Room Redo and a Thrift Store Repurpose

We've had a wonderful summer around here.  After the craziness of VBX, it was nice to settle into the lazy days of summer.  Steven goes back to school next week and Megan, the week after.  We're trying to squeeze every ounce of freedom out of these last few days.  Here's a couple of projects from these last few weeks (more to come!)

I bought several old pans from the thrift store.  A few coats of spray paint and ta-da!

Cute new storage containers!  I am in love with attractive storage containers.

We are also working on a budget remodel of Megan's room.  She has been wanting to repaint it since she moved into that room, 4 years ago.  I finally relented during a mommy-daughter weekend while our boys were in Alaska.  We are still working on it, but here is her new collage wall.  It's very representative of her taste and I kind of love it!  It was also very inexpensive.  Most of the art was from free download sites.

I have a few more summer projects I'll be posting on soon.

School Days

Today is Steven’s last day of school.  We’ve been blessed because for the last 2 years Steven has had the same teacher.  And she’s not just any teacher, she is amazing!  She loves my child and she’s fun-loving and joy-filled.   A total rock-star.

So, what to give such a special teacher at the end of the school year?  How about some homemade goodness?

And a cute little tag sewn to look like notebook paper?

And a list of ingredients.

Mrs. Hughes is moving to 3^rd grade next year.  Which means we stand a good chance of getting her again in a year.  Which makes us all very, very happy.

Recipe from here.  (I only use almonds, omitting the walnuts and pecans.  We are only nut-likers here at our house, not nut-lovers.  But if you are a nut-lover, party on!)

Everything was beautiful at the ballet

Megan is in her 9th year of ballet and this year her ballet school started a Junior Company.  And of course they needed costumes!  So, I set to work with a team of moms on one of the biggest sewing projects of my career.  19 Coppelia costumes later...

 

And just in case you thought ballerinas were all serious and sophisticated...

There is also a lot of this going on backstage.

You made what???

A big part of my return to blogging is to chronicle my sewing projects.  See, I have made oodles of cute hand-sewn items to give as gifts, and then never took a picture..posted a picture..saved a picture etc...  Heck, I don't even remember half of the things I made.  So, hopefully, my return to blogging will provide a beautiful record of all of the things I've made.  I might also include tutorials and some helpful household hints.

My latest project was 12 beautiful ties (and a ring bearer bow-tie) for a wedding.  We adore the bride and the groom and so it was a pleasure to make something special for their big day.

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Today, we celebrated Megan's 13th birthday.  (Uh...hello??? How did I become a parent of a teenager?)  We invited her friends over for a "Breakfast at Tiffany's" inspired brunch.

I'm Back...

Happy, Happy

Megan's bestie is turning twelve and her choice for a celebration was an overnight with just Megan. So we felt inspired to do some special surprises for her which included a gumball birthday card, and some handsewn goodies.

The skirt was made from the lower half of a men's flannel shirt. I just cut it off, gathered it and attached it to some wide elastic. I then used the sleeve of the shirt to make the lining and accents on the clutch purse.

Christmas

This last December, we had visions of sugar plums dancing...across the stage! Megan got to perform in her first Nutcracker! Since the first day that my daughter put on her tiny, pink ballet slippers and scampered through the door of her dance class, we have dreamed of the Nutcracker. And finally, my...I mean HER...wish was fulfilled.

She danced in the Chinese dance, and did beautifully!
I did my part, and helped sew and alter costumes for the performance. It was a blast! Combining my love of ballet and the theater, with my passion for sewing and handmade arts, I am hooked! The house was a mess, no baking got done, but the piles of tutus and satin made for a memorable Christmas season.

To help me out, Daddy took charge of the some of the holiday traditions...like the Gingerbread House.A-hem...But I did manage to make some new stockings out of beautiful wool fabric I found at a quilt store.New Year's was spent sunning and funning on a cruise to Mexico. But that's a whole 'nother post...maybe...if I get to it.

Hope you had a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

Cousins

The first time I met Ken's sister, Tami, she was very pregnant with her 2nd child. A couple of years later, our pregnancies overlapped. Her last, my first. This was the result...