Recycle and Rewear - Men's Pants

A couple of months ago my husband broke a zipper to one of his khaki pants. A NORMAL person would of A) taken them to the tailors to fix (I don't fix zippers) or B) thrown them away. Well, as many of you know I am not normal. So I folded them up and put them in my cloth box.


It was while my son was wearing these overalls (made for my husband, by his great-grandmother) that I knew exactly what I was going to do with the broken pants.


I took the overalls and made a pattern. I took pattern making class in college but it doesn't help a bit. All you have to do is trace and add a 1/2" seam allowance. The tricky part is the construction.

Then it was time to cut out my patter on the pants. To make life even easier I used the existing hem from the pants rather then making my own. I take shortcuts...because I hate hems!

Just like that you have toddler overalls!!

Notice the adorable buttons? I got these buttons for 10 cents! Yes, that is right 10 cents! Read about it here.

This outfit cost a total of 10 cents!!

Then for fun (and for his daddy) I tried to get him to wear a hunting hat. No such luck!!


I am HUGE fan of making the most with your money. I think this outfit exemplifies that! Not only that, maybe one day my son's son will wear this outfit...one can only hope.

Today I decided to participate in Twice Remembered: Make Your Monday. I just found her blog and I love her motto!!

The Desk Saga

Today is a day of rejoicing...why you ask? I have finished a project that has been staring me in the face for a 1 year and 5 months. Yahoo!! Break out the champagne! Okay, no champagne? Beer will be fine!

This summer I set out to finish some of the projects I have been procrastinating for way too long. Do you have any of those???

My parents brought this down from VA (I asked them too) summer of 2008. This use to belong and the faux finish was done by my Grandmommy. I am sure it was great 30 years ago but it was time for an update. And here it sat... Lovely, right?


I started out this summer with great intentions (I put on 2 coats) but with lots of summer travels and 2 kids 24/7 it got lost on the list.

Then my hubby started sheet rocking the garage...


I finally got my act together 1 month after the loss of my dog, Chewy, and told myself now is the time... Mementos of my 10 year old puppy.


One upset hubby (after I spray painted the concrete,)
5 coats of paint,
2 coats of poly,


I am done!!!


I decided not to replace the knobs, no need for the added expense. I spray painted them black and then with a light coat spray painted them brown so it wasn't so stark of a contrast.

I am very pleased with the outcome. I think my Grandmommy will be proud of it's face lift and now I can cross off one more item on my "Getting Back on Track"

Procrastination Time: 1 year 5 months

Costs: $0- All left overs

Verdict: Love it, however now need a chair to make this desk useful...

Making Others House Into a Home

Today I delivered 7 curtains to a woman who has been waiting 4 years to hang curtains in her house. For her it was like Christmas Day. We hung 6 of the 7 and she was grinning from ear to ear!! She couldn't stop smiling. Honestly, if I didn't have bills her happiness would of been enough for me.

I really LOVE being apart of making a house into a home!!

Especially when the are so happy!

Breakfast Area


Living Room


Mission Complete!

Back to Preschool Preparation

Today was a big day in our home! Lawson had her first day back to Preschool.

In preparation for her big day she had the perfect outfit...

I made her this skirt for her first day!

It make my heart smile to see how proud she is of the clothes I make her. She got lots of compliments and she said proudly "My mommy made my skirt!" That's my girl!! The best part of this skirt- it was FREE! I got the shirt at Target for $3.00 (on sale) and splurged on good shoes for the school year (very important).

I got the material and pattern from my grandma's collection. I love scrap material! The bag that the material came in says "How much did you save today?" I thought that was ironic!!


Then to make a first good impression Lawson and I made cookies for her teacher and office assistance. I am not the best cook but these are awesome & easy!


Yep, everyone over at her school thinks I am a Domestic Diva (haha).... They think I make my kids clothes and I bake....Wow, I have them fooled, I figure...what they don't know won't hurt them!!

Cheers to the new school year!

In Remembrance of 9-11

Today it has been 8 years since that horrific day 9/11. That day will never be forgotten and today in honor of the victims of 9-11 I am showing my pride by displaying my Red, White and Blue.

I also have to add, I love the song from Toby Keith "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue" It is the perfect song and seems to capture everything I feel!!  I am so proud to be an American and I am Proud of our Military!

All week my front door has looked like this...


Another flag...


Another view...


In Fayetteville, NC is a fantastic sculpture of the twin towers and all of the paper exiting the building. The brown beams are actual beams from one of the towers. It is a beautiful sculpture with such sad history.

My sweet daughter was not around on 9-11 and this pictures reminds me that I can not guard her from all the evil in the world.

God Bless America!

The Dress that Won't Go Away...

In early July I had made a post called "Thanks Mr Bunny" I took a dress that my MIL gave me and the stuffing from this bunny...

and made this...

That left me with the skirt material, and as my Mamma II (grandma) always says..."Waste not, want not." I decided to look through some of my patterns that Mamma II had just given me and decided to make my daughter a jumper. It is from 1981!! But seriously a jumper is a jumper!

Then I cheated a little. Since the skirt had a hemline already I used it rather then making my own!! One nice bonus from recycling or reinventing old clothes!

With a little personal flare added here is the final dress...

My daughter will not try it on for me she says "It is a school dress and school hasn't started yet" but you get the point. I can just envision her wearing this with different colored shirt and colorful stocking!! I love it, and I love the cost $0!! I am now a big fan of recycling clothes to make my children some clothes. I think you are going to start seeing that a lot more from me!!

2 items from 1 dress!! I am satisfied!!!

If I didn't have self-control...

I would of done my happy dance in the middle of Jo-Ann's today.

Why you ask?

Because I bought all of this for $3.72...





If you sew, you are aware sewing is not exactly 'cheap' no matter how you slice it. It still costs money and sometimes to make a garment costs as much or more as a good deal at Ross, Kohls, or TJ Maxx. However, part of sewing is buying (pack-ratting) items away for future use.

I bought 15 packages of buttons for outfits for my kids, my sister's new baby and for whatever I feel like!! My mind is whirling on things I can make. I am pumped!!

It was a good day!!