Finally A Name

So, if you remember several posts back I was trying to think of a name for my Notepad Holder/Wallet Combo's, because that is a mouthful! Today, I am happy to announce that it has finally been named! Nothing fancy. Actually, it's quite simple really.

Combo.

Yup, that's it. Why did it take me so long to name it? I have no idea. I am just happy to say it is finally named. 

Speaking of Combo's, here are a few new ones I whipped up over the past few days. Both of these were custom requests.

Want one? You can have one too! Just send me an email at  toteallyblessed [at] gmail [dot] com . I just need some specifics, like, color preferences and pattern preferences (large/small floral, stripes, circles, etc). Then, I'll send you some fabric choices. It's that easy, not to mention fun and exciting!!! These make fabulous gifts as well!
Thanks for stopping by!!

Give Thanks

Sing praises to our Lord and Saviour for He alone is good! Through Him alone all blessings flow!

I hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving day!

Fun with Denim

The other day I realized that I had no purse! Seriously. Sure, I have totes, large ones that are great for when you have a lot of stuff to carry around. But, I don't usually carry around a lot of stuff. I've got my Combo, keys, cell phone, camera, lip balm, and that's pretty much it. I'm a low maintenance kind of girl. ; )

Baby girl has her own cute little diaper tote but it was time for me to have something of my own! I let my boys choose the fabric I would use. Not totally liberally here. I gave them 2 to choose from. Chocolate mint, or a pink/brown. They chose the chocolate mint. (Which is a favorite of mine! And, probably goes with a lot of what I wear anyway.) I really wanted to use denim on the inside. So, I found an old jean skirt and got the scissors.

Before actually cutting the fabric, I kept in mind that keeping the back pockets intact would be beneficial. They would make great pockets inside my purse. I probably could have figured out how to keep the front pockets too, but I only had nap time to work on this project. So, I'll save that for another day. I wanted to make my purse similar to the pleated totes I make but on a smaller scale. I cut 2 pieces from the denim, and 2 from my fabric pieces, so it would have a nice curvy shaped bottom.

Next I added the pleats! I only pleated the fabric for the outer part of my bag.

This means that I'm going to have to re-cut my denim to fit. Oops! Now I know better, and will wait to cut my denim until AFTER I have pleated the outer bag. No big deal really.

Now that I have 4 pieces, all cut the same size, I can sew it all together. Of course, I still needed to make the straps. Since this purse was for me, I didn't do my usual straps. I kind of just folded and sewed them together. So, they aren't super pretty finished but I like them all the same. =]

I think it turned out pretty great! I like how I have the back pockets inside my bag. They hold my camera and cell phone nicely. It can also be carried reversible, which is always a nice option. One purse, 2 looks!

I liked how my purse came out so much, that I decided I wanted to see what else I could make with some old denim I had lying around. I thought some notepad holders would be cute!

What do you think? I made these for 3 of my sweet nieces. I plan to make more though because I like them so much!

Do you have any favorite ways to re-use old denim?

Foodfolio

So, a friend of mine introduced me to this pretty neat website, Foodfolio, where you can share recipes. Yum! I have only entered 3 recipes in so far but I am working on getting all of my family favorites in very soon. Why don't you stop by my Foodfolio; and, if you have one too, let me know so I can follow you, and see all of the yummy things you cook up for your family!  =]

It's Over, Or Has it Just Begun?

Today was the final day, for this semester, at our home-school co-op. Sad, yet wonderful, all at the same time. You see, I really have enjoyed this semester. The kids have been fantaastic! And we have had a lot of fun learning and crafting together. But, I am ready for a break from dinosaurs. I am ready to get back into my sewing groove. Wait. Have I ever had a 'groove'? None-the-less, groove, or no groove, I am ready for my scissors to start cutting, and my machine to start sewing.

Oh, what a feeling it will be when I bond once again with my lovely sewing machine! Now, I know what you are thinking. You're thinking I've lost my mind. And, you could be partially right. Part of my mind has been lost, without the sweet use of my sewing machine. Right now it's sitting on a clean table, in a clean workspace, waiting for my arrival of all things sewn.

What do I plan to sew first? Well, I have several people on a little list who are in need, NEED I tell you, of a Notepad/Wallet Combo (I really have got to come up with a better name than that!). I know some wonderful loved ones who would just love a little notepad holder to carry with them. And, I have a beautiful daughter who needs some pretty dresses! A girl can not have too many dresses, can she??? No. I didn't think so.  =]

I found a little tutorial for a jersey knit dress. I am looking forward to making it! Hopefully one of many to come. The last dress I made for her, I tweaked a bit. Here she is sporting her pretty handmade dress...

Picture courtesy of my super talented friend and neighbor Silvia.

Not to mention, my son wants me to make him a backpack. A big, sturdy one. He has lots of books to carry to and from Friday school. I have lots of things I'd like to sew. Projects I'd like to try out. Do you have any fun projects you're working on? Do share!

The *GIVE-AWAY* Winner is....

Christi Brown!!! 

Christi has won a custom Wallet Combo made with the fabric of her choice!

Thank you to all who participated! 

D is for Dinosaur

The past several weeks I've had dinosaurs on my brain. Mainly because I'm teaching a Dinosaurs in Creation class at our coop. I've been immersed in dinosaur projects. Hopefully though, the kids are having a lot of fun as they learn about dinosaurs.

I wanted to share the latest project with you all. Dinosaur t-shirts. I made 31 t-shirts for the kids. All they had to do was be creative on the back of their shirts. And, let me tell you, they certainly were creative! I am so blessed to be able to teach these sweet kiddos!

Here is the project in photos with a few comments...

31 t-shirts, a silk screen stencil, some fabric paint (not shown for some reason), and some dinosaur fabric, just to get started.

I found that I needed to make a frame for the letters. Peeling and resticking all of those letters, 31 times, was not going to be time effective! There was only 1 'D' in the pack, so I had to peel and restick that one. Not so bad though!

Painting on the letters was pretty fun, but messy at times!

Definitely not perfect but it will do.

Laying them all out to dry. And believe me, I had them everywhere!

All folded (by size and by class) and ready to go!

A finished shirt. I somehow forgot to photo the cutting of the dinosaurs. I just used Heat N Bond on the fabric and ironed them on! Too easy!

Here are some of the kids being creative on the backs of their shirts. I was impressed with their creativity! A lot of the kids in the 7-9 y/o class signed each others shirts. I thought that was too sweet!

Here's a finished t-shirt back.

And another.

Last ones!

We had a ton of fun with the shirts. And, all of our other projects also. I wish I my camera hadn't been so broken when we were doing those! There was dinosaur cages, dinosaur eggs, toilet paper roll dinosaurs, and more! Next week is our last class. I'm thinking dinosaur fossil necklaces!

I'll leave you with this fun song we have been learning. Now you will know the tune that's been stuck in my head for the past several weeks! Enjoy!

Family Picture

As promised! Our family picture.  =]

I am so thankful to God for my beautiful family! I couldn't have asked for anything more.