Kiki's Corner

Sew Easy T-shirt to Halter Transformation

I don't know about where you live, but goodness, gracious it is HOT in our part of Texas. You know it is going to be hot when you wake up in the morning and it is nearly 70 degrees already. I hear a cool front is on its way....we are looking forward to 98 degree temps instead of 108. Oiy!

Needless to say, we are doing our best to stay cool. I don't know what came over me, it must be the heat, but I actually got out my sewing machine....yes you read that correctly, I GOT OUT MY SEWING MACHINE...instead of my beloved glue gun. If you have read my blog for a while you know that I love my hot glue gun. Mr. Incredible has his real guns and I have my hot glue gun. I would rather hot glue than sew any day! But, this project needed a little sewing.

So, I took a few deep breaths and dragged out the sewing machine. Deep breaths...deap breaths....I think I can, I think I can. I even remembered how to thread the bobbin (I think that is the right wording). Woo-hoo! My goal was to transform a t-shirt into a halter-like top.

This is the t-shirt that I started with. It belongs to Hannah; we bought it on our trip to St. John, USVI last summer. The sleeves are a little long so she doesn't wear it very often:

Presto, chango-o, I grabbed some scissors and cut the sleeves off. Speaking of scissors, I don't have any good sewing scissors anymore. When I was a little girl I remember my mom protecting her "good" scissors from my all manner of craft projects....now I understand why:

Next, I cut across the top of the t-shirt. I just eyeballed the whole thing. Remember I am not a seamstress....I am queen of the glue gun:

I then folded down the rough edge of the top of the front of the shirt about an inch, I think, and carefully tried to sew a straight stich from one side to the next. I did the same thing on the back of the shirt. Surprisingly, it looked okay:

I rummaged through my craft closet and found some cute black with white polka dot ribbon which would be perfect for Hannh's new shirt. I cut off about 3 feet, give or take ten inches~ha! and then attached a safety pin to one end and began threading it through.

And here is what the new t-shirt looks like now:

Hannah loves the new look and so do I. The back of the shirt looks just like the front-I didn't want it to be a true halter top. I liked it so much that I fixed up one of my old Baylor t-shirts and one of Rachel's t-shirts too~she is at work, so won't she be surprised when she comes home (no, I didn't cut up one of her favorites). I think the whole process took only 30 minutes and the best part is that it was all free. Hello sewing machine....it's nice to see you again!

It's VBS Week!

Our Vacation Bible School began last night. Mom, Rachel, Hannah, and I along with our friend Mr. Phil, are teaching the 3rd graders and it is so much fun! Our theme this year is Route 254 based on Psalm 25:4 "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths."

Our group of 3rd graders were full of energy last night but they also listened so well to the Bible story which thrilled this heart of mine. I had to giggle to myself a little bit last night during the prayer. I taught the Bible story and then led our class in a prayer. I am around teenagers and high school students all day long, so I had to choose my words carefully during the prayer. I want everyone of these 3rd graders to know Jesus and to love Him and to see Him in all of us this week and I want to be careful to not say words that they might not understand but clearly I am use to talking to high school students!

I am so thankful that Jesus makes us what we can't possibly be on our own. Can anyone relate?
He uses us in spite of us and I am so thankful for that! He loves each one of these 3rd graders so much too and we so desperately want them to know that this week...and for their whole lives.

I am looking forward to tonight. I'll try to remember to bring my big girl camera along too because I can't wait for you to see our classroom. So, what are you doing this week?

A Horned Toad Comes to Visit

Ya'll it is hot outside! I'm talking over 100 degrees. The are predicting 108 degrees today and tomorrow. Whew-ee! That is hot! It makes me want to make some sun tea...which will probably be ready, or should I say freshly boiled, in less than an hour.

It is so hot outside even the horned toads are coming out for a visit. Mr. Incredible found this big mama while we were working outside:

I don't know if you have horned toads, we call them horny toads (I'm not sure why), in your part of the world but we think they are so cool. Just look at the marking on this one:

The Great Creator is so creative! There are baby horny toads running around our land too. We think this one is one of the mama's and clearly she didn't seem to mind coming inside for a little break from her little ones. I think she enjoyed being inside where it was cooler. No, we didn't keep her inside very long, just long enough to snap a few pictures and then for Mr. Incredible to put her to sleep for a little nap.

Have you every put a horny toad to sleep? No, I'm not kidding. Mr. Incredible learned this as a little boy. You lay the horny toad on his/her back and then with your finger draw imaginary circles around the toad until they go to sleep. I just re-read that last sentence and it sounded a little crazy-didn't it? Go ahead and giggle-I am!

I should have grabbed the video camera so that you could see it. My description doesn't do it justice. Anyway, Mrs. Horned Toad went to sleep until Mr. Incredible woke her up. She was a tired momma toad. I sound like a hick, I know. Remember I am a big city girl just trying to make it in the country despite how I just sounded in this post. Yep, city girl "fer" sure! Ha! Ya'll have a great weekend and stay cool!

The Yellow Door

I saw this yellow door a couple of weeks ago while I was running some errands and I knew it would be fun to use as a backdrop for some pictures. It did not disappoint!

I love how the yellow door makes Rachel's hazel eyes seem to pop off the page:

And how the yellow door seemed so inviting and yet so urban-quirky for these shots. Hannah loved it too~you can see it in these pictures:

We took a few pictures on the front porch of the old county jail~no not a sign of things to come! Shame on you!

And then the girls started looking a little ornery...can you see that look in their eyes? What are they going to do next?

I knew it!

Photo shoot over! It's time for dinner...the natives are restless. Thanks for dropping by my little corner of the world today. Blessings to you!

Workin' on the Railroad

Last Friday afternoon, my girls went shopping while I worked until 6:00 before my summer break began. They had fun spending a gift card to the Buckle from Granny and Grandpa. I would get a few texts letting me know where they were going and what they were doing...and it sounded like they were having some fun sister time together.

They waited less than 24 hours before they wore their new outfits. Do you ever remember doing that? I sure do...I still do that sometimes and it makes me feel like a teenager again.

Anyway, on Saturday afternoon, they put on their new outfits and modeled them for their daddy and I. What's a mom to do? I offered to do a photo shoot, of course! What could be more fun? It was a beautiful day, my gorgeous girls, and my camera was fully charged. Pefect! Mr. Incredible offered to drive us around town so we headed to the local railroad tracks. Who knew a photo shoot on the railroad tracks could be so much fun?! I sent these photos off to WHCC for printing yesterday and I can hardly wait to see how they turn out:

They both loved this location where I took senior pictures of Brandon and Chita so I took their picture there too:

We hung out in a few tires too:

Several weeks ago I found an old, rusty, yellow door that I knew would be a fun place to take pictures. We took pictures there too. ;-) I'll try to post those pictures tomorrow.

Have a blessed day!

Our Graduation Usher

Friday night the entire senior class of 2010 graduated...every, single student, and we are all so proud of them. It is a tradition that four upcoming seniors usher in the graduating class during the graduation ceremony. Every year the seniors vote for their favorites~2 guys and 2 girls to be their ushers. This year they chose Rachel and we were so excited!

We had a bit of an issue finding just the right dress but after a lighting fast trip to find the perfect dress before the store closed we found the perfect one...jewelry, shoes and all. Whew! Here is our graduation usher:

It was fun to go backstage and see the graduates in all of their finery awaiting the big moment. I have to admit that I had a lump in my throat all night because this heart of mine knows that our precious daughter will soon be wearing her graduation cap and gown all too soon.

This is Michelle and she is hoping to make it big in Christian Rock very soon.