Well what do you know...

I just found this stuffed animal bowling set like I'm working on. They're only asking forty five bucks. That's $7.50 per bowling pin. It takes me well over an hour to do each one, when you figure in hunting for just the right fabric, tracing and cutting paper templates, pinning, cutting, sewing, taking forever to get those ears turned right side out, stuffing, dropping rice everywhere, stopping to clean up spilled rice, and sewing the hole closed by hand. Let's say about an hour and a half. Here's the math.

Apparently, I'm going to spend about nine hours on this project. Probably more actually, but let's go with nine. When teaching private music lessons, I make twelve dollars a half hour (and for around here, that's cheap). If I were to charge twenty four dollars an hour to make these rabbit bowling pins, I would have to charge $216 for a set of six. And that doesn't even take into consideration the cost of the fabric and stuffing! Any takers? I didn't think so.

But it does make me feel good to know that I'm saving $45 since I do not need to buy the ready-made version. Hey, a penny saved is a penny earned!

The Spice Girls

If you could be a Spice Girl, what would your name be? I think I would be Baby Spice. Or maybe Crafting-for-Baby Spice. Breastfeeding Spice has a nice ring to it too, don't you think? Diaper-Changing Spice and Baby-Always-Spits-Up-on-Me-But-Never-on-Daddy Spice are also contenders.

Speaking of spices...


I've had this thrifted spice rack* and some milk glass spice jars that I've collected on various thrift outings. I recently washed them, removed their old labels, and began the hunt for new labels. I was thinking I'd buy some sticker labels at Office Max, until Tiffany over at songbirdtiff said some regular paper and mod podge works just dandy.

Paper? Check. Mod Podge? Check. Sweet, a no-cost project!

Our good buddy Stock-Trading-Scandal Spice** (aliases include Jailbird Spice or Kmart Spice) has a pdf file of some awesome blue and cream spice labels. She even leaves some blank so you can add your own spices; the only problem is that I could not figure out how to add text to the pdf file. Instead, I created a jpeg file which I will gladly share with y'all because I'm nice like that. (A small version is below; click on it to make it large).

Here you can see the font I've chosen.


Here I've squeezed more on one page in case you have way more spice jars than me. Don't want to waste paper, you know!


If you want to do this project like I did, you'll want to use Microsoft Picture it9 aka Digital Image Pro. Open up the file, click on the little "A" button (that's the font button), and a text box will appear. You can move, shrink, or enlarge the text box so that it's directly over the spice label. Add your text in any size and font that your little heart desires.

* I thought about naming this post, "I've Got a Great Rack" (a spice rack that is), however I thought that might be a little too risque for this blog. It would go along nice with Breastfeeding Spice though.

** Just kidding, Martha. You know you're my homegirl.

WIP Wascally Wabbits on Wednesday

These Bunny Bowling Pins are the bane of my existence. They are so adorable, and I just had to make them, however as it turns out, sewing them is a major pain in the you-know-what. I hate stuffing softies and sewing the last hole shut. My contempt for these little buggers is multiplied because you have to fill them with rice. More rice landed on the counter and floor than in the rabbit.

The ears also were a source of contention. I did the ears of each rabbit a little differently, trying to find just the right stuff. I don't have any fusible interfacing so I tried various things like silk organza, stiff tulle, and used dryer sheets. A double layer of stiff tulle (from the bridesmaid dress) was the winner. Speaking of the bridesmaid dress, the red bunny is made from its fabric.





Another WIP is this here zippered pouch. "Wasn't this selvedge project supposed to be a water bottle sling?" you ask. Yep, I changed my mind. I thrifted a whole bag of vintage zippers and thought I'd actually use one instead of just looking at them with fear. Zippers are quite scary. I have no idea how to sew them, as evidenced by the chop job I did on this little pouch. I'm too embarrassed to show you what it looks like underneath the lace. Let's just say the stitching looks straight. If you cross your eyes and have a hangover. BTW, the lining is... you guessed it, bridesmaid dress! It's the dress that keeps going and going and going...



Lastly, here's a little growth chart I'm making. I only have one measuring tape, so this project is on hold until I can get another one. I'd like to find a vintage one at a thrift store however I won't hold my breath. This project also requires me to applique. *Gulp* Wish me luck.

Stuff That Makes Me Drool

I've been surfing the web tonight since Joel fell asleep, and I found some more stuff that I totally have to make.

• Bunny Bowling
  
  
• A Growth Chart
  
  
• Office Chair, recovered
  
  
• Fabric Piggy Bank

I wish there were more hours in the day!

Menu Planning Monday: Mexican Week

Phew. This is my third meme today. Check out my Make Something Monday Meme and my Made Do Monday Meme and show me some bloggy love :)

Back to the Menu Planning.

Introducing...... (cue the trumpets, stage left)

Mexican Week! (We're going to be so sick of Mexican food by the end of the week...).

I can never exactly say when the leftovers will run out, so I'm not going to commit myself to making certain dishes on certain days of the week. Instead, here's some things I'll make this week, whenever I feel like it.

• Nacho Rollups made with salsa rather than taco sauce, as long as I can get to the store and buy some eggs.
  
• Mexican Shepherd's Pie (because we have some mashed potatoes leftover from yesterday's steak dinner... yum!). It's easy to make. Make like you would a normal shepherd's pie, but I add in corn and taco seasonings to the meat.
  
• Ham and Salsa Muffins, complete with homemade English muffins to use up some yeast that's probably already gone bad
  
• Texas style lasagna (note to self, pick up cottage cheese when you go buy eggs)
  

Meme-y Monday

First up is a WIP that I started last night. I was so very inspired by Jodie over at Vintage RicRac. She cuts the selvedge off of fabric and then pieces it together to make such cool stuff like doll quilts, scarves, and even upholstered furniture. WOW. Check her out, for sure!


This is the beginings of a hybrid project. I'm combining two things that I wanted to try. One, the selvedge thing. Two, this water bottle sling.

Next up are some Cloth Baby Rings which are harder to make than they look! I'm not sure that I like them. I guess it depends if my son will play with them or not :)


Lastly is the kiddie apron bonanza. I had so much fun making this red and blue one for Joel, that I decided to make some more!




This one will be for a little girl in our family.


I tried out a new stitch on my machine, but the thread matches so well you can barely see it.


What did you make today?

Make Do Monday- Screens

My screens need replaced. Practically every one in the whole house has at least one hole in them, through which bugs are entering the house. Ugh. Replacing the screens may be easy (there was a Home Depot clinic on it yesterday though we didn't go) however with my recent layoff, I don't feel like spending the money on it. I even know that they sell those little screen patches because I've used some in the sunroom, however I don't even want to buy those. (Can you say cheapskate?)

The solution? Tape of course. My husband went around the house, taping shut all the holes. We'll see how long that lasts! I would think the rain would render them useless, however it hasn't happened yet. Keep your fingers crossed for me!