August 25, 2014

I Made It Monday!


Today starts the 2nd week of school for me, and, as I intended, I am writing a blog post.  However, it is NOT the topic I meant it to be.  This post was supposed to be about my classroom theme, not what I did all summer!  But, alas, I left my phone at school with ALL the pictures on it that I needed to make the post work!  So, instead, you get "I MADE IT MONDAY"! 
Lots of bloggers share "Made it Monday", showing off all the goodies they made for their classrooms throughout the summer.   I’ve decided to show you what I made to wear in my classroom for the school year!  This summer I rediscovered the seamstress inside of me!  I must say, it was like having therapy!  And, I look great to boot!  That’s a win win!
Here’s how it started.  I was in our local Walmart ALONE and decided to go down the newly reinstated material and pattern isle!  I started looking through the pattern book and, to my surprise, was amazed by the very stylish  patterns that we in it!  One of the reasons I stopped sewing was because the patterns were not keeping up with the fashions of the time!  These new patterns were awesome!  It just so happens that the next day I was speaking to my mother.  I asked where the closest JoAnn’s was, and she informed me that it was out in the community I worked in.  The very next day, a Monday, my son started his summer session at his school –in that community!  It was lining up perfectly!  I hit JoAnn’s and came home with material to make two skirts and a shirt.  That very afternoon, skirt number one was made, and the rest is history!  So, without further delay, here we go!



This picture comes first because it is what I wore today!  I had my son take some shots of me in the back yard.  It is McCall’s # M6706 (skirt) and #M6708 (jacket).  The red shirt is store bought.  It was very fun to wear, but the skirt took a while to sew. Lots of straight LONG lines!  I got lots of compliments on it!



These are two of the skirts I made with New Look pattern #6899.  The brown one is the first skirt I made this summer. The other is rigged in so many ways that it made me realize sewing is like riding a bike! (The pattern lies about how much you need, so I had to add some fabric here and there to make it work!)


This is the shirt from the same New Look pattern (#6899) and a skirt to go with it.  I’m not thrilled with the shirt, as it is a little large for me.  But the orange sweater I have will go with it and cover it up enough that I will be fine.



This is the first dress I made.  McCall’s patterns were on sale that first week.  I really love this dress.  It is fun and I love the pockets.  It was actually very easy too! McCall's M6506 with a smaller collar.  I actually took a lot off of it!



This skirt is a fun pattern but it lies. (McCall’s pattern #5430)  It says “one hour skirt!”  It took me six hours between the pressing, the sewing, and adding a self-slip! But, I love it!  



This is just a fun picture of the other dress I made, McCall’s M6503 .  On Friday night my Church’s youth group had a scavenger hunt based on Where’s Waldo!  I was the Pink Shopping Lady!  I added the boa and hat just for the event!  This is the dress I wore the first day of school as well.  It is cool and pretty at the same time!  In this heat, it is a plus! 

I did make a pair of pants, which, honestly, are in the wash right now!  They aren’t my favorite, but they work with a long shirt!  I have 3 more dresses to make (I’m hoping to make one over this long weekend coming up) and a skirt as well.  I did get material and a pattern for a winter jacket.  I need to pick out lining and hope for weather cool enough here in Florida to be able to wear it.  We usually get some cold fronts that are worthy of a good winter coat! 

That’s may fashion show for Make It Monday!  Now, if I could just remember my phone, I can post what my classroom looks like this year!  



August 12, 2014

Meet the Teacher Linky Party!

I've joined in the fun over at Falling into First!  She is hosting a linky party!  So, here it goes!


Hi, my name is Julie and I've been teaching for 22 years!  I have taught almost everything in elementary-1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and Science Lab, which included a period a day with Kinders!  This year I am back in 1st grade and, currently, should be working on getting things ready instead of distracting myself.  I tend to be easily distracted!  I am a mom of two wonderful boys and a wife to my wonderful husband!  In my "spare" time I have taken up triathlon and will be competing in my 3rd event on August 30th!  It is a great way to keep in shape (and loose the shape I currently have!)  


I have also rediscovered the joy of sewing!  I'm happy to say that my first two weeks (except Friday's) fashions will be things I have made-either to go with something or, the whole outfit!  

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

Joann's Fabrics, swimming-as in, laps!, scrap booking, CAMPING, spending time in and with nature, barred owls!, Eagle Watch, Adopt-a-Block, photography, Church, lasagna 

 IF YOU WEREN'T A TEACHER, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO BE?

A few years ago I was actually faced with thinking about this. Florida went to that crazy idea that teachers should give up tenure. I actually planned my new career.  Para Legal.  It was something I could sink my teeth into and I love to do research on things.  Thank goodness, the law doesn't require a mandator removal of tenure!

THREE LITTLE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU.

Creative (This one was an actual graduate award!), committed, caring


FINISH THE SENTENCE, "________,  SAID NO TEACHER EVER!!"

I LOVE all the paperwork....

Q: IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY AND YOU CAN INVITE ANYONE {DEAD OR ALIVE} TO THE PARTY. WHO ARE YOU INVITING?

I don't know why, but every time I hear a question like this, I respond with Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.  It is always those two, in that order.  I think I have a lot of questions for them!

Q: IF SOMEONE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE?

The Search for the "Just Right" Everything

Q:YOU GET TO PICK ONE SUPERPOWER. WHAT IS IT?

I actually took a Facebook test and got invisibility!  I said that it was "just right" for me!  I would love to use it and be the fly on the wall idea!

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR SAYING?

Golden Rule:  Never assume a task is too hard-let them try!  
University of Cambridge Web Site

It's my email tag and I don't know if it is even on the website anymore.  

Q: IF YOU HAD TO SING ONE SONG ON AMERICAN IDOL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 

Fearless by Group 1 Crew (Just love this song!)

 Q: ARE YOU A MORNING PERSON OR A NIGHT OWL?

Morning! And I cold caffeinate!

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE RESOURCE THAT YOU'VE CREATED IN YOUR TPT SHOP?

It's a TIE!
My favorite one that the kids complete is my Native American Mall (for upper grades).


My favorite one I created is:




Q: SHARE SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU! 

As you can see, I am a redhead.  However, as I've aged, I've had to color my hair BACK to some close shade of red (it fades hard and fast! What you may not know is that I think this is God's joke (because we all know he has a sense of humor and knows us enough to know we will get it!)  My WHOLE life I would cry and complain about my carrot top curls!  I wanted to dye it as soon as I got old enough-period!  When I got old enough, I realized that even though I wasn't thrilled with it, people paid A LOT of money for my color, so why change it.  Now that I'm TOO OLD, I have to color the hair I hated most of my life back to a decent red and I long for my true red color.  It simply proves that God knows what he is doing!  (Plus, I'd look totally ridiculous with black hair!)


Thanks for following along!  Now, go check out some other bloggers or join in yourself!  I'll be checking out others along the way too!