Thread Storage

 A few years ago I was looking for a way to store my ever expanding thread collection, and the bobbins. Some of the colors were so close to each other that at night I couldn't tell which bobbin matched which spool. And other times I wound a bobbin only to discover I already had a bobbin with that color. I wanted a way to store the two together so they were together, with no confusion.


    None of the thread racks I found had dowels long enough to hold both the spool and the bobbin, so I asked my husband to make me a thread rack. And he did! Ran out of dowels and meant to get more, but life happens and I didn't have that much thread. Yet. Soooo, I started using it and it was awesome! But, clumsy me, I've broken off quite a few of the dowels cuz we never did manage to get it hung up on the wall. ( Broke 2 more while doing this post.)

    Then I discovered this awesome trick of using a clear tubing to keep the bobbin thread from coming undone. And since the tubing is clear, it's easy to see what color the thread is! I went to the Home Depot and found some clear tubing slightly larger than the shank of the bobbin.  It took some trial and error to cut it the right width, but I've been loving it ever since!




    It's now time to find another storage solution, since I have more thread than attached dowels and no wall space to hang my thread rack up. I found an awesome solution on Pinterest a few weeks ago and I think it's going to work really well. 
    
    I picked up some golf tees at Walmart the other night.  And then after much searching, decided to use the lids to my pattern boxes until I can find something better, and ta-da!


Now I can just grab the spool with attached bobbin and I'm good to go. =)

Olabelhe inspired doll dress

Finally! The sash was holding me up, but I got it figured out.  I used Liberty Jane's Salina Dress as the base, and made a few adjustments. I think I did a pretty good job!  I'm considering making another one, with a few adjustments, to put in my Etsy shop. Hmmm....

Busy, busy, busy

Last week was busy. Sick kids, school projects and homework, more sick kids. Hopefully, I can be a bit more productive this week, even though my husband is going to be gone practically every evening this week, and not home at all on 2 days. Oh well, nothing new.

So.... I found a picture of a dress on Pinterest last week from Olabelhe.  I feel in love with it and determined to make a doll size version. Looked through my fabric stash, at least the part of it that I have easy access to, and didn't find what I was looking for, so the next day I tried Walmart while we were out and about. Found lots of cute fabric, but not for this dress. And I resisted the temptation to add to my stash.

Well, Saturday afternoon, after my husband and kids got back from sledding for the first time this winter, I decided I would try again. Went to Joann's. So much temptation, but not what I needed. Decided to try a different Walmart, and guess what?!? I found what I was looking for, and since I was already buying fabric, I bought more than I had planned. But I do have a plan for the fabric.
I'm super excited to start, but first, sick kids, and straightening the house. =)

Designing a new skirt

Saw a really cute little girl skirt and decided I wanted to figure out how to make one for an 18" doll. Took a few tries (my girls will love the extra skirts they're getting!) but I think I've gotten it about figured out. =)

 These are my first three attempts.

The skirt on my first attempt was too full, but I love the fabric and I'm going to make another.

This one turned out alot better. I have a bunch of 3.5" strips left over from some strip quilts I was going to make and they worked really well for this.

My oldest daughter loves frogs, so when I found this fabric at the store last night, I knew just what I was going to do with it. =)

Super easy to do. When I make the next one, I'll take pictures and post a tutorial. =)

Try, try, and try again

I've tried many times to do a blog and keep up with it. But life, and kids, get in the way and the blog just sort of gets pushed to the back of the line. But, I'm determined to try again.


Right now is one of those really rare moments when I'm the only one home who is awake. The youngest two are sleeping, and the older 6 are in school. Looking around I see so many things needing my attention, it's overwhelming. But, I'll just take things one at a time, or even 1/2 at a time, and get them done. Then, maybe, when I've made some progress I'll create something, take pictures, and write about it. =)