Viking Hat...

I recently spotted this hat featured in a recent Real Simple magazine. I wanted the hat but I didn't want to pay the $50 price. What to do, what to do? Make one of course! I dug up an old sweater that I haven't worn in years, used some scrap fur from the fabric bin and voila! Oh, and might I add that on Pike's first time sporting the hat, I had a couple of people ask where we got the hat and upon saying that I made it, they said, "you could get a good little side business going you know."

meet Pike's not so ugly doll:

Mr. Dude

Pear is excited to bring Pike his monster (which I created last night) to the hospital when he's born. Who said there weren't any fun things to make for boys? Oh, yeah. That was me about 6 months ago. I was mistaken. I'll post pictures of all of my creations soon!

Ruffles

Disney at Ruffles And Stuff is hosting a contest for all to make anything and everything ruffles! I had so much fun piecing together a couple of simple projects in my spare time and wanted to show them off!

Pear- sporting my version of the Market Skirt.

Jovie- wearing her Ruffled Knee Pad Pants.

Jovie- wearing her Ruffled Skirt with matching Ruffled Flower Headband. (No pattern for these, just kind of winged it!)

my hobby...

I've always loved sewing, doing crafts and baking. Basically, being a "homemaker" is my hobby. I thoroughly enjoy it. But lately I've REALLY been enjoying sewing. My mom learned to sew from her mom and I learned to sew from my mom. As a girl I remember making dolls, dresses, skirts, pillows, quilts and other crafty objects. They may not have always turned out but I always had fun. I've been eying this pattern for a simple rag doll for a long time and decided they would make perfect Valentine's Day gifts for my girls. So, I made them. I enlarged the pattern to 215% rather than the 150% they recommend and I think they turned out perfect! I also added little pigtails and bows for their hair, just to make them a little more girly. Also, I embroidered the face rather than paint it. I actually almost hesitated giving them to the girls as I kind of want one! If you're looking for a fun, easy project- there you go! The girls absolutely love these dolls. They have taken them everywhere today giving them piggy-back rides or dragging them by the little rag doll arm. I am so glad they love their babies.

recycled t-shirt dress

I have the sweetest friend, Disney, and not only does she create the most adorable items to furnish her home and dress herself and daughter with, she also has a blog, Ruffles & Stuff, where she posts tutorials, pictures, and inspires others to be creative, frugal, feminine and beautiful. I read her blog regularly and was inspired by her post on a simple dress she made for her daughter.

Mine is very different as I didn't have a Gerber onesie that wasn't completely stained, so I used a fuchsia thermal shirt that seemed to have shrunk, a pair of white sweats that were too short and a light pink stretch cotton tee that Stephen never wore. I also used an elephant applique that was on a 3-6 month tee of Jovie's that managed to get terrible banana stains around the neckline. I used the existing hem on the pink tee to make easy sleeves. I used the existing collar on the thermal to make for an easy body and left the skirt un-hemmed. I stitched it all together and voila! Within 2 hours Pear has her favorite, most comfortable, warm dress that cost me $0.00! Here are some pictures:

Starbucks inspired yarn ball wreath:

Last year, Starbucks decorated their coffee shops with wreaths made of yarn balls. I loved it! How hard could it be? Styrofoam balls wrapped with yarn, a few floral pins and hot glue to stick them together and some cardboard as a base. I've been working on it in my spare time the last couple of days and here's the finished product:

pillows

As most of you know, our house needs a lot of work. We are trying to bring a home from the 60's up to date and it is a slow work in progress. We have completed one room and I found it needed just a little something to brighten it up. I set out to make pillows for our furniture out there and I am quite pleased with the finished product. Here are some pictures of our completed living room, pillows and all!