Sews2Reap

Last time I showed you the basics of applique, this week we sew it all together!  The project is a flannel baby dress and bloomers with ladybug applique. The bloomers will be the next video! Sew with me as we make a complete dress. This is a simple and easy style. Even though I am making an infant-sized dress, this style pattern can be found in all sizes and the information is the same. If you click through to watch on YouTube, I have included the timestamps in the description so you can zoom to the part you need.  A few details about this project: ~ Fabric from JoAnn Fabrics, and Hobby Lobby ~Sewing machine: Bernina 770QE ~ Overlock/Serger Bernette 334DS ~ Pattern: Butterick 6549 ~ 1/4 inch elastic See more sewing videos here: Sewing and Such Get cute sewing related gifty items here: TeeSpring Shop

I know I am not alone in noticing how skimpy pockets are in ladies clothing. I was comparing my jean pockets to my husbands and it was pretty annoying.  His pockets went midway down his thigh where mine were finished just below the pocket opening. That is less than two inches deep!   Any other ladies have their phone fall our of their front pocket just by bending over? I use my pockets and they need to be practical.  In today's video, I add an extension to my jean pockets and get deep pockets!  Check out my other sewing related videos on the playlist Sewing and Such  If you like my video please consider clicking "like" and "subscribe." YouTube has changed their algorithm and it is the only way others may eventually find my videos. :) 

We have been in Kansas full time since Sept 10! It's been a journey. Our first day and night in our new house was on air mattresses with one diffuser going.  Our sweet Peaches stayed in a doggy hotel during our transition and was so happy to have her family back. We missed her so much! No furniture but lots to explore! This was my second time to be surprised on this staircase by this crazy kid. The first time he was hiding in the storage bench under the window and rose out like Bela Lugosi in Mummy. Furniture day was crazy! I am so thankful for the moving guys who carried all our stuff up and down the stairs all day! WOW! They were super friendly and nice too.  This kid put all his furniture together and helped so much!  The first week my hubby was traveling and I decided to get as much done as I could. Did I mention we have stairs? Lots of stairs.  I was getting way over 20000 steps a day. I felt like I had run tw...

Our house in Oklahoma is now occupied by a new family. We have been staying with our family for six days now. Eight more days of being a transient to go! We are so thankful that the time between houses was shortened by a week and we are now closing five days earlier.  Here is what we are doing during this time of floating. 3 days of packing and loading I prepared for the packers by grouping items together in the rooms I wanted them associated with. I put all my diffusers together in the kitchen (except the one I packed to go with us on our travels). This way I could find them easily on the other end.    We are so blessed to have professionals do almost all of the work.  It took two days of boxing and one for loading then a few hours of cleaning and we turned the house over for closing.  Choosing what to keep with us Essential oils, supplements, and medication need to stay at room temperature so they are bei...

Here is my 47-year-old self with my "Fast Face" makeup.  I have seen such an amazing difference in my skin, hair, and health since I kicked the toxic products.  What I am wearing:  Art Renewal serum goes on under my makeup "Smashing" on my cheeks "Residual" all over lid color "Crushin" accent lid color on the bone and outer corner of the eye (for a more dramatic look I like "diffused" for the accent and "Crushing for the allover lid" I lined my lips by using the misting spray and blush!  "Wish"   lipstick "Abundant" Lipgloss I seldom wear foundation but I still love the Veil "Diamond Dust" Here is my naked 47-year-old face! Go ahead and zoom in on your phone. I don't have perfect skin, but I am so happy with how healthy it is!  Click here to see the full line of  Savvy Minerals Product Guide Young Living now has a Savvy Minerals Starter kit! Rea...

We are a homeschool family. One of the many perks of this was having more freedom with our schedule. I would give longer holiday breaks when the children were younger and do a little refresher in the summer once in a while so we didn't lose any learning. We took vacations offseason and would take off on the prettiest sunny days instead of snow days.  Then...   I know this is a mess to look at, but this is what school often looked like at our house.  I miss this in many ways. Well... With adult and high school age children, things get complicated. We have to coordinate around college terms, co-op schedules, and activities. Add in regular visits to doctors and we have become slaves to the calendar. How did this happen?  Now Even a family vacation including all five of us is difficult now, but not impossible.  Now we snatch every moment together like precious jewels of time. The blessing of new freedoms and growth are welcome....

It is time to start our spring garden. The picture above is from last year. I am so excited for fresh veggies and herbs! I try my best to keep my garden organic and toxin free. We have lots of grubs in our beds. Every spring we turn over the soil, remove the weeds and grass (to the best of our abilities) and remove the grubs. The grubs are really larvae of harmful insects that munch on my plant's roots! Then we amend the soil with manure, and topsoil.  Diatomaceous Earth is a great option for insects. It is safe for people and pets but deadly to creatures with an exoskeleton. It is made from crushed up remains of diatoms, which are fossilized shell creatures.  It is a lot like powdered chalk. You don't really want to breathe it in. I sprinkle it on the bed below the plants and use a bottle to puff it out onto the leaves. Don't overdo it though. The plants can do their photosynthesis thing if you cover them to heavily!  The other thing you have to worry...

With two in college and one in high school, I am in the homestretch with this homeschool thing. We are fortunate there are so many resources available to us now.   Here are a few of my favorites that have benefitted all of my children, especially my youngest and most reluctant student.  All of the options below require internet and a computer or mobile device.  Crash Course Videos These thoughtful, well-planned videos cover many subjects from Biology, History, Literature, Psychology and much more.  I have found them to be a wonderful supplement to the curriculum we are using and in some cases, the series could just about replace another curriculum. These have become so popular that many schools are now using them and PBS has even partnered with the Green brothers YouTube channel. There are worksheets available for a few of the courses for free here.  Crash Course US History Crash Course World History For ...

I am the gal who said I will only use the oils sparingly, and just those we absolutely need. Well, Can I tell you we NEED a lot of oils! Really. It was ignorance of the potential in those wonderful little drops that I said those things.  Guess what? My productivity and emotional health have greatly benefitted from an oily drop as well. So here are just a few to get you started on and happier and more productive life.  This is my go-to every day for myself and my son. It helps me with mom overload. For my son, he stays on task so much better and in general is more productive in every part of his life. Including things like keeping his room clean, doing his chores without my nagging him and completing school tasks he finds tedious.  I personally apply to the base of the brain and the crown of the head. Don't forget to sniff the bottle. Contains: Roman Camomile, Black Spruce, Ylang Ylang, and Lavender All of my oily friends...