Fabric poll

So I'd love some feedback on which fabric samples you like in the following pictures. I'm doing an order of 6 puffy quilts for a baby store and I get to pick the fabrics. I'm just playing around with different combinations. Let me know which ones you like and why and which ones you don't like. Love to hear your comments!

Just love these little owls. I'm tending to like green right now too.

There are 5 rows in this next picture, stacked on top of each other. I love #4 and #5.

Managing the summer chaos

With six kids, there is chaos. No way around it. There is also a mom who wants to stay sane and accomplish something each day. I want the kids to learn to get things done first and then they can play for most of the day. I want the kids to learn that we have to work together as a family to keep things running smoothly. So a few years ago we started "Summer Stations". The kids have to get their regular chores done first (dishes, laundry, bedrooms, garbage, sweeping etc.) and then we spend an hour and a half or so rotating through different stations. They change periodically but usually include piano practice, reading, writing, playing with a younger sibling, outside work (weeding or watering), and sometimes a 'mom's choice' chore. We are usually done with all the work and stations by 10:00 and then the kids get to be free for the rest of the day. It helps me feel like we accomplish something and get the stuff I want done (piano, reading etc.), helps dad in the yard, and helps them in their responsibilities.

I recently made a chart to keep it all straight. The pictures of the kids are all velcro-ed on and can be moved around so they can start on different stations each week. I included the 2 little kids but they don't usually do stations as one is napping and the other is being played with.


Along the bottom I have a pocket for the bigger kids to earn good behavior computer time. Every stick is worth 10 minutes and they have to earn 30 minutes before they can redeem their minutes. Sticks can be taken away for bad behavior and added for doing extra chores. This way I don't have to listen to kids whine to play on the computer all the time. If they have the minutes and their chores are done, they can redeem them. Everyone is happy.



This is our regular chore chart. I'm not thrilled with the nails but haven't changed it to be something cuter yet. We just move the sticks around each week to rotate the jobs.Linked Here:
http://www.skiptomylou.org/2011/06/06/made-by-you-monday-53/
http://www.homemakeronadime.com/
http://creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/

Early start on July 4th

I love the colors of July 4th and I have been particularly grateful to live in this country lately, so I have plans to make several more of these to hang around my kitchen area. I love stars and firework decorations and popsicles. Maybe even some sunshine and warmth would be good this summer (Wyoming has not reached 60 degrees yet this year). I think I'll add "Happy 4th of July" on another wall and maybe "Stars and Stripes" on another wall. My cricut will be busy!

Etsy treasury link

So we're still working on our etsy shop and an item of ours was recently featured in a treasury called Beautiful Works. I think our puffy quilts are beautiful works! You really have to see them in person to fall in love with them. People can't resist running their hand over them. My kids are all begging me to make them their own. Anyway, here is the treasury link. Check it out!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4de30d2e4ccd8eeffd70df79/beautiful-works-round-1?ref=pr_treasury

Library bag with card pocket

So today we went to the library to sign up for the summer reading program. My 4 year realized that he was the only kid who didn't have his own card. So we signed him up and he got his very own orange library card. He kept it in his pants pocket all the way home so he wouldn't lose it. At one point in the car he cried in panic, "I lost my card!" It's not a quiet cry either. But, we found it on his seat and he was good again. I thought that he could use a little pocket to keep his precious card in and hopefully not lose it. So I took my denim scraps from pants that I collect and fashioned a library bag with it's own card pocket on it just for him.


Quick tutorial:
1. Cut two equal pieces for front and back of bag- including a pocket from pants on one side. I had to piece a few different pieces to get it the size I wanted.
2. Cut two end pieces, the same height as the front and back and about 3 inches wide.
3. Cut a bottom piece, the same width as your side pieces and the same length as your front and back pieces.
(this is when you would personalize the front of the bag with a name if you are going to do so. I ironed my letters on with stitch witchery, then sewed them for durability.)
4. Sew pieces together in order: front to side, side to back, back to side, and side to front. It'll form a loop.
5. Turn inside out and sew the bottom piece on to all the pieces already forming a loop, pivoting the needle at the corners.
6. Turn inside out. Cut two strips about 3 inches wide and the same length as each other (about 12 inches).
7. Fold and press them in 1/2 inch on each long side and then fold them on top of each other to form the handles. Sew the long end together.
8. Position your handles on your bag the same width apart as each other on either side of the bag. Sew into place using a square or an X pattern.

Hopefully we can keep track of our books and our card the entire summer!

Leave a question if you want to try and make one but need help with the directions!

I posted on a few linky parties, listed on my side bar.

Holey jeans to cute shorts

Not just ordinary cut off jean shorts. I saw something in blog land a few weeks ago about adding a ruffle to the bottom of jean shorts. I have a couple of girls who I knew would love it, so I added it to my "I want to do" list in my head. The first day of summer vacation we cleaned out drawers and threw stuff away, put stuff in the laundry (who? my kids?), made a pile for donations, and a pile for mom to sew. I ended up with only two pairs of pants to add ruffles to. Here is how they turned out:


Here is an abbreviated tutorial:

1. Cut off pants above the holes in the knees.
2. Make two long strips of your fabric choice, about a yard long by 4 inches wide.
3. Sew the short ends together, forming a loop.
4. Fold the loop in half lengthwise so wrong sides are together.
5. Baste 3/8" inch on unfolded side of loop, leaving tails at the ends and not backstitching.
6. Pull up basting stitches so the long loop gathers itself.
7. Pin raw edges to the raw edges of the pant edge and pin so loop is same size as pant opening.
8. Sew.
9. Flip to the right side and press.
10. Top stitch close to the edge so you sew down the seam allowance on the inside.
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OR instead of gathering, you can make little folds in the long loop so it looks like little pleats, like I did on the darker pants in the pictures.

So don't throw away holey jeans if they still fit! Transform them.

I posted on a few linky parties. Check them out on my side bar.

Bed Sheets to curtains

All of the bedroom windows in our new house are now covered. It's taken over a year but now everyone can get dressed without the neighbors peeking! Not that we have neighbors... We still need to work on the bathroom windows.

My oldest daughter, 13, doesn't like to sleep with a flat sheet on her bed. No matter how much I prod and bug her, she won't do it. So I finally took her flat sheet, which matches the rest of her bedroom, cut it into two, cut off a strip at the bottom, made some tabs, sewed it all together- and now she has some tab top curtains that match the rest of her bedroom. I'll probably add a lining someday and maybe some sheers to spice it up a bit. If she ever decides to sleep with a flat sheet, we have solid color ones that match her room still.

It's hard to get a picture with light shining in a window- the light gets all weird on my camera.

I've loved the fun colors in her room. Now maybe a headboard... add it to the list!