway, here are a few pictures of what we did manage to do.

The girls got new glasses. Deanna won't let me take a picture of her. :/ 

All I can say is, thank goodness for good vision insurance because my girls have expensive taste! Cailey picked some cute Kate Spade frames and Deanna picked Dolce and Gabbana!! YEESH!!! glasses. 

7-11 has new Slurpee straws! YAY! Last year it was mustaches, this year it's animal faces! 

We got some swimming in!! YAY!!! 

We have some friends that just moved down here. They are staying in the same hotel we stayed in last year. Love that pool! ;) 

We rescued an orphaned raccoon.

It was soooo cute and tiny!!!

We gave it to some friends that have done that sort of thing before. There's just no way that I would have to time. That little booger was eating non-stop! LOL 

I found a CHEAP rock painting kit at Barnes & Noble. The kids had a lot of fun with it. 

So, that's about it. Pretty boring around here. ;) 

Well, there's one more thing... Deanna has now gone on her first date (and 2nd and 3rd). SO MUCH hilarity ensued but I don't think she would appreciate me repeating much of it. Although Jacob talking about a machete was pretty funny... 

I WILL tell you one thing that Colin said. "What? Deanna's dating? No way. Nuh, uh... We have enough family members! We have way too many people in this house as it is!" I said, "Buddy, she's just going on a date. She's not getting married. He's not moving in." 

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!!!

Simple Summer Tank and Shorts Pajamas Tutorial

Hi, all!!! How's the weather where you are?? Here it has been HOT!!! BLECK! I am NOT ready for summer. SIGH... We won't be spending any time around a pool this year and let's face it, that's the only good thing about summer. 

Anyway, Cailey was complaining to me the other day that she didn't have enough summer PJs. Well, I knew exactly what to do about that! Time to make some!!!!

I got that cute print from The Fabric Fairy and it was on SALE!!!!! Can't beat that!!! 

It's such a light weight knit that I knew it would perfect for some summer PJs. I just needed to decide what KIND of PJs. 

Since the print is sorta busy, I decided to go with something simple. 

I am SO GLAD I did. I LOVE IT!!! I can see myself making more like that and for Colin, too!!! This is absolutely unisex! 


WHAT I USED

Light weight knit fabric (less than 2 yards)
3/4" elastic
Coordinating thread 
2 large safety pins

Let me start out by saying this: I had started out using matching thread. I thought I found this great deal on Etsy.... Yeah, you've heard if it sounds too good to be true it probably is???? Yeah... That's what happened... This thread was a NIGHTMARE. It kept breaking after every few stitches. GRRRR!!! So I had to go with a coordinating thread. Oh, well. The print is busy enough that you can't really tell anyway. LOL

Ok, here we go!

*NOTE* Make sure to always press your seams after you've sewn them!!! I always forget to say that! ;) 

*NOTE* When sewing knits, it's always good to use a stretch stitch. 

*NOTE* The only "special" thing you need to sew knits is a ball point needle. ;) 


STEP 1

Grab a shirt that fits your child well. Just make sure yours is cat fur free, unlike mine... YEESH!! It didn't look THAT bad in person. SIGH...
Use the shirt as a guideline to cut your pieces. 

When you cut the front piece, make sure the neckline dips in a bit more. ;)



STEP 2

Take a pair of shorts that fit your child well and use them as the guide for cutting your shorts legs. 
Make sure to leave about 1 1/2 inches extra at the top for the elastic casing! 

This is what they look like. 



STEP 3

Cut 3 strips that are 2" in width and at least as long as your arms holes and neckline. 





STEP 4

Now, with right sides together, pin and sew the shoulder seams.



STEP 5

With right sides still together, pin and sew the side seams. 



STEP 6

Now, fold the hem of the top about 1/2" and press.
I then turned my right side out and pinned. Then I top stitched the hem. In my opinion it just looks nicer that way. ;)



STEP 7 

Fold your fabric strips in half and press. 

Now, starting at the center back of your neckline, pin the strips with right sides together and raw edges touching. 


As you sew them together, pull gently. It will give the neckline a nicer look. 




STEP 8

Do the same thing with both arm holes. 
Start your pinning at the side seam. 
That is what it looks like when they are done. 



YOUR TOP IS DONE!!! YAY!!! Time to move on to the shorts! :D


STEP 9

With right sides together, pin the inseam.
You are just sewing from the bottom of the leg to the beginning of the curve of the crotch. 

Sew the seam. 
Repeat on the other leg. 



STEP 10

Take one of the legs and turn it right side out. 
Slide it down into the other leg. (Right sides will be touching.)
Make sure to match up the seams. 
Pin in the place and sew the curve. 



STEP 11

Time to make the elastic casing!
Turn your fabric down 1" and press. 
Sew close to the bottom edge. 
Make sure to leave an opening to insert your elastic.



STEP 12

Take 2 large safety pin and pin one to each end of the elastic.
Push the elastic through, holding on to the opposite end.
Pull both ends out of the opening and sew them together. 
Push it back inside the casing and sew the opening closed. 




STEP 13

Almost done! We just need to sew our hems!! 

With the shorts right side out, fold the bottoms in 1/2" and press.
Pin in place and sew the hem!
You CAN do this wrong side out, I just think the hems look neater when they are top stitched. ;)


ALLLLLLLL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now you have some cool and comfy summertime pajamas!! YAY!!!!

The great thing about this is that you can make them for anyone of any age. I think I might make myself some! ;)

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!!!!


HAVE FUN SEWING!!!!!

Sweet Summer Dress Tutorial

Oh, I had this dress idea in my head for a while. So glad I finally got it out of there and into the real world!! ;) 
This was so much fun to make!!! And like a friend of mine said, it's perfect for ALL ages! Little kids, big kids, tweens, teens and adults!! I think I need to make one for myself!!! 

There are a lot of steps to making this BUT don't let that scare you. It's still very easy to construct. 

You can make it longer and lose the leggings or make it shorter. It's all up to you! 

WHAT I USED 

1 1/2 yards of grey knit
1 1/2 yards of striped knit
3/4" elastic 


STEP 1

I took Cailey's measurements and drew out the patterns.
You want the back pieces to overlap so the pattern piece will be wider than the front piece. 

You want to cut 2 front bodice pieces on the fold.
You'll need to cut 4 back bodice pieces NOT on the fold. 


STEP 2

Fold the fabric for the bottom over, then over again. Fold until you have a nice point at the top. Basically it will be folded into fourths. 
Now, here comes the math. However wide you need the top of the circle to be, divide by 4. Use your measuring tape to measure that distance across the top, near the point. 
Cut.
From there, measure how long you want it to be down one side. Mark it. 
Measure again down the middle and mark.
Measure one more time down the other side and mark.
Now, connect those marks. That's your cutting line.

Cut the bottom of the dress. 

This is what you should have.


STEP 3

Now, take your 2 front bodice pieces and pin them with right sides together. (My right sides have glitter but most of the time it doesn't matter with a knit.)

Sew just the arm holes and the neckline. 
DO NOT sew the sides, bottom or the shoulders. 


STEP 4

Now, turn it right side out and press.

Top stitch around the arm holes and neckline. 


STEP 5

Time for the back bodice pieces!!
Take 2 and pin them with right sides together, 
Sew just where the pins are (the arm hole and the straight edge NOT the side, bottom or shoulder). 
Do the same to the other 2 back pieces. 


STEP 6

Turn the pieces right side out and press.
Now, top stitch along the straightish line and the arm hole. 


STEP 7

With right sides together, sew the shoulder seams and side seams. 
Still leave the bottom open.


STEP 8

Place the bodice piece over the skirt, with right sides together. 
Pin the bottom of the bodice to the top of the skirt. Make sure to overlap the back bodice pieces a bit.
Sew the seam with a stretch stitch. 

Press it out and here is what you have!!! 


STEP 9

Sewing a traditional hem in a circle skirt can be a pain in the butt. There's just SO MUCH fabric at the bottom!! So, with a knit you don't have to hem at all!! OR you can do what I did and sew a zigzag stitch all across the bottom. 
I pulled the fabric slightly as I stitched to give it a lettuce hem. 

ALL DONE (well, with that part)!!!!

Now, on to the leggings. 
This is pretty much how I make any simple pant, short, legging, without any extras at all. LOL 


STEP 1

Grab a pair of leggings to use as a guide. 
Cut 2 legs, on the fold. 
Make sure to add at least 1 1/2" to the top and at least 1/2" at the bottom. (The first is for the elastic casing, the second is for the hem.)


STEP 2

Now you're going to sew the inseam.
Sew a stretch stitch right between where the 2 arrows are. 
Do both legs. Press your seams.


STEP 3

Now, turn one leg right side out and slide it down into the other leg.
Sew that U shaped seam! :)


STEP 4

With the pants still inside out, fold over the top by 1 1/2".
Sew the elastic casing, making sure to leave an opening to insert the elastic through. 


STEP 5

Put a large safety pin on both ends of the elastic. This makes it easier to insert and you won't lose the other end. ;)
Insert the elastic. 
Sew the ends of the elastic together.
Sew the opening in the casing closed. 


STEP 6

Now for the hem. 
Again, this is knitwear, no hem needed BUT it does give it a more professional look. 
With the pants right side out, turn the bottom of each leg in by 1/2" and press. 
Then top stitch the hem with a stretch stitch. :D


ALL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Put it on and twirl away!!! ;)

Hope this was easy to follow. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!!! 


HAVE FUN SEWING!!!!!!!!!!!

Secret Subject Swap - May 2015

Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This week, 16 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

 Baking In A Tornado

 The Bergham’s Life Chronicles

 Spatulas on Parade

 Dinosaur Superhero Mommy

 The Momisodes

 Stacy Sews and Schools

 Sparkly Poetic Weirdo

 Disneyland in Kentucky

 Southern Belle Charm

 The Lieber Family

 Someone Else’s Genius

 Confessions of a part-time working mom

 Climaxed

 Battered Hope

 Small Talk Mama

 Searching for Sanity


My subject is “Summer is rapidly approaching, and many vacation, but not everyone can. What would a "stay-cation" look like for you and your family?  ”. It was submitted by Disneyland in Kentucky . Here goes: 

Vacation?? Vacation?? What's that?? It sounds familiar... 

We are not vacationers, unfortunately. I LOVE to travel but The Hubby hates to be away from home or work more than a day or two. SIGH.... So,  I guess you could say that we are seasoned staycationers.

What we do during our staycations depends on where we are living at the time. So far, I would have to say that Knoxville is my favorite city for staycationing. There's just SO MUCH to do that you really don't need to travel anywhere else! Well, we went to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg a few times, but really, that's the same area so it doesn't count as an actual vacation. 

Here are the posts I wrote about those staycations.

Our 4th in Pigeon Forge

Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg Mini Vacation 

Last year we were in the process of moving (again) so we spent a month by the pool of the hotel we were staying in.

Fly in the Wall - June 2014 

This year we will probably be hitting the art museum A LOT!! It's free and nice and cool inside. 

We like to take advantage of all the local stuff any time we can and when you live a decent sized city, there's usually plenty of stuff to do. We'll hit some museums, maybe the zoo, lots of different parks, botanical garden, that kind of stuff. We may even get to visit the local theme park for a day. I am also considering a membership to the local pool. 

So, really, it's not much different than what we do throughout the year as homeschoolers. We try to get out and about as much as we can.

I guess this year we might take it bit easier. We'll have to watch and see how Colin does with his asthma and the heat. 

OH! I remember what vacation means now!! Deanna, Cailey and Colin and I took a mini vacation to Hilton Head a couple of years ago for our family reunion. SO MUCH FUN!!!

Hilton Head 2013 

I wish we could go back this year!!!!

Don't forget to check out all the amazing bloggers that are participating this month!! :D