Last minute Halloween costume

At the beginning of October ago, Corinne told me she wanted to be a mummy for Halloween.  Of course, Nathan chose to be the same thing as his big sister.  I had planned to make a mummy costume following this tutorial.  We had many things going on in October with Stephanie’s wedding, a week long vacation planned, and a very busy work schedule for me this month.  I was planning on spending nights last week getting the mummy costume together.  It really didn’t seem HARD, just a bit time consuming, but also worth it for the great looking end product. 

Well, on the way back from Florida, 1 WEEK before Halloween, Nathan decided he wanted to be a pumpkin.  Corinne followed suit.  With 1 week to go, where was I going to find a pumpkin costume?  I was so thankful that my friend Sharon, who has 3 girls, had a pumpkin costume she could lend me for Corinne.  I went to Target looking for something for Nathan and I did not find anything.  I did not get a chance to look for one at any other stores – again a busy week at work that interrupted real life (1 more week of this thank goodness).  So, I began thinking how can I throw together a pumpkin costume for Nathan?  Hmmm, paint some cardboard and hang it on him somehow??? 

Then I remembered an orange shirt, donated to me from Stephanie, that was in the Goodwill pile BECAUSE, although it was a cute shirt, the color reminded me too much of a pumpkin.  Wouldn’t that be perfect?  I so wish I had a before picture…It is a lined knit shirt.  The outside knit had some flowers throughout the fabric, but it would not be very manly.  Luckily the shirt was lined with a solid orange.  I cut off the sleeves (which were sort of capped, again – too girly), made the shirt inside out, attached black shapes for the jack-o-lantern, and stuffed it with newspaper.  We zip-tied the sides to sort of plump up the pumpkin.  I think it came out really well!

I took a lot of pictures because I thought he looked so hilarious.  Even Corinne kept laughing at him.

   

All in all, I think it came out well.  He was happy to wear it, we had to put it on and off for the fittings, the trip in the car, a trip to the neighbors, etc., and each time he was ok to take it off and put it back on again.

I think we are going to keep it around…if I just put it down on the ground, it looks like a great Halloween decoration.  Maybe the head of a stuffed person next year for our front porch…lol.  The Great Pumpkin landing at our house.  Yes, Charlie Brown, he will be at OUR pumpkin patch next year! 

Getting caught up

Back from vacation, with the fall feeling in the air, I am having the urge to do some sewing!

I really, really want to get to some fun stuff for me and my family (curtains, clothing, gifts, etc.), but I know I need to get caught up for my quilting bee.

I left for vacation with a 5 block backup.  I was able to get two done yesterday in my small amount of free time.  I have 3 more of my backup.  The problem is, I am going to get 2 more next month!  I hope to get caught up this week so I am not behind as we enter November.   Maybe then, I can get into something more fun.

Jodi’s block.

Samantha’s block. 

Quilt Envy

Quilts, crafts, quilts.

Sigh.

I wish I had more free time.

My desire is there. Big time.

My free time - not so much. Especially since I am about 4 or 5 blocks behind on my quilting bee. I hope to start catching up on those one night this week, and one or two nights next week.

Free time with work, daughter who just started school, 2 year old boy, spending my time being a GOOD mom = little to no crafting time.

The desire was not there during the summer. But, the crisp air, the shorter daylight times, the thought that Christmas is only a few short months away all bring back my desire.

Remember that list at the beginning of the year? My goals. I have NOT COMPLETED ONE ITEM. I have patterns, I have fabric, I have desire. Time, maybe if I had not just wasted so much time on the internet figuring out how to support my daughter in learning sight words while she rests in her bed...again...too busy trying to be a good mom here.

Sewing machine? What's that?

I am feeling the urge to sew. I sewed last night. I hemmed pants. Boring, but functional and needed. I did the blind hem on two pants – by the time I got to the 4^th leg I was confident. I stitched it up, and the stitches were perfect! They were small, barely noticeable, etc. Then, I put on the pants. Oops, that last leg, the one I was SO CONFIDENT about…I sewed the hem backwards. Sigh. I put them aside and told myself I’ll come back to them later. It only took me 6 months to get to them in the first place!

Items I am making (or still want to)

I was finally able to start on Nathan’s curtains, and that feels good.  I am halfway through one roman shade.  I got to the point that I was comfortable getting to – cutting and sewing together the lining and the outside fabric.  Now, I really need to focus on adding the roman shade tape for the towels.  I am using some sort of tubing in a kit I got from Jo-Ann.  I have to make two since he has two windows, so I figured I make one from scratch, learn my mistakes, and make another from scratch all over again.  I am hoping that doing it that way, rather than assembly line style, will prevent mistakes. 

I’ve also got a birthday gift in the wraps for Corinne.  I have GOT to get started on that!  The party is in a few weeks, and it will be here before I know it.  I want to make her a mat cover to nap on at school.  I think I can get it done before the party, but at the expense of the Roman Shades, which is OK.  He still doesn’t mind the ladybugs that are there currently.

Summer Bounty From My Garden

Why can’t I get color like this every month of the year?

Thanks to my little helpers, who helped “cut” to flowers.

Catch up on Blocks

I got behind on my blocks.  I spent two weeks catching up in my limited free time.  I am so thankful I got caught up since I’ve got vacation, birthdays, weddings, first days of school, etc., coming up at the end of summer and fall.

A spider block.  I did one in the spring for the bee, and once I did one, this one was easy.

The Easy Virginia Star.  She wanted it to look nostalgic.  I did paper piecing for this thinking it would be easy.  I have paper pieced before and found it very quick.  However, this pattern I found challenging and time consuming, and I had to modify it when I made a mistake.  Can you tell?  

And, something to represent a circle for Stephanie.  I appliquéd it on.   I am still not very confident or patient with curved seams.   I love her fabric choices.

Good news is it’s my turn for PTQB!  I am so excited to see what sort of blocks come back.   It was a lot of work getting all the 19 fabric envelopes ready to go out, but it will be fun to see the returns.   I am thankful to all those other ladies out there who will be making blocks for me.