7 years ago today....

I am sure everyone remembers what happened. I am sure everyone remembers EXACTLY where they were when they heard the news. What they were doing, what was happening around them, maybe even what they were wearing.

I had just woken up. I was sitting on the couch feeding my 4 month old son, watching the Today Show. We had just flown back from California the day before, so we were both a little tired & off schedule. I turned on the TV right after the first plane hit. Matt Lauer & Katie Couric were both confused & trying to figure out what was going on. Jason was getting ready to go to work. Then he left for work, as soon as he shut the door behind him, the second plane hit. I remember holding #1, still in my pajamas & running out to the parking lot of our apartment building-- running out to tell Jason a second plane hit, they think its on purpose. It was awful.

And everything that has happened since has been awful.

Today, before #1 went to school, I had to explain to him what happened. I was afraid that somehow it would come up in school & I wanted him to hear about it from us. Just thinking about what I was going to tell him brought me to tears. And the tears kept coming as I explained to him that bad men made a bad choice & flew planes into buildings & lots of people died. Then I tried to explain why I was so upset. I don't think it helped & I am pretty sure I am not going to win any mother of year awards for my talk this morning. I just wonder when I won't get choked up & upset when I think about that time.

And now I am angry. Angry that today, I had to take away a little of his innocence about the world we live in.

My last jean skirt...

This one took me awhile, I just couldn't figure out what to do & how frilly & girly I wanted to make it.

In the end, I just went with the ruffles (which I hate making- but that is a whole other issue). I thought it could be basic enough that #2 could wear it with lots of different stuff.

I need to hit the Childrens Place for some cute tights & knee socks to wear with it.


This is the back, I was trying to zoom in on the white zig-zag stitch I did around the hem. I thought it might add a little something to the skirt. I think it turned out pretty cute. (BTW- the white is the ruffle from the front of the skirt, there isn't any on the back).






I am not sure when I am going to get to crafting again. School has started & I am still trying to figure out how to fit everything in. I have been trying to workout at the health club 4-5 times a week & with #2 in afternoon kindy, that has really thrown a wrench into the amount of free time I have.

I am in the midst of a church bulletin board- if that turns out well I can post that. As of right now, its not so good. We will see after I work on it some more!

Happy crafting!

Jenni

The other jean skirt...

Ok- I am going to admit it. This is my least favorite skirt I have done (well, we have one more to see how that will turn out). First, in my head it looked much cuter! I had these flowing side panel things that just didn't work out. This is what happens when you don't have a pattern & are just kind of winging it!

Second, does anyone remember that movie from the 80s, "Overboard"? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093693/ (in case you forgot) Anyway, there is this scene where she wears a jean skirt & it reminds me of this one, in not a good way. (I will admit that I have scene this movie a dozen times & often watch when I run across it on TV, much to Jason's dismay!)


I did get a little crazy with the back & took the pockets off. Wild, I know! :)









I need to start sewing again. I need to be done with alot of projects before school starts-- we have football, tae kwon do, swim & I am co-leading a 32 wk study at church. Whew, I need to get busy!

and another jean skirt...

So, this is my ode to High School Musical. I had some leftover fabric from some PJ pants I am making for #2. I think it turned out cute & #2 LOVES it.




















I have a little more fabric left, so I think I am going to applique a shirt & make a matching headband using this tutorial : http://oldredbarnco.blogspot.com/2008/08/headband-tutorial.html

She'll be all decked out!

I have one more completed, that is currently in the mountain of laundry downstairs, so when I unearth it, I will take more pics.

I have one more to do & I am going back & forth between 2 different ideas. I wish I had some jeans to turn into skirts for #3, they are kind of fun to do! Maybe I will start surfing garage sales & goodwill (who am I kidding?? I hate going to garage sales!)

-Jenni

taking a jean skirt break...

I finally finished our pillowcases from Disney. Instead of having autographs books, someone told me (or I read on the internet) to have the characters sign a pillowcase. I thought it might be a fun, different souvenir for the kids. And I, of course, couldn't just have them sign it. I needed to add my own touch!






Using Jen's big Cricut & my Mickey Font cartridge, I cut out a giant Mickey head to use as a template. I used the same font to cut out the kids names. Its a nice chunky font-- making it easier to applique.









I did Ella's first & thought it looked a little plain, so I added the ribbon (you may think that fabric looks a little familiar--well its left over from the girls room redo & same with the ribbon)











I originally bought this fabric to make PJ pants. I haven't made the pants yet, but I am sure everyone will be relieved to know that he will be coordinated with his pajamas!!









The backs of the pillowcases have the autographs, this one is Colin's... the girls have more since they got all the princesses too. (He actually refused to let the princesses sign his!)









I have a few ideas for the next skirt & am on my way to the storage unit to find my large stash of fabric (wish me luck!)

-Jenni

One jean skirt down.....

Yeah!! I got one down!! During the challenge, I have decided to also use materials I already have.

This material is left over from a project I did last year when I made these jumpers for #2, her dolls & my neice. Poor #3 was supposed to get one too, but I ran out of time/patience.





I think it turned out pretty cute. It was kind of fun to take bits of material & rick rack (I love rick rack-- very festive) and put it all together.

#2 is sleeping, so I can't have her try it on, but I think she will like it.






A few of the best things about these skirts are 1) they only take a few hours to make & I LOVE completed projects!! 2) By forcing myself to use materials I already have, I force myself into being more creative & resourceful & 3) when doing all this, I am distracted from the other things whirling around in my head!

Well off to bed-- and come up with another plan!

Happy Monday (almost!)

Jenni

My own challenge....

So, I was cleaning out #1 drawers, getting ready for back to school, (a chore I TOTALLY hate). And he had a pair of jeans that were too small. Had #2 try them on & they fit her (a little big), although the legs were too long.

I had seen a tutorial online awhile ago about turning jeans into skirt, so I decided to keep his jeans & try to repurpose them into a skirt for #2.

Today, I finally got a chance to sit down at my sewing table & discovered that the jeans were pretty easy to turn into a skirt.

When I was looking at some fabric I had, I found 4 more pair of jeans that #1 had blown the knees out of last year (before he outgrew them....BOYS!). Last year, I decided to try & do something with them-- they were too trashed to give away, but the waist/top part were in good condition.

So, here is my challenge-- How many different kinds of jean skirts can I make with these pants?? I have a few ideas, but we will have to see how they pan out....

Here is how the skirt turned out....

The pile of jeans....

Check out the holes in those knees!!! Good grief...I am reinforcing his knees in his pants this year!!

Anyone have any ideas?? I am totally open....

Have a good weekend!