Chores

It's time. These kids need to start helping out more around here! Since we started our home schooling year, I've been feeling pretty behind when it comes to house work. So I've been mulling over some chore chart ideas and it finally came to me this morning. Most of the ideas I have seen involve complicated spreadsheets, charts, envelope systems, or generally time-consuming and elaborate scrapbooking-style projects. I'm not into any of those things. I just needed something easy and the solution occurred to me when I found my baggie of large popsicle sticks behind a cabinet today.

Similar to our "Prayer Pail", I wrote chores on the sticks (with the kids' help) with a different color of Sharpie for each child's jobs. For example, they each have a stick in their own color that says "make bed", but only Natalie has one that says "help empty dishwasher". You get the idea. Then I used a 4th color for jobs that anyone can do whenever they need done, like tidy the TV room, and also several sticks that just say "extra". We put the sticks in a cute green pail. Whenever one of the kids complete a chore, they move the correct stick over to their Mom Bucks jar. At the end of the day, I exchange the sticks for Mom Bucks.  (You can read about both our Prayer Pail and the Mom Bucks Store in this post).

Since the kids were involved in the creation of the system, they were pretty excited to do their chores today. When school was over, my house got cleaned and I didn't do it--how nice!! I know the novelty will wear off and they will not always be so motivated, but their colored sticks will need done every day and chores done with bad attitudes will not earn Mom Bucks! They love Mom Bucks. Seriously, they love Mom Bucks. When they do the extra/optional chores, they can opt for a couple M&M's or candy corns (I usually keep some small treats on hand). So there's our simple new system!

Sewing has been minimal for several days, but I hope to have a few things to show you soon. I also have some fun homeschooling ideas to share this week! We've been studying Madeline in our Five in a Row curriculum, so France and England have been on our brains. Fun stuff!

music week!

After studying Lentil last week as part of our curriculum, we took this week to have a little music unit in our home school. It's been super fun so far so I thought I'd share some of the things I've found that we've enjoyed.

Surely you've heard of The Piano Guys, right?? They're SO COOL! This is one of their latest videos and we have watched it multiple times since yesterday. So creative and incredible. Natalie especially could watch them all day.


We've talked a lot about the different types of instruments and the kids are getting good at identifying strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion. Yesterday we listened to some Lord of the Dance music, some Mariachi music, some polka, pointing out where on the map these genres originated, and today some Sousa marches and blues harmonica. We have a Mexican restaurant in town called Tequila's that has a live Mariachi band on Friday nights, so we are going to take the kids there for dinner on Friday. They can't wait!

Youtube is a home school gold mine, but surely you already know that if you home school. I find videos of all kinds on there, but it's been especially useful for music week. The kids really enjoy watching the music.

A book we love and have checked out several times from the library is I Know a Shy Fellow who Swallowed a Cello.

It's a funny story with lots of instruments and must be sung, not merely read ;)

Since we've been talking about sounds and vibrations, tomorrow we are going to try these "What's the buzz" toys from Familyfun.com

Also on the schedule for the rest of music week is Fantasia 2000 (on hold for me at the library) and then we are going to try illustrating and animating some songs of our own. Should be fun! I'm open to more fun musical ideas!!

one skirt, many ways

I am SO happy with how my latest project turned out!! I have an Ann Taylor skirt that I picked up at a thrift store last year and just really love the fit of. So, when I got some yellow corduroy on clearance at Denver Fabrics, I set out looking for a pattern to copy that skirt. I wanted a skirt with a waistband and I wanted it straight, not a-line. I found it in New Look 6030. I love all the pocket variations on this pattern and that it has belt loops!

Since versatility is my wardrobe sewing goal lately, here's my new yellow skirt, worn 4 different ways:

After taking these photos, I kept finding more things in my closet that this skirt will go with! I took a bit of extra time in getting the fit perfect, so it is super comfortable to wear. I really love the ruffly pockets:

 I decided to add a lining after I had the shell complete. I tried it on and could see my undies right through it, so I grabbed this cute cotton pin stripe and lined it.

I have plans to make at least two more of these in the coming months, but with some of the different pocket options, so they'll look totally different. Can't wait!

I've been pretty inspired by a few sewing bloggers' posts on creating more practical sewn wardrobes. One is this post on Ten Thousand Hours of Sewing. I love the idea of creating pieces that mix and match with at least 3 other things in my wardrobe and that can go with some things I already made that I have nothing to wear with (the plaid jacket in the third photo above is a case in point).  Also, I'm loving this series of posts on A Fashionable Stitch. The gist is to sew more everyday clothes and things comfortable and cute, that can be worn around the house or anywhere. I don't know about you, but I need to feel cute in my clothes, even if no one sees me all day but my kids--it just helps me function at my best! I know some home schoolers love to stay in their p.j.'s all day occasionally, but I'm a mean mommy and make my kids get dressed for school--I even do the girls' hair, because how we look affects how others treat us and how we feel about ourselves, there's just no way around it!

Another Vogue winner!

I can't believe I only just recently started using Vogue patterns, because seriously, they're a cut above. When they go on sale for $3.99 at JoAnn's, I usually grab one, just to start building my collection. I bought Vogue 1152 awhile ago and finally got some fabric for it a few months ago.
Here's my result:

 I love all the great details on this dress! The front gathering and piping are unique and the sleeves are puffy, but not too puffy. I actually finished this a month ago, I just needed to get a cami to go underneath, which I finally did. The neckline is pretty low, so this was a necessity if I want to wear this anywhere other than a date with Casey. The hem, though, is one of my favorite parts!

I was nervous about that hem, cause nothing can ruin a dress like a wonky hem, but Vogue's instructions were amazing. I've never had a curvy hem turn out so well before!

We don't have much planned this weekend, which is unusual, actually, so I may get some more sewing in! I can't wait to show you the yellow corduroy skirt I've been working on!! Things take me a bit longer now that I only sew in the evenings, but the results are still so worth it. It's also making me think more carefully about prioritizing projects. Anyone else have Christmas sewing on the brain already? Just me? Okay, then.

Til next time!

I dunno

I bought Vogue 1315 right after the new Fall line came out and they went on sale at JoAnn's. Then I started keeping my eyes peeled for a good knit to make it up in! Last weekend when the clearance fabrics at JoAnn's went and extra 1/2 off, I took a quick look and found a Project Runway rayon knit, which I got for only $3.50 a yard (normally $12.99)! I snatched it up, even though I knew there wasn't quite as much as the pattern envelope suggested. I shortened the sleeves out of necessity because of my fabric shortage and here's how it turned out:

I was pretty excited about it while making it, but in the end, I'm just not sure it's me. It's an edgier look than my usual vintage, softer style, but that's not really the problem. I don't know that it flatters me very well. It's a little too blousey up top. I like it styled with the belt and boots, but I wish it were a more versatile piece, I guess. If I made it again, I would take in the side/underarm seam in a little so it fit closer on top. It will definitely get worn, but maybe not as often as I wanted, since I have to belt it.

What do you think? I'd appreciate some honest opinions!

Blogging without pressure

I know, it's been a week since I've blogged! No guilt though, I blog without obligation, ha!

School is in full swing and our homeschool is still going great! I will forever be grateful for the friend who turned me in Five in a Row's direction because it is exactly what I've been looking for.  Those two adorable guys, Ping and Lentil already hold a place in all our hearts :)

Fall wardrobe planning, buying and sewing is in full swing! The leaves on our trees are changing and the weather is supposed to be in the 80's the rest of the week and the 70's on the weekend!! Can't wait. Yesterday, on Labor Day, we hit three thrift stores that had 1/2 off everything sales and outfitted our kids for Fall. It was such an easy way to do it when all three children need a complete Fall wardrobe and we spent relatively little for a LOT of stuff!

But, as for me and my clothes, I've been sewing! I've made the girls a dress each, me two dresses and a cardigan and a bag, but have only managed to photograph two of those things.

I made the cardigan from McCall's 6559, which is the reason I bought the pattern. I had two knits set aside for this and I started with the one liked a bit less (although I like both a lot), hoping to like the end product enough to make it again. I definitely do!

 I love the length of this longer version (post-baby bellies cannot pull off "cropped" shirts of any kind, if ya know what I mean) and I like that I can tie it in front or in back, for a ballerina wrap effect. I would have arranged the front a bit differently in the below photo if I hadn't been to lazy too go inside and look in a mirror :) This cardigan will go with a lot of things and so will the next one, out of a gorgeous blue sweater knit!

 Can't leave out the real-life photo. Natalie is almost always hugging me these day, she seems to need an extra dose of affection, which I am happy to give, and Kelby, still preferring the clothes-less look, now has marker on his legs and two fading tattoos on his arms. The crazy face was his idea. Nice.

Any tips on how to get an especially stubborn son to stay in his room at bedtime would be more than welcome. Just don't give me something super unhelpful that only works on the most compliant of children, cause that ain't the situation here, hahaha!

sewing right along

As I mentioned in passing, I moved my sewing downstairs to our basement about three weeks ago. Initially I did it because the living room gets a bit crowded when we homeschool, but there were many added blessings to this decision. It's not nearly as pretty down there, but it sure has solved a lot of issues for me, some that I've been praying about for awhile. Funny how we pray about things and then we're surprised when God answered and we didn't even notice until after the fact. Sometimes hobbies can become what they shouldn't and take priority over other necessary things. I've felt for awhile now (years if I'm being honest) that it's easy for me to let sewing, which is just a hobby, become a selfish outlet and take priority over other clearly more important things. Putting my sewing space in a less visible, less accessible (during the day) area has really helped clear up this problem for me. Casey and I hang out down there together in the evenings, he plays his X-box and I get to sew. He considers this quality time and is actually thrilled to have me down there with him :) I can also spread out down there and don't have to keep quite as tidy with my sewing messes. Added benefit.

Something else I've been praying for is to develop a deeper love for cooking. Sounds silly, but in all honesty, although I like to eat, we are a pretty healthy-eating family and I am somewhat of a good cook, it's never been my favorite--mostly because I don't like to clean it up, ha! Somehow, now that I rarely sew in the daylight hours, what else is there to do when the kids don't need me but to hang out in the kitchen and cook?? Funnily enough, cooking is turning into something I genuinely like to do, rather than drudgery. I find myself planning better and even planning prep to make the clean-up easier. So, the Lord is answering my prayer!

My house has been cleaner too. Can't imagine why ;)

Anyway, since finishing Kelby's quilt, I've managed to make a few things. I had bought a knit shirt from Target clearance that I really liked the fit of and thought maybe I could copy it, since it's really only two pieces, front and back. I pulled out a knit that I liked, but didn't love and was really cheap, so I wouldn't be upset if it didn't work out. But, I actually really like it!

 Since it turned out so well, I immediately cut out my next version! I got this awesome bordered mesh fabric at Denver Fabrics, in hopes that this would work out. I absolutely love the color and the gorgeous border. I'm sure to make more versions of this simple top in the future cause it looks so different in various fabrics and it's really fast to cut out and sew up.

 Lastly, yesterday I finished a cardigan out of this striped sweater knit that I've had for about a year now and have been saving just for this purpose. I'm glad it finally got done! Our weather is starting to cool and with the sleeve length on this, it's a perfect transitional piece for Fall! It's Simplicity 2206 and I did add a bit of length. It's really soft, really comfortable and I think it will go with a lot of things!

That's it for now!

Cheers :)

back to school

We have started our home school year and so far it is going SO well. This is the first year I've felt pretty confident with my plans and the books I chose. I guess that just comes with time. I tried to really pinpoint some problems we had last year and come up with ways avoid those same problems before ever starting this year. And it's working :) Also, Kelby is a little less disruptive to the school effort too now, which helps immensely. Natalie's reading has come a loooooooong way over the summer--once the pressure was off, she totally ran with it. Her reading willingness is obviously helping too.

We use our formal dining room and living room for our school space. And this year, since I moved my sewing downstairs to the basement (reasons for that in a forthcoming post), I get my own "teacher desk" in our space too, which is nice for me. Everyone needs their own "spot", according to Mary Engelbreit. This is now mine:

 I managed to frame some of the art I got from my trip to Mongolia! These are my two favorites, so it made sense to hang them here:

 We went with Five in a Row curriculum this year. It's book-based and we are all really loving it. It's super inexpensive, it allows for a lot of creativity, which is right up our alley and has a great guide while still allowing for a lot of personalization of the program. Even though I supplement every week's subjects with library books, homeschoolers just have a lot of books! No way around it. I did try to weed out a lot over the Summer and organized the ones I kept by subject on the school bookshelf. Books for that we're not using now, but will use in the future went in a bin downstairs. This makes it much easier to find books related to what we're learning for the week. I keep the week's books in the larger tub near the bottom.

 Each child decorated their own work box (below), in which we keep their own little supply box, plus the books they use daily. This makes finding glue, scissors, pencils, etc... easy because they each have their own. Each child also has a magazine holder (above) with their name on it with other workbooks for extra practice. These include random workbooks we've collected or been given, word search books, 1-100 dot-to-dots, etc... For every extra practice page they do, they get a Mom Buck. These have been nice because while I'm working with Layla on her reading, for example, Natalie still has something to do that does not require help from me.

So there ya have it! Things are going great so far, even better than expected. I'm sure I'll have more posts about homeschooling in the coming weeks. I always like reading about what works for other homeschool families, so hopefully my ideas might be useful to someone too!