Fall Decorating

 Leaves on sticks. Looks kinda crazy, but I like it and that part of the room needed something tall. 

 

We stayed home today, despite 3 major things we were to do today including church. It has been a long season of sickness for all of us. RA, backs, asthma, colds.  Super down about missing church again and I sat down to read my blog list and saw another mama in my shoes, read her thoughtful words here.

 My favorite family picture, a clearance Anthropologie C, and the little fall bouquet I bought my Grandma Lois the last fall she was with us.

 

The girls wanted to decorate for fall and it was a perfect day to do so. You can only watch so many movies.

I have too many pictures in frames and now I am putting out seasonal pictures in frames. The girls and all their cousins in pajamas and Christmas clothes along with our December wedding and anniversary pictures will probably replace these of last year taken by the amazing Mickie Winters when we decorate after Thanksgiving. I like this blog post about a Halloween Photo Garland and just might do that too.

This was what the 3 and 5 year old did. On the couch side table Mike and I share they chose a pitcher that Mike made in high school pottery class. It has a spider on it and we usually only use it around Halloween. The were ecstatic when they found it and we decided to keep the remotes in it until we redecorate for Christmas. Want to make 2 kids happy, let them decorate and fold their own laundry. Who knew?

Halloween projects 2012

I guess it is actually Supergirl. Not Superwoman.

About super heroes, I never read comics growing up, well now that I say that I had a few vintage Archie comics that I would buy when my mom dragged took me to antique stores and they were awesome.

But, I totally watched TMNT and Batman after school in late elementary early Jr. High and maybe I watched Barney too. Kelsey laughed at me when I told her this the other day. So I justified it by saying that I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher, I neglected to tell her that I had a Barney wrist watch. Or that when I was sick my freshman year my friend bought me a Barney magazine to cheer me up. So I guess that is early high school. Geez. That is super nerdy.

Anyway. I love all those shows so much. Especially Batman. So Mike and I saw The Dark Knight Rises and we both read some DC comic books this summer on sabbatical (really we did) that was how the girls became obsessed with superheros. And when we were at the mall and they saw a t-shirt with Wonder Woman, there was no turning back. (We bought Maggie This awesome present for her birthday in the spring, but she never cared until this summer now it is a favorite and often fought over toy).

Today I made a muslin (a practice out of cheaper fabric- today I just used t-shirt knit that had a similar stretch to the real material) of the leotard. It was too big, so I will take it in. I also made the S for Super. See below. It took an hour. It took me twice as long to make that S than the leotard. I will explain later when I give details of how I made it.

 From left to right- S is for super, Invitation to Dorothy's Beatles family dance record party, my gingher scissors, and some granny squares...

Anyway. I was telling my mom my real reason to learn to sew this kind of material is selfish, why I didn't just buy the costume? Other than I actually love to sew their costumes.

I want to eventually make my own swimsuits.

I am totally Cathy when it comes to swimsuits. Swimsuits are stupid. I totally want 1 piece retro suits that fit my long torso, that hide the evidence that I gained and (almost) lost 40-50 pounds twice in the 28 months that I grew 2 babies. And I want it to not be halter style (so my tan lines match my tank top lines). That does not exist. At least not under 200 bucks. But from the cost of fabric and notions (thread, closures, needles, etc.) I estimate that I could make one for about 10-30 bucks depending on how elaborate I go.

But to save the money I have to have the skills.

So all that to say, I totally see this as a class...a learning experience.  Make your kids costume and see if its worth it to make your own swimsuits.

KCWC

Just curious...

I am thinking of blogging some of my sewing adventures this month. As I have had many flair ups and have been under the waether recently I was wondering if I took the time to blog it if it would be helpful to my sewing friends.

It is KCWC (Kids Clothes Week Challenge) after all.

So while Mike and I watch The West Wing in marathon form, I will lay on the couch and slowly make unnecessary, yet requested costumes and some necessary clothing for my little ones. Why? Because it is something that cheers me up and passes the time when I can't do much else. And would you say no? Would you when she asked you to make her an authentic Superwoman costume "EXACTLY like the movie mom" even though it is beyond your skills. (PS She has never even seen the movie but loves the idea of Superwoman, Batgirl, and Wonder Woman).