Korra's $1.37 School Book Bag

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I was less than impressed with what we saw while school shopping.
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Every bag was either covered in characters and/or so cheaply made that it was ridiculous. One tug at the shoulder straps, and the stitching started to tear. MIC (made in China) pieces of craap.

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So, I decided to make my own.

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I used the scraps left from making the porch furniture's cushions, ribbon I have on hand, and quilt batting I have on hand. I bought the zipper for $1.37. I made the pattern myself.

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Korra loves it!

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The Evolution of a Laundry Room

Still have the finishing touches to do, like decor, new windows, & DH hooking up the sink basin, but I'm too excited to wait until next pay day to finish, so here is the evolution of my laundry room...

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The Before Pictures.

This is with a flash. Very dark and dismal, huh?

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The Kenmore washing machine is 35 years old and purchased from my Chief Master Sergeant when pregnant with Xavian. I paid $50. The start mark on the knob was worn off, so once a year, I remarked it with red nail polish. The dryer belonged to my Technical Sergeant, and was 18 years old when she up and gave it to me. Not what I expected to see when I opened my door that day! I cried after they were picked up by someone from FreeCycle. I prepped and washed all my babies' clothes in those machines. They've lived in 4 homes with me. I had no idea idea it would be so hard to let them go.

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Take note of the cabinet between the washer and dryer.

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The 2x4's and sheetrock were park of 2 wooden closets built on top of the drain. Smart, yes? No. You can see on the floor where the second closet was. J tore that portion out and a door that led to the laundry room a couple years ago. The laundry space was ridiculously small, and if I wasn't skinny-ish, there was no way I could have loaded and unloaded the washer in the space between the washer and the back of the closets.
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The windows are on the replacement list. The one above the dryer will probably be replaced with glass block to allow for the dryer vent. Our basement walls are between 2.5 and 3 feet thick, so can't just drill a hole thru them for that! Windows also run $150 a pop. So to try to rig a new one to accomidate that vent would be a waste of money.
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That sad green wastebasket has been with me since my dorm room days in the Air Force. It's around 9 years old. Rubbermaid really is made to last!
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The In-Process Pictures.

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Sealing the Exterior Wall.
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3 gallons of basement wall sealant is $79.98 at Home Depot. The exact same brand is $36.50 at Ollie's Bargain Outlet. It pays to shop around!

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The previous homeowners had started sealing that section of the wall, but they didn't finish. The directions say to fill larger holes with cement filler and to coat until the pinholes are gone. The wall was covered in pinholes and had 7 holes that needed filled.
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I should warn you that the sealant is VERY potent. I had to work in 20 minute intervals, with the windows opened and fans going, to advoid passing out. I made the mistake at the end of the evening of sitting down on the floor between the washer and dryer to look for missed spots. The dog woke me up a couple hours later by barking at J doing a drive-thru of the driveway. I spent the next day out of the basement, until the smell was gone.
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Bring on the Blue!

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Kingfisher Teal, exterior semi-gloss. Me likey!
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I used black spray paint in Black Ink to paint the laundry chute and pipes. Again, open windows and fan usage was very wise on my part.

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I actually painted the side wall the night before I started the sealant. I wanted to make sure I liked it.
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I left the white spot on the wall because I figured the washer and dryer would cover it up. I regretted that move once things were moved in. J also ripped out the rest of the old closets at this point.
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Painting the Floor with Epoxy Enamal Garage and Basement Floor Paint
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My back was so sore after scrubbing the floor with the acid wash to etch it and then using a squeagy while rinsing the floor. I don't think the cement has been that clean since the day it was poured!

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I followed the direction to a "t", and am so relieved I only did half of the kit instead of all of it. That paint gets thick and hard to spread FAST. While I rolled the paint on, J sprinkled the paint flakes. It took 2 people. If I had stopped to spread the flakes every 4 foot section, I would have never gotton done.

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Moving in the LG HE Front Loaders

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If it weren't for our neighbor comming over and helping J get these things into the basement, these heavy things would have likely fell down the stairs and J & I ending up divorced. Those gals barely squeezed thru the landing door way. Whew!
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Me turning on the dryer! I am elated!
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J hooked up the washer, and then Iopened the door and saw that it came with new hoses. New hoses are detergent cabinet for now. The cold faucet is leaky and has to be replaced, and J said he'd change out the hoses when he fixes/replaces the faucet. The dryer didn't get hooked up until the next day. I thought new dryers came with venting duct work! They don't. LOL
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Arranging the Space
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Recognize the cabinet? I painted it black! Those 1960's silver "v" shaped pulls are so awsome! This picture was snapped while I was deciding where I wanted to put the cabinet. It didn't stay here.
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I wasted no time putting my Fuzzy Wuzzy wool dryer balls in the dryer!
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The (Semi) After Pictures.

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HA! You see that?! I painted the wastebasket Hammered Steel with that spray paint that bonds to plastic. So sharp! The $4.88 for the can of paint was much more realistic, than a new $48 stainless steel trash can.
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I picked this sink and it's faucet up at a yardsale 2 years ago for $5. I scrubbed it down and painted the bottom and the legs black. I can't wait until J gets it hooked up!
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I put the cabinet in this space here. It actually works quite well right here! Didn't it turn out nice?

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As you can see, I had to paint in a lot of my white square. It was a pain. But, it looks good!

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I have named them Betsy Lou and Mary Sue.

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Here's the cost list for the space so far:

Washer & Dryer, with warranties, $2,007

Basement Wall Sealant, $33.50 + tax

Wall Paint, $19 + tax

Epoxy Enamal Floor Paint, $64.88 + tax

Spray Paint, $15.55 + tax

New Laundry Chute Hamper, $12.50 + tax

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Basically, if you exclude the needed washer and dryer, we've done the room for under $150, excluding tax! I figure another $75 for accessories, including a rug for in front of the machines, $150 for the window, $75 for glass block, and $50 for the ceiling. Still less than $600 for remodeling and basically finishing a space! Not bad. Not bad at all!

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More Than Irritated with US Postal Service

I'm quite bitter with them, actually.

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I shipped my SIL a package that included some maternity, a couple things for the baby, and something for my nephew. It all fit in a flat rate envelope, and I put DC and insurance on it. I watched the package go through 2 sorting/distribution centers and waited impatiently to call her and ask if she liked what I sent. I check the DC # on the 4th day after I shipped, and it said it was in LAS VEGAS. How did a package from the east coast, headed to OK, end up in Nevada?!

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That's when the package quit moving. According to the USPS, the package has never left Sin City. And, that was almost a month ago.

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So I called the USPS to make a claim, since the package was insured. Which is a NIGHTMARE. They haven't been helpful, nor friendly. I'm supposed to fill out forms and show receipts (I bought the effing maternity at a yardsale and the clothes receipts were tossed a long time ago.) I asked them what if it was an antique or family heirloom. How does one show a receipt for that??? I swear the girl leered at me on the phone.

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Thanks for making me look like a douche, USPS. You have been nothing but a biitch to work with lately. I think I want a shipping divorce.

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Can anyone tell me if you can e-mail gifts?

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They're Here!

My new washer and dryer are here!

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I know I sound over-hyped about these things, but I have researched these for 2 years and just dropped over $2,000 for the set (with warranties), and they are my laundry pals for the next 20 years. Did I mention it will cost less than $20 a YEAR to run them?!

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Sadly, we opened the flooring to find that the "great for Kitchens, Batherooms, and Basements!" vinyl was backed with PAPER. WTF? I mean, I've never ever seen a perfectly dry 100 year old basement in my life, let alone a 2 year old dry basement. So we took it back. And J talked me into garage paint. HOWEVER, there is 100% vinyl flooring that looks like hardwood and floats (designed for cement floors), that I spoted. It'll cost $250 just to do the laundry space, but if I buy a pkg a month, I'll have the flooring I really want by February. The garage floor paint will be an extra layer againt the moisture, which I can definately still appreciate.

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I put the old washer and dryer on Freecycle.org for my area, and they were snatched up quick! Turns out that the lady who got them runs a licensed daycare center with state paid kidlets. But, our state budget still isn't passed, and while they passed a bill for the state employees to get paid, lots of "contracted" aren't. She hasn't been able to make payments on her washer and dryer since June, and she has to return them. So, while my old ones aren't new or pretty, they are workhorses who get the job done. And someone who truely needs them, is getting them.

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Sorry, no pictures yet. Will show before and after pics when it's done though!

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I'm High on Dr Pepper and Basement Sealant Fumes

But the laundry room is rapidly changing!

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J could not believe all the work I had done in the basement. Nor could he believe how strong the fumes were from the wall sealant. That stuff makes your eyes water!

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Tomorrow (okay, technically today), I pick up the new washer and dryer! SQUEEEEEEEEE! I'm to be there any time after 12pm. Hopefully, I'll have the wall painted teal, and the flooring down by then.

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Oh wait. Didn't I tell you? I bought vinyl flooring that looks like hardwood for the laundry area! Cheap too. Of course, Ollie's is always cheap.

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I painted the 1960's metal cabinet with the cool silver "v" drawer pulls, black, today. Matte black. It looks sharp! I think it will look very nice between the new washer and drawer.

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I'm looking for a cool shower curtain to cut up and make curtains for the 2 windows and for the new bags on my laundry organizer. Why a shower curtain? Because the basement will always have a certain level of humidity to it, and I'm afraid cotton will mildrew.

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I can't believe how much we've changed the basement space since we moved in, and the changes currently in progress. This is so not any of the previous homeowners' house!

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I Knit Because I Can

And I'm not too bad if I say so myself!

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Here's a pair of shorties I made using Dying to Fly's Inspiration 2 colorway on peace fleece. The pattern is by Itchy Fingers.

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"Wait! Dad! Are you taking both of them and not me?!"

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"I can't believe you would leave me!"

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"Fine. I'll drive myself."

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Another Itchy Fingers patterned piece (hey if it works, then don't mess with it!). I made these longies using Sensations' Black and White Licorice that I bought at JoAnn's.

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Of course, I pay other people to knit for me, too.

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Why? Because I can.

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Smarty Pants Knits' scrappy shorties to finish out this summer and to wear all of next!

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Squishy softness on Marr Haven.

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You may be jealous and cry now.

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These I am going to keep this next set forever.

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Another Smarty Pants Knits creation, these train longies' yarn was dyed w/ engineer's overalls in mind, and the train silouette was free handed.

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I won the next pair of upcycled woolie board shorts in a FFS (free for shipping) drawing on Hyena Cart. The funny thing is, I almost didn't enter the drawing because I wasn't sure if they would fit.

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They fit!

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"Who me? I'm not trying to fingure out how to get on the dining room table. I'm just pretending to be a pirate. Land ho!"

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My life would never be complete if I didn't get to make trades.

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Thankfully, other mama's agree!

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These island embellished shorties were knit by Smarty Pants Knits, and came from a fellow EFFer's home. She's already said she may want to buy them back for her in-utero baby, so don't get your hopes up of seeing these offered up when Saxton outgrows them!

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The final pair of wool you see has lived in 3 homes. The knitter's, a buyer who decided that she didn't like ends not weaved in, and sold them super cheap to me. In case you're wondering, I wove the ends in. I took all of 15 minutes. Her loss, my gain!

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The colorway is unknown, but the yarn is Marr Haven. I think they either look like a fall colorway or a tiger. What do you think?

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"Grandma? Do you see what I have to put up with?!"

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I have another pair to be on Oi Goi's needles right now. The colorway is inspired by the different colors of pears at harvest. I'm sooooo excited!

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Is it legal to love wool this much?

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Korra's Handmade Fall Wardrobe!

I think the best part about knowing how to make your own patterns and sewing, is getting to make unique custom outfits for those you love. Xavian is a little old for homemade clothes, other than sweaters and such, and Saxton gets most of (okay, so far all of) my knitting, so Korra gets the sewing.
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I had oodles and kaboodles of fun making these! Enjoy Korra's back to school fashion show!
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Korra's school has Eric Carl week, so of course I had to make her a Very Hungry Catapiller outfit with the licensed fabric!
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Remember that box of vintage fabrics I scored at a yardsale and resold in my etsy store? I kept one piece. I had to. I was more than adorable. It was perfect for skirt just for my girl!

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Behold, Korra's vintage poodle valance fabric skirt!

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I think every little girl needs at least one toil outfit a year in her wardrobe. Timeless and sweet, and always chic! It's not a typical fall design, being sleeveless and capris, but it will be warm for a bit after school starts and spring is only 8 months away!

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I saw this fabric and knew exactly the outfit I would make, and I'm more than please with the results! The hat was made by the very talented owner of Leeny's Beanies.

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I bought oodles of fabric from a boutique fabric store this spring, and included in the order was the Timeless Treasures Apple Family fat quarter collection. I've been fingering the set for awhile now, but was never sure what I wanted to make. Until I was surfing the WAHM wares on eBay, and saw an Euro designed dress in similar colors. I knew right then what I wanted. I wanted a 70's feel w/ an European flair. And so, I made this:

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This dress is the only outfit I made using a pattern not mine own. It ran big, and I did alter the neckline from square to round. I think she'll look fab when a pair of white tights and her little brown boots!
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Well, there you have it! Korra's handmade fall wardrobe!

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I'm so happy she loves it!
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