Chicago FUN!

We had a fabulous time in Chicago for Spring Break!

Shedd Aquarium, American Girl Store, Museum of Science and Industry, lots of good food and LOTS of swimming!

Peighton and Nellie enjoyed watching Frozen on the way there.

Preston watched A LOT of John Deere movies!

Shedd Aquarium was very fun.

We watched the trainers feed the Beluga whales!

Monday morning we walked over to the American Girl store for brunch.

Nellie had her own chair, of course.

 

It was so fun to have brunch in a room that is bursting with PINK!!!!!

These two hot chocolate lovers were excited to see it on the menu!

Even dessert was fun!

There was a flower pot full of dirt pudding and Isabelle's pink cupcake.

Bubba LOVED the cupcakes.

After brunch, it was time to shop.

 

Our main reason for coming to Chicago was to get Isabelle, the Girl of the Year.

When Peighton first saw her she decided she HAD to have her...she's a blonde dancer that sews!

I agreed.

But since we already had one American Girl I told Peighton she had to earn the second.

Peighton has worked hard the past few months helping me clean, do laundry, chores around the house, scooping snow (there was a lot to be earned in this area) and scooping poop out of the barn.

She earned every bit of it!

Proud of how hard that girl worked!

 

 

We picked up Isabelle immediately and most of her accessories too.

We even had our own personal shopper!

I must have looked like I needed one with all the stuff I was carrying!

We got to go to a special room with hot pink furniture to make our final decisions and finish shopping.

Peighton thought that part was really cool (and so did I!!!!).

Luckily there was a Lego store right next door.

Preston and Dustin did a little shopping there while they waited for us to get done.

Preston loved the big statues made from Legos.

He told me, "That's a lot of "Wego-s!"

I'd say we had a LOT of fun at the American Girl Place!

Peighton loved that we could walk everywhere in Chicago.

She told me she really liked visiting there but wouldn't want to live there.

After we finished our shopping we took a cab to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.

There was lots of really cool stuff to see.

Nellie got to go along in Peighton's new backpack.

We even found baby chickens!

There was a train exhibit that we got to climb into.

There were also lots of science experiments that we enjoyed!

Even in the big city of Chicago we found some of our favorite color of green!

This was Preston at the end of the day....he was D  O  N  E!!!!!

We spent a lot of time swimming too!

Preston has a newfound love of bull riding.

He discovered that Daddy makes an excellent bull in the pool!

He also demonstrated his cannon ball skills.

We had a GREAT time and will for sure be going back!

 



Sweatshoppin' it.

Dustin calls my sewing room "The Sweatshop."
He thinks it's funny.

Well, lately it has kinda felt a bit "Sweatshop-ish!"

I signed up for quite a few vendor shows and events this season....I thought it was a good idea at the time!

I have one more this coming Sunday and then I am DONE.

In addition to my usual kids clothing, baby blankies, soft toys and handbags I've added some new fun stuff.

Here are some of the fun things I've added to my booth lately:

LOTS of American Girl Stuff!

Dresses, pajama pants with matching pillows, and just today I whipped up a few Sleeping Bags to match!

LOVE LOVE LOVE.

There are even a few matching girl and doll Christmas dresses!



This is "Nora" my resident model. 

 We call her our "friend from the other side of the tracks..."

I do not travel with Nellie as I'm afraid she might get stolen! 

So, Nora does the job!



Come see me this Sunday from 12-4 at the Sleep Inn in North Liberty to see all my goodies!

DIY American Girl knot dress tutorial

Nellie (our American Girl) was in need of some new dresses, specifically Christmas dresses according to Peighton.

Peighton already had some new knot dresses for this Christams so I decided to make Miss Nellie a few to match!

I took pictures along the way and made a quick tutorial so anybody can whip up a few for the girls in their life.

Here's how I did it:

SUPPLIES:

Scraps of coordinating fabrics

(I was able to use leftovers from making Peighton's knot dress)

1. Start by cutting all the pieces. All the pieces are rectangles which makes it super easy.

Top: 7 1/2" x 3". Cut 2 of the main fabric and 2 of the lining.

Straps: 11" x 1 1/2". Cut 4.

Middle section: 14" x 6". Cut 2

Bottom section: 14" x 4". Cut 2.

2. Take all 4 pieces of the "top" and fold them in half with the short sides together.

Make a mark 1" down the side and 1" in from the right side. (I used my disappearing marker for this step and you can kind of see it in the picture.)

Cut a semi circle connecting the two lines like this:

You could also trace a cup or other circular object but it's really not hard to just eyeball it.

When you open them up you should have 2 linings and 2 main pieces that look like my picture above.

3. Put all pieces right sides together.

Sew the straps on the 2 long sides and 1 short side. Leave one short end open for turning.

Sew only the short sides of the top together. Repeat for the lining.

Sew the short sides of the middle section and the bottom section together.

*I used my serger to finish all the seams but you could also use a zigzag stitch or pinking shears to stop the edges from fraying.*

Turn both straps right sides out with a turning tool.

Press with an iron and topstitch.

4. Turn the middle section right side out.

Match the seams of the bottom section to the seams of the middle section.

Pin and then stitch all the way around.

5. Press the seam up towards the top and then topstitch.
Press the bottom of the dress up 1/4" all the way around then then press it up another 1/4" to make the hem.
Stitch the hem.

6. Turn the main top piece right side out.

Place the lining over that piece so the right sides are together. (See picture below)

Next insert the straps in between 2 of the layers.

Place them about 1 inch in from each side.

Pin, matching side seams and sew all the way around the top.

(I like to clip the armholes just a bit so they lay flat when turned right sides out.)

Turn right sides out, poke corners out and press.

Once it is turned right sides out and pressed, topstitch all the way around.

7. Take the skirt part and make a gathering stitch around the top.

Lay it next to the top section and try to make them about the same width.

Match side seams and pin together.

Then sew all the way around.

Finish seam with serger/zigzag/pinking shears.

8. Make button holes in the top section.

I make mine about a 1/2" down from the top and 1/4" in from the sides. It doesn't have to be exact.

Press the whole dress and try it on!

Please forgive Nellie in the following pictures for wearing her tap outfit under her new knot dress....she was rudely pulled out of "Tap class" for modeling purposes.