Desperate Dress Makeover

I have a confession...
I love bargains.
I really love online bargains.
I have snapped up many a bargain with online shopping.
Pants for $3 with free postage.
Assorted jewellery for 99c with free postage.
Gorgeous dress for $14, down from $69.

My latest buy was a dress, it was marked down again, and again.
I liked something about it, but hated something about it too.
I was lured in, and finally resisted the urge when it dropped to a staggering $3.
It looked lovely on the online photos...
When I got it, it looked the same.
But I knew it would be an unflattering design.
Nothing to show my waist, so I looked like a giant blue and black blob complete with ruffles.

Yes, I did have a moment of panic.

I did have a moment of doubt.

Could I rescue this??

I looked at it, and got out my scissors...

I chopped all the bottom frilly, puffy stuff off and was left with this.

I chucked it on, found a belt that matched and threw the remaining fabric around my neck as a scafr.

Voila!

It is way too short for my liking, but with tights it will be much more comfortable! 

Though I have considered adding a little something to it, I just haven't decided yet!

Since I was on a role with sewing clothes, I dug out this old pattern from my never-ending pile of work in progresses...

I haven't taken many photos, as it is just finished and in the wash.

But as you can see by this photo, I changed it up a bit.

I love it!

From Here To There, And There To Here!

The last few days have been super busy.
I have put both my kiddies into one bedroom and moved my hubby and I out of the old dining room and into  Eve's old bedroom.
We have a bedroom now!

And in that bedroom, I have set up my desk, with all my bare essential crafting supplies.

See now it has not been used yet, so remains clean!
I love that now I can display some photos up the top...

I even found a new way to hang my ribbons...

Now I just need to get cracking on one of my boxes of work in progress items...

The kids fit nicely in their new room...

And our old bedroom is a playroom/library/computer room in the works...

I have to say, it is pretty exciting to have a bedroom again, to be able to sleep in the same bed as my husband (Eve was always in our bed).
I love re-arranging furniture and changing the way the house looks, and this way it feels so much better. More practical, more comfortable, and it gives the kids a great big space to play in.

Which they took full advantage of today, and did some laps...

Totally loving it.
:)

Manners

"Would you like some of my strawberry mummy?"
"No, thank you darling."
"Are you sure mummy?" She says it with a look. A look that looks way beyond her years.
It is the look of a mother, a mother who knows that her child will change their mind frequently and without warning.
It has a hint of exasperation to it, a hint of IKNOWYOUWILLWANTITANYWAYSOJUSTHAVEITNOWANDSTOPTHESESILLYGAMESPLEASE!
"Ok sweetie, I'll just have a little bite, thank you."
I concede.
I bite.
"Oh, that is delicious! Thank you Eve"
She smiles a satisfied smile at me and responds.
"You are welcome mummy."
And off she trots to push some strawberries on her brother, who is already half way through his first.

The next day...
I am rushing around the house, doing the dishwasher, clearing the table from breakfast and grabbing dirty clothes that the kids have scattered everywhere.
Eve follows me around and finally asks, "Mummy, what are you doing?"
I sigh.
"Just doing some washing sweetie."
She looks up and me and grabs the dirty washing basket out of my hands.
"Don't worry mummy, I'll do it."
"Oh! Thank you very much Eve, that is so nice of you to help me."
"Your welcome mummy." She says, with a big smile on her face.
"Could you please get the dirty clothes from the bathroom too darling?"
"Of course mummy!" She wanders off into the bathroom and I hear her call out to me. "All the clothes mummy? And the nappies?"
"Yes please darling, and the nappies" I call out.
"Oh dear mummy, there is a POOEY one! Oh hahaha Eli is a POOEY bum!" She bursts out into giggles and I quickly call out to her to leave the pooey one please!
I see her pop her head out of the bathroom with a basket full of washing for me to do. She looks up at me, waiting further instructions.
"Want me to take them to the machine mum?"
"Yes please, that would be great!" I beam at her, so proud of my lovely little helper.

These moments, make my heart melt.
I am so proud.

It's A Turtle Turtleneck!

I *finally* finished something for my girl.
Finally!
It takes a while with the little spare time I have just to get it sewn up.
Then to get her to try it on, and take it off (I had to diffuse some tantrums here!) again so I cold make some alterations.
But, I finally did it!

I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!