Arriving Late To The Party (UBP 2012)

I'm late to the party, sad to say.  This is my third year participating, and I'm sad that I am just now joining up this time around.  However, it's not my party, so I won't cry.  Moving along... my blog has mostly been reviews for the past year, but that's not what I started out doing, and not what I want my blog to focus on.  I'm taking advantage of this to get back to where I want to be!  Meanwhile, here are a few things about myself I thought I'd share with you: 

• I believe God.  I don't just believe in God.  I have read the promises in His Word, and have experienced the work of His Hand in my life.  Our family has gone through some hardships and trials in the past couple of years, but we have come through them all with God's help.  The end results may not have been what we wanted at the time (we did lose our house), but looking back now, it is obvious (at least to us), how God has used these situations to bring about His Will in our lives.  We are now on a path back into ministry in a church we love.  Not as lay people, as we thought last year, but as pastors - a position we walked away from 10 years ago.  God has moved in unbelievable ways in the life of our family to bring us full circle, back to where He had us and wanted us originally.  I'm eager to get going, but know that we must wait on His timing.
• I joined Weight Watchers this week.  I have gained weight due to being pregnant or nursing for the past 4 years, poor eating habits, and a very low thyroid (which was originally over-active), making it harder for my body to let go of the extra weight.  Imagine my dismay when I went online, plugged in my stats, and was told I am obese.  I knew that I am heavier than I should be and wanted to be, but I did not think I was that big.  I'm only a size 16.   Anyhow, I have been following the plan since Tuesday night, and I don't know what's going on, but I am totally craving fruits and veggies.  I also find that even though I know there are goodies in the house (cookies, cupcakes, chocolate), I am tempted by them a lot less when I know that I can have them if I choose to.  I feel better in just a couple of days, even if I haven't lost any weight (I'm not weighing myself at home, so I don't know).  As a bonus, I met a fellow homeschooler at the meeting!
• I just ate a red banana.  Speaking of fruit, I was on a produce buying spree last night, and saw some red bananas.  I like trying new foods, so I got some.  I have to say, I like the flavor, but the texture is a little different than a yellow banana, and I'm not sure I'm crazy about that.  I like firm bananas, and this one was not-so-much.
• I'm a homeschooler.  My kids are watching a science experiment DVD as I type this, playing with food coloring, milk, dish soap, eggs, matches, and jars.  Yes, I'm supervising them, and, at 12 and 11, I think they're ok with the matches.  As a homeschooler, I have a pretty good handle on what my kids are capable of.  We like doing hands-on activities and learning through real-life situations.  However, we are not "unschoolers".  My kids do book work, also.  I like to think that we are a good mix of the best of both worlds here - unschooling and more traditional book work.
• I'm a procrastinator, amongst other things.  That is one reason I am posting this on the last day of the Ultimate Blog Party.  I realized it was going on a few days ago, but it's taken me that long to get around to writing this up.  This is not a good trait, and I'm trying to work on it.   Other things I am:  a member of TOS Homeschool Crew, a brand new digi-scrapper (as well as veteran paper scrapper), a seamstress, and a gardener.  As well as a perfectionist and lazy.

Well, now you know a bit more about me.  I hope you'll look around some and visit me again!  If you've gotten this far and are interested in what you see, please make sure to "like" my Facebook page, follow me on Google Friend Connect or Linky Followers, and subscribe to me by email.  There are handy-dandy buttons for all these things up there to the right.  Thanks for visiting!!!

Birthday Giveaway: Fishsticks Designs

It's my birthday, and I feel like doing a giveaway!  This summer I ordered the Little Fishies Undies pattern from Fishsticks Designs.  The post office intervened, and when I contacted her, Bonnie gladly sent me a replacement.  When the original showed up only slightly mangled and still usable, I offered to send back the replacement, but Bonnie told me to go ahead and keep it.  

Today, I'm opening entries for one person to win their own paper copy of the Little Fishies pattern.  Here's how you can enter this giveaway:

• Follow this blog.
• "Like" the Believing God Facebook page (button on the far right).
• Follow me on Twitter at jens_busy.
• Tweet about this giveaway (one entry per day).
• Share this giveaway on your blog.
• Share this giveaway on Facebook.
• Subscribe to email updates (button on the right).
• Add my button to your blog (on the far right). 

One entry per item, except Tweeting, which is once daily.  Please leave a comment for each entry.  The giveaway closes at 11:59 pm (CST) on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011.  The winner will be drawn through random.org and announced on Thursday, the 22nd.

Sewing For Adults - and Fun!

Ok, so I did a list for babies, and I did a list for kids. Now I feel like I need a list for the rest of us!

• I put these headbands at Brown Paper Packages on the kids' list, but I also want to make some for me. I think they'd be great for housework and bad hair days!
• Amy Butler has quite a few free patterns on her website. They include several quilts (if you're into quilting...I haven't attempted that yet), a couple of scarves, a yoga bag, a portfolio, and a cloth necklace.
• There are a bunch of projects to choose from at You Can Make This. Pot holders, oven mitts, table runners, pillows, window coverings, holiday decor, a scarf, and even a mystery quilt!
• Homestead Revival has tutorials for a bread bag, a dinner napkin, and a reversible napkin.
• I originally bookmarked the "Poppy Top in 10" tutorial at Hungry Hippie, but I've just noticed that she has quite a few other tutorials. I really like the mug rugs! I may make mine a little smaller, though.
• I found a large (13"x12"x10") tote bag on All People Quilt. There seem to be a bunch more ideas for the home or gifts, too.
• Have a tunic-style shirt (or just a long t-shirt) that you'd like to add a pocket to? Made By Rae shows you how. Just scroll down the left side of her blog - I believe it's the last tutorial. She also has a couple of quilt tutorials and a purse that you might be interested in, too.
• Love pin cushions? You'll love the list of pin cushion tutorials at Craft Passion. Be sure to also click on the "Free Pattern," "Tutorial", and "Freebies" categories at the top of the page!
• Again, if you like to quilt, Pink Penguin has tutorials down the right side for things such as a wristlet, a lunch bag, placemats, and a tissue box cover. I'm sure you could also use the instructions with solid fabrics, too (rather than piecing them).
• I think the "Sailing on the Lake" blouse at Sewing Princess looks so comfy - and easy! There are also instructions for a couple of other tops and things called a "tailor's ham" and a "seam roll" - apparently these are used in ironing? I'm not sure I know what "ironing" is...
• Need maternity pants? There's a great tutorial at Grosgrain. I'd like to try these, but would probably make the knit panel rise higher.
• Prefer a maternity skirt? How about the one at Pink Picket Fence?
• The Prudent Homemaker has a lovely list of tutorials and free patterns that she's found online.
• Ok, the gal at Make It And Love It just has a great list of tutorials - some of them are for sewing from scratch, and some of them are for repurposing articles of clothing.
• Want reusable grocery bags without the cost? Want ones that are sturdier than those weird it's-not-quite-cloth ones that are often free or $1? Sew 4 Home has instructions to make your own.
• Check out mmmcrafts - there is a cute ruffled pillow sham, a messenger bag, and tutorials on how to repurpose trouser-style jeans into shorts, boot-cut jeans into skinny-leg jeans, and how to tailor the fit of a t-shirt.
• Are you a fan of glass or ceramic bowls? I am, and often find them second-hand, where they are either missing their lids, or "vintage" enough that they never had lids. I am definitely making myself some of the pot-luck bowl covers at The Cottage Home! I'm planning to try it out with PUL fabric, in hopes that it will keep food fresher in the fridge than just cotton. I'm in love with her other projects, too!
• If you are interested in trying your hand at making your own ... ahem ... unmentionables, there is a pattern you can download along with instructions at The L-T Experience (the elastic she uses is fold-over elastic - she doesn't give the name for it). There is also an option for boy-cut briefs.
• Want to make your own custom bias tape? I'd love to try this technique at Stop Staring and Start Sewing!
• Sarah at Welcome to the gOOd life is just too darn cute, and so very talented! She has all kinds of DIY posts on how to make store-bought clothes more modest, and how to knock off more expensive clothes (like Anthropology) for less.
• There are also Anthropology DIYs at Adventures In Dressmaking - you just have to wade through her other DIY posts about her wedding, though some of the things she's doing for it are really cute and creative!
  
• And, last up, there is a tutorial for a pieced shower curtain at Sweeter Than Cupcakes.

I know there are thousands more tutorials out there, and I'm sure some other time I'll do another post. But for now, this clears out my "sewing" category in my bookmarks. Plus, I've been working on this post for a few days, it's getting late, and I'm ready to be done. Kinda like pregnancy, but the labor was a cinch, in comparison!

Sewing For Kids - A List of FREE Tutorials

Last week I shared some tutorials and patterns for things to sew for babies. I've still got sewing on the brain, so I thought I'd do up a list for kids, from toddlers to tweens. Some are practical things, some are things you can help your child make for themselves or a friend. Some are just plain fun!

• I think Super Girl and I need some of the headbands at Brown Paper Packages. I know I have all the stuff for them, and they would make an easy afternoon project for us! She also has a cute Memory game you can make, as well as LOTS of tutorials for little girls dresses.
  
• At Infinite Freedom, you can find a free pattern for an American Girl doll dress, as well as a doll quilt designed for a girl to make herself.
• Ellie Inspired has shared an apron, a couple of dresses, a beret and sailor collar, and a necktie for little boys. I think her Sweet Apple Frock is adorable!
• Find instructions for a capelet, pettiskirts for girls and dolls, another headband, an American Girl doll skirt, and a child's chef's hat at You Can Make This.
• If you look down the left-hand side of Fishsticks Designs, you will see tutorials for a tank top, several bags of different shapes and sizes, a fabric garland, and a pillow case, as well as hints on sewing with knits (something I need to look into!).
• Made By Rae has a fleece hat tutorial, and she also just posted a cute wristlet pattern.
• Make a dress for your little gal out of a men's dress shirt with the instructions at Made. She also has tutorials for several skirts, pants, shorts, and shirts. I think her 90 minute shirt just kept me from buying a pattern!
• Does someone in your house believe in the Tooth Fairy? How about this adorable Tooth Fairy pillow? Mmmcrafts also has a cute monkey doll pattern that is free.
• You can find all kinds of little bags and pouches at Noodlehead, including a boys wallet and a gun sleeve (Wonder Boy would LOVE the gun sleeve!). There is also a bike bucket and cloth sandwich bags to be made!
• Do your kids love to make forts out of the dining table? Then you need the tutorial at Obsessively Stitching! After that, browse through her whole list of other tutorials, including fleece stuffed animals, dresses, a toddler robe out of dish towels!, storage cubes, several other tents of varying shapes and sizes, and a shopping cart seat belt - I need one of these!
• Maybe you know a little girl that just "needs" a petty skirt? There is a tutorial at Make It and Love It! Then check out the rest of her tutorials - under "Making & Altering Clothing", there are several projects for kids such as skirts, t-shirt dresses, flag shirts for the 4th of July, making jeans into shorts, and embellishing t-shirts for both boys and girls. Be sure to also check out her "Re-Purposing" category, to see ideas of how to re-use clothing that might be stained or torn, but still has a lot of life in the fabric. And, even though the category is called "Baby/Toddler", there are quite a few things for kids older than that, like I Spy bags, belts, art smocks, and doll diapers.
• One thing I've been wanting to make for Little Miss is some felt play food. There are instructions for a few different items at One Inch World - farfalle noodles, lettuce, tomato slices, lollipops, and ravioli - just look down the right side of the page. There are also a few other things of interest - little felt doll chairs, candy corn hair clips, and fillable soft eggs (I would love to have had some at Easter!).
• Pink Penguin has several tutorials down the right side of her blog: a wristlet, a lunch bag, placemats, a pencil case, and fabric bins. She likes to quilt and use patchwork - if that's not your thing, I don't see why you couldn't just use solid pieces of cloth of equivalent sizes.
• I like the t-shirt ruffle scarf and ruffle necklace waffle shirt at Ruffles And Stuff. There's even something to make for boys on such a girly site - a hat and scarf from a sweater.

I hope you've enjoyed this list, and found something you just have to make! I know my sewing wish list just got longer! If you have a favorite tutorial that you don't see on this list, feel free to leave it in a comment!

Sewing For Baby - A List of FREE Tutorials

Seeing as I have baby-on-the-brain, with this seemingly all-elbows kid rolling around inside me, I thought I'd make a list of some of the free sewing tutorials and patterns I've bookmarked. Maybe I will manage to actually make a few things in the near future!

• First up, there are tutorials for receiving blankets and burpers at You Can Make This!
• At Just Because I am Me, you can find instructions for a carseat canopy and chenille burp cloths.
• This cute Grow Up Together dress can be found at Bumblebee Grace.
• Need a quick and easy bib? Check out this one at While They Sleep.
• Cicada Daydream has a bib tutorial that is more appropriate for toddlers.
• How about a cute growth chart for a baby shower gift? Kristen @ Unraveled has one!
• Check out the instructions for an easy peasy swaddle sheet (and another burp cloth) at My Longest Year.
• Don't forget the changing pad! There is also a bath mitt pattern at Sew Take a Hike.
• I found a really cute hat at Whip Up. I think it would be even cuter if you tied the corners in knots!
• I can't forget this pattern for baby shoes! You can see my own attempt at them here. I will definitely be making some for this little guy!
• Heather Bailey also has a pattern for cute baby shoes.
• Made By Rae has several free baby tutorials down the left side: newborn pants, tights, a dress, a sun suit, and a bib.
• If there is a preemie in your life, or you like to donate items to the hospital, you might be interested in the preemie swaddler pattern from Ellie Inspired.
• Make It and Love It has WAAAAAY too many tutorials to list! From clothing to toys to recovering your high chair or car seat, you can find so much there to keep you busy!
• Here's a good post about sewing cloth diapers, along with some links to free patterns from Sew, Mama, Sew!
• Want to make cute diapers with patterned fabric - that don't leak? Try the quick and easy instructions at Uber Domestic.
  
• If you have some laminated cotton or iron-on vinyl in your stash, you might be interested in this toddler bib at Oilcloth Addict.
• One of my internet friends recently linked to this baby gown from Running With Scissors. I love gowns on newborns!
• Jan Andrea has all kinds of links to baby carrier patterns and tutorials, as well as other things that are useful when you have a baby (nursing bras, shirts, and pillows, diaper bags, and even a baby-wearing poncho!).
• Lastly, Fishsticks Designs has a tutorial for newborn bloomers. I think these could be made up for a boy or a girl, as they are not frilly, but are basically shorts.

Have I inspired you to make something for a little one? Let me know! Do you have a favorite baby sewing tutorial that you don't see here? Share it in a comment!


I know this was a lot of links - I like to link to the original blog as well as the post I'm directing you to. That way, if there is an error or a post gets moved, you will hopefully still be able to find it through the home page. Also, I like to give credit where bloggy credit is due!

Made By Me Monday & Pattern Review

Today I'm going to share the nightgown I made for Super Girl for Christmas, since I haven't done so yet! I intended to make pajamas for all three kids. I got 1 1/2 sets done. There is a partially finished fleece footie sleeper in my packed-up sewing stuff - thankfully it's neutral, so I can finish it for this new little guy!

I started with a flannel I found at Walmart. When I saw it, it SCREAMED Super Girl at me! She loves these colors, peace signs, and doodles/graffiti. I went ahead and bought some, stashing it away for this project.

Next, I looked at the pajama patterns I have, and chose McCall's Easy Endless Options #5744, which is now out-of-print. I decided on View C, a long-sleeved, knee length night gown. Once I had my fabric washed and started cutting, I realized I didn't have enough to do the entire gown from the flannel. [That's what I get for not choosing the pattern FIRST!] I dug a small piece of black jersey out of my stash, which I'd picked up at a thrift store, and made a layered-style sleeve. After I got it put together, I realized that Super Girl would feel like the neckline was a little too low, so I added a triangle of jersey to the neckline to give a little more coverage. It kind of adds to the layered look, too.

Please ignore my door knob, and the slightly crumpled flannel.

I found the description of "easy" to be true to this pattern. There were not many pieces to cut, and it went together quickly. The instructions were good, and it came out looking like the drawing (aside from my alteration of the sleeve). The hardest part was trying to edge the sleeve hems with bias tape, which didn't work, and I quickly removed. The original pattern did not call for this, I just thought it might be easier than hemming the sleeves. I was wrong! I will definitely keep this pattern in my stash and use it again, as the largest size still fits Super Girl, for now. Since the pattern I bought goes from size 7 to 14, I can use it several times for Little Miss in the future, if I want to.

Note: I am not affiliated with McCall's or Walmart in any way. I bought my fabric and my pattern - though I did get the pattern during one of JoAnn Fabrics' 99¢ sales! I am not affiliated with JoAnn Fabrics, either. ;)

Made-By-Me Monday & Book Review

For Christmas, I decided to make a hoodie for Wonder Boy. I chose a pattern from the book Sewing Clothes Kids Love: Sewing Patterns and Instructions for Boys' and Girls' Outfits, by Nancy Langdon and Sabine Pollehn.** The book: I bought this book because many of the projects looked like things that Super Girl would LOVE to wear, especially if she had helped make them. I loved that it had a wide range of sizes, from 18 months to 12 years, meaning I can use the patterns for years to come, and possibly even make matching items for the two girls. It also has several chapters with great advice on how to construct quality pieces of clothing which are also unique. My absolute favorite page is the one where you can write down ALL of your child's measurements. However, this is also where my disappointment set in. I eagerly measured all three children, and recorded those numbers. I then compared those numbers to the sizes of the patterns. I discovered that Super Girl is just too big for the largest size of these patterns. At almost 10, she is 5' and 108 pounds. I didn't think about it in the store, because she was in a size 12 in commercial clothing at the time. Little Miss is still a bit on the small side for these patterns, as she is a little peanut of a thing. I also discovered that the patterns don't include seam allowances. However, I look forward to making items for Little Miss in the future using these fun and easy patterns. I will just keep in mind that these patterns go up to a size 10, more realistically. Lastly, while the book includes boys in the title, there were only two patterns I'd actually use for a boy.



The hoodie: I wanted something warm, so I chose a remnant of camouflage fleece, as well as a remnant of coordinating green fleece. I picked the fleece up on mega-sale the day after Thanksgiving. I used the "Imse" pattern, which had options for feminine or masculine styling. I chose a straight sleeve and sides, and rounded hood. I embellished it with a couple of old military patches that my dad gave me. The pattern went together quickly and easily, and I was pleased with how it came out. However, I made a size "large", and it will possibly not fit Wonder Boy next winter. Keep in mind that he is still a rather slight boy right now. He is just now growing out of size 10 in commercial clothing. If he has an honest-to-goodness growth spurt, it will definitely be too small.

**Note: This post contains an affiliate link. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. I purchased this book with my own money (ok, I did use a 40% coupon).

Made-By-Me Monday

I submit to you today one of the two Roman shades I made for Super Girl's bedroom. I will not tell you what was hanging there before [***cough - black bed sheets - cough***]. We have lived in this house four years now, and I failed the one time I attempted to hang curtain rods in her room. My defense is that I did not have a good enough drill at that time. I plead the Fifth when asked about the time passed since then.

Since I am working on moving Little Miss into Super Girl's room, I needed to put something on the windows that would be safely out of reach of the crib. I began with the Roman shade tutorial at What's New?, and this VERY LARGE set of curtains (this is just one panel - it was as long as the twin bed!).


I bought them (and a matching valance set) at a church sale for $2, just for the yards and yards of crocheted cotton trim attached to them. My thoughts for the fabric was to use it as lining for clothing. I realized there was enough to use for these shades. I removed the ruffles, cut up the fabric, sewed the panels together, and added some panels of printed material. I also added sequined trim along the bottom, which I scored for 10 cents a yard. The end result was this, times two:


Super Girl is thrilled with them, and I think they turned out pretty well, too. I used some variegated purple thread to sew them, and I like the touch it adds. However, I think they still need something - like a valance. I still have enough of the printed fabric to make a valance for each side - I think I'll make a set. And, I still have the ruffles, both really long valances, and all that crocheted cotton trim to use for other projects!

If you have a project you'd like to share, post a link in the comments. Sorry - I haven't set the linky up yet!

Made-By-Me Monday

This week for Made-By-Me Monday, I present to you a pair of pants I made for Little Miss. I wanted some sky blue pants to go with a few of her shirts, but didn't want to pay for them. I rooted around and found a very stretchy maternity shirt I had worn while I was pregnant with her, but didn't actually care for the fit. The color was just what I was looking for!

So, armed with McCall's pattern #3665 and some elastic I salvaged from a fitted sheet, I hacked into the shirt. I came up with these pants, using view F.

Front:
Back:

After ripping out the waist band and making the elastic tighter, I'm pretty pleased with them! This was my first time making ruffles, and I think it would have been easier if I were not working with such a stretchy material - the machine kept flattening out the gathers. After ripping off the first row and pinning it a ton, it came out a lot better!

What about you? Did you find time to be creative this week? Leave a comment with your link to share with others (I'm still working out the Mr. Linky thing).

Made-By-Me Monday

Welcome to the first installment of "Made-By-Me" Monday, wherein I post pictures of things I have made in the previous week. This will serve two purposes: to allow me to brag about my crafting accomplishments, and to encourage you to post photos of your own! Because, if you are anything like me, while my dear daughter oohs and aahs over my endeavors, my husband and son are less enthusiastic in their appreciation, and I don't want to bore them with the details. So, let's begin, shall we?

First up, we have a pair of baby slippers. I used the FREE pattern at Stardust Shoes, along with a second-hand flannel receiving blanket and a remnant of fleece. I didn't get them made until Little Miss was already 6 months old, which meant that they were exactly the right length and they no longer fit her now. I have enlarged the pattern and am going to attempt a larger pair. And, you caught me - I didn't make these this week. But, I wanted to share them, anyhow!


Next is a tote bag. I tend to carry an all-in-one purse/diaper bag combo, but that leaves me in a bind on Sunday mornings when I leave Little Miss in the church nursery. I made this bag, and have a smaller matching zip-up bag cut out to use as a clutch which I can then pull out and carry with me while leaving the larger bag with the baby. I used two fabrics I bought on clearance at JoAnn (while they were on an additional 50% off sale), a bit of brown microsuede, and Simplicity pattern #2551, which I purchased for 99 cents on sale. I made view "A".


Here is a look at the inside. There are 4 pockets inside, 2 outside.


I'm fairly pleased with how the bag turned out, though I could have sewn the curves on the front and back panels better - I made the mistake of stretching them straight as I was sewing, so they don't lay quite right. But, it is functional, and it looks decent, by my own standards.

What have you made lately? If you have pictures of a recent crafting project, post a link in the comments (next week, I hope to have a Mr. Linky set up). Share your creative side!

Here For The Party!

Have you heard of the Ultimate Blog Party? I've checked it out in the past, but quickly got sidetracked, overwhelmed, what-have-you. Since I am trying to grow my readership and be more productive on my blog, I thought I would really give it a go this year! Woo hoo - a party without the mess!

For those of you checking in via the UBP, welcome! I am Jen. I am a 32 year old wife and mother of 3. There may or may not be more children in the future. I have been homeschooling my children for almost 4 years now. I am interested in all things to do with the home, the more natural the better. I am learning to sew, I like to garden and can, baking and cooking are fun, and I really don't mind cleaning, especially if I can use natural products. My baby usually wears home-made cloth diapers, and I am nursing for the first time. I try to be a good steward of what I have been blessed with by re-using things, and I love buying second-hand. I enjoy the thrill of couponing and walking out of the store having spent very little while getting a lot!

Most importantly, I believe God. I don't just believe IN Him. I believe the promises He's given us in His word, and I am striving to trust in Him more every day. Some days are easy. I love being home with my family. Others are harder. My husband has been unemployed since February 1st. However, I know that in all situations, my Savior loves me, has the best plan for me, and will provide all I need and more. I think patience is the hardest part of the equation!

So, thanks for stopping by, and please let me know you were here! I hope you'll come back soon!

Shopping at Home

Hand-me-downs. Most people have been blessed with hand-me-downs at some point in their life. With a husband who is unemployed, I am trying to be extremely frugal and resourceful. Here are a few examples:

Super Girl needed some new tennis shoes. She had outgrown her old ones over the winter, but she was wearing her snow boots 90% of the time, so it didn't matter. Once it warmed up, and the kids began playing outside again, she needed shoes. I thought we were going to have to wait a week to get them, and then I realized I just might have what she needed in my own closet! I had a pair of cute Converse sneakers which, try as I might, just didn't fit my wide feet well (sob!). I had SG try them on, and voila! She is now the proud owner of some very cute, green and pink, like-new (sniff, sniff!) Converse - which should last through the summer, as long as she doesn't out-grow them! Did I mention they were cute? Out-of-pocket cost: $0.

Wonder Boy has also suffered some recent growth spurts. He is suddenly lacking in the "long-enough pants" department. A funny fact about my children is that though WB is about 16 months older, he is a good 3" shorter than his sister. I have been able to pass a couple of unisex jeans UP to him that are too short on his sister. Since they've been inside all winter, the jeans are not really worn. Out-of-pocket cost: $0.

Lastly, Little Miss has not been spared in this growing epidemic (pardon my pun!). I have patterns which I picked up last summer during a sale at the fabric store. I have some t-shirts which are ill-fitting or stained. I am making her some new clothing out of this "found" material. Currently in the works: pants. Next up: a one-piece outfit. Out-of-pocket cost: $0.

So, let me challenge you to think outside the box when you have a need at home. If you can sew, you can possibly make what you need out of old items of clothing or linens you already have. Scrounge in your own and your childrens' closets for items that can be passed on to another member of the family. Check out Wardrobe Refashion for fun ways to make the old "new".

Review: Homestead Blessings

I recently became introduced to the West Ladies. Vicki West and her daughters Jasmine, Hannah, and Ce Ce are four gals from Tennessee with an instructional dvd series, Homestead Blessings. It seems that some friends of mine have been buying these dvds and passing them around.


The first one I watched was "The Art of Soap Making." It was very hard to not run out and buy all the supplies to make my own soap after watching this video! Topics covered were:

Basic soap recipe

Hand milled soaps

Soap balls

Incorporating herbs, scents, etc.

Finishing and packaging

Soap as gifts

I also borrowed "The Art of Dairy Delights" from my friend. Topics covered in this video were:

Ice cream

Butter

Milking

Mozzarella cheese

Yogurt

As a bonus, you can insert the dairy dvd into your computer and print or save PDF files of the recipes. Upon viewing this dvd, I understand now why cheese costs as much as it does - it takes a lot of milk to get a relatively small amount of cheese!

I like the laid-back, "homey" feel of these videos, and the way that Vicki says "It's a blessing" several times throughout! Little Miss liked the music - she bounced like crazy in her exersaucer every time she heard it! I have already ordered my own copy of their new sewing dvd, and am eagerly awaiting it. I also can't wait to borrow the bread, herbs, and candlemaking dvds from my friends! If you'd like to see clips of all the Homestead Blessings videos, check out Laura Williams' review.

If you'd like to win your own copies of the three newest videos (The Art of Cooking, The Art of Dairy Delights, and The Art of Sewing), then check out the review and giveaway at As For My House. Winner will be drawn March 28th, 2010.

You can also buy your own copy of the Homestead Blessings dvds from Homestead Blessings, Vision Forum, CBD, or Amazon.

Disclaimer: I have not received any compensation for this review. In fact, I do not even own any of these dvds, aside from the one I have on order (which I paid for myself). All opinions are my own.

A Handful of Blogs

I have waaaaaay too many blogs on my Google Reader. Especially since I haven't been using the thing for a while! However, I wanted to share a few that I really enjoy.

1. Pioneer Woman. Ree rocks! I want to be her when I grow up, just a little bit. Her posts are always entertaining, and often educational. She covers a variety of subjects - homeschooling, photography, cooking, life on a ranch in general.

2. Hip2Save. Collin is a young, enthusiastic mother of 3 and military wife. She really enjoys the thrill of saving, and always has something awesome to share! She has links to freebies, sales, coupons, etc., and posts weekly coupon/sales match-ups for CVS, Walgreens, and Rite-Aid. Thanks to her blog, I've gotten hundreds of dollars worth of products for free over the past year.

3. Money Saving Mom. Crystal's blog has some things in common with Hip2Save, but she also has posts showing how to cook from your pantry and from scratch. She is a Christian, and I enjoy that she seems to be more about helping her family save money and stretching their budget, rather than focusing on what she can get for free or little money. She is sort of a combination of Pioneer Woman and Hip2Save, with posts about freebies and such, but also about cooking and homeschooling preschoolers.

4. Wardrobe Refashion. This is a blog written by a group of people who have pledged to not buy any new clothing for a certain amount of time, but rather to remake (refashion) second-hand clothing and other pieces of fabric into new clothing for themselves. One member was making a silk wedding dress out of curtains she found at a thrift store! I find this blog very inspirational, and hope to take the pledge in the future.

5. Cake Wrecks. This is solely a guilty pleasure! Jen's readers submit photos of "professionally" decorated cakes-gone-wrong, to which she adds humorous captions. I have often laughed until I cried at some of these creations! Others just leave me wondering, "What on Earth were they thinking?!?!?" This blog is always good for a pick-me-up!

First Try at Sewing Diapers

First off, let me start by saying that I have chosen to do cloth diapers with this baby in order to save money, and also because I believe it is better for the baby and the environment. However, learning to sew has led me into a whole new hobby, which has me buying patterns (on sale or second hand), fabrics, and "notions". My scrapbook supplies are getting jealous.

Here is the first round of diapers I've sewn. I made a few of the pink ones and the orange ones - I got those fabrics at Walmart. The other fabrics I got at JoAnn. I made the most of the blue farm animal print and the white duck & frog print, 8 each, I believe. The outer fabrics are all flannel, except the orange, which is cotton knit. The yellow inner is fleece, and the blue inner is stretch terry. I loath sewing with french terry. These diapers have a hidden layer of PUL, but I know that they may end up wicking because of the way that I constructed them, so I have some newborn covers to use if need be.



They are definitely newborn-sized, as you can see from the comparison to a disposable newborn diaper.



The duck & frog is my favorite! I intend to buy more of it, to make other baby items. I have enough scraps to make a bib, some booties, and some cloth balls or blocks.



When I began making these diapers, I was convinced this baby would come early, like Super Girl did. At 7#, Super Girl wore newborn diapers for the first 6 weeks, since she was so scrawny that she swam in size 1. Now that this child has made it to her due date, I'm not sure I will be using these diapers at all! It's a good thing I have already started on the next size up!

New Obsession

Picking up a new hobby while pregnant is dangerous. My brain becomes much more obsessive (I've been dreaming about it), and there are suddenly tons of things I'd love to do "before the baby comes". My latest obsession is sewing. I have wanted to learn to sew for a while, but didn't actually start until a couple of months ago. It all began because I wanted to do cloth diapers with the baby. We can't afford disposables, plus I believe cloth is better for the baby and the environment. The major problem is that there can be a fairly large start-up cost with cloth diapers. My cloth-diapering friends some how convinced me, the sewing dummy, that I could make my own. I have been working on newborn diapers since the end of May. I'm finally finishing them up this week. More on this topic later.

Anyhow, I needed to feel like I was accomplishing something. I needed a completed project. While at JoAnn Fabrics, I came across a bolt of material that was already shirred on the top, and had a fair amount of length underneath that. Super Girl thought it was cute, and asked me to make a shirt for her out of it. Since it was on sale for $1.50 a yard, I thought, "Why not?" I spent at least an hour on Father's Day, "whipping up" this shirt. It took longer than I expected, considering all I had to do was sew it together down one side and make straps. It turned out really well, though - if I do say so myself.