Maxi Skirts

I started my summer going nuts making maxi skirts. I bought a stack of solid jersey knit flat sheets at Goodwill for $2.99 a piece. I used a simple pattern from Pinterest and made about 6 skirts, half of them long and the other half calf length. They r much more comfortable than shorts and cooler too. I'm hooked. 

Excuse my look of disgust in this photo. I'm really a happy person, just have a hard time with selfies. 

Plethora of Pinterest

If you have checked out my auction on our adoption blog, you can see I've been busy. 

I used to be a huge crafter.  I sewed, crafted and scrapbooked through every single Fish Stick nap.  Those days are long gone but it was really fun having a personal deadline to get crafting and sewing done to post items to auction.  Pinterest came in real handy as I searched things to make with things I had on hand.

Here's some of the things that I got off line:  rick rack Christmas tree cards, snowman t-shirt, knit woven bracelets, hair bows, tree button shirts, & the reversible purse pattern. 

I have lots of fabric from my curtain sewing days, so we used that to make the grocery bags.

I sew with knit all the time because the blog Make It and Love It has gotten me hooked on knit.  The cheapest way to use knit is to buy jersey knit bed sheets at Goodwill for $2.99 a piece.  I have knit in just about every color and it costs me a fraction of the cost going that route.  There's so many fun things to do with knit.  I stocked up on t-shirts of all colors and sizes last year as I anticipated opening my Etsy shop to make reversible applique Africa tees.  My Etsy shop didn't take off like I anticipated and so I am left with loads of t-shirts.  It's been my standard kid birthday gift this year.  I searched Pinterest to come up with cute ideas, other than Africa, to make t-shirts.

And to add to my month of Pinterest Craze, I have been doing the freezer bag meals that I pinned.  I think I already have 8 meals in my freezer and one cooking in my Crock Pot as I type.  That's the kind of meal planning I LOVE!!!  Anyone else tried those out?

My First Etsy Shop

I have a big announcement to make.  I have opened my very first Etsy shop.  For those of you out there who don't know what Etsy is, it is a place to sell your handmade goods.  My shop is called Fish Sticks For Africa.  I opened a shop in order to help raise funds for our adoption of twin boys from Africa.

It would make me so happy if you would spread the word to your friends and family through Facebook (which I don't do), Twitter or email.

I made a few sling bags out of blue jeans and they are listed individually.  If they sell well, then I will make more.  My daughter LOVES hers to hold her Kindle Fire.

The main item is my t-shirts.  I applique them by cutting out the t-shirt and adding a backing knit fabric.  I started by making one for our school last year, reading GCA.  Then recently I tried one of the country of Africa with our country marked with a hand sewn heart.  I have been stocking up on adult, youth and children's t-shirts at discounted prices so that I can make these to order.  I am in the process of making some for our cousins with the cut-out of Turkey and trying a sample shirt of Tennessee with a heart on Nashville.

Please pass my etsy link on and help us bring our boys home.  Thanks a ton!!

 http://www.etsy.com/shop/FishSticksforAfrica?ele=shop_open

Repurposed Easter Dresses

I love to sew and when I just had 2 Fish Sticks, I probably smocked and sewed a dress a week.  Thank goodness I still have those dresses to pass down to consecutive Fish Stick girls because I have NO time to sew and smock now. 

BUT my goal is to make the girls an Easter dress....if it's the last thing I do. 

I love picking out cute fabrics and patterns each year but oftentimes getting 4 different sized dresses done during the Easter season is quite stressful and tight.

My oldest daughter just turned 11 and she's gotten quite particular about her clothing.  I'm so thankful that it's not fashion driven and yet I must bite my pride sometimes and not comment when I see some of the outfits that she wears.  She is driven by 100% comfort.  This means that most days are baggy, soft sweatpants and t-shirts.  It makes me sad because her closet is PACKED with adorable corresponding Gymboree hand-me-downs from her cousin.  I hope that some other Fish Stick will wear them later.

So when I was planning their outfits this year, I went to her first.  She said "COMFORT" (of course). 

I was getting groceries at Sam's when I saw these....women's skirts/swim suit covers for $13 a piece.  Very soft knit.  My brain started cranking and I grabbed 4 in different colors.

I sewed down the side of each and used the excess fabric to make spaghetti straps.  The smallest one was the only one that I had to hem also.  Voila!!  Easter dresses that are so soft and comfortable (meaning they will be worn again and again without being forced) and they only took about 30 minutes each to make!