Shirred Smocking Tutorial

I haven't been able to find the video I was looking for tonight. I wanted to find the Sewing with Nancy episode that showed how to create smocking with a serger/over lock machine. It is a great episode, and the guest shows all kinds of great stitches that can be created with a serger.

I did however find this great tutorial on YouTube that shows how to create smocking with a regular sewing machine. Marking this one now, so I can find it later.

That word? That word?

Do you ever have a word on the tip of your brain, but you just CAN'T pull it up to the surface? Uggh! That is exactly what is happening to me tonight. I really wanted to learn how to do _____ with my serger. I've seen it done on one of the sewing shows on OETA on Saturday morning. I would love to Google..or YouTube it right now, but I can't pull the word up out of my brain to type it in. So... if you just happen to be passing by, and want to put me out of my misery, can you tell me what they call it when the fabric at the top of a baby's dress is all gathered up, and then sewn on top? Please?

Blog Makeover

I've been working on a blog makeover, along with an Etsy banner makeover. Although I like the colors in my old design, I really wanted something brighter and more fun. So here it is, my new blog just in time for back to school and the end of summer.

Doodle A Day

Kristen Has Her Driver's Permit!

It has been such a busy weekend around here. Thankfully I took Thursday and Friday off this week, because I knew I would need a little extra time. It is tax-free weekend in Oklahoma, and I thought it would be the perfect time to use my floating holiday at work. Only a mom would think tax-free weekend is a valid holiday, but hey if it works it works.


We took Thursday to relax. It was a good day to go to Big Splash with the kids, a little cool for an August morning, but it was not the least bit crowded. Then we finally took some time to go see the new Shrek movie. It was a good one, a nice way to spend Thursday evening.


Friday morning I took Kristen to get her driver's permit. It was about an hour and half wait just to take the test. She passed the first time, but I'm so nervous about letting her drive. She may just have to wait until driver's ed starts later this month.

Then it was off to do the back to school shopping. My legs were so exhausted by the time we arrived home Friday evening, but we are pretty much done with back to school shopping. Everyone has new shoes and new uniforms, and I didn't quite break the bank.

Time to get back to work. I have some Etsy catch up to do.

Doodle A Day

OK...so I couldn't quite remember what actually surrounded the Eiffel Tower, but I must have been dreaming of Paris during our weekly I.T. meeting today.

Space Bags

If you tell my husband I said this I will deny it, but I have way to much fabric, and not enough time... or space. I seemed to have lost my sewing machine under a mountain of bags of fabric. My solution, space bags. Plastic boxes, just don't seem to cut it. They are great for organizing, but they take up more space than the fabric does without them. I'm going to give Space Bags shot to see if I can really "triple my space." It worked for the linen closet, so it should work for my craft room as well.