And to tell the truth, I am quite pleased with myself. The dress is for Brooklyn, who is turning 4 very soon! Her mom knows I was trying to make it so I am not ruining a surprise. Besides, there are other surprises to go along with the dress. 

The pattern is called Kyla by Frog Legs and Ponytails.  

It's reversible! 

It actually wasn't too hard. I had to re and re-read the instructions several times, but only because this type of sewing is new to me. Now that I have made it once, making another wouldn't take very long at all. 

I can think of several other little girls that need a new dress. =) 

And to tell the truth, I am quite pleased with myself. The dress is for Brooklyn, who is turning 4 very soon! Her mom knows I was trying to make it so I am not ruining a surprise. Besides, there are other surprises to go along with the dress. 

The pattern is called Kyla by Frog Legs and Ponytails.  

It's reversible! 

It actually wasn't too hard. I had to re and re-read the instructions several times, but only because this type of sewing is new to me. Now that I have made it once, making another wouldn't take very long at all. 

I can think of several other little girls that need a new dress. =) 

Last weekend, I bought myself a new purse at the Pella Tulip Time Festival. 

I loved every thing about it except for one thing...The shoulder straps. Too narrow and too short since I  I prefer cross body bags. 

Enter new strap made from fabric in my stash. The new strap has d rings on the ends, recycled from another bag that I tossed a long time ago. You can see them in the next picture.

It was scary cutting the old straps off, but I had plans for them so I screwed up my courage squeezed my eyes shut and went for it. {snip}

Next I folded what was left of the old handle under and sewed it down at the top. There was a lot of layers to get through, however, my Juki handled it like a champ. I just took it nice and easy. 

The old strap then became a loop on the sides of the purse to connect the d ring to. Again, a lot of layers to go through, but my Juki did a great job.

And the other part of the left over strap went into making a key chain wrist strap. 

Ta-da! New purse! =D

Last weekend, I bought myself a new purse at the Pella Tulip Time Festival. 

I loved every thing about it except for one thing...The shoulder straps. Too narrow and too short since I  I prefer cross body bags. 

Enter new strap made from fabric in my stash. The new strap has d rings on the ends, recycled from another bag that I tossed a long time ago. You can see them in the next picture.

It was scary cutting the old straps off, but I had plans for them so I screwed up my courage squeezed my eyes shut and went for it. {snip}

Next I folded what was left of the old handle under and sewed it down at the top. There was a lot of layers to get through, however, my Juki handled it like a champ. I just took it nice and easy. 

The old strap then became a loop on the sides of the purse to connect the d ring to. Again, a lot of layers to go through, but my Juki did a great job.

And the other part of the left over strap went into making a key chain wrist strap. 

Ta-da! New purse! =D

Melissa@Make Life Beautiful is having a sewalong to teach us how to make Cathedral Windows with the sewing machine! That's right...No hand sewing!

I don't know about you, but I am all over this idea!

Go here for the supply list. Hint: You will have most of it in your stash. How's that for a bonus!!

Melissa@Make Life Beautiful is having a sewalong to teach us how to make Cathedral Windows with the sewing machine! That's right...No hand sewing!

I don't know about you, but I am all over this idea!

Go here for the supply list. Hint: You will have most of it in your stash. How's that for a bonus!!

I do not own a dishwasher...

Some people are shocked when they find out I don't have one. It does get worse...I have never owned one.

Nope...Never...

Never saw the need nor had the desire to own one. 

I don't mind washing dishes...

And its good for my kids to learn how to wash dishes. That's my story and I am sticking to it. 

Because the dish drain isn't big enough to hold all the dishes, a towel is always on my counter for the freshly washed glasses to dry on. 

That is, until today....

Today, I traded in the towel for a new dish mat....

Lest you think I am very clever, I got the idea from Tipnut. If you don't read her blog, you are missing out! Here is the link to the tutorial for the dish mat, you will see I made mine differently, but the idea is basically the same. 

I definitely going to be making more!

I do not own a dishwasher...

Some people are shocked when they find out I don't have one. It does get worse...I have never owned one.

Nope...Never...

Never saw the need nor had the desire to own one. 

I don't mind washing dishes...

And its good for my kids to learn how to wash dishes. That's my story and I am sticking to it. 

Because the dish drain isn't big enough to hold all the dishes, a towel is always on my counter for the freshly washed glasses to dry on. 

That is, until today....

Today, I traded in the towel for a new dish mat....

Lest you think I am very clever, I got the idea from Tipnut. If you don't read her blog, you are missing out! Here is the link to the tutorial for the dish mat, you will see I made mine differently, but the idea is basically the same. 

I definitely going to be making more!