Crafts: Halloween

This year I had a little help decorating for Halloween. I wanted to keep it simple and yet a little spooky for the kids this year. Since joining Pinterest, I have found so many great ideas to help me find just what I wanted to do.



Here are the list of Halloween finds, with tutorials that I used, from Pinterest.

Bird Silhouette for the pillow from BHG

Pumpkin Decor from Urban Comfort

Halloween Burlap Bunting from Dream Book Design

I just LOVE Pinterest! Its such a great source of putting all your creative finds in one simple easy to use place. If you haven't joined Pinterest already, what are you waiting for?

Cooking: Thank you Jessica Seinfeld!

I believe it was last year for Christmas, my sister gave me a book called "Deceptively Delicious" by Jessica Seinfeld. Let me tell you, my daughter is one picky eater. This book has helped me to help my daughter get her nutrients one way or another.

Here are a few of the things I have made from the book. Some were winners and some were not so lucky.



Brownies (with carrot and spinach)

Not surprised this was a winner. She loves anything chocolate. Ha! Just like her mama.



Macaroni and Cheese (with cauliflower)

This did not pass the test. Although I did enjoy it.



Chocolate Peanut Butter Dip (with carrot)

My daughter ate the entire apple and put the dip aside. But again, I liked it. Not so bad.



Pancakes (with sweet potato)

This is a winner. Her absolute favorite! She request this almost EVERY morning. Yeah! What a great way to start the day.



French Toast (with sweet potato and blueberries)

She didn't quite like this one but she did enjoy eating those blueberries!



We've been doing this for about a year and we are slowly, but surely, eating our vegetables one spoonful ate a time. :)

Sewing: Juliana's two very talented Grandma's!

A few months ago my sister spotted one of Juliana's shirt and said she loved it so much and insisted that I have my mother make one like it for Juliana, since she is such a great knitter.

Here is the original shirt.



Here is Grandma Christiansen's version.



The details.





My sister even bought some labels for my mother since she has been making all sorts of stuff for her grand kids. This piece will be staying in the family for sure.



I think she loves it Grandma!





Juliana is very lucky to have another VERY talented grandma! She loves to make quilts and is sooooo very good at it. This Quilt she made was a Valentine Day quilt.



Here is a full length shot.

Sorry, the only pic that came out was this upside down view.



Juliana enjoying the beautiful valentine's print and colors.




I think she likes this one!




Sorry Juliana but this Quilt was made for ..... MEEEEE!

Sewing: Nautical White Dress with frills

Hello summer! I love summer. Technically the California summers. Its where I grew up at. Summers here in Vegas is a little different. Its where I live now. Vegas summers is more like having to stay indoors to survive the deathly heat and hoping the 3 long months would go by quickly. But in California, the place to stay cool was near water. Whether it be the pool, lake, river or at the beach that's where I was at and wishing the summers never end.

A couple weeks ago I decided to make a Nautical theme dress to get in the spirit of summer. White and Navy blue are the colors that came to my mind when designing this dress.



I bought a bundle of white frills, when I last went to the garment district in LA and decided to use it for the skirt. I like it. And I think my daughter likes it too.



I added a polka dotted fabric in the back of the skirt to fashionably hold the elastic in place.



Unlike my daughter, I'd rather be near the water and she rather be near the horses. Hence the cowboy boots. She insisted on wearing this. She's my little cowgirl and not my little beach bum.



Wherever we might be this summer, let's stay fashionably cool!

Sewing: Summer dress

Two years ago I bought a pattern, Butterick B4718, from Joanns. I didn't realize until after I bought it that it was 3 sizes to BIG! Oops! I had started it but just never got around to finishing it. I just wasn't motivated to finishing it because it would be awhile before this dress would get some use. So I stored the half finished summer dress in my chest of fabrics.

Yesturday I pulled it out and noticed that all it needed to finish was putting on a zipper and hem the dress and it would be done. Maybe thats why I never got around to finishing it. Zippers scare me! I just don't like putting one on.



But I tackled it and voila!



A completed summer dress. I decided to give this one to my 5 year old niece in Wyoming. Hope she likes it!

Note: I couldn't send one to her without giving one to her little sister! This happen to be another one of those projects that never got finished. A white lace trim was all it needed to finish this Mary Engelbrit skirt. And by the way, this was scraps left over from the ME quilt I made for Juliana. Here is the front and back of the skirt. I have no idea which is which.

Sewing: You are my Sunshine...

We have been having beautiful weather here lately. With all this sun I decided to make a skirt that reflected the moment. I call it the "Sunshine Skirt"



I used McCall's pattern M5696. I then added an additional layer and sash around the waist. I also gave it some piping and added white binding to make it pop.

Sewing: Refashioned Nautical Shirt

My husband's shirt before...



and after....



Can't wait to see the look on his face when he gets home and see's his daughter with her "new" shirt.




I wonder if he'll notice something familiar?




Here she is giving her new shirt a hug.



We are ready for summer!

Note: I used the 90 Minute Shirt Tutorial from Made for inspiration for this shirt.

Crafts: Craft Hope Project 12

One of the most heart warming, charitable website I love to visit and participate in is Craft Hope. They help spread Hope across the world by donating Handmade items to give to those who are needy. They are currently working on Project 12 which involves making bracelets for the orphans girls in Russia. You can learn more about the project on their website here.

So I decided to participate and make some Fabric Bracelets using the flowers I made, remember those pretty little things?



I've also made a few Braided bracelets...



and a few Friendship bracelets as well. I've bought quite a few colorful threads so this will keep me busy until June 15th, which is the deadline to have these done and mailed.



I've also bought some beads and trinket's that my Activity Day girls will help make next week.



Hopefully this will put a smile on a child's face.



If you want to participate please visit Craft Hope: Project 12

The deadline for this project is Wednesday, June 15, 2011