Treasures @ Rummage Sale!

Vintage.  Retro.  LOVE!
Platform shoes, bell bottom pants, omega hairdo...etc.  That's my childhood.  That's the way I remember my mom.

The school rummage sale had tons of gently used toys, Christmas decorations and Halloween customs.  But none of those interested me.  Then I spotted a box of vintage sewing patterns.  Cute, cute, cute!  I was like a child being presented with a jar of candies, I wanted them all!!  At the end, I needed to ask myself "would I really sew this?" to avoid spending every dollar in my wallet.  To my dismay, the 4 patterns that came home with me only cost $1 total.  I really could have gotten more...  Now, excuse me, I have some sewing to do.

 

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Cherry Bag

 

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We Have A Cat Problem...

 Two and half years have gone by since we adopted our cat, Lala.  He is one intelligent and affectionate cat who has won our hearts over these past few years.  

For 2 years, he had always been an indoor cat who had a strong desire to head out the door whenever opportunity presented itself.  It was around March this year that he finally was bold enough to share the same doggie door with Maxie, our golden.  Once he was able to get outdoors, he started to bring home unwanted guests.  We had 3 rats visiting at one point and thought we had a rat problem.  It was until we spoke to the animal control that we found out that it was really a cat problem, since there was no evidence of droppings or chewed up items.  Apparently, Lala was bringing home love offerings to show his loyalty.  Oh, how I wish he could have brought flowers or fruits instead of rats that scared the day light out of me.  

After some research, we realized that cats hunt at night.  So we figured that if we shut the doggie door at night, Lala would not be able to do much hunting.  The plan worked...for a few weeks.  No rats, dead or alive.  And then...  This morning, while I was getting ready for the Lord's day, H cried, "Come quickly, Lala's brought something back!"  

I rushed out to find an injured bird laying under our dining table with Lala right next to it still guarding his treasure.  From our research, we learned that we were NOT to discard Lala's gift in front of him, and NOT to scold him, but to praise him for his hunting ability and for bringing the tasty treat which we could never have gotten on our own.  That's exactly what we did.  Hubert quickly picked up the suffering bird in a bag while I blocked Lala's view, patted him and said "Good job, boy" (though inside, I was crying, "Please don't bring anything/anyone home anymore!")  So sorry, little bird.  I love you, Lala, I really do.  If only you understood how much we do not need extra protein...sigh.
Those of you who have indoor/outdoor cats, any advice for me?
 

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Mason Jar Happy Flowers

This spring, JJ and I planted wildflower seeds in the front yard.  Not knowing how the flower bed would look like, we watered and weed diligently, even supplemented with plant food periodically.  Since I have "the finger of death" (from the record of numerous dead plants), I did not have high hopes.  Then, one early May  day, we noticed the 1st sign of life.  After that, things just took off on their own.

We had different flowers come and go during the past three months.  Right now, the flower bed is filled with Rudbeckia Hirta (black-eyed Susan).  These vibrant colored flowers make me smile.  If I could hug them like teddy bears, I would.  They are my "happy flowers".  They have been working hard growing toward the sun that there are too many of them crowded in the front yard.  The heavy flower heads bend the stems.  I, then, had my chance to cut a bunch of them and brought them indoors.  My labor with JJ still makes me smile.

 

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Mini Tutorial: DIY Paper Bag Thread Catcher

Fish tacos.  I did not know how addictive they could be.  We must have gotten them two weekends in a roll that we accumulated a few paper bags in the house.   You know, they make the perfect thread catchers for the sewing table (that is if you are like me, too lazy busy to sew one).

Here's how I did it:
1. Determine how tall you'd like your thread catcher to be and cut.  I cut about 4" off of mine.
2. Insert the 4" top portion that you just cut off into the bag.
3. Line up all four sides and staple.  (make sure the the crown of the staples are on the outside and the teeth are on the inside so you don't get poked.)  Then, with masking tape, tape to the edge of your sewing table.

Looking at the paper bag makes me feel hungry.  I think I might want to go get a fish taco or two...
 

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We Did It!

 F and I decided to grow our hair together so we could donate our hair to kids with hair loss.  Finally, it's time.  JJ's hair was not long enough for donation, but she agreed to have a hair cut just like her big sister (see her jubilation after the cut?)  In the end, I have about 10"+ of hair and F, more than 12" ready to be shipped to CWHL (Children With Hair Loss).  I am excited for the child who'd receive F's beautiful, full pony tail as material for her wig, and feel a bit sorry for the one who'd receive mine...less shiny and not as much material to work with.  Nevertheless, we pray for the kids who need encouragement and joy in their days that they would be able to smile, feel loved and see hope again.

 

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Big Girl's Ballet Bag

I am thankful that although F loves everything adorable (like mamma), she is not into brand name items or clothing.  She's been practical and sensible so far.  When she started dancing at her current school a few years back, I gave her this striped zippered bag (pictures below) as her ballet bag.  (and, no, I did not make it.)  Recently, I looked into the bag and found that the bag was so abused well-loved, the lining was ripping, and the zipper came apart.  There was no way to save it.  It's time...

TO SEW!!  Faith had a hard time letting the bag go.  But I was very excited to start this project. Hehehe.    Faith requested to have a bag that looks like the Miss W Bag, with the same width of the old ballet bag, a bit deeper, same length for handles, no zipper for closure but instead, a welted zipper pocket.  

So, I measured the old bag and started cutting and sewing.  I added a button and a loop for closure, and a key holder (ribbon and O-ring) at one end.  Within 3 nights, the bag was done.  My next project for her is to make a draw string dance shoe bag with the floral print.  Hope this one get to last longer than the last.

 

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Two Weeks of Roses

Between end of the school year and beginning of summer break is the crunch time for families with dancers.  This year, our family had two.

I have been slowly convinced that most ladies, young or matured, enjoy receiving flowers.  And that's how our houses ended up with many of them in just two weeks.

 This hot pink rose was a gift to JJ from Grandma.

 This one was from F's performance company during the Tiny Dancers' show.

 This bouquet came from F's best friend, Mimi.

Surprisingly, I got a red rose, too, for being the co-chair for the flower arrangement team for the performances.

 

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Western VBS 2013

my classroom (the "walk-in" church-- with help from my two girls--pictured in the middle)

More than 120 volunteers have been praying hard and working hard to serve almost 300 kids and make this week's VBS possible.  This has been a body working together with the enabling of the Holy Spirit.
God's provision is amazing!  I had gone to thrift stores just twice before VBS and each time found great bargains on western items (an American Girl horse for $4, a cowboy hat for $3, and four stuffed animals (2 horses, one cow, one snake) for $1-1.50 each.)  I got a furry blanket, yarns and foam sheets at RAFT.  With the help of miss Nicole, miss Shirley and mr. William, I got to borrow tons of western props from their last western theme VBS.  Ms. G got three tall boxes that were just the right size for our walk-in church.  Mrs. W spotted a free rocking horse on the side of the sidewalk and sent it to my classroom.  Miss T helped me create the sign for "God's Town".  JJ & F sweated and labored a whole morning in the classroom to put up the posters and create the "church".  Even Z utilized his artistic skill and drew a snake and a scorpion for the class!  So very thankful!
The first day is done.  Four more days to go.
 

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Mini Tutorial: DIY Cardboard Western Signs

VBS week is fast approaching.  As I think about the little ones who will be walking through the doors, I get excited about the opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them.
A warm welcome always ease my anxiety walking into a new environment! Thus, the making of these signs.

Here's how I made them:
1. cut 2 pieces of rectangular cardboard.
2. shape the cardboard by cutting notches on the short sides and shallow ditches on the long sides.
3. trace the cut cardboard shape onto a piece of brown construction paper.
4. shade the traced line with a brown child's marker.
5. cut the traced shape from the construction paper and paste on the cardboard. (they should be identical in shape.)
6. create wood barks by shading horizontal lines from the short ends.
7. determine how many letters will go on the signs and paste alphabet stickers for posters to the signs.

That's it!
 

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Tutoril: DIY Western Paper Bunting

When it comes to decorating a classroom for VBS week, I want something that will not take away my time preparing for the lessons, easy and cheap.  To add color to the room, I thought buntings might do the trick.  I've searched high and low for western themed scrapbook pages or stamps and found nothing.  What to do?  DIY.  This is super easy.  I had JJ help me with this project.  She was able to fold, draw lines, cut, stamp and staple.  If she could do this, so could you.

Materials:

A: 18" x 12" Construction Paper in red, white and blue.

B: Sample tiles from Home Depot (as the stamp wood mount)

C: Small foam sheets (any color)

D: Stapler

E: Black ink pad

F: Ruler

G: Pencil

H: Yarn

(others: a pair of scissors)

 Making the stamps:
1. Draw paisley shapes, small circles and irregular blotchy cow prints on the foam using a Sharpie.
2. Cut out the shapes.  (note: cor the paisley, I cut out every ring first, then tossed the 2nd largest and the smallest pieces).  Glue the foam pieces to the back of the sample tiles.
2. Ink and stamp away!

Cutting the triangles for the bunting:

1. Fold the construction paper in half widthwise (so it becomes 18: x 6").  Fold in half lengthwise and then in third (dividing into 6 equal rectangles).  Use the pencil to draw diagonal lines in each rectangle as pictured.

2. Cut on the drawn lines.  You will end up with three different shapes.  Cut the diamond shape in the middle to make two triangles.  DO NOT toss away the small right angle triangles yet.  Save them to make a smaller size bunting!

3-4. Stamp the blue and red triangles with the paisley stamp and the white with the cow print stamp.

5. Take the small right angle triangles and draw a equilateral triangle as pictured. Cut on the line.

6.  When stamping the smaller triangles, arrange them as pictured at the bottom, so you only need to stamp once to get the image on three pieces.

Assembling: 

1. Stack the triangles according to their colors and sizes.

2. Flip the triangle so the un-stamped side is shown.  Place a piece of yarn on the base of the triangle, leaving a 5" tail (to tie later on).  Sandwich the triangle and yarn in between the crimp area and staple away.  I stapled at three different points to insure security of the yarn.

3. There you have it.  Two different sizes of paper western buntings!

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