Blog Failure here!

So my last post was April 30th 2011, and let me tell you there has been a lot that has changed since then. First off I was pregnant at the time and going through the most horrible morning sickness you could imagine, and keeping up with a small boy. Secondly my family was in the mist of loosing the glue that held our family together. May of 2011 was hard, because I was worried I'd loose the baby after a bleeding scare, and my grandmother became very ill for the last time. May and June was a warp wind of what's going to happen and by the time June was over and we knew baby was safe we had lost my grandmother. I am not going to lie I do feel like I went through a bit of depression that summer. I ended up quitting work all together in November, and on December 9th we welcomed our second son Patrick. Blogging was the last thing on my mind while we fought to breastfeed, and was up all night. When Patrick we six months and this started to get better we started talking about the prospect of trying for another baby. I just felt our family wasn't complete yet. In October 2012 we decided to try again and were excited to find out that we were expecting by November 2012. Our Joy was cut short as that pregnancy ended in miscarriage. I was crushed and even more devastated when Kevin said he wasn't sure he wanted to try again after all. So my dreams of a third child (possibly a girl) were dashed. As the new year started I was watching my niece and really feeling like three wouldn't be that hard before we could talk about it again Valentines day came round and brought a special gift... I was pregnant again. Without trying we had conceived a baby that I wasn't sure my husband would be happy about. I told him that night, and while he wasn't thrilled. He knew there was nothing to do about it now, but start preparing for this new child we would be welcoming in October 2013 (my edd was my grandmothers birthday) We did things a bit different with the baby and prenatal care, Since my husband was in the mist of a job change we ended up going with a midwife and she was amazing, and if we were going to have another I'd go with her again. In June we went for an ultrasound to make sure everything was okay and Kevin wanted to know the sex of the baby. On June 21st, 2013 we found out we were expecting our baby girl. From that point on Kevin was a bit more relaxed about the whole thing, but he was concerned about how delivery was going to go. I was planning an all natural birth at home. (after 2 inductions, and epidural births) He kinda wasn't sure that I would be able to go naturally with out pain medication because of my previous births. I was adamant that I wasn't going to the hospital unless it was necessary for my life or our daughters life. On October 31st (Yes Halloween!) at 2:31am I gave birth to our daughter, Kaitlyn, at home in a birth pool in our dinning room. 

Fast forward to today... As I sit here typing Patrick(2)and Kaitlyn(6months)are napping, and Andrew(5)is playing Legos. Things are finally settled down a bit and hope they will stay from here on. We are planning no more children, Kevin is working for himself, and I am loving being a stay at home mom to three. With the new found peace in our lives I plan to get back in to blogging, Vlogging, and trying to be the best mother I can be. Check back later as I have big plans for this blog, and YouTube. 

Love~ SewEcoMommy

With hope the morning sickness will be leaving soon.

With hope the morning sickness will be leaving soon and I can get on with my projects that need to be finished.
Here is all that needs to get done/ sewn

1. Clean House
2. Make a few skirts to take me through the end of the year
3. Make cloth grocery bags ( I am not paying .05 cents for paper that rips)
4. Make cloth diapers for baby
5. Make Emma and Kyra's Birthday gifts. ( Dress Pattern is Simplicity 4764) 
6. Make Christmas Tree Skirt and 4 stockings for our house
7. Make Christmas gifts for our family
8. Make baby stuff we will need
9. Down size... Big time!!!
10. Potty Train Andrew
11. Get Andrew in the toddler bed
12. Make curtains for dinning room, and the Andrew's room (I am close to being done with the valance for Andrew's room)

It seems like its not so much but some of these take several steps.I hate that I just don't have the get up and go to get them started just yet. but what can you do? noting but eat ginger and crackers and hope that soon I will be happily sewing soon. That's all I have for now, but I hope to fell better after my nap and might get the curtains done today. If so I'll post and update and some pictures of them.

Nothing Says Lovin like something form the oven.

Made chocolate chip cookies today. Super Yummy and Guilt free since I didn't eat cookie dough, but did have 2 little cookies. They were good, but I am done with them now. The Kids were super happy to have fresh cookies since we haven't had any in a while.

1 lb Butter (4 sticks)
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Brown Sugar
4 eggs
1 Teaspoon Soda
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
5 Cups Flour
2 (12oz ) bags Chocolate Chips, 1 Semi-Sweet & 1 Milk Chocolate
A dash of cinnamon
Mix butter and Sugar; add eggs, soda, salt, vanilla, cinnamon; mix well; add 3 cups flour, and chocolate chips, then the rest of the flour; mix well; roll in to balls; bake at 325* for 15-20 minutes until light brown.

They were very yummy, and went great with milk. Maybe since a diet isn't happening I can make more yummy food that I have been avoiding since I hoped to loose weight and now, I just don't care. I taped them and hope to get some editing done and posted on youtube soon.

Sew Eco Mommy of TWO!?!

SO I just found out on Sunday that I am expecting again. I couldn't be happier about the new addition to our family. It came just as I was starting to pick out the patterns and fabric for my new wardrobe, so I will put that project on the back burner and start working on some maternity clothing for myself and then I have a few baby things I'd love to make. As such, I put the baby underwear on hold because potty training is very important that it happens before the new baby comes in December. Also with my due date being 12/1/2011 I have some Christmas stuff that I am going to have to get on the stick and get fininshed before November. So I have been looking on cute clothes that will grow with my belly and cute baby stuff for the new baby, and some fun stuff for Andrew. We also have tons of stuff to do around the house to get ready for our sweet bundle. I have a few home projects that will also be making their way up and some cooking for the family so that we can eat healthy and well during and after our wait.
So Baby K or J will be joining our family December and I am super excited about that. Keep Checking back for sewing updates.

New Machine!

Kevin got me a new sewing machine today. A Singer Fashion Mate 6160. 60 different stitches, makes button holes, auto threader... Wonderful!! :) I am so excited about it and have really enjoyed sewing tonight. Well I will post pictures and maybe get my butt in gear and do Youtube soon. I have a few up coming sewing projects: I have to get some baby underwear made for Andrew. Kevin is taking us to Joann's to get some fabric for curtains for the dinning room and Andrew's room. I want to make a baby sheet set and comforter. I have 4 yards of black jersey for tee shirts for me. I have tons of fabric for skirts, and bloomers. Again will be posting pictures and info once I start and am finished. 

Cooking,,, Cheap Easy Bread

So I have been really bad about doing anything homey. Have had a bad headache for the past 2 weeks and seems like it is not going. So today in all my sickness I made a quick loaf of beer bread. I know, I know, I know really cheater way to make bread, but I wanted to make some bread to go with the split pea soup I wanted to have for dinner. I made a pot of soup and put it in the crock pot. I have a loaf of bread and diner is all set for when Kevin gets home. The recipe was so easy and fast:

3 Cups flour
2 Tablespoons, Sugar
1 (12oz) can or bottle of beer. (Whatever kind you drink.) I used Widmer Brothers: W'11 KGB

Mix all ingredients, put in a greased loaf pan and bake 350* for 1 hour. I don't like the dark beer and plan to make another loaf with a light beer that I'd drink. It is not too bad and I think it should go nicely with our soup.


Sewing related I got 3.5 yards of black jersey knit fabric to make some tee shirts for myself. If I can feel human long enough to make my pattern and cut it out. Sewing hasn't been a huge priority this year, birthdays, and baby shower and sickness has taken most of the start of the year.  I am not too happy about that and hope that things calm down a bit in the next few months. Seems like time is  moving too fast and as much as I want it to slow down it is just not happening. C'est la vie!

Baby Shower for my sweet little Hope.

I am throwing a baby shower for me sweet baby niece Hope. My brother, Sean is having his first baby and I wanted to throw him a shower for his new little baby. This is April's 3rd baby. I am planning on having it at the end of the month. around the 27th which is Sunday. I want to have it at my house, but am not sure how well that would work with grandma. I know we have lots of stairs and that might not be the best route. I'll need to talk to her first and see how she feels about doing it that way or if she just wants to have it at her house and go from there. I have no clue about my theme, or food, or anything yet. It will be a small shower I think since it is just two of her friends maybe a sister of hers and them our family. I have an idea about the cake, and I know a few other things I want to do for the shower. I have a good idea of gifts, since we have a few extra baby items we plan to give them, and there are a few new things I'm planning on picking up. I'll have to figure out where first and then we can go from there.

Sew overwhelmed...

Sew overwhelmed right now in life. I feel so drained and wanted to make my birthday gifts this year. (Went and bought a few yards of fabric for my sisters gift) But I just couldn't sew it. I think saving money on the patterns is a double edge sword. On one edge it was amazing to not have to go out and buy a pattern when I need something, but Now there are so many I feel unsure of where to start. I know it would be best to just grab one pattern and just do it, but there are 45 to choose from. Well less then that because the costume ones and little girl ones really wouldn't be used and would take tons of fabric. But I do have several skirt and top patterns I could be making for me to wear. (After all this was to make MY clothing!) If is just kinda daunting when I get home some nights I just can't pull my self to the sewing machine ( I am happy once I am there playing around, it's just getting there that's the battle.)

I made a master list of the patterns and I have broken it down in to costumes, everyday (men's, boys, mine( skirts, tops, dresses, Pj's)) I need to just pull out the skirts and tops and pick a few skirts to make. Maybe I'll hold off on tops until I get some skirts made up.

I have a really lovely teal heart print, and an orange floral, and pink pattern, blue patter, brown stripes, brown with pink pin stripes. I think when I go to the store I'll pick up a few plain black tee skirts and just make my skirts. Once I am done and have all that finished then I can move on to tops.I am not worried about underwear at this moment because my husband is getting me a gift card ($25) for ever 10lbs I can loose and its to Victoria's secrets or Fredrick's. So I don't have to worry about making that for a while. Again I am just in a rambling state trying to talk out my mind and figure out where to head next. Seems more clear now. All I needed was a plan. (Funny ;) ! ) So I'll post later tonight when I pull up the skirt pattern that I'll be working with.

Sale at Joann's Saved over $600 dollars over 2 days!!!

So I saved because I spent money. If I hadn't bought 40 patters at $0.99 each I would have never saved that much, but $17 off a pattern is amazing even if I can't do that level yet. Last night I was feeling a bit over stretched looking at all of the patterns that won't fit on my table now. I started out with 4 patterns and now I have 45... I want to sew them all, and I know that one day I may have most of them made (I hope)
Sunday I spent $44.89 on:
10 patterns, 11 yards of fabric, 4 zippers, 8 rolls of ribbon, garter clips, hook and eye closures.
Kevin spent 15 and got:
10 patterns, and a pattern box
Monday I spent 15 and got:
10 Patterns, 2 pks light blue rick rack, and 1/4 inch bias tape.
Kevin got 10 more patterns for 10

I am still working on the baby underwear. I made one pair (they are ugly!!!! really UGLY!) I know they should get batter with practice, and I wish I had all day to practice. (BUT back to the real world there is too much to do to sit in front on a machine and sew.) I have pulled all my old tee shirts I don't wear and am making them in to underwear for Andrew so hopefully I can get that finished in the next few days. I'll post pictures when I do.

I have a pattern for a bag cut out, an apron, and two skirts, and one shirt. I have a nightgown I'd love to make and then I have a super special gift I want to sew for Kevin for Valentines day.

I have been bitten by the sewing bug.... only cure is to make things till I can't afford to make anything else.)

Thsi weekend....

This weekend I will be working on a few things.

1. Baby underwear. Andrew told me today he wanted underwear not a diaper. It is a great sign for potty training. But since I have yet to make his underwear I need to get in gear so he can start in the morning.
2. I have an old comforter that I am going to cut up and make dog beds with for my grandmother's dogs. It has been sitting for months and I need to get it out of my house an in her dogs house.
3. I have the fabric for 2 more skirts and some extra scrap fabric to practice my shirt pattern and the Pj's pants.
4. I'd like to make more of the little pillows I made, ( I made Andrew, Treyce and Hailey one) I want to make a few for the daycare kids for naptime. {Emma, Madison, Savannah, Tauren, Eve, Kyra} I'd like to have them made before the new girls start on Tuesday.
5. I have several little girl dresses that need to be washed and ironed, and fixed up a bit for the girl's dress up trunk.

I am hoping to get it all finished BUT I do have a bit of house work that needs to be done, and Kevin is giving me the storage shed off the deck to put my crafts and stuff. He will move his stuff to the garage.

Been a crazy week

We had my sister in laws kids this week and that made working on crafts stop!?!?? There was not a second to myself. But now my home is back to being mine and my sweet Andrew is great about playing and sleeping which makes crafting happen more often. I did make two little projects this week.
I made a wrist pin cushion, and 3 small pillows for the kids bed.

Picture of my first project.

My finished skirt. It cost $8.47 to make and took 2 days because I took a night off to get a new car. I am very happy with how it turned out. My only issue is that I feel it might be too short for me. But I couldn't have known before I made it. I love that fabric I picked out ($1.50 a yard on mark down. Only problem was there was only 2 yards and the skirt I really wanted to make took almost 3 yards.) The zipper was a big worry for me because I thought it would be really hard to put in, but it was alot simpler then I thought. I didn't buy hook and eye closures because I thought i had some at home, well I didn't and had to take a part an old bra to get a hook and eye closure (it was red, you van see if  you look hard and the right side seem, but I'm not telling everyone its there.)

 I am planning on making the other skirt that came in this pattern. I think I'll start tonight and I am using an old sheet I have just to check it out before I spend money on fabric I love. (I still have $50.00 my husband gave me for Christmas to spend at the fabric store.) It's funny how exciting starting a new project can be.  

Just finished!!!!

I just finishes my skirt! I am so excited! Ya it's not the best in the world but it is my best and I am so freaking happy with how it came out. I hate that I can't post pictures for the iPhone because I so would. I'll have to get out my old camera and take a few I can post in the morning one I get to a computer.

So I would have been finished last night the skirt only took a few hours total, but my husband and I bought our first car last night and when we got home, at 9PM had to get baby to bed and eat then head to bed ourselves. I am very pleased with my new skirt and it wasn't as hard as I was thinking it would be. Next time I will try a different pattern because I feel that this one is shorter then I would normally wear. Being a mommy I like a bit longer skirts. I try to get a few picts uploaded soon and let you know what my next project is.

Christmas is finished!!!!

So here I was on Christmas Eve trying to finish making gifts for family because this year was crazy, now life can get back to semi normal. So today I'm starting my first sewing project for me.


Project: skirt for me, pattern is (it's so easy, it's simplicity, 2410 size A) I'm using a brown and floral print. It takes a zipper(never put one in) I'll post pictures once I can. But here goes nothing!?!

4th Project ~~~ Emma's Ladybug Scarf~~~

4th Project ~~~ Emma's Ladybug Scarf~~~

So Emma's 3rd birthday is Saturday and we are going to her party and I was looking at toys, but I honestly don't have a clue what she has. I know that she loves hats and scarfs, and also ladybugs. So I am making her a Ladybug hat and scarf. I'm using the same pattern (SB300-006 Crochet Mile-A-Minute Scarf) but I only chained 130 and then fallowed that pattern from then on. She is only 3 and I thought that a big scarf would be hard for her to manage. I'm using the colors 0319 Cherry Red and 0312 Black. Once I am done I will get some cute ladybug buttons and sew then on the ends of the scarf. I'm also using the pattern and making a very short one to make her a hat that matches. I am almost done with the scarf (only took maybe 2.5 hours)

3rd project ~~~ Christmas Scarf~~~

3rd project ~~~ Christmas Scarf~~~

So I have a pattern from Red Heart and it is SB300-006 Crochet Mile-A minute Scarf (Pattern can be found at the link below) I'm making mine with 0360 Cafe from Red Heart and 0312 Black from Red Heart. CA is the Cafe and CB is Black in my scarf.

I have been putting doing this project off because it looked like it might be hard and I'd have trouble with it, BUT it has been very easy and gone super fast after the starting chain of 240 in lass then a day I have most of it finished. Once you get the pattern down it does go very fast. I may be making one for these for myself after Christmas is over and I have time to make for me again.

As of right now I just finished the first 2 rows and an starting with the black (rows 3-4) and then 5 will be cafe again. Will post pictures once it is finished. Maybe tomorrow? Could be!?

http://www.coatsandclark.com/crafts/crochet/projects/accessories/sb300-006+crochet+mile-a-minute+scarf.htm

2nd Project ~~~ Baby Underwear~~~

2nd Project ~~~ Baby Underwear~~~

So my little Andrew is getting ready to potty train!!! Oh Yeah! Happy dance all the way to the little boy underwear aisle in the store, Fall down dead. You have got to be joking me 7.99 for 3 pairs of underwear that wont last more then a few months (growing so fast!; then add that I need like 20 pairs to start with (NO PULL UPS HERE!) and I can't run out of underwear mid-day. I'm hoping that it will be quicker then the year that it took Emma, but who knows. We are going thru 5-7 changes a day at the time and I know that I'd be able to do the wash most nights so as long as I get it done every other day Andrew will have Clean undies.

My Plan:
I did buy one pack of the little boy underwear so I could take them apart and make a pattern. (CHECK!) I finished pulling apart the underwear today and found out it will be 8 pieces. (including and liner sew in.) I'm going to make a tag board template so I can make several pairs since I know that they fit Andrew well and they are comfortable.

First Project ~~~ Tie Snakes for Christmas~~~

First Project ~~~ Tie Snakes for Christmas~~~

So I saw these cute snakes made out of a man's neck tie. I thought they would be great for the kids on my Christmas list.

The Items Needed:
Ties (1 per snake)
Google eyes (2 per snake)
Red Felt (just a scrap for the tongue)
Fluff to stuff or beans to fill

So I told my father in laws girlfriend about this gift I'd like to do and she gave me a bag full of ties and 3 begs of fiber fill to stuff with.

So here goes; I started by cutting tags off all the ties and taking out the center seam. I pulled out the lining and discarded all that stuff. Next step was to press the ties flat(check you heat so you don't mess up the fabric)then I pressed it in half right sides together so that I can sew up the center seam (not sewing either end so I can stuff with the fiber fill) Then it will be time to stuff the snake from both ends as full as you want (the first one that I made took a whole bag of fiber fill; I don't think that I will fill them that much) Once they are filled I just sew up the ends of the snake, but you could hot glue since you'll need it to add the google eyes and tongue.


So I have 12 of these little buggers to make before the end of the month. I have them all ready to iron and sew. I'll post pictures as soon as my little beauties are finished.

Welcome to my blog... Hope to learn some fun stuff along the way.

So WELCOME to my blog about sewing and making things for my family and myself. I have been thinking about making my own clothing since I was a little girl and love making my old things over (not a great seamstress, but hope to get better thru this adventure) 

My husband thought it would be cool if I could make my own clothing and clothing for our son and further children. Not only will it save on cost of buying for a family every year, but with working on loosing weight I can make my clothing fit and not go out and buy new things everything my size changes. He will for the most part be keeping buying his clothing because Jeans are hard and might cost more to make then he could buy them. I will be making his underwear and PJ pants. Our whole family will still be buying socks and coats and gloves ( I can make scarfs and hats now) My little adventure might even take over in our home and be able to make some of our basic household needs.

I hope to learn alot and maybe you'll learn something too.