Happy 2014!!!  So, we celebrated the New Year the same way as always.  We watched the ball drop on Fox New channel.  It was pretty uneventful, but it was a blessing to watch with my family.  I pray that you were able to spend the New Year with your family.  I also pray that 2014 brings you a year full of blessings.

So, this is the first blog of the New Year.  Hmmm...What do blog about???  That is always the question.

Today, I am going to write about my creation yesterday.  For a while now, I have been making some Infinity Scarves, or Tube Scarves, or Endless Scarves.  They have so many different names.  When I make these, I notice that there is several inches of material left over.  Well, being me, I can't help but think, "You know there is something that can be made with that left over material"  For a long time, I had no ideas.  This Christmas, I was making some of these scarves for my mom and mother-in-law.  It finally hit me...HEADBANDS.  A headband is just simply a smaller infinity scarf.  WOW!  I seriously can't believe it took me this long.  So, yesterday, I began creating a headband.

It started out pretty simple.  Then, I tried the first one out.  Bummer!  The first one looks good, but I can barely get it over my head.  It is so very tight.  Well, maybe it is just my big head.  So, I gave it to my daughter to try out.  She couldn't even get it on at all.  So, back to the drawing board.

It seemed to be that the material stretched, but the stitching kept one side from stretching.  OH!  That is right.  I was using the wrong stitch.  DUH! A straight stitch doesn't stretch.  So, out comes the manual to the sewing machine.  Did you know that there is a stitch for stretchy material(LOL)?  Yes, I know dumb question.  I did know this, but I had forgotten.

After changing my stitch, I had better success.  The next 2 headbands turned out great.  One was still a little small, but would work great for a young girl.  The other one was good for an adult sized head.  I do still need to work with the size a little, but I have a good start.  Check out the pictures, and post a comment here about what you think.  Enjoy!

Other colors and styles to come.  The other big news of yesterday is that my daughter finished her first crocheted scarf.  She had decided a while ago that she wanted to learn to crochet.  We had some bumps in the road in the area of learning stitches, but she has got it down now.  Here are pictures of her first finished product.  I am a very proud momma.

Winding Down The Summer

Well, this week has been lazy and busy.  Our mornings around here have been a little on the lazy side.  Sometimes it is nice to just do nothing, and my kids LOVE that option.  All of the sports practices moved from in the morning hours to the afternoon.  Also, we are getting ready for school to start.  So that means, pick up schedules, make sure we have supplies, and figure out teachers.  I have my first kid going off to High School this year.  I really thought I would be more nervous, but he is ready.  My second kid will be in 7th grade, so it is no big deal.  Also, kid #2 LOVES school.  Yep, that's right, it is my daughter.  They both do very well in school and are learning so much.

Since that has been the schedule this week, I have not done a lot of creating.  Last weekend I did make a little boy romper that turned out very cute.  I had plans to start a smocked Christmas dress, but that has not happened, yet.  As I sit here typing, I hear rain coming down.  That means, no running for me.  I guess instead I will start on that dress.  The material is in the sewing room just waiting on me to get my act together.

On the up side, I sold my Back to School Apple outfit this week.  I am so excited for the little girl who will have this to wear on the first day of school.  This has always been one of my favorite outfits.  I just love how it screams "FALL".

I also delivered my first "Books of the Bible" bag to my nephew.  He was so fun to watch.  I think he liked the bag better than the books of the Bible tiles.  His mom, my sister, helped him pour all of the tiles out and try to put them in order.  That was fun to watch.  Soon he will be reciting those books like he has known them all his life.

Today my promotion is a clearance item.  This is a great Spring or Summer outfit.  I know, Spring and Summer are over.  However, this could be bought on clearance and worn next year.  This outfit features some very cute flowers with smiling faces and a few Spring critters.  The pants have a matching ruffle at the bottom.  I am selling it on clearance to make room for some Fall and Winter items in my shop.  The original cost was $50, and it is priced now for $25.  That is HALF OFF.  WOW!  Follow the link to my Etsy shop listing in order to purchase.

Girls Pink/Blue/Green Smocked Flower Pant Set Size 4- CLEARANCE 

While you are there, check out my other items that are for sale.  There are some very cute dresses and a few items for baby boys.

As I finish up, I want to give a shout out to the Etsy Amazing Etsians team.  They invited me to their team this week and WOW has the traffic to my etsy shop increased.  This group is so very encouraging and has been a great help.  Also, the EtsyKids Team has been helpful, so shout out to them as well.