I made these tutu shirts this weekend. The first one is for my niece Emily. You wouldn’t believe how cheap the shirt was. I was looking at shirts on the clearance rack. The tag said $5.99. It rang up on sale for. $0.54. Cheaper than the thrift stores. I love a good deal. 
This tutu shirt I am going to list in My Etsy Shop once I finish it. I have a few more things I want to add to it and make a hair bow to go with it. That means going shopping. 
We took this picture after we got home from church on Sunday morning. After we dressed in our pj’s and opened Christmas gifts. We had a great time.
This is what our house looked like for the Christmas holiday. The boys helped Tim and were very instrumental in the Cross and Tree designs. They are so smart.
Here are some pictures of the tutus I whipped up for my sister in law Mary. She is the PTO president for one of the 4 elementary schools here in Florence. My niece Emily was in the Christmas school play. The girls were sugar plum fairies. She needed a few more tutus but the cost of buying them was a lot more than she wanted to pay. She was on a tight budget and needed them fast. Hobby Lobby had the tulle on sale for 77 cents a yard. So of course I had to come to the rescue. I know they aren’t super full and bouncy. I think they were going for a more graceful tutu. I have a hard time saying NO.
Brandy brought Joshua home this morning and mentioned that she wanted me to show her how to make some pot holders when I had time. I told her to look through my stash and see if there was anything she liked. A few hours later, Voila! 8 roundish pot holders.
I showed her how to trace the trivet onto the material and batting. Then cut them out and how to layer them. Then she braved the sewing machine. She did a great job for someone who doesn’t own a machine or sew. (The color of the fabric is a little washed out from the sun. I thought it would be fun to take them outside on top of the mound of leaves I raked the other day.) The fabrics are fall colors. The flowers are highlighted with gold but you can’t see it in this picture.
Not too long ago I received an email from a lady wishing to know how much fabric she needed to buy to make the Easy Black and White Quilt Pattern that I have for free on Fabric Mom. (Apparently I forgot to put this in the instructions.) So sorry friends. I asked her to share a picture of the finished quilt with me when she was finished. I got another email the other day with the finished quilt. It is beautiful. I asked her if I could share her quilt story with the photo on Fabric Mom. I was delighted when she said yes. Here is Traci’s Quilt and her story:
“I just started sewing/quilting in March of 2011. I started making my quilt in the class I was taking but got the flu so was unable to finish. I got frustrated on my own so took a break. Then I found your pattern for the black and white quilt, and decided to make that for a wedding gift for my sister in law. So I used red and gold, their colors, and finished my first quilt! I love it and am so happy that I could do that for her and her new husband. It took me about two weeks, would’ve been one week but I have a two year old son! Plus a husband who is going to college part time and working full time. Everyone at the wedding reception signed it and it looks beautiful!”
Thanks much,
Traci
Traci, I love it! You did a wonderful job. I see many more beautiful quilts in your future.
Here is the PDF of the Instructions for the Free Easy Black and White Quilt Pattern.
I recently had an email in my inbox from a lovely lady who wanted to know the name of the pattern for this quilt.
It is called a Double Irish Chain. I originally made it for my mother in a queen size. She bought a bigger bed and it didn’t fit so she sent it to my brother. I hope he is keeping warm under this beauty.
I bought the dinosaur fabric on sale. A steal really and the Eric Carle fabric was for a swap. Um…not on sale. 
I bought extra to keep some for this quilt. It looks great with the bright colors in the dinosaur fabric. The orange fabric is almost like a batik. The green polka dot fabric is batik fabric that I got for a steal also. I wanted to make a modern baby quilt. I had all the fabrics laid out on the table trying to figure out a pattern that I hadn’t tried yet. I also wanted something that would be easy to make but not too simple. I cut the fabric into 3 1/2 inch strips, then into 6 1/2 inch rectangles. Then the rest is pretty simple, well if you know how to make quilts anyway.
I decided to use the left over pieces of fabric for the back of the quilt. This isn’t the usual for me. I generally don’t piece the back of quilts. I think of Crazy Mom Quilts when I think of quilts with the backs pieced. I have been admiring her quilts for years. I love the simplicity of them. I love the fronts too! I keep telling myself that I need to try it. So now I have. It was fun and a great way to use up the leftovers. I quilted horizontal lines in the ditch of the front. The back turned out great with that. The quilting on the back looks abstract compared to the front. Very cool!.
I took a break from making anything bigger than a fabric postcard since before Christmas of 2010. I think after 6 years of constantly working on a project or projects I was burnt out and just had to stop. I was making fabric postcards and got burnt out on that too. For the last three months I haven’t sewn anything. Well I did mend a few clothes. This baby quilt is for a dear friend from church who is just salt of the earth. One of the most humble and honest people I know. (Love you Sandy.)
I started a part time job in July for Ken’s Sewing Center in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. I absolutely love it. The people who work there are amazing to be around, laugh with, and of course work with.
Thirty One Gifts kind of fell in my lap in late July. Some people ask what Thirty One is. I asked the same thing the first time I heard of it. It is a faith based company founded by Cindy Monroe. She started the company at home and now it is a huge company that celebrates and encourages women all while living with God in our hearts. When I got a catalog from a friend who is a consultant I browsed through it and found a couple things I wanted for myself. It was a few months later that I decided to have a party. When I got my products I just fell in love with them. They are well made, affordable, and look really good. I get told all the time that my purse is cute. Sometimes I get asked where I got it. That is when I hand out a business card and a catalog. So not only am I 24/7 day a week mom of three boys I have 2 part time jobs.
Joshua and Timmy Tyler are playing football. Every night of the week we have a football practice or a game and homework. I long for football season to be over. I say that with a twinge of sorrow. It is fun and well worth it but I am one tired Momma. On my Facebook update the other day I put, “I’m so tired that my tired is tired.” So this is where I have been. No time for Holly the artist the Elam family needs mom.
I’m trying not to be selfish and enjoy the boys while they are young. Timmy will be 17 in January. Where has the time gone? Pretty soon he will be off at college. I will be at home CRYING because I miss him and will feel to old to have a child in college. When I tell people that Timmy will be 30 when Andrew will be graduating from high school they usually chuckle and say, “What where you thinking?” What was I thinking? God has truly blessed me with three healthy babies and a wonderful husband to be their father.
What more could I ask for? I have a great life. Thank You God.
Andrew started preschool 2 weeks ago. We prepared him by telling him about preschool through the summer. He was excited about the idea of going to school like his big brothers. The first picture is before we left the house to go to preschool. Big smile!
The second is the, “Oh wait my mom is by the door and might be leaving me look.”
Needless to say he wasn’t smiling when I left. He cried and of course didn’t want me to go. He has a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Donna. She had the director call me and let me know that he didn’t cry for long and was having a grand time.
The second day was more crying, but after a few minutes he settled down and enjoyed himself. The third day was amazing no tears and hugs bye for Mrs. Donna. Tomorrow is day four. He says he is excited and won’t cry. He is growing up too fast.
In late July I signed up under one of my best friends to be a Thirty One Gifts Consultant. Thirty One Gifts is a wonderful company, who fully support their consultants and give all the glory to God. They have some great products. I love the purses, tote bags, and picnic thermals just to name a few of my favorites.
It has been a slow start but I am forging on with high hopes of the blessings God will send my way for being a faithful servant. If you are interested in seeing a catalog you can go to my web page. Thirty One Gifts. You can click on my events and place an order on my catalog party. I will be closing out the party at the end of the month. It usually takes about 2 weeks to receive shipments. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me. God Bless.
I won a give away! Can you believe it? I was so surprised. This Sew Called Life had a give away . I entered like I do for all other give aways thinking I wouldn’t win. But I DID!
Here are the goodies I got in the mail. I feel so special.
I can’t wait to use the goodies. Thanks a ton Rebma!