Repairing elastic in Smartipants

We all know that I use cloth diapers, and I love them.  But after so many washings and tons of abuse elastic can begin to wear out, just like any article of clothing.  I searched the web for a tutorial for repairing Smartipants (my favorite brand and the majority of my stash) elastic but couldn't find one, so I'm making one!

Now before you proceed...  following these steps WILL DESTROY YOUR WARRENTY! So if you still have your warranty contact Smartipants FIRST!  If, like me, it was already shot due to using baking soda or something in the wash, then continue.  Or, if you don't care about destroying your warranty and just want it fixed today. 

We Finally Have Interwebs!!!

Thanks for sticking with me during the move!  We are settled in and after a month of fighting with a certain internet company...  we have internet!  I should be able to begin posting regually again and I have  few ideas that ya'll will like.  :)   Until then... some much deserved cutness!

Current Updates:  Currently 25weeks with second pregnancy, who is a girl!  Lil'k does not have a heart defect like big brother! She is also on target with her growth.
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving (to the fellow Americans) and a great Thursday (for the non-Americans)!

Don't forget to checkout my new Etsy shop!  Nursing necklaces and ring slings!  http://www.etsy.com/shop/StichinFrog

DIY Extreme Wet Bag

Our old wetbag. Great single pouch wet bag.

As I have said before... we use cloth diapers.  When you use cloth then you become introduced to SOOO many other neat things..  One of which is the "Wet Bag", which is basically a carry all for wet/dirty things.   I suggest one to any parent, even the 'sposie using ones.    They can be used to carry dirty cloth diapers, wet swim suits, dirty outfits of a potty-training toddler, etc.  home to be washed.

One year old! Both ways!

My big boy :)

Today Christopher is One year old gestationally.  June 17 was my due date.  He was born 15 months ago so he has been a "one year old" for 3 months now. Now when people ask me how old he is I can just say "one year" instead of " __ months old and __ months gestational"  and then have to go into the whole 1 trimester short explanation.

DIY baby food grinder case

Finished bag. Wait till you see all the features!

Lil'C has a Kidco Baby food grinder (edited to update link to new version by the same brand).  It works pretty good, but I dropped it the other day at church and snapped the latch on the case.  I decided I needed a working case, since we usually use it when out and about.   So, to the sewing room I went. 

I dream of...

Hopefully my mannequin won't be ruined in storage...

A full sewing space!
As I posted the other day.. we are currently staying with my parents until Big C can find a better job... (I wonder how many families are doing that right now...)  In our last house (rental) I had a room just for my sewing/crafts... I miss it..

Flats Challenge

We only partally praticipated in the challenge.  Lil' C did get some flats in his rotation.. Well .. flannel blanket "flats".

DIY babywearing sling

It's fun!

Monday I posted about Babywearing.  I have a tutorial for ya'll!! :D   DIY baby sling!

Never Enough GREEN pins

I follow a blog named "No Big Dill" and she just got a new sewing studio, so she has making the whole room orange in a "Never Enough Orange" series.  I personally prefer Green!

Pin-stripe Jumper Tutorial!

I made a little pin-stripe jumper for Lil'C to wear for Easter.  The coolest thing about it?  It's reversible :D

To get the pattern for this jumper check out last week's post :D

"I need a pattern!" tutorial :)

Have you ever had one of those moments were your like.. "oh that is so cute!  If I only had the pattern..."  Well... If your creative, you don't necessarily have to have one!  :)  Granted I do suggest having a good sewing How-to book (This is the one I suggest, It's what I use!) since you won't have pattern instructions, and you may want to have a good seam ripper... Cuz you'll use it...

Gather your supplies :)

T-Shirt Skirts!

Finally a tutorial right???

I caught a sale at hobby lobby on T-shirts and loaded up (I couldn't even buy the amount of fabric in the shirts for the price I got!! Somewhere around $1.. ) and I have been planing on making  a T-shrit dress and a skirt for me..  Well the T-shirt dress was a massive fail...  I tried to get creative with the top and used one of my current tops to size for it... the only problem is that the shirt I used is a little high in the bust.. and with the loose back of the T-shirt.. oh .. just so much fail... So the Dress ended up becoming 2 skirts.  :)  So, I ended up making 3 out of the deal.

Baby update

Well me & baby are doing ok for now... I have preeclampsia and got up
to 170/100.. We were hospitalized & then on the sonogram they found
out that Christopher has a heart condition and is measuring 4 weeks to
small.. We are now hospitalized in one of the 2 hospitals in the
country that have a chance of saving him.. I swear it feels so
sureal... We have become the big story.. My sister even started a
facebook group called "prayers for christopher" with about 100 members
in 24 hrs... It is so weird
I have been knitting & crocheting to keep myself busy & control my
blood pressure.
I've already made 2 pairs of booties (crocheted) and 2 hats
(knitted). Many thanks to Moon'sHoller for her premie IV cover
pattern. I have made one of those already & plan to make more to share
with christopher's friends. I will post the other patterns later,
along with pics :)

The Tetris Quilt

Images from the finished Tetris Quilt :) 

It took around a year to complete.  The blocks are machine stitched together but ALL of the quilting is done by hand.  the fabric are all different (I really only cared about the color) most of the fabrics were from my stash.  The large white area at the top was the only fabric bought just for this project.  It really gives it an interesting texture.  The back is was originally Navy blue King size Flat T-Shirt Sheet.  I have always found that sheets make the best quilt backs because you don't have to piece fabric together. I'm just happy it is finished :) 

Below are details of the stitching and the monogram I hand-stitched on the back before finishing the bottom edge.  It was my first monogram :) 

BTW: This quilt is for the same couple as the mario star blanket.  It's their wedding gift.  and you say.. "huh?, but I thought mario was a baby gift?"  it is.  They were married LAST December... yeah... Like I said, been working on it about a year.  Didn't realize it would take me this long. So, I get to give them their wedding and baby gift on the same day :D  this will be interesting.  They know I have been working on something but don't know what it is.  :)

Finished Skirts

A few of the Various Skirts made over the past 10 years