for my girls

A few weeks ago I was doing a little shopping with my nieces, Emily and Abby. I think we were in American Eagle Outfitters. They were both looking at the jewelry, and I saw the leather cuffs and immediately thought of the cuffs my friend Carrie had made a few months earlier. I asked the girls if they liked the cuffs and might like one - of course, they did, and they would. And I knew I had a project for spring break.

So yesterday in the downpour, I went thrifting for just the right leather belt that I could remake into some leather cuffs for my girls. And I scored! I found three belts that were just perfect for what I had in mind. Of course, in my excitement to get the cuffs completed, I didn't take pre-remake pictures of the belts.

Using just regular scissors, I cut the belts into wrist size pieces. After some discussion from the work crew, it was decided that the corners needed to be rounded just a tad. Here's a picture of the design on two of the belts. On the middle piece, I had already painted the white stitching along the edges.

Lovey and Clay helped me to put the snaps on. I did put on the first few, but when the paint came out I left the snaps to the guys so that I could do the fun stuff. Notice how much better the rounded corners look? I worked on these snaps. Clay had a tool to punch holes in the leather before attempting the snaps.

While painting I would punch the holes and pass the leather to the guys to add the snaps, and then get right back to painting.

Add a little color and then wipe it off. The paint stains the leather and will stay in the crevices of the stamped design.

For this one a little turquoise and yellow and it's ready for snaps.

Sometimes we painted then added snaps, sometimes we snapped then added the paint. The design of the belt helps to determine the paint colors. This flower design was a one of those belts with the name on the back. The flower design gave us lots of crevices for lots of colors.

I had three belts and didn't realize until we were almost ready to begin the project that two of them had the same design stamped in the leather - one with stitches along the edges and one without. I love the rainbow of colors on this one.

I even saved the buckle of one and did some retooling to use it on a cuff. Here it is before any paint had been added.

And here it is after painting. Doesn't even look the same at all.

I've got enough cuffs for all of my nieces to choose their favorite.

And that belt with the name? Just happens the name was Laura, and my niece Leah (nephew's wife) has a sister with that very same name. So Laura, of Laura's Journey, will get a cuff too - if she's wants one.

I've got one more that needs snaps, but we ran out. And that long one on the outside is for me and it need another row of snaps.

Take another look at the before and after. Here's the three belts I started with.

And here's my finished product.

After snaps and painting, we waxed the leather and scruffed them up a bit. Even used a hammer and banged a few with the edge of pliers. The more distressed and worn they are; the better they look.

Can't wait for the girls to choose.

Have you done a crafting project with friends and husbands? It was fun. And the husbands had some great ideas.

spirit week

Going back to school on Monday may be a little boring. Kids will be wearing jeans and t-shirts, toms and sansuks. There may be a little sparkle here and there, maybe a new pair of shoes or a cute hoodie; but our students will look like normal kids. There won't be hordes of nerds in the hallways. No morph suits sliding around corners. The cast of Toy Story 3 won't visit the nurses station. And trash bags won't be high fashion.

I spent several hours of the past week working on Laynie Kate's wardrobe. Monday was nerd day and didn't need much help from me. My first task was to create Tuesday's costume using only trashbags and duct tape.  And LKN decided it should be a softball uniform.  I wish we had taken step-by-step pics, but you know I forget to take pictures, even when I think about it ahead of time.

From two trash bags and a few rolls of tape, we were able to pull together a cute uniform.

I have to admit that when I heard Tuesday's theme, I didn't know what to expect. But the outfits were amazing. My cousins Luke and Callie had great costumes. The gladiator costume was awesome! And Callie could wear that trashbag dress anywhere. There were several cute dresses; many of them looked like regular clothes.

Wednesday was Disney character/super hero day. Most kids stuck with the theme, but a few just wore a costume of their choosing - all were cute. LKN chose Jessie. I made chaps and added a sequined yoke and cuffs to one of Jared's white shirts. At school, she joined more of the Toy Story gang; we had Woody, Jessie, Buzz, Mr. Potato Head, and Squeaky the Penguin. I saw Wendy, several Tinkerbells, and I think Peter Pan made an appearance. Morph suits showed up as PowerRangers, and I continued to see them at various points in Homecoming activities, even at the dance.

On Thursday everyone wore homecoming t-shirts for the afternoon's activities. This is a tradition at WHS. I remember having games each day of the week, but now we only play on Thursday afternoons. For many years now, the obstacle course and tug-of-war have been very competitive - classes take much pride in winning and plan their game day strategies early. Chandler feels that his class was robbed in the obstacle course last year and has been plotting his revenge for the entire year.

I am sad to report that even with his great lead, the freshman class didn't win again. And last night I heard his play-by-play analysis of where their strategy failed. He takes this stuff seriously.

LKN and Megan chose to compete in this year's new activity, the tire challenge. Each team lines up behind a bale of hay, competitors race to a pile of tires, grab a tire or two, and carry it to safety behind the home hay bale. Until the tire is behind the hay bale, it is fair game for other teams.

I know LKN didn't get a single tire behind the hay, and I don't think Megan did either, but they proved their tenacity. Megan wrestled Brittany for one tire for almost the entire game. While LKN held on to her tire and kept a few more tires from crossing behind the enemy lines. Those girls just don't give up.

There was also egg tossing and a hulahoop race.

And the guys in their morph suits continued to pop up everywhere.

Homecoming week at WHS always reminds me of just how lucky I have been to grow up in and continue to live/teach in such a great community.

Getting a Little Crafty

Before the boys came, I had several nieces and nephews and lots of time and energy. And I used that time and energy to spoil said nieces and nephews. I went to ballgames, school programs, birthday parties, you name it. But one of my favorite things to do for them was sew. Over the years I have made Christening gowns, school clothes, and lots and lots of costumes. If they wanted it; I tried my best to make it. There were occasional small failures, like the year my brother's oldest wanted to be Simba from The Lion King. The Simba costume was so cute. But her little sister was still just a baby, and we decided it would be cute to dress her as Rafiki. The material I chose to make this costume was strange. It really did look like a monkey should - but it grew and grew as I sewed. The costume was gigantic by the time I finished. The more I tried to work it; the bigger it got. I think Simba might have Trick or Treated with a standard baby pumpkin that year. When JodyBoy was about two, I made him a tiny Elvis costume. It was precious. And some of the costumes were magical. When Dusty put on the Ninja Turtle costume, he transformed into a karate chopping, spinning, kicking machine. Unfortunate for his big sister. As the kids have gotten older the costume requests have dwindled. I do occasionally make something for a school project. My last one was Hazel Walker who played for The All American Red Heads.

My family is not-so-patiently awaiting the arrival of a new baby. My sister's first grandchild, my mother's first great-grandchild. And we have completed a few crafty projects while waiting. He has the cutest cowboy room ready for him to come home to. And a momma that is so excited to meet him. We covered these letters a few weeks ago, and hung them a few days ago. Cuteness!

His momma may kill me for posting this picture, but I think she is cute as a button!

And I broke out the sewing machine too. When I saw this pattern, I knew that the baby cowboy just had to have a few horses.

I made a gray, a black, and a paint. In that order. And they got fatter as I went. The fatter they are; the cuter they are.

I might just have to make one more. I think Baby E needs a brown horse. And rest assured, come Halloween, he won't be a standard baby pumpkin. My crafty wheels are just a turning.