Bet You Thought I Forgot!

Remember when I bought THIS? I'll bet you forgot. I almost did!

We're getting closer and closer to AE's fifth birthday, so I'm getting a few more details into place while I've got Nana here to help!

I found some leftover tulle from when I made THESE for the ballerina party last year, and I got to sewing!

Can't wait to show you how it turned out!

Closer

Last October, we met our future house looking like this:

Then we cleared her out:

We put in new flooring, then moved our stuff in.

I finally got around to having those chairs reupholstered, AND I bought fabric to make some simple panels for the windows.

I began to make the panels using these directions. That was in March.

Then we began our renovations, and I no longer had the floor room to work with the fabric on the floor. ARGGHHH!

Conclusion: in order to finish making them, I will have to vacuum so The Crazy Dog will not leave his "mark" all over them. He sheds. Like crazy.

Last week our friends Clay and Emily came to visit, so I decided to clean up a little.

In an effort to clear out the baby's room some, I got out my sewing machine, ironing board and yards of half-way done panels and set to work. I did it. I got it done.

But I didn't iron the final product.

The Daddy hung the curtain rod for me late one night, as soon as I finished them.

I even got the urge to hang a few ironstone pieces I've begun collecting.

I just used some ring clips I got from Lou Lou at a Swap 'n Shop to hang them.

I let them puddle just a little bit.

The bench used to be in the front hallway, but now our new king-size headboard is there until the renovations on our new master are done. I would love to use the bench at the foot of our bed, but it may be too short. In that case, it may end up back in the foyer.

I have dreamed about using two Louis ghost chairs at the heads of the table. What do you think?

If you are curious about how I did the panels, Janell @ Isabella and Max Rooms does a THOROUGH tutorial. I'll warn you. She knows what she's doing, she's a perfectionist and she has a million steps. I started out using her instructions, which were great especially when it came to lining up the pattern repeat so both panels would look the same.

When it came to finishing the panels, I got a little closer to The Nester's theory: IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO BE BEAUTIFUL!

Posted at The Nester's Table and Chairs Inspiration Link Up and Kelly's Korner.

Before and After- The Dining Room

The Real Estate Listing Picture:

Cleared Out:

Today:

The Goodwill Boutique

Y'all!

How do you know you live in a fancy-schmancy town?

You have one of these:

Yes, ma'am! An honest-to-goodness Goodwill BOUTIQUE!

I'd been wanting to visit this one for a while, and last Thursday HJ and I ventured over there. I've been on the lookout for an inexpensive gown for a new project.

Last September, AE went to a darling birthday party where each party guest got to try on a "mermaid costume". My friend made the costume out of an old sequined prom dress! Then she tied a shell to a string to make a necklace.

Look at that smile!

Since Baby C is due this September, AND AE's birthday is also in September, I'm going ahead and beginning the planning process. I'm totally copying my friend's idea and having a mermaid party. (We may invite some pirates, too!)

So this is what we found:

The colors are perfect, and the crocheted material looks like something from under the sea!

Doesn't it shimmer just like a mermaid's tail?

I'll keep you posted on this project, but I'll be honest, since I've got a few months until the party and a few other half-finished projects already, it may be a while until this one gets done!

I'm joining Rhoda today at her Thrifty Treasures party! Go on over and meet some of her thrifty friends.

How to Make Tutus for Your Ballerina

Welcome and please, make yourself at home!

First thing you've GOT to do is...

make tutus for your children, then proceed to allow the people who came to pack your belongings for your big move TO PACK THE SAID TUTUS and TAKE THE BOXES TO A STORAGE FACILITY.

Once that is out of the way, feel free to pick up some more supplies and do it all over again. Because....it is just that easy! It's totally NO SEW and can be done in a nap time!

Here's a supply list:

• Good scissors (my fabric-only scissors, of course, are in storage)
• Ruler or yardstick
• Satin-faced ribbon (60 inches per tutu)
• Tulle (the roll seen below is 65 yards; I was able to make 2 tutus with it)

The first time around, I bought 100 yards of tulle from Hobby Lobby. I found it in the wedding section for 50% off (which came out to $3). I used pink (the prettiest) and purple. See photos HERE.

This time around, I bought the 65 yards of tulle from Wal-Mart ($6).

First REAL step: Measure and cut ribbon to a 60-inch-long piece.

Next step: Measure and tie a knot at 20 inches from each end.

Now the most time consuming part: Cutting the tulle.

The first time around I used a different ruler that was about 14 inches long. It made the tutus a little longer and I liked how that worked out.

This time I used a regular ruler.

Measure out 12 inches.

Then fold the tulle back over the ruler to measure another 12 inches and cut.

You'll be left with a piece that is 24 inches long.

The tighter you hold the tulle while cutting, the straighter the cut. That's also why I recommend using your best scissors.

I like to cut the whole roll at once. OPTIONAL: Watch some trashy tv, like The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

There's a whole rolls' worth of tulle cut!

Next, fold the strip of tulle in half.

Place it under the ribbon you prepared earlier.

Take the two loose ends and pull them through the looped end.

Pull the loose ends until the tulle is tight around the ribbon.

Slide down to the knot and repeat.

Here's another:

Try and pull them through with the same tightness/tension?

Slide it down. Do another.

And keep doing it until the whole space between the knots is full. You can make it as fluffy as you want. I used about 50 strips for each tutu.

This size is good for a toddler size 2-4.

I made our younger daughter's with an 18-inch waist instead of 20. She's itty-bitty.

So now we have two purple ones in storage, two white ones here for Halloween and several friends with pretty pink tutus!

I'll post pictures of the girls in their tutus and leotards and tights on Halloween!

Remember them last year? Go back and reminisce!

I learned how to do this by watching THIS video. I think my directions and the tulle I used are easier. LESS CUTTING and measuring. It might help to see this video.

Uh, I Really DO Sew...

So the other day when I clicked on the category that said, "Sewing" I was surprised. I was sure I had showed you some things I've done around the house or for the girls! In the ONE post under sewing, there wasn't even a picture! I just TALKED about sewing. For one brief second.

Although come to think of it, you HAVE SEEN a few of my other projects. Like these dresses here. And these dresses here. And a close up of a dress here.

When asked if I can sew, I usually say, "I have done it before" because I am NO SEAMSTRESS. I have plenty of friends who have done so many cute things like curtain panels, pillows, duvet covers, dresses, john-johns, roman shades, and the list goes on...

So here is my latest project:

It's a table runner: the easiest project in sewing!

Notice how I've highlighted our GORGEOUS and LIGHTLY DISTRESSED kitchen table courtesy of the crazy dog. It's surely my fault for leaving the girls' uneaten dinners on the table in the afternoons and then proceeding to take them for a "sanity walk." Oh, you don't know about sanity walks? 

A sanity walk occurs when the girls aren't eating much of their dinners. We get up from the table. We get in the stroller with drinks and snacks that they'll actually eat. Then I push them around the neighborhood until I get my sanity back. 

So in the heat of insanity brought on by my little food strikers, I tend to leave the plates full of food in place on the kitchen table. Open invitation for the crazy dog to strike. 

So all those "distress" marks are courtesy of his front paws. I have considered placing the plates on the other end of the table to "even out" the damage. If there are "distress" marks ALL OVER THE TABLE v. JUST TWO SIDES, maybe it'll look intentional?

Soooooo, the table runner is reversible. I made it with leftover fabric from AE's big girl room in our old house. When we moved here, I started over with a more logical pink. Just about finished with her room. We can take a tour when it's done. I promise. 

Here's a tour of the nursery where HJ currently resides. Next month is the beginning of her big girl room transition. You know, since she's TWO now. I've got a couple of BIG projects planned for her room, so stay tuned. For the next two or three months!