When life gives you holey jeans...

  .... make them into shorts and jean skirts!!

This summer was a trying time for finding shorts to fit my skinny girls! The shorts were either too big around the waist or too stinkin short  on their legs!! Now, I'm not a total prude but come on! Our girls don't need to be wearing shorts that barely cover their little rumps! lol So, we took to the pile of jeans that seem to be growing huge holes in the knees more and more every day.... I just cut them off above the knee and rolled them up a bit and wha la! We had new shorts that actually stayed up and the girls were thrilled...

The only problem with this solution was that now I had two perfectly good "legs" from the knee down left over! And it would be a sin to throw perfectly good fabric away right? :) So into the scrap pile they went! lol  I'm not sure when it first came to mind but I've been meaning to do something with them for weeks (ok months lol) now and just finally took them off the scrap pile the other day.



My girls were gifted these dolls from their Granny Annie and they have gradually been getting more and more into them. They love doing their hair, having tea parties and of course finding the perfect outfit to dress them up in! We just got the American Girl catalog the other day and they have been pouring over it for hours ever since! lol ( I remember doing the same thing as a kid) Unfortunately, the insane prices for these outfits have hindered how well these dolls get to dress and we've had to get creative on how to cloth them but still keep it fun for the girls.

Earlier in the spring, I used a baby blanket that I'd had given to us to create four matching night gowns for their sleep over....

 And we've been lucky enough to happen on to some in thrift stores too!  J is learning to sew and is asking for patterns for these dolls ( a great find at JoAnns when their patterns go on sale!) and now they each have matching jean skirts made with those left over jean legs! All I had to do was turn down the top, sew and add elastic! It was a win win for sure! I got something out of my scrap bin and the girls got new skirts for those dolls they love so much!! Who needs a $10 out fit from Walmart when we have our creative juices flowing!? :)

A creative success!

 

Here's a peak of my table at the craft show last weekend! It was cold and blustery outside but that didn't seem to slow the shoppers down!  It was warm and cozy inside and definately full of Christmas cheer! I kept pretty busy throughout the two days, so much so that I forgot to take more pictures!! The lodge we were set up in was just beautiful!! I so wish I would have captured it! I guess I'll just have to do it again next year! :)

By the end of the two days, my stock was pretty well picked over but I was excited at how my toys were received!  I came home with a lot less toys than I went with and a few orders for more that I need to make before Christmas! :) 

I sold a bunch of my peg dolls too!! I only came home with a hand full of them but am happy to take orders for more! :) I've actually been working on orders today! :)

The highlight of my day was when one of the other vendor's little boys  came over to show me his sketch pad!! He had been drawing my monster puppets!!!

Creations ...

My name is Hallie and I am a wood burning addict.... lol

That's what I feel like these days... I get up when hubby goes to work and by 6 I am working on another wooden toy creation and laughing at myself for enjoying it so much!! lol

This little guy is for a swap with BitsofGoodness. I so enjoy these swaps... you could say they are addicting too! :) Anyways, this little guy is hanging out on the play mat I made R a few years ago and he comes with three little discs to help him plant his garden: row marker for carrots, seed packet and shovel!

When you flip them over, you find his garden has grown! There are carrots, tomatoes and a bunny! What garden isn't complete without a bunny competing for the vegetables? :)

And to make him ready for travel, they all fit in this little bag! :)

Not a part of any toy swaps? I made one extra and he's just waiting in my shop for a new home! :)

A gift...

It's funny to me how the universe brings us what we need when we need it.... I've always believed that but sometimes have to be reminded from time to time....

From the time I was little I have had this gift of thrifting... I don't know how I was blessed with it, and feel kinda snobby even talking about it but when it comes right down to it, I really do have a gift when it comes to thrifting and I really do feel blessed  by it... over and over again...

My first experience with it came when I was probably 4 or 5. I was going with my grandparents as they set up at a flea market. I can remember being told to bring a jacket and fighting that I didn't need one. Then my next memory was opening the door and seeing the fog floating across the field of tables being set up and thinking that I had been soooo wrong!! What is it about being a kid and just having to fight what we think are terrible rules? lol Anyways, I can remember thinking that I was going to be sick, it was so chilly and I didn't have any room to complain! My gram took me to look around  while my papa started to set up their tables and I remember bending down to look thru a box and finding a Cabbage Patch blanket for $.75!! What luck!! I had it wrapped around me for the rest of the morning!! I still have that blanket to this day... yes, I know I'm a packrat! :)

From then on, I have always had the best of luck at finding what I need/want at yard sales, thrift shops and even the occasional dump! lol In high school, I even passed that luck on to friends that would take me shopping with them when they needed to find the perfect dress! After I got my first prom dress for less than $20 (new) they became believers in my gift too! lol



I think I must be passing it on to my girls now... I must sound like a terrible parent in the store tho. I can remember my oldest wanting one of those electronic dogs on a trip to Toys R Us. You know the ones... they bark and pant and cost a small fortune? Yeah, as we are looking at it in the store, I told her that in a few months, after Christmas had passed that we would start finding them in thrift stores when the other kids got tired of them and then we could get them and "rescue" the homeless toy dogs... little did I know how true that would be! A few months later, on Freecycle, someone listed not the little dog that we'd been looking at but the $200+ big electronic lab! He even came with working batteries and his very own bone! Now my girls make comments in the stores when they see something they like.... "Guess we'll have to keep our eye out for that one huh Mom?" lol I love it!! :)

If you've been reading my blog for very long, you already know about the newest "treasures" as we call them, that fell into our laps. Again... we are so blessed... But more so, I think that it's all about timing. I think that had I found those tools a few years ago I wouldn't have known what to do with them, or at the very least I would have bought them and they would have set in my closet unused. But to get them now, when I am ready for them? It's amazing!!

I have been a wood burning fool! lol I've been working on toys swaps, and gifts and even a few custom orders from friends! As soon as I get caught up I am hoping to start listing some in my etsy shop too! After years of feeling out of place at our last location, I feel like I can truly feel the glow of God's good favor on us. I know it's probably silly to feel that finding the best tools for our hobbies is a blessing from God, or that he would waste his time on such trivial things is crazy but I really do... We were ready for it and He is opening doors for us....

After having such good luck with the wood working tools, a few days later I got a call from one of my favorite thrift shops in town. They have a wish list board and I had added a reel mower (yes I know I'm crazy) and a spinning wheel. I knew that they were both long shots but figured I had nothing to lose! Well, a few months ago, she did get in a reel mower (which I love by the way!) and then a few weeks ago she had gotten in a spinning wheel!! The price however was A LOT more than I was willing to put out for something I had never tried before! lol  She asked what I was willing to pay for one if she ever got one in again. I explained that I was really just looking for something to try out, not a big investment so I was looking for a cheap one, probably not more than $50. At the time I thought for sure that I had blown it. I would never possibly find one that cheap in a thrift store, and sighed as I kissed my dream of spinning my own yarn away... but wait!! She called again! A lady had overheard her talking to me on the phone. She said that she had a spinning wheel at home that she had used in while and that I could have it for $50!!!! You remember that gift I told you I had about finding what I need/want? I think it's been in over drive lately! lol

So, within a few hours of getting the call I was in at the store and bringing my new "baby" home... :) But just wait... God wasn't finished with me yet.... but that will have to wait for another day! :)



I love learning about the process of things. Whether it's making a recipe from scratch or turning wool from a sheep into yarn that will later keep my kids warm on a cold winters day... the process is the real journey and I'm so glad to be on this adventure....

In progress

For once, DH is getting in on the fun of making presents for the girls too!

In a world where everything is bigger and better, we really really try to make an effort to simplify at Christmas. I think last year will always be the year we are striving to recreate... not to much, not too little, just right!

So this year, instead of going to the store and ordering a painted up, run of the mill Barbie house (wooden, plastic or whatever else they come up with these days!) we are creating one that will be bookshelf style and simple... perfect for their imaginations and love of crafting to go wild!

But, as we all know... a house is not a home without some of the creature comforts of furniture! So, Daddy and I went into the woods on the search for "logs" for the beds....I love that we were able to turn what would be garbage to anyone else into something that will brign such joy to the girls. Now I need to get working on the bedding!  :)