tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13606472276063040322024-02-18T22:41:33.573-08:00The Good, The Bad, and the Well, EverydayThe Good, The Bad, and the Well, Everyday-
Ramblings of a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and entrepreneurMelissa Beckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306839596886743146noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360647227606304032.post-79924887793047480712012-02-05T22:21:00.000-08:002012-02-08T08:15:47.661-08:00Pattern Review: Brooke Dress<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><i><b>The Pattern</b></i></span>: <a href="http://www.littlelizardking.com/shop/shirtstops/brooke-dress-or-shirt/" target="_blank">The Brooke Dress and Top</a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b><i>The Author</i></b></span>: <a href="http://www.littlelizardking.com/" target="_blank">Little Lizard King</a></div>
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<b><i><span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-size: large;">Pattern Difficulty</span></i></b>: 1 out of 5</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAV0AXPgjEVSvgzWK_TMN2ZrL1G35WSq1MpF6kZzcROmXIm3AksPLHtmzc5odfs6qEJwudG8Dq0xJrHGmDQGHg7haiMPBW00FQm_3xSqAYTuhXuYniZy7fgi4ZfULQe-Kypxc2ERi6Gkp/s1600/DSC00074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAV0AXPgjEVSvgzWK_TMN2ZrL1G35WSq1MpF6kZzcROmXIm3AksPLHtmzc5odfs6qEJwudG8Dq0xJrHGmDQGHg7haiMPBW00FQm_3xSqAYTuhXuYniZy7fgi4ZfULQe-Kypxc2ERi6Gkp/s320/DSC00074.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabric and Pattern</td></tr>
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<i><b><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Fabric Choices:</span></b></i> Pink and Purple (cotton woven) (for 2 tops), Valentines prints (cotton woven) for 2 dresses, Tinkerbell and accent (cotton woven) for 1 dress<br />
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<b><i><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Why I chose this pattern:</span></i></b><br />
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I had one of my best friend's little girls had a birthday a couple week ago. Since little girls all love spinning dresses and princesses, what better to make than a spinning skirt with princesses embroidered on it. The only problem I have was I needed a top to match (not many people have princess tops laying around). Thankfully I had the awesome Brooke Dress and top in my pattern stash. Giving me the chance to not only make a wonderful birthday gift for this special little girl, but also to knock out my first sewing challenge for January.</div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b><i>What I disliked about the pattern:</i></b></span> <br />
There wasn't a lot I didn't like about the pattern. However, if I had to pick a couple things;<br />
-I would have liked to see more pictures of the different variations on this pattern, particularly in the sleeves. -Personally I like more pictures with models showing off a finished pattern since it helps to inspire me with different fabric combinations etc.<br />
-I also would have liked to have seen a casing option for the shorter sleeve, although that was easy enough to add on, so not a huge deal. <br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b><i>What I liked about the pattern: </i></b> </span></span><br />
-I found the directions easy to follow and the pictures were very thorough and helpful. <br />
-I was able to make my first top start to finish (including cutting) in 1 hour and 15 mins. This time included reading through the new pattern, cutting, and sewing (with lots of stops for re-reading). After the first top, I was able to go back and make another 3 dresses and 1 top in about 2-3 hours (including cutting).<br />
-I loved the fact that with a yd of fabric I was able to make 2 tops or dresses, depending on the size.<br />
-The sleeve options gave me very different looks and I LOVED that. I was able to make a few short sleeve options for my friends here in FL, and some longer sleeved options for my friends in OR. <br />
-The pattern printed out wonderfully, giving me little opportunity for error. <br />
-Since this is an e pattern, I was also able to save it to my hard drive and will be able to print it out over and over.<br />
- It also have a very large size range, going from doll size (which you could use on a premie or infant) up to size 12.<br />
- I found the sizing pretty true to store bought clothing as well. I guessed my friends kids sizes based on their ages and sizes and the outfits fit wonderfully.<br />
- This pattern was super fun to make and very, very versatile. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iwIyCYQ7jiaCU6hK9Ovuv40mMmtxCy-wFpLJFpH4yZLm1BbO-zq1wHpwJeglydR2swAbRBeZ_yZqtBO5kmhvp4COa1Hzu3pndrTBYzvg6NfInkG2mdu0LYCtEn3zrvWk1v5FMyjAye8V/s1600/DSC00211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iwIyCYQ7jiaCU6hK9Ovuv40mMmtxCy-wFpLJFpH4yZLm1BbO-zq1wHpwJeglydR2swAbRBeZ_yZqtBO5kmhvp4COa1Hzu3pndrTBYzvg6NfInkG2mdu0LYCtEn3zrvWk1v5FMyjAye8V/s200/DSC00211.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dress Short Sleeve Option</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYFOXGzXAPYe4THanoajTzvL1gveYLyrCvNkTkcC4NMFQVqBi0aoGY81E54UWKA3r-1UuwbBMCm-gFxiSLcNYON9zhf8w5Rg2ihqy16vjDgBxhuX-GKAoXoPn7MMET-GpdDHfuDAJyUT3/s200/DSC00203.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="133" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top Short Sleeve Option</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYFOXGzXAPYe4THanoajTzvL1gveYLyrCvNkTkcC4NMFQVqBi0aoGY81E54UWKA3r-1UuwbBMCm-gFxiSLcNYON9zhf8w5Rg2ihqy16vjDgBxhuX-GKAoXoPn7MMET-GpdDHfuDAJyUT3/s1600/DSC00203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><</a><br />
<Brooke Top- Short sleeve option 4T (I bought 1 yd of these 2 fabrics which was enough to make a twirl skirt and this top, plus a couple of bows)<br />
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Brooke Dresses- Short Sleeve Option > <br />
(I bought 1 yd of each fabric and was able to make both dresses, plus have enough left over for either 1 more small dress, or multiple hairbows) <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BgftnbWX1we5xpKVIO7U0ZDvUzNvxlJ3bYnDI7SiNq6m9OFX-oHN0cPftzqvPeQrq-8E5FYbY1JaUcJAc4RsBVXHQhYs0H-d-xE-K4VKTL5e4oi9uhR68k55Ty4e1BI3r7yqLCGxy7hZ/s1600/DSC00222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BgftnbWX1we5xpKVIO7U0ZDvUzNvxlJ3bYnDI7SiNq6m9OFX-oHN0cPftzqvPeQrq-8E5FYbY1JaUcJAc4RsBVXHQhYs0H-d-xE-K4VKTL5e4oi9uhR68k55Ty4e1BI3r7yqLCGxy7hZ/s320/DSC00222.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a very special Tinkerbell dress I made for a little princess that loves fairies. This dress was done with the 3/4 sleeve option </td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Things I changed or improvised on:</span></i></b><br />
Since this pattern was so versatile, there were a couple things I felt I could easily change, without really changing the spirit of the pattern. For 1, I added a sleeve casing on the short sleeved options. The pattern called for the elastic to just be sewn into the sleeve, leaving it exposed to the child's skin, personally I didn't like this, so I just folded over my "hem" 1 more time to make the casing. This did take a little more fabric than I originally anticipated, especially on the smaller dress, since those sleeves are already so tiny. Next time I will be sure to add a little to the length of the sleeves to make the casing a little easier to make. I also sewed this together in a little bit of a different order than called for. For instance, after cutting out the pieces, I sewed the boarder on first, then the sleeves, etc. I also always press where my hem is going to be before I start sewing, it makes it MUCH easier to get the hem to come out mice and neat. I did not use the allotted seam allowance (I used 3/8", out of habit), and I did serge all the seams.<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><i><b>Other changes I plan to make:</b></i></span><br />
Next time I make this top/ dress I think I'm going to try a 3/4 sleeve and add a ruffle to the bottom of the sleeve and the top/ dress. I'd like to see how that looks, I think it would make for some super cute dresses. <br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b><i>Would I make this pattern again?</i></b></span><br />
I definitely plan to make this again. At least 5 or 100 more times. This is perfect for last minute birthday gifts, stash buster days, giveaways, baby showers, or even "pillow case" type dress drives. I think these dress came out beautiful. I only wish I had more pictures of all these pretty little girls wearing their dresses. I'll edit and add them once I grab some pictures :)<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><i><b>Would you recommend this pattern to a beginner?</b></i></span><br />
I definitely think this is a beginner pattern. I plan to teach my 12 year old how to make it, since I feel it's just that simple. This pattern had few pattern pieces, easy to follow directions, and was very simple to put together. I feel anyone that can sew a straight stitch could easily do this. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I was not paid nor did I receive compensation of any kind to write this review. This is a pattern I purchased for myself and decided to to a review on. The opinions within this post are solely those of the author. If you have any questions or if there is something you would like me to add to the next review please jot me a note. </i></span><br />
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</div>Melissa Beckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306839596886743146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360647227606304032.post-26660335924879935722012-02-05T22:20:00.000-08:002012-02-05T22:20:15.529-08:00The Challenge- Stash Attack!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: left;">After having a conversation with a friend we both decided we have too many untouched patterns and WAY too much fabric to go with them. Personally, I could cloth my entire family (or a small village) for probably several years. I have bolts of fabric. I have bins of fabric. I have shelves of fabric. I have closets full of fabric. And because I ran out of room I have a table COVERED in fabric. I have fabric I bought to sell. Fabric I bought to make things. Fabric I bought and forgot. I always have the best of intentions, but it just seems like at the end of the day, time has run out and I still have fabric. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Patterns? Well those aren't as obvious, since I only have 1 bin of those. Now with this nifty new way to purchase patterns and have them emailed, most of them are on my computer, or printed and in a file drawer, binder or sitting in my cutting room just waiting to be sewn. I have a much easier time purchasing patterns, since my husband never sees them, since they don't technically come into the house (at least they aren't delivered by the man in the black and purple shirt), they must therefore not exist. I think if my husband ever found out the number of downloadable patterns I own, well we'll just leave it at it wouldn't be pretty.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">My husband has grown accustomed to my small quirks and ummm obsessions. The fact is I LOVE buying fabric and I LOVE buying patterns. There really is no feeling like the one of the FedEx guy pulling up with boxes of fabric. Opening the box to find an entire stash of bolts, colorful, bright, beautiful. You mind races with thoughts of everything those pretty fabric will become, skirts, dresses, shirts, tops, the list goes on and on. Things you could make, things you want to make and even things you need to make. But the sad truth in my life is, more fabric comes in than ever gets sewn. This has become quite a problem here in the last year or so as we gear up to finish some construction we put on hold while Phil was in school. So now what to do with all this fabric and all these patterns. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The simple answer was start sewing, but really I just can't force myself to sew, I just have too much going on. So as I discussed this with my friend and then with my Facebook group <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/153241531381743/" target="_blank">Me Time Sewing</a> I found I wasn't alone. Knowing it wasn't me just hoarding all the lovely fabric, that I wasn't the only one that didn't want to cut those beautiful prints, that others were as intimidated by the patterns and trying the new techniques they held as I was, was well, encouraging. Then Megan challenged me. In a side comment, just making a joke she said, "We should agree to sew 1 pattern every month until we've been through all our patterns". Ok, hold on Megan, let's start small. Let's try and go a year, then we'll talk a life time :) Thus The Challenge was born. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I put the challenge to my group, challenging all of them, the way Megan challenged me. Sew 1 pattern each month from your stash. For extra credit try and ONLY use the fabrics you ALREADY have. Soon we had a name for our project and people sewing. We already have people (me included ;) that have sewn their February (before Feb even began!) projects. We have people trying things they never thought they would get to try, and lots and lots of people there to help when we get stuck. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>The Challenge:</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><i>Each month for the next 12 months, sew 1 pattern out of your pattern stash. Pick something you have been wanting to do forever or something you picked up last month. But sew something. Use fabric from your stash to complete the project. At the end of the year, you should have at least 12 new projects and at least 12 less patterns you can say, I own it but never got to sew it. So how about it? Would you like to join us? What will you sew today?</i></b></span></div></div>Melissa Beckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306839596886743146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360647227606304032.post-92150797702820957012011-10-03T21:09:00.000-07:002012-02-04T15:16:04.630-08:00Jean Skirt Conversion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
This tutorial is to help you learn how to convert jeans into a skirt! I have done several of these for my daughter, and we also did it as a youth group event. We had a BLAST and the end product was amazing. This can be used to make some very CHEAP very stylish skirts. I bought all these jeans from a thrift store for cheap. I even scored some Calvin Klien, GAP, and NICE Old Navy jeans. <br />
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Step 1: Rip out the inseam on the pair of jean. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSW72NPVymwd63PQI8DhrHWfh8vf3MqsAno6uWh1zO4uHmh4PtgPlSMhLLBeseDU_INvwc61DT9w3hwaBdT96NoW_RmvwFFUNl0X5fKXUXTwZn8E3XrWBtrlFxyblb4dVYv5bENEo9MIXg/s1600/DSC07337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSW72NPVymwd63PQI8DhrHWfh8vf3MqsAno6uWh1zO4uHmh4PtgPlSMhLLBeseDU_INvwc61DT9w3hwaBdT96NoW_RmvwFFUNl0X5fKXUXTwZn8E3XrWBtrlFxyblb4dVYv5bENEo9MIXg/s320/DSC07337.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Step 2: Rip the seam 1/2 way between the zipper and the top of the inseam. (You can also go all the way to the zipper if that will help the jeans lay correctly). Repeat on the back, ripping just past where the back seam stops curving. Usually right about or just above where the bottom of the pockets fall. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7QkyTQnG9Ael0ocIlhX7yibzUz_9gGr-X8CJa_nPOZbG33C5-w92zBQFmHnZw-BdXpHSX9jNs_fJ8U7XQVQzftHkPC_MgPaIvPYlFT26vhmPFV6itaXlj68C3B_n-y6JzVbL1aha1C7T/s1600/DSC07310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7QkyTQnG9Ael0ocIlhX7yibzUz_9gGr-X8CJa_nPOZbG33C5-w92zBQFmHnZw-BdXpHSX9jNs_fJ8U7XQVQzftHkPC_MgPaIvPYlFT26vhmPFV6itaXlj68C3B_n-y6JzVbL1aha1C7T/s320/DSC07310.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Step 3: Cut the legs off to the length you would like the skirt, once the legs are cut off, you can rip the seam holding the pant legs together. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JLVWf0uk_665J4LzfW4smw9I1E4TYr_xA_8sdctHeltQGAT-UiWPVkO7KH76J_lQt_IU9iqJ8qWlvoXdhjABPEbMrGjHzEyY2zWrQRbYDamIcSqnFt3EqsHGcqSZPNsUMsTAUAsirEvP/s1600/DSC07340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JLVWf0uk_665J4LzfW4smw9I1E4TYr_xA_8sdctHeltQGAT-UiWPVkO7KH76J_lQt_IU9iqJ8qWlvoXdhjABPEbMrGjHzEyY2zWrQRbYDamIcSqnFt3EqsHGcqSZPNsUMsTAUAsirEvP/s320/DSC07340.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I use a ruler to cut the legs off straight</i></td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtWM77VH3wpi24hs2UDn332c_8xljumCinNFDxmrhazkagY4iGfdGHqkOxUdbwZtGwPbR90LHn26gijHR6fI-BZC1EWOA2QroBAkAHpyPD2UF9bUE4cGWtAffHkYhFNfSHUNqWDM_7F7x/s1600/DSC07318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtWM77VH3wpi24hs2UDn332c_8xljumCinNFDxmrhazkagY4iGfdGHqkOxUdbwZtGwPbR90LHn26gijHR6fI-BZC1EWOA2QroBAkAHpyPD2UF9bUE4cGWtAffHkYhFNfSHUNqWDM_7F7x/s320/DSC07318.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The pant legs still together...</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU3Df5mTviJEiM16BmgZihafsufs2W9nruKcDXICDGCjnrHBia_o9izRdBdr3HZAEe01HLIqfg3dR4434z_SEsUiBkPV9RnTJgoDlwpwR4UU8qiAvmY7xyLUkcBpilSFu9x1k4yuN1aK51/s1600/DSC07324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU3Df5mTviJEiM16BmgZihafsufs2W9nruKcDXICDGCjnrHBia_o9izRdBdr3HZAEe01HLIqfg3dR4434z_SEsUiBkPV9RnTJgoDlwpwR4UU8qiAvmY7xyLUkcBpilSFu9x1k4yuN1aK51/s320/DSC07324.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Seam ripping the pants legs apart</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjzFJEaB5B68nsHZkjfvII4AHvJZgcDyN4Rwh5P6GOeTLLOhGtmsWs04_ruGkm8BzrMqzqBcf56bEaqL3vvfbp2Xll2Ap2ih6DrFrmD_hyjZaE5FwBfs4X8cHiJM7xHrwK361N59P1Txc/s1600/DSC07325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjzFJEaB5B68nsHZkjfvII4AHvJZgcDyN4Rwh5P6GOeTLLOhGtmsWs04_ruGkm8BzrMqzqBcf56bEaqL3vvfbp2Xll2Ap2ih6DrFrmD_hyjZaE5FwBfs4X8cHiJM7xHrwK361N59P1Txc/s320/DSC07325.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>What they look like once they are seam ripped apart</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">*NOTE* Starting here you can go 1 of 2 ways. You can either fill in the opening with the jean legs or with a different fabric. We will start with the basic jean skirt and then work on the different options we have. Follow the directions and mix and match to get the look you would like from here on out :) Options will be denoted by being written in italics, while the basic pattern will be in regular print. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Step 4: Fill in the jean gap with the jean legs you cut off</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXB2qTrzS7_b4ftrHSFP9qzYkOtmmTLSazDsD7mNSfqH83LAnOQB6cNqahCe_omq5MXTBuivbbr2SwGGemLCAXBknVNEKH-y3CaWYwYZKYkRwMf6iRHK8PEdI3odH7jrGh6pJp6cLtbuI/s1600/DSC07327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXB2qTrzS7_b4ftrHSFP9qzYkOtmmTLSazDsD7mNSfqH83LAnOQB6cNqahCe_omq5MXTBuivbbr2SwGGemLCAXBknVNEKH-y3CaWYwYZKYkRwMf6iRHK8PEdI3odH7jrGh6pJp6cLtbuI/s400/DSC07327.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Placing the jean piece into the opening. You can see at the top where I pinned down the pointy, curved edge where the crotch originally was.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Step 5 (options available): Now you must pin down the inner piece, including the piece from the crotch center to the zipper (or where you seam ripped). (For option 1, different piece of fabric please skip down to option 1 directions)</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNh2WU6aKFZIIURKzKz1IDSIFKmDyO7-C6qIYBehLTIY0kb99WtNEoaifaEPap4DbEU7gYuvaOI_uBCfjoRyZdQJhuADgeuRVC7G0p7-WY5pMvs3i8kkygb4hNcS82_W4DRR7ZW8pcyLU/s1600/Pin+placement+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNh2WU6aKFZIIURKzKz1IDSIFKmDyO7-C6qIYBehLTIY0kb99WtNEoaifaEPap4DbEU7gYuvaOI_uBCfjoRyZdQJhuADgeuRVC7G0p7-WY5pMvs3i8kkygb4hNcS82_W4DRR7ZW8pcyLU/s320/Pin+placement+pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hopefully you can see the arrows pointing to the pins<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-style: normal;"><i>I pinned this one so it flaps over, you can also pin it so the piece that curves to the L goes straight down, giving you less of a jeans converted to skirt look, and more of a jean skirt look. If you prefer to have it go straight down, just fold the piece under and pink it straight down, making a nice triangle peak at the top of the opening. </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-style: normal;"></span></i><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQmBRxy7eqfe8J4AkDS6gYDjU8aZTvnDCH_aD32of873lyIQAXp34H2XysVh4_4iWRYFLVTyWwIbrSnIF0A-wP0Jdu4TuQ5xi9_teCqFjTIPAIdKJ9_XNSbEVPn3I9DMWm01ugfK6EAWN/s1600/DSC07333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQmBRxy7eqfe8J4AkDS6gYDjU8aZTvnDCH_aD32of873lyIQAXp34H2XysVh4_4iWRYFLVTyWwIbrSnIF0A-wP0Jdu4TuQ5xi9_teCqFjTIPAIdKJ9_XNSbEVPn3I9DMWm01ugfK6EAWN/s320/DSC07333.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><i>This is a picture from the back of the front panel pinned in</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Step 6: Repeat in the back opening.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUKPW0lCuYS5T_JPC2HEF9o6jZzcdgiuuD4PNdazmh6i6tvNNzSVmy3J-TNwdrUNSdiFcDNELpoIdJ4hYIHVqBr44-rItIJTQDfCruHVP0VCsmRGAZUQs3m0hJ1QnkwftP_DC0nAUpNa_/s1600/DSC07335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUKPW0lCuYS5T_JPC2HEF9o6jZzcdgiuuD4PNdazmh6i6tvNNzSVmy3J-TNwdrUNSdiFcDNELpoIdJ4hYIHVqBr44-rItIJTQDfCruHVP0VCsmRGAZUQs3m0hJ1QnkwftP_DC0nAUpNa_/s320/DSC07335.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Back piece pinned in<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-style: normal;"></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Option 1: Piece of fabric instead of jean</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>Step 1: Measure fabric piece</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i></i></b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0O2YenLw2aqZh8l3KsZPRa-wWzSgmdbNBv0uMcLn9BPzyU052XKyw7YGsAzoBJ4jvGqjk_5dtAwKdWyj9cFXWM2XSBdZHQ-L71EaMq401Ban57q_KWMh8yZuJ_qJF6EM1rIyyYTF6CcKz/s1600/DSC07341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0O2YenLw2aqZh8l3KsZPRa-wWzSgmdbNBv0uMcLn9BPzyU052XKyw7YGsAzoBJ4jvGqjk_5dtAwKdWyj9cFXWM2XSBdZHQ-L71EaMq401Ban57q_KWMh8yZuJ_qJF6EM1rIyyYTF6CcKz/s200/DSC07341.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Laying the fabric out under the jeans</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvo7rkTyOBfXOyH1FnwJqArRO9NhHOerbTKFmpGFjDV9cQLRSCEqYpVV7_Xoi4eVGaYNGR4Wee_DrMp_mgnyEiCXHOMdRXZfqBNJn8LUuaPzhJEaFalB9yTPR4YaFuyOsy-C7d7X60tKLA/s1600/DSC07342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvo7rkTyOBfXOyH1FnwJqArRO9NhHOerbTKFmpGFjDV9cQLRSCEqYpVV7_Xoi4eVGaYNGR4Wee_DrMp_mgnyEiCXHOMdRXZfqBNJn8LUuaPzhJEaFalB9yTPR4YaFuyOsy-C7d7X60tKLA/s200/DSC07342.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>You can see me actually measuring here</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGSqq_1QprAI5Q02Ijji7k9MSS2caTYbiysKLaT84uvZ8EDI4PuMLXZQBpqijcrpSlr1h8lIf0KX7G5xE2GdSUDgRgQhfOlfLBzEnooaP48UWktInCe3EzPcwjFf78BUPoCbOcTcdqPcZ/s1600/DSC07343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGSqq_1QprAI5Q02Ijji7k9MSS2caTYbiysKLaT84uvZ8EDI4PuMLXZQBpqijcrpSlr1h8lIf0KX7G5xE2GdSUDgRgQhfOlfLBzEnooaP48UWktInCe3EzPcwjFf78BUPoCbOcTcdqPcZ/s320/DSC07343.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfvoXNxDsOQdxg0zSxORjSuVuggLlyZVRzKQVSPnrwM5zpJOEqbvZaCssJts7H3lAusM20TG_BxsOhpfvVOhv2-pSRq0c-C9BHyNXt6SvjZuVuPx8BzogyM7pr2eUIyaCjblzZ1JlloVn/s1600/DSC07344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfvoXNxDsOQdxg0zSxORjSuVuggLlyZVRzKQVSPnrwM5zpJOEqbvZaCssJts7H3lAusM20TG_BxsOhpfvVOhv2-pSRq0c-C9BHyNXt6SvjZuVuPx8BzogyM7pr2eUIyaCjblzZ1JlloVn/s200/DSC07344.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_9irlZAJgDxUg70fl32WXGzzKqkUZ7mEAGeKVQUnbfTj5b60HIFkzW7anfKiouIXXiojMDICxdc1f2DJL9aK2NdU51NYpv0d6fnZIlPHNGqGqPGpzCn_yQZAeRpfrqFwy6-0YkrWkp4_/s1600/DSC07345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_9irlZAJgDxUg70fl32WXGzzKqkUZ7mEAGeKVQUnbfTj5b60HIFkzW7anfKiouIXXiojMDICxdc1f2DJL9aK2NdU51NYpv0d6fnZIlPHNGqGqPGpzCn_yQZAeRpfrqFwy6-0YkrWkp4_/s200/DSC07345.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b> Measuring the opening, after checking it against </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCd81Khub2fKtRJVyW6N0VZOnMq1SX6P9ZwOtYrCMoS5hvQ1LKu5IiDcleMLwGTDIdqLBsRgPINtnCN8DS6L4q2ImKyR1k3LaBESr68Tnr1A78D7Kk0Y4gbWyfus8WjD_EaCtMSdM6wVud/s1600/DSC07348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCd81Khub2fKtRJVyW6N0VZOnMq1SX6P9ZwOtYrCMoS5hvQ1LKu5IiDcleMLwGTDIdqLBsRgPINtnCN8DS6L4q2ImKyR1k3LaBESr68Tnr1A78D7Kk0Y4gbWyfus8WjD_EaCtMSdM6wVud/s320/DSC07348.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I always work from a square piece of fabric, so this is just me<br />
measuring it out</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b>Step 2: Pin the fabric pieces into the center openings</b></i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I pinned this one so it flaps over, you can also pin it so the piece that curves to the L goes straight down, giving you less of a jeans converted to skirt look, and more of a jean skirt look. If you prefer to have it go straight down, just fold the piece under and pink it straight down, making a nice triangle peak at the top of the opening. )</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mqsc8ndqFe8WBKSzGEIIgQmdYkFVjIQrRo_Xiy79BAxJspqP-Z3qKvJiMq3CwgwvlFDuieCnT7GNQGFLbkVYOEv3h0i2mzQHywGNvkd9GAXCNGsWarnBcYgeaxGw5o_6sBW0MeFQRVDw/s1600/DSC07349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mqsc8ndqFe8WBKSzGEIIgQmdYkFVjIQrRo_Xiy79BAxJspqP-Z3qKvJiMq3CwgwvlFDuieCnT7GNQGFLbkVYOEv3h0i2mzQHywGNvkd9GAXCNGsWarnBcYgeaxGw5o_6sBW0MeFQRVDw/s200/DSC07349.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhYEkcNdDzDZLVhleBPpwdbY7aArlMdWQaVJNryPDrNSyHtlLFBcNIaoddYNWzSEsPOlEvjGC4Wp04B4XOypHMdDS-TLfmRE2v2NabERGi_Jf5J9FUi4qLNP5NhESOUgRadUdIGMilGQH/s1600/DSC07351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhYEkcNdDzDZLVhleBPpwdbY7aArlMdWQaVJNryPDrNSyHtlLFBcNIaoddYNWzSEsPOlEvjGC4Wp04B4XOypHMdDS-TLfmRE2v2NabERGi_Jf5J9FUi4qLNP5NhESOUgRadUdIGMilGQH/s200/DSC07351.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhYEkcNdDzDZLVhleBPpwdbY7aArlMdWQaVJNryPDrNSyHtlLFBcNIaoddYNWzSEsPOlEvjGC4Wp04B4XOypHMdDS-TLfmRE2v2NabERGi_Jf5J9FUi4qLNP5NhESOUgRadUdIGMilGQH/s1600/DSC07351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhYEkcNdDzDZLVhleBPpwdbY7aArlMdWQaVJNryPDrNSyHtlLFBcNIaoddYNWzSEsPOlEvjGC4Wp04B4XOypHMdDS-TLfmRE2v2NabERGi_Jf5J9FUi4qLNP5NhESOUgRadUdIGMilGQH/s1600/DSC07351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhYEkcNdDzDZLVhleBPpwdbY7aArlMdWQaVJNryPDrNSyHtlLFBcNIaoddYNWzSEsPOlEvjGC4Wp04B4XOypHMdDS-TLfmRE2v2NabERGi_Jf5J9FUi4qLNP5NhESOUgRadUdIGMilGQH/s1600/DSC07351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Center panels all pinned in place</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Basic Skirt</div><div style="text-align: left;">Step 7: Start sewing </div><div style="text-align: left;">Sew in the front, then repeat for the back</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4PoZrd4wsDCd7QmCAJjO0GaR_ZZJ3W95yGyKMGi0H47fg55-yjk2P0Wdxck3GOr6n93T6M66rIebNb_bs4USCrKkHbfC3aWcx7z1HYTS08GZrqLbrsiwJ2yrvNyX2HVtWdiyw6BqAU6p/s1600/DSC07388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4PoZrd4wsDCd7QmCAJjO0GaR_ZZJ3W95yGyKMGi0H47fg55-yjk2P0Wdxck3GOr6n93T6M66rIebNb_bs4USCrKkHbfC3aWcx7z1HYTS08GZrqLbrsiwJ2yrvNyX2HVtWdiyw6BqAU6p/s320/DSC07388.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I always start from the bottom of 1 of the sides, it helps hold <br />
everything in place. Make sure you have your extra piece nice and flat,<br />
it's easy to get it bunched up before sewing.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBHodb9q5wsruhVPeophaNfhjz2kT6YFV4HKd7gLBxiDroXvGpqqO-FMSZ8vbdDA97KJUapzOVb0isYWljWf5lb6y3hF5TzwvIFG0TKG2dwssntlTdLDawzI_qAqhsDDRUS6A2a3UyETs/s1600/DSC07389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBHodb9q5wsruhVPeophaNfhjz2kT6YFV4HKd7gLBxiDroXvGpqqO-FMSZ8vbdDA97KJUapzOVb0isYWljWf5lb6y3hF5TzwvIFG0TKG2dwssntlTdLDawzI_qAqhsDDRUS6A2a3UyETs/s200/DSC07389.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqamd9sKr1gYOMUon6PQZ_0xNuKNgG5jma7v00kQlisUIFxwbBRL5nPa6Cpo3Qu1d_VgvUUTXkjvnRDM459sMweRtgp1oj3gcRuUdkS3eT8PRTGoRxwT5iciVRnBw7dUisPTNpIUpmP63a/s1600/DSC07390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqamd9sKr1gYOMUon6PQZ_0xNuKNgG5jma7v00kQlisUIFxwbBRL5nPa6Cpo3Qu1d_VgvUUTXkjvnRDM459sMweRtgp1oj3gcRuUdkS3eT8PRTGoRxwT5iciVRnBw7dUisPTNpIUpmP63a/s200/DSC07390.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvtZAPoiF8kAHMXqG0utXrPfW8CgedJujfxFkkv3vmTfQiCKQNas5hrxp7M7dJmoaRL1JSjAaiHI68iHGxQ6R19n_5TkBJj6vrakPLigVHrC5VIOxLZQP2sOW7jYIB_yRIfVjHiVo2pox/s1600/DSC07392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvtZAPoiF8kAHMXqG0utXrPfW8CgedJujfxFkkv3vmTfQiCKQNas5hrxp7M7dJmoaRL1JSjAaiHI68iHGxQ6R19n_5TkBJj6vrakPLigVHrC5VIOxLZQP2sOW7jYIB_yRIfVjHiVo2pox/s200/DSC07392.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sew down from the zipper around the curve and down 1 side of the opening</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWZPgVKsas0zkc9fJ35SZMSk3Kqr3wDJxBSghWG96K_j4l-k44kabtXmwy7mRv_VJt-cfX7XOfiv3rVnnGXzhR5Gum9C8KMFkdRbFG_RzFvDUcxCabNWN1EtiSwz-xlGPm7q5noy1dJ2W/s1600/DSC07393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWZPgVKsas0zkc9fJ35SZMSk3Kqr3wDJxBSghWG96K_j4l-k44kabtXmwy7mRv_VJt-cfX7XOfiv3rVnnGXzhR5Gum9C8KMFkdRbFG_RzFvDUcxCabNWN1EtiSwz-xlGPm7q5noy1dJ2W/s320/DSC07393.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><i> I sew from the zipper, around the curve and then down the R side of the jeans. (The top layer). I follow the double stitch already visible from where the seam was pulled out. </i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JujIKntterRuRcllT6uRYLLDBgnm-tRn8boYtJvLfsLA-I0pNh0dJCW-9rUw_XUeBkeh3KynrE9hZ2opIc1I-sGvB__dBJ5Oi4BBTGRa5JqRfZDIJO0mmmasPt6XH0YbA-av_W9-w6Ze/s400/DSC07391.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEzh4FqZvpLBktwOpQL5bg7xbH-N2HF4VGMpMqejlJF1XLLGy5tkmIP3h9Rrmgi9FXMUiAQZJhHpj5NN56q8V-FZeDYZrbB9KpxYEAvgdY40vQpKnhU5pHcf3QymiLPKXM9IIuKAdEYRF/s1600/DSC07394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEzh4FqZvpLBktwOpQL5bg7xbH-N2HF4VGMpMqejlJF1XLLGy5tkmIP3h9Rrmgi9FXMUiAQZJhHpj5NN56q8V-FZeDYZrbB9KpxYEAvgdY40vQpKnhU5pHcf3QymiLPKXM9IIuKAdEYRF/s400/DSC07394.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEzh4FqZvpLBktwOpQL5bg7xbH-N2HF4VGMpMqejlJF1XLLGy5tkmIP3h9Rrmgi9FXMUiAQZJhHpj5NN56q8V-FZeDYZrbB9KpxYEAvgdY40vQpKnhU5pHcf3QymiLPKXM9IIuKAdEYRF/s1600/DSC07394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b>Finishing Touches: (Options Available)</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Step 8: (Basic) Now all you need to do is hem up the bottom of the skirt. I use a 1/2 hem here, folded under so as to hide all the raw edges. </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZn5rnUBsPqjweOlrtCWgUh3SghwrsKTuqtJe1M6LlZkGq8dMNSgI6iKfA6-tbQ-OFqbJFhNUMgQaowGEHxz1_y2QQERZOG8hBwapGQiAdAPewVVzneFPazXB3VBwjx52qq6MNjnpbhsF/s1600/DSC07411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZn5rnUBsPqjweOlrtCWgUh3SghwrsKTuqtJe1M6LlZkGq8dMNSgI6iKfA6-tbQ-OFqbJFhNUMgQaowGEHxz1_y2QQERZOG8hBwapGQiAdAPewVVzneFPazXB3VBwjx52qq6MNjnpbhsF/s320/DSC07411.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Finished Front</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdar8txOkFDAlpZTnIjsBMIcFfe3mxZehtsrUWApC56LAjeAzZbCcLm3EfpWXp81kDgW6M1_Xh1th3By-MYwAzsLwpfMyfj0vRyazQiTGv2j4KmXeZA7jmKUGLMn_-6xEGIA1YGP6zLkX/s1600/DSC07412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdar8txOkFDAlpZTnIjsBMIcFfe3mxZehtsrUWApC56LAjeAzZbCcLm3EfpWXp81kDgW6M1_Xh1th3By-MYwAzsLwpfMyfj0vRyazQiTGv2j4KmXeZA7jmKUGLMn_-6xEGIA1YGP6zLkX/s320/DSC07412.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Finished Back</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBP3PgfJHvA4IaHvgUjpBWdgzqHTPl_ggXAPZp_j3TQMf5vdJU6TyGr3HJ5vPaHrLpX-3O5vOVhjvPAjxBNIh3_DHvVtgU_KNoy_PCrTkDpRukmaLp27gkRmr0eWva-LIu7itL_tKu870D/s1600/DSC07394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SrTylvLnHE_Gq6xbzefj93sPwKFp-SzfyedJ1bb3vj0zey4DwRJmuAShPX-f2_kcVXOL9VNuv8-V6S10y1IFWVOvF6k9VNE9ldW7-g67nktnBqATb2q3gklJIzbgmIicqC16wcLLUSZ-/s1600/DSC07414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SrTylvLnHE_Gq6xbzefj93sPwKFp-SzfyedJ1bb3vj0zey4DwRJmuAShPX-f2_kcVXOL9VNuv8-V6S10y1IFWVOvF6k9VNE9ldW7-g67nktnBqATb2q3gklJIzbgmIicqC16wcLLUSZ-/s320/DSC07414.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Finished and hanging, </b></span><br />
sorry it was hanging a little crooked</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><b><i><br />
</i></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>Option 1: Bottom Ruffle</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Step 1: Measure the skirt panels</i></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7oepDnvv0pAd5Inxec_R0h-naLlrp1BeJJrjzQyk4k_vDCjyBmFM42eVNqTxn7u5QQqo5OkruSEUcpuBWqyLVFXsfswFYw0ByMprFNbRGq463jSDX1nY8CiP6g78UXm75QZEuUbhjMDL/s1600/DSC07356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7oepDnvv0pAd5Inxec_R0h-naLlrp1BeJJrjzQyk4k_vDCjyBmFM42eVNqTxn7u5QQqo5OkruSEUcpuBWqyLVFXsfswFYw0ByMprFNbRGq463jSDX1nY8CiP6g78UXm75QZEuUbhjMDL/s320/DSC07356.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Measure from 1 side seam to the other</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJwfI2wUuYhTNTVn-I7SZ4ebaIm0ppOQBTjT0HirGwXgXkCrOnehDhmhQ5gESvpUORKyHggUf74Q6nc2IPDsNzk86cXpzvTl2pQ78jQNLeTqVahJ1pThUxZK4W2Ygu9bgw8oTkCE12jHZ/s1600/DSC07357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJwfI2wUuYhTNTVn-I7SZ4ebaIm0ppOQBTjT0HirGwXgXkCrOnehDhmhQ5gESvpUORKyHggUf74Q6nc2IPDsNzk86cXpzvTl2pQ78jQNLeTqVahJ1pThUxZK4W2Ygu9bgw8oTkCE12jHZ/s200/DSC07357.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtuLtn7n2gqPybE1Og5gVl_WjlrCyXzpzhLJT6lUHzszCC6hAvOn70XieYRp5PhdsuQH-9QPfXcG83-SxYll98eRTZF2GNB_LdAeSK9GyrORf6gEe3ia_AlnENCHRrZXno6mro1bN9vq6B/s1600/DSC07358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtuLtn7n2gqPybE1Og5gVl_WjlrCyXzpzhLJT6lUHzszCC6hAvOn70XieYRp5PhdsuQH-9QPfXcG83-SxYll98eRTZF2GNB_LdAeSK9GyrORf6gEe3ia_AlnENCHRrZXno6mro1bN9vq6B/s200/DSC07358.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFVzRR3oNcaOsp1bBRYWPl26Fq_JG9T52ELE1ZNyh2zaaXQFOoMSCJEzNPRU0SkJ1BmgWfqjxqNoG7BpNLMougUTI2ng9ydL1Giu_GQKt2wh72kx61Iyn1kJ8ODPGst0kxfjqHpKF3cp9/s1600/DSC07359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFVzRR3oNcaOsp1bBRYWPl26Fq_JG9T52ELE1ZNyh2zaaXQFOoMSCJEzNPRU0SkJ1BmgWfqjxqNoG7BpNLMougUTI2ng9ydL1Giu_GQKt2wh72kx61Iyn1kJ8ODPGst0kxfjqHpKF3cp9/s200/DSC07359.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <i>Measuring the front panel for the ruffle</i></div><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRb3n2gdR3L4zSM9TUG28t8s0t3AQ8f20Ae_SQs3c0Gduh02Uh5jQehrGOUmY19cv7suvrXEbEGm2iw695dC4eNr7qp7gTxN0k3xsTvyw_j0UW_V7YYOCZ-7nOCcMSzLj__NQrYbvqZ4Ag/s1600/DSC07360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRb3n2gdR3L4zSM9TUG28t8s0t3AQ8f20Ae_SQs3c0Gduh02Uh5jQehrGOUmY19cv7suvrXEbEGm2iw695dC4eNr7qp7gTxN0k3xsTvyw_j0UW_V7YYOCZ-7nOCcMSzLj__NQrYbvqZ4Ag/s400/DSC07360.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Measure from the side seam, around the back of the skirt,<br />
to the other side seam. (You will have to curve your tape<br />
measure to get an accurate measurement) </i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgSqB7y_z2T8uRSGW9raFoPdKXEqXggXc66jvOeR-JW-yeNeWGnr-oxT1qo789iFtjOMmtgMNX0dq3brXYwLW0JB15FmvcmcE0jzwOp233MwU2H6ozYq0Le9eEqFlczlygA2EeKpA8_sD/s1600/DSC07370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgSqB7y_z2T8uRSGW9raFoPdKXEqXggXc66jvOeR-JW-yeNeWGnr-oxT1qo789iFtjOMmtgMNX0dq3brXYwLW0JB15FmvcmcE0jzwOp233MwU2H6ozYq0Le9eEqFlczlygA2EeKpA8_sD/s200/DSC07370.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNu3c9I4WbdI1uNS8Z3NJQsTunBZJ13UsoGx2DzkoK4Meh91Lzhs2_BvKqaaJaqlGLdz66Sg8wg4aeo_7H7SgplEkKK5aUDQBjyRlhFDlgREmUnwMocc5IlmlQRTxoJW0rAvB5sUJyUXK/s1600/DSC07371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNu3c9I4WbdI1uNS8Z3NJQsTunBZJ13UsoGx2DzkoK4Meh91Lzhs2_BvKqaaJaqlGLdz66Sg8wg4aeo_7H7SgplEkKK5aUDQBjyRlhFDlgREmUnwMocc5IlmlQRTxoJW0rAvB5sUJyUXK/s200/DSC07371.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <i>Close up of the measuring tape</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b>Step 2: Measure and Cut the Fabric</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You will need to decide how wide you want the ruffle (from top to bottom) and how "ruffly" you will want the ruffle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Take front panel length and multiply it by something between 1.25- 1.5 (you could probably go to 1.75, but I haven't tried that ruffly yet :). If you are doing a little girls skirt, I would go closer to 1.25" since the more ruffly the wider the ruffle piece needs to be in order to keep it from flipping up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I used 1.25 on this ruffle and 4" wide (which gave me a 1" hem and a 3" long finished ruffle)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Front Panel Math:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>16.5 x 1.25= 20.625 (I rounded to 21") x 4" </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Back Panel Math:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>31.25 x 1.25= 39.0625 (I rounded to 39") x 4"</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cut out the coordinating ruffle fabric, this will give you 2 pieces. 1 shorter and 1 longer, which will help your side seams match up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Step 3: Baste Hem into the Ruffle Panels</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I do this before I sew anything. I iron a 1" hem into the fabric pieces, at what will become the bottom. This makes it much easier to sew in the hem once the ruffle panel is all sewn together. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1MC2QBJ9qSDJZ4RYjz9xsC0Rw_HMiMAAU4Wae5_nSlNfUajgGPZP37vRBDeO_sYdLbRm4Of0UviOEB45CYWub53rgaCSTRm4cxg7hXrzaMXQS09YKbFR_7NwKy4aPNs-IDU91FSNdABT4/s1600/DSC07373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1MC2QBJ9qSDJZ4RYjz9xsC0Rw_HMiMAAU4Wae5_nSlNfUajgGPZP37vRBDeO_sYdLbRm4Of0UviOEB45CYWub53rgaCSTRm4cxg7hXrzaMXQS09YKbFR_7NwKy4aPNs-IDU91FSNdABT4/s320/DSC07373.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Step 4: Prepare the Ruffle </i></b></div><div><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4twNWqdm3oPTTJXXz6ueCvsW86Yhh2wfLdCHfX0tNcmoPbv8fGZGeMQKt4Lzi3nzmmgw6mS1cNjl0LuIYidNs47VhGg2rimbXa234LJjMmqqXIVrc4RFgMklaArCJ1fT2id7jk_RRxtL/s1600/DSC07383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4twNWqdm3oPTTJXXz6ueCvsW86Yhh2wfLdCHfX0tNcmoPbv8fGZGeMQKt4Lzi3nzmmgw6mS1cNjl0LuIYidNs47VhGg2rimbXa234LJjMmqqXIVrc4RFgMklaArCJ1fT2id7jk_RRxtL/s320/DSC07383.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3yK-4H42ePqG_tX4bO3eBGJN4wb22HhpamPdaLe2WvIPudaRhvc57GfONiDMdTjJXYYVBVTuJbSxqYiD9kvXi0wqK0dzn6JUGgevL79xBHOY90vvj7lYWgL4yrnLfp_sbd5oN1kwmnXO/s1600/DSC07381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3yK-4H42ePqG_tX4bO3eBGJN4wb22HhpamPdaLe2WvIPudaRhvc57GfONiDMdTjJXYYVBVTuJbSxqYiD9kvXi0wqK0dzn6JUGgevL79xBHOY90vvj7lYWgL4yrnLfp_sbd5oN1kwmnXO/s320/DSC07381.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<i>Stitch short raw edges together on either edge. This will give you a circle piece of fabric.</i><br />
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<i>Sew down the hem, it is easiest to do it do it at this stage. This will leave you with a circle piece of fabric, larger than your skirt bottom, with a hemmed bottom edge. Fold over at the ironed section then fold the raw edge under. </i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tZzNlLl9zf5PubaTzL3KDNR19283RKGXAjwJP94F_mOhWo7XgKgUT_3Ri87RQ9PwbYcdQa94bVVUgQykC3s_GIzFiHjj3t_9QXm_uYkOlLD5pR9mgzct46cgwf00-v9KbFPY3TYzpLRB/s1600/DSC07386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tZzNlLl9zf5PubaTzL3KDNR19283RKGXAjwJP94F_mOhWo7XgKgUT_3Ri87RQ9PwbYcdQa94bVVUgQykC3s_GIzFiHjj3t_9QXm_uYkOlLD5pR9mgzct46cgwf00-v9KbFPY3TYzpLRB/s320/DSC07386.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tZzNlLl9zf5PubaTzL3KDNR19283RKGXAjwJP94F_mOhWo7XgKgUT_3Ri87RQ9PwbYcdQa94bVVUgQykC3s_GIzFiHjj3t_9QXm_uYkOlLD5pR9mgzct46cgwf00-v9KbFPY3TYzpLRB/s1600/DSC07386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><i>Place the basting stitch to form the ruffle. Set your machine with the longest stitch length and the widest stitch width. Sew along the top of the panel at 3/8" and 1/4" (placing 2 rows of stitches will be beneficial if 1 of them breaks while pulling up the ruffle). Stitch only on the panel, from 1 side seam to the other side seam (NOT all the way around). This will actually give you 4 sets of stitches. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b>Step 5: Create and Sew on the Ruffle</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMT_YAwF04tj61u14XGpgvRgoJEDBSFY9OwgyYyIXmR0-QVJ3u8GZsQTmlN6CmENBMK_qo8bdTCdzPGWltZnQ3fVmxWIRBMciV3U7rQtTfdWkEoxh1QQ1gQarAaQEds-bn944mzMHm8xLq/s1600/DSC07395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMT_YAwF04tj61u14XGpgvRgoJEDBSFY9OwgyYyIXmR0-QVJ3u8GZsQTmlN6CmENBMK_qo8bdTCdzPGWltZnQ3fVmxWIRBMciV3U7rQtTfdWkEoxh1QQ1gQarAaQEds-bn944mzMHm8xLq/s320/DSC07395.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><i> Pin the side seams of the ruffle panels to the side seam of the skirt. (I always pin on either side of the side seam)</i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Q_7992T82v-BZlxfYiJOiL-ISivAgkTXIcFC773Uj1JczLuDIlKKiSW3ClFYUycAMSNbrjtvSFpNed1q37YqOwMPerdTevSlCjbrq130eOr0BZfREjoPkkyLv27Gf3lBYVwqWSxJTHz1/s1600/DSC07398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Q_7992T82v-BZlxfYiJOiL-ISivAgkTXIcFC773Uj1JczLuDIlKKiSW3ClFYUycAMSNbrjtvSFpNed1q37YqOwMPerdTevSlCjbrq130eOr0BZfREjoPkkyLv27Gf3lBYVwqWSxJTHz1/s200/DSC07398.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yCtZr97nTaPWzdVzTVnbT4LGVhIdDnCZMw-Ua3ObkzF_35krPN77yQA_e67_K2nsuH942Gg_kq7XRR6Me0Wx02mwGuuZqQ5e6iWfs-F2ec4HyKY_LrmO0VMsavlczbPdPiMsBolj-qXm/s1600/DSC07400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yCtZr97nTaPWzdVzTVnbT4LGVhIdDnCZMw-Ua3ObkzF_35krPN77yQA_e67_K2nsuH942Gg_kq7XRR6Me0Wx02mwGuuZqQ5e6iWfs-F2ec4HyKY_LrmO0VMsavlczbPdPiMsBolj-qXm/s200/DSC07400.JPG" width="200" /></a><i> Pull the basting stitch to gather the fabric up. (I always work on the front panel and then the back). Evenly distribute the ruffles through the panel, then pin in place.</i><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1d0HqMkoyXp9Xkg4IpmUj0XiTJ2XVGIw4FwUFfzHZTHy-ppfUNy5Eu5vtTAduYpy5iUaAquJl6PZeX91v7OU3OVHBeQZ4mHtqBEXYYQn9sOXlyJnaq36hRQz6kEhyQ6jWCQROtIwPgpB/s1600/DSC07399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1d0HqMkoyXp9Xkg4IpmUj0XiTJ2XVGIw4FwUFfzHZTHy-ppfUNy5Eu5vtTAduYpy5iUaAquJl6PZeX91v7OU3OVHBeQZ4mHtqBEXYYQn9sOXlyJnaq36hRQz6kEhyQ6jWCQROtIwPgpB/s320/DSC07399.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i> Close up of pinning after the ruffle has been distributed</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISMk0cFL04lv-ROzzBBctni0kh26su2e-F-lmd4tQnahLA37sv3rs_fYu_4wg8TFWzEOv3eVJlzS_3DOZ0dnBpyoJUo2LuZm_drQKqK0DMB1XTNDQyDQr1y7gvy14wWHZB2gy_lF_uG8o/s1600/DSC07401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISMk0cFL04lv-ROzzBBctni0kh26su2e-F-lmd4tQnahLA37sv3rs_fYu_4wg8TFWzEOv3eVJlzS_3DOZ0dnBpyoJUo2LuZm_drQKqK0DMB1XTNDQyDQr1y7gvy14wWHZB2gy_lF_uG8o/s320/DSC07401.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Stitch the ruffle down, using a 3/8-5/8 seam allowance, pulling out the pins as you go. Then pull the basting stitches.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwEEUDd5lgDXutR1YXnTmbrpZIusG9QExLarJyiHIA2j4HeJs4gHOdcAjnOed8jQ5v4AfUpEiaEOf0AnJUXCriO-ybmVvrnuQjpaXcOSIP2HtQ9e_h_GTLvCDj2u-Jk1wHP9pOMTb__s0/s1600/DSC07402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwEEUDd5lgDXutR1YXnTmbrpZIusG9QExLarJyiHIA2j4HeJs4gHOdcAjnOed8jQ5v4AfUpEiaEOf0AnJUXCriO-ybmVvrnuQjpaXcOSIP2HtQ9e_h_GTLvCDj2u-Jk1wHP9pOMTb__s0/s320/DSC07402.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b>Step 6: Iron the Ruffle down, then topstitch right below the seam where the ruffle is attached.</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHE__UKt2hnR-Rt3aH2xFZjx_k5OaUB14Ns5hod0c7YYvDqVLznp3BIrW1arPywt-M_ip8QFGwbEX_7P_beMKnkAEuZvHYoqGizwBgIdpgtgkUasNVDfTpkO_R_rirM4bzWz0N6X8GJzv/s1600/DSC07409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHE__UKt2hnR-Rt3aH2xFZjx_k5OaUB14Ns5hod0c7YYvDqVLznp3BIrW1arPywt-M_ip8QFGwbEX_7P_beMKnkAEuZvHYoqGizwBgIdpgtgkUasNVDfTpkO_R_rirM4bzWz0N6X8GJzv/s200/DSC07409.JPG" width="133" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoGosMpl-gG3PtloiuBjpOUHTWSTblnVGnzptG-6Uv0dTNI8JEvXozdEk8Ydeykmx6KbaNa7s09gRrqmOuIbDbgLxpJKEmWq2iOjLPEpDTg9eJMuAmkJkin0Pk9HJD1wVxPRxY_s4gnve/s1600/DSC07417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoGosMpl-gG3PtloiuBjpOUHTWSTblnVGnzptG-6Uv0dTNI8JEvXozdEk8Ydeykmx6KbaNa7s09gRrqmOuIbDbgLxpJKEmWq2iOjLPEpDTg9eJMuAmkJkin0Pk9HJD1wVxPRxY_s4gnve/s200/DSC07417.JPG" width="133" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAeWMrT_lfHZcqhTb6qAhbatCQgMoE2oCidVLYlW0xxlgD4Iqlfl1-JGkdbDgduEXh5iVPsv2zxRo7U5JjbkkX42UeMJspTbqrHYvkry3taWVO9IvbKcrqWlkjPpSW_uH-MzXl2FLIkdqh/s1600/DSC07416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAeWMrT_lfHZcqhTb6qAhbatCQgMoE2oCidVLYlW0xxlgD4Iqlfl1-JGkdbDgduEXh5iVPsv2zxRo7U5JjbkkX42UeMJspTbqrHYvkry3taWVO9IvbKcrqWlkjPpSW_uH-MzXl2FLIkdqh/s320/DSC07416.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Finished Product :) </span></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Option 2: Double Ruffle</span></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(Sorry I don't have any pictures of this one yet, I'm still finishing the skirt :) </span></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b>This will be the same as the making a ruffle option, except you will be adding a 2nd layer of ruffles. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b>Step 1: Follow steps 1-6. Making these small adjustments.</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b> </b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>(Step 2) When calculating your ruffle measurements, you will want to cut 4 panels, 2 of the panels will be 1-3 inches longer and sit underneath a shorter top layer. Giving the skirt a layered look. </i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>Your math will look like this:</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>Bottom Layer:</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>Front panel:</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>16.5" x 1.25"= 20.625 (rounded to 21") x 6" wide</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>Back panel:</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>31.25" x 1.25"= 39.0625 (rounded to 39") x 6" wide</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>Top Layer: (you will use the bottom layer measurements to figure these)</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>Front panel:</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>31" x 1.25= 38.75 (I rounded to 39") x 4" wide</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>Back panel:</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>39" x 1.25= 48.75 (I rounded to 49") x 4" wide</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Sew the ruffle pieces together as in step #3 (sewing the side seams together, leaving you with 2 circle pieces), and hem the bottom of the top and bottom layers. Place basting stitches in the top layer, and gather the fabric as explained in step #5, then remove the basting stitches</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Now, place your basting stitches through the top and bottom layers. Then attach the double ruffle to the skirt as outlined in steps 5 and 6 above. </i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br />
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</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Option 3: Flat Band</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(Sorry there are not more pictures for this one)</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Step 1: Follow Step 1 to measure for the band panels.</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Step 2: Cut the Fabric</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>*Remember to add 5/8" to both sides of the fabric measurement to make sure the band will fit properly after you seam it together.*</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Cut 2 panels of fabric for the band. Cut 1 the length of the front panel by the width you are looking for (remember to include the hem you would like, I normally add 1", as I find it easy to work with). Cut the 2nd the length of the back panel by the width. This is basically the same as cutting for the ruffle, except you won't need to do large amounts of math :) For instance, given the previous skirt I would have cut a 17.75 x 4" piece and a 32.5 x 4" piece.</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i> Step 3: See step 3 for option 1</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Step 4: Sew the side seams of the band together. (This is much like the ruffle, except you will not need to add in the basting stitches, as you won't be doing any gathering). Then stitch the hem into the band.</i></b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Step 5: Place the band with the right side facing the right side of the skirt. Stitch down with a 5/8" seam. </i></b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Step 6: Iron band down and topstitch the band right below the seam attaching it to the skirt. </i></b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASkL1mgz0hFxqjjjh6emXbkSIwGyshfMbQArEMFAJ5YfSdn-v33_CClJMrXwlOLfbsNy2cEB_Lh9AD4CRzGiO9JOctONHIz-f1ajXe4jx7_F61AeACXSzmSAF5yQKC0_aQrSDJr7dRjMX/s1600/DSC07151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASkL1mgz0hFxqjjjh6emXbkSIwGyshfMbQArEMFAJ5YfSdn-v33_CClJMrXwlOLfbsNy2cEB_Lh9AD4CRzGiO9JOctONHIz-f1ajXe4jx7_F61AeACXSzmSAF5yQKC0_aQrSDJr7dRjMX/s320/DSC07151.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GPPGZnYtKSUyuG7rWtbo3G6Zfzg9v2hR6DUN2QWzRflsGbhhs4TH3GAlxobpod7ysINbhvzg56o7VoXGx1HrIerL3fa-1NrF4P4a54mTyr1pjoaa3NJbVo3aohWp75_MKvWQrW9tpsrc/s1600/DSC07153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GPPGZnYtKSUyuG7rWtbo3G6Zfzg9v2hR6DUN2QWzRflsGbhhs4TH3GAlxobpod7ysINbhvzg56o7VoXGx1HrIerL3fa-1NrF4P4a54mTyr1pjoaa3NJbVo3aohWp75_MKvWQrW9tpsrc/s320/DSC07153.JPG" width="212" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Finished Product</span></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><i>I hope you enjoyed the tutorial. I hope to have more coming out :) I will be altering/ updating this one as I finish more pictures to make some of these steps clearer. (Particularly for the options I don't have lots of pictures of) If there is something you want to see up close or if you have any questions please let me know :) </i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></i></div></div>Melissa Beckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306839596886743146noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360647227606304032.post-88125564408155264042011-09-22T09:01:00.000-07:002012-02-04T15:15:37.725-08:00Today My Best Isn't As Good As It Was Yesterday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I realized something yesterday when I picked my daughter up from riding lesson, her best yesterday wasn't as good as it had been the day before. She still did her very best, but it just wasn't as good. She had a myrid of errors not previously experienced. It was then that I realized our best varies. Some days it's higher and better than others. Some days everything we touches turns to gold, and some days we were better to never get out of bed because it all turned to dust. <br />
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As I watch my poor child, teary eyed, and upset about her performace, I found myself asking her the same questions that I asked every day. Did you try your hardest? Did you do your very best? I realized as she responded with an I guess not, that it wasn't that she hadn't tried, it was just her best today was different than yesterday. <br />
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As parents we teach our children do your best in everything you do and it will all turn out ok. We then expect them to go out and make that a reality. To do their best every day, but when they bring home a D or F on the paper they wrote we usually jump to the conclusion that they didn't apply themselves, or they didn't do what we consider their best. But what if a D or F is their best for the day? What do we do then? How to we help our children learn that some days really just stink and there is nothing we can do. What if what your child did was their best for the day, even when it didn't match your expectations? <br />
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I think the lesson I want my children to learn in life is that it's not about what you did or didn't do. It's not about the mistakes or even the successes you had, but truely about doing your best in everything you do. There are days when your best really just won't be good enough. When all is said and done you really won't have made the grade, but they have to learn that just like life their best changes. Their are hills and valleys, mountain tops and sea depths. You have to walk through all of them to create a well rounded experiance. You learn more walking through the rain than through the sunshine sometimes and if all you can give today is a rainy day best, I'm ok with that. Today I love you and tomorrow I will love you, and there will come a day when your best brings you to a mountain top, but not all your best days are mountain top days. The days you have that are really just off, those are the days you learn what you are made of. When you give what you have, learn your lessons, and move on to tomorrow. Because quite possibly tomorrow your best will be better than today. </div>Melissa Beckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306839596886743146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360647227606304032.post-38607824977090239312011-08-25T08:04:00.000-07:002011-08-25T08:04:14.784-07:00An Object in Motion is Easier to DirectI was discussing with Phil the other night that I was once again confused, not really sure where I was headed or what my plan of action was. Phil, in his infinite wisdom, told me that it was time to stop testing God and to start moving forward. He told me I was being like Gideon (in the bible), but when he said that it wasn't with the normal positive connotation I've heard the comparison used with. Normally I heard what a great man of faith Gideon was, that he tried God and God came through end of story. I decided though that Phil was right and made up in my mind to keep going. Shortly after this conversation, our Pastor preached on Gideon. He started pointing out all the times in his life Gideon not only feared his situation and his calling, but also the times he doubted, he argued and yes he tested. Even after each test he gave God came back with the same result, he feared and doubted. It wasn't until it was really laid out like this I realized what Phil was really saying. <div><br />
</div><div>Let me give you just a little back story so you can understand. I have 2 children, EB and PJ. EB is 11 this year and PJ turned 4. 4 years ago right before he was born we found out my mother in law had cancer. Shortly after he was born we discovered my mother had cancer. Both live very close to us in the same town. Thankfully my sister in law still lived at home and was old enough to really help my MIL. However the situation at my house was much different. My mother was very sick and I had 2 siblings that needed to be taken care of and a father that traveled for work and couldn't be there all the time. Although he was there as much as possible, there were a lot of times he had to be working. It was during the long nights at my mother's house and needing to be there to take care of her and my brother and sister I decided I needed something to keep my mind off everything and keep my hands busy. Honestly, I probably should have just taken up knitting, instead being my father's daughter, I started a business. As I ran my business, I realized I was good at it. Within a little over a year my family was healthy and my house was filled with fabrics, notions, patterns and so much more. Within 4 years we had converted a bedroom, sitting room, and 1/2 of the dining room in to work space. The business started actually making some money, allowing me to bring on a couple of employees that needed an extra hand. Phil went back to school and will be finishing his AA this winter. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The business has thrived, but I struggled with whether I should keep going or let it go. There have been attacks over the years, things that sent many other people into a panic. New laws that made it almost impossible for small at home seamstresses to continue on, large manufacturers that came in and sucked up all the market share, and of course lots and lots of competition, moms at home that all need to make a little bit of extra money. Some how through all that, a down turned economy, and global panic, we not only survived but continued to grow. Still, I wasn't sure. Should we close up shop, sell off what's here, and call it quits? Or keep going and see where God can take us? I just never could see a clear answer. </div><div><br />
</div><div>So I turned to my old friend Gideon, because God was always patient with him and he always answered him. It wasn't until our Pastor preached though that I realized, God couldn't <i>DO</i> anything with Gideon until he moved. Gideon wasn't moving, so God couldn't use him. Oh, but when Gideon finally got it in himself to move, God used him in a mighty, mighty way. But Gideon had to stop doubting, stop fearing and do something. It didn't have to me much of anything, but it's always easier to guide an object that's moving. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I look at my 230# dog and realize that if I want him to move, I'm going to have to some how get him up and going on his own to start, because if he's laying on the ground, dead weight, he's not going anywhere. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Another example that God showed me this week was while EB was at her riding lesson. She's preparing for a riding show in a couple months, this will be her first riding show ever. So her teacher is trying to prepare her. Mel was explaining the other day that when you are in the ring the judge only gives 1 command at a time. So if they say, riders walk your horses, you are to walk them. Then if they say riders reverse, you are to reverse your horse and keep <i>WALKING, </i>you do whatever the command was before you received the new command. So if it was stop, walk. You stop walk, stop, but whatever the command you keep going until you receive a new instruction. </div><div><br />
</div><div>In applying that to my life I have to keep moving. There has to come a point I stop testing God. I stop asking God for sign after sign after sign, and I accept that the answer is in front of me. God's not going to push me into what He has or what He wants me to do; and if I'm moving He can guide me where I need to go. I don't have to take huge steps, I just have to be moving. So what am I going to do? </div><div><br />
</div><div>I'm going to keep moving. I'm going to get up today, get everything ready, sit at my sewing machine and make some new items. I'm going to put them up on my site, package the orders waiting to go out, clear out my paypal payments, and get ready for a youth lock in. I'm going to move, even if slowly at first and see what it is God has waiting for me. I'm going to let Him direct me. I'm going to follow the last command He gave me until I receive a new one. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I believe God has put the answer in front of me. That He is directly me, that I should keep going. That in the end there is a blessing I won't be able to contain. </div>Melissa Beckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306839596886743146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360647227606304032.post-88780304138527163202011-08-24T13:59:00.000-07:002011-08-24T14:00:14.391-07:00There is Treasure in the Hidden TalentsThere have been entire years upon years where I sat in my house thinking what could I do? I would sit and think about all the things other people were doing and one by one check them off as not possible for me. Let's see. I can't sing, I can't play an instrument, I can't teach a Sunday School class, I don't like large crowds (especially of adults), I can't get up and give speeches or talk in front of people. I'm not a wonderful cook, I can bake, but nothing extraordinary, I don't have a gift with people. Really what could I do? <br />
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I would sit in church and listen to the preacher going on about how everyone has something they can do, and the Kingdom of God needs workers. Everyone has a talent, some are more talented than others, but everyone has a talent and you have to share it. I spent many hours praying God would reveal not just a plan for my life, but what on Earth it was He had given me. I often felt desperate to figure out what my talent was, but often my efforts were to no avail. I just couldn't figure it out. I felt like the swan looking around at the ducks wondering where I fit in. I would look at all the ducks and think to myself, well this one has a beautiful quack. I can't quack like that. That one has wonderful feathers, but mine are pretty raggedy. This duck over here is an excellent swimmer, I'm not great at that. And each time I would become more and more discouraged.<br />
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I wanted to use my talent, I just couldn't figure out what on earth it was. So I kept looking. Then recently it came to me. <br />
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Back in Bible days talents weren't what you could or couldn't do it was a measurement of money. I have always thought of talents as coins. When you look at a coin it has it's own distinguishing markers. It's own little nicks and marks that make it uniquely itself. Each one is a little different, which is why I think in part, at least, Jesus choose to use them in the book of Matthew. The more I thought about this concept the more I realized each talent is different, as different as each person that holds them. And I started seeing my talent may be something off the beaten path. <br />
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As I searched I realized my talent was in front of me the whole time, I just had never realized there was an application in the kingdom. Then as I realized that, I started seeing the unusual talents of others around me. See, talents are always singing, teaching, or speaking. Some talents are hidden, sometimes father beneath the surface. As I thought about it I thought of the analogy Jesus used, calling the church the body of Christ. When you think about the body, the same concept applies, there are LOTS of body parts that no one ever sees. Little pieces that are hidden away. <br />
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So as I thought of this, I came to the conclusion that it's not finding your talent, but recognizing it. It's being OK with your talent being uniquely yours. Some talents are things no one ever thinks of, no one would ever say, "Oh wow look at the gift God gave you". They are little things, hidden away, in secret places no one ever sees. Oh but when you bring your talents out of hiding what a blessing. What a treasure waits for you and the kingdom. The things that can be accomplished, the souls that can be saved. <br />
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So, I'm sure you are thinking what is your talent? What is it you can do that's so great? Honestly, there is nothing that I can do that's so great, but it's the fact I choose to use what I can do everyday to go further. But that doesn't really help you figure out what your unique talent is does it?<br />
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Your talent is whatever it is you do, whatever you love, whatever you enjoy and gives you a sense of satisfaction. When you find that thing, then you can take it and go out and share it. The treasure comes in the sharing, not in the holding or the having. Everything has the potential to be a talent. <br />
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Maybe you just happen to be a really good fisherman or hunter. (Wait give me a sec, don't turn it off yet, I haven't lost my marbles). What on earth can you do with <i>that</i>? Well have you ever looked around your church? See those little boys sitting all by themselves? Maybe they are the ones causing all the trouble during service, ever consider they need a friend? Maybe they need a mentor, someone just to take enough time to make them feel like they are important and that they matter. Why not share your talent? Then lets not get started with when the world collapses and we have no more grocery stores and have to hunt for food, you certainly have the advantage there (and I want to be your closest friend :)<br />
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Maybe you are the world's best seamstress. Seriously? Where does that fit in? Well, look around, the more people you talk to the more you will hear, I've always wanted to learn to sew. It's a lost art that not only our youth, but our adults are starving for. There are lots of applications to use a seamstress in the kingdom. <br />
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As I was sitting and thinking about this the other day I realized, it's not just about my talent. It's about helping my daughter and son realize theirs. I don't want them to go through years and years not knowing what God has for them. Wondering around in the wilderness of life not sure where to go. I'm going to be completely honest here, my poor daughter can't sing. Now, perhaps at some point her voice will develop and she will be the best singer in the world, but right now not so. I'm OK with that and I don't plan on forcing her to sing, my plan is rather to encourage her to do what she's good at. At the moment she's loving horse back riding, and she's GOOD. She's really good and she loves it. Now what on earth does riding have to do with church? Honestly, right now, nothing, but that's not to say one day she won't be a missionary in a foreign land and the only real mode of transportation will be horse back riding. Maybe she'll open a ranch with horses, dogs, and cats for at risk children. Maybe her talent is something that's still hidden somewhere, but whatever it is it's my job to help her realize and use it. <br />
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I don't know what your talent is, but whatever it is use it! Sometimes what the church needs is the hidden talents to be turned into treasure. What good does your talent do if it stays hidden? If everyone shared their hidden talent what a better state we'd be in. Melissa Beckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306839596886743146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360647227606304032.post-67371127375892394762011-08-22T17:40:00.000-07:002011-08-22T17:40:14.823-07:00At the End of the Day You Just Have to Laugh...Today started as a pretty successful day. I was up well before 8 (a rarity here), and immediately got to work. I started packing orders, getting emails read and answered, and preparing the pool to move out front for the kids. I planned on getting all my dyes split up while the kids played outside, then would move onto the thrift stores and getting everything for the lock in rolling. The day started out wonderful and I started out productive. I was even nice to Phil, for a change, in all his neediness. <br />
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So I got going, got all the orders packed before my extra little one arrived (we baby sat today), got everyone up, dressed and fed, then got the totals posted for the orders while the kids played in the room. That was supposed to be followed by swimming and lunch, but was interrupted by the lawn guys (this should have been my first clue of what was to come). We changed plans and all headed out to the thrift store to pick up the 30 + shirts we need for the lock in. The kids were great in the store, and the jeans were all on sale (for a DOLLAR, which beats out the 6$ I anticipated them costing). From there we headed to lunch and Joanns (I needed a new seam ripper after breaking my last one a week or so ago, hole on the irony on this one is AWESOME!) We got home, filled the pool and the kids proceeded to swim and I started the dyes. We finished with the pool and the dyes around 5:30. I got everyone (including my extra), showered and ready for bed by 6, threw a load of clothes (for the day) into the washer and was ready to call it a day. To sit and relax the evening away with Phil, to start seam ripping all the jeans and be ahead of schedule. <br />
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I was feeling pretty good about myself as I hopped out of the shower, only to suddenly realize I had left my phone in my SKIRT POCKET (yes that skirt I just threw inn the washer). Yes, I washed my phone. I called Phil, thankfully we'd bought EB a burn phone for camps and it had extra $ on it. I drove out to meet him and upgrade my phone (the store is 20 mins away). I was gettnig off the interstate when he called and told me to turn around and go back home, yes seriously.<br />
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I headed home :) I figured i still had time to salvage the evening. Decided I should let my groups know what was going on, and check my email. I was finishing up when I SEAM RIPPED my foot, breaking my brand new (yes bought today) seam ripper. I just had to laugh. I figured at this point it was just a quirky evening. Then I headed to the living room. PJ had left his ramen noodle bowl on the table, so I told him to take it, pour out the liquid and put it in the sink. Which he did, except instead of pouring it down the toilet he dropped the bowl from the table (accidentally). We have one of those really TALL dinning room tables, about waist high, and let me add here when you DROP a bowl of something from them it doesn't SPILL it EXPLODES :) <br />
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PJ was devastated. Immediately he started crying and screaming it was an accident. He was even more confused when I just stood there, covered in ramen noodle broth and laughed. I just had to stand there and laugh. What else could I do? Really? Oh yeah, and the kicker this was only at 8. YES just 2 hours after the entire day started to unravel. <br />
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I think God felt like I was getting too high on my horse, thinking I'm all productive and wanted to remind me that my productivity, at the end of the day amounts to nothing. What does it really matter? Nothing, really, nothing. The important things I did today were to spend some time with my kids (letting them swim and play while I was right there with them). I easily could have let all the bad things ruin what I did. Instead I choose to sit down with an ice cold glass of chocolate milk and read my little one a bed time story and relax. I will laugh at the little problems life throws my way, because even when the sky is spitting and the waves are crashing, God keeps me in the storm. Even in the storm as big or as small as it is there is beauty. I will choose to find the beauty in the storm, even if it's just an afternoon shower :)<br />
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Melissa Beckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306839596886743146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360647227606304032.post-87019069707354567922011-08-20T23:32:00.000-07:002011-08-20T23:32:06.252-07:00It All Starts As Yarn<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Courier; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I work in the textile industry. I purchase fabrics and yarns that then get turned into everything from cloth diapers to quilts to clothing. I've used fabrics of all types. Terry fabrics, velour fabrics, fleece fabrics, woven fabrics, knit fabrics, and the list goes on. I’ve used fabrics made out of all kinds of material; cotton, polyester, rayon, bamboo, and more. I was sitting down with my assistant the other day to try and help her see the difference in each of my bamboo fabrics. One has loops, one is brushed and has a fuzzy appearance, and one is shaved giving it a sleek and smooth feel. Each fabric has its own properties, its own texture, its own DNA if you will. It has that thing that makes it unique and usable. Some fabrics are smooth, some are bumpy, some are stretchy and some don't stretch at all. But really when you get down to it, they are all fabric, and because they are all fabric they all share one common trait. They all start as yarn. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Courier; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It's in the yarn that the fabric is determined. If you have a friable yarn your fabric will shred when touched. If you have a strong yarn the fabric will hold up to years of abuse and beatings. If you use a cotton yarn you get a cotton fabric. Even with today's advances we can't change that, it is what it is. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Courier; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I laid in bed tonight I thought about that. Yarn. How the fibers twist and strengthen each other. How each one makes the next stronger. How it's the yarn and the weaver that completely determine the fabric, the textile. The fabric gets no say in what it will be; it's in the hands of the weaver. The weaver has control over the colors, the textures, and the pattern. They control the twists and turns on the fibers, the placement, the size, everything, but first the weaver must get the yarn from the spinner. The spinner must take the raw fibers and make them into something usable by the weaver. The spinner takes much time with the fibers, being careful not to pull too much fiber at once, being gentle and careful. The spinner cares for the material like a parent for a child, until eventually they have spun enough fiber to make a spook of yarn, which in turn is handed over to the weaver who makes a beautiful garment. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Courier; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It's much like life. We are created in the womb from nothing, really just 2 little specks that it takes a microscope to see. Our parents take that raw fiber and they begin to spin it, to nurture it and make it into a find yarn. With each day and each step they spin in a little more fiber, more raw material, more experience. Until one day they have a grown adult that they can hand over to God and let him weave their life into a beautiful tapestry. Our experiences become our future, a stepping stone into what we will become. Much like spinning, once it's done it can't be taken back. Have you ever tried to pull yarn into its original form? It's not so easy. The fibers intertwine and become like they are 1. Just like the yarns of our lives. Every day, whether you remember it or not is part of you, and it makes you who you are. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Courier; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The older I get the more I realize I really don't remember my childhood. I have these small snippets of time that when pulled together make me say when I was a kid. Really all they are though is little snap shots of time. Like looking through an old scrapbook. And the more I stop and think about it the more I realize many of the snippets I think I stole from TV shows and movies. I don't remember ever running through a field of wild flowers or running to my Dad in the airport in slow motion. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Courier; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What I do remember that's mine are the nights my Dad would carry me to bed late at night when he thought I was sleeping. Well, truth is I probably was, but I still woke up, if only for a moment. I remember my Dad singing to me, You are so Beautiful to Me, I can't even tell you who sings it or what all the words are. I remember the many summers I spent up at work with my Dad, filing paperwork, filling out forms in the service department of his dealership, and strutting around like I owned the place. I remember the people that bought me sodas and candy while I waited for my Dad to get finished with work so we could go home. I remember my Mom taking us to have lunch with Daddy, which was always a special treat. We never ate extravagant for lunch, usually just some small diner or pizza joint or sandwich shop that he'd found, but somehow it always felt special. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Courier; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I remember my mom rocking my brothers to sleep in Dad's recliner, singing to them. I remember her sitting on the couch reading 1 chapter a night of Nancy Drew for me and 1 of the Hardy Boys for my brothers. I remember the day she came into my 4th grade class, during our party and told me she had good news and bad. The good news God had answered my prayers and she was having baby number 5. The bad news God hadn't answered the way I'd wanted and it was a boy. I remember my Mom praying, we prayed on the way to school, we prayed on the way out of town, we prayed on the way back into town, we prayed when an ambulance or fire truck went by. No matter what we prayed. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Courier; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I remember my older brother teaching me to pick the GI Joes and set them up. I remember playing hide and seek for hours outside through the woods at night. I remember long, hot summers filled with entertainment we made ourselves. Having to come in the bathroom door so we could go straight into the showers. (We had a door leading outside on our bathroom :) </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Courier; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I remember the year it snowed.... There was snow on the ground, enough that we were actually able to scrape it up with a garden spade and make a snowball. We kept that snow ball for years to come. I remember making the snow angels in the ice. Bundling up like we had never bundled before. And while I don't remember I'm sure when we came in we got hot chocolate. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Courier; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I remember pancake breakfasts with chocolate chips and bacon. Homemade Italian subs. Grandma’s chicken cutlets, homemade spaghetti sauce, meatballs, and chicken. While I can't remember the recipe or what was even in it, I remember Grandma making chicken soup from scratch and straining it through that super cool strainer she had with the wooden thingy that fit in it just right. It looks a lot like a funnel, that strainer did, and it had this cool wooden thingy that you spun around on the inside and it squashed everything out the strainer holes. I remember Grandma's (the other grandma) homemade fudge. Man, if I could find it again, no one made it like she did. I remember her pumpkin pies, which I never ate the crust of, just the filling. Her chocolate pudding. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Courier; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The truth is when I look back on my life I remember lots of little snap shots. It's not like watching a video, where I can remember it all. They are just tidbits of time, but when woven together I can see how they all fit. I realize there is a reason that one of the most special things in the world to me is when I get to take my kids and go have lunch with their Dad. Why I love to hear my husband sing. What makes me cry when I hear Amazing Grace. Why I'm good at making spaghetti sauce. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Courier; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I look back I can see what it is that made me, well me. It wasn't anything profound, it wasn't money or fame, and it was just the everyday. I can't look back and ever say that I had a rough childhood. I remember we always had food, clothes and shelter. I was always taught no matter what we had, that was really all we needed. I remember we always had enough to give to others, even when we probably didn't. That's probably why today I would give everything I have away. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Courier; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The fact is the yarns of my childhood, even those I can't see anymore, they make me who I am. All my success and all my failure comes from the yarn I was built from. I can choose to let the bad experiences turn me friable and fragile. To let them break me down and turn me thread bare, or I can choose to look at them with a smile and realize I need to twist a little harder and weave a little stronger tomorrow. I need to let let those experiences make me stronger. I can stand on my great past and look back and say look at me, look what I was, look how good I did, how good I had it. But the sad truth is even the strongest of threads will break over time with washing and drying, with use it breaks down. If I don't continue to weave my yarns, good and bad, and to thread them into a beautiful garment what will tomorrow hold for me? </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Courier; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">See my past is who I was, but it helps to make me who I am, and it foreshadows who I will become. My past can only do that though if I learn from it. If I take those fond snap shots and pass them onto my kids. If I learn from those moments when I look back and wish it could have been different. I want my kids to look back and see that the yarns they were woven from are good yarns. That they are strong and stable and that no matter what, the most important thing is if their yarn is weak they have a Friend they can lean on. I hope the lessons my parents weaved into my life will continue on in my children. What a shame it would be if the fabric stopped with me. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div></span>Melissa Beckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306839596886743146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360647227606304032.post-64613863810972220582011-06-24T15:18:00.000-07:002011-06-24T15:18:00.574-07:00Lessons of a FamilyWhen you come from a large family there are alot of things you learn very quickly. Like the fact that if you don't go ahead and grab the last Popsicle someone will, you might as well enjoy it. Or if you lock your brother out of his room, don't stand behind the door as if holding it shut, it is very likely his fist will soon breach said door and smack you in the head. Also, when hiding make sure you have more than 1 escape plan, 1 leads to nothing more than heart ache. You have to be careful not to let the cookies sit too long, or they won't be there (it's best to eat them before they are put into the oven). And for goodness sake, if you are going to eat the cookie dough, make sure you have the time to swipe the spoon around a couple of mixes before Mom walks in. Otherwise she will claim to have eyes in the back or her head or a bird on her shoulder (both of which are confusing at a small age and will leave you looking for said eyes and bird for years to come), when in reality she saw your fingerprints in the dough. <br />
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You also learn that in order to have a loving home the house doesn't always have to be clean, the dishes don't always need to be washed, and it's very likely the laundry will never really be done. You should wipe your feet after playing in the mud, but when you forget, Mom will forgive. It's ok to play outside in the rain, just remember to come in when the lightning starts. The "Not Me Monster" takes alot of blame, and the younger the child the easier it is to blame things on them (best if they can't talk or defend themselves yet). Just make sure, if you are going to claim they wrote in perfect English on the wall they are old enough to spell. <br />
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It doesn't take the genius in the family to figure out there is always a genius in the family, often more than 1. There is always a clown. Always a nurturer, a protector, and a complete misfit. And while each child may play their rolls, they all often decide to trade around so there's no telling who you will be today. <br />
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I learned growing up in a family of 6 kids that no matter what the fight was about, no matter how mad Dad got or Mom yelled, no matter what was said or whose feelings got hurt; at the end of the day when all was said and done all was forgiven. Once faces were washed, teeth cleaned, hair brushed, and prayers said there was a peace. <br />
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I often think about what it must have been like for my parents to walk past our rooms in our large quiet house late at night. Looking in for 1 final time on each of their children. I think the only time we were all truely peaceful and quiet was during those wee hours of the night. Tucked so quietly in our beds. It was probably during these times when my parents were able to really smile and contentment knowing that whatever tomorrow brought today had been a sucess. When just for a moment the care and troubles of today and the the anticipation of tomorrow faded into the right now. I'm sure in those few moments they forgot that we had tried to pummel each other with frying pans, voted each other out of the house because there were too many, we eaten all the cookie dough, muddied the floors, and even eaten the last popsicle. In those few moments the world was at peace, there was no fighting, there was no yelling, and all was right with the world. <br />
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I look back on those times now and see what I truely learned in those moments. That growing up in a large family you learn to forgive. You learn that each person has their imperfections, that you will never get along with everyone all the time. That there is always room for improvement. But that at the end of the day, no matter what happened when you close your eyes your family will be there. Maybe not all of them all the time, but someone. You'll always have someone there. And as each child settles into their life rolls, you realize you don't always need the clown in your life, but there is a time when you need to laugh. The protector will always be there to stand up and show their support and battle of those that attack. That the genius has not only the brains of the family, but the wisdom. The nurturer will always be there to pick you up if you fall down. And as each of us move on to our new lives, with out own families, we see these traits passed on to our children, and we hope that we are passing on the same life lessons our parents passed on to us. That when the day is done, and the lights are out, and we are gone we will have nurtured a relationship between our children that they can depend on. One that when the day ends they can all lay in the same bed and sleep in peace by each other, with no strife and no annomosity against each other.Melissa Beckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306839596886743146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360647227606304032.post-25828155004734362902011-06-23T20:57:00.000-07:002011-06-23T20:57:55.111-07:00Not a Creature was StirringWell, maybe a creature.... <br />
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There is something overly heartwarming to me to be able to walk through my house in the dead of night. To see my children sleeping in there beds, wrapped up under their blankets, surrounded by delicately placed stuffed animals and blankets. To walk through my bedroom and watch my husband slumbering, preparing for the next day. When he will go out and do his best to fulfill all his rolls as father, husband, employee and even student. <br />
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As I walk through the house I have to smile at the small village of intricately placed army men, trucks, police cars, trains, and airplanes. All setting up for some great imaginary battle. While most of the soldiers have been put to bed many hours ago, I have to laugh at the fact that even my 4 year old understands, not all the soldiers get to go to bed. "They have to stand guard", he tells me. Explaining the importance of having a well staffed and laid out army ready to defend against the enemy, even in the night. <br />
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It's during these times, late at night, when all is quiet I look around, take a deep breath, and realize no matter what happened today and no matter what is coming tomorrow, everything is ok and all is good and right. God has blessed me beyond measure and for that I'm thankful. I look around my house and see not every toy is picked up, not every piece of clothing is washed, and even though I washed the dishes, there are still dishes in the sink. And I stop to realize that's ok. Because in these quiet moments I realize my children are perfect. They are little angels sent from heaven to remind me nothing more than that life is good. My husband is a dream, God gave me to him to love and cherish. My family is a blessing and there is no greater blessing one can receive. <br />
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It's during these times, late at night, when no one is around I find peace. I can hear my children laughing in their dreams, and see my husband smiling. My dog is curled up at my son's feet, and my daughter is covered in cats. And tomorrow when they awake, they will return to their made up little world. The soldiers will be underfoot all day, and the cars and trains will resume their travels. The crayons and paper will be put to use, and the arguing and bickering will continue. My husband will give me a peck on the cheek and run out the door. But that's all ok, because at some point during the day I will take a moment and sit down with my ice tea in hand and remember the quiet of tonight. And if that doesn't happen, there is always tomorrow night. <br />
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Yes, truely there is something magically about the late night, when not even a creature is stirring.....Melissa Beckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306839596886743146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360647227606304032.post-77830160424882029932011-06-17T06:40:00.000-07:002011-06-17T06:40:54.637-07:00Wandering in the WildernessPeople need direction. I think it is innate in us to need to know where we are headed. We need to know if we are to turn left or right on the next street, which fork in the road to follow, and where on earth our destination point is. We become frustrated and aggravated when our path seems to lead us no where. When we turn down the wrong road, or drive right on past our destination. Even our kids seem to have some born in need to know what is going on and where they are going. <div><br />
</div><div>Anyone with small children, that have ever ridden in a car knows this all to well. It seems from the time our children can talk they are asking, "Are we there yet" and "Where are we going". So much for a surprise, you can forget about that! They want to know and they will continue to ask until a satisfactory answer is given, or you reach your point of interest. Which ever comes first. In fact, I have a child that is constantly correcting me on my driving and direction ability. My 4 year old (yes you read that right), for at least the past year or more, let's me know when he feels I have turned left when I should have turned right, when I'm going the wrong way, or when Chick Fil A is the other direction. Oddly, he's often right. I'm not sure if it's some born in sense of direction or if he's just really lucky or if I just go to Chick Fil A WAY too often. So there are no surprise trips anywhere, since he knows how to get everywhere and don't try telling him different, he already knows best. </div><div><br />
</div><div>So what happens to us when we loose our sense of direction? It seems are humans we become disoriented, which in turn leads to anxiety and fear. So if we have such a natural and physical when we seriously can't find the street on a map, it stands to reason we will have a similar response when we can't find out way in life. Right now we are in one of those places. A chapter is coming to a close in our lives and a new one is set to begin, but where? Where does the chapter begin and seriously I need to know how it will end. Understand, I'm not a person that reads the entire book, I'd rather read the last chapter and be done. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I can read the rest of it later to figure out what I missed if I have time, but right now I just want to know the ending. That way I can determine if everyone ends up ok and if the hero triumphs over evil. I wish I could read the end of my book and make sure it all ends up ok in the end. That my children end up living for God, that my husband ends up happy and fulfilled at work, and that as a family we are productive in the work God has laid out for us. I don't need the details, they really aren't my thing. I just need the ending. I just need to know it will all be ok. I don't need to sit and count up the number of valleys and mountain tops I will reach, the firey furnaces I will endure, or the trials that are set out for our family. I just need to know that when it all is said and done we will be successful. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Of course, I really would like to know what and where the next turn is. What the end of the next chapter will be, where it's going to take us. As Phil enters his last months of this degree, what will the next one be? What is the time frame we are looking at? And will this ever end? I'm tired of hearing I can't, I have school work. I'm tired of the long weekends without seeing my husband. The long weeks where he don't come home until 9 or 10. The day upon days he's gone. The days when he's home, but not really, because he has homework. I'm really just done, and in the end I'm not sure it's worth it. I feel lost and run down. </div><div><br />
</div><div>In these days when I feel like we've lost our way, when our path feels like it's going no where, and when I don't know what the next turn is, I am reminded of Joseph. I'm sure he sat in prision not sure if it was all worth it. Not knowing his next chapter. And yet, God held him through. We read the book of Joseph now, and it seems so happy and upbeat, like Joseph knew he'd be standing strong in the end. That he'd be man #2 in charge, that he'd be made rich like a king. But I think Joseph's story might be a little different. I think maybe, because he was human he had times when he cried out to God and asked why. When he asked to see where his road was going to lead, where he asked for some direction. I'm sure he felt like is was wandering in a wilderness, unsure of where he was going or what was going to come next. We don't read about this between the chapters life though. No, actually when I read the story he seems like a bright kid, upbeat and excited to face his next trial. I have to imagine that when God writes down our lives he does some editing for future generations. That as long as we keep trying, as long as we get up, and as long as we keep our spirit right, He goes in edits out the long nights of crying out to Him, the doubt and fear we sometimes feel. That when He edits our life story He makes sure to remove our blemishes and down falls, and leaves us looking confident and sure in front of our reading audience. He leaves our story as one of hope and perseverance. Yes, I believe God takes the spirit of the letter and not the letter of the letter. I mean can I really believe that even if God himself in Jesus had doubts Joseph didn't? The thought in and of itself is preposterous. </div><div><br />
</div><div>So as I wonder through this wilderness, and as this chapter on my life closes, I will sit back and anxiously await to write the next one in my life, because in the end the hero always wins. Besides I read the last chapter, and when the book is closed we have the victory. So I guess I'll just sit back and see what details unfold. </div>Melissa Beckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306839596886743146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360647227606304032.post-24611768452842899502011-06-16T15:14:00.000-07:002011-06-16T15:14:30.192-07:00Pressing OnI got to thinking today, what do you do when you are loosing your mind, tired from lack of sleep, and have more to do that you can count on a millipedes legs? Well, I guess you just press on. Press on through the exhaustion, the laziness, and the to do list. You press on through the tears, the laughs, and the screaming.<br />
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When your kids are screaming, your husband is begging for dinner, and the dog is barking, you just press on. You press on when there is nothing else to be done. When all hope seems lost and you just can't find your way? You press on. <br />
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So that got me to thinking, what does it mean to press on? Well, I guess it means I get myself up, feed the kids, drive to camp, drop off the ones that are leaving, pick up the ones that are coming, pull the coupons and go grocery shopping. I guess at the end of the day it's not the to do list that really matters. It really won't matter tomorrow if I finished everything or not. God's not going to judge me on each check mark, in the end He's going to look and see if I kept going. If the times I felt like falling down and giving up, if I got up and kept moving. He's not going to care so much if I show up at the pearly gates with dirt on my face, covered in sweat, and exhausted to the point of falling down. He's going to care that it mattered enough to me to keep pressing on. That during those times when the furnace was turned up, the flames were dancing, and the lions were roaring that I held on for just one more day. <br />
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So I guess the important part of pressing on is not looking for what I will accomplish in a week, or a month, or even a year. It is more about keeping going today. About moving forward today. It will be about the fact that when all hope seemed lost and I was in the valley, I looked to the mountain top and decided that even if I knew I was going to fall off, I was going to press towards the top. <br />
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So today if I do nothing else, I will be pressing on. I will keep my head held high, and not let those around me see the struggle. I will keep a smile on my face amist the to do list. I will keep my attitude positive. I will be nice to my children, my husband, and even the strangers that would pass me by. Quietly I will go to God after the day has ended, the kids are to bed, and I've finished the day and let Him know if I accomplished nothing else today I pressed on. That I did my best and I tried hard. I may be dirty at the end of the day, but a good shower removes even the toughest dirt. Although I think He already knows. <br />
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And tomorrow? Well, tomorrow I will press on....Melissa Beckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306839596886743146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360647227606304032.post-88232659135629097812011-06-14T00:41:00.000-07:002011-06-14T00:41:03.760-07:00It's a thankless job, but someone has to bare the children...<div style="text-align: left;">I'm not an expert, actually I'm the exact opposite of what you would call an expert. I have no college training, no degrees printed on expensive velum paper, and no fancy letters behind my name. I'm actually a fairly simple person. I really don't have need for much, although without a full fabric stash I think I would be lost. I never really coveted a high paying job or higher education, in fact I saw it as an utter waste of my time. No, my life goals and dreams really were to do something very, very different from the every day and norm. Really all I ever wanted out of life was to have a family. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Of course with that family vision I always pictured a little town where the neighbors talked to each other (and you weren't worried they were serial killers or drug addicts); a quiet neighborhood where my kids would play outside with the other kids, while I sat on my porch with my friends and drank sweet tea while talking about the unimportant news of the day or how Johnny had just gotten his first tooth. I pictured a white picket fence, with 2 medium sized dogs running around the yard, and 2 cats sitting proudly in the window. I envisioned having 4 kids, 2 girls and 2 boys, in a pattern, 1 boy, 1 girl, 1 boy, 1 girl. In my fantasy life I saw my husband driving up to our two story house, and pulling into the garage, rushing into the kitchen as I finished putting dinner on the table and calling the kids in to wash their hands. Each night after dinner having the kids wash the dishes and put them away, bathing everyone and putting them to bed, all in time to spend some much needed time with my husband. Ok so as a kid I watched WAYYYYY too much TV. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So my life didn't exactly turn out as my fantasy played out. Somehow I missed the part where the kids were up all night screaming, the preteen came home weepy, everyone was grumpy, and somehow I am the one up handling it all. I'm pretty sure that wasn't in the pamphlet. I don't remember there being fine print on my fantasy that called my attention to the endless days of running from 1 place to another, only to have to run back, the cleaning, dear LORD the cleaning. The nights of vomiting children, sick husbands, and yes sick ME while still caring for everyone else. No one mentioned the insomnia that would settle in due to the worry and praying over my children. I'm pretty sure I would have remembered someone mentioning the burnt dinners, the screaming and fighting and the bickering that would in sue if I had more than 1 child. The children that will only sleep ON you, who cares if they are like 10 million degrees, I'm pretty sure they didn't ask if I was comfortable, and I'm fairly confident they don't really care. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Somehow growing up in a large family, I think I knew all this, and repressed the memories, because somehow it ended up being my dream to have a family. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Now I've read articles that talk about what a mother is worth and if you paid her for all her different hats and job titles she'd be a millionaire. I've also read the articles about finding a job that you are truely happy in; one you would gladly do for free. I'm pretty sure mother's cover this. It's a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week, 365 days a year job and yes I have NOT had any PAID vacation this year, since my LAST vacation involved my TAKING the kids with ME while my HUSBAND stayed home, ALONE. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So I'm trying to think here, but I'm pretty sure no one thanked me today for the millions of little things I did. I'm actually positive in the hospital after spitting out my 6# and 7# babies, respectivly, that neither of them looked up and thanked me, and I can promise my husband didn't, for him it was a fairly traumatizing ordeal. Last I checked I didn't get thanked for being the chauffeur, cook, teacher (yes we homeschool), business instructor, sandman, nurse, and all that other stuff I did and can't think of a job title for. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So here we sit. 3:30 in the morning and I'm awake, while the rest of the house sleeps. Why? Well of course because I have a screaming child that needs me, so I will do everything in my power to be here when he wakes up screaming in the next 30 mins again and needs to be comforted. But if I didn't do it who would? Who would raise the next generation of doctors, lawyers, caregivers, mothers, fathers, preachers, missionaries? If mothers weren't there to pray for scraped knees, and mend broken hearts, whose shoulders would that fall on? If mothers weren't the ones shuttling the kids to riding lessons, birthday parties, events, gatherings, church and more, who would? If it were not for mothers loving their children unconditionally in every action and every deed good or bad, who would? Without mothers who would teach our children to care for the sick? To help the poor, to lend a hand to the broken? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And you know what, in all that, I wouldn't change a single day, not 1 hour, or even a minute. I wouldn't have done anything different. If you'd given me the disclaimers to start with, my dream would have been to have a family. And I must say if we are going to keep score based on if we accomplished our dreams, I'm definately in the lead. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It's a rather thankless job, no one will come patting you on the back for a job well done when you've been up all night, but really someone has to bare the children. </div>Melissa Beckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306839596886743146noreply@blogger.com0