Crystal Clear Monday

I know, it's been a while. Eeek! But I've got things ready to post, so hopefully it'll be a good, productive week this week. I'm back and inspired, and ready to get it done!

But I wanted to start something new. A weekly posting, for Monday's specifically, called Crystal Clear. A look into the chaos of my thoughts and mind. And hopefully it'll be an entertaining or interesting little blip for you to read, and also help me sort out and organize my brain. Since it feels like it's gone to mushhh................where was I? Oh yeah, brain gone to mush, since getting pregnant last year. ;)

So something that's been on my mind today is acts of service. I had an interesting experience at church today. We have a class that is made up of almost all the women (called Relief Society, if you're not familiar), and we were talking about serving others. Which I think is a good principle to live by no matter your beliefs, right?

Well, our teacher had everyone write down on a piece of paper an act of service that someone could do for them (the person writing it. I hope that makes sense). No one wrote their names down. She took them all and read them out loud. It totally pierced my heart to hear some of them. Such as:
"Ask me how I am, and really listen."
"Babysit for an hour or two so I can take a break."
"Talk to me, I need a friend."
"Help me with my daughter's wedding."
"Pull my weeds."
"Babysit so I can get caught up."
And so many more.

Strangely enough the ones that were repeated the most were the about pulling weeds, babysitting, and chatting or listening to someone.

It actually made me really sad to know that these women that I meet with at least once a week may be so lonely, or in need of help, and that I could be doing more to be a better friend. And what really hit me is how often I can spend hours and hours on my laptop looking at blogs, and checking facebook, or reading this and that, then I realize I've wasted so much time doing nothing really. All that time that may or may not have been wasted, I could've been helping a friend and lighten their burden.

So, in lieu (cool word) of that I want to share this awesome video of an incredible high school basketball team, and their friendship, kindness, and service to a young boy.





And happened in New York of all places!

Have a wonderful day!

Keeping Busy

Happy Thursday, soon to be Friday in the next 30 minutes. ;)

Sorry about the comment problem. I know some of you tried to comment and it didn't work. But It should be fixed now. Yea! 

I've been working on a couple things, but they aren't ready to post yet. So, I thought that for today I'd just show you a list of stuff that I've got on my project list.

Cutest Pom-Pom Lamp from Ruffles and Stuff

Made from microwave dish covers!

A Tulle Pom-Pom Skirt from Happy Together

I guess I'm into Pom-Pom's lately. 

But I really wanna have one of these for the Little Angel for Easter!

Super, super easy earrings from Trey and Lucy

30 Seconds to make, woohoo! And so cute.

Darling stockings made from old tights from over at Ruffles and Stuff again. 

Disney's such a genius!

"So much time and so little to do!...wait a minute, strike that...reverse it."

(Willy Wonka. I'm way into movies, and quote them much too often. Sorry. ;)

Well, that's that for today. Have a wonderful weekend!

Cargo Pants to Bag

For years now I have been building a collection of great jeans and pants. It's really hard to find a good pair of pants, but I have managed to fill a whole drawer full of them over time. Pretty much all of them were very good looking, and very well fitting. Then come the "Big-Mamacita-Birthing-Hips". I have been kicked out of all my pants. None of them fit me. Not a one. But that's okay, I'd much rather have a pretty little angel, than a drawer full of fun jeans. But that means that I have all these pants leftover.

One of my favorite pairs were camo-cargo pants. I felt so sassy and menacing in those. But they are now the product of a fab refashioning! I used Noodlehead's Tutorial (Messenger bag from Cargo Pants) as a guideline. I used the same measurements, but I didn't add a lining like she did. First, because I didn't have any fabric on hand that I would've liked to use for lining, and second, because...I like to keep it as easy as possible. Haha! And here's the result:

Turns out that Photobucket has all sorts of features to add fun effects to your pictures! And good thing too, 'cause my laptop is "out of order" since the charger cord busted, and I didn't wanna have to use the old Photoshop version on my hubby's computer. So, you get to witness the product of my playing around with their new tools.

Just random books from the shelf. But I do highly recommend the first two in front! One for great hikes and adventures in Zion National Park (my fav!), and the other for a good story (you'll need a box of kleenex though).

Fun frame, huh? Probably be even better spray painted black. Or Heirloom White, with a nice brown glaze, and some distressing?? Huh?
And yes, I'm...uh...in my pj's. I couldn't wait to get this posted, so there you have it! I have to tell you though, I do love me some PJ's. I think 1/3 of my dresser is devoted to comfy nightwear. I love 'em!
So, I was planning on giving this bag away to one of the boys in my family, but I'm so in love, I think I'm gonna keep it. ;)

~Crystal

Still Learning & a Question

Okay, my super duper "dream" idea didn't work out like I thought. Hmph...
Well, live and learn, right? It was going to be like a "fabric/lantern looking basket" to hang and hold my baby girl's hair accessories. Maybe if I can get the kinks all worked out I'll try again later.

You know, I'm still working on being the super crafty-domestic wife and mommy, that has super great ideas. Like you I'm sure! And all the fun crafty ladies I follow (like Jennifer :). No worries, I still have many projects lined up. More ideas will come to me later when I need them, I'm sure.
Right now I'm going to start on my next project go to bed and get some rest before an early church tomorrow. Maybe I'll start on something tomorrow afternoon, since I have the whole day.
QUESTION: How do you feel about working on crafty projects on Sunday? They are very relaxing to me, and help me think clearly, but they're fun too. So is it a good spiritual relaxation, or is it recreation?
What do you think?

I have an idea!

It came to me in that place between waking and sleeping. As I was falling asleep I thought "I really hope I remember this tomorrow!" And I did! I'll try to post it on Monday.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Birthday Wishes

Since the husband just recently celebrated his birthday last month, for some reason it got me thinking about mine, which is still two months away. Which is weird 'cause usually I don't really care. Every year I just pray for the same thing on my birthday: a good day. And I pretty much always get it! It's wonderful!

But I guess this year I just wanted to fantasize about a somewhat realistic 'good day/birthday' possibilities, that include a little bit more. Maybe I'm getting spoiled or something...nahh!

First I wanna start out with this lovely breakfast

 

from here

Then I wanna get one of these with some girlfriends

and one of these

 

Then I wanna go here for lunch

 

And how about shopping here for a little while. 

I love shopping for a bargin!

Then here for hours! 

I know, can you believe it? On my birthday, haha!

After all that I think dinner here would be nice

But most of all I really, really want dessert from here!

If you've never heard of it, it's kind of like Red Mango, only I think it's way better!

The thing is that my husband prefers a different place, so I almost never get to go to Ocean Blue anymore, and I really crave it, so that would be my birthday miracle ;)

(And even better would be if it was NOT chocolate ice cream. 

I'm one of those wierdos that doesn't really like chocolate much.)

 

Then it'd be so fun to have our friends come over to chat and play games! 

Maybe even watch a movie (any suggestions?)

Then if we're really feeling young and daring, like the old days, do a 

late night run here for Carne Asada tacos

 

As you can probably tell, I really like food. Yum! Plus, eating out means not having to cook, hehe.

And if it was possible for all of this to come together, I think the only thing that could make it better was if we had a really good rainstorm! (this del taco picture made me think of it)

So, there it is. My perfect (somewhat reasonable) birthday-day. ;)

As it turns out my birthday is on the same Friday that a friend of ours is getting married, but no worries! I'll just take Saturday, then Ben will be home to watch Rowan while I get my toesies done. Did I plan that well or what? Jk ;)

What are your perfect birthday plans?

Fashion Forward- Cuffs and Collar

I'm so excited about my first tutorial today. It was inspired by Disney over at Ruffles and Stuff, and the cuffs and collar that she made, but mine are a little different....and maybe a little bit fashion forward. Sounds intense right? But it's really not. So, here we go. 

This is how they turned out. You like?

I think I was getting a little too serious during our fun little photo shoot. ;)

To start I took: 

* Scraps of white linen fabric

* 5 white buttons (small)

* White thread, and black thread

Yep, that's it.

First I cut two pieces that were 4.5'' x 14''

(allowing for 1/2'' seam allowance)

(Two pieces are for one cuff only. You'll actually want 4 pieces total for two cuffs)

Then I cut 4 strips 2'' x 1/2''

Two strips per cuff, so you need four total, then one more for the collar. 

These will be the loopies for your button to go through.

Then I folded each strip in half lengthwise and sewed a straight stitch close to the open edge. 

I went over the edge again with a zigzag stitch.

I left it with the slightly frayed look, 'cause that's what I was going for.

I folded it with the frayed/zigzag side facing out, just like so.

*Side-note: please forgive the horrible tablecloth, we got it when we first got married and we never use it, but it's waterproof so it's now my crafting tablecloth. Joy!*

I then pinned my little 'loopies' to the end of the fabric at 1'' down from each long side, facing inward.

I placed the other piece of fabric on top of that one with the 'loopies', and pinned it.

I stitched nearly all the way around, I left a little opening to fold it inside-out...or would it be rightside-out? You know what I mean, right.

Then I hand-stitched the small opening I left open, closed.

Here's where I switched to my black thread. I loosened the thread tension a little, and took the stitch length all the way up. I sewed a line just above the first 'loopy', at 1'' down.

Then I did the same just below the lower 'loopy', and ruffled it! I kept putting it around my wrist to make sure it wasn't too short. Better too long, then too short. Once it was a good size I tied off my 'ruffle strings' and trimmed 'em.

Here was the fun part for me!

I tried out my 'free motion foot' for the first time! Did I mention this is a new sewing machine? And that I LOVE it?! Singer Quilter's Confidence, in case you're interested.

I tightened the tension a little tighter than the 'Auto' it's normally on. 

Then I went to work going back in forth (with the black thread still), in a carefree kinda way, with the feed-dog down. I wanted it to have a slightly...umm..what's the word? Rogue-ish look?

You don't have to have this foot to get this look, just use your regular presser foot and pivot at each end.

Here's after going back and forth in my 'free motion fashion'. 

I know it doesn't look like anything super special, but like most great accessories you gotta put them on to get the whole effect, right?

Oh, and add both the buttons to the opposite end of the 'loopies'. If it's too long, just move the buttons back a bit.

Ooooh, I L.O.V.E. IT!

I then proceeded to make the second cuff, and a collar that was 14'' x 3 1/2'' (with 1/4'' seam allowance), with one 'loopy' and one button. Go off your own measurements though if you plan to make any. I have unusually small wrists. And I barely had any ruffle to my collar 'cause my scraps weren't any longer. But it turned out great!

Thanks for checking out Crafty Mamacita!

Now, take a break and go have yourself some pizza!

I know, graceful, huh? BUT, it's still elegant if you hold your pinky finger out. ;)

I'm linking up to: