Altering a Kimono Sleeve

I was at Walmart and saw a nice blue dress on sale. It was $9, which is what I usually pay at goodwill. (My all time favorite place to shop!) The sleeves were a little weird, but I thought I could probably fix them. I was itching to sew something! Since sewing as a hobby seems to be getting more and more expensive, I jump at a chance to alter. The sleeves are basically kimono sleeves. I didn't like them for two reasons. First it made the dress look like pajamas. Second you could see too much skin when moving my arm. I brainstormed and finally decided to just gather the entire top two shoulders. This worked great! Then I sewed the bottom edge of the armholes.

Here's how I did it. Decide your seam allowance and how much you're going to hem in the process of gathering. (I hemmed one inch on the top.) Also remember the more fabric you take off at the top, the shorter the finished dress or shirt will be and the smaller the head hole. (I learned this the hard way and had to stitch rip my seam.)

#1.Turn the dress inside out and run two gathering threads on the top of each sleeve.

#2.Then pull the threads on either side of the seam. Gather as evenly as possible and as much as you want the length of the sleeve to be. Do this on both sleeves.

#3. Now sew a straight line right below your gathering threads. Make sure the gathers are flat.

#4. Trim the excess fabric and zig-zag stitch the edge.

This is what it should look like right side out.  

Because the dress was a little large on me, I stitched the armhole an inch on both sides. 

Before

After 

Have you altered anything? I'd love to hear your adventures!

How to eat a kiwi...

Cut it in half and scoop out that kiwi goodness with a spoon!

My Latest Sewing Endeavor...

So I started a skirt back in December and I finally finished it! Time really got away from me. I finally hemmed it on Saturday. I got the fabric from a friend and I made up the pattern. (Sort of)

One of my other skirts was too wide. For a while I wore it with a safety pin. Finally I decided to see if I could take it in. As I measured it I realized it was one panel too large! So I took out a panel (Lots of stitch ripping...) and used it as a pattern for another skirt. I added a zipper and a yolk for the top and then I was done...well almost. I realized after putting all the panels together that it was too big. The panels on the first skirt were two different sizes. Thankfully I was able to fix this by taking out one panel. Then I over stitched the seams and hemmed it. A simple but feminine skirt. But enough about the skirt, here it is...

 Have you made any sewing endeavors?

A Metaphorical Shelf

I have many childhood memories of playing dollhouse with my sisters. We had huge imaginations. We always had new stories to capture through our dollhouse people. And when we weren't playing dolls we would pretend we were princesses, spies, cashiers, mommies, waitresses, and babysitters. We had picnics, frilly dress up clothes, fort houses, too many dolls, and too much fun. We were girls. We've grown up and our childish play has been put on a metaphorical shelf. We kept memories of our youths in our hearts and we've kept the dollhouse. 

Now that our two-year-old sister is old enough we took the dollhouse out again. Since she has three older brothers we weren't sure what she would enjoy playing with. Some have said that she'd be a "tomboy"; tough and ruddy. Although she's always been determined even through her traumatic birth she's a very happy, healthy girl. She learns fast like Abby, is neat like Maggie and loves dolls like I used to. She'll sit for hours putting together her house. Positioning everything just right. It's so neat to see her mommy instincts show through. She brings her babies to lunch and to nap time. She pretends like my sisters and I used to. She loves to prepare pretend food and clean the dishes. We're so blessed to have her to brighten up each day. You could say that we have encouraged her to be a mommy, not giving her a chance to "be herself". But that wouldn't be the whole truth. She's a girl, because that's what God made her.

³ Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, ⁴ so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵ to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. Titus 2:3-5 NASB

Gluten Free Oat Muffins

 I made some gluten free oat muffins using this recipe. I used zucchini instead of apple and I also added flax seed and chia seed. I've made them twice using different sweeteners and a different veggie or fruit. (First time was pumpkin) It's fun to experiment with this base. Although they don't rise quite as well as gluten muffins I still think they're delicious. Plus, I don't have to get any expensive or different gluten free flours to make them! I've been going gluten free for three weeks now. I hope to tell you more about it soon. It's been a neat journey.

Do you have any fun, healthy recipes to share?

Christ is Risen

 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,  and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” 

              John 11:25-26 (NASB)

Let The Scripture Speak...

The Making of a Health Nut

 It all started with the webinar we watched.(Which I would love to write a review on! If you can, you should definitely order it!) Then it was the nutrition book for school... and it went from there. I've been reading up on all sorts of healthy foods, cosmetics and exercises. I'm only at the beginning of my nuttiness, but I'm pretty much obsessed with health now.

So I've switched soaps, shampoos, exercises and I'm trying my best to eat healthy. After I discovered how many toxins, (I mean many, many toxins) and chemicals are in what we eat, drink and put on our faces and hair I was definitely more willing to try to be more healthy. I have pretty bad acne so I've cut out sugar, been drinking more water in hopes that it will improve. (Next is gluten!) It was hard at first. Trust me! I love sugar. After a while the cravings are not as strong though. There's a book I'd recommend reading called Green Beauty Guide. And this one with natural body care recipes. (Both I found at the library) I do not endorse or agree with everything in these books, but both are good resources.

I switched shampoos and soap. I've only been using baking soda for my shampoo and apple cider vinegar for my conditioner. (You can read about how to use it here..) My hair feels great!

I've been learning more about healthy food choices and how to create delicious meals with them.
Very slowly I am growing my knowledge. It's been a fun adventure and I hope I will continue learning on this brought subject of health. I hope to post more of my experiences, too.

I would encourage you to look into what your putting on and in your body. I thought I was pretty healthy, but there are so many toxins in the food and cosmetics that we use! Just remember although it might be overwhelming at first, start where you are and start small. Maybe just start by cutting out soda or switching soaps or shampoo.

In all that we do we must remember that healthy living should not be an idol. Healthful living should be inspired by the fact that our body's our God's temples and we should be good stewards of them and the resources He blesses us with.

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?  If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. 1 Corinthian 3:16-17

 Do you have any advice or good resources on how to be healthy? I'd love to hear them!

Cinnamon Rolls

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
    the name of the Lord is to be praised. 

   Psalm 113:3

New Beginnings: rain and sunshine

The picture above is of the house plants on the front porch back in June. We had a large rain shower and put all the house plants out to be properly cleaned of dust. The last few days have been filled with rain. Rain, gray skies, and gray moods. Plus the yard does not look nearly as green as it did in June, but before I finish my thought:

I've noticed that many people (and myself) tend to take the holidays as a time to slack off, eat what they shouldn't, stay up late, scratch schedule and productivity with excuses for celebrating and "...But it's Christmas!". Then when New Year's eve ends we get back to the grind, frantically looking for a sheet of paper to scribble our resolutions on as we start over...again. I am not trying to write a guilt trip-I'm to blame, too.

It's a new year! January is a special month to refresh, rejuvenate and reevaluate our life and priorities.
Schedules begin their familiar hum and holiday sweets disappear. No. It's not a good thing that we slacked. (I am talking to myself here) We should be constantly guarding ourselves against laziness and making each holiday and break, more about Christ and less about our enjoyment. Let us not be discouraged or weary.

The past few days have been making me think that sometimes God sends rain on our lives.  Refreshing? Yes. Rejuvanating? Yes. Sometimes God sends hard times to strengthen our faith. If we get into bad habits and get out of good habits, God will continue to grow us, strengthen us, stretch us and discipline us. When your nice and healthy with foliage and greenery, rain is wonderful. Growth is seen quickly. When plants are dead and rain comes -especially in the Winter- growth is slow and sometimes the rain might even freeze the plants. But as with rain and clouds the sun will come out and joy, health, and strength will abide in our hearts.

As we spend each day serving God, we will all grow and learn. (Maybe learn a few lessons the hard way) Through this year there will be rain, clouds and sunshine, and God will be our strength and our joy.

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 
                     1 Corinthians 3:7

How is God growing you?

Spice of December

I apologize for my lack of appearances around here. I am very surprised how close December is on our toes.  Christmas holidays and Christmas decorations our under way, but I can't help but hold onto the holiday called thanksgiving. Thankfulness shouldn't last one month of the year. I want to carry it with me the whole year. Each morning more gratefulness shines in my face. As my family and I got our tree from the tree farm and are slowly making plans for decorating I am reminded of each blessing. This grace that only God can give is poured out on our lives each day. Through the holiday cheer, present buying and wrapping, chill in the air, let us not forget who has let us celebrate and who we are to celebrate.

 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever. 
          Psalm 136: 1


Do you have your tree yet? 

Counting My Blessings

 It's November. That means that thanksgiving is not far off-and what better way to bring in the holidays than to count our blessings? One challenge that I did last year was the thankful challenge. This year I almost forgot about the challenge; and although I am a week late I am still going to participate this year, too. All you have to do is write down seven things your thankful for each day through this month. It's not only a fun challenge but very rewarding. It make me realize how much God has blessed me!
 Click here for the challenge details.

Today I am thankful for sunsets, life and health, changing seasons, ducks---one of my baby sisters favorite words, color in ordinary life, fall hydrangeas, and my family.

 "Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments."
                                               Psalm 119:164

What are you thankful for today?