No pattern A-line dress

Hi! there.

Here is my A-line dress with some ric- rac pockets. :) 

Kinda looks like the circus:).

plus lots of Pocket tutorials and ideas!!!!!!

Simple A-line dress tutorial: 

*Take one of your daughters dresses and fold in two. *Take 2 pieces of your fabric fold one in two then the other. *Take the two folded pieces and place them on top of each other then place the dress on top  *Trace the dress giving one inch extra seam allowance as your trace along the dress. *Cut out. * I then took one dress piece and cut the neckline in more of a circle for the front of the dress. (also you need to make sure the dress will go over the child's head if you are not putting in buttons or a zipper.)

You can use this pattern over and over with so many variations. 

I recognize this is not a detailed tutorial. It was just SOOOO easy I wanted to share just in case others needed an encouragement jump start. This is a perfect project for a novice. 

 A -line pocket dress tutorial.

This tutorial is very similar to mine but with some added details and the pockets are big and darling!!

Source: From the blue shed

Here are some more wonderful helps and ideas for pockets. 

Pocket TUTORIALS

Tutorial pleated pocket

Easy patch pockets tutorial

Shirred pocket tutorial

Ikatbag pocket series tutorials!

Sweet shaped pockets for little girls

Pocket IDEAS

Fun square pocket idea

A dress full of pockets ~ super fun idea.

simple Rectangle pockets idea

I made this little Circus dress for DRESS A GIRL around the world sew along ~April 2012. This was my first ever dress and sew along and it turned out pretty good I think. I used whatever I already had in house for fabric and and such. The dress is made from a sheet like material and the pockets are up-cycled from some old pj pants. :)  I think I can do better next time so it will be fun to make a few fro my girls this summer. 

In my west corner....slowly learning to sew and using whatever I have to do it,

Becky.

DIY cardboard clipboard ~ all about rhythm

Really this post is not just about a DIY idea it is the beginning of a series of posts about the rhythm and rythm of our/my days.  My last post RAW, eluded to some of the post I wanted to share. The posts are overall ideas that I have begun implementing to help bring the things that we value to practical steps in our home. Some of these things we are testing out and some will be things we already see working. 

We used to do chores like THIS, however as my kids are growing and changing I am wanting to help them grow and change in responsibility and producing good habits. Also and just as important it is to encourage them to serve their family (and others) with the help they contribute through the week. 

So here is one creative way we are putting into practice these things:

Here is a picture tutorial for our Cardboard Clipboards. :)

After you have cut out your cardboard to the size you like then prepare the clothes pins like pictured above.

I then decorated the cardboard piece with what I had in my house.

I then glue gunned the clothes pins to the cardboard. Make sure if you try this to measure where you want your clothes pin before you glue. Test it a couple times, attach a piece of paper to see where you want it to hang. 

I wanted to have a place where I could stick on a marker/pencil etc. 

This is what I did:

I used stick on Velcro pieces. 

I stuck on one Velcro piece to the cardboard and one to the marker.

I had been thinking a lot about how to execute the new chore ideas in my home. One thing I really wanted was a permanent place for chores but something I could redo if needed easily.

These sheet protectors are PERFECT. 

Also this great PRINTOUT by Delightful Distractions is what I am using for now. 

You can find the free Chore printable here.

By using the sheet protectors you can protect the printout and also change up things as needed by throwing away the sheet protector and putting on a new one. I tried to show you below how I utilized them.

I used a permanent black marker to write out the chores.

 Also by using the sheet protectors and having that handy dandy marker there, the kids can participate by marking off what they get done. The markers are washable markers. Good thing since my three year really likes to "mark" off things all over his chorechart and has missed and hit the wall a few times. My oldest however especially likes this... I think she may be a future 'list' maker. :)

I included my 5 and 3 year olds chore charts to give an example 

of how I used the Chore chart and the sheet protector. 

I am wanting even the simple mundane tasks in a day to produce in our family (in me) a serving heart and a value of doing things together.  

"I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to your testimonies." Ps. 119:59

In these beginning days with these clipboards and chores I want to help and encourage my kids with follow through. We have always had the "get ready for the day responsibilities" so adding to that I am hoping will help it to congeal quicker for the kids.  I personally have set aside a month in my head to watch, encourage and train for these new chores, not just in getting it done but the attitude in which it is done. Walking in patience for me to see the 'best' results is a challenge, I like quick results. However I am determined in this and the other things we are implementing in our home to have patience with and in the process. 

 "Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty."Proverbs 21:5

Well off I go. I cut out a bunch more cardboard pieces and want to put the kids art work on it and hang it above their beds or maybe above their chore charts??.  We shall see. :)

In my west corner, using what I have and enjoying these moments being home, body and heart. ;)

Becky

Homemade ribbon wand + a button

Happy 2012!!!  

Well over the next few weeks I will be posting all our fun diy and homemade gifts that we gave and received over Christmas and I will be continuing my cardboard love series. I am sure I will do some reflection posts along the way too...it is a new year lots to think about and consider.

We have a fun tradition with the two other families that we celebrate Christmas with. The 8 kids from our three families make homemade gifts for each other. Each year it has been sooo much fun for the kids to prepare and give in this way and then to see all the wonderful things others have taken the time to put together. I honestly feel like we could put together a fun little book on homemade gifts for kids/by kids from over the past three years. :) I hope you enjoy this first one,one was made by me and one by my daughter~ every thing was purchased here in Turkey. 

This sweet little ribbon wand was made from a wooden spoon.  There are no small stick douls here in Turkey that I have found for crafting, so I made my own. :)  There are a lot of outside bazaars here and you can pick up a pack of 3 wooden utensils for 1 lira. The spoon is the longest and so that is the one I used for the wand part of the ribbon. 

I sawed off the end and then used sand paper to clean away the rough spots. 

We painted both the ribbon wands and then coated them with mod podge to give them a finished look.

These were SUPER easy and VERY inexpensive and SO pretty. 

What you will need:

A doul stick of some sort

Key chain ring (found them in my house)

An eyelet (these can be found in the hardware sections of stores ~ even uzuzluks)

Ribbon (3 to 4 ~ one thicker than the others)

Button or jingle bell

Paint and masking tape

A little girl to twirl with it. :).

*The eyelet twists pretty easily into the top of the doul stick, then attach the key-ring to the eyelet. 

*Tie the ribbons to the key chain ring one by one in a double knot and then attach the button or jingle bell to the key ring as well. 

* Cut the ribbon ends at an angle and then burn them slightly to ensure they will not unravel.

*Decorate the doul stick any way you want. We used masking tape and paint to design our ribbon wands. *Lastly wind up the ribbon with the thicker ribbon on the bottom and then place a small piece of tape to secure the ribbons in place until ready for use.

Happy twirling and swirling 

to all those little ones out there!!!!

Using what we have ~ 

Good morning to all in my little west corner. 

Becky

Parting at these fun blogs: Linky parties

I HAVE LEARNED THE SECRET OF BEING CONTENT IN ANY AND EVERY SITUATION, WHETHER WELL FED OR HUNGRY, WHETHER LIVING IN PLENTY OR IN WANT. I CAN DO EVERYTHING THROUGH HIM WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH." PHIL. 4:12,13