Team Zissou Halloween 2015

Did a team Zissou costume this year complete with the jaguar shark for my 2-year old. Made her truck or treat bag out of a clearance canvas bag. Ordered track suits on Amazon and used duct tape for the stripes, was able to find team Zissou patches on eBay. 

Didn't spring for the adidas, ended up just throwing yellow shoelaces into my existing sneakers

Dyed a shark costume brown with icily dye and used glow in the dark fabric paint for the spots, went back after it dried to do black outline for 'jaguar' spots with black acrylic paint.

Mostly just impressed my almost-two year old kept it on for three blocks of trick-or-treating. 

Happy Halloween!!!!

Halloween Headstones

I decided to make my own graveyard this year. I've always enjoyed clever Halloween tombstones, I just didn't realize that you can't find them in store.

I ended up resorting to 1 1/2" foam insulation, I printed out my epitaphs and traced then into the board using an exacto knife, then carved out the letters with my speedball linoleum cutter.

I almost ended up investing in a Dremel drill, but once I got the first one carved out I seemed to speed through the rest. I didn't go overly aged, decided to just go with a couple of coats of grey, figure I can always do more next year, planning on adding to the set.

I had bought thin metal stakes to stand them up, but they didn't do the trick. 

Ended up using caulk and gorrila glue tape to secure pvc piping to the back of the tombstones and sliding into rebar staked in the yard.

It came out nice, feel ready to embrace the Halloween season, hopefully these will last a while.

 My favorite is the zombie tombstone. Think I'll add some details to the others next year, or whenever I make more.

 

Halloween 2014

Halloween 2014 Peg + Cat

This is a DIY costume. 

Not wanting to sew everything from scratch I started with a cat costume from eBay and some iPoly dye 

Instead of using the iPoly dye on the stove as directed I boiled a pasta pot full of water and used that to fill one of my husbands 5 gallon work buckets (outside), I covered it with a piece of cardboard to keep the temperature up and went out to stir occasionally. 

For the yarn wig I bought two variations of yellow, I made a large circle with the yarn, that when halved was about the length of my fart and went down alternating coloring making slipknots to create a wig, I made it a little long so that I could trim it to my desired length. 

The pants I made by bleaching some old leggings and them placing elastic bands down the length of each leg prior to dying my desired color. 

I sewed this jacket, but I would highly recommend just trying to find one you can dye. 

Space Geek Quilt

One of my friends is coming out to visit in August and I decided to make something to give her when she comes. She's been taking about finishing a full sleeve with a geek ship theme. Was able to find 3 of them at Jo-Ann and whipped this up in a day. 

  

Made my own pattern in this one. I think I might rip the edging this week and make it a little bit wider, I have a few weeks and a deadline on this one

Here's a shot of what I did today

Jelly Roll Race Quilt Remix

Spent too much time on Pinterest over the weekend and decided to make a quilt. I had attempted a jelly roll quilt a while back that came out far too narrow. I found this pattern http://www.modabakeshop.com/2014/07/jelly-roll-race-remix-quilt.html

It uses two jelly roll quilt and I decided to use it as a guideline for mine. Wasn't able to find a lot of options out there for remixes on jelly rolls. 

This is what I ended up with.

It measures 32x28 perfect for my almost 2 year old.

I had bought some fat quarters in the fabric a while back (I actually made a 2T dress that's awaiting buttons with this line). I ended up cutting 8 8 1/2 x 7 1/2 squares, and 32 4 x4  1/2 squares to piece together for the back. 

Day 2- 

Added a border and assembled with batting. Also used some of the leftovers to make a matching pillowcase.

Day 3: pulled the white border off the front and replaced it with gray today, also started a new quilt. 

Making a geek theme quilt, came who with my own pattern. 

Ended up splitting the quilt front/back to make two separate quilts.  Finished the first one last night

Used some star minky for the back, didn't line it so it's nice and light for the summer.

Charm Pack Baby Quift

Was able to whip up this charm pack baby quilt, which was for best friends second baby.
Start to finish took me about 6 hours. I've been pinning quilts I like on pinterest, so happy I was able to finish one.



Quilted along the lines to add a little texture, able to find an inexpensive fabric for backing at JoAnn's, not bad for a third try

Baby Registry Basics

Forget everything you've been reading about what you need for a baby registry. This short list will provide some advice for first timers, from the mom of a 7 month old.

A car seat, DOT approved that meets all current safety standards - they're expensive and a great gift for an awesome Aunt to grab you. (don't forget an extra base for dad if you plan on daycare shuffles) 

Mama’s and Papa’s baby snug, it’s like a Bumbo but it can adjust to fit a 12 month old (most children will not fit in a bumbo for long, she was just over 3 month when a friend lent me theirs and her legs we're already too pudgy to fit)

                Elsa is 7 months and we've been using the baby snug for all her mashed meals

Car seat blanket – I love the JJ Cole Bundle Me it comes in a variety of colors and fits all car seats, if you live somewhere that had cold weather this is a must have

Playard - I have two and the Jeep one is by far my favorite. It isn't very compact when folded, there is a side zip compartment that is rather large for diapers, and you can leave that packed while compacted. Also very easy to collapse.

We kept our playard in the bedroom for the first few month we had her, it was her primary bed. 

Swing/ bouncer – I got a combo that Graco makes, the swing pops out and can be placed on the floor and used a bouncer (great for naps).It's a must have, but I would look into the large variety of swing for one that has multiple motions, also would want a bouncer with some visual stimulation, she loves the ones at daycare.

The bouncer below retails at $19.99 

I think a Boppy or equivalent is another must, I didn't want to spent the ridiculous amount of money for one so I didn't get one this time around, will get one if we have another kid. My best friend has 2 kids and both babies spent their daytime naps happily propped in the boppy, also makes a good support when they are learning to sit. 

DIAPERS 101

We stoked up on diapers at Target with the buy 2 get a gift card deals. I chose pampers because of the value. Pampers Swaddlers are great (just remember to fold the back of the diaper over and in to avoid messes getting out). 

We bought the 12 hr baby dry by pampers but found that the inside was soaked in blue dry, when I tried to use them they caused a rash. Pampers customer service was great through this and the reason we still use their swaddlers brand. 

WIPES

For wipes I use Huggies brand, they're thick and 1 wipe can clean up what would take 3 pampers or target brand wipes. 

Bedding, so pretty but a giant waste of money. 

Bumpers are a suffocation risk and our Mayo doctors advised strongly against them, along with letting our baby sleep with a blanket. 

At that point all you can use is the dust ruffle and fitted sheet, which is insanely expensive. 

and on that note, I love the Swaddle Sleep Sack by Halo

It's Dr/Daycare approved, just wish I bough 2 newborn sized ones to avoid having to wash it so frequently.

They are frequently on sale for buy one get one half off at Babies R Us and Target  

I have also found some great products through Citrus Lane,  they're a sample box company that sends me everything from baby food and accessories to teethers and toys. The teether we just got last month I haven't seen in stores, she has three teeth now and will not put it down (I had to order two more to make sure I have a back-up and one to put in the diaper bag.) 

This link will get you 50% off your first box, great to do when baby gets here 

https://www.citruslane.com/invitedby/Natalie.Kok.4162867