What to do with those old military uniforms

We now interrupt this scheduled blogging break to bring you a lovely craft project.

The USAF has been in the process of implementing new uniforms for a couple of years and the changeover will be complete next year.  When you deploy you are required to wear only the new uniform.  This meant that Michael was issued (and had to purchase a few) new uniforms prior to his deployment.

Not wanting to be wasteful, I had him save 7 of his old uniform tops (4 BDU - that's the regular dark camo - and 3 DCU - that's the desert/sand camo) so I could come up with something crafty to do to reuse them!

I had an epiphany a few days ago!  Reversible superhero capes for the boys!

Here's what you need:
~ 4 mens shirts
~ Grosgrain ribbon in coordinating color (I used 3/8" because it's what I had, but I would recommend 1")
~ Fray Check **
~ Scissors
~ Fabric marker/chalk
~ Sewing machine
~ Coordinating thread

:: I started with this (I actually used 2 BDU and 2 DCU shirts for this project):

:: Then I cut the entire back panel off.  Leaving the bottom hem intact, cut just inside the seams, including around the shoulders and collar, to remove the back panel in one piece.

:: Once you have 4 panels cut out, iron them all, then pick out the smallest one.  You will be using this one to create your pattern for the other pieces.

:: Fold this one in half lengthwise and use chalk/fabric pen to make your outline.  Basically, you want to go from the shoulders to the bottom hem gradually flaring out toward the bottom.  You may also need to even up the shoulders/neck.  Just eyeball it - there's no need for perfection, it's a dress-up item, afterall!

:: Cut this out and then cut out your other 3 pieces using this as your "pattern".

:: Once you have all 4 pattern pieces cut out, place one right side up on your table, cut a length of ribbon long enough to tie around child's neck with plenty of slack.  Then cut that ribbon in half and pin one to the center of each shoulder.  Then place the other fabric, right side down on top of the other and continue pinning around perimeter.

:: Sew with a straight stitch and leave a ½" seam allowance all the way around.  Be sure to leave a 6" opening in one side for turning.  I also back-tacked my ribbon a couple of times for added security.

:: Snip corners on an angle and turn right side out, making sure to "poke" each corner out.

:: Flatten out, ironing again if necessary and pin the perimeter for top-stitching.  Be sure to close the opening used for turning.

:: Sew with a straight stitch and ¼" from edge, making sure to catch the seam allowance in your top-stitch.

** Use the Fray Check to treat the exposed ends of the ribbon to keep it from fraying.

Cow appreciation day at Chick-Fil-A

Today was cow appreciation day at Chick-Fil-A. If you dressed like a cow, you got free food! The only rules/regulations were if you were 'cowed' from head to toe you got a free meal of your choosing and if you were only 'cowed' on a part of your body (ie. cow mask or hooves and gloves, etc.) you got a free entree of your choice.



I thought it out earlier in the week after Michael told me that he had to attend
a work function until approx. 9pm tonight. So, I decided this would be something fun that the kids and I could do to kill the time and maybe give Jacob a few fun memories! I decided to use black construction paper to cut out spots to be taped all over their bodies and found an idea for a mask here.


Oh, and Michael informed me that a friend/co-worker needed me to watch her daughter this evening while they were at this event. So, I cleared the trip to Chick-Fil-A with her mom and she joined us in our fun.








While Jacob was at summer camp this morning, Eli and I worked on putting the masks together and Eli colored his while I made "A's". After Jacob got home from summer camp and had his nap, he colored in his. I then punched holes in the sides and fitted them to their heads with pipe cleaners rather than using craft sticks for them to hold.



I had to wait until we got to the mall to tape all the spots on everyone because they wouldn't stick well enough to make the trip..... Eli tore all of his spots off before we ever even got in the mall and he wouldhave nothing to do with putting that mask on his face, therefore, I have no photos of him 'cowed-up'!

I got the fabric for Rachael's room!!

I was sooo excited when I checked my mail on Friday and found this:


Isn't is just so lovely?


It's 5 yards of Michael Miller, Spa Far Out Floral fabric. The background is chocolate (in case you can't tell in the photo).

My to do list for the completion of Rachael's room is as follows:


* Put up curtain rod
* Sew crib skirt (will be the above fabric)
* Sew bumper pad (will be coordinating teal/aqua from print above)
* Sew curtains (will be chocolate, with coordinating purple valance and will use the print for the tabs and tie-backs)
* Cover the lamp shade (I have several scraps of coordinating colors and will use whichever one is big enough)
* Make some wall art (using this very cool idea)
* Get baby announcements as ready as possible - put together with name info, etc. - so that all I have to do after she's born is fill in the date, time, weight, length, etc.
* Make a wall hanging with her first and middle names and meanings, biblical references, etc.
* Get box of clothes from friend and wash and put away


I know this sounds like a lot of stuff to do and I hope you don't think that this is the only child I've done this much for. The boys both had hand sewn crib bedding, wall hangings, curtains and baby announcements made before arrival as well. I love doing this for my children. Plus, if I were to go out and buy ready made bedding and curtains, it would definitely cost me double what the fabric (and batting for the bumper) cost me. I also enjoy knowing that it was done so much out of love for each individual child.

Another quilt

This one was quite a bit less time consuming.

It's just basic squares and rectangles and is a bit smaller than the last one. There's no batting in the middle, so it's also much lighter, but won't be as warm.

But, isn't is just sooooo cute and cuddly looking!?

My first quilt

I have to say that I am proud of myself on this one! I have been sewing for several years. I am about 95% self taught and the other 5% comes from watching my grandma and one of my aunts sew while growing up. I think my grandma was even a seamstress at one point, I could be mistaken, though. If you check out my Etsy shop, you'll find several other items that I have sewn. I've done a number of things over the last few years (crib bedding for the boys, blankets for the kids, diaper doublers recently, aprons and random other things) and I enjoy it very much, though I'm definitely not a professional.

The quilt I chose to do for my darling little girl on the way was a Dutch Girl/Sunbonnet Sue quilt. I have one from when I was a baby and thought I'd try to replicate it in a modern sort of way.

I found a pattern online of the pieces for the girl and then spent the better part of an afternoon calculating the dimensions, square sizes, batting size, border piece sizes and backing size. Then I spent oodles of time in the fabric store one night a couple of weeks ago trying to pick out just the right fabrics. I went with solids because I just couldn't find coordinating prints that I was thrilled about in each of the colors I wanted to use (purple, blue, green and pink).

This first photo is after I have cut all the pattern pieces out. This is the first square that I have ironed and pinned in place!


This is a finished square after the stitching has been done.

This is one complete row, including bottom borders.

Apparently I didn't take any photos of the rest of the assembly part.... Sometimes when my sewing machine and I are together, the world seems to just disappear and the only thing I focus on is the task at hand (that's why I typically sew after the kids have gone to bed at night)!!

This is the completed quilt (the back is lavender flannel) prior to being washed. Yes, you might still see some fabric pen in places - but it's in the wash right now to rid it of those ugly blue markings and to get it all nice and cuddly!

My next project is Rachael's bed skirt, bumper pad and curtains. I just have to wait until my fabric order comes in to get started!

The week in photos: Art

Jacob's fish. Notice the spot where the eye is suppose to be - Eli got to it.....

Jacob's pipe cleaner man. He did this all by himself following my lead!

My pipe cleaner person.

Lady bugs. On the left is Jacob's creation and on the right we have the creation of Eli!

Jacob's crown from tonight. It's still drying so that's why it's not all put together yet.

Jacob's paper plate, finger paint and construction turtle.

Eli's turtle!