- 12:59 PM
- 0 Comments
Okay, as an athlete myself, I LOVE the Olympics. Here are some of my favorite USA athletes:
Anyway, have a great week and hope you get to watch these athletes for at least a few minutes during your busy lives!
Missy Franklin
I don't know why but I really like her! It may be because of her appearance in a music video of Call Me Maybe.
Jordyn Wieber
As a former gymnast myself, I love watching gymnastics but I especially love Jordyn since she's from Michigan too! And a town less than an hour away from me. Super exciting! I literally cried when she didn't make it to the finals.
The Men's Gymnastics Team
I really just can't pick a favorite here. They're just all too beautiful. and ripped.
Abby Johnston and Kelci Bryant
They're synchronized divers and you really need to give them a lot of credit! They do stuff I could NEVER do!
And last but DEFINITELY not least...
Ryan Lochte!
I think the picture says it all. He's so driven and inspirational, too. But with those looks, I'm sure a lot of people would love him either way.
Anyway, have a great week and hope you get to watch these athletes for at least a few minutes during your busy lives!
- 3:18 PM
- 0 Comments
Okay... will someone please tell me that there is an easier way to get some instagram pictures on here rather than emailing them to myself off of my phone, saving them on my computer, and then uploading them on here? UGH. It's a pain. Anyway,
I'd like to share my week (maybe 2?) in instagrams. Practically all of my pictures are of my dogs. It's a bit sad. I rarely get out of the house now because of summer... I can't wait until I have my license!
Oh gosh just go ahead and enjoy the cute ness!
She still loves her naps! We have to take her for walks every day just to calm her down. This was after a 2 mile one. She can actually do up to 4 miles... I let my mom take her on those ones.
Here's a bit of an oldie. My dad mentioned he used to put our old dog, Sniper, into his jacket when she was a puppy... I tried it out too!
And hey, life is just one big party! Here's one of my numerous cousins and Rory and of course her little dino. She won't go out and go pee by herself yet. She needs either me or her dino to go with her. True story. She can pee and hold her stuffed animals in her mouth at the same time. Hilarious stuff right there.
Here's a bit of a blurry one since it's dark. Yes that is me... and the dog... on the floor. Sometimes you just party too hard.
We took her to the vet and this dog seriously loves to scream. They gave her one shot and she cried bloody murder. She hits her paw on a chair... and screams. But she's also really good at fetch!
She's quite the little princess around here.
Anyway, I'm trying to get some projects done... we'll see how they go! My sewing machine has been spazzing out lately and I'm losing patience quickly.
I do also apologize for my absence! I've been busy doing nothing.
I'd like to share my week (maybe 2?) in instagrams. Practically all of my pictures are of my dogs. It's a bit sad. I rarely get out of the house now because of summer... I can't wait until I have my license!
Oh gosh just go ahead and enjoy the cute ness!
Little Rory is just getting so big! And might I mention that my dogs are so talented they can walk each other?
She still loves her naps! We have to take her for walks every day just to calm her down. This was after a 2 mile one. She can actually do up to 4 miles... I let my mom take her on those ones.
Here's a bit of an oldie. My dad mentioned he used to put our old dog, Sniper, into his jacket when she was a puppy... I tried it out too!
And hey, life is just one big party! Here's one of my numerous cousins and Rory and of course her little dino. She won't go out and go pee by herself yet. She needs either me or her dino to go with her. True story. She can pee and hold her stuffed animals in her mouth at the same time. Hilarious stuff right there.
Here's a bit of a blurry one since it's dark. Yes that is me... and the dog... on the floor. Sometimes you just party too hard.
We took her to the vet and this dog seriously loves to scream. They gave her one shot and she cried bloody murder. She hits her paw on a chair... and screams. But she's also really good at fetch!
She's quite the little princess around here.
Anyway, I'm trying to get some projects done... we'll see how they go! My sewing machine has been spazzing out lately and I'm losing patience quickly.
I do also apologize for my absence! I've been busy doing nothing.
- 11:23 PM
- 2 Comments
Okay so you may have seen my Craft Room Clean Up earlier but that wasn't the real redo. It was a simple organization update... and it was very select. I decided that I wanted to actually redo it!
Here it is! I love the how bright it is compared to the rest of our cozy basement!
We used Benjamin Moore paint and it looks great!
I still need to do some final touches and change outs. Like that makeshift curtain for example...
That corner is still in ruins and will always be. It's organized chaos.... There's a whole under the stairs area that is also filled with random crap.
Here's my now messy sewing stuff corner. I'd like to point out my quality folding skills which are neatly displayed on the shelf.
I love this picture. It may have been a birthday card or something of the sorts... I used a $1 frame from Target to hang it up. It looks great with the wall color...
But horrible in the space... I had some dishes hanging before so there was just a really high hook. Any ideas for something long and skinny that would look great there?
We painted our door pink! Ah. Drastic and bright and we love it! We had an awkward square of chalkboard paint already there so we just glued some molding around it that I cut and painted myself! It does say "hello" in some pretty fancy hand writing there but it's pretty faint.
We also painted the inside of this little cubby space pink. I like how it stands out!
This is my absolute FAVORITE part! I found these printables online and painted some frames in the same pink as the other stuff and then framed then. I totally forget where I got the pictures so if they're yours, say so and I'll link em back!
It looks great with the table and stuff... just not all the mess. I don't use half the stuff on that table anyway. That serger works but I can't figure out how to make it sew stuff! UGH. The threads keep coming undone.
And this whole wall was 100% untouched. Although I did have to sit on top of the safe to paint that stripe... talk about small spaces!
Anyway, I now have some beautiful organized chaos to enjoy creating in!
Here it is! I love the how bright it is compared to the rest of our cozy basement!
We used Benjamin Moore paint and it looks great!
I still need to do some final touches and change outs. Like that makeshift curtain for example...
That corner is still in ruins and will always be. It's organized chaos.... There's a whole under the stairs area that is also filled with random crap.
Here's my now messy sewing stuff corner. I'd like to point out my quality folding skills which are neatly displayed on the shelf.
I love this picture. It may have been a birthday card or something of the sorts... I used a $1 frame from Target to hang it up. It looks great with the wall color...
But horrible in the space... I had some dishes hanging before so there was just a really high hook. Any ideas for something long and skinny that would look great there?
We painted our door pink! Ah. Drastic and bright and we love it! We had an awkward square of chalkboard paint already there so we just glued some molding around it that I cut and painted myself! It does say "hello" in some pretty fancy hand writing there but it's pretty faint.
We also painted the inside of this little cubby space pink. I like how it stands out!
This is my absolute FAVORITE part! I found these printables online and painted some frames in the same pink as the other stuff and then framed then. I totally forget where I got the pictures so if they're yours, say so and I'll link em back!
It looks great with the table and stuff... just not all the mess. I don't use half the stuff on that table anyway. That serger works but I can't figure out how to make it sew stuff! UGH. The threads keep coming undone.
And this whole wall was 100% untouched. Although I did have to sit on top of the safe to paint that stripe... talk about small spaces!
Anyway, I now have some beautiful organized chaos to enjoy creating in!
- 10:22 PM
- 12 Comments
I did it... I helped someone sew. Gee. I didn't think I could do it... especially since that person was my sister!
This dress was a nice and easy 5 pieces. Very managable especially since there were really only 3 pattern pieces. My sister did the main parts of the construction... I did the more detailed and harder parts like the hems, darts, and sleeves.
We added in an elastic band in the middle. Here the top is too poofy but you get the point.
It's still a bit long but it does work. The dogs approved of it. We want to hem it a bit shorter so it can be used in the fall with leggings or tights and boots.
There was a bit of a bulge in the back since I didn't stretch the elastic enough in the beginning.
All in all, it's a pretty darn good dress! And better yet, it will fit both of us!
This dress was a nice and easy 5 pieces. Very managable especially since there were really only 3 pattern pieces. My sister did the main parts of the construction... I did the more detailed and harder parts like the hems, darts, and sleeves.
We added in an elastic band in the middle. Here the top is too poofy but you get the point.
It's still a bit long but it does work. The dogs approved of it. We want to hem it a bit shorter so it can be used in the fall with leggings or tights and boots.
There was a bit of a bulge in the back since I didn't stretch the elastic enough in the beginning.
All in all, it's a pretty darn good dress! And better yet, it will fit both of us!
- 12:52 PM
- 4 Comments
We've been slowly working away at making our house beautiful again... I mean hey, we've only lived here 17 years! I'm not even 17... anyways, the next total redo room on our list is the craft room. I mean I cleaned it up and you can find a lot of photos about that here.
But it honestly doesn't quite look this pretty anymore.
I mean there's a giant roll of batting that for some reason is being lain across my sewing table. The fabric stacks are really getting jumbled. And the long table to the left that I selectively cut out of this picture is still a giant mess. I have about 5 empty feed sacks laying there waiting to be bag-afied.
I want a permanent solution! We're planning on painting the room and offically cleaning the stuff that wasn't cleaned up before.
But it honestly doesn't quite look this pretty anymore.
I mean there's a giant roll of batting that for some reason is being lain across my sewing table. The fabric stacks are really getting jumbled. And the long table to the left that I selectively cut out of this picture is still a giant mess. I have about 5 empty feed sacks laying there waiting to be bag-afied.
I want a permanent solution! We're planning on painting the room and offically cleaning the stuff that wasn't cleaned up before.
Well I couldn't find anything else I liked.
Anyone have any ideas on what I should do?
I'm pushing for either grey and yellow or aqua and red (or coral). My sister wants aqua and pink. I tried to reason with her saying that coral is a shade of pink. She just wasn't having it. UGH.
But I've already found some great, free printables I want to hang up! I found most of these through just google images so I don't really know (or remember!) where I found them. If they're yours, just say so and I'll post a link!
I also found a bunch of life related printables that I may just put up because I like them. Not because they have any relation to crafting at all.
- 9:05 AM
- 1 Comments
Okay is it just me or was today a great day in blogland? Well as I was just browsing this morning before leaving, I came across way too many great projects. Like way too many. So I felt the need to share some of my favorites!
Is this cool or what? It looks like a lot of work but it has some great end results. I feel like I may be digging in my rock garden later today to make this baby.
Ruffled Bib Tutorial and Pattern from Just Another Hang Up
I'm feeling the need to make quite a few of these for some upcoming baby showers! Too cute!
I'm feeling the need to make quite a few of these for some upcoming baby showers! Too cute!
I'm totally obsessed with these pom poms! And the ombre just makes it better and is so easy!
I love wreathes and this one is just so great!
- 12:51 PM
- 3 Comments
Much to my dismay, I do not own photoshop. And truth be told, the generic photo editing software most computers come with just doesn't cut it.
Here are a few of my favorite online photo editing sites:
Foto Flexer- Kind of like an online version of photoshop but simple
Pixlr- A very simple editing program that is easy to use but limited
Gickr- A site for creating gif files (moving pictures)
Those are definitely my top 3 go- to sites when iphoto fails me.
Have a great day everyone! My to-do list is just too long to stay and chat!
I have some amazing DIY projects coming up... hopefully soon!
They're all ready to be started... we just haven't gotten that far.
Here are a few of my favorite online photo editing sites:
Foto Flexer- Kind of like an online version of photoshop but simple
Pixlr- A very simple editing program that is easy to use but limited
Gickr- A site for creating gif files (moving pictures)
Those are definitely my top 3 go- to sites when iphoto fails me.
Have a great day everyone! My to-do list is just too long to stay and chat!
I have some amazing DIY projects coming up... hopefully soon!
They're all ready to be started... we just haven't gotten that far.
- 2:17 PM
- 1 Comments
We all strive for perfect pictures. It's true. Children really are easier to photograph than animals. Children know human commands and if they don't listen to them they usually at least understand them.
Animals are different. Dogs can understand simple commands like sit, stay, and lay down... but most animals aren't dogs.
The number one tip is giving up control. The animals or pets aren't going to do what you want them to do. They're going to play, run, and do what they please so just accept it right now and things will be a lot more stress free.
Let your pet do what they please and just shoot away. You may end up with pictures like this one where the subject is blurred. Here I actually caught her leaping out of the carriage.
Or you may get pictures like this.
Just remain calm and your pet will too! They can sense if you're stressed or aggravated. If you're calm and welcoming, they'll come to you on their own.
I was kind of scared to actually be sitting on the ground inches away from these ravenous beasts with my little baby (my camera) in hand but when I calmed down, they came to me and I got some great pictures like the one above of my chicken, Isla.
Another thing is clever props. Give your pet something to play with or let them hop into something.
I threw my puppy, Rory, into this antique baby carriage and she was all smiles and I was able to capture this great photo which we're going to get developed and frame.
I gave her (she stole) an old birthday hat and let her go to town tearing it up. I find this picture hilarious since it captures that look, her sideways way of sitting, and a majority of her toys laying around the room behind her.
Capture the moment! Don't worry about lighting or posing or anything. If your pet is doing something cute, capture it! My older dog, Max, loves to lay in the laundry baskets. She doesn't mind if they're clean or dirty. Anyway, I caught her doing this in the laundry room and snapped a picture of it. Its dark and she looks scared but it's something I can look at and remember.
Not all pictures have to be perfect!
Now go get some pictures you'll cherish forever!
Animals are different. Dogs can understand simple commands like sit, stay, and lay down... but most animals aren't dogs.
The number one tip is giving up control. The animals or pets aren't going to do what you want them to do. They're going to play, run, and do what they please so just accept it right now and things will be a lot more stress free.
Let your pet do what they please and just shoot away. You may end up with pictures like this one where the subject is blurred. Here I actually caught her leaping out of the carriage.
Or you may get pictures like this.
Just remain calm and your pet will too! They can sense if you're stressed or aggravated. If you're calm and welcoming, they'll come to you on their own.
I was kind of scared to actually be sitting on the ground inches away from these ravenous beasts with my little baby (my camera) in hand but when I calmed down, they came to me and I got some great pictures like the one above of my chicken, Isla.
Another thing is clever props. Give your pet something to play with or let them hop into something.
I threw my puppy, Rory, into this antique baby carriage and she was all smiles and I was able to capture this great photo which we're going to get developed and frame.
I gave her (she stole) an old birthday hat and let her go to town tearing it up. I find this picture hilarious since it captures that look, her sideways way of sitting, and a majority of her toys laying around the room behind her.
Capture the moment! Don't worry about lighting or posing or anything. If your pet is doing something cute, capture it! My older dog, Max, loves to lay in the laundry baskets. She doesn't mind if they're clean or dirty. Anyway, I caught her doing this in the laundry room and snapped a picture of it. Its dark and she looks scared but it's something I can look at and remember.
Not all pictures have to be perfect!
Now go get some pictures you'll cherish forever!
- 6:07 AM
- 1 Comments
I found a tutorial for a similar dress that was striped at Better Together. It was so great I had to try it myself! I was going to get black and white jersey and make a black and white striped one. I could only find this zebra-y jersey stuff and thought it would be great!
If you want something more tight, get 2 yards and cut it smaller.
First, fold it in half lengthwise with the right sides together.
Sew it up the side leaving a good gap at what will become the top. Start small and you can always make it bigger. We started with 5 inches but had to cut them into 7 inches.
Although a lot turned out really bad. My fabric was SO stretchy that I had to stretch it while I sewed it even though where I read up it said to not stretch it. Oh well.
Try it on. You may need to adjust some things. If you're making a looser dress, you can add a piece of 1/4 inch wide elastic on the inside to create a waist. We were going to but it ended up much tighter than we'd expected.
Cut a "V" in the neck
Cut off any extra length. There's no need to hem it since it will just roll up! If you want to though, go ahead.
My sister is modeling a very messy version of the Sideways Braid to Bun
My sister ended up cutting off the end so she could walk easier and it looks just as great.
It's totally her! We're going to a wedding where the theme is black and white and all the guests have to wear those colors, too.
- 9:08 AM
- 8 Comments