Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Phobia

As previously discussed in my blog post here, I accept gifts in giant containers.  When the sweeties Aunties came by bearing crafty stuffs, I FREAKED.  I really did.  Partly because the way to my heart is either mustache-related shenanigans or craft supplies.

Secunda feels the same way.

I'm terrified of zippers.  I've made at least 100 bags and totes, all of them zipper-less.  I have a phobia of sewing with them, inserting them, looking at them...  I guess the universe felt it was time to kick me in the ass.  Again.

Auntie Sherri brought a Giant Bag of Zippers.  Not only was it a giant bag, but each zipper color was separated into its' own bag!  I know.  Ratcheting up the awesome.

Here's the brown and blue zippers.  There are metal, plastic, polyester, invisible, everything.

The red ones are awesome and turquoise?  Really?  These were salvaged from some antique clothes (you can open the bags and smell the Old).  I just love it.

Coral.  And LAVENDER.  And CORAL!  I know, I know.  I'm absolutely tickled. 

So, these are just incredible.  Now I have to grow, confront my phobia of failure, and get over my bullshit.  SO much harder than learning to sew with zippers.

With all the bags and bundles, there was even a stack still in the packaging.  One of the packages said 1974! Old as me... Sigh.  So...  What do I do with all this goodness?  Two words:  ZIPPER.  POUCHES.

And this is pretty much how I feel about the whole thing.

Fantastic Flubber! (Or "Awesome Sauce" at my house.)

I finally got the courage to do some real chemistry with the fairies in the kitchen and it was AMAZING.  We made Flubber from here at livecrafteat.com.  Not only is it ridiculously easy, there were enough steps for everyone to participate.  This is what we did, copied directly from the site:

what you need:

3/4 cup cold water

1 cup Elmer’s glue

liquid food coloring

1/2 cup hot water

1 teaspoon borax (you can find this in a box in the laundry aisle)

directions:

step 1: in bowl 1 – mix together the cold water, glue, and food coloring. set aside.

step 2: in bowl 2 – mix together the hot water and borax, until the borax is completely dissolved.

step 3: slowly add glue mixture to borax mixture. mix well. pour off excess water.

Read more: The site is great.

Prima measured the glue.

Secunda added the cold water and coloring.

She chose yellow for the color then stirred the mixture till it was uniform.

Tertia did the Borax and hot water step.  With stirring.

Then I helped with the combining and stirring to get the weirdest rubbery cohesive goo I've ever seen.

It was so neat to see.  I pulled it out and kneaded it together to smooth the texture.  The heat from my hands really helped, plus going s-l-o-w-l-y.  Secunda was on board IMMEDIATELY.

She played with it till bedtime!  Tertia was dubious...

Just not sure...

But she came around. Prima was on board from the get-go.

She was thrilled!

Science is COOOOOOOL!

Plus I told them it was called "Awesome Sauce."  Because that shit's fucking hilarious.

Seen here!

Waldorf-Inspired Dance Rings DIY (Plus FREE)

So, I came across a fantastic post here at babble.com about the awesome dance rings that just make every movement magical.  I had a ton of ribbon that was just languishing in my craft mess cabinet and scored a GIANT BAG of yarn at the Goodwill for winter projects.

You can't see the price, but that's $9.99.  SCORE.

I'd picked up some brass rings for some reason a while ago, also from a thrift shop.

There's not one, but two flasks in that bin.  Speaks volumes.

And promptly set the fairies to making a huge mess.

We wrapped the rings just like in the post, super simple and the Tweedles could manage with a little help from Prima.

Then jazzed them up with some yarn. 

Tertia immediately went ninja with hers.

The cats are very interested.

And it was so very awesome to see the Fun.

We are ready at any time for joyful dancing.  It's an excellent transition tool for them and a great way to blow off some energy on these long, rainy days.

Happy Prima.

We managed all of this for free with supplies on hand.  The price was right and it was totally worth the small effort to get the giant payoff.  I love you, girls.

Seen here!

And here... Neat.

What the Eff, People? Where Ya' Been?

Two weeks since the last post?  Really?

Yeah.  We've been Going Through Some Stuff with the fam and all seems to be working out.  There really was no option. 

Prima turned 6 recently so we got to do the Morning Birthday Surprises, Yay!  The Tweedles have their birthday around Thanksgiving, so Prima gets to be first in this too.  Our holiday schedule is nuts:  Prima's birthday, Big Daddy's birthday, Halloween, Tweedle birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, (some time here) Valentine's Day, my birthday.  It seems fast and furious when you have to do the Mom thing too. 

Chewing on your sisters is a major part of Jr's day. 

Plus we do our makeup.  Well, I didn't do this to MYSELF. 

My stylists take excellent care of me.  I'm so Fancy.

Plus the Napping.

And we have some secret truths. 

The love that dare not speak it's name.

Selfish Sewing Part 2 - Winter of Comfort 1

And a new long tunic for me!  Yaaaays!  So from this super-easy Burda pattern I found on sale at Joann's for $2.49 (I went nuts and got a ton), I made myself a lovely long something to wear.

Seriously, super easy.  And I had some beautiful vintage fabric that was screaming for a simple minimalist aesthetic, on account of the paisley.  Since winter is hard on the more voluptuous set (it's always so fucking hot everywhere.  Who said 74 is reasonable?  FUCK.) and everything I love is at least $85, I decided to make myself some winter clothes.

Simple, comfortable, long tunics for leggings and boots in fabric I love and exactly my size and proportions.  Really, what's the issue?  So, as my first project I made this!

Belted with a ribbon for now.

Please ignore my crafting crap in the background.  But SO PRETTY.  I cut the sleeves on the bias for fun.  The hem is a high-low:

And sewed with a tight zigzag to make it wavy.  The shoulders were way too big, so I added a pleat.  Just did it on the fly, but it doesn't suck.

Just folded over an inch and sewed down each side 3 inches.  Then top-stitched the shoulder to make it look intentional. 

I just love the delicate neckline.  And the fabric is amazing.  Thanks, Big Daddy for scoring this little gem for me!!  With a skinny brown belt, pumpkin leggings and boots this outfit will be in heavy rotation this winter.

Seen here!

And here!

Here too.