Dress Redo and Lettuce-edge Ruffle

I just HAD to share my latest project, because I worked really hard on it and learned some great  new skills.  A neighbor girl (exchange student) bought the above dress for prom, off the internet.  The first time I saw it on her, it looked like a big fluffy swimsuit.  Definitely in need of some modesty!

I added straps to the top (she decided she just wanted wide straps, not wider sleeve-type straps), and I added a ruffle to the bottom.  The ruffle on the bottom adds about 6 inches to the length. 

To make the ruffle, I added lining to the lining inside, and then spent HOURS trying to figure out how to make the 'lettuce-edge' ruffle.  Finally, we were content with 4 layers of slightly wavy ruffles, that didn't quite match the original ruffles.  Then I added 4 layers of tulle under the ruffle, to help make the color match.  But then I got some advice on making the ruffle more ripply, and I just couldn't let it sit. 

So I added fishline to 35 feet of 7-inch-wide tulle, gathered it, and sewed it over the top of the original wavy ruffle.  It twisted and rippled beautifully and I was so excited!  I wish I had a better picture of that bottom edge!

To make a lettuce-edge ruffle (there are lots of tutorials if you google it):  lay fishline along the most stretchy edge of the tulle, fold over 1/4-1/8 inch of tulle over the fishline, stretch the tulle as much as you can (this is the key to getting a good ripple), and sew with a small zig zag that goes over the top of the fishline.  I used 50 lb fishline.  Do a test run first.  After the fishline is sewn, gather the tulle.  I gathered about 5 feet of tulle into 1 foot.  Gathering with a regular gathering stitch did not work well with this tulle.  I considered using a gathering foot on my machine for automatic gathering, but the amount of gather was not adjustable.  So, I laid a piece of embroidery thread the length of the tulle and sewed a wide zig zag over the top of it (being careful not to catch the embroidery thread).  I could easily gather the tulle by pulling on the embroidery thread.

Notes from Stake Women's Conference-Guardians of the Hearth

It was the stake women's conference on Saturday and it was amazing.  I just thought I'd share some of the things I learned (this is strictly off my notes and I only wrote down a few things, so please don't hold me totally accountable for exactly what was said or meant!)

Sister Denise Hillyard on Nurturing Your Marriage Requires Organization, Patience, Love, & Work

There was a quote from a book I have never heard of: Beginning of Better Days, Divine Instruction to Women from Joseph Smith. I am going to look up that book.

Sister Hillyard talked about filling a jar with rice and then trying to fit some golfball sized balls in it.  Next she put the balls in first and then put the rice in.  She said that when we do essential things first, the rest falls into place.  The essential things she talked about are: prayer (family and personal), fhe, scripture study (family and personal), cooking meals with some nutrition, exercising, temple attendance, church attendance, date night, and having a clean & orderly home. (Clean enough to be ..... (clean?), dirty enough to be home.)  I was excited to be reminded that planning and preparing meals was an essential thing, since it takes so much time, and those kids just keep wanting to eat.  I need to place higher priority on date night.  My husband and I were able to have a date that very evening and we discussed everything I learned at women's conference-this is one of the blessings of having a date night.

She said to never leave the house without morning prayer as a family.
She said we need to be a reassurance and a solace for our husbands. 
We need to never speak ill of our husbands to anyone. 
We need to remember we are spiritual beings living a physical life, not the other way around.

How do we be organized enough to fit everything in?  She quoted D&C 88:124 "Cease  to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful  [dang]; reture to thy bed early, that ye  may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and  your minds may be invigorated." [double dang]

Sister Shar Weight on Speaking Wisdom Before Your Little Ones-Teaching Old Fashioned Values to Children

The old fashioned values we came up with were these: manners, respect, responbility, honesty, kindness,obedience, virtue, work ethic.  Too many have a false sense of entitlement. "I am, therefore, give it to me."  The discussion focused on having a family economy to help children realize how to value money and work. Different ideas for a family economy were discussed.  My husband and I were able to later evaluate whether the money earning/chore requirements/getting a job requirements, etc. in our family were working, based on if our children have a false sense of entitlement.

Sister Becca Cowan and Sister Deanna Jardine on Preparing Yourself and Others for Missionary Work

Becca gave a wonderful testimony on her journey to going on a mission.  Sister Jardine talked about some of the following:

The goal in life is not to serve a mission, it is eternal life.  Preparation for a mission is the same as preparation for going to the temple.

"Have faith to be obedient to the point of sacrifice once and  then you will be able to do it again. " Henry B. Eyring

A mission is a wonderful experience in which a young person turns the corner from me!me!, to giving him or herself up to the Lord's will.  They see the hand of the Lord in their lives.  He strengthens their weaknesses.

Referring to the age change for young men to have the option to go on a mission at age 18, and to young women of mission age, she said we should not judge their decisions.  She said that the Lord will call them to go on a mission when it is time (if that is the path for young women).  The Lord will call them through the Holy Ghost.  And they will answer. We need to help them to recognize the Spirit. This is done through family prayer and scripture study.

Sister Jardine talked about how her grandparents and great grandparents went on missions, and taught by their example that 'this family is a mission serving family.' 

President Welch

Said, referring to our country, we should not be naysayers, especially in front of our children.  We still live in a blessed and great land.  This land is still a land of promise, and those who are righteous will still prosper in the land.

We need to consider how to better place the Savior as the foundation of our homes.

If you feel inadequate, you need to remember whose errand you are on.

Notes to myself from the conference
As the mother of the home, I need to invite the Spirit to dwell there.
Pray for family members by name (in family prayer).
Be better at family prayer in the morning.
Focus myself more on what things need to be done for the kids (or what they need to be working on).
Grownups should be the example of old-fashioned virtues.
Kid number __ might need to vacuum more. (-:
Work on doing scripture study (personal) in the morning.
Ask myself  "How will what I do or not do affect my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren?"
Take more time to help kids recognize the Spirit.
See above, "If you feel  indadequate, you need to remember whose errand you are on."

Valentine's Day and other stuff



Caleb's desk in Portugal.  As a mom, I loved studying each item!




Baptism of Ana Laura in Coimbra Portugal.
My Christmas phone call from Elder Lee comforted me quite a bit (not that I was languishing  or anything, but I really miss him!) Now, when tears threaten, I realize that it is as much because I miss him as it is because he is doing great things!

Found a music shop.  Played trombone for 10 minutes.
Had swollen lips the rest of the day. 
I love this picture.  My boy looks so handsome!



Beautiful little four-year-old sleeping, upside down on the couch.

A lamp I inherited from my neighbor.  Lovely? And truthfully, it matches the antique
furniture I have in my guest room!



Valentine's Day!  Not the cake I made, but mine looked similar.  Found a frozen homemade chocolate cake layer from a couple weeks ago in my freezer.  Added some ganache, some raspberries, and some whipped cream stars.  Ganache: 1/2 c. heavy whipping cream, heated over medium heat until hot, add 4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips, remove from heat, stir until thick.  When it is cool enough to not puddle everywhere, pour over the top of the cake.  Refrigerate until firm.  MMMMMM.  I'll be selling one of these at our ward dessert auction in March!



For the hubs!  A box of licorice and BACON roses-idea found
on pinterest. Roll each piece of raw bacon into a bud, and secure with
two toothpicks near the bottom of the bud.  Place tip up on
a baking rack in a cookie sheet and bake at 400 for 30 minutes or so,
until bacon is done and crisp.  Pop the petals off some silk flowers (leaving
a stem in the middle) and place each bacon bud onto the stem.
Voila!  Happy husband!

Seth's Valentine Box! 

Christmas together

Our Christmas Eve dinner: ham, potatoes, rolls, frosted orange
jello, seven layer salad, peas, limeade/raspberry pomegranate drink.

We were so glad Kari and Kevin could spend Christmas Eve
and morning with us.

Our yearly nativity, minus Caleb, plus Kevin!
Oooh, Ellie was the sweetest Mary.  Look how she
has her hands.  We think this is because this is how
Mary on our nativity set is.

Christmas morning in all our beautifulness (before presents)!

For fifty-eight brief minutes, our entire family was together
through Skype with our missionary in Portugal.  We miss him.
He had a great Christmas, got our package in time, and seemed
so happy.  He looked great, spoke amazing Portuguese (as far as
we could tell), and seemed more mature and confident.
I loved hearing his testimony, and I loved joking and
laughing together as a family!

This, that, and the other.



Caleb's first baptism! Simao Pedro received a confirmation of the truthfulness of the
Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and was baptized two days later!
Elder Carpenter baptized him and Elder Caleb confirmed him in church the next day.



Thanksgiving FHE: everyone had to put something on their headband that had
to do with Thanksgiving.  Left to right: happy faces, houses, Indians, gravy, Indian. 
I had pie on mine.  We had 13 different kinds of pie at the feast we went to.



This is what I do because I don't have a mantel.



Well, I do have a mantel, but I made it into a headboard.



Creativity from Pinterest.  Used lanterns from Kari's wedding.



Picture updates

Spencer received his Eagle Scout Award tonight.
He has had his Eagle since February, but we've been kind of busy
and he didn't want a big deal made out of it.  Finally got
it scheduled and done.

Spencer--we're so proud of him!

Seth-one of the Three Amigos

Seth receiving his Arrow of Light in September
He's a new scout now!

Seth's 11th birthday!  We had chocolate molten lava cakes.

What a beauty.

Favorite quote:  "MOOOOM, you never let US get
storebought costumes!"

Maren and her date!  We had so much fun coming
up with this Mary Poppins and Bert getup!