Sparing Society From Indecent Exposure

When I bag sale I often find little skirts that are femine and flirty. Sweet ruffly things. But when I hold them up I see how large the waist is and it hits me... these are in tended to be worn by tweens or teens. That means if the wearer considers bending over for any reason... "Indecent Exposure" will occur! Yes, I know legging are most likely worn underneath but still short is short and I never understood the "mini" skirt even when it was popular. So, because my original thought was to give these skirts to Rubes, I've taken to doing some quick alterations on them. It's suprisingly simple.
Change the waistband.
Really that's all. If there's a draw string pull it out, make a small slit to thread elastic through, sew your elastic ends together and that's that. Most times I find it's simply a matter of shortening the existing elastic or putting elastic in a pre-existing waistband. The end result is a more whirly twirly skirt that any little girl will love.

Here's an example of the most recent save... notice the lenght! It's slightly below Rube's knees. Geez, the tag had said medium and the waist fit me. Once again I've saved us all from a potential flashing. Whew.

More Wiener Dogs

The kids were invited to a little friend's Birthday party a few weeks ago. The birthday boy was turning two so I thought wiener dogs were in order. Teo agreed with me and decided this "mint" wiener was just right. Nice and soft made by recycling an Old Navy scarf. Arf. Arf.

Rubes wanted to know what she could give so I tried my hand at applique. From my stash I found this fun plaid and a new cotton shirt! (I buy solid color shirts from Walmart during their clearance sales for a buck and then pull them out when I remember.) I free-handed my wiener dog image larger from a sticker I had. Using fusible web, I "appliqued" the dog and word "woof" to the shirt. To secure the image some more the sewing machine, with black thread and a basic stitch, went to work.

Wild wiener running! Cracks me up every time! I'm glad I wrapped the dog around the side of the shirt... it's cute coming and going.

The birthday boy loved it as well. He wanted to wear it as soon as he saw it!

Sneaky Snakes

Today I'm home with my peanuts in our p.j.'s cause they've got "The Fever". Both kids at 101.8 degrees. Thankfully it's still dreary and wet outside. With all that in mind, I've decided to post about something more cheery. Welcome... Sneaky Snakes! I made one for my nephew's birthday and then decided to make some more.

Super quick project involving neckties, a wee bit o' sewing, poly-fil, and hand embroidery felt eyes.

To round things off I'm including one of my favorite songs as a child. I remember hearing it on the radio while driving to church. My Dad would give us kids a choice between the country station or polka. Country usually won. The whole family would sing and giggle about root beer.

Good stuff. Good times.

100 Posts!

Hard to believe I'm at my 100th post. I know that's part of my current lack of posting... wanting to do something "incredible" and thus putting it off. There's a trend of doing a giveaway when you hit 100. I've been struggling with what to do ever since I realized I was in the 90's. Silly really. Of all the things to "lose sleep" over this shouldn't be one of them. So, I'm doing the giveaway part on my blog's 2nd birthday, July 19th. Till then I'm going to resume more regular posting with all the backed-up projects I've finished. (There's everything from necktie snakes to hairbands and wiener dog applique!)

Today I'm going to share a little series I call, "Blanket Boy". Photos by Rubes with Teo as the subject. All taken without any help from me. I wasn't even in the room, though I'd have loved to have been a fly on the wall for these. Where Rubes comes up with this stuff I do not know.

Blanket Boy 1: The Blanket.

Blanket Boy 2: A boy wrapped in his blanket.

Blanket Boy 3: A boy somewhere under his stuffed animals on his blanket.
(This is the one that surprised me... Rubes carefully laid out this shot...genius ,right?)

And here's a picture of the little photographer taken by Blanket Boy. I love that these two can play so creatively together. The time to give them their own camera may be here.

And that concludes this 100th posting! Wow.

A Creative Disaster Area

Slightly embarrassing, yes, but it's the main reason why I've been absent. Usually I clean-up while creating. However, there was another terrific rummage sale, a Husband with a serious viral infection, more "job" work than usual, a bathroom remodel and summer weather. I crumbled under the pressure and this is what happened.

Holy crap! That's how I felt. Surrounded. Hard to find a space to work let alone be creative when there's so much clutter.

Heaps upon heaps of what could be brilliant projects. Oh, the hidden potential.

So, four bags given away, one for trash and then simply folding and putting stuff away. I can breathe and am re-energized.

I had to "make" this space to begin with, a corner in our basement that is shared with Rubes and Teo. Though it's not my dream space... it's what I have and I'm happy to work my magic here.

Places to paint, sew, scrap and stamp, room for beading and all the once hidden treasures now within our reach. Feels great!

Now to finish all those half done projects I uncovered. Sheesh. (The downside to cleaning the craft space!)