The Powers That Be...: Threads

Showing posts with label Threads. Show all posts

2.12.2015

What do you see?

So what do you see when you look in the mirror? What do you think others see when they see you? Two things that PLAGUE women from their teens on!
So how do we change that? And how do we help the next generation with this?
I have been sewing! SO MANY DRESSES! I am on a mission. To make beautiful yet modest dresses. Some every day, but mostly for special occations.
I LOVE doing this, but I also was concerned that my time was being spent in a material way. I agree there are lots of frumpy options out there and not many that teen girls would like while still covering them up, however my focus is all on appearance. On clothes.
Don't get me wrong, I ADORE fashion. Project Runway one of my favorite shows. However, was I spending my time in the best way by focusing on clothing? I have struggled with this....until NOW!
Last night I had the best lessons on fashion, clothing and modesty! So now I will share with you...

INTRODUCING....
Beauty Redefined
www.beautyredefined.net (not a link, stupid old computer...)

This has me thinking of my body and beauty in a WHOLE different way! And my new business of dresses, as something good. Not material. Helping them have good options for prom and homecoming. This is a GOOD thing! YAY.

And one other thing to share. When the housing market crashed we were deeply effected. But I am so glad that we were. I learned some valuable lessons that help me today.
First, I started sewing again. ALOT. I can make dresses for my girls and my self for about $12. Not bad.
Second, I got creative. With everything. I learned to repurpose and bargain shop. So far in my dress journey, I have two dresses that were $2 each! They do need a LOT of work, but $2?? That wouldn't even cover the thread and zipper! Plus I have some ideas to fit multiple sizes. And maybe do some separates! I am getting excited with this new adventure.
OH, and we are moving....again. I know. This is our 13th move in 18 years! Seriously.....

8.16.2013

Cute new do’s

We all just got cute haircuts for the new school year. Which, by the way, I am COUNTING down the days!! 10 days to go!!

We just got this package in the mail from a friend in Arizona with the cutest headbands I have seen! A girl named Becki is behind the whippy cake company and donated these.

I don’t think she makes headbands anymore, :(, but she does do some consulting. She has almost the same haircut as Avery!! LOVE it! I can’t wait to sew some dresses to match!!!

Thanks Becki and Marion for thinking of us!!

Technorati Tags: whippy cake,whippy cake headbands

4.16.2013

Distractions

Avery had ANOTHER delay. This is getting old. BUT, we are getting ready for the Southern Nevada Make a Wish Gala. SUPER fun. And trust me when I say, you are NEVER overdressed at a Las Vegas event. So we have to go big. I have been stressing over my dress. Here is what I came up with. There is no pattern….Sorry.

Just a maxi dress, but the fabric is super awesome. Dresses it up. I might try to find a black leather belt instead of the shiny one. Maybe….if I have time.

It is made from a super cool light blue metallic fabric. The underneath is lined in a black satin. I put pennies in sewed into the hem to keep it from flying away and give it some weight. A great idea…I know. Genius.

Hopefully we will have news of getting chemo this week!! Here is hoping!!!

3.25.2013

Simplicity 4662 Vintage

I found this awesome vintage pattern on etsy. It was a great price too.

I used it to make these darling girls some darling dresses. They are seriously so cute (the girls I mean).

I used a Riley Blake bright yellow houndstooth and the prints are a pink and purple floral. They turned out really cute. I did put in a petti skirt with tulle to make it “fluffy”. The little ones always like a fluffy dress!! Just in time for Easter!

3.22.2013

Maxi Dress

So we had someone generously give us tickets to “Shrek the Musical”. My dear hubby said, “you know we need to look nice.” Hum……does that mean that he thought I didn’t know that you dress up a bit for a nice event? Or was he saying I didn’t have anything to wear? I was trying not to be offended. THEN…I remembered I have fabric. I have a very cool fabric and in just a few hours…without a pattern, I had a cool maxi dress.

I tried it on and showed him. Even he was impressed. SCORE!

I know it’s hard to see the fabric, but it has small stripes and stretches. But then it has these variegating stripes of the black. It was fun and comfortable too. Glad I have a huge stash of fabric….

3.21.2013

Simplicity 2053 and Avery

I made this dress while in Washington. It was pattern 2053 from Simplicity with some alterations. I may/may not be able to duplicate it…

On another note…AVERY GOT CHEMO!! It’s super sad that I am so excited that they pumped toxins into my child. Only THREE doses to go!! Since it had been so long, she is super sick. But hopefully by this weekend she will feel better and able to enjoy our fabulous weather.

Technorati Tags: purple knit dress,simplicity 2053,dress pattern,Chemo,Chemotherapy

3.14.2013

Simplicity Pattern 2683

So I am posting thing I have made over the last few years. It helps to see a pattern done up with super cute fabric like these. I adore these dresses! And the girls look so young!!

Avery always did know how to strike a pose!

This was done with some super cute Bonnie and Camille fabric. Love their stuff!!

Technorati Tags: bonnie and camille,simplicity pattern 2683,simplicity 2683,girls dress,bliss fabric

3.01.2013

McCall’s Pattern M5793

Here is dress I made for Hallie. She looks so little! This was a Bonnie and Camille fabric. I adore polka dots!! Love, love this one..

Technorati Tags: bonnie and camille,moda,fabric,Bliss,McCalls pattern,M5793

2.22.2013

New Look Pattern 6309

This was a dress I made the girls when we were in Washington. The top is a crushed velvet and the bottom was a bolt of fabric my mother-in-law had left over from her oldest daughter, Lisa’s wedding. Lisa had her bridesmaids in this color. Funny how it all comes back around.

Avery is super good at posed looks. They all have a half pettiskirt underneath to make it full. It swished when they walked…

Hallie and Payton’s dress were from this same pattern. Avery’s was another. Hallie looks super annoyed. At least Nathan was smiling!

1.30.2013

McCall’s M5793

Alright, so you are going to get some random posts over the next few weeks. I am gathering all the pics of the things I have made and their pattern numbers.

In these, after reviewing all the photos, Avery is sitting perfectly posed. Payton has a forced look on her face and Hallie was never close to the same position twice (she moves way to much!). And they all look so LITTLE! Kind of makes me sad…kind of makes me happy.

And almost all of the pics with Avery are pre-tumor diagnosis. She doesn’t even look like the same kid at all. Sigh….

Even Hallie said, “I was so cute!” Yes, yes you were…are.

1.25.2013

Ruffled Skirt

By Stephanie

So a friend at church gave me a great contact to do some pattern testing. YAY! More sewing. I tested this ruffled skirt pattern. And all her patterns are reasonably priced. That is a plus!

I made it for Avery so I left the bottom layer of tulle off since she is super sensitive right now. Believe me when I say the pics do NOT do it justice. It is the most amount of fabric I have worked with in a LONG time. Layers and layers. Super girly and twirly. I am going to make a cute belt with a big flower to complete the look. She is thrilled to have a new skirt.

11.20.2012

Pumpkin Season.

By Stephanie

I LOVE the food this time of year. The smells, the spices, the food. I made Holly’s pumpkin cookies with maple frosting...yum!!

Then since I had some left in the can, I made pumpkin bread. And tonight I am going to make with my pumpkin bread…..pumpkin bread pudding!!

And if that isn’t enough you can try the new pumpkin spice kisses!! My friend April brought us some. Holy delic!! (something else to help you carb load this season)

And we are celebrating!! Avery is at school today. She MIGHT go a whole day today. I can count on one hand the number of days she has been to school this year for an entire day, including today. So it’s kind of a big deal. But she is looking better.

I was going through Avery’s closet and noticed she had almost no cute things to wear. So I whipped up this little outfit. Turned out cute…but I think she needs a hat. Have to work on that. Oh and with the bow, it’s adjustable. So as she gains weight (thank goodness), we can let it out. Or if little sister borrows it, we can synch it back in. Kind of genius, I know. I am working on a pattern. It will probably be out sometime in late 2050….JK.

Btw, that pattern is called hounds tooth. Don’t you just love it??? I do. If you haven’t already noticed.

Happy Carbgiving….I mean Thanksgiving!

11.06.2012

Unexpected Surprises

By Stephanie

Avery (actually all of us) has been struggling. We decided to take a few day trip and go see my sister-in-law in Arizona. Not that we need more sunshine. We got plenty of that. We just all need a mental break. While we are there we are going to celebrate Hallie Dawn’s birthday. She wants this cake.

Really? I mean she is six. Or going to be six tomorrow. And we are already doing a five layer super fattening something….okay. I even tried to change her mind with a chocolate Oreo one. Nope. It has to be this one. White Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake Cake.

Let me tell you a bit about Hallie.

Hallie was a total surprise to our family from the beginning. We were living in Idaho at the time. Then on top of that Chris went to a Seattle Seahawks game three weeks before I was due. Of course I went into labor…that night. My friend Dawn took me to the hospital. Now you need to understand my longest labor up till that point was four hours. There was no way Chris would make a flight home by then. But my little Hallie had other plans. She waited and waited and waited for dad to get there. I wasn’t progressing, but after having Avery at home on the floor (I know, a whole other story) I wasn’t going home either. So Dawn and I walked the halls for hours! Chris arrived and so did the epidural. Then Hallie started to go into distress. My body wasn’t quite ready, but the doctor decided she needed out. So after a lot of pushing out came my too early partially blue baby. They took her to the nursery and started her on oxygen. It was 24 hours before she settled down and started breathing right. Girl drama from the start.

But since then she is our comic relief. She doesn’t mind that I am gone all the time taking Avery to the doctor. That just means she gets to go to friends houses and play. Just fine by her.

The other day I was talking to Avery about Christmas. I was encouraging her to pick something that would help her feel better.

Hallie pipes up, “I know what would make me feel better.”

“Yeah, what would that be Hallie?”

“A puppy. A puppy would really make me feel better.”

“You are not getting a puppy.”

“Oh….ok.” It was worth a shot.

Then yesterday Chris had the day off and we went together to drop her off at school.

“I know what you are going to do when we are all at school.”

Chris, “Yeah? What do you think we are going to do?”

Hallie, “You and mom are going to make out.”

Chris (laughing), “I wish!”

She sure is fun. We don’t know what we would do without our fun Hallie Dawn.

10.25.2012

Jiggler Cupcakes with Pudding Frosting

By Stephanie

YAY! Avery got the last bag of chemo yesterday. This round is officially OVER! We now only have three more to go. I am sure there will be more delays, but for now…we have made progress.

Halloween is next week, I am so not ready. I haven’t even bought candy yet. At least the kids costumes were done thanks to my sisters and mom.

And the air has been turned OFF! Hopefully til next May…. but we will see. So I have finally done some baking. I had seen the icing recipe on pinterest, but when my friend brought these over, I had no idea they would be so SUPER yummy.

Jiggler Cupcakes

White or yellow cupcake recipe. Like this one. Or a mix…whatever you want.

Bake according to directions. When cooled slightly, but still warm, make up any flavor jello you desire, but use half the water called for. The small box is plenty but whatever you have is fine.

Poke holes in the cupcakes with a fork or knife. Pour about 1-2 tsp of Jell-O over cupcakes. It’s easier if you leave it in the pan. Put in the fridge and let set for 1-2 hours. When set make up a package of vanilla instant pudding using half the milk called for. Add in a small (8oz) container whipped topping. Frost. Try not to eat all frosting before it gets on cupcakes. Also they need to be refrigerated if not eating right away…you may not have to worry about this. They will be eaten quickly.

Use can use different flavors of jello and even different flavors of pudding. Like strawberry and cheesecake. Or Orange and chocolate. Use your imagination!!

10.07.2012

mustard and grey

mustard and grey by sdriscoll1818 featuring cowl neck tops

Cowl neck top
$20 - houseoffraser.co.uk

St John s Bay belted cardigan
jcpenney.com

Jil Sander knee length pencil skirt
stylebop.com

Low heels
modcloth.com

Coach tote bag
coach.com

Bracelet
fashion.1stdibs.com

Earrings
yoox.com

10.06.2012

Blessings

Just so you all know, I am super blessed. I know everyone has heavy things they are dealing with right now. I just happen to have doctor visits and medical stuff in my load. But we also get great opportunities too. Like when my super great mom and sisters pay for me to have my hair cut. YEP. And Avery needed red blood cells so her dad had to take her (giggle).

I have been OBSESSING over this pic for months....MONTHS I tell you. So my great family finally helped me to make it happen. And Avery and her dad got to hang out for HOURS. YAY.
And thank you to Dynay for making Avery a hat.
Thank you to all who have contributed time, money and prayers on our behalf. All is greatly appreciated.

Have a great weekend!

9.25.2012

A Little Sparkle

By Stephanie

When Amy was here we went to a store and I found the most amazing necklace. It’s sparkly. Super sparkly. And it had iridescent colors of blues to browns. As I was deciding whether to purchase the necklace, I asked Amy why I like shiny things so much. She said because I have more of Hallie in me than I like to admit. True. And just trying taking Hallie to the jewelry section of any store. You will never get out!

So I had to have a place to display my new find. I whipped out the can of green spray paint, the knobs from the last jewelry holder (it wasn’t big enough). And Voila!

I realized I need more earrings!! And that great new necklace is the one on the right. Isn’t it fantastic??

9.24.2012

Black Tie Dress Ideas

Chris is on the Make-A-Wish board here. We are super excited to help facilitate wishes for other families. But there are some pretty formal events. I was getting ideas for dresses that are age appropriate while not looking matronly. What do you think??