This was the practice dress I made using the bodice pattern I made.
It
was a quick sew where I didn't even change out the thread. I just made it quick with stuff I had on hand and tried a quick A-line skirt. I used a
random sage green zipper and the pockets are totally different sizes and
wiggly. These pictures are really dark, but I wanted to post every day
this week so you get what you get!
I kind of love it in a retro Sound of Music kind of way. The little one
it was made for saw and isn't sure, but I think her brown or pink sweater and her
cowboy boots I can convince her. Also it reminds me a little of this dress I pinned quite a while ago.
SO imagine this bodice in blue satin with a long straighter skirt without the pockets and no binding on the neck for Wendy Darling. Stay Tuned.
Yesterday I made a practice dress to make sure the bodice that I
randomly drafted from a sundress would work for Maggie's Wendy Darling
dress. This is for 2 reasons. One, I can't find my pattern and vaguely
remember packing some sewing stuff I thought I didn't need for now and put it up for long term storage,
and two because I am a detail oriented obsessed and I noticed that neckline is boat neck. Most dresses that have puff sleeves don't have that kind of neck line! So I did what I do and added an unnecessary task of
making this pattern from scratch. I actually enjoy this kind of stuff.
I also decided that I wanted to have this sheer blue over the solid blue. To make it more, I don't know, Shimmery? Dreamy? Floaty? Those are all Maggieisms. So yes. You would think I am making her a wedding gown or prom dress when I make these details so ridiculous, and not a dress that is going to be destroyed in our church's Trunk or Treat bouncy castle (true story, that happened to her Little Red dress last year) But aw well. I truly love this stuff and figuring it all out. And I love seeing the girls check on how it's going, telling me what they are going to sew when I let them use the machine one day.
So here is where I underline the pattern pieces after reading this tutorial. Stayed tuned!
I used quilting cotton (she chose because it looked like seeds) and hand embroidered zinnias onto the border.
I had never use an Oliver + S pattern before this, but will try many more. They are so well written. I lined this with a pink kona cotton. My favorite part of this pattern is the cap sleeves and the elastic on the A line waist. I have 3 more of these cut out and ready to sew up.
This is the first time in my adult life I have successfully grown zinnias. The seeds finally got enough water from me and above and finally weren't eaten by squirrels. Me and my little gals grew zinnias and they are beautiful. And they keep coming.
I remember dad and I planting them every summer as a kid. Dad is now a master gardener, but then, then I was just a kid and he was just my dad. Standing in front of the split rail fence he told me to water them well and say a prayer for them.
Thanks dad for teaching me young to pray for the little things and the big things.
Quite a while ago I was inspired by Erin of House on Hill Road and her blanket and I
referred to her posts and pictures of it often.
I started the granny square blanket last summer in June 2012 and finished it early this spring 2013 and kept forgetting to journal it. I took this yarn to Hawaii, Florida a few times (our home away from home), car pool lines, dance class, friends houses, and everywhere in between. As I began planning it I knew I wanted to be a dark denim blue and for it to be a blanket of many colors*.
I choose the main blue first and then bought many acrylic brights and a few wool super wash yarns to match the shade and the colors we already had in the room. I did not keep track of all the colors. Sorry! I can say I bought everything at our local Joann's, Michael's and Dee's Crafts.
I know a few great wonderful yarn crafters and artists and many of them take great pride in using great wool yarns. This allergic gal just couldn't do it. One of the red yarns, one of the yellow yarns, and a couple of the blues are a beautiful wool I got from Dee's Crafts and every day I used them I had a reaction on my hands. But napping under the blanket hasn't been a problem for me (it does make D and Mike sneeze, so they can't use it), so maybe just running the yarn through my hand repeatedly is the kicker for me.
That being said I do look forward to to trying other kinds of yarns in the future. Cotton, linen and alpaca yarns seem like great possibilities for other projects.
Having made a granny
square baby blanket for my niece where I sewed those squares together traditionally, I knew I wanted a
different method for this project after I read about "joining as you go". I link to that method below.
Project details-
70 Granny square of 5 stripes in each square plus main color. I learned how to make a granny square several years ago, but here is a great tutorial if you want to learn. 12 different patterns of squares, there are some that I made 8 each of
and some I made only 4 of. I just made my favorite patterns more often,
winging it as I went.
Number of Colors 13 different colors ** (Again, so sorry I do not know the names of the colors- those labels are long gone)
3 reds
1 orange
2 yellows
2 greens
5 blues which include the main color that were all a variation on denim blue, turquoise, or robins egg or similar.
**I once overheard someone in a fabric store say that you should have at least 13 kinds of fabrics or yarns in a blanket to have enough diversity to look at and it has stuck with me. So funny that I so often try to stick to that rule.
Over the last week I made the Simplicity 2444 pattern to wear on my birthday. I used "It's a Hoot" by Moda
quilting cotton that I bought a year or two ago at our local quilt shop, Among Friends Quilt Shop.
After using this fabric print in quite a few patch work projects I only had 1 and 7/8 yards left.
The original pattern calls for about 3 and 3/8 yards of fabric. I had to strategically cut out the top pieces and then made a
gathered skirt using every bit of the yardage I had left.
Despite the
generous gather and because of the grain line, it was still a bit short
for me to wear comfortably, so I
bought a similar colored broadcloth at my local chain store, Joann's
the next
day to make the border/hem. Because the background color is off
white, it is lined with an off white lining I had in my stash. The
zipper is done as a hand picked zipper, my first ever, which I learned
via my Craftsy course I just watched this summer, "The Couture Dress,
with Susan Khalje".
15 years ago this month I graduated from Floyd Central and about that same time, down the hill, a guy at New Albany that I had noticed at a few outings graduated too. We fell in love that summer. We got engaged and married the next Christmas (December 1999). We started college together and girls, so. so. so. much happened after that.
Since that time your dad faithfully
led our family, pointing me to Christ, supporting me and getting me through college, loving me
and serving me in lots and lots of sickness, at one time
working 6 jobs at once for several months to pay our rent, and raising you two beautiful
little babies into sweet little girls.
He took an unlikely path to where we are today... he was a guy with musical talent in guitar and an itch to be a part of a different kind of church. Our plan was not figured out and was not to be a pastor and pastor's wife, but it was obviously God's plan and we are thankful for it. For the last 13 of those years he has been walking along
our dear friend, Daniel's side at Sojourn serving in many positions and helping
create many of the ministries that have morphed into what they are
today. He has helped run 2 building campaigns, produced 13 worship albums, published 2 books, and pastored many in our church and friends around the country.
He has invested in his team, his friends, me and you all...working 50-70 work weeks for many of those years.
And in the last 2 years he went to school at full time at night to finish his bachelor's degree. To finish up his degree and to show you both it can be done.
It almost broke us. Full time school. Full time executive pastor. Full time dad. Full time husband.
None of it was easy. He took an unlikely path and worked hard for where he is.
Dorothy and Maggie, this is the kind of man you look for when you look for a husband. A hard working man that wants to learn; and more than that takes care of his family; and yet above all else loves God and follows Christ (more than guitars, a great story, great food, and even us- his family).
This is who your dad is on May 4th, 2013. He loves Jesus. He is an author, Sojourn exec pastor, record producer, guitar player, foodie, OUR guy, and
An Easter dress with a very twirly circle skirt and a Peter Pan collar. She told me, "This skirt, it is all I wanted." Ha! I made it with a fabric she picked from Jo-ann's and the collar was a beautiful scrap of pink chambray I got at Purl Soho in NYC that I wished I had yards of. The pattern was Butterick B5877. My sweet old machine hates making button holes so they aren't as pretty as I like, but you can't tell when it's on. This was my first Peter Pan collar and now I want them on everything.
My other project I can share right now (muhaha) is late birthday present for my tiny little Wonder Woman. I surprised her with super hero girl pajamas. I found this fabric at Jo-ann's and traced her American Apparel karate pants. We also made a patch for an old stained blue shirt and it covered and matched perfectly! Then she demonstrated Super Hero Karate.
I have seen many versions of this on blogs and pinterest. I have made a few now and this is my process. Using Over and my iphone my 5 year old and I made a quick t-shirt dress and a tutorial. This is written to someone who has finished seams and knows how to do a gathering stitch. If you don't you can follow the links I provide on how to do that.
Target-t-shirt- $5 +
1/2 yard leopard floral crinkly silk- 3.50 +
the bonding time and the fact that she chose the fabric and colors
=$8.50 and way more likely to wear it because she was involved.
Wash your fabric and t-shirt to preshrink.
D was in love with this leopard floral fabric. I wouldn't have picked it, but I am learning that if I let my kids pick the fabric, they are WAY more likely to wear the finished product.
(The shoes have nothing to do with the process, but I know Jessie has them too. Hi, Jessie!)
Ha, I have this pic upside down but already had put the text on. You get the idea.
Why do I make blogging so hard. I set lofty unrealistic expectations and then don't write when I am too tired to meet them. Time for another under 20 minute blog. This one is inspired by Mommy Coddle
Currently watching Zero Dark Thirty. Fascinating and sickening.
My husband's book and the record he produced came out in the last 2 weeks. Humbled. He is a smarty and a good at a lot. Here is an interview that tells a bit of what he has done in the last year.
I sewed 1 Easter dress and have the skirt of another done. It has been fun, but I don't have enough time! Below shows my beginnings plans for quilted Easter baskets. Even though I started early, life got in the way and I don't think they'll be done this year. Maybe by next?
I finally reached that point again in exercise where it makes me feel better instead of making me want to give up. As a result my RA is slightly more controlled. Slightly. Still gluten free which also helps. This may be a blessing. Going gluten free. I may blog more on that later....
Our friends Bryan and Chandra moved. We are so so blessed to have been in community with them for a few years. Bryan is a super coach and I think you should browse his blog for productivity and organizational growth, Brian Howard.
I have been re-watching Alias and Veronica Marrs. I love those both so much. AND THEN the Veronica Marrs movie went on Kickstarter and it is happening! What are you watching?
I just read on a sewing blog tonight about Foyle's War and I am pretty sure I will watch it next week in marathon. Tell me if you do too!
I had sewing projects I REALLY wanted done by this week. 2 way overdue presents. A project for Mike and Easter dresses for my girls.
We have the flu. And it is brutal. So many symptoms. Mike has yet to get it, but the rest of us have.
I tried working on my projects a few 10 minutes installments here and there and I kept making mistakes. Too sick to think straight. Now I have a pile of projects that need redoing or reworking because I sewed with the flu.
So. I thought I show you fabric instead (some already shown on my Instagram). I think a bouquet of fabric sounds as lovely as a bouquet of flowers when you are sick. Mike Cosper, Send me fabric. I mean. I love you.
A present...some patchwork...vague:)
3 yards of this to sew for future 4 year old's birthday. Old man PJs and a dress or skirt.
Here are my super late and quick notes of how I accomplished it.
Using this classic picture, Dorothy asked for it to be exactly the same. "I'll try".
The Leotard. I made a practice fitting using a cheap black t-shirt knit material that I bought on sale. I did this by tracing her favorite swimsuit onto freezer paper. and using this tutorial at No Big Dill and lots of the info I have learned from all these posts on my Sarah's clothes to sew: knit pinterest board
to sew it all together .
The practice fitting or "muslin", fit well so I kept the pattern which like I said was basically a trace of her suimsuit folded down the middle. (I took pictures of all of these steps, but must have deleted them because they are not on my phone or computer. Sorry!).
The "S" for Super... it took a long time. I used fusible interfacing and made a patch out of the knit materials. I have hopes of making my own tutorial on how to do that. Until then google that concept if you want to know how to do it. The Skirt. Mom's of girls, This is my favorite skirt tutorial for girls. I had made a couple of these all ready last fall so I had done the math and this was the easiest part of the outfit. I used the gold to cover the waist band: Dana Made It: The Circle Skirt. Make one now.
Are you still with me?
So.
Cape. I honestly can't remember how I made the cape. I made three versions out of red lame' and that fabric was gross crinkly fabric for me to work with it kept ripping even though I used the right needle. And I made it the night before and she didn't want to wear it. We were both over the cape and of the three times she wore the costume she would not wear the cape. Luckily her cute wool blend coat looked matched with the rest of the costume when she needed it.
Super Dorothy, Butterfly Jamison, and Little Red Mags
Boots. There is this tutorial on making super hero boots. I was on my 5th or 6th day working on the costume and I just didn't have the energy, also I was not keen on cutting the tape off her legs, so I just took her red tights I had bought for the tutorial and cut them and stretched them over her boots. It cost about 3 bucks and 30 seconds.
And that sewing friends, that is how I made Supergirl costume and learned how to sew with dancewear/swimsuit knits. I think the costume cost about $18-20. I could have bought it for about 5 or 10 bucks more through a costume store, but I learned a lot of sewing skills which makes it so worth it. I enjoy this so much. I know there are people that wouldn't, but this stuff makes me giddy.
I think that maybe one of my granddaughters one day when helping write my obituary will say, "Don't forget to say that in 2012 she discovered that if you google 'Mike Cosper's wife' Tina Fey's picture picture popped up. She was really proud of that".
We love Tina Fey and 30 Rock.
When I was a new mom and staying up late with a crying baby, I watched the 1st and then the 2nd season of 30 rock on repeat. Over the last couple months, we have
been watching the series over to prepare for tonight's series finale.
There are no
spoilers for the last episode, but there ARE spoilers from last weeks episode so beware.
Tina Fey is the writer, producer and star of the show 30 Rock. She wrote
a Liz Lemon character that many ladies in America in their late 20s- mid 50s are
partly proud and partly sad to want to mimic. So many of us want to be
Liz Lemon. We cheer when she does something we have done that we are proud of. We cringe when she does something that hits too close to home...something we wouldn't want to admit like the amount of cheese we can eat while catching up on our DVR, a bathroom door blowing open while Don Draper is in the next room, or eating an ice cream sundae on your treadmill.
As my husband writes about the book, Bossypants...
"is somewhat like an episode of her TV show, 30 Rock. The show
defies genres, sometimes driven by romantic comedy, sometimes by classic
sitcom ensemble dynamics, and sometimes by seventh-grade bathroom
humor. Her book, in similar form, ranges from a poignant memoir to
absurd comedy. It’s foul-mouthed, honest, and a touch insecure, which is
probably also true of Fey."
In Tina's tribute to one of her comedy hero's David Letterman at the
Kennedy Center Honors in December 2012 Tina Fey said "Dave is someone
you watch not just because you like him, but because you fantasize that
he would like you."
I agree. And I will say the same
about her. Tina Fey, you are someone we watch, not just because we like
you, but because we fantasize that you would like us.
You could spend hours today looking up and laughing at Tina Fey and 30 rock videos.
"I want to go to there."
"Is that a thing?"
"I think that is a thing."
“I wolfed my Teamster sub for you!"
"...three weddings in one day, I’m going to be in Spanx for 12 hours. My elastic line is gonna get infected again.”
"Blerg."
Perhaps one of my favorite moments of the series, Kenneth's Muppet Vision.
It has been said that the part of Jack Donaghy was originally just in the pilot, but Alec Baldwin loved it so much he wanted in on the whole series. In Rolling Stone he said, he felt a lull in season 5 and thought about leaving, but season 6 was so good, and by the end of last season he was so sad to see it end he offered to take a pay cut to keep the show going. In reflecting on his character I was surprised how surprised I was with Jack finally getting a promotion he always worked for. I think that took some great writing that for 7 seasons you knew what his end goal was and he agonized to get it and then he does. You weren't often frustrated that this seemed to be what his story was leading up to.
If you are a fan of Alec Baldwin and a fan of great radio shows like "This American Life", PLEASE look up, Here's the Thing. It is so great the way he can talk to actors and performers in a way that just a hosting personality can't.
Elaine Stritch played Jack's mother and was in the original cast of Company in 1970. Do you not see early Collen Donaghy there?
The guest stars on this show are mind boggling and so well crafted. To get Carrie Fisher to say to you on national television, "Help me Liz Lemon, you're my only hope" must have been a dream come true.
The abundance of great characters and guest stars reminds me of Seinfeild. I could go on and about some of Liz Lemon's love interests, Steve Martin, Wesley Snipes, Carol Burnette, Chris Chros... Hilarious.
The LA Times says of the cast,
"If each character had her or his own sort of intelligence, or survival
instinct, each also had a special sort of stupidity." Go read that
article, 30 Rock Just Got Better. It is one of my favorite pieces written this week and sums up the show better than I could.
(A spoiler to LAST weeks episode is here)
Last week's episode almost could have
been the finale, but that would have been too neat and clean for the
writers of 30 Rock. When we watched the 2nd to last episode, Mike and I looked
at each with the Willy Wonka stuff going on and said, "It's Kenneth. IT'S HIM." Then when Liz and Chris go to meet their kids and Janet said,
"Cam-a-Raw" and Terry said, "Liz Lemon, I will not be able to go to school on account of my sick lizard"... it was so unexpected yet the puzzle piece fit nicely.
Lastly. If Liz Lemon, the women who said, "I am going to go talk to some food about this", is going out on a high note, what would be the best thing to do that? How about Ben and Jerry's giving your show it's own flavor? I am not sure if the new flavor is gluten free yet, if it is not, I am gonna buy some anyway and make ask Mike to eat it like Jack made Liz eat that steak after his heart attack. If it IS gluten free I am gonna eat that ice cream like it is sandwich day.
Thanks for the laughs Tina Fey.
*****************************************************************************
What are you going to miss? What are your favorite moments?
I asked my friend if I could do a mash up of the letter I was writing her as she potentially has Celiac disease and the informational Gluten free post I had been writing for a while. She agreed. Read her words about it here.
Dear Terri,
I am praying for you. I know the idea of going gluten free is daunting. Maggie's gaze above represents how you and I feel about Nord's donuts. And friend, I know you think you can't do it. I know you don't want to do it. So I am writing you and all those others with celiac disease and gluten intolerance that need it.
I have been meaning to blog about gluten free for others to be encouraged or spurred on. It has been about a year and a half now and still the smell of the donut, chocolate cake, or flour tortilla makes me tear up.
This is a true struggle, the balance of how I miss those delicious foods and
the knowledge that so many others in the world don't even have options for
enough food to be healthy or clean water. Where does that fit in in my life of sadness
because I won't be able to have the birthday
cake at a friends party? It is crazy and humbling. Yet still we are fortunate to live with too many options. We have been eating Oreos, rainbow bread, and Little Debbie's (yeah I said it) since we were kids.
Friend, we live in a broken world. Our bodies are broken. Just even 20 years ago you and I would have been exponentially less likely to have been suffering and diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and celiac disease.
Many of our food manufacturers and much of our agriculture are broken. There are things allowed in our food that are banned in other countries. I always question if that is some of the reason that so many of us are having so many diagnoses in our late 20s and early 30s. Perhaps one day our kids or grandkids will look back and know why we are sick now. What are all of these autoimmune diseases caused by?
Things are not what they should be. But you and I know they will be one day. You and I know Christ, and we know that on this side of heaven all things are broken. And we can't even process or wrap our minds around the glory of God and the goodness on the other side of heaven.
I pray that this letter will all be unneeded that your tests will come back that you do NOT have celiac disease (though as I can attest, thinking you have something and then being tested and finding out you don't is another mountain on this roller coaster of "well then what in the world is wrong with me" diagnosis game.)
But know this Terri Sue, you and your husband are some of the hardest workers we have ever known. You all get stuff done. If Celiac and gluten free is on your page in life, you are going to be fine. You will adapt well.
Here are my guidelines for you, which are not at all infallible, they are just my experiences speaking into your life and personality and how you might deal with this new diagnosis.
1. People will make fun of you or your disease.
People make fun of "Gluten Free" in media, TV shows, social networks and beyond. People who don't realize the extreme fatigue, stomach issues and migraines that come...they don't know that your small intestine might be so damaged from gluten that you are literally malnourished and may have vitamin deficiency to many other vital organs...they just make fun of it. They think of it as a fad and not a health crisis or a cure to disease. You have a thick skin, but just a warning...people like to make fun of all the allergy free needs of people like us, especially gluten free people, because Oprah did it once so, it must just be a fad right? Because we live in a cynical world that pokes fun when they haven't had to experience something like this in their life...and still pokes fun as a means of coping when they do have it in thier life.
2. People will avoid the issue.
Some people will feel weird about your disease. They will either joke like above or avoid the issue.
3. Some People will go out of their way to love you. And you will love them forever.
The night not so long ago that you brought me a bag full of GF cookies as we sat in the waiting room at the girl's dance class... The countless times you have emailed me or texted me about GF foods on sale. Do you even remember that was on your radar? You have so faithfully had it in mind to point me to gluten free coupons and sales. Our friend from church, Lauren Watson who is a baking ninja and has made me gourmet GF desserts. You will be so blessed by the friends like you and Lauren have been to me.
4. Don't try gluten free bread or pastries right away.
They will depress you. They are not similar. Go cold turkey on those things for a few weeks THEN try them. Then they might seem wonderful.
5. Eat before you go or take a snack with you.
Last year I didn't have anything around Thanksgiving and Christmas to substitute the sugar cookies and Pumpkin pie that I so often looked forward to. This year I made a GF pumpkin pie the day before Thanksgiving this year. Then I carried it with it's foil cover with me to each function that week and it was wonderful. When you fly or go to a get together have some of these Go Picnic boxes on hand (make sure to get the GF ones). Volunteer to make Gluten free snacks for the get together you are going to so you can have something to eat.
6. Gluten is hiding. And that is exhausting. Take it one step at a time.
There is gluten in ketchup, soy sauce, broth, shampoos and lotions. Wheat and vitamin E that is derived from wheat does a lot of cool things and so it is in a lot of cool things. It makes things taste good and make your hair shiny and skin soft. It is exhausting. Just take one step at a time. (Here is one list I use to help me figure out what I CAN have, Safe Gluten free food and ingredient list from celiac.com)
7. Find a few GF products and restaurants that have GF menus and fall in love with them.
I have done a lot of the work for you. I'll post info later this week. To be continued... 8. You are not a different person than you were.
You are the same person you were. You may not believe me. I cried on the phone to our friend, Carrie the day I was diagnosed with RA 6 1/2 years ago. "I HAVE A DISEASE". But I was still the same person. It took me awhile to learn that. I was the same person I had been. I just had info, doctors and medical practices that could help me feel better than I had for years and years prior.
IF you get results that you have Celiac disease and have to go gluten free, just imagine how much better, how much more energy, how much more nourishment you will get from the food you can still eat. Terri, you will feel better. And dare I say one day you will laugh at how much better you feel without the the things we miss.
9. You are not defined by a disease.
You are Terri. You may have celiac disease. You have a hyperthyroid. You are a loyal friend that has a wicked sense of humor. You have an amazing family that loves you and I will say it again, that you. are. the. perfect. match. for. the. one. and. only. Lachlan. Coffey.
But none of that defines you. You are defined by Christ. And that is all you need.
Matthew 11: 28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
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