thrify & nifty threads: upcycled fashion #8

 Well this latest edition of taking something thrifty, and making it more nifty, has me seeing spots... er, polka dots!

 I had this frumpy old dress rolled into my fabric stash for years... and the other day I went to grab it for a sewing project - and realised it was still a dress!

Light cotton. Ric-rack trim. Zipper up the front.

Modifications:

Taken in at the sides.

Angle cut around the bottom of skirt... with doily edging from an old table runner.

Crochet Peter-Pan collar added on.

 See... angle cut bottom!  Love those wee pockets.

Annnd, Azriel and I getting all silly... since that's how we roll.

Past thrifty.nifty projects found here.

Hope you have a fun-filled weekend friends!

Mel ;o)

polka dots + puddles...

 When life hands you rain clouds...

...take off your shoes and puddle-jump!

Singin' in the rain mama,

Mel ;o)

P.S - For more polka.dot action... stay tuned for tomorrow's upcycled dress project.

D.I.Y: upcycled pet bags into baby bibs.

 Let me tell you, when you spend the highest dollar on fancy feline food... you want to maximise it's usefulness!  Since training the cats to wash the dishes has failed.  I've opted to use their food bags to keep the kids clean!

Yes, its 'upcycle your pet food bags into baby bibs' day.

Hurrah!

 You may recall this project from last year (with cute baby shots of Azriel).

While sewing up some new ones recently I added a few changes.

Here's the run-down:

Cut the food bag (that thick plastic kind/or use vinyl/tablecloths etc) in a long rectangle (10-12").

Cut a bib shape from fleece or cotton (can be traced over an old bib).

 Now fold up the bottom of the plastic to create a 'spill pocket' for the bib.

I tucked the fleece edge up into the bottom of the pocket fold and then sewed around the entire edge of the bib.

(This is much quicker and simpler than my previous method of cutting a separate pocket piece).

 To attach the bib I used velcro in the past... but it eventually gets worn out.

This time I just added a button and sewed a quick loop with ribbon.

You could also use snaps if you're fancy like that.

Speaking of fancy, here's my two favourite models!

Azriel - my wild child, daughter of a cougar... and handsome happy Hudson.

Since Hudson is starting the real 'man' food soon, it's great to have an easy-to-wipe bib in place for all his slop fest sessions.

(Even tonight I was prepping the sweet potato... baking.blending.freezing in ice cube trays for his big advancement to real food soon!).

Anywho, that's how we keep the kiddos slightly cleaner around here.

Meow!
Mel ;o)

 

confessions [of a Mel] post.people.pleaser.

 Have you ever known someone who seemed more nice than real?

Always sweet. eager to help. you say "jump" they say "how high?" kind of folks. 

I think they've been called: people-pleasers.

..................................................................................

...yah, that was me for many years.

I used to think as long as I kept everyone happy, and never offended anyone... then all was well.

But it wasn't.

Because there's a whole lot of wrong reasons for trying to be 'nice'.

You're afraid to offend, because that could lead to rejection.

Or you don't want to disappoint.reject.hurt any one.

Or you just want to 'keep the peace' since conflict is uncomfortable.

........................................................................................

These are the personalities you often find in 'social work' settings.

They are the 'rescuer' that wants to help everyone.

The bleeding heart that want to jump to the aid of every need. 

They give. give. give...

...and eventually, they may just burn out.

...............................................................................................

It feels like you either have to clone yourself to face all the demands, or just turn tail and run!

...after over eight years of social work (with teens) I have seen my share of this effect,

both in my life and others.

There are so many heart-breaking stories out there.

The more you intertwine yourself the more you can feel unravelled.

It was in these hardships that I had learnt a few valuable lessons.

To quote a past co-worker: 

"One person's emergency, is not your urgency".

This is a valuable reminder.

 Not every need in the world has to be rushed to and rescued by me.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating jerk-ism!  But I do see the importance of knowing what my priorities are and allowing that to dictate the choices I make.

What this looks like in reality...

...taking time to smell the flowers instead of running frantically to the next crisis.

Recognising that an uninterrupted conversation with my family is more important than running through the wall to answer a ringing phone.

Saying "no" to people when I know I can't give what they need... and not feeling guilty.

 Seeking to be more real, than just playing nice.

I figure that's the best way to be a pleasing person, instead of a people-pleaser.

What do you think?  Agree, disagree?  I welcome your 'realness' here too.

Mel ;o)

colour me: [like two peas in a pod]

 Well colour me all-a-blush, because here I go again...

...these two peas in our 'pod' still brighten my world!

I know, I know... it's yet another post with pictures of my babies, but can you blame me?

 Despite the fact that they're over 2 years apart... they are already smitten with each other.

They share the same sense of humour.

They co-conspire to keep mama up day and night.

But still they daily delight me.

They share the deepest part of my heart.

Not to mention the same diaper size(!!).

...

Annnnnd, they have pretty adorable tea-parties together:

 (I feel it's my motherly duty to state that this is Azriel's hyper 'baby' voice... she actually does know how to speak clearly!).

I'm currently creating one of those online-photo-books of these two.. (more to come on that later) and just seeing all the sweet shots of them together overflows my cup with blessing.

Granted, every shot tends to have Azriel tucked behind her thumb... but that's cute too.

Case in point.

Nite nite dear hearts.

Mel ;o)

 

country charm.

 

take me to the country.

tussle the winds through my hair.

paint the sun on my skin.

 fill my lungs with the blue sky.

 

family. food. friends.

summer at it's best.

hope yours is lovely too!

Mel ;o)

chocolate peanut butter pillow cookies [vegan]:

 Omigoodness you guys ~ some things are so good you just have to share them!

If you have a crush for that chocolate/peanut butter match-made-in-heaven taste... then this is the recipe for you!

I have my blogger bud - now friend in real life - Kiki to thank for showing me this recipe (and baking it with me recently!).  When I had told her that my lil' Hudson was hating me for having any dairy in my diet, she recommended this 'baby-friendly' and delicious treat for my chocolate cravings.

"Vegan" had me sceptical.

Back in the day when I was given vegan 'treats' they tasted more like cardboard and dirt blended up.  Not to mention that soy milk was the flavour of someone dipping a dusty old chalkboard brush into a cup of water.

Who knew that this recipe - and almond milk - would taste sooo good!

It should also be noted that vegan baking has come a long way I think.... in past blogger meet-up parties I do recall Chantilly making some tantalising treats for elycia.

So good job vegan bakers of the world.

You've won me over!

Whether or not you're vegan... if you love this combo, you'll drool for this ooey-gooey, peanut butter chewy recipe from the Post-Punk Kitchen blog.

Best served warm from the oven, with a big glass of almond milk!

nom nom nom.

Have a sweet weekend friends,

Mel ;o)