Organizing and Child Proofing

Right now my craft desk has gates all around it. The twins are 2 but they are still into everything. And I mean EVERYTHING!! They are completely fascinated with my desk and always go straight for my pins. I would really love to take the gate down, especially since they have figured out how to climb over it. I have a closet for all of my craft supplies but I need a way to store things that I use on a regular basis. I found this magnetic dry erase board with metallic finish. I would eventually like to get a nice frame and put sheet metal in it but this works for now. I also found some little metal containers with magnets on the back. I glued magnets to the back of tin cans, paper clips, and my pin cushion. Next time I will get stronger magnets but these work for now. I glued ribbon on the inside of the cans to cover the sharp edges.

A Pattern-Free Summer: Rompers!

Tell me, what screams summertime and little girls better than a romper? I've seen them all over and I can't help but ooh and aww over every single one. I found a pretty simple tutorial for one at makeit-loveit here: Little Girl Romper. It has pleats on the front but don't be intimidated, they are easier than they look.

Macrame: Low Tech Crafting

Just over a week ago we had a tornado hit our neighborhood, including our yard. We were blessed to have no damage to our house but we had several days without power and lots of free time. I have been wanting to try macrame for a while and this seemed like the perfect time. It's a very old craft. The basics are pretty easy but it can be used in so many ways. I will show you the simplest one for now.

Here is what you will need:

-any sturdy yarn or cording. (I suggest you use yarn for your first attempt. Cording can tend to be slippery but it is more strong. I used cotton yarn for all of my projects.)

-any ring (I used a key chain)

-scissors

Measure 4 pieces of yarn, 1 yard each. I used the old trick I learned from my mom to measure. Hold one end straight out in your hand and the other end to your nose while looking the opposite direction. On a grown person this should roughly be a yard. Here is my dear daughter showing how it's done.

Fold your 4 pieces in half, with a loop at the top. Put the loop through the ring and pull the other end of through the loop.

Pull tight.

Separate your strings into 4 groups of 2. Tie each group into a knot. I just eye-balled it but it was about 6 inches down. You want to have enough room to get your pot through here.

Next, you are going to take your strings and separate them into new groups of two and tie knots about 3 inches down.

This part can be a little tricky, but you are going to take the two outside strings and tie them together, creating a tube.

Now we are going to do it again, separating and tying knots. 

Take the two outside string again and tie them together in a knot.

Lastly, tie a knot in all of the strings at the very end.

It can be a little confusing and look like a mess as you are doing it so I hope the pictures help. The best thing about this kind of crafting is that you can do it anywhere and it can be as simple or as complicated as you want. I did all this sitting outside on my patio, eating some yogurt and watching my middle child roller skate while the twins napped. My garden somehow managed to make it through the storm. A few trees around it fell so now it will get even more sun. The rest of our yard is still kind of a mess but it is peaceful here.

If you want to step it up there are tons of fancy knots that you can do.

A Pattern-Free Summer: Cinch Skirt

My dear middle child has the unfortunate problem of being built like a line backer, and she is a girl. She is not chubby but is broad and solid as a rock. That makes finding clothes a bit of a challenge for us. It doesn't help that she is extremely particular, especially with pants. She loves skirts though and that is an easy solution for us because we don't have to worry about inseams bothering her.
I found this adorable Paris fabric at Hobby Lobby and just had to buy some. When I got it home I realized that a white skirt was a bad idea. You could see right through it. I remembered coming across this tutorial and thought it would be perfect: The "It's a Cinch" Skirt. It was quick and easy and oh so cute.

The Apple Dress Updated

Do you remember this cute dress we made last year? Find it here: The Apple Dress

It's hard to believe how much my girls have grown in a year. I pulled out our dresses and now they work as shirts. I think it is even more incentive to make this dress, knowing that it can be used again.

Isn't it just cute? I got twin #2 to cooperate for me too!

A Pattern-Free Summer: Flutter Sleeve Peasant Top

I recently came across this tutorial and just had to make it: Flutter Sleeve Peasant Top. I whipped it up in just an afternoon. I will definitely be making more of these. They are adorable and so easy to make.

Look at this goofy girl who loves to pose. Every time I sew both twins beg me to "measure you" and "take my picture." These moves are all her own.

A Pattern-Free Summer: Band and Bow Shorts

Ah! Aren't these just the cutest?! I altered the pattern I drafted for the bloomers I made in a previous post. I made the legs bubble out and then gathered them on the outsides at the band. The band is yellow chevron on the inside. It has pockets too. Since I put pockets in the knit dress my girls want pockets in everything. I have no link for this one. I came up with the plan laying in bed unable to sleep one night (how I often come up with ideas). I may have to make a tutorial for this one some day. Maybe when I make another pair, because there will definitely be another pair.