Project Runway.... NOT!

I've been exploring fabrics as I plan to re-do Abigail's room in a few months. (As a sidenote... I re-did her room with all new furniture, bedding, decor, etc. three years ago when we were preparing to use the crib and nursery furniture for Cooper. I tried to be clever and used a Hawaiian theme. Not every kid can say they were born in Hawaii, and I've always thought it would be fun to do all her birthdays as a luau, etc..., hence, the Hawaiian-themed room. In Charleston, her room even had a wainscoting of bamboo. We went all out. I always thought it was fun and adorable. When we moved to Austin, she asked to have a different decor in her room. She confessed that she didn't like the Hawaiian stuff. BUT... It's not for an obvious reason. No, this is all her father's fault. One of the fabrics in her bedding has monkeys on it. She said she doesn't like it because monkeys don't live in Hawaii.

Let that sink in a bit.

I got schooled by my Animal Planet educated daughter. I don't watch Animal Planet. I certainly don't DVR Pet Star and watch episode after episode while pretending to be judges of the silly pets. That would be her father who takes on that role. That's why it's his fault that we have a child who wants ecologically correct bedroom decor.

Okay... Back to the blog topic... I've been perusing fabric and came across these two prints at Hobby Lobby last week. The fabric was on sale, and both Abigail and I loved it, so we had to find something to do with it. Today, I found something to do with it.

If this were Project Runway, Michael Kors would butcher my sewing job. I'm not a seamstress by any stretch of the imagination. I picked up a basic Singer machine at a consignment store a year ago and have thrown a few minor projects together when I've had the time. I've yet to make anything from a pattern, and I think I'm desperately in need of classes to learn how to do it correctly. In the meantime, I have fun with the meager job I'm currently capable of doing.

This is just a simple $5 tee I picked up at Wal-Mart. The jeans are a few months old and too long, leaving the hems ragged and frayed from being walked on. I cut off the jeans and re-hemmed them, made some ruffles, with the guidance of my mother and mother-in-law over a few phone conversations and sewed them onto the jeans and tee. 

I worked with the fabric so much tonight that I like it even more than when we bought it. I'm thinking about using both prints in her room. 

Off topic, but too good to leave out...

Another note about my daughter who is too smart for her own good: On the way to church this morning, she was showing off her newly acquired whistling skills. She sings a song at school that requires whistling, and she's been trying for a while to figure out how to make the sound.  She finally got it yesterday, and seemingly hasn't stopped whistling since. (Yeah, my ears are ringing.) Daniel asked her how she learned to whistle. Her response: "Years and years of practice." Good grief, she's not even 5 years old!

Too Too Cute

A week ago I fell in love with tutus at the Austin Junior League Christmas Market. I even saw a little girl wearing one with a t-shirt, leggings and Converse, and she looked adorable. I've seen them on the Internet paired with tank tops or even a t-shirt and jeans. I knew Abigail would love to have at least one of them.  They were being sold in almost every booth at the market, but I certainly wasn't in love with the $75 and more price tags. My friend Sunni told me I could easily make them and inspired me to get busy. 

I threw this one together Sunday afternoon. I choose the gold and black because Abigail already had a Christmas t-shirt that would match it right now, but I also can't wait to pair it with leopard print leggings and a black tee after Christmas. 

I made this second one Sunday night while the kids watched a movie. I need to find a different tee for it, but she's got plenty of tights and leggings to pair with it. 

I can't wait for her to wear these out with jeans, leggings and printed tights. They've already been a lot of fun around the house.

All Busted Up -- Pinatas and Mommies

I have nothing of humor or importance to post after this busy weekend, but thought I could at least share some pics and details of the last few days. Friday night was spent sewing two pillowcase dresses for a birthday present to give to Abigail's friend, Skylar. I attempted to guide her in fabric choices, but she was in charge of the selections. I did put my foot down when she selected the Dora fabric, but her final picks were cute. She was eager to model the dresses, as you can tell from her posing, but they were much too big for her, as Skylar is 6.

I wasn't too sure about the butterfly fabric, but it turned out okay. The trim helped cuten it a bit, but it's certainly not my favorite. 

But, before the birthday she-bang, we had a t-ball game. Unfortunately, the Indians were not near as entertaining as last week's Pirates. The Indians never once tried to field the ball while running the bases, nor did they have any unwilling players being drug through the game by moms. Oh, well. The kids played well even if they did not bring the laughter.

Abigail played third base in the first inning and shortstop in the second. She still seems to think she's playing some type of football/t-ball combo game and makes a diving tackle if anyone gets to the ball before she does. The young man playing shortstop (in the above background with his father) cried every time someone other than him fielded a hit. Unfotunately, that was every hit of the game. (I attempted to cheer him up and help him, but his lack of English speaking and understanding caused a problem in that.) 

Abigail's hitting improved tremendously this game, and she's a a speed demon on the base paths. Here she is running towards me at third base.

Okay, so she's not a speed demon.  You can see the runner coming from first to second has already arrived, and she is just halfway between second and third base.  But, she made it. That's all that counts.

In the meantime, Cooper was safely strapped into his stroller and unhappily watched the game from the sidelines as Sissy and Mommy took on t-ball while Daddy fulfilled the American dream -- at work.

Once t-ball was completed, we raced to the next event which had been highly anticipated all week: Skylar's birthday party. I was pleased to see Abigail quickly toss the cleats and stirrup socks for pint corduroys and some girl chatting in the park.

Of course, the party was not complete without scooping up candy from the busted pinata...

And, now that the weekend is over, I'm certainly feeling what that pinata feels. From sewing to t-ball to party to church -- I'm thinking that next weekend I'll go to work and let Daddy manage the carpool.