Catching Up, Thanksgiving...

We spend Thanksgiving day at Glampa Fabulous's mother's house. Her name is "Grandma GREAT!" (with explanation mark) It has been tradition for the grand & great-grand children to decorate gingerbread houses during the day while final preparation is being done to the Thanksgiving Feast. Look how original and cute the houses are that my daughter Hilari made for her boys out of gram crackers! If you are not decorating and filling your own belly with candy, Grandma GREAT! provides other options to fill the day like highly competitive ping pong games or acquiring a few bruises while jumping and sliding in the inflatable playground.

Grandma GREAT!'s back yard is a fabulous playground in itself with a trampoline,

Swing sets and jungle gyms,

and room to explore....

But the main attraction is still the FOOD. Glampa's side of the family are all about gourmet enticements all the way. (that's where my daughters learned how to cook, thank heavens they had lots of people around to learn from. They still call up their Dad or Grandma GREAT! for hints to make the perfect gravy, 7 minute icing or fried chicken soaked in buttermilk)

I didn't get the chance to photograph all the people who were eating inside, but there are a lot of us and it is always a lot of fun at Grandma GREAT!'s house.

Bethlehem Costumes Finished!

So I FINALLY finished sewing my "Bethlehem Costumes". I ended up sewing 32! The tips of my fingers are dry and jabbed with tiny pin holes, but it was worth it. I can't wait to see all of my family dressed up in them! And all those extra kits flew out the door. But before I can put my sewing machine away, I need to make a bed skirt out of this material...

and sew one additional Christmas Boot Stocking for Baby Pearl. Then the Bernina will have a rest (at least for a couple weeks )...

Bethlehem Costumes and Instructions

So our church is having "A Night in Bethlehem" family party where there will be "shops" that feature all things in the time when Christ was born. (Glampa Fabulous and I will be running a pottery shop where everyone can roll some clay and inscribe their names in Hebrew and make ornaments for their trees at home.) And of course there will be a nativity scene and a musical program about the birth of Jesus Christ. Above are some of the costumes I have made for me, Glampa and the Glamchildren.

And here is a pile of costumes waiting to be sewn...
I went to Home Fabrics and Rugs when they had their $1 sale this last Tuesday and bought over 120 yards of fabric!!! I was able to cut out 83 outfits consisting of a tunic, long vest and a belt. I needed 27 outfits for just my family and the rest went to friends. (I do have a few "outfits" pictured above if any of you want one ((already cut out, but you have to sew them))...first come, first served.)

I researched costume patterns and put together these instructions that I thought I'd pass on to you. The first sheet contains a simple tunic and vest guidelines that you measure to the people in your family. Below are a few non-sewing ideas that I found.
On Christmas Eve, we have the glamkids dress up and Glampa reads from Luke about the Savior's birth. This year I'll have these "fancy" costumes, but it is just as meaningful to just read the story without the costumes as a family. It is also fun to tell the kids to go put together outfits and props from around the house. It's cute to see a child wrapped in a sheet or towel and caring a perfume bottle as one of the three kings, or pinning a paper tail and ears on to be a donkey... Hope these instructions can be of use to you!

I almost forgot, above are a few "head hole" ideas. Just remember to cut small, then cut the opening larger if you need to. (mistake made, lesson learned already.)

Fabulous Finds!

Last week I stopped by my favorite secondhand shops at Cactus and Cave Creek Rd's. and went into a shop that I had never been to before....(it's small and I guess that's why) anyway, I got these two jackets and two pair of shoes for $4 a piece !!!!!

AND all the pieces had never been worn before! Not only were the deals wonderful but the shop is run by volunteers and all the money (except for rent and utilities) goes to the Halo Animal Rescue fund. Their website is http://www.halorescue.org/. I will definitely be going back. (the blue tweed jacket's sleeves are too short, so I thought I'd find some wonderful shear fabric, tear the hem edge and add a ruffle to each sleeve. Maybe make a fabric flower of the same fabric for the lapel..... I'll "show and tell" when I'm finished.)

A Bling Bracelet to Die For!!!

So I have been collecting broken vintage and new jewelry for a while and finally felt like I had enough to make this bracelet. I started off with an empty tape tube. I cut a piece out so that it was a standard bracelet size, taped it back together and then wrapped it with black ribbon. I glued the outside of the bracelet and ribbon so that there would not be a "give" when I glued the "bling" on.

I used E6000 glue. Some of the jewels were my Grandmother Bochman's and some were $1 store and thrift store finds. A few of the jewels are from the bridal section at Hobby Lobby when they were 1/2 off. This bracelet is HEAVY!!! But I LOVE it and can't wait to wear it.

Fabric Flower Pins

Last Friday my good friend Marilyn had a few of us over to lunch and do some hand sewing while we caught up. All the other gals are wiz's at quilting (in fact a few of them teach at The Quilted Apple in Phoenix) Anyway, I haven't caught on, so I made these fabric flower pins. I wore the black one to church on Sunday. I LOVE the neutral colored one with the pearls. I also just LOVE it when I finish a craft on the same day that I start one!

Halloween Night

The Glamchildren are trying hard to be patient with all of our picture taking. Candy is waiting!!!

Our littlest glamchild: Piglet

a Leopard Cat, a Princess and Pooh...
a Witch,
Buzz LightYear,

Harry Potter,

a Lady Pirate,

a Mountain Man...

Albert Einstein and...

and a Scary Dead Rocker. Happy Halloween 2009!!!