love found

I have been looking for her for years and I finally found her unloved in a box after over 35 years, Introducing lucy, she is a 1972 kenner blythe more pics comming after the spa

picnicdress action shots

I cant get flicker to upload so I am posting Hope in her picnic dress here.

Settled in and back to sewing

Well moving has taken alot of of me, I still cant find anything now! I have such a small space and so much fabric, I have placed myself on a fabric diet! today I made this dress out of my stash. the denim top is from a skirt I cut up the belt and the straps are scraps from an old project and the skirt is from some cool vintage fabric that was given to me. It was only about 25 inches wide and wonderful quality, I believe it was from the 50's. After I was finished I realized that I have made the My Vintage Baby picnic dress! I havent been able to get action shots the kids and my husband has been busy making a volcano outside and so those will come later. but I love the way it turned out! I have just enough left to make a dress for her 18 inch doll.

I also got busy for the 4th and made Hope a cute halter top that says "I sparkle" and Jacob a t-shirt that says "my daddy my hero" the matching bows were really fun to make and I will be making more tonite to match the vintage dress!

Getting a little organized

I have been busy moving so I thought I would share some old projects that I did and posted on my old blog. here is the "bling shoes" I made for Hope. please excuse the bad pic it was taken with my camera phone.

I did do a tute on my other blog but in addition to the instructions make sure you wipe down the rubber with acetone. I have found this a necessary step with some brands of shoes. well anyway here is the tutorial. http://trialsofafrazzledmom.blogspot.com/2008/06/bling-shoes-with-tutorial.html

Here is Hopes little apron. She loves to put it on and help me cook. I also posted it on my trials of a frazzled mom blog, but I just had to share here.

I need to finish the chef's hat and take some actions shots.

Hope found?

On July 1, 2005 everything changed for my family. We were on our way to visit my husbands family when an 18 wheeler ran us off the road causing us to roll 8 times. All of us survived and miracles happened. My beautiful daughter that you see model for me was thrown 40 feet after her seat belt failed and only suffered a concussion. I am grateful every day for her life and excellent health and I know she is meant for something special after surviving that with so little injury.

I was not so lucky I was trapped in the car with the hood up against my throat almost decapitating me. When they got me out of the car we were taken to the hospital and I was told I was fine and just having muscle spasms and they would release me as soon as I got up and walked. I tried and my entire body went numb. I could only lift my arms about 2 inches and the pain was incredible. The doctor came in and made me feel like I was faking it! he said "since you wont get up and walk we will admit you for observation!" like I was wasting his time!

I was in the room alone. My family was was with my daughter where they should have been. at 4 am a cna came in and I told her I needed something for pain and she said she would tell the nurse. I didn't see anyone until 7:45! I jumped all over the nurse who was from the next shift and she said "we were in report you are a nurse you understand!" Yes I am a nurse and I never let someone suffer like that!

About 1 hour later my room was swarming with nurses and doctors and even the Nursing director. They were trying to put a collar back on me and not telling me what was going on. Finally a Neurosurgeon came in and explained that the radiologist had noted fractures in my neck and back and they were taking me in for more an MRI and CT. The MRI and CT reveled c-1, c-2, t-1 t-7 and occipital condyle fractures. Less than 1% survive fractures above c-3 and I had 3 of them. As a critical care nurse who has taken care of several patients with broken necks on vents, I have never seen any above c-3, and in school all that was mentioned was anything above c-3 was instant death! I could not wrap my head around my diagnosis how am I still alive and how am I not on a vent? Nightmares still haunt me to this day.

After a long painful therapy I can function and I am not a quadriplegic but the pain is incredible. People think I am fine, I avoid people on the days I cant get around. They just don't understand what they can see. I tried to go back to work but as the day my pain increases and by the end I couldn't even concentrate, who wants a nurse like that. Our finances are in a horrible mess and no one got the tags of the 18 wheeler so it all fell on us financially (just a vent here). I need some modifications to the house to make life easier but cant even afford that.

Every day I am in constant pain and I have been struggling with the loss of my identity and I have been loosing hope. This morning and while having my coffee I found this article http://www.aolhealth.com/condition-center/chronic-pain/body-broken/ and it brought me to tears! After reading this article I feel validated! She has moved on and that gives me so much hope! I must buy this book! http://www.amazon.com/Body-Broken-Memoir-Lynne-Greenberg/dp/1400067421 so this afternoon I will be taking a trip into town to look for it.

upcycle inspiration from craft stylish

spinning yarn from old sweaters
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/44003/how-to-make-recycled-cotton-art-yarn
t-shirt upcycle
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/9325/combine-crochet-with-sewing-for-an-adorable-dress
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/11910/how-to-restyle-a-t-shirt-into-a-gathered-yoke-top
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/44793/how-to-upcycle-a-t-shirt-into-a-cardigan
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/39771/how-to-restyle-a-t-shirt-into-a-ruffly-cardigan
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/7985/how-to-make-a-reverse-applique-on-a-t-shirt-by-machine
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/6386/how-to-finish-the-trendy-tunic
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/5855/pattern-drafting-101-how-to-close-a-bust-dart-and-move-the-fullness-to-the-hem
apple printing
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/44202/how-to-make-an-apple-print-tote-bag
vase made out of plastic bottles
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/44756/make-a-vase-out-of-a-plastic-bottle
crochet a pet bed from recycled sweters
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/41168/how-to-make-a-pet-bed-from-recycled-sweaters
crochet a rug out of t shirts
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/39345/how-to-crochet-a-rug-out-of-t-shirts

crystal chandelier for your Princess

I know I haven't posted in a while. I cant tell you how overwhelmed I have been! I am slowly but surely trying to redecorate the kids rooms. Hope had seen the crystal chandeliers that are all the rage now and wanted one but I could not afford the huge price tag that came with most of them. I found this old light for a dollar at a yard sale and decided to see what I could do with it I have toi say it was ugly brass and half of the candle covers were missing so I replaced those with pvc from the hardware store. I found acrylic beads at Hobby Lobby when they were on sale 1/2 price. I would have loved to make this with Swarovski crystals but it is for a child's room after all and I am trying to decorate on a dime here.

I am sorry that I did not take step by step pitures of this but I was just trying it out and not sure what I was doing at first so this was kind of an expirment that really worked out well! I hope you get the idea here.

1. first check the wiring and make sure it is safe, this one was but you can get rewiring kits if not. I had my husband to do this.

2. drill holes in the base of each cup where you want the beads to go. I drilled 4 in each cup and 4 in the top cup. I also had my husband to do this, power tools scare me! I think you can see where he drilled here.

3. . Paint the whole lamp in the desired color, I chose white. Woo hoo I can do this !

4. String your beads in a pleasant design. I strung 4 chains to hang from the top to each cup and then 4 chains to hook each up together 4 small chains to hang from each cup and then 4 chains with large decorative beads to hang from the lower part of the lamp. Not the best pic but you get the idea.

5. have someone who knows how to mess with electricity to hang your new chandelier and put in your energy saving light bulbs and there you go! A chandelier fit for a little princess!