Secret Project

For the past few weeks, I have had a secret project going on.  I was trying to make cheerleader outfits for build a bear sized stuffed animals that matched the varsity cheer uniforms.  This was slightly difficult as I have never sewn without a pattern before.  So first I had to try and copy the outfit that Kristen had for her bear and then tweak it to make it look like the Clinton High Varsity Uniforms.  After getting a dummy outfit made up, I borrowed Sarah's bear (without her knowledge to take a picture and send to the cheer coach.

After getting the okay from the coach I tweaked the pattern once again and then began to make 5 outfits.  One for each of the senior girls.This started to become a bit difficult to make them up when Sarah wasn't home, so she ended up knowing ahead of time.  I finally finished the outfits and sent them off with Kurt to the cheer coach.

You will notice that I added the CHS with my embroidery machine and that I also made pom poms to match the ones the girls use.  

Last night was senior night.  The girls were introduced along with their parents and then after that the juniors gave them their gifts.  I was hoping to watch them open their gifts, but they took their bags back to the old stage area (The cheerleaders practice area).  Shortly after all 5 came back out carrying their bears.  They were so excited to get them and thought that this was a really neat gift. 

I was really pleased to see that the girls like their bears and more important that Sarah has a neat bear to remember her senior year of year with.

Kristen's 4-H projects

For Kristen's 4-H project this year she decided to make a poncho and blanket. She loved getting started on some basic sewing. The only problem she had is that Sarah and I are both right handed and have right handed sewing shears, Kristen however is a lefty. She found it really hard to cut the fabric. Yes, I will be getting her a pair of sewing shears soon, just for her use. Now she can't wait for a football game so that she can stay nice and warm.

Simple project to organize those plastic bags

Used some of my free time today to make a simple project to organize all of those plastic bags that seem to multiply all over my house. Took a new hand towel, sewed bias tape on the inside about two inches from the top and bottom. Threaded elastic threw the bias tape and then sewed up the side. Finally took a piece of twill tape and attached the two ends to opposites of the top. Finally a nice looking place to put all of those bags and when I need one, they will be easy to find.

End of the year teacher gifts

Kristen has been begging to learn to sew and also to give her teacher a baby gift. Her teacher is expecting her first child in a few weeks. I figured that decorating a couple of cloth diapers and making some fancier spit rags would be a good introduction to sewing and a very useful present for her teacher. Kristen was thrilled to be able to use the sewing machine and make her very own present for her teacher. I still say that a homemade present is much better than a store bought one anyday.

Spit Rags

When Kristen was a baby, I received a very nice gift that had some decorated spit rags. The person had simply taken a cloth diaper and found some cute ribbon then sewed it down the edge. I loved this look and also the fact that when we went out, or for something nice, I could take a nicer looking spit rag. I saved those rags for outings, church, family holidays etc. Because I love those so, I decided to make a few for my new great niece Allison. I did two with the ribbon down the side, and then I did two with my embroidery machine. I will be meeting Allison later today, at the birthday party for Austin and Kristen. She is about 6 weeks old, so can't wait to see her. I am hoping that she enjoys these spit rags as much as Kristen enjoyed hers.

Kristen's Halloween costume

This year Kristen has decided to skip the usual princess costume to be a cheerleader just like her older sister. When Sarah was in Kindergarten, I made her a cheerleader costume for Halloween. While Kristen liked that costume, she decided that she really needed a new one that more closely resembles Sarah's uniform. We found a pattern with several different designs on it and I managed to talk her into one that didn't have quite as much bling to it as the other ones, which is good because we had a hard time finding any trim that would work. I had the skirt almost made, when I had Kristen try it on. At this point I realized that I would need to trim almost 3 inches off of the sides so that the skirt would stay up. Wouldn't I love to have no hips like that child, however 2 children and eating way to many Halloween treats have given me hips. The pattern came with a pattern for a spankie. I wasn't going to make the spankie for Kristen, but after seeing how short the skirt is, I decided to go ahead and make it. I will wait for tomorrow night to get it finished. It is Kristen's bedtime and I have a feeling that I will need to resize the spankie also.