Our Latest Ripped Shirt Projects

We are buying t-shirts that are too big, putting slits down the side, then we tie them in knots.

Mandy just finished her star for the parade. She will be dancing with the Dance Team. Watch for the tan cutie!

Izzy and Mandolyn's Flirty Skirts

I felt like I was making doll clothes when I did this one for Mandolyn. I think it will look "Beary" cute on her!

The headband bow is on white elastic lace, hard to see here against white fur!

It's the teeniest one I've made yet!

Izzy's is kind of an island tye-dyed look one. Mandy's got the same one, with a green underskirt, but I think your last one was green and yellow, so I went blue this time!

Hanhah Montana 2 Skirt for Lily!

Lily, I just found a cute pair of matching leggins to go with your new Hannah Montana skirt!

Mandy's Recital Skirt

Here's the skirt I did for Mandy's Piano Recital, a little longer to sit and play the piano!

It turned out cute. I had originally planned the music staffs to be going the other direction, but I think this is probably cuter going up and down!

The 2 Newest Skirts on the Blog!

These are the newest 2 skirts on the blog! Lily, I'll get them sent in the mail to you soon. I know your Hannah Montana is a favorite, but you can switch off with these new ones. You couldn't decide which one you wanted so I'm sending them both!

A Rose in the Rain

Kissed by the rain!
I noticed the new rose bud opening after all of this rain!

Needless to say, the potatoes are loving all this water!

Another Cute Flirty Skirt!

Just when I think the flirty skirts can't get any cuter, I finished another one and it's the cutest yet! I think our California cousin will like this one. We'll see her in Canada next month!

Treasures!

Here are a couple of treasures I found awhile back. One is an old telephone box, unfortunately the phone was not with it, but I thought it might make a primitive shelf box for the wall. Maybe it's the one they used on Greenacres! Remember how the Douglas' had to climb the pole to talk on the phone! Just think how far we've come with cell phones today.

Do you think Alexander Graham Bell ever imagined our day?

It's even got the little latch at the top.

Another fun find was this old wicker children's chair. I love the washed out white-washed look!

It makes a cute sitting spot for a couple of raggedy friends!

This is an old nail box I picked up at an estate sale.

Some of the nails were so rusted in place, they couldn't be removed.

Yes, it was just $3.00. The old guy looked at me so funny when I said I'll take it, but I don't need the nails! He shook his head and dumped them out for me, but I'm sure he thought I was crazy! I think it will make a cute shelf!

And my last treasure---a couple of old door knobs and brass plates. Can't wait to come up with something "Shabby Chic" to do with them! Happy Treasure Hunting!

Horse Outfit

I'm thinking we need to make one of these outfits for Noah, just can't decide on fabric colors!

Fresh Strawberries!

The berries looked so good in the store today, I couldn't resist! Which means I've been up tonight washing and bagging them. I decided these are too big and nice for jam, so I froze them whole in freezer bags to use in smoothies this summer. Has anyone had any luck doing this? These are huge big berries~~the kind that should really be dipped in chocolate!

Hair Bow to match Kapree's Skirt

I hadn't heard from Pam and Kapree yet, so I decided to make her a hair bow to match her flirty skirt. I think she is going to look so cute! I think this is the cutest chocolate dot bow I've ever made! I just stitch 3 1/2 sides of two 6 x 6 inch squares together. Leaving just enough opening to turn inside out, then glue a strip around the pleats and hot glue to a hair clip.

A Flirty Skirt for Kapree

Kapree picked out a darling chocolate polka dot fabric for her flirty skirt. The under skirt is a pink with random white dots. I think she'll look so cute in this! She'll be passing back this way tomorrow from Jackson Hole.

The Latest Skirts!

It's amazing what you can find at the thrift shop (IYR). I wanted to make these denim skirts, but didn't really have any jeans that were worn enough to cut the legs off, so I got the idea to check the thrift shop. Would you believe, Cruel Girl, Rockies, and Calvin Klein's all for $2.50 a pair! I whacked them right off and added this cute bandanna print fabric below. Mandy had a friend over, so I made one for her too! I think they turned out cute. The girls were downstairs playing when I asked them to come up and try on their skirts. Don't they look cute pajama bottoms and all?

Magic Pudding

I saw this recipe posted on a blog I follow ( Thanks Fresh Air). It sounds like one of those good old fashioned remedies like Grandma used to use---the best kind! I think this might have worked when Noah, our horse got trailer rash! I thought I'd pass this along to all of you Mom's of wee ones.

Magic Pudding (Do Not Consume---for Diaper Rash!)

1 Box Cornstarch

1 Lg container of Vaseline

2 oz. Vitamin E Oil

Put all ingredients in a large bowl and mix, mix, mix until smooth and creamy.

Apply directly to baby's bottom.

Gardening Fun

We went to an auction at our local garden shop yesterday. They had some wonderful buys. I picked up some bulbs and perennials. These are "garden grafitti" signs a friend of mine makes and sells there. I think they are cute. I've got to order more.

This is Mandy's peppermint that she started from a single start a couple of years ago. It has really taken off. She loves peppermint tea. We'll have to try and dry some leaves this year.

The Hollyhock starts from another friend are coming up this year.

This is a Beefsteak tomato plant.

The thornless blackberries I planted last year are sure to get some berries on them this year!

This is a new start of thornless raspberries from my same friend that shared her blackberry starts with us. We're not looking for any berries from this one until next year.

Oreo Truffles!

A friend made these for my for my birthday, and I had forgotten about them until I ran across the recipe. I needed a quick treat for a get-together at school, so decided to whip up a batch. I had forgotten how yummy they are, and I'm not even a big Oreos fan! Recipe follows..

Oreo Truffles

1 pkg Oreos (Use regular, not the double stuffed ones---the dark chocolate are regular, the white chocolate are mint!)

1 8 oz pkg softened cream cheese

Baker's (sweetened) chocolate

Crush Oreos in a plastic bag with a rolling pin, or put in a food processor. Reserve 9 Oreos in a small plastic bag to use after dipping. (I didn't do this....but I did take out the 9 Oreos.) Mix crumbs with softened cream cheese. This will remind you of a mudd pie mixture. Roll into 24 balls and place in the refrigerator. Melt chocolate. I have had the best luck using a glass measuring cup for about 2 minutes in the microwave. Then using 2 forks, dip each ball into the chocolate. Decorate with reserved Oreo crumbles, or sprinkles. It's hard to keep the white chocolate free of crumbs, but they are yummy just the same!

Glamour Gloves

These "glamour gloves are fun to make for friends, bridal shower, etc. I just cut a 6" strip of fabric that is about twice as long as the gloves are around. Then fold in half and press. I make pleats as I serge to the tops of rubber gloves. Everyone should have a pair of glamour gloves when doing the "not-so-glamourous" housework!

Pillow Case Pattern

Trimmed Pillow Cases

3 Different Fabrics
2 matching cases
Main Fabric 28” of 45 wide 1 and 5/8 yard
Contrasting 10” of 45 wide 5/8 yard
Decorative strip 4” of 45 wide ¼ yard

Cut all 3 pieces
Fold, with right side out and iron 10” strip and 4” strip

Layer right sides together with 28” strip on bottom, 4” strip closest to 28” piece then 10” on top—raw edges Pin in about 3 places. Serge edge. Fold right sides to right sides, making sure trim piece is laying correct direction. Serge bottom and end seams. Turn inside out and press.