Sew Sweet!

In keeping with last year's chicken costume, we decided to continue on with the food theme, and this year Ru went as a a cupcake. More specifically a "pink cake with spinkles." Seems quite fitting seeing as how, a) I often refer to her as my little cupcake and b) she LOVES making AND eating them. This years inspiration was courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids. Besides the fact I wasn't about to spend $59- on something that gets worn once, I would like to maintain the tradition of homemade costumes as long as possible. It really is a fun process, even if it doesn't turn out exactly like the picture. Ommie Sandy and I had a fun time experimenting on this costume seeing as how we had no pattern to follow. Although I left all the tricky parts up to Ommie, I am quite proud of the fact that I sewed the mini cupcake she wore in her hair

by myself, entirely by hand.


Prior to this, I has never sewn anything by hand other than a button! This little project has definitely motivated me to continue sewing on a regular basis and increase my needle know how. Despite the fact Ru didn't really like wearing the cake on her head due to the wobble factor it had going on, she did really enjoy serving it with her "afternoon tea" prior to me sewing it into her hairband. I think it would be fun to create some more faux food to go with the kitchen set my little cupcake will be getting for Christmas. Shhhh, don't let the cat out of the bag. Oh, who am I kidding ? I've already told her if she is a good girl, Santa might bring her her very own pink kitchen. No...we're not excited for Christmas around here at all!

This door looks awful familiar...

Where's daddy bear?

Not the best picture I know, but this face just cracks me up!

Sneak Peak

This was last year's costume sneak peak...and in case you missed this post,

no she wasn't a sumo, she was a chicken.

And here we have this years not so sneak peak...can you guess what she is going to be? Cuz if not, that's a bad sign seeing as how the costume is nearly complete. Ommy Sandy came through yet again. This year we didn't have the advantage of a pattern, all we had to go on was a picture. So stay tuned for the finished product. I'm off to attempt my first softie creation today, I'm hoping it will be the icing on the cake. ; )

Bye Baby Bunting...

Mommas gone a hunting, trying to decide just where to hang her most recent sewing project! So i leave it up to you dear readers {yup, all three of you...now who's feeling special?} I can't quite decide where to hang my Halloween bunting...do you like it better on the mirror, or hanging from the mantel. I seem to be leaning towards the mantle, mostly because you get to see all of the flags... but what do you think? I apologize in advance for the less than superior photos,but a) this momma really needs a new camera & b) taking pictures in front of a mirror with recessed lighting is quite a challenge!

This was such a fun little project, and super easy. If you feel like you might be up for a little sewing, all you have to do is google "bunting tutorial". The only materials you need are a selection of cute fabrics and double sided bias tape in the coordinating color of choice. You do not need to be an expert seamstress to pull this off, it was actually very good practice for sewing in a straight line! I do however recommend experimenting with the size and shape triangles you want to use. The particular tutorial i found had a template, but i found it to be a little too large and a little too "perfect" so i just made my own. I have a feeling i will be making one of these babies for each of the upcoming holidays. A good excuse to buy some cute fabric and spruce up the fireplace i think! This one actually coordinates with the tablecloth i sewed for Ruby's little table, & by sewing i mean hemmed. : )

Come And Sit A Spell...

I have been excited for Christmas since we first moved into our new place...so excited to finally have a fireplace; a place to hang our stockings and set up my ever growing collection of bottle brush trees, not to mention a cozy place to sip hot coco while enjoying a crackling fire. And while Christmas will have to wait awhile longer, the first holiday we will spend here is Halloween and so I decided to decorate a little more than I have in years past. Partially because i just love any excuse to decorate and partially to tide me over until Christmas...which will appear immediately after Thanksgiving has past...if I can make it that long...

I. Love. Christmas.


I'm really not into the spooky side of Halloween, which might confuse some of you after viewing my photos. I am however very into Dia De Los Muertos. My large bride and groom paper mache skeletons (or Mr. & Mrs. Skullybones as Ruby calls them) were actually Christmas presents from my parents last year. Yup, skeletons for Christmas, that's how i roll. I fell in love with them at the flea market and told my mom i'd be the happiest girl in long beach if she would be gracious enough to buy them for my birthday.

You have no idea how excited i was when she actually said yes, despite the fact i was going to have to wait several months before actually getting to enjoy them. I consider these beauties to be the finest pieces of Day Of The Dead art that i own. They are even more impressive in person with glitter embellishments, paper flowers and hand painted details. I can totally understand that they aren't for everyone, but, I. Love. Them. And if you're confused by the fact that i asked for them as a birthday present but received them on Christmas, that's because my mom is a sneaky girl. She found a way to make a gift i chose myself a complete surprise by giving them to me before i was expecting them. : )

As for the rest of the decor, all of the smaller trees in shades of Halloween are part of my larger Christmas collection. The owl and smaller paper mache skeleton are from Roger's Gardens last year and the black cat is from Michael's. I also had fun with my cute little ghost pumpkins which i could have easily gotten carried away with. Fortunately my "thrifty" husband was with me on our trip to the pumpkin patch to keep me in check! ; )

Welcome...

BOO!

a glowing witch's brew...

on our coffee table...

i heart candy corn...mmmmm...

yet another ghost pumpkin...

From a different angle...

So that's it, hope you enjoyed our little Halloween e-open house. All i have left to do is sew my halloween bunting...all my triangles are cut, just have to hem them all up. I'll post pictures when it's finished. How do you decorate for fall? Got anything spooky up your sleeves?