Pillowcase Casual...

 My sis-in-law began her new job as a stay-at-home mom about a year or so ago.  She has purchased a sewing machine but has yet to use it.  I can understand the angst of starting such a new venture.  It is a bit intimidating.  After gorging on Thanksgiving dinner she and I were perusing some different websites and simple dress patterns and we came across some really fab pillowcase dresses.  I decided I would do this tutorial for her.  There are others out there to be sure, but none that were written just for you.  Can’t wait to see what you come up with, Miss!  No pressure...

My niece, Kate, turned 4 on Sunday.  My sister-in-law had the nerve to deliver her on my baby’s due date!  My little bundle of joy made her grand entrance 5 days later.  We are still working on her drama queen issues 4 years later.  Kate loves dresses and I already had a pair of boots and leggings for her, so we searched the stash for something to match.  My motto is the more color, pattern, and texture the better!  The “dress” turned out more of a tunic in length.  I will put the measurements for a dress in parenthesis.  

You will need-

2/3 yard fabric A (blue sun and moon)

1/3 yard fabric B (green polka dot)

1/4 yard fabric C (pink)

1.Cut a rectangle 15’’ (20”) by the width of fabric A.  Most cotton quilter fabric is 45’’ wide.

2.Cut fabric B 4” by the width of fabric (figured at 45”)

3.Cut two pieces of fabric C 4” by the width of fabric.  Sew together the narrow ends. Fold in half lengthwise wrong sides together and iron flat. This will be the bottom ruffle.

4. Run a basting stitch the length of the ruffle on the rough edges.  A basting stitch is achieved by setting your stitch length to the longest position.  It is a “5” on my machine.  By pulling on one of the basting threads the fabric will gather or “ruffle”.

5. Sew the ruffle to the bottom edge of fabric B.

6. Sew the top edge of fabric B to fabric A.

This photo shows top stitching the seams of the large rectangle.  It isn't necessary, but makes the garment look more finished.  

7. You now have a large rectangle. Fold it in half, right sides together, and sew a seam down the long edge making sure that the different stripes of fabric line up on the edges.

8. To make armholes put a mark at the top 2’’ in from the side and another 6’’ down on the side edge. Make a gentle “J” curve to connect the marks.  You can use a plate to help you make the curve if you desire. Cut the armhole.

9. Starting at the 2’’ mark at the top cut a gentle curve from each side to the middle ending 1’’ below the top edge.

I made the armcyes (dressmakers term for armholes) by folding the dress in half. I used a disappearing sewing marker to make my lines.  I also have a stub of chalk in my pin box I use if my kids haven't absconded with it.

10. Make a narrow hem on the armholes by folding over the fabric twice to the inside and ironing flat.  Sew the armhole hem.

 11. Fold over the neck line 1/2’’ iron flat.  Fold in again 1 1/2’’ wide and iron.  This will be the drawstring casing.  Sew the neck seam being sure to not stitch across ends where you will pull through the tie.

This photo shows the neck casing.

12. To make the tie sew together the short ends of two pieces of fabric B that are 4’’ by 45’’ to make a 90’’.  

 13. Fold in half right sides together and sew across one end and down the side. Turn right side out, tuck in unfinished end and sew. Iron.

14. Feed tie through neck casing using a safety pin.

Add caption

15. Tie a big bow and smile because you are done!

16. Go start some onions sauteing because your husband will be home soon and when he smells the onions he’ll think you have started the supper prep...

My "model" by default.  The girl it would fit was napping.

Here he is proudly displaying his artwork he likes to call, "Monkeys With Balls".

Sew Free!

I'm not sure if it a genetic predisposition or due my encouragement, but my kids love to create.  I try to offer them many different mediums.  We seem to especially gravitate towards art that makes a mess.  And we seem to crave this activity in the cooler months coordinated with whatever subject we are studying at the time- picture a Shetland pony sized paper mache horse complete with internal wire armature.  I didn't really think this one through.  Do you know how many layers it takes, added one day at a time, of flour and water sodden newspaper to complete a horse?!

The kids also like to paint.  In the warmer months, and when they were young enough to get away with it, I would let them strip down to nature and paint outside at their plastic picnic table.  When they were finished I hosed down the table and filled the wading pool with dish soap and water.  They were happy and I was happy.  Now that we have learned about modesty, and since the dog water is frozen over they have set up a studio of sorts in our unfinished basement.  It is a great space for them to spill paint and practice cleaning it up without me having to come behind them and complete the task.  The only problem being that they tend to spill paint all over their clothes.  This even after the younger set were told to strip off their outer layer.  I guess I should have checked up on them if I really expected them to follow instructions. They were subsequently banned from the studio after the last session.

For my own sanity I needed to figure out a way for them to regain their basement privileges.  Turns out I like it when they are underfoot, one floor underfoot that is.  My sewing machines are right above the studio space and I can keep tabs on them by listening through the HVAC registers.

Today as I was sorting through some unused clothing I got a bright idea.  Easy no sew smocks! Everyone is happy once again...

I will not incriminate our household by indicating how many denim shirts we have or how long we have had them.  Two of the shirts were missing all their buttons as I dug them out of the discard bag. I sewed the front of them back together before I started cutting. We scalp all buttons before clothes are thrown out.  Yes, one day I will be that crazy old lady with the mason jars full of buttons!

Cut the back off the shirt.  If you are lucky enough to have a loop on the bottom of the yoke seam leave it intact so your progeny can throw the smock on the floor and you can remind them to hang it up.

Cut away the sleeve leaving it intact at the armpit.

The strip you have left becomes the tie.

2 minutes after you started you have a smock!

My adorable model in what looks like a dress...

From the look of his pants I just might have to make him an outdoor smock as well...

Proof I Did Get Something Accomplished Last Summer...

Sometimes I wonder if I'm just spinning my wheels.  I have to continually remind myself that my husband and 6 dear children are daily on the top of my to do list.  Those of you who know me best know that I occasionally obsess over a project idea.  There is even an acquaintance of mine, with whom I shared many years of lodging even letting her use the same womb in which I was nourished for 9 months, who declares subjects taboo after I have dwelled on them overlong. One of the reasons I take so many photographs is that I need to review where I have been visually.

Upon reviewing the over 1,000 pictures I took over the summer months I came across a project that I especially enjoyed creating.  It is a quilt I made for a friend's new baby.  Those of you who have recently reproduced know that in my heart your sweet babe is already wrapped in something I have created just for them.  My mind is so far ahead of my hands!  If it makes you feel any better I put this particular project on the front burner as this was my dear friend's 9th baby!!  I think that number nine deserves something especially fine!

For Fletcher Kale.

His name and some blocks are in brown and green minkee on the herd of turtles.  The mint green blocks are ribbed minkee.  The brown blocks are dot minkee.

Psalm 145:3 is quilted in the sashing around the herd of turtles block in the middle.

Here is the quilt from the back. I like to use a dark color fabric so I can see the quilting.

Side view of the pinwheel blocks.

I had such fun making the pinwheels!  To make them I took the same 6'' blocks I used throughout and folded them in half diagonally to make a triangle and then folded them in half again to make a smaller triangle.  I then cut a 6'' block in half horizontally and vertically to make four squares.  I sewed the triangles (I think they are called prairie points when all folded up) to the squares and the squares back together again.  Then I was rebellious and randomly placed them throughout the quilt.

 With some coordinating fabric I made him some little tie shirts.

I ironed wonder under to the back of the tie then ironed the tie to the shirt.

If you don't have any commercial stabilizer on hand use a coffee filter to keep the fabric from stretching.

Tear off your improvised stabilizer.

Here is the finished product!  My friend uses cloth diapers and I've found all my old standby snap crotch onesies  don't work as well as shirts with cloth diapers.  Just in case you were wondering why I didn't use snap crotch onesies :)

Welcome to the planet Fletcher!!

I Cannot Come To You, But You Can One Day Join Me!

This is how I remember my dad, sitting at the table teaching.

"But do not let this one {fact} escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.

  The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."

2 Peter 3:8-9

One year ago today my dad went to heaven.  Seeing as how God is not constrained by time, those worshiping in His presence have no need of a wristwatch.  The last year has not moved ploddingly forward or raced onward by turns for Dad as it has those he beat to the finish line.  There has not been one day in the last 365 that I have not wondered with whom Dad was spending his time surrounded by the glory of God. I'm sure  Dad has spoken to Barnabas to confirm his part in writing Hebrews.  Maybe he chatted up Elijah concerning what it was like to ride in a fiery chariot.  Perhaps he even spoke to Peter about Christ’s  imminent return to take up in the clouds all who believe and the amount  of earthly time our patient heavenly father has waited until this point to allow for more of His creation to come to repentance.  

All I know for sure is what God’s word, the Bible, has told me.  I know my dad’s eternal address is heaven because he believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as the propitiation for his sin. (Hebrews 2:17)  I also know that Dad was prepared to be there.  

Dad sharing the gospel at an Ericksen Christmas gathering.

Dad enjoyed learning.  Both my parents were/are avid readers.  After he came to know Jesus as his saviour Dad became a student of the word. In his free time he didn’t peruse newspapers, magazines, or even much fiction in my recollection.  He could be found reading the Bible or some commentary on the Bible.  

My folks love of reading has worn off on their children.  I was tickled when I found out in college that I could get a degree in “reading stuff”.  It was actually my responsibility to sit around reading all day!  I especially enjoyed fiction.  Since Dad’s death I have had a hard time getting caught up in made up stories and have turned instead to nonfiction.  Reading for me used to be mainly for my own enjoyment, although it is also the way I learn best.  Now I am convicted more than ever to consider what my reading is doing for me from an eternal perspective.  Dad was prepared for heaven because he’d dutifully studied the manual.  His learning curve would be short and he looked forward to having questions answered that were almost 4 decades in the pondering. I don’t want to get where I know I’m going and not have done my homework.  

Dad giving a devotional a couple years back.  He and Mom had taken all the kids and grandkids to Honey Creek Resort on Lake Rathbun for Christmas.

Here he is that same trip playing with a bunch of the grandsons.

It took me the most part of a year to come to this conclusion.  That is just like Dad to let me ruminate.  When approached with a question his way of answering was to see that you had all the information you needed, and then to begin speaking in the interrogative until you came up with the answer seemingly on your own.  

Upon speaking with my siblings he never had any last words of wisdom to impart upon any of us.  I’m pretty sure he figured he’d given us all the information we would need to carry out God’s will for each of our lives and to arrive at the finish line ready to hold our own as part of heavenly discussion.

Studying the word

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”  

2 Timothy 2:15

Things Seldom Go As Planned...

Ten years ago today we welcomed our sweet Maliah Joy into our lives.  Last year on her birthday my dad fell into a coma and we mourned our loss a day later.  I had hopes that this year the weekend would be less stressful as we celebrated Dad's first year in his true home.  But things seldom go according to plan.

On Friday Rosie's calf was 10 days overdue.  We weren't overly concerned as she looked great.  Huge but great.  Jersey cows are susceptible to milk fever so we had been feeding her a special additive as a precautionary measure for a month or so.  Milk fever can happen before or after a Jersey calves.  Their milk is very high in butterfat.  When their milk comes in calcium is drawn so quickly from their system that it pretty much renders their muscles useless.  The classic milk fever symptom is staggering.  If treated a Jersey quickly recovers.  Breadwinner had done much research on the subject.  We had gone to great lengths to find the correct additive to feed Rosie preventatively.  We thought we had sidestepped that landmine.  Our greatest concern was problems birthing the calf. 


On Friday Rosie seemed to be contracting.  Starting at about 11:30 I checked on her every 20 minutes or so.  She lay in the pasture where we thought she was laboring.  I took pictures hoping to catch her in the stages of her labor.  We all eagerly waited to see whether she would deliver a bull or a heifer.  When Matt got home about 3:00 we started to suspect something wasn't right.  Soon after this she began to vomit.  Apparently cows don't vomit.  Our 2 Johns, "retired" farmer neighbors who both raised beef cattle had no idea what was wrong with her.  They had never seen a cow vomit.  Upon later research I found that the milk fever effected the ability of Rosie's rumen to work.  


By now Breadwinner was frantically trying to locate a vet that would be willing to come treat our cow.  At this point we hypothesized that perhaps the calf was positioned incorrectly and that was why she was in distress.  We stood around the yard talking with John about making applesauce avoiding looking at Rosie out in the pasture as there wasn't anything we could do for her but wait for the vet.  After a search calling around the nearest towns we finally found a vet in a town 20 miles away.  We greatfully welcomed Doc Stickley, even though his right arm was in a sling from recent rotator cuff surgery.  


He confirmed that she had milk fever and was pretty far along.  He gave her a couple bottles of CMPK intravenously.  He then checked her and told us she was only about 3cm dilated and to expect a calf in the next 12 hours.  It was bout 5:30 P.M.


The prognosis was not good.  It took Rosie a few hours to get back to her feet.  Usually when Jersey's get the CMPK they get to their feet presently.  When Breadwinner checked her at 8:00 P.M. she finally got to her feet and we had hope.  Breadwinner had spoken to Eric Lyon where we purchased Rosie and he suggested she had a 50/50 chance.  Breadwinner spent the night on the couch so he could check on her.  We hoped that if Rosie wasn't to make it she could at least deliver the calves feet, so we could pull and save the calf.  
 
From the initial sign of Rosie's distress I had begun to pray for her.  Cows are very resilient.  I prayed God would preserve her life if it be His will.  When I awoke in the morning I found Breadwinner on the couch.  He just sadly shook his head.  We lost both Rosie and the calf.  She wasn't strong enough after her ordeal to endure labor. 


Lyon's Dairy told us to come back on down to get a replacement if we lost her.  Breadwinner is questioning his ability and what business he has as a bovine farmer.  I'm questioning whether the benefits outweigh the time and inconvenience of a family cow....