Super Duper Clearance! ...or... PLEASE! Buy Stuff!

 I spent this morning cleaning out my basement while Brooks napped and the girls watched Toy Story 2.  It worked out pretty nicely, if I do say so myself.  While cleaning, I came across some of my tops and dresses that I made about a year ago.  Recently, I've been contemplating whether I want to try selling my wares again.  I'm still on the fence.  (Thoughts?!)  But even if I don't really (re-)open up my full-fledged Etsy store, I think it's about time to bid adieu to these items.

I actually really like them, all of them.  But some of them are now too small for my girls.  And more than that, my children do NOT need any more clothing.  So I thought I'd post them here on super duper sale.  In other words, EVERY ITEM IS $12, shipped (**only in the U.S.  Shipping will be different for international orders).   I think that's a bargain.  Just email me your paypal info at seweasybeingreen(at)gmail(dot)com to purchase!  Without further ado, here they are:

The first is a halter dress in this lovely Michael Miller fabric.  It's a size 3T, has an elasticized back and ties at the neck.  (Full disclosure: I'm having a hard time parting with this one... but I will... for you.)   SOLD!!

 Second is this cute little top, in size 12 months. 

  (You'll notice a picture quality drop-off now!)  Here are some other pictures of that one:

 

This dress is a size 2T.  I love the simplicity of it.  The straps create a slightly capped sleeve look.
SOLD!!

This is a 2-for-1 deal.  $12 for BOTH!  Size 6-12 months.  (ignore that "next pic" nonsense at the bottom)

 This skirt  is a size 2T, with a flat front and elasticized back.  It's really cute with a little top tucked into it!

I made this from my first bundle of fat quarters.  Oh, the memories.  It's made from all Amy Butler fabric.  Elasticized back.  Size 18-24 months. 

 

 Day at the Zoo dress in size 6-12 months. 

It buttons in the back for easy on-and-off!

 Little argyle onesie with attached skirt, size 12 months. 

Can you tell that I tired of being descriptive and cutesy by the end?  Whew.  Glad that's over!  Now please!  Buy stuff!  Or tell your friends!  I'm begging.  Begging, people!  Help me clean my house! :)

Fabric Deliciousness

I could hardly believe it, but I won one of the prizes in the Project Run & Play/ Simple Simon & Co. Skirting the Issue event!  And yesterday, this package of loveliness showed up on my doorstep.

 I don't think I need to tell you how thoroughly excited I was and still am.  (Thank you Thank You THANK YOU, Riley Blake!)  I actually just sat and stared at it for a while.  And then I didn't want to unwrap it because it was just so pretty!  But this morning, I unwrapped it and threw it in the laundry, so it will be ready to go.

So what do I do with all this gorgeous chevron?  Now accepting ideas! :)

If at first you don't succeed... OR... Epic FAIL.

I had this idea for some super cool bibs (overalls) to make for the girls.  They were relatively simple, sleek, and modern.  I was pretty stoked about the possibilities.  I was so excited, in fact, that I did a tutorial on my first run, taking tons of pictures along the way.  Then I slipped the newly-made outfit onto Noelle and (drumroll, please)...

FAIL!  

I don't even know if I can begin to list all the things that went wrong with these bibs, fit-wise.  First, the inseam was way too short, so the things road up like mad, giving Noelle a super attractive crotch-V.  The back is elasticized, but the elastic needed to hit higher, so it kept creeping up, further enhancing the short inseam and adding the lovely touch of no-stay straps.  Oh, and shall we mention the floods?  Yeah.  These were meant to be full-length pants.  Ha!  

I thought about trying to fix them, but then I decided that I would just start over, since I was still set on creating a tutorial.  

Try #2 is way cuter.  See?

You probably want to click on that image to see it in its full-size cuteness.

I took pictures for a tutorial for that one, too... but then I had to make some last minute alterations.  I'm pretty sure the third time will be the charm, so prepare yourself for a third pair of bibs... this time, ones that fit perfectly, the first time. :)

Sewing for ME: The Tanya Skirt Tutorial

**I've been sitting on this tutorial for quite some time now, waiting to get a picture of me in my new skirt.  But life happens.  And today, it's raining, so I'm just going to post the tutorial now, so you can make yourself a cute skirt ASAP! :)  Here's one picture of mine, shot by the only on-hand photographer: Riley.  Everyone knows that the best possible angle from which to have a picture taken is from the ground up... ;) **

But, seriously, how adorable is Tanya?!

I have never sewn anything for myself.  Never.  It's been a little too terrifying.  But after I made this skirt for Tanya, I knew I had to have one.  Look at me, being so super brave.  Plus, I had just found this subtle gray-on-gray chevron fabric, so I had to put it to good use.  This skirt has a fitted waistband and is super full.  If you don't like how full it is, then you can easily just adjust the width, so you don't cut all the way from selvage to selvage.  The length is easily adjustable as well.  Nice, eh? :)

Materials: 
About 1.5 yards fabric, depending on desired length
8-inch zipper
sewing stuff

Instructions:
First you need a couple measurements.  Get your waist measurement-- your natural waist since this is a high-waisted skirt.  Then decide how where you want your skirt to hit on your leg.  Measure from your waist down to that point.  Then you just do a couple simple calculations:
For the waistband: 2 pieces, waist +1.25 inches by 4.25 inches
Skirt: 2 pieces, desired length - 2.25 inches by width of fabric
Belt loops: 1 piece, 2 inches by 10 inches

Cut these pieces.  If you want pockets, cut those, too.  Just cut four pieces in roughly the shape below.  (Also make sure two of the pieces are flipped, so you can place them right sides together.)

Waistband pic:

Measure down about 8 inches from the top corners of your skirt pieces and mark with pins.  That means you'll have 8 places marked where you're going to put your pockets.

Place top of pocket at pin, right sides together.

Sew them all on, using a 5/8" seam allowance and zig-zag that portion to finish.  Technically, you could zig-zag the whole side, but since you cut to the selvage, it won't fray.  Time-saver!  Boo-yah!

Flip your pocket out, like so, and press.  You'll see that I wanted a fun little hidden pop of color for my pockets.  I'm just full of surprises like that...

Take your pieces for your belt loops. 

 

 Fold the edges into the center.  Press.

Then fold it in half.

Stitch close to both edges.

Then snip the whole thing in half.

Find the center of one of your waistband pieces (marked with a yellow pin below).  Place one belt loop slightly off-center.  They're going to be way too long, but that's ok.  Since I did mine with a chevron print, the extra length allowed me to line of the lines.  Nice!

Place your other belt loop on the SAME HALF of the waist band, 1.5 inches from the edge.

Place the other waistband piece, right sides together, over the whole thing.  See how both belt loops are on the same half?

Use a 1/2-inch seam allowance and sew just the tops together.  When you're done, snip off the excess belt loop.

Flip right sides out, press, and topstitch the top edge (and belt loops).

You'll only have one finished edge at this point.  Tack down the bottom of your belt loops at this point.

Now grab your skirt again and sew up just ONE side, using a 5/8" seam allowance.  Your stitching should line up with the stitching you did to sew the pocket on.

After you sew it, finish the pocket with a zig-zag stitch.

Run a gathering stitch along the top of your skirt piece.  I actually like to do two, since it's such a big piece.  Gather the skirt till it's the width of your waistband.  Make sure the side seam lines up with the center of your waistband (this also ensures that your gathers are a little more even).

Also, when you gather, leave the 1.5" by the edge ungathered/flat.  This will make it easier to install your zipper.

Sew waistband to skirt and finish with a zig-zag.

Press the seam allowance up toward the waistband.

Topstitch along the bottom of the waistband, securing the seam allowance below and giving it a nice, finished look.

Zig-zag those last raw edges of your waist band (and the whole side seam if you wish, but again, you have the fray-free selvage there!).

Get ready to install your zipper.  Here's a good tutorial from Sew, Mama, Sew!  I marked where I need to stop basting with a double pin.

  Press out, continue with the install...

Add a hook and eye and you just finished a skirt... for yourself... and it's cute!!

However, let's not let those beltloops go to waste.  Make sashes (or use a storebought belt) in whatever colors you want!

Thanking God for Tiny Breaths-- Brooks's Weekend

Sunday morning, Brooks woke up around 5:00, crying and congested.  I tried to feed him and put him back down, but he was inconsolable.  Both Michael and I tried everything-- from walking with him to playing to giving him a bath.  He was having none of it.  It was around 7:30 that I noticed that he was sucking in air big time, his little chest heaving and his ribcage showing with each breath.  Clearly, I was concerned.

I popped Brooks in the car and drove over to the Urgent Care.  It may be the only time that I'll be grateful for a screaming baby in the car.  As long as he was crying, I knew he was breathing.

Let me pause this story to say that I'm still amazed at how little I know.  I was, obviously, really worried about Little Dude (and got more and more concerned as I drove), but never did I anticipate the following hospitalization.  Sheesh.

Okay, so we get to Urgent Care, which-- thankfully-- is pretty empty.  I walk up to the desk and say, "Honestly, I just want to see if I need to take this guy to the ER."  They quickly take Brooks back to check him out.  They see the wheezing, look at his tummy sucking in and out, and they tell me that, sure enough, we'll be heading to the ER.  But we'll be doing it in an ambulance.

The nurses start Brooks on a nebulizer, and Matt and Eddie, a couple really sweet EMTs, show up a few minutes later.  They lift the bed, me and Brooks up and into the ambulance, and we head out.  Matt gives Brooks a stuffed horse, a Clydesdale who we name Bud.  Eddie tells us not to have too much fun in the back.  I think about how the girls would be really thrilled to be doing everything that Brooks is getting to do.

My concept of time was foggy the whole day, but we spent quite a few hours in the ER, Brooks getting frequent treatments.  A respiratory specialist came in with another guy who was in training.  As Mr. Trainee looked at Brooks, the specialist told him, "See, he's classic."  I'm still not sure if I'm sure what that meant, but I think she was talking about his "retractions," how he was sucking in the air.  But look at this guy-- still smiling!

Brooks was so grateful to be breathing easily that he zonked out during one of his treatments!

I think it was around noon when we learned that we would be staying at the hospital for awhile.  They had gotten us a bed in Pediatric Short Stay.  The nurse, Rachelle, was sweet and wonderful.  However, it was an extremely short stay for us.  We were the only people up there, so they soon sent down to the main Peds floor.  We were getting an excellent tour of the facility.

On the Peds floor, we met Pam, our new nurse.  And we landed in the room that we would be in for the next 24 hours or so.  Brooks was doing really great.  I mean, really, Big Man was a CHAMP.  He was sweet and cooperative and wonderful.  The treatments were really helping him, and I no longer noticed the wheezing until he started getting close to the next treatment time.  Again, I thought about how Riley and Noelle would envy their little brother.  The Peds floor has a playroom with a train table, a bazillion other toys, and a giant fish tank, complete with a puffer fish and multiple "Nemos." :)  We snagged some toys for our room.

 

I'll fast-forward and tell you that we were there till around 2 on Monday, when Brooks was able to go 4 hours between treatments without wheezing.  We were on our third nurse at this time, Melissa, who just happens to be the wife of one of our pastors.  Small world!  (And a volunteer, Kaitlyn, goes to Taylor and is good friends with Mike's cousin!)

Basically, it's not certain he has asthma.  There have to be recurrences in order to establish that.  Something obviously didn't sit well with that tiny respiratory system, and his airways reacted.  We don't know exactly what that was, but if something like this happens again, we'll have to start looking for a pattern.  Right now, we have our own nebulizer, are praying that he does NOT have asthma, and are thanking God for each tiny breath. 

Whoooo's Surprise Birthday Dress

I've spent the last couple days in the hospital with sweet Brooksy-boy.  He woke up on Sunday morning, wheezing and generally inconsolable.  He's home now and fine, and I'll fill you in more later, but whew...  It was quite a ride.  Glad to be home.

And I'm glad to be able to share this little dress that I made for my niece, Hannah, who just turned THREE!

When I first decided to make Hannah a dress, I actually thought to myself, Well, Heather... I guess you're THAT aunt-- the weird one who only gives clothes, and handmade clothes at that.  Sorry, kids, my sister-in-law will say, just smile and say 'thank you.'   However, when I brought this dress upstairs, BOTH my girls jumped up and asked, "Is that for me!?!"  So, YES!  This gift is a winner.

It starts off like this: just a navy and white polka dot dress with a random tree appliqued on it and a pocket...

... but then, out of said pockets pops a little owl to take along!

He can either stay hidden safely away in his pocket or he can journey over to his hole in the tree to rest and look out on the world.

"Hey, guys!"  

And he's attached to a ribbon, so he's a take-along toy that can't get lost.

Hannah wore her dress to church on Sunday and loved it.  See!  THIS aunt's not weird!
(Quiet, peanut gallery!)

:)

Finally... the MyMemories giveaway winner!!

Yikes!  Sorry about that, folks!  The giveaway closed on Sunday, but I've apparently had my head in the clouds.  Without further ado, random.org says that the winner is...

#5: Melissa J!

Congrats, Melissa!  I'll be sending you an email soon, so you can download and start playing with your software ASAP.

For everyone else, remember, you can still get 10 bucks off by using my code -->
It's right over there.  And I'll be posting freebies from time to time, too.  Woohoo!

So this post has a picture (that's why we're all here, right?!), here you go... I just found this dress-- one of the first things I ever made for Riley-girl.  I slipped it on Noelle a couple days ago, snapped a shot of her while she was sitting on a tiger tank, and called it a day. :)