Fashion Revue 2013

It's crunch time in the land of 4-H!

 

#2 had two "constructed outfits" (that means she made them) this year for 4-H Fashion Revue.

 

The first, an easy-peasy dress out of the pre-smocked fabric from Hancock's.  Love the length.

 

The second, a beautiful plum "square skirt".  This skirt went together in about and hour.  Check out the makeit-loveit blog for complete instructions (she makes EVERYTHING look easy).  This fabric is a knit that we bought at Wal-Mart for $1/yard.  It has a permanent wrinkle to it and you DON'T HAVE TO HEM IT!  #2 only used one square versus - we made one for #5 with 2 squares - both are fun and twirly.  She also decided to make it maxi-length.

She says she'll wear them again.  I can count on one hand how many of my 4-H outfits I wore after the fair...calico cotton wasn't real hip in the 80's.  How bout you?

 

Becky

Tent

The 4-H countdown is on!  #2 made this little number for her child development project.  We found the project at Lowe's Creative Ideas.  Keep in mind that SHE did NOT do ALL of the work BY HERSELF.  She and I (with some help from Dad) put this thing together.  It's fun when I get a chance to work on a project with one kiddo individually.

The covering is a painter's drop cloth.

IMPORTANT:  wash the drop cloth BEFORE cutting it to the correct width.  We thought we had this baby licked.  We washed the fabric.  We placed it back on the frame.  #2 was ready with the staple gun and we realized that instead of being four inches too wide it was now TWO inches too short. This shtuff  (< not a typo) SHRINKS!

Instead of falling in a heap on the grass like a frustrated 3 year old (me not #2) we decided to add the jute webbing to the ends.  Problem solved and it adds a nice contrast.

This sucker is big!  #2 and I both fit inside comfortably.  This is going to be her reading hideaway.  When it comes home from Achievement Days it will be donned with Christmas lights and large fluffy floor pillows. 

We kept the color neutral so it could be passed on to #4...

and it's easier than hemming a large piece of fabric on all 4 sides.

Tess enjoyed the shade from the 100 degree temps.

Here's to creating with your kids. 

 It's amazing what they tell you when you have time like this together.  Sometimes they are waiting for just the right moment to ask you that thing that's been on their mind.  What better place for these conversations than in the garage/workshop/craftroom/...

Becky

Camp Stool

It's July....crunch time for 4-H projects

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This Friday is Fashion Revue.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with 4-H, this is an event in which the 4-Her makes a clothing item and then models the item with coordinating accessories in front of a judge.  Back in my day this provided "Toddler and Tiara" type of competition amongst as Johnson County 4-Hers.  Not kidding.  Things aren't as ugly around here.

While I'm having flashbacks and hotflashes about midnight sewing sessions to finish the clothing projects, I thought I'd procrastinate a bit more and show you the project that #1 completed last week.

We found this cute little raggedy camp stool at Habitat for a dollar.

#1 sanded the legs to get the grime off and then rubbed on a coat or two of clear wax.

Then he made a new seat out of vintage cowboy canvas using the old seat as a pattern.

Notice the tape on the machine?  This is a life saver when teaching kids how to sew.  Place the tape where the seem allowance needs to be and the child has all kinds of room to keep the edge even with the tape and the seem allowance will be consistent (best case scenario).

He covered the nails with decorative vintage looking nailheads. 

Took him about three hours from start to finish to complete. 

That's excluding the we-(Mom and #1) need-a-break-from-eachother moments.  Everyone has these when working with their kids, right? 

Step away...just step away.

It can hold up to 50 pounds...

(probably more - but we won't test that until after Achievement Days.)

Now I'm ready to head back to the sewing room with #2.

Becky

The First Born Cooks

#1 competed in the State Fair 4-H Special Foods Contest.  This is where said 4-Her has to prepare a dish in front of a judge.  Prepare a place setting in front of a judge, and answer nutrition infornmation questions in front of a judge. 

It's all very picky and very tedious.  He did a great job and received a purple ribbon.

The kid loves to cook... his mother, not so much.

To help him get rid of the nerves, I took it upon myself to irritate him.

He's in 4th grade now and a bit too "grown-up" for picture taking and silly antics.  So, I told him that if he didn't smile for the camera, I was going to sing at the top of my lungs in front of him and about 200 of his peers...

He's trying not to smile.

Setting the table.

I let him take my picture!

Bored sisters. 

 #2 {on the left}is like,

"Go ahead let her sing.  Maybe they'll kick us out and we can go to the midway."

Here's what he prepared:

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Super BLT Club Pockets

1/2 cup crispy bacon crumbles

2 cups shredded lettuce

1/4 cup chopped red onion

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

8 oz. turkey breast, coarsely chopped

1 Roma tomato, thin sliced

1/3 cup light ranch salad dressing

6 pita pockets (use the "super soft" kind - easier for kids to eat)

Leaf lettuce for garnish, if desired

Toss together all ingredients except the pita bread.  Spoon 1/6 of the mixture into each pocket.  Add leaf lettuce and serve promptly.

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Dinner is served!

Becky

State Fair Cookies

After chores and homework this evening,  #1 made his sugar cookies for the state fair coming up this weekend.  These are the best darn sugar cookies you will ever have in your entire life.  My Aunt Joyce included this recipe in one of the family cook books.

It's a very simple recipe and makes A LOT OF COOKIES. 

After the 4-Her found three matching 2 inch cookies in the two dozen that HE baked, Mom finished baking the rest.  Needless to say, they got noticeably bigger when I took on baking duties... can you relate?  This is why some incredibly intelligent woman came up with putting all the batter/dough into a 9x13 and calling them "bars"- not enough time to wash babies, feed babies, clean the toilets, school the children, AND make 124 - 2 inch cookies!

I digress...

 A fancy shmancy 4-H baking tip:

Use your "small scoop" from Pampered Chef to measure just the right amount of dough to make the necessary 2 inch cookie.  {My "scoops" were closer to baseball size when #1 wasn't looking.}

One fact remains - no one should take baking advice from me!  The one and only year that I baked in my 10 years of 4-H, I received a white ribbon on my corn muffins.  In case you aren't familiar with

4-H, that's the worst place an exhibitor can receive.  It's right there above "Participant"!

On with the show...

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Quilters Sugar Cookies 

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1/4  tsp. salt

2 tsp. vanilla

5 cups flour

2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. cream of tartar 

Preheat oven to 350. 

Cream together butter, sugar, oil, salt, eggs, and vanilla.  Mix well. In a separate bowl mix together flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar.  Gradually add flour mixture to first mixture.  Mix well. Form dough into 1 inch balls.  Roll balls in a pie pan of sugar.  Place on ungreased cookie sheet.  Flatten slightly with the bottom of a glass drinking glass.  Bake 10 minutes or until set.  Store in an air tight container. 

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Strikingly delicious-looking, aren't they!

The "special" ones are in this bowl.

Do you think this will stop them?

The answer is NO! 

They're hidden now.

Go bake with your kids.

Blessings- B

Christmas Gift #1

Here you go...

I'm keepin it real with this pic.  This is what I should be doing. 

Laundry for 7 is my own personal monster. 

I consider sorting socks PURGATORY!

Kids 1, 2, &3 are in school.  #4 is in a tractor with Dad spreading fertilizer and #5 is taking a morning nap.

I'm left with this for company...

She looks sad because she's being held against her own will for chasing cats. 

Punishable offense around here.

Anyway, I'd like to share the best 4-H project ever.  It's the best because we can actually USE it.  Hands up former, future, and current 4-H families who still have posters, matchy matchy drawstring skirts, and crosstitch projects floating around in their nether regions.  You know what I'm talkin' about!

We found this on a blog (of course) somewhere.

We called it a "Child's Art Caddy" for achievement day purposes.

It's taken up permanent residence on the dining room table (a.k.a. Homework Central).

This was we have all the school supplies in one place.  We went through the boxes upon boxes of crayons and markers and sorted down to what you see.  I have NO time for dry markers or non-sharp crayons. 

There's nothing better in life than SHARP CRAYONS!

Here's what you do...

Rummage through Goodwills until you find a lazy susan.  Then go to Target and buy some of these fabulous $1 buckets.  Spray paint the lazy susan to match the theme.  If you have buckets with handles... cut 'em off. Then hot glue buttons where the handles were to add a little somethin - somethin.

Use a metal drill bit to drill through the bottom of the buckets.  Then screw the buckets onto the lazy susan.

Holy "buckets" these things rock!  A perfect and economical gift for families, crafty ladies, teachers, etc.

I wish you well in the search for lazy susans.

Blessings - B

Showtime!

Summer vacation?  Ugh... the activities!  There's really no need in explaining why I haven't blogged in darn near 2 months, is there?

#2 and #3 have been playing T-ball.  Their last "tournament" was today.  How can you call 2 games in which no one keeps score a tournament?  I'll spare you my thoughts on that subject. 

Check out my chicks...

Between games, #5 and I watched #1 show Billy the Calf for the first time ever.  {In case you're wondering where #4 is - we didn't know but we did find him around 5 o'clock this evening}  We took him to an open show for a little practice for both the "shower" and the "showee" before Achievement Days. 

Billy weighed in a little over 1400#.  In the world of 4-H Market Steers... he's just a bit big! 

So #1 weighs about 65# and we send him into a strange environment to control a 1400# beast ALL. BY. HIMSELF.  While thousands of people watch! {Alright, maybe just 30} Parenting skills at their finest, I'd say. 

I said, "M, aren't you going in the ring with him?"  M said, "No, Nelly, I am not."  Discussion closed and Mom starts to get a little queezy.  That's okay - I'll just document the whole thing in case photos are needed in our courtroom defense.

The first time around the ring Billy was a smidge excited and took our first born for a quick jog.  But that's our county extension agent talking #1 through things and he recovered nicely.

Look how he set him up!  Would ya look at that?!

Dad thinks Billy looks good here..

Good showmanship here also.  Look at that kid watch the judge!  Do ya see it?

And finally, the cutest Wrangler butt I've ever seen.

I love being a mom to these kids.  That's probably why I was full of pride and tears when they left the ring.  I never realized parenting involved so much crying!

Summer Blessings - B