The Repurposed Skirt

When its time to organize and declutter, I  fill bags to donate for charities or pass down to friends with younger kids.  
I have one separate bag where I place those items that have something about them I just can't part with.  Sometimes it might be for sentimental reasons or sometimes there is just something unique or appealing about it and it seems to sing out, 
"please repurpose me!" 
While sifting through one such bag looking for project ideas I came across an old (really old) skirt of Kayley's and immediately thought Ella would love these colors.  

When she was here for her "Nana Sleepover"
(our summer tradition) 

I showed it to her and asked if she'd like me to make a skirt for her out of it. 

Ella eagerly answered "yes"

so I couldn't wait to get started.

I loved the little pintucks in the original skirt.
(probably the reason it made it to the "special bag")  

I just made a casing for an elastic waist band 

and a tulle under slip for an extra layer underneath to hang just below the hemline giving the skirt a little fullness.

I found a white tee to embellish. 

 I added some lace and rolled roses and sewed a couple of rows of elastic thread at the waist to give a new look.

 Now she'll have an outfit.

… and  she would need a hair clip too .... of course.

and here's the little cutie wearing it.

Sweet Ella

She's growing up!

The Fixer

Over the years I've worn lots of different hats.

Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker .....

I now have a new hat to add to my collection.

I really do adore my new hat.

An appropriate nick-name might be

♥ The Hero ♥

I get to wear my new hat almost every week.

I fix zippers, glue pearls on flower clips, sharpen pencils, untangle necklaces and "find things".

I always feel so appreciated when I wear "The Fixer" hat!

One of my latest "missions" was particularly challenging.

 Ella adopted Marci's blanket from her childhood.

A sweet little lady in our ward in San Diego made it for my baby shower.

She, by the way, was the only one that thought I was having a girl!

It was a cute white blanket with tiny pink rosebuds. 

(That was VERY popular at the time.)

It was soft and plush, as she used quilted fabric as the top layer and then tied it with white yarn.  I loved it and when Marci arrived, so did she!

Needless to say after "lots" of years with the original owner and now 7 years with the new owner, Ella ... 

the pretty, plush blanket was no longer pretty and plush. 

Marci brought it to me and pleaded .... 

is there something you can do to salvage this?

"For Ella "  ?♥? ....  Of Course

Once again on with my New Hat ! ♥ !

The top fabric is very worn and the little flowers have completely faded away.  The fabric is so very soft though and Ella wanted to change the blanket as little as possible.

The back of the blanket showed the most wear and tear.

I decided to keep the top fabric and replace the back.

The poor ole' batting was holding on for dear life around the edges but the middle had come away completely .

I decided to replace it with a  batting  that is 50% organic cotton and 50% bamboo.

I used a thick flannel for the new back piece.

Ella approved the job! 

Faces like this are why I love my new hat! 

A Cat Tale

The title of this story is:

Meet Sally

The story began last November... 

Once upon a time there was an adorable couple also known as my mom and dad. They befriended  a cute stray cat that frequently showed up at their back door.  She was very smart and in no time had  adopted them.
They named her "Cat" ...  I know , right.

"Cat" was a pretty white cat with splotches of black.  My parents already have 2 indoor cats so although they didn't let her inside the house they fed her and  made a sheltered sleeping area for her.
It was crystal clear, SHE had claimed them as "hers". ( its a cat thing)

Long story short, it turned out, Miss Cat was a Mama Cat.  My dad found 5 teeny weeny kittens on the side of their house. 

 

Guess who ended up with new kittens???

  Marci and Mike adopted a brother and sister team.  They are silver tabbies. Addie named her little boy "Tom" and Ella named her little girl "Beauty".  

Kayley and Scott adopted a pretty white brother sister team ~ "Winston" and "Samantha".

 BUT
long pause ...
there was yet another kitten.  She was black with perfectly placed white markings.
Did you guess?

We adopted "Sally".  When she is naughty and must be reprimanded her name is Sally Jean.  We love the way she is painted.  She has a white goatee and bib.  White boots and gloves and my very favorite detail is a sassy Marilyn Monroe beauty mark! If we'd noticed it sooner perhaps her name would be Marilyn.

As you might know we already had adopted a brother team when Marci's adopted stray cat "Meow Meow"
(named by Ella who was a toddler at the time) had a litter of ALL white kittens. 

When we brought little Sally home it was NOT 
love at first sight.
Bill and Blanco were not happy campers in the beginning.  
I was even fearful for little Sally Jean at first.

Senior Blanco

Silly Bill

(aren't his eyes cute!)

Such Brotherly Love

My Mom kept saying give them time.  Once again she was right.  They are one big happy family now.  They look so cute when all three are sleeping together especially with Sally in the middle.  They look like a yummy Oreo cookie in reverse.

Blanco is so patient 
and 
check out Sally's beauty mark!

My parents are thrilled with all of the adoption arrangements as now they can visit all the cute cats any time they want! 

Oh!  ....  and they all lived happily ever after♥

~THE END~ 

Author's Note: THAT'S it people.  I don't care who ends up with a stray cat and kittens.  We're good.   REALLY!

k

Tickle Ghosts

Nana's Tickle Ghosts

Last week Addie, Preston and Taylor did a little project at Nana's house.  I actually got this idea years ago when I taught at a Montessori Preschool.  We did this every year with black construction paper.  I still have Marci's but the paper has faded. 

I decided to use canvas instead since it was on sale at Hobby Lobby.  I painted the canvas black ahead of time so we'd be set to go.

Addie did not want to have anything to do with painting the bottom of her foot white.  Taylor thought it looked like great fun.  She was giggling the whole time so Addie agreed to join in and of course Preston wanted to keep up with the gang and was eager for his turn.  Hope and I got Ella's after school.

 

Freeman Family Ghosts

 

Taylor's Ghost

Didn't they turn out cute?

Poor Toes

I had  

Onychocryptosis

I know . . . . Right?

I have been dealing with in-grown nails on both sides of my big toes for quite a while.  I finally got up the courage and went to a Podiatrist my good friend recommended.  It will be two weeks this Thursday since I had the little surgery and today I can honestly say I'm glad I did it! I couldn't  say that until today so I am relieved and excited.  

 "Nervous Nana"

The day after my procedure was "Grandparents Day" at Ella's school.  That was a little scary with all those cute, busy little kids in the halls and the gobs of grandparents trying to make their way to the cafeteria.  Actually, it was so crowded we ate in the Science Room.

Afterward, I really need to get off my feet so I stopped by Marci's for a little visit. Kayley was in Katy for a doctor's appointment so we had some "girl" time. Marci had rented the movie Valentine's Day.  I got to sit in the big leather chair and ottoman with my feet elevated on pillows.  We couldn't stop laughing at Preston.  He just kept staring at my big bandaged toes with the funniest look on his face. If only we knew what thoughts were churning in that cute little head.

  Thanks for a fun afternoon Marci and Kayley!

Thank You Thursday

Last weekend we celebrated Ella's 6th Birthday. 

August 13th

 I can't believe she is that old but she sure can!

 via Marci

 Kind, Conscientious, Responsible,Obedient,Cute, Funny ...

are just some of the words that come to mind when I think about

"Sweet Ella Bella"

 

 Thank you for being YOU

Beautiful Birthday Girl

♥

We love YOU!

 

 

Finished Finally

I had all of these bright fun fabric pieces so I decided to
make Ella and Addie some summer skirts.

I used this pattern again

One of the things I love about it 
is it easily adapts to different sizes.

Remember these skirts from a couple of years ago?

I can't believe how much these two little girls have grown :(


I thought it would be fun to make the tops this time too...
and we couldn't leave out "the little man"
so a bow tie for Preston completed the ensemble.

Thanks for the CUTE pictures Marci!

  

 
and the beautiful setting is Diane's house....don't you just love it!