mr. potata head

I was visiting Beth in blog space tonight. I admire and adore her photography and love her personality.  With that being said, I'm glad I'm not the only person who photographs potatoes!    I laughed so hard when I read her post because it reminded me of this...

(now mine's no super cool potato, like her fingerling, just a regular Yukon gold but it's cute, right?)  It was 2005, my brother's birthday and maybe I was making a side or something, but I ran across this potato and with my very first digital camera took an awful close-up of the "face".  Do you see it?  Here look at this one where I traced it in red...

Some days, I wonder about myself...am I the only one who is this silly?  Then, I run into people like Beth and I know that I'm not alone in this world.  hee hee.  Not the only one taking pictures of potatoes.  At least I didn't dress mine up with legs.  hee hee hee.  Don't worry, I will next time!  Maybe I'll make some itty bitty clothes for it too!  Oh the possibilities!  Wow, too much fun on a Monday night.

from the weekend and a giveaway at Beth's

I worked on some stuff this weekend, so I need to share.  Because I said I would.

I've almost finished putting the bias tape on this "fold and snap" baby bib.  This was our first meeting, the bias tape and I.  It went OK, I need more practice though and patience.  I started to rush and that didn't help.  All the curves. Whew.  They threw me.  I'll admit it.

Back some time ago, I saw this on Raechel Myers blog, Finding My Feet.  Getting a kick out of it and wondering again if it was within my skill level to duplicate it, I pulled it up the other day and showed K and the man how cute it was.  They decided we had to make it.  Now Raechel is oh-so talented and did hers using a stencil she made and paints.  Clever and not too time-consuming, huh?  Well, to change things up a bit and since I don't like to be such a copycat, I decided to do a felt version and change the wording.  I free-handed some letters using scissors and white felt and used the same mustache on black felt.  Using heat'n'bond, I ironed them onto the shirt and finally, sewed them down permanently.  See?

It wasn't as snappy as hers but, I think it turned out well.  You?  I was so proud!  Thanks to Raechel for her great ideas!

This weekend, C hung a dry erase board up above my sewing table.  So, I listed all of the projects I wanted to do, a list of supplies I need, and just to make it fun - some wants. 

I have a long list of things to work on but, my project today was a Bible cover for the man.  I had purchased one for K and I a while back.  Of course, he wanted one too.  So, I decided instead of buying another, I would try my luck at making one.  So, without further ado...

I'd say it went well.  As usual, there are always things I would do differently but, isn't that the way life is?  Don't worry.  Believe in yourself but, more importantly believe in God, that he will get you through.  Do your best.  Learn as you go.  Leave the rest to God.

"Don't be afraid, just believe." - Mark 5:36

"Be still and know that I am God." - Psalm 46:10

Lastly, before I leave and because I adore Beth's sweater, I am leaving you with this...Beth is a very, very talented photographer!  I love her work and follow her blog faithfully.  (I told her, I'd love to be her apprentice - she's just a little far away.)  Her spirit is kind and her words have uplifted me time and again.  To the point now - Beth's doing a giveaway.  Jenny an artist local to Beth, recycles sweaters and things, turning them into new creations.  The giveaway is for some of Jenny's stuff.  I'd love to win, so check out her etsy shop.

Completed, ongoing, and projected endeavors

I told you I'd be back, with pics...

K and I were so excited about these...can you ever really have too many pjs?! 

OF COURSE NOT, SILLY!

Flannel fabric from the remnant bin = $1.50
Elastic = $1.47
Twill Tape (drawstring) = $1.27
Total = $4.24!

Then, you know who had to have some too - Thomas the Train, they had to be, he said.  And so we made them...

(I love the patience of our subjects and this photo says it all - on the move!)

I used a combination of two online tutorials to make these jammies.  This one.  And - OK, the other one, I cannot find.  I will add, that this lady is a little long winded and difficult for me to understand, completely my opinion - you, on the other hand, might find nothing wrong with her tutorial.  I need simple instructions with pictures, so you can definitely find easier tutorials if you're looking but, I had to give her credit.  Thanks lady!



Next, the man and I decided to make these felt envelopes for his classmates from this tutorial from Roots and Wings Co....

They turned out well...and yes, one day, I will get down and serious about taking those photography classes so I don't end up with wonky photos like this one.  I'm obviously doing something wrong because I adjusted my settings per Beth and I still got this.  (OK, so, I remembered SOME of what she said, not all of it.  Guess I need to read that email again, huh?  I'm feeling a little disarrayed today.  You can tell, huh?)  I told her my sewing area is very well lit but, I don't know, dag on it.  I'll go back and read the email, she probably left more instructions than I can remember.



I made the stripe-y one a week ago and this morning at Jo-Ann's, I found this fabulous "hen house" pattern that I absolutely couldn't put down.  I wasn't too excited that the latter was a little more mustard-y than I had expected but, I am partial to chickens.  So, it's a keeper!

The pillow tutorial is SUPERB! and extremely easy, courtesy of Raechel Myers.  So, easy that, newly 10 year old, K made her own pillow with a little help from moi.

We are getting ready to start this...

...courtesy of these ladies again.



And this tutorial by Dana Willard...

So, that's about it.  I made a cover with a pocket for the FoodSaver but, no pics for that.  I might get around to showing it one day.  And we're making a couple more of these as gifts.  To be honest, I'm kinda sick of 'em.  They're cute as all get-out but, we've made a few and I just need a break from 'em!