It's finally done!

The moment you've all been waiting for. . .okay, probably an exaggeration, but it IS the moment I've been waiting for.  The little guy's pirate duvet cover is finished.  FINALLY!!!  Can I say something?  This was painful and I mean that in a very literal way.  I don't know what was up with me, but I kept stabbing myself with those little pins while pinning the top to the bottom.  Ridiculous!  But it's done and he loves it.

 This is the cool pirate fabric.  He picked it out and I think it's adorable.  It's fleece and super super soft.

 Here's the girl modeling the "before" comforter.  Sorry, McQueen, you're old news to us now, at least until your next movie.

It's a little blurry, but here's the after.  The back is 1/2 blue and 1/2 black.  The top is made with black fleece, so it's all soft by his face.  And I secured the bottom with cute little buttons (yellow, red, and blue).  It makes his room look totally different.  He loves it, I love it, we're all happy.

Now, I can move on to different (smaller) things.  I NEED to finish the girl's sundress.  I just need to hem it.  I hate hemming things.  I'm half tempted to just run out and by the cheat stuff.  But then I would feel guilty for not completely making it on my own.  Also tomorrow is "Kansas' Birthday" day at the boy's school.  He gets to dress up, but it has to be something related to Kansas.  We're going to fall back on our trusty cowboy getup.  I need to mend his chaps, because they took a bit of a beating last time he wore them.  Back in October, the school had a "Favorite Book Character" day.  This replaced Halloween festivities, but allowed the kids to dress up.  The boy decided he wanted to be a cowboy, but we didn't have any cowboy books.  I scoured the library for just the right one and then I made him little chaps to wear over his jeans.  He looked mighty handsome!  Don't you think. . .

In case you were wondering, no he wasn't a cowboy for Halloween.  We made him another costume. . .

If you can't see him, it's because he's a sniper. . .he standing next to that cute little bee :) 

To Do or Not To Do?

Do you have a "to do" list?  Want to know something strange?  I love "to do" lists!  I really like making them.  Who doesn't love a good "to do" list?!  But here's the catch, I rarely get them done.  I like to know all the things I need or want to do, but I just don't have the desire or energy or whatever to get them done.  Okay, now I don't want you to think that I don't do anything at all.  I DO do things.  We move often so we always have a list for that and it gets done!  It's just that I don't finish my other lists.  I usually get half of it done.  But but but, I'm determined to finish my crafty "to do" list.  I'm putting it here, so that I see it and it taunts me.  It'll be here, nagging me day after day. . .similar to my children (what?! did I say that?).  So here it is, my crafty "to do's" (in no particular order!):

1). Make up bags!  My mom really wants one, so I'm going to make a few.  This will probably stay at the top of my list because it's something that MUST get done (you know how moms are!).  I think I'm going to make her this one.

And then maybe this one.

 

2) Next on the list is a skirt.  Well, many skirts!  I have a little sundress in the making for the girl (and a few more waiting to be made).  I'm using this pattern.

I also want to make a circle skirt.  I love skirts that twirl. . .a throwback to my little girl days :)  I found this skirt!  How cute is this!  I'm moving down south soon (Georgia to be sort of exact!) and I thought the girl and I needed to look the part of southern belles. . .HA!

My mom also wants a skirt.  Let me just clarify something for you, I only sort of know how to sew!  Make up bags are one thing, but clothes?  I don't mind making something for myself, because I'm the only one who sees it and if it sucks, I just complain to myself and chuck it.  And if I make something for the girl, she loves me and all I do/make unconditionally. . .she'll wear it and love it.  She's only 2yo so she really can't complain yet.  But making clothes for someone else. . .making clothes for my mom?  I'll let you know how that one turns out :)

3) Aprons!  I love aprons.  I don't usually wear them when I cook, because I forget, but I love them just the same.  Go find the book A is for Apron.  It has the cutest little aprons in there.  You'll become a fan of them too.

4) I also have lots of flowers that I want to make.  I found two sites with a stash of flower tutorials (Tip Junkie and Little Birdie Secrets).  My house is surrounded by mounds of snow, maybe if I make some flowers the inside of my house will at least feel warm and spring like.

And I guess that's my list. . .for now.  Hopefully someone reads this, because I spent two hours procrastinating from housework to do this.  It would be a shame if I did all that just for myself.
But all this will happen only after I finish the boy's duvet cover.  This duvet has been haunting me for months, MONTHS!!!  I waited so long to make it that I forgot how I was going to make it.  So, I tweaked the design a little.  Suggestion: don't tweak a design after you've already purchased the fabric for the other pattern. . .in the end the measurements did not match up.  I'd like to say that the fabric store cut it incorrectly, but I know it isn't the truth.  The months and move that happened between then and now have made this duvet more difficult than it should have been.  However, there is light at the end of the tunnel.  I think I know how to fix it with the fabric I have already!  AWESOME!  Pictures to come. . .if it ever gets done!  Alright, now GO FORTH AND BE CRAFTY!
But first. . .

Go to Scrappy Yarn and get in on the giveaway.  She's giving away a SUPER CUTE head wrap.  You know you love a giveaway, so sign up to win.  Or buy one, that's what I might be doing!

Finally. . .

here are some pictures!  I finally got around to uploading pictures on to the computer so I can now put them on here.  First of, I apologize for the quality.  I'm using my iPhone for the pictures.  You want to know the truth, I'm too lazy to charge the battery in our regular camera.  And, I always have my phone with me so it's easier than trying to track down the camera to take a picture.
This first one is of the little girl in her new skirt and leggings.

I can't wait for the snow to melt and she can actually wear them.  Just my luck, by the time that rolls around, she'll be too big.
Now, on to the clutch purse I made.  I got the idea/tutorial from here!  It was so easy and I love it!  I didn't have a zipper on hand, so I had to improvise on the closure.  But in the end, I like the way it turned out.  Oh, and just as a side note, the fabric I used was left over from an unfortunate attempt at making baby bloomer/pants. . .but that is a completely different story. . .

I'm currently in the middle of three different projects.  A sundress for the girl, an apron for me, and a duvet cover for the boy's bed.  The first two are almost done, I just can get myself to finish them.  I think it's because the last one has been nagging me for months.  I've had the fabric since May, but haven't actually made the duvet cover yet.  I finally started it last night, so the plan is to finish it tonight.  I MUST finish it because if I don't, the boy is going to be MAD!  But if you're wondering what the apron will look like, here's the fabric:

Eventually it'll be warm again. . .

and the girl will be able to wear the t-shirt skirt and leggings I made for her tonight.  I got the idea from here.  I love putting leggings on her, but I hate having to pay so much to get them.  Now, for just a measly $2 from Target, I can turn a cute little pair of knee-high socks into an awesome pair of leggings.  These may be my new "go-to" for new baby gifts.  Watch out baby mamas!
And the skirt. . .well, it was made from two old shirts that I had.  I was about to chuck 'em and then I saw the tutorial.  I love it, it's adorable and as soon as I take a picture of them and upload it to my computer, I'll post it.  Be patient with me!
Next up. . .APRONS!

Welcome to the Circus!

I've jumped on the bandwagon. . .the blog bandwagon.  My hope is that I'll have lots of wonderful things to say on this, but that probably won't be the case.
I wanted to make this to track my progress into the world of craftiness.  I have a secret. . .I want to be a crazy good domestic diva.  I can sort of sew, I can sort of scrapbook, and I can sort of cook.  I say "sort of" because I'm alright at these things, but not as good as I want to be.  My husband always says my food is delicious and my artsy-fartsy things are great, but I know that sometimes, he's just being sweet.
I want to make wonderful things for my kids and for my home.  I scour the web for crafty ideas that I think I might be able to make.  But with two kids, that doesn't always come into fruition.  And that is where the circus comes in.
My house sometimes seems like a circus.  A crazy, wild, hectic, stressful, wonderful, exciting circus.  If you've been to my house, or at the very least seen my kids, you would totally understand.  So, welcome to my circus and get ready to be overloaded with craftiness. . .