Coastal Living & Where Women Create

A wonderful surprise in my mailbox today.

My Where Women Create magazine and

my Coastal Living magazine!

Perfect for this rainy, cloudy, Oregon day.

Shorten a long Skirt Tutorial or Screw up a Skirt....

I'll admit, I don't plan ahead well.

I usually just get an idea and do it.

So I really should have taken a before picture of this skirt, but I did not.

I found this skirt at goodwill a few years ago.

Now I don't know about you, but when I see a

J. Crew tag at goodwill, I snatch it up.

Whether  it fits or not.

This skirt did fit, but it was literally touching the floor, and the waist band was up right below my belly button.

I don't like waist bands that high.

So I wanted to shorten the skirt and make it sit on my hips.

So this was the waist band.  I decided to use some Amy Butler fabric to make a new one.

Remember, I don't know what I'm doing.

So I cut a strip 32 in. long, why that long?  I measures the old waistband, but of course it was not enough fabric because I was going lower on my waist!

But I ironed down 1/4in. on the edges and turned the skirt inside out and put the right side of the waistband to the wrong side of the skirt, sewed and then folded it over so it looked like above.

Then top stitched at the edge.  That is the right side of the skirt your seeing above.

Confused?  me too.

Here is the, oops I didn't make the waistband strip long enough strip.  I used more Amy Butler fabric.

I love Amy Butler fabric!

So I tried the skirt on with the new waistband and it was way to big!  oh no!

I decided I had to make the whole skirt smaller.  So I cut up one side.

Here is my trying to look professional pin job.

And now I am sewing the new side seam.

Yikes!  I'm up at the waistband.  What do I do now?  I just left an opening to get into the skirt. 

I probably should have made that larger as it is a little tight getting into it. 

Then I just cut off the excess waistband and fabric there.

Then I folded the waistband ends over and sewed.

But now I was wondering well , I really wanted a drawstring through the waistband. 

What should I do?  Well I should have put button holes into the waistband before I sewed it to the skirt.

But that would have required me to think ahead.

And even if I did think ahead, the waistband was to large so I would

have ended up cutting them off anyway.

So, note to you, if you want a drawstring, put button holes in prior to sewing waistband onto skirt.

I just used my seam ripper and sliced little openings.

To which I then had to figure out how I was going to finish them off. 

I used embroidery thread and whipped stitched around the openings several times.

It is not perfect, but I like it.  I don't like things that look to perfect.

So I cut a strip of linen and sewed the edge and I took a large safety pin,

and brought it through.

And here it is!  I just love it, I wore it the other day.

It fits so much better now.

It is still long, but now it hits midway between my knee and ankle.

This skirt was hanging in my closet for years!  Now I can finally wear it.

I have so many projects like this I need to finish......

Have you done something like this?

Blog Party Lollibag

Okay so I made this flower Lollibag with the blog party in mind.

Some of you have seen it a couple days ago, but here it is again.

And I've never told you how I make the flowers so I'll do that too!

To make the flower, first I draw scallops on my fabric.

Then I cut the strips of fabric that have the scallops on them.

Then I cut each scallop (petals) but still keep it a strip.

Then I sew a gathering stitch on each strip.

I usually have 9 or more strips of fabric.

I pull up the gathers a little on each strip.

Then I take the front canvas panel for the outer bag and I arrange the petal strips.

I pin one on and then sew it and so on and so on.

Then I sew on a vintage button in the center of the flower.

And I finish up the Lollibag, which is to make the interior lining,

then finish putting together the outer bag.

Then I put the lining in and pin the strap in place and sew it all together!

And that is how I make a flower Lollibag!

Reading that seems confusing, but I have it down to a science :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Blog Party!

I'm going to a blog party tomorrow!!  Wanna come too?

It's at http://www.vintagebellastudio.blogspot.com/.

I get to show a Lollibag I have made.

Hope to see you there!

If you want to sign up, I think there is still time.

Vintage Betty Crocker Cake Mix!!

So I'm at Costco this morning.

I'm going down this really crowded isle, where there are...

ok be nice prudy...

not so bright people continually blocking the path, going slow,

oh sorry this is NOT a lesson post.

As I am trying to manuever my way down the isle my eye

catches on this vintage box!

I saw an opening behind slow family so I took it and cruised past Betty Crocker.

But something wouldn't let me leave the isle.

I had to go back!

It was calling to me.

So Sophie and I turned around and grabbed the box.

It said .... from the pages of the 1950's Betty Crocker cookbook.

I don't normally buy cake mixes, I make them from scratch.

Butttt.....

1. this was a vintage look box!

and

2. the ingredients were not chemical!

It says ... made with old-fashioned ingredients.

So I looked.

Yep, no partially hydrogenated oils!

No high fructose corn syrup!

and best of all for Sophie, no allergy warnings.

So I guess old fashioned means, no man made chemicals that are hazardous to your health.

Well thank you Betty Crocker!!

I've got the cake in the oven right now!

dear prudence,

Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have summoned you by name,

you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the Lord, your God,

the Holy One of Israel,

your Savior, I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.

Since you are precious and honored in my sight,

and because I love you.

Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.

I, even I, am the Lord,

and apart from me there is no savior.

I have revealed and saved and proclaimed-

I, and not some foreign god among you.

You are my witnesses, declares the Lord,

that I am God.

Yes, and from ancient days I am he.

No one can deliver out of my hand.

When I act, who can reverse it?

Love,

Heavenly Father

Gals,

I found this letter from my Father last night in Isaiah 43. 

Thought I would share it with you.

Prudy

Random Sunshine and Happiness :)

You can probably guess, it is raining here in Oregon.

On these cold, windy, rainy days I often look at my sunny photo's.

I can't help it, I need the sun!

And it puts a smile on my face to see the innocence of a 2 yr old,

playing on the beach, just enjoying.

Are you tired of my beach photo's?

I never get tired of looking at the ocean.  That beautiful aqua blue!

When I sit at this beach, in my heart I just praise God!

And thank Him for making places like this.

I think of places I have never been,

and I know there is so much more awe inspiring beauty I have yet to see.

I ask Jesus all the time, will I ever get to see these places while I live on earth?

I wonder...

why has God placed a love for this beauty in my heart?

Do my children appreciate it like I do? 

Or even appreciate that at their age they have seen such beauty in person?

I remember my mom telling me when I was young...

I didn't take my first plane ride till I was 35, so you girls are lucky you get to travel so young.

Anyone watch Lost?  Here is where they film some scenes.

I know that was random, but I love seeing places where things are filmed.

Wierd , I know.

I hope the sun is shining where you are!

Raising daughters

So I'm reading my favorite blog and she is talking about modesty,

and linking up to this blog.

Where she is talking about Mom's linking up for modesty.

This is great because with 2 almost grown sons and 3 daughters, I really need to watch how I dress as a mom.

My oldest daughter is at an age where we are having to tell her to go back and change.

Whether she's outgrown a pair a jeans and they are to tight, or she needs a sweater

over that tank top.

But I haven't done a good job of explaining why to her, just go change and change now!!

A while back I bought a book for her:

Before you meet Prince Charming by Sarah Mally

I am going to have all my girls read it. 

Another book I've been wanting to get is

Bringing up Girls by Dr. Dobson.

I have the Bringing up Boys by Dr. Dobson.

That was a real eye opener because I never had brothers.

I am going to follow the blog http://www.homeswheremyheartis.blogspot.com/, because I think this

is a good thing, this Mom's for Modesty.

And I think you should never stop learning.  Modesty has not even been on my radar!

I have so much going on and so many other issues. 

But it should be a top priority, so link up with me mom's!

cow whisperer

I love baby cows, they are so cute.

The girls name all the cows.

We have had so many I have lost track.

Hubby took me out in the ranger to get the cows into a field with more grass.

I think he is the cow whisperer.

It is funny how they follow him around.

The little red calf above, is the newest girl.

No name yet.

The little guy with the white triangle on his forhead, is RedBull.

He loves to play, he will up to the new babies and dance around trying to get them to play

so cute.

Hubby, the cow whisperer.

Our Christmas trees are all budding.  It is so pretty.

The new growth is a lighter green then the rest of the tree.

And it is so soft.

So after  we sent the cows to this field.  We went on a walk and we walked right by the tall grassy field.

Hubby called the cows.

I should say cow whisperer called out to the cows.

They all came running just like puppies. 

Only some of those puppies are HUGE.

It was really kinda cute.

New Lollibags

What a beautiful sunny day!

I just made 3 new lollibags, two look almost exactly alike, the top ruffle is just a little different.

And then I have one flower bag.

I am off to go list them on etsy now. 

Outdoor photos are waaaaay cuter than indoor photos :)