Skirt to Dress...

On the 4th of July, I was given a skirt that was my size, but fit a little funny around my waist. So, since it was a long skirt and had no slit, a thought came to mind... make it a dress!

So yesterday I transformed it into a dress...

It still falls nicely below my knees, even when sitting :)
...and since it obviously become a strapless dress, I needed to find something to wear over it.

I found a long sleeve shirt in my closet that I hardly wore, looked at a few shirts refashioned into shrugs on Pinterest, and made one of my own. I think it will get a lot of use!

I cut the shirt up the middle, taking out the three buttons where there is now two snaps, and sewed a casing on each side. In the casing is a piece of material used to gather it up. Also, I never really liked the original length of the sleeves so I cut and hemmed them to just over the elbow in length.

Here's a look at it from the back...

And since it was a skirt, it was slightly sack like, so I did some gathering in the back with elastic thread so it looks a little more fitted. This gathered section falls right about at my 'low' waist...

I can't wait to wear my new outfit to one of our evening services at camp :)

Yesterday, I also made Chad and myself washcloth travel kits for camp...similar to the ones floating around on Pinterest.

His is the tan, mine is the burgundy.

However, while working on the stuff for camp, it leaves a pile of fabric just waiting...and really wanting... to become swim dresses for the girls; and I just haven't had time to touch the two piles of squares cut for quilts. They just sit patiently waiting on me!

And like time isn't fleeting enough, Amber has decided to want to start potty training...ugh! She's almost 20 months old, so I knew it was coming soon, but she is speeding things along by (sometimes) telling me she needs to go (or just went...). I haven't gotten into the intense training with her, so she is still doing diapers and pull-ups. Maybe after camp we'll get her some underwear and see what happens!

Hope you are having a great week!
Linking up with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

And David said to Solomon his son,

Be strong and of good courage, and do it: 

fear not, nor be dismayed: 

for the Lord God, even my God, 

will be with thee; 

he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, 

until thou has finished all the work 

for the service of the house of the Lord.

1 Chronicles 29:20 

When I read this yesterday, it was a good admonish to keep on doing the work God has called us to...and in that work God with be with us, guiding us, and comforting us. We do not need to worry or fear over what is going on...because we know that if we are doing the work of the Lord we will run into some contentions and hard situations. But God is always there for us! A verse earlier in the chapter, when Solomon was getting the charge to build the temple, he was told to "Take heed now....be strong, and do it."

We need to just do the will and work of God.

Eventually...

Time to sew...and post about it...does present itself!

On Saturday, I was able to finally feel like I got some sewing done. I made Liz a bath robe. I loosely followed a tutorial about making a robe from a bath/beach towel. I used a yard of fleece instead!

Liz had picked this fleece out at JoAnn's sometime last year...and I grab the yellow out of the remnants bin to match! The first time I tried photos, she didn't really cooperate... These are the second time around, and she had more fun with it!

 I put the ties into the side seams and after it was all made, it wouldn't stay on her shoulders because I got it a little to big, so I added a snap at the top to help it stay on.

Just the monkey material made the robe seem a little short, so I added on a bottom yellow trim... now the robe is to her ankles :) It is a little big for her, but this way she'll be in it a long time and its almost like wearing a blanket - which is what the material was suppose to be! It turned out to be very similar to a Snuggie.

Also on Saturday I was able to make myself a new circle...very twirly...skirt! I love the fullness! I used this tutorial...however, I again did my own thing :) I didn't have the large Elastic for the waist, so I made a casing and added a drawstring. I had hemming issues and so, ended up putting bias tape around the bottom...

And I LOVE how it turned out....and oh so comfy!!!!

I've been working on a project this week that I hope to have done for tomorrow's Finish it up Friday...so I need to go sew!

However, I did get slightly side tracked by this fun word art 'thing' just before writing this post. Miss Snoodles from Lily Pad Quilting shared the link on her post today...and I went to have some fun with it. I tried to make it quick fun while the little one was having her afternoon bottle. This is the cute flower I decided on for now...

tagxedo.com - go make your own :)

and eventually I may make a few more of these...I just haven't decided exactly what to do with them yet :)

Hope you are having a great week! If you are in need of some crafty inspiration, check out the linky parties listed on the right side bar!

When Jesus therefore 

had received the vinegar, he said,

It is finished:

and he bowed his head, 

and gave up the ghost.

John 19:30

This week that leads up to Resurrection Sunday (Easter) could be considered a bitter sweet one when we look at the event that happened to lead us to the celebration of Resurrection Sunday (Easter). 

Jesus was hailed and praised on Palm Sunday...

betrayed-accused-beaten-and-crucified on Wednesday... 

He was hung on a cross to die. 

He willingly sacrificed himself to pay the sin debt for us. 

He finished the need for sacrificing animals...

He was the ultimate Lamb...

then He spent 3 days in a tomb...

If you want to know more about why Christ died for us, please read the left side bar of my blog or feel free to write me...I'll be happy to talk to you about it!

Amanda

Matching Skirts...

They're finally made! These girly skirts were suppose to be one the girls' Christmas presents, but alas...they didn't make the 'cut'!

But, what was still mostly a pile of material yesterday...

and originally only meant for two skirts for the girls, became skirts for all three girls :)

I'm really excited to have these done. I was afraid it would be one of those projects that I would just keep pushing aside and never do. Now, the three girls, as Liz likes to call us...{especially if we are going some where, I'll get "...just us three girls?", when Chad isn't home} have matching skirts for church on Sunday.

Adding this great accomplishment to the great weekend linky parties on the right side bar...along with the wonderful Finish it up Friday party hosted by Amanda Jean from crazymomquilts...just love that party!

Also, don't forget to checkout my giveaway...it's not over till Monday :)

Another side note...for those that want to help me out :)
If you go to this link...it is to one of my LQS's Facebook page... and 'like' my photo of the three skirts, I could get a $25 gift certificate if I get the most 'likes' on my picture! Thanks...I'd love to go shopping there! [This is the quilt shop where I purchased my sewing machine...and get it serviced :)]

And Jesus said unto them,

Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you,

If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed,

ye shall say unto this mountain,

Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove;

and NOTHING shall be IMPOSSIBLE unto YOU.

Matthew 17:20

How much are we missing out on just because we don't have 'enough' faith?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Amanda



Day 25 - Working Wednesday...

Let's Celebrate! Today is the last day of The First 25 Days of 2012...so today is also my Birthday! It's my 32nd and it's been an interesting year... last year on my birthday I made my first comment on a blog (to the talented ladies at Sweetwater) to enter a giveaway. Less than two months later, March 17, 2011, I started blogging!

Before we get into more celebratory activities, I'm going to show you my WIP. Lee at freshly pieced is graciously hosting the weekly WIP Wednesday, so here's my new project...

Skirts for the girls (and me)...

I have the girls' cut out, just need to put them together...mine needs cut out still (it will take a little more work than the girls'. They're from flannel I got on sale on Black Friday...and were to be for Christmas. Oh well, better late than never :)

** UPDATE: I was able to get Amber's skirt sewn together today...very cute! Working on Liz's and mine tomorrow.

I also did a little...very little...work on Liz's quilt. Ok, so I didn't actually touch the quilt, but I was trying to make my template for the flower...

It's to go on each of the pieced postage stamp blocks. My first attempt to start cutting it out wasn't working, so I think I'm going to thicken the lines and reprint...try again. I really would like to have her Christmas quilt done by her birthday...in March :)

So, this weeks work progress...

New Projects: 1 [skirts]
Completed Projects: a bunch of little ones covered in other posts

Continuing Projects: 4 [Skirts, Liz's Sashed Postage Stamp Quilt, the Table Topper, and 'the lost' Quiet book]

I also hope to get back to the Quiet book for Liz, but we'll see, because the Curves Class starts a week from today...I can't wait!

Ok...so lets CELEBRATE some more! My first blog comment was to enter a giveaway...and I've entered quite a few more over the past year, and have yet to win one! However, I have not yet had my own giveaway...so without further ado, I'm hosting my FIRST giveaway!

Here is what you could win...



A New Wave mug rug/potholder, a matching Mini Clutch, and a collection of fabrics that range in size from fat 16th's to fat 8th's.

Now to the logistics of a giveaway...

Anyone may enter!

First chance to enter is to just leave a comment on this post or on my Facebook page (under the status regarding this giveaway).

You can have a second entry if you comment and let me know that you are a follower here on the blog or comment on the Facebook page that you 'liked' the page [new followers are welcomed :)]

The commenting will be open till sometime Monday morning.

Can't wait to hear from you!

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Luke 1:37

Amanda

Liz's Fat Quarter Skirt...

Yesterday found me making Liz her fat quarter skirt (because she was to tall for the pillowcase dress). It was finished in about 3 hours...however, that would have been less but everyone wanted to eat and Amber is still sometimes kind of slow at finishing her bottles.

This is my first try at showing the step by step process of a project. So let me know if there is anything I need to do to make it better!

I begin by washing my fabric...that's personal preference...some prefer not to.

This skirt uses 2 fat quarters (21" x 18") pieces of fabric, elastic for waist (I used 1/2 inch wide because it's what I had) and thread.

I ironed the fat quarters then placed them right sides together. Then I turned in both side seams in 3/8 inch, ironed, then turned them in again 1/2 inch, ironed, and sewed at 3/8 on my machines plate.

Then I ironed out the seams. Next I hemmed the bottom using the same measurements as the sides. 3/8 inch folded in, then 1/2 inch again, then sewed at 3/8 inch. I do the doubling to keep raw edging out of my skirts.

 The second half of the project is the waist. First, I turned down a 3/8 inch section, ironed, then based it down. (Makes the feeding of the elastic through the casing easier.)

After basing, I turned down a 3/4 inch hem to make the casing for the elastic. I sewed it at down at a 6/8 measurement on the plate on my machine, leaving a 3 inch section unsewen.

I measured the elastic to Liz's waist and added an extra inch - as per the instructions on the package (although I read those afterward - this was not my first use of elastic:)) I then fed my elastic through the casing then sized it to Liz, then sewed the elastic together.

I closed up the casing, then to help prevent the elastic rolling in the casing, I secured it in four places around the waist. One on each of the side seams, one in the front and one in the back.

Then it was ready for Liz to wear...which she did to school today.

Tomorrow I hope to do some quilting. I want to practice on a mug rug, which I have fabric picked out for it...

 But I also have more Star patterned quilt squares to make for gifts. The previous ones were put into a wall hanging for me...since they were the first ones I've made. So, now I need to make about 4 more for the gifts I want to make. Here's a (bad) picture of the wall hanging, which I still have to quilt then bind. All a new learning process for me, but I'm enjoying it!

I'll show a better picture when it is all done.

Lastly, like usual, I want to leave you with a Bible verse.

Therefore, my beloved brethern,

be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding

in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know

that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Amanda

The recital...

Everyone did very well. I did make a few mistakes, but nothing extremely noticeable. Also, even with being sick this week, I was able to finish my skirt for the recital, and a matching jewelery set.

The skirt is an ankle length A-line without any slits. I made it out of 2 yards of fabric, without a pattern. The trouble with not using patterns are usually in the waist, unless it is an elastic waist! But no one wants all their skirts to be elastic.

It had been a while since I had made some jewelery, almost forgot how much I like doing it...and then wearing it!

O come, let us sing unto the LORD:

 let us make a joyful noise

to the rock of our salvation.

Psalms 95:1

Have a great weekend -- attend church on Sunday :) !

Amanda