Jersey Ruffle Scarf

When I saw the Sew Much Ado: Jersey Ruffle Scarf Tutorial. I knew I had to make that scarf.  What really sealed the deal was the reminder that I had quite a bit of Jersey yardage in my stash.  I bought about 10 yards of jersey material about a year ago, but I have absolutely no idea why.  It is a total pain to sew and I definitely do not have the skills needed to tackle it.  Well, the regretted impulse jersey purchase has finally been put to use! 

As predicted, it was nowhere near easy to sew.  Not hard necessarily, just tempermental.  I will say though, that I love the fact that it does not fray.  This non-fray factor allows you to leave the edges unhemmed and gives it a really cool effect.  I see many more jersey projects in my future! 

Start to finish, the scarf took about 2 hours to make, which is entirely too long.  However, the moment I put it on, I was in love.  It is incredibly soft and silky feeling.  As I was sewing, I had every intention of giving the scarf as a Valentine's gift.  But.....I'm thinking I need to make a second one -- I do have PLENTY of fabric left afterall -- so I can keep this one for myself.  It is that luxurious feeling.  If I could figure out a way to sleep with this thing on and not wind up choking myself, I would. 

Adult Shirt ----> Child's Skirt

Last month my mom gave me a big bag of stuff to take to Goodwill.  Well..... I didn't.  I kept all of the clothing to use as fabric for other projects.  I like to think it's because I am "going green" but in reality it's because I'm cheap.  Have you seen the prices of fabrics lately? 

Project Stats
Total Cost:  $0.75
   (shirt was free, elastic was $0.75)
Time:    12 minutes
   (Yep, you read that right.  Only 12 minutes!  I actually timed it.)
 

BEFORE

AFTER

It's double layered gauzy material, which is the perfect amount of girliness for my little fashionista.  And that awesome bead work on top?  I have a project in mind for it too. 

I apologize for the crappy camera phone pics.  It was dark already, the lighting in the house sucks and my camera is broken.  I had everything going against me!  Oh yeah, and ignore all of the wrinkles!  It was past her bedtime, and I made her stay up so I could measure her, sew it and take pictures.  If I didn't make it right that second, it would have gone on the incredibly long "to make" list.... where project ideas go to die. 

Multi Purpose Seat Warmers

Do you have those great seat warmers in your car?  This is the first vehicle I have ever owned that has them.  Let me tell you... they rock!  The butt warmer is by far my favorite feature in my van.  Well, actually that and the built in dvd player that turns my kids into zombies.  Love that one too! 

I have found a great use for my passenger side butt warmer:

Butt Warmer on High = Pizza stays hot the WHOLE way home!

Just remember folks.... nothing says I love you like having the butt warmer on and ready for your loved one when they get in the car.  Unless it's summer time.  That's just wrong. 

And in case Mr. Mudpie is reading this..... "You gotta risk it for the biscuit!" Bonus points if anyone out there knows what movie that's from. 

A Story of A Failed Tooth Fairy

Let me tell you a little story about how I am officially the WORST tooth fairy in the world. 

We've been privileged to spend the past few weeks watching the Top Left Front Tooth slowly loosen.  Seriously, it took forever!  But Taylor got in the car yesterday afternoon and announced "My tooth is coming out tonight.  It's ready."  So I'm thinking, "ok.... I hope Mr. Mudpie has a dollar bill on hand, because all I have is my debit card".

We head to Firehouse Subs for dinner with friends, because it's Wednesday and kids eat free.  Hello cheap dinner!  We get there and somehow Taylor convinces our friend Ian to pull the tooth out.  At this point I'm thinking "hold the phone!  wimpy girl wants him to do what?"  So he pulled it and she didn't cry.  I was SHOCKED!  Let's face it... Taylor is pretty dramatic.  She must get it from her father. :)

So here's where I failed at my Tooth Fairy responsibilities:  I *forgot* to switch it out with the money.  I even helped her put the darn thing in the tooth fairy trinket box (from Tiffany's I might add) and put it under her pillow.  This morning I went in to wake the kids up and she was sitting in bed looking down at the box with the saddest face I have ever seen.  I have never felt like such a failure of a parent as I did this morning.  It was awful.  So I tell her.... "Taylor, it's still dark outside.  Maybe she just hasn't gotten here yet."  and she says "Sammy barked in the middle of the night.  Maybe she scared her away."  So I clung to her theory as I freaked out inside thinking that I had scarred my child for life. 

She got up to tell her daddy about her misfortune and I flung a dollar bill (thanks Mr. Mudpie) under the pillow.  When she came in, I pretended to make the bed (which we NEVER do) and asked her "Did you look under your pillow or just reach in for the box?"  So she climbs back into the top bunk and finds the dollar.  I'm thinking.... "YES!  You redeemed yourself!!!" 

Oh hell no.  Now she's upset about why the fairy left the tooth.  Mr. Mudpie comes up with the scenario that seals the deal.  You see, last night Taylor and Evelyn were talking about how Evelyn wrote the tooth fairy a letter asking if she could keep her teeth.  Mr. Mudpie figures the tooth fairy heard them talking and thought Taylor wanted to keep hers too.  She bought his theory a little, but left the tooth under her pillow in case the fairy came back for it while she was at school. 

She forgot about it this afternoon, and when she climbed into bed she found the tooth had been replaced with a Hershey's kiss in the trinket box.  I'm thinking, "Woo Hoo!  NOW I've redeemed myself!"  Nope.  Can't just let me have my moment....  She looks at me and says "Why would the tooth fairy leave me chocolate?  Does she just WANT all of my teeth to rot and fall out?!" 

~ Sigh ~