New Baby Sister, County Fair and School

Where did this month go? August just flew by. I have projects to share with you, but I have been very busy!

A couple weeks ago, we had our county fair. That was a lot of fun and bittersweet because this is my last county fair as a 4-H member. However, I am excited because I am bring my dress to the state fair! I have not been there for a few years and I think it's a great way to end my last 4-H year!

One week ago, my baby sister was born! She is so adorable and I love her a lot! She is number nine in my family. Now there are six boys and three girls. She has a head full of black hair too.

Aww, so sweet!

haha!

 

This week has been busy too. I moved back to college for my sophomore year. It is nice to be back, but I miss home, especially my baby sister!!! I will be going home a lot this year. I'm excited for my classes though. So far they haven't been too much work. My fun class is Ballroom Dance. It will be interesting since I have never danced, but I think it will be fun too! My hardest class will be Chemistry, but it's required for my major, so I'll make it through!

So that's what I've been up to lately. I have been sewing in between everything too, so I'll show you what I've been working on soon!

Have a wonderful night!


~Elizabeth

19 things before 20

Last week, I turned 19 years old. Where does time go? I had a wonderful day spent with my family. We walked around our town's czech festival and I enjoyed some frozen yogurt with my mom.

My mom made an amazing Triple Chocolate Cake. Doesn't it look delicious? I blew all 19 candles out in one try. We had mint ice cream to go with it.

My little sister is learning to sew. She made me a pillowcase with horses on it for my birthday. She is such a sweet sister! My 11 year old brother made me a card with 19 pennies on it in the shape of the number 19. It was so cool! I also got 19 pennies from my 7 year old brother.

My parents gave me a necklace and earring set, a pattern for a dress and some fabric.

Here's a picture of my birthday outfit:

The top is the Diane Kimono Dress pattern, from Serendipity Studio cut in tunic length. It is so comfortable to wear and it was easy to make! There is no zipper, it just slips right over your head. It is a perfect project for seamstresses of all sewing levels.

Once on a blog I saw a list of things to do before their next birthday. I was inspired, so here's my "19 things before 20" list:

19 things before 20

1.      Apply and be accepted to the Nursing Program at my school.

2.      Keep blogging consistently and write a tutorial.

3.      Run a half marathon.

4.      Take my siblings on a camping trip.

5.      Hike up the bluffs by my college.

6.      Sew another dress.

7.      Make an entire meal for my family.  

8.      Have a sewing party with friends from college.

9.      Wake up early and run before sunrise.

10.  Don’t complain about anything for a week.

11.  Learn how to Ballroom Dance.

12.  Go without junk food for a whole week.

13.  Learn a new song on my violin.

14.  See “The Hobbit” in 3D.

15.  Go kayaking.

16.  Have a roommate dinner night.

17.  Sew something for each of my roommates.

18.  Spend a whole day with my little sister.  

19.  Vote in a presidential election.

~Elizabeth

Wallets and Cute Little Brothers!

A few weeks ago, I went to visit my aunt and uncle. It has been a tradition every summer for the past five years now. Every year we do something a little different, but we always have a lot of fun!! My uncle cooks the best food when I'm there too. This year, we sewed some cute little wallets.

Here's mine:

I have been using my wallet a lot! It is just the right size for your phone, keys, money, credit cards, a pen and small notepad, and whatever else you want to bring for quick trips to the grocery store.

The above picture shows the best part of the wallet! The back pocket snaps shut. Do you know how? A metal tape measure! I think it is such a neat idea!

The pattern is called "Keep the Change," by the Stitchin' Sisters. It is a quick project too. It took my aunt and I about 4 hours. I have made more now, and each time I make one it is faster.

I came home from my visit, and my almost 4 year old brother saw my wallet. "I want one!" he said. His cuteness was too hard to resist and he kept asking for one. I had the perfect fabric in mind - Thomas the Train. He got his wallet and he is one happy little boy!

Although the wallet is small, it is very durable. Each piece, except the handle has interfacing in it.

The wallet is made using two fabrics - outside and lining. The lining is also used for the back pocket.

Isn't he adorable? Look how happy and cute he is! I even got a hug for making a wallet for him.

~Elizabeth

A Busy, but Wonderful Week!

So much has happened this week!! Thank you to everyone who commented on my dress! You all left such sweet comments! I linked my dress up to Sugar Bee Crafts for Take a look Tuesday and I found out I was featured!! I was shocked. I never imagined being featured on there.

Thanks for making my day!

I mentioned I would be entering my dress in the fair. Judging was Tuesday for Clothing and Quilting projects. There are two parts to judging. For construction they judge how well you made it. For Fashion Revue they judge how it looks on you and you model your outfit. I got a blue ribbon that afternoon, but we had to come back later for the public fashion revue where you model your outfit for an audience and find out if you won any other awards.

Modeling my outfit for the public fashion revue

My adorable sister modeling her outfit in her first fashion revue!

I won Senior Division Grand Champion and Overall Grand Champion for Construction. The judge really liked it when I talked to her; she said it reminded her of a dress she wore when she was a little girl. I won Senior Division Grand Champion and Overall Reserve Champion for Fashion Revue. I was so happy and shocked and excited!!! I have never won any ribbons higher than a blue for my clothing projects. This is my last year in 4-H, so I am very happy. I am going out with a bang! I hope to go to state fair for either construction or fashion revue.

Awards

On Wednesday, I took my state test to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. The written test wasn't hard and was only 70 multiple-choice questions. The clinical part was harder. You had to perform five skills in front of a tester. You had to be careful to remember little things like providing privacy and washing hands or you could lose points. I had to do washing hands, taking pulse, help feed my partner, do passive range of motion, and give a partial bed bath. Guess what? I PASSED!!!!!!!!!! I was so happy!!

On Thursday, I could finally relax. I just got back today from spending three days at my aunt and uncle's house. I had a great time. We sewed, went to a bluegrass outdoor concert, the farmer's market, we went running, had good food and a lot of fun! I will be posting about some of our sewing projects soon. They were small, but turned out so cute!

That's my busy week in a (large) nutshell. What did you do this week?

~Elizabeth

A dress!

Hi everyone! I have some exciting news. I made a dress!! I have never made a dress before, and I'm so happy it turned out. I am in 4-H and this is my last year so I wanted to challenge myself with my clothing project this year. I love how it turned out and I can't wait for the clothing judging day at the fair, which is July 17. There will also be a fashion revue that I usually participate in.

The dress has eleven buttons. I used some vintage buttons that I found on etsy (pictured above). I think the look great on the dress! I'm not sure what year they are from, but they came on the original card and it says 29 cents!!

I used a new pattern from Serendipity Studio called the Sally Shirtdress. I have made so many skirts from those patterns. They are very easy to follow and cute too!! Also there are so many different varriations of the same pattern you can make. I have never made a dress before, so I was a little confused in the beginning. I emailed the owner, Kay Whitt and she replied within 30 minutes!! I have asked her questions before and she is always so happy to help (and quick too).

The pattern is only four pieces which makes it super fast to cut out. Once I had my questions answered, it was easy to sew together too. There are pleats around the waist. It is completely up to you as to how many pleats, and how wide/deep they are. The pleats also make it great for all body types!

The fabric I used is from the line called Crazy Daisy by Benartex. I love the colors!

Have you sewed anything lately?

~Elizabeth

EDIT: I'm entering this in Skirt Fixation's sew along for Challenge Create: Adult Edition for the hint of vintage theme.

15 for 15 Remix - Day 15

Top: Kohl's

Skirt: thrifted and then refashioned by me

Shoes: Payless

Headband: gift

Top: garage sale

Culottes: online

Shoes: Payless

Today is the last day of the 15 for 15 Remix challenge!! I had a lot of fun, but I'm glad it's over. I'm excited to wear whatever I want again. I had a lot of fun seeing everyone's outfits too. You all did such a great job with your outfits! Thanks Ashley for hosting this event!

~Elizabeth



15 for 15 Remix - Day 14

Top: Kohl's

Skirt: won in a giveaway (New Creation Apparel)

Shoes (forgot to wear): Payless

Earrings: gift

Top: garage sale

Culottes: online

Shoes (forgot to wear): Payless

Today was a very stormy day, so we had to take our pictures inside. My little brother Anthony wanted to take over all of our pictures, so we let him in some of them.

It rained all day! Occasionally it would stop, but then it would pour down! There was light rain and huge bursts of rain. I had a few errands to run today, and of course it decided to rain after I left. I didn't get too wet though. Hopefully it will be nice out tomorrow for the last day of this challenge!!

~Elizabeth