CD case mini green house

I started sprouting some seeds in tp tubes. I wrote on each tube what kind of seed I planted. Everything was going OK until the real cold set in, that happens quickly in Tahoe. So I remembered that I had put some old CD cases aside after seeing a picture of something like this. I figured it will be the perfect thing to trap in some of the warmth that comes in through the window during the day. Once the plants are big enough they will get transplanted into a 55 gallon tank I converted into an indoor garden. Once they plants are big enough in there they make their journey to our neighbors house who just happens to have a big sun room that will be perfect to start our plants early enough, we hope for a great summer harvest.

UPDATE": The pea plants have gotten so tall they are now in the bigger 55 gal tank garden. Soon they will be in a planter in a friends greenhouse. The corn, lettuce, spinach and parsley are almost to tall, so I might be transplanting my little plants sooner then later. I am ready with recycled planters.

Pixie costume

Since I was not going out for Halloween this year, I helped a friend make an awesome Pixie costume, The skirt and arm warmers she made with recycled sweaters. The ears are I crocheted onto a crocheted headband. The ears have a light weight wire in them, so she can adjust around her pigtails, once she has them in :-) I made the wings with 2 wire hangers, I love them for projects, and crocheted the center sections. We completely winged this project and it worked AMAZINGLY well.

Phantasm tall man and Reggie in crochet

My husband found a pic of someone who kitted the Tall man from the movie Phantasm. Of course I LOVE a challenge so I grabbed some left over yarn scraps and away I went. The main body is made with scrap different type of yarn, the eyes are pieces are pieces of suede. I realized after seeing pictures that the tall man had a tie tack of the "ball", so I grabbed a bead and gave him a tie tack. The ball in his hand is a large metal bead that I glued foil all over it to make it nice and shiny. He is stuffed with left over stuffing we had left over from another project, of course :-) I am quite pleased with the turn out, what do you think?
After I made the tall man my husband asked if I could do Reggie, the ice cream man that is trying to destroy the tall man. So here is Reggie bow tie and all :-)

Sweater skirt - katwise inspired

My friend, Amanda and I came across katwise on Etsy and  had to buy the pattern. I have a sweater coat in the process but we both really liked the look of the skirts. My first one was to short, and my second one was to big, that is the bottom blue one. Amandas first one came out PERFECT!!!!!!!! They are both made with 100% recycled sweaters and are perfect with those winter tights and boots.

Genie pants

Meet our friend Travis, who was visiting us and was told from our friend in Ecuador, Keisha, that I could make genie pants. Yes I can, I come to find out. They fit perfectly and look SOOOOOOOOOO cool. I did a little internet research and figured out which ones would work best then cam up with my own. The second picture I made him lift his shirt so I could get a good picture of the top band, which was shirred. I also shirred the ankles so he can adjust them up or down as needed or desired. The pocket is sewn on so it wont flop around on him. I think they are awesome, please let me know if you do too :-)

Man's utility Kilt

My husband and I decided to go to a Celtic festival with the kids and of course that meant Kilt time :-) He wanted function as well as a kilt, so I grabbed about 6 pairs of old warn out men's cargo work pants and started in with my scissors. His kilt came out better then I thought it ever would :-). His cloak I made from some fabric I had purchased from a thrift store a while back that matched the the kilt perfectly. Add his work boots, belt, pouch and shirt and here is my hot husband. Only a real man can walk around in a kilt and cloak and then ask me to make him more kilts :-)

Indoor 55 Gallon garden

Ok so I am on idea 101 for our 55 gallon indoor garden. After A LOT of research and trial and more error then anything else, here it is. The dirt of the plants never come in direct contact with the water, so no muddy mess and the plants are watered from the bottom up with a wicking system so no little flies. I am also working on 2 fountains for either end and a betta fish to feed the system with. Oh so now we have 2 55 gal tanks side by side. One with the garden and the other with the turtle and friends :-)

Kilt from Flannel sheet

Here is Tom's new kilt :-) It is make from an old flannel flat sheet. The top belt piece is from some cross stitch fabric and the front turtle is a table place mat with a piece of our living room curtains that was cut off to shorten them.It goes on like a wrap skirt and there is velcro to keep the top closed and a little pin on the lower left to keep the flap closed :-) Thank you Kris Gallardo for being my model :-) LOL I even impressed myself with this one :-)

EASY Custom hooded cloak

After a weekend of LARPing, Live Action Role Playing,with my youngest step-son,  my husband decided he wanted his own cloak. I had made him one from a sheet for our 1st time, and only one so far, but it was very rough and I gave it away to one of the teenagers at the end. Since we always seem to have reasons to have things like a cloak I decided to make him a better one. Here it is, his very own cloak. The fabric came from the local Savers thrift store for $2.50 and there is still enough to make a flowy dress for me and maybe even a skirt :-) Doesn't he look proud to be Mr. blah blah blah Evil LOL

Table runner and place mat setting for 6=$4.99

I wanted a table runner and matching place mats for our dining room table. Since our table is a unique size, nothing store bought would fit. So after searching for the perfect set I came across this fabric piece in a Savers thrift store for $4.99 and it was at least 1-1/2 yards. After some math I cut my pieces out and zigzaged the edges twice. I changed the sewing machine stitch size each time, because I liked the look. There were actually 2 panels at the thrift store and I bought them both. I am not sure yet what I will do with the second panel and what is left of the 1st one, but I will update when done. It even matches our dishes beautifully.

Pine Needle Baskets

At one time in my life I decided to make some pine needle baskets. It ended up turning into a little side company called A Time to Remember. While I had so much fun making them, I have not made one in years. My friend Keisha asked me one day why I don't make them anymore and all I could say was "I just stopped". The one that have solid bottoms, I used mostly pine, has a wood burned design in the bottom, used oil pencils for coloring then I sealed them. The clocks are the easiest item to make and was also the best seller. All the pine needles were hand picked by me someplace in the Lake Tahoe basin. I still live in Tahoe and have recently become disabled, LOL disabled at 44 now that sucks, so maybe I will take it up again someday :-)

T-shirts to men's shorts

My hunny needed some hanging around the house shorts that were both comfy and cool. So I grabbed some old t-shirts and here you go :-) I plan on making him many more. 100% recycled cotton, how could you go wrong LOL He now has 2 pair and he LOVES them :-)

Paralyzed wiener dog toy nightmare

OK so just because our wiener dog is paralyzed he still LOVES to play. I bounced his favorite toy, a blue meanie, into a 12" tall metal bucket that happened to be sitting on the floor. I figured it would just be a 20 point shot until I realized it became Slinky's worst nightmare. LOL his legs were so short to let him get his toy out of the bucket. I had to grab the camera on this one LOL Slinky will be paralyzed 2 years ago this September and shows no signs of stopping. We love the entertainment he brings eveyday. LOL how can you not laugh at this LOL

Pink & Grey jersey knot circle skirt

Where the original design came from This is suck a comfy skirt. I was worried that my larger size (16-18) might not look good in jersey knit. This skirt proved me wrong and it is SOOOOOOOO easy to make. I actually made my own circle skirt pattern made from old accounting paper. Since the waist is the same on all the skirts I make, I have marks on my pattern for length. I have marked above, at and below the knee, middle calf and maxi length. I have tried my pattern on all kinds of fabrics, as you can see in my blog, but never jersey knot. I also purchased the fabric at a local thrift store, I think it was part of a sheet set.

2 Squares - circle skirt

I am in love with this skirt. Not only did it only cost about $1 to make, I only used 1/2 the fabric I bought at the thrift store. Since the top band is made from an old t-shirt it is SOOOOOOOO soft. This fabric flows so nicely in a little breeze.

Paralyzed Wiener Dog Drag Bag - Stylish

Here is Slinky in his Majestic Wiener ship Drag bag. Our friend gave us this t-shirt and I had to design a new 100% cotton drag bag for Slinky. Those hot summer days can really get to a dog :-)

 Besides showing one happy dog, this picture shows the underside of his drag bag that has a piece of leather sewn onto it. Since he has determined he would rather drag himself then use his little doggie wheelchair, I had to make sure his butt did not get scrapped up while he was playing outside, which is ALL day long. The leather also helps him slid on our wood floors. The black straps go around his neck and are pulled up through slits on the top of the back that I re-enforced with button holes.

Here is the t-shirt with just the sleeves cut off. I forgot to take a picture until this point :-)

The scrap piece of leather I used for the bottom. Instead of spending a lot of money on leather I cut up old unloved people clothing that I find at thrift stores or garage sales :-)

Men's button up shirt to women's summer top

I forgot I had made this shirt last year. It was my first attempt at shirring a top. I messed up where the front area is so I crocheted a little black flower and sewed it on with a shiny silver button. I then realized it did not stay up as well as I was hoping, so I crocheted some straps on, the back comes together like a racer back style. The front part has buttons for the straps to attached to. I love raiding my husbands closet and find all the thrift store finds he does not wear anymore :-)

Old dress to maxi skirt with yoga style waist band

Our friend, Amanda, came over with a dress that was falling apart and she had in her closet for a long time. She left it with me for a few days. I cut off the top, added a t-shirt sleeve top band and a few buttons, just because I love buttons :-). There was a small hole that I fixed with a piece from the area I cut off. Then I know how she loves pockets and the arm pit area had a great V shape so I used that area for the packet. I know, awwwwww an arm pit, but hey it is just a pocket. LOL She looks so cute in it :-)

A little Love Pallet wall

We wanted some insulation between our living room and one of the kids room. After getting a BUNCH of free pallets, my husband cut them apart. After we painted and stained some for effect. We then used construction adhesive and a nail gun to put the pallet pieces up. Then hung some photos of us, we call it the "US" wall :-) Then my husband decide it needed a little love, so he gave it some :-)

Men's shirt to amazing woman's top

This started out as a thrift store find about 2 years ago. After some cutting and sewing a bit here and there I now have an amazing summer top. The top band is shirring. The straps are some old lace I had laying around. I also sewed a liner into the top band,  that was cut from an old soft sheet.  No matter what you do nipple chaffing in the summer time sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!