Tutu Drive 2010

Over at Samster Mommy, they're having a tutu drive. It's for a great cause! For sick kids in the hospital. I'm already making a list of materials that I need. I need to start making some tutus. This is such a great idea. You can join in too. Just whip up a tutu or 2 or 10! Or buy one and send it over. What a great cause! ~Kate the Great

Homemade Weddings

So I've been looking at lots of wedding things. Raul and I still haven't set a date. But we know, we want a smaller, more intimate wedding. Something with our families and good friends. Maybe a nice backyard wedding. Or something at our friend's Ranch.

And I want homemade stuff. My parents are going to be buying my wedding dress. But beyond that, Raul and I are paying for our wedding. With a new house, and me still being in college, our budget is going to be tight. And have you seen the price of certain wedding items? Wow!

I've been searching for homemade ideas. And I've been picking Lola's brain for something fun! She has not disappointed! She sent me these pictures yesterday. I'm not sure where she found them, but I really like this ring pillow!





Being that the cheapest one I've found is $50 (and very ugly!), I'm looking at making one. This ring pillow is something I really love! It's homemade, but still gorgeous! Well, maybe I can ask Lola nicely and she'll crochet the doily for me. :) ~Kate the Great

Pom Pom Bouquet

I've been looking for a fun bouquet idea. I'm not so sure we want to spend thousands of dollars on flowers. And I know I don't want to carry fake flowers. I liked the idea of the "Button Bouquet." But I want something a little softer. Maybe I can incorporate a few button flowers. But I really like this "Pom Pom Bouquet" from Ruffled.



It doesn't look tough to make. And I like the idea of a variety of textures. I really do! I'm thinking I can use zippers and buttons to add a little interest too! What do you think? ~Kate the Great

Garters

My sister and I are both engaged. We actually got engaged on the same day! We've got some pretty amazing guys. :) And we're both in college still. Our parents are buying each of our wedding dresses. My sissy is probably going to get married next Spring. Raul and I are looking at the following Fall or Spring.

Since money is tight all around, we're trying to find ways to have nice weddings, but not break the bank. Oh, and both couples...we've purchased homes in the last 6 months. For the 4 of us, that's more important. Having a place to live and one day, grow our families.

I was searching through Free Crochet, and I found these 2 patterns. For garters. Lola had told me about them. And even offered to make both Josie and I one. Now to pick one...





Josie picked the top one. But in a powder blue. You know, for a "Something Blue." I'm leaning towards the bottom one. In blue too! But with no flowers and some more delicate ribbon. It's amazing when you have friends that want to help you out! Thanks Lola!!! ~Kate the Great

Sewing Machine Problems

My sewing machine doesn't want to work. I don't know what is wrong with it. I am so sad! And slightly mad!

I cut out an apron earlier. The cutest thing ever! I also have some bags that are ready to be sewn. But the tension on my sewing machine is wrong. I have tried for hours to fix it. But I am not that skilled on the situation.

Raul even tried to help me. He is skilled in things like this. Not sewing machines exactly. But he likes to take things apart and see what is wrong with them. It didn't help. The thread isn't all bunching up on the backside anymore. But it still isn't right.

I decided to take it to the SINGER shop here. I hope they can fix it. It is not an expensive sewing machine. But it is the only one I have! If it is going to cost too much to fix, I might just wait and buy one during one of Target's sales. From time to time, they sell pretty good sewing machines for $100-$200. Not too bad. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed though! ~Kate the Great

School and Crafting

School makes me sad and mad sometimes. Like when I want to craft. But I have to study for hours instead! Or when I study and study. And by the time I get to my crafting, my eyes are just too tired to even consider sewing or crocheting! I need to figure out a better schedule. There is just too much business class and not enough feeling of fabric and yarn! I really need a better schedule! Because I am getting grumpy without my crafting. Even Josie noticed it the other day! ~Kate the Great

Mad at Wal-Mart

I am one of those people who grew up on Wal-Mart. There was one not too far from where we lived. I was a Wal-Mart kid. I didn't know of any other store, besides the mall, until I was in middle school. And that was OK with me. My grandma would take me and Josie to Wal-Mart to pick out craft supplies. At least 2 times a week we were in the big blue store.

My other grandma lived in a small town. And when we would go visit her, we would go shopping at TG&Y. Another favorite place. They had piles of fabric that grandma would let us pick from. We could easily spend the entire day picking fabrics and patterns. Then we would go to her house. And she would make us clothes. Then in the early 90s. It closed. Because Wal-Mart had moved into their small town. It wasn't the same. But what could you do?

I noticed in the mid 90s, so many local shops were closing. Wal-Mart just started to take over the city. There was one every couple of miles. And those small stores that had once carried fun craft supplies, they were closing. Like Old America, TG&Y, etc. But we were OK. Wal-Mart was carrying lots of craft supplies. And for a lot cheapier!

Until about 2 years ago. Wal-Mart started to slowly close the craft departments. I thought it was strange when a Wal-Mart opened up down the road from my parents' house. And then months later, it began remodeling. What were they doing? Getting rid of the craft department! I don't know exactly how many Wal-Marts we have in town. But it is somewhere in the double digits. Today, we have 1 that has a craft department. And it is barely staying open! We have 3 small towns that are within 20 miles, all of their craft departments are now closed too!

Does Wal-Mart not realize that many people, go to their store to do 1 stop shopping? Without the craft department, what is the point? There is an Albertson's closer to our house than Wal-Mart. You can get pretty much everything you need there, and for a lot cheapier! Then if I want to buy something to wear or for my house, I just go to Target. It is kind of a drive, but I would rather drive the 20-30 minutes to get a better quality item. And friendlier service! Not to mention, I like the cleanliness of Target.

Another thing, Target has their snack bar. It is nice to go there and get something to munch on while you are shopping. Or to stop into the Starbucks in the store. What does Wal-Mart have? McDonald's. Sorry not one of my top choices. I used to like their little snack bars. Even the Blimpie Shops. But not McDonald's. As to Target, I find myself going there sometimes just to eat a hotdog or to buy some popcorn.

I think Wal-Mart has lost the way. I noticed the other day, the store was not busy. I had to stop in real quick to pick up some potting soil. There were still lines, because Wal-Mart cannot be bothered to open more than 2 registers at a time! But the lines weren't long. I actually got a front parking space too! And it was on a Friday evening. I think Wal-Mart execs don't realize who does the shopping for a family.

Yes, the man probably goes in to buy electronics from time to time. But honestly, a person can only use so many TVs or cellphones. But the woman is the one shopping for groceries. I for one, would go in to buy milk, and would walk out with $50 worth of fabric that I didn't need. But I saw it, and bought it. I just think it is sad for those people who live in small communities. Now they are left with no fabric stores. Maybe we can all petition for Target to open up Fabric and Craft departments. The Super Targets are big enough. And there is a demand for these things. If only people would only listen!

I think it is crazy that Wal-Mart sells sewing machines, but no fabric, thread, or patterns. Why are people going to buy your machines if you have nothing else? In case the Wal-Mart execs haven't noticed, crafts are on the rise during the recession. I see so many people crocheting, sewing, etc. now! Perhaps I am one of the few that pay attention to the things around me. But a trip to Wal-Mart is no longer worth the hassle and headache without the fabric and notions! ~Kate the Great

Josie and My Unfinished Crafts

My sister Josie had her birthday almost a month ago!!! And her gifts are still not done. I don't know what my problem is lately. But things are not getting finished up around here. Raul went through 3 boxes of my unfinished projects last night. Trying to help me find some fabric that I know I have. I just can't find it. Jos is good about all of this. She knows that she will get her gifts. It's not that I forgot about her, I just. Well, I don't know what happened. But I did make her dinner for her birthday. And I bought her some new makeup that she wanted. If I could just get these little bags and her blanket done. I would be very happy! ~Kate the Great