Back in the saddle...

I have been at my sewing machine again.

And, it feels real gooooooood.

I started small, by embellishing my deal of the summer...a lil' frock from the Gap for $7.

I had some Anna Maria Horner scraps from the scarves I made for a couple of Christmas gifts last year.

They were already perfectly cut, so I figured I'd whip up a patchy ruffle and sew it along the bottom.

I love it!

It gives my 6 foot frame a little extra length, and it's just pretty.

Oh, it makes me happy.

Next, I attempted a loftier endeavor.

I bought some fiesta-ish fabric from Hobby Lobby a couple of weeks ago for Betsy's 6th birthday ensemble.

For those of you that weren't aware, she has a special relationship with Dora.

It runs deep.  Real deep.

So, a fiesta it will be with small 'Dora' touches here and there.

I wasn't sure what I was going to make for her to wear, but then my momma found that lil' t-shirt for $1.

The smocking had a Mexican flavor, so I thought I'd applique some simple papel picado and, of course, a big ole #6.

I wanted to make patchwork ruffle pants, but lost patience and made a little skirt instead.

She thinks she is the cat's meow, twirling all over the house.

Next up, I want to improve my pattern reading abilities.

I would love to start working on something like this....

I think I'll have to wait until school starts up again.

I'm not sure why, but I just have this feeling it would be best.  ;)

Pillows & Formspring.

My sewing machine may burn up, I've been using it so much lately. 

I've been making some new toss pillows out of the pillows I already had, because of the yellow I've added to the scheme around here.

Bonus: I taught myself how to make an envelope backing on them, so, I can wash them.  That is tres important around here. 

I think they turned out great. 

Next up, is putting the finishing touches on Betsy's Father/Daughter Dance ensemble.  Three to five-year-olds and their daddies dancing the night away!!!!  Is that not the cutest thing you could possibly imagine?!?!?

Also, recently, I've joined Formspring.  I'm not sure how long I'll stay {I guess it depends how you all respond to it}, but I think it's an interesting concept.  If you would like to ask me a question, all you need to do is submit it in the box near the bottom of my sidebars.  That's it.  Every so often, I will post the answers to those questions right here.  I will do my best to answer them as honestly as I can.  I hope you will want to play along. 

And, until I need to do otherwise...anything goes.  Just remember this is a fairly conservative blog.  :)

Introductions...

Hello, everyone!

May I introduce Sheep & Mr.Chair?

They are the newest additions to the Grebe home.

Sheep was purchased with Rosie's very own Easter money.

I allowed it because what home with children doesn't need

ANOTHER stuffed animal?

Certainly not ours. That's for sure.

I love those little incubators of germs and disease. 

However, he has found such a nice home on Mr.Chair.

Rosie agrees.

And, obviously, she is in charge.

Secondly,

{I cannot put it off any longer}

I would like you to say 'howdy' to my secret project.

The one with the scrumptuous fabrics.

It is only half complete, but I am so proud.

Fish Scale skirt, say hello to your public!

This skirt has it all:

pretty fabrics, upcycling, movement, happiness, handmadeness, love, sweat,

 tears, messy edges, colors, sweat, tears, sweat, tears.

You name it...

it's got it.

I now know why certain clothing is so expensive.

The shear amount of time it takes to make certain garments is astounding.

But, since it's for me, and it keeps me from wasting my time in so many

other arenas, it's okay.

Don't you think Fish Scale skirt would look pretty sitting in Mr.Chair?

Maybe with Sheep in its lap?

Rest easy, my friends...

upon completion it's a promise.

If Rosie will allow it, of course.

Teasers.

First off, let me say that my super secret project is NOT for the faint of heart.

I knew it would be tedious, but yowza! 

Although, I should tell you that, so far, I am loving the results.

It also keeps me from wasting time away after the kids are in bed,

as I normally play Mahjong on the computer,

or watch trash, like, 'TMZ' or 'Keeping up with the Kardashians'.

I know... LOSER.

Hopefully, I will be able to share the breakdown with you all soon.

Secondly, is it just me, or does spring make your creative juices flow?

My brain is, seriously, working at, like, 92% power versus the mythical 10%.

{I totally make up all of my numbers, by the way.}

To begin with, the house is getting a $50 make-over.

Spring cleaning and some pops of the unexpected here and there.

 

If I didn't have about 4,793 other projects on my mind,

{baking, sewing, painting, thrifting, Easter celebrations}

I'd have a seat in one of those inticing chairs
(expect the bottom one is a kids' chair).

Oh, and the copious amounts of :

cooking, cleaning, laundry, homework, sports, yadda, yadda, yadda.

All that, AND I want to be outside with the kids as much as possible.

These days are beautiful.

Sunshine on our faces.

Grass between our toes.

It's that warm.

God has been smiling down on the Lou.

Thanks, Big Guy.

Finally,
Jillian over at Catch My Party asked to feature
 Rosie's party as a 'Party of the Day'.
{It's in the 'Party of the Day' slideshow on the homepage.}
A big thanks to her!
And, Ro's party was posted over at Birthday Girl, too!
Thanks Becca!

Baaaaaaaaa.

I love sheepskins.

But not sheepskin prices.

So, I went to the fabric store, and...

bought a hunk of white nubby fleece for $5.

{The furry version felt like poop, so, I passed.}

I folded the fleece in half with 'right' sides together

Next, I free-handed a sheepskin shape and cut it out.

Then, I straight stitched the wrong sides together

leaving fleecy goodness front & back.

Voila!

Fabric & Swordfish

I have a super, special, secret project in the works with those scrumptious beauties up there.

I canNOT wait to get them in the mail.

I love fabric so much, sometimes, I think I could just pile it all up on my bed,

and roll around in it naked.

If you think that's weird...

you won't want to meet my sister.

Why?

Because she tells everyone that she wants

 to rub the swordfish from McCormick & Schmicks all over her face.

It's that good.

What the hell did my parents do to us?

Maybe they deprived us of important sensory experiences

when we were little.

{Nah, that's too easy.}

Maybe it's because they lied to us for years,

and told us that liver was steak so we'd eat it.

Maybe it's because we'd get grounded from going out on the weekend

if we didn't make our beds every freaking morning.

No, I'm sure it's the fact that

my mom used to play 'hide and seek' with us

just so she could scare the poo out of us when we found her.

Who knows?

I do know this...

that game sometimes pretty much always ended in tears.

Except from my swordfish loving sister who got giddy with excitement

every time Mom would pop out from behind the shower curtain and growl.

Grrrrrrrrr.

She totally misused her 'mom power'.

Those memories are priceless.

Oh, and Mom & Pops...

I love you.

Yadda, Yadda.

Spray painting madness.

I've decided the frames that we're hanging

along the basement staircase needed

lightening up.

A fresh coat of glossy white paint oughta do it.

I have some other 'surprise' projects being painted, too.

This is a favorite spot of mine in our home.

It's a strip of happiness in the hallway

dedicated to the kids artwork.

It, too, needs an update.

Yummy new fabric.

 I'm liking this one from here.

Next, is the BIG clock.

I {heart} my BIG clock.

But, when I saw this...

from here (photo),

well, I knew what needed to be done.

More fabric, more spray paint.

Oh, and Tammy is my real life friend,

so you should show her some love.

Finally,

I've been dying to get my sew back on.

Selfishly,

I'll be starting with something for myself.

The project is this skirt...

from here (photo and tutorial).

Bonus:

it has pockets!

That's right!

Pockets.

Then,

some bed sheet curtains,

and lots of applique for the kids.

All are in my sewing future.

I'm going to try a new twist on the boys 'neck tie shirt'.

Just in time for their new Easter duds.

It'll be tough,

but they'll be even cuter than last year.

Oh, and how could I forget baking.

Toffee Crack...

from here (photo and recipe).

There will be lots of that in my life

in the weeks to come.

I don't think it's included in the P90X program,

but if you're not flexible in life

you're setting yourself up for failure.

Right?

P.S.

Check out my handy-work (the cake and cake balls) here.

a day in my life.

I've begun the weekly menus. 

(An item from my 'list'.)

And, in true Grebe fashion, our week will begin on Wednesday.

I mean, why not?

The more confusing, the better around here.

Do you like my menu plan?

I think it has a certain je ne sais quoi.

I am sure it makes NO sense to you,

but to me it couldn't be more clear.

Personally, my favortie part is the random machine stitch down the middle.

It does have someting to do with what else I did yesterday.

But, when I see it there it makes me laugh.

So random.

When I got back from the grocery store

(from purchasing items for the weekly menu),

I came home to a cleaned out and oraganized pantry.

Sure, it's full to the brim and cramped, but everything is in it's place.

That's what you call one awesome, fantabulous husband.

Such a typical gesture from him.

What a blessed gift he is.

I whipped up this super sweet birthday banner for Rosie in 30 minutes.

Seriously.

I think it's super cute.

Bonus: it cost approx. $2.50.

I am loving this Spongebob pink tutu party business.

Pink and yellow is a very underrated color combo.

It was my first time sewing paper.

Are you understanding the stitch down the menu plan, now?

Practice.

I will definitely tweek some things the next go round.

But, overall, I think it turned out fabo.

The girls and I, also, went to Target & Hobby Lobby in the morning.

Don't get me started on their sticky fingers.

I think there were 6,783 extra items in my cart at both places by the time we made it to the checkout.

For reals.

At one point, Betsy had 6 pairs of the exact same shorts in the cart.

Six.

How did I miss that?

Amusing?

Yes.

Do I love putting everything back?

No.

Ahhhh, a day in my life.

Aaaaaaand,
if you want to check out some of my writing from a not so happy day in my life...
go here.
I hope you find the positive in it,
and find it uplifting.
Because I felt soooo much better after having written it.

ruffles, ribbons, and sparkles. oh, my!

With a little silk french wired ribbon, you can make these.  Or many variations of them.  Like here.

 I whipped up some, real quick like.

 These are for clips for the girls.

These are for a shirt for moi.

I added some ruffles, too. 

There's a quick tutorial, here.

Pretty.

 I am not going to lie...

I am a ruffle tramp.

scarves & camping.

First off, thank you Anna Marie Horner for helping to make my scarf for the scarf-a-long, here and here, the purdiest it can be.  Your fabrics are scrumptious.  Even though you don't know me from a tree, it is your creative genius that will make my scarf the envy of all the other scarves in my closet.  I can't wait to get started!

Secondly, I wanted to share some photos of our camping trip in October.  It was fun for all, and the trees were gorgeous.  I didn't realize how much I've missed camping.  It is definitely back on our list of family favs, now that Rosie and Betsy are a bit older.

Redundant.

I am not sure if I am typing right now, holding a barf bucket, spraying Lysol, or dreaming (it's been that kind of day), but I have managed to squeeze in some projects that have needed some attention.  You have read about one here already, and if you follow on Facebook, you have seen the other.  Redundancy is my middle name.  Frankly, I probably just shouldn't even post today. 

But, a day without me posting is a day without sunshine for you. 

Wow!  That was completely and utterly ri-gosh-darn-diculous and NOT true! 

Did I just type that? 

Okay, before I start telling you about my infected toenail, I'm just going to get on with it. 

****
I posted this on Facebook, and got started on my version today...

chandelier on left: anthropologie.com         

chandelier on right:  DIY project from Danny Seo, dailydanny.com

Don't the birds in the packages creep you out.  Well, they creep ME out.  Lying there all realistic looking, but motionless, and wrapped up in cellophane.  Yikes!

I have also started on my version of this, for Rosie's halloween costume.  It is coming along...

Very pleased with the results, thus far.  I've made skirts before, but with this tutorial, even an ape withOUT opposable thumbs could sew one.

Oh, and one more thing...
apparantly, even chicken wire has gone politically correct. 

Because NOW, it's poultry netting.  I mean, heaven forbid, the other fowl in the barn yard get offended by being left out.  It's not even 'wire' anymore.  What's all this netting business about?  That's hard core wire if I ever saw any.

 Anywho, I better get back to it around here. 

I think I have, officially, lost my mind.