Junior High Art class has surely changed since I was 13! It is so much cooler now. I am so glad that budget cuts have left this art [...]]]> The Bee is taking an Art class in school. They have done clay and wire sculptures and now have moved on to…

Junior High Art class has surely changed since I was 13! It is so much cooler now. I am so glad that budget cuts have left this art class alone. My girl loves it.

Her teacher went to Goodwill and purchased a lot of stuffed animals. The students got to cut them up and then reassemble new creatures of their very own, using hand sewing.

This one is my favorite.

I think they turned out pretty amazing. She did a great job with her sewing, and I love the choices in body parts.

They may look a little odd, but they are so very friendly.

Do your kids take Art in school?

I remember the 1980′s as one large awkward decade. Maybe because I was a teen through most of it. I was incredibly awkward. Picture braces AND a perm. Now you’ve got it.

Neon. Parachute pants. Rubber Bracelets. [...]]]> Over at Project Sewn, it is an all 80′s week.

I remember the 1980′s as one large awkward decade. Maybe because I was a teen through most of it. I was incredibly awkward. Picture braces AND a perm. Now you’ve got it.

Neon. Parachute pants. Rubber Bracelets. Oh my!

I looked to an 80′s film and Pinterest for some inspiration. Do you remember Who’s that Girl?

source

I will admit to having watched that film….maybe more than once.

Gotta love Madonna’s eyebrows.

Anyhow, here is my creation on me, today!

I did an off-the-shoulders top/dress out of soft knit fabric. Due to age and well, um gravity, I needed some straps to hold it all up.

I tried it a few ways. First with black leggings and a black sash (and ball chain necklace) complete with bowler hat, which I think I liked the best.

I also tried some periwinkle stockings and tied a teal sash around my waist.

Much more of an 80′s vibe. Not quite sure I can pull it off anymore. A little too much leg for my taste with those stockings.

This was a very fun top/dress to do.

If you could bring back a some kind of fashion trend from the 80′s, what would it be??

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I wanted to update our family portrait for a guest post I will be doing next [...]]]> ::Wordless{ish} Wednesday is where I post a picture(s) without words. Feel free to link up your own post without words in the comments so I can check out your image too!::

I wanted to update our family portrait for a guest post I will be doing next week. WOW it is hard to get everyone smiling at the camera at the same time.

Happy Wednesday!

Please stop [...]]]> I am so tickled that I was asked to be a part of The Lost Arts of Sewing series amongst such talented ladies. You know me and hand-sewing. I overcame yet another of my fears, and gave it a go. I only got pricked by the needle twice!

Please stop by A Jennuine Life today where I am sharing a tutorial for adding the Blanket Stitch to garments!

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Smocking is one of those things. Over at Project Run and Play, they are having a month [...]]]> I have decided to learn all that I want to learn about sewing. Anything I have been afraid to try, in the past, I am getting the nerve to try now. Why not? Right?

Smocking is one of those things. Over at Project Run and Play, they are having a month of guest posters {me included *insert squeal here*}. Marta from Do Guincho has a fabulous tutorial up there for a 3D pleated dress that I just had to give a whirl.

I did it without doing the math (my next big hurdle). My pleats are further apart than hers.

I like it anyway. I am finding that if I just take on these projects, they are much less scary than they are in my head.

The real test was having Falafel try it on.

She loves it! It was just the thing too. She has been so worried about singing in her upcoming school concert. Having a stinkin’ cute dress seems to help.

I made it shorter on purpose. She is singing “On the good ship Lollipop” and I thought that having a Shirley Temple sized dress would be fun. I actually think this might be conservative for Shirley Temple though. That child always had her underwear showing.

Contrary to her face in these photos {I swear she looks like I make her stand there like that}, she really was enjoying wearing this dress.

I encourage you all to take on a project that you have always been afraid of. Unless it is something like Lion Taming, cause that would be dangerous.

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This is a sweet story about an old lady who starts to name objects after losing all of her friends. She was sad to outlive them, and [...]]]> We have a book that is new to us on our shelves this week:

The Old Woman Who Named Things

by Cynthia Rylant

This is a sweet story about an old lady who starts to name objects after losing all of her friends. She was sad to outlive them, and thought if she just named things she had no chance of outliving {like her car and house and bed}, then she wouldn’t be sad.

Then she meets a dog.

A lovely read at any age.

What are you reading this week?

Holy crud balls I LOVE IT!

The sizing was not right for my husband though, so I made it [...]]]> A little while ago, Melissa at Melly Sews offered up this free Men’s Shirt pattern and tutorial. I just couldn’t resist giving it a try.

Holy crud balls I LOVE IT!

The sizing was not right for my husband though, so I made it for The Bee.

PERFECT!

I added a simple pocket to this one, though, because I went the “hipster fun bowling shirt” route.

It totally works for her. Even standing in the rain.

*side note: DO YOU SEE HOW HUGE THOSE RAINDROPS ARE??

Such a good sport. And a goof.

I didn’t add buttons yet. I am having trouble deciding which ones to do. I was even thinking of maybe using pearlized snaps.

She’s trying not to laugh in this one.

If you haven’t made a Men’s shirt before, you should use this pattern. She does a fantastic job of explaining, and there aren’t too many pieces!

I am slowly crossing off things on my “want to do” list.

And it feels good.

What have you made today?

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Her side was for processed lunch foods in schools. She had to argue why they should have them.

She went up against Organic healthy lunches in schools.

I am scared of darts.

I know how to “wing” most clothing, but when it comes to adding boob [...]]]> Project Sewn sew-a-long has kept me on my toes, and is really helping me sew more for myself. I usually don’t. To tell you the truth, *whispers*

I am scared of darts.

I know how to “wing” most clothing, but when it comes to adding boob darts, I just flail about. When you have larger boobs, this is a valuable skill. {Not the flailing. The dart making. Just to be clear.}

So when I saw that this week’s theme is to sew a woman’s sundress, I knew what had to be done.

* note: I decided to pose without my glasses in almost all of the photos. Consequently, I am squinting in almost all the photos. The rain didn’t help. Heh.

First I dyed some linen that I found thrifting, purple. I love this color! I dyed a few things with it, and when my husband came home from work he said “Oh! Everyone is wearing purple“. And we were. He’s lucky I restrained myself from grabbing a few of his shirts.

Anyhow…

I am more of a tunic wearin’ lady. Tunics and yoga pants. Oh yeah. All about the comfort. But since, technically I will be wearing this in the sun (when it comes back), I am calling it a Sundress. As Falafel was photographing me, it was actually raining. So it is a sundress in the rain.

Moving on.

The one design feature I really wanted this dress to have is pockets. As I mentioned here, I firmly believe every Mom could benefit from having pockets. Like a kangaroo, but prettier. Plus, I think we hold more stuff.

Simple. Comfortable. And it’s something that will get a lot of use this season. PLUS, I overcame my fear of those silly little darts.

What have you made today?

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Keep on the Sunny Side. Always on the Sunny Side. Keep on the Sunny Side of [...]]]> ::Wordless{ish} Wednesday is where I post a picture(s) without words. Feel free to link up your own post without words in the comments so I can check out your image too!::

Keep on the Sunny Side. Always on the Sunny Side. Keep on the Sunny Side of Life!

Happy Wednesday.