Electric Company Earrings

That's what Olea calls these earrings.

We had a bunch of these star sunglasses from some activity a few years ago.

I found the lenses popped out by Zurich on Olea's bedroom floor and they were

falling into the trash can when I had an idea. So I pulled them out and took them down

to the studio. These are the tools and supplies I thought I would use.

I didn't end up using the round nose pliers.

It's totally easy.

Pop out lenses.

The second pair of glasses had much thinner lenses than the first pair, they both came from the same place and were the same brand, as far as I know. Party Land.

The thicker lenses are better I think, so if you have a choice...

Use 1/8th inch hole puncher to punch hole in plastic lens.

Open ring. I think these are almost a quarter inch rings. If you don't know anything about jewelry making and opening rings... open them up and down not apart.

Thread both the lens and the ear wire on the ring and close it. Down and up (not together)

The lens has a curve to it. Make sure when you are adding them to the ear wire that the curve faces the right direction for each ear. I wanted the center out and the star points cupping the side of my head, if that makes sense. So I guess there is a right and left earring in this pair. It's worth reopening the ring and fixing if you don't get it right the first time.

It's cute just like that but I decided to add a little bling with Sawarovski crystals I had on hand for Tatties.

There you have it friends. Dress it up any way you like.

I'm a Creative Cat.

And found Fabulous for Less.

And I did it myself:

The Offensive Coat: aka Make your own iron-on

Once upon a time Zurich didn't have a coat. Oh, he had jackets and sweaters, but not a coat to be found. A kind cousin passed along one for him. It was great, and fit perfect. However, Zurich wasn't having it. I couldn't get him to wear it for anything. If I could get it on him he'd have it off the moment I turned away to pick up the baby. We were always in a hurry to get Olea to school so he always won and just ended up wearing his fleece. He'd come home all upset because he was so cold.
Step 1: Obtain object to receive Iron-on
The Offending Coat

The Silly Boy

So I had a thought.

Step 2: Gather materials and choose design
I had embroidery thread and heat and bond. I could make an iron on that would help him to attach to the coat. I set to work, picking an icon he loves but that wasn't branded.
A train.
(You can use and iron on transfer pen to put a design guide on your fabric, which I did at first... but then decided it was too big for my immediate need and just free hand stitched on instead, so that's why there are both in the hoop)
Hand Embroider onto Muslin

He sat and watched Thomas the Train as I stitched and periodically commented on my stitching.
"Train." Oh good, he recognizes it.

Step 3: Make it stick
Then use Heat n' Bond to make it an applique (use instructions on heat and bond)

Trim the extra fabric.

Iron onto the coat


Step 4 (Optional): Secure
...and since I am anal about securing things I took more embroidery thread and stitched around the design. Which I think helps it blend into the coat better anyway. You could use a sewing machine for this step but I didn't want stitches to show on the inside of the coat so that is best done by hand.


Step 5: Feel smart
Finished product.

The little boy and
The cool train coat

FINALLY!
...do you think this would work to help kids KEEP their gloves ON?

I'm linking to Creative Cats

Jammies

Me and my girls. I made us all matching jammies over the years. They are all a little different and I made the patterns. Olea's is a night dress that as she got older I made capris that go under it so it works as she grows (since the girl only gets taller not any thicker). Genève's is a baby jammie bag, (which as she gets older I can remove the elastic from the bottom and she has a night dress) and mine has a top pannel to cover nursing access. They each have gathered neck and sleeves and a black bow in the front. I put a black bow in the front of Olea's pants so she knows front from back. They are lovingly referred to as our "princess monkey jammies."


Olea just opened a bill from the mail and said, "Look Mama, we got a free new envelope, isn't that great?!"
Ya, it's so great I am going to use it to send all of our money away to pay a medical bill.