2007 November « The Texas Mama

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Random Craftiness #2

November 30, 2007 at 6:14 am | In For Hali, Home Decor, accessories, paper crafts, sewing | No Comments
Tags: , book bag, camera, crafts, crayon roll, Home Decor, pillow, sewing

I’m trying to play catch up here and actually post some of the things that I have sewn/crafted lately. So here are a few things:

Crayon roll and little notebook for Hali. Excuse the untrimmed bottom there. This comes in really handy for church, in the car, or visiting relatives. Just do a search for crayon roll and you’ll find plenty of tutorials. Or go to etsy and buy one. I have plans on making a few more for some younger (and not so young) family members. Plus a few larger pencil rolls.

A bag for Hali from the same loud material. I machine embroidered the pink felt “H” onto the front pocket, which made from almost coordinating stripped material. I even did a lining for it.

It’s meant to be her library bag and it goes across her chest like a messenger bag to help make the weight of a couple books easier on her little body. Her “I want to do it” tendencies seem to be getting stronger lately and she really likes doing everything herself. Wonder where she gets this from?

It’s been used a couple times for ballet class, a few times just to tote random stuff in and possibly twice it has been taken to the library.

A new pillow for a chair in the living room. Really, it’s just a recovered pillow. When we bought our couch a few years ago, it came with these pillows that were in the same material as the couch itself. Kind of blah and no contrast whatsoever. So I found this sturdy home decor fabric at Hancock’s and thought it was perfect. The couch has a slight green tinge to it and I have a big brown shag rug in the living room as well, so this pillow ties in nicely.

I’ve had it with my sucky camera. I don’t want to sound ungrateful- my mom did the whole Black Friday thing a couple years ago and got it for us for Christmas. I was so happy! It really was the perfect gift.

I’m so glad that I have had it these past few years to document my daughter’s life. Before we got this digital camera, we just didn’t take as many photos as we do now. But I know I can take better photographs with a better camera.

This, and the husband keeps taking it to work with him, and of COURSE I need it when I discover it’s gone! So, I’ve decided that we (the royal we of course) are getting a new one. One that stays at home. So I can take good, decent, clear and focused photos of our daughter and the stuff we do. Luckily, our anniversary is in less than three weeks, so I guess I know what I’m getting us!

Two Black Cats

November 27, 2007 at 6:05 am | In For Hali, accessories, clothing, sewing | 2 Comments
Tags: black cats, black hair, costumes, Halloween

For Halloween Hali and I were both (as per her request) both black cats. I made us ears and tails. I also made her some furry little cuffs to go around her tiny wrists to complete the look. She already had the clothes, so it was a very inexpensive costume. I was really prepared to go all out and sew up some fabulous costume for her, but she just wanted to be a black cat ( I think because her idol, Dora the Explorer also has dressed as a cat for Halloween) and she wanted Mom to be one too.

The big surprise of the night was me dying my hair. I am actually a blond, but decided to have some fun and try something new for Halloween. Turns out I really like it (for some reason my hair looks super greasy in that picture though) and so does everyone else. So it remains, although it is already fading.

I just realized that I didn’t draw and whiskers on myself. Just as well- Jeremy’s cousin was so kind as to point out that Hali’s look like a spider…

Happy Birthday, Jeremy

November 14, 2007 at 3:12 pm | In Uncategorized | No Comments

Happy Birthday, Jeremy!

You are four years older than me for the next two months, old man!

Belated Halloween and Fall Home Decor and Crafts

November 10, 2007 at 5:44 am | In Craftin' With Hali, Crafty, Home Decor, thrifty | No Comments
Tags: autumn, crafts, fall, glitter, Halloween, Home Decor, pumpkins, spiders

I’m sure I got the inspiration for these from some great crafter somewhere, and I am sure they aren’t exactly original, but they sure were fun to make and are super cute. I sprayed some wooden beads (from the craft section of Walmart) black. Then Hali and I bent black pipe cleaners in half and inserted them into the hole. Hali had a blast gluing on googly eyes!

Then we let these cute creepy crawlies infest our house! They really loved the ficus. And the window above the front door- I think they had plans on dropping in on unsuspecting ~~intruders~~ visitors.

I really loved Martha Stewart’s glittered pumpkins. I wanted to make some as soon as I spotted them on marthastewartliving.com and on my next trip in to Michael’s I spotted the little kits. I found some plastic pumpkins there as well. But I am cheap. And that price sure seemed awfully high for some glitter (although, yes, it IS really pretty glitter) and glue. And Michael’s wanted way too much for some plastic pumpkins.

Thrifty me spotted some glitter glue in gold and copper. I thought “hey, Hali could help me paint it on with some paintbrushes and it would be a fun project for BOTH of us that way!”. So for about two bucks a bottle, I snagged up three bottles of glitter glue.

On my next trip into Walmart, I spotted some small plastic pumpkins on sale for much less than what Michael’s was asking. So all told, I think I spent about HALF of what I would have, had I done it Martha’s way. The outcome, I must say, is just as good and looks great in my entertainment unit:

I did however, purchase some autumnal garland and a grape vine wreath from Michael’s for the mantel and fireplace. I LOVE fall. It is absolutely my favorite season.

Guilty As Charged

November 3, 2007 at 5:54 am | In Uncategorized | 2 Comments

I admit it. I watch Dancing With The Stars. I have since the first show of the first season. That 14 or so months that we went without tv wasn’t too rough, but I did miss watching Dancing With The Stars.

I always call the winner. It is always clear to me who should win.

Should being the operative word here.

I can NOT believe that Sabrina got voted off. There. I said it. I join the host of the show when I say that I had her pegged for the finale. I thought she was going to take that flashy trophy. She should. She is simply the best dancer.

Sure, Jenny is good.

Mel is awesome (baby got back AND front!).

Helio unfortunately reminds me too much of the gay French race car driver in Talladega Nights, and I can’t help but say “Rrreeeeke Boooob-e” in a bad French accent every time he preforms.

As much as I love Jane (and I sooo used to watch Dr. Quinn) she just can’t get down ‘n dirty the way you really need to in order to dance.

Being LDS, I am contractually obligated to love all Osmonds, but I think everyone is now perpetually afraid she will pass out again. Jane and Marie just aren’t sharp enough in their movements to win.

Cameron is such a hottie. Although, is it me, or is his eye spacing weird? But he seriously just is not a dancer. But if he would take off his shirt, I would vote to keep him a little longer, which is why is still there, I think. We all keep hoping. That or we all want to see if his very sexy smokin’ hot partner will pop out of one of her costumes. I’m straight, I swear, but wow. Edita is HOT.

All said, I am considering not watching the show any more. I can’t believe that there are enough clearly NOT sane people with that POOR judgment to vote off Sabrina. Why weren’t people voting for her? I was so disturbed by it all that I googled Dancing With The Stars Sabrina and found that there is a petition (oh, yes, there is) going around for a redo. I would like some kind of a recount. I really have a hard time believing that people just did not vote for her. So I signed the petition. Pointless, I know. I am such a nerd. With no life. Me and half of America.