Thanksgiving & Christmas DIYs

This is my first non-sewing post, but I've been feeling so crafty lately that I thought i'd dedicate one post to all my projects. They were all very simply amateur projects, but I enjoyed doing them thoroughly. Everything was made from scrap wood, chopsticks, popsicle sticks and paints!

My first project was this sign. I found this piece of wood on the side of our house, browsed pinterest and went to town. I love it and the little boy holding it!  

For Christmas, I flipped my Thanksgiving sign around and painted this on the back. 

Large snowflakes made of popsicle sticks, thanks pinterest for the idea!

Chopsticks inspired by the nutcracker!

Random Christmas ornaments made from popsicle sticks

These next two signs were inspired by a pinterest project. I couldn't follow the original project exactly (a reindeer made of gold glitter) because I didn't have gold glitter, so I made a snowman and candle instead with the glitter I did have. 

Made as a gift for a family we stayed with while vacationing in Japan

The next four signs were made for random family members 

My son "made" this sign for his papa who is an amazing sculptor/artist

Love this sign inspired by pinterest!!!

Annnnd that's it! I found with these projects that I really enjoy DIYs and I really love taking scrap-throw-away materials and turning them into works of art. I am completely in the amateur group but I love my simple pieces. I love the creativity and inspiration that comes when looking at a piece of wood or random popsicle sticks and think, what could I make out of this.......

I'm still waiting....

I came across this picture on my phone a while back and just remembered that I never posted it. I know why though, I was waiting for the bride to send me pictures of her 12 bridesmaids in these skirts. 3 years later, I am still waiting. So I guess I'll just post this lone picture and say that I made 12 of them at one point in time. =)

My little Samoan/Tongan/Haole mutt!

My sweet Leila bum modeling a puletasi I made for a cute little girl in Arizona who will be celebrating her 1st birthday. Leila already knows when I finish sewing something and I want her to try it on because she immediately runs away. She does this EVERY time. Today I chased her into the bedroom just so that I could put the puletasi on and then I had to bribe her with fruit snacks just so that I could snap a few shots. She such a little rascal!

Pretty in Pink

I was asked to sew for an entire line of bridesmaids. And for a Polynesian wedding that means big! Nine dresses total! While I've sewn for entire lines before, this was my first time sewing dresses without having a single fitting! All the girls lived an ocean away and all I had were their measurements. While this would have been a piece of cake for a REAL professional seamstress, I am use to and need my girls to be fitted not once but twice throughout the process. I need to adjust and cut as needed and I never like my clients to leave without being completely satisfied with how the dress looks on them. So naturally I was very hesitant but the bride was insistent, and so I surrendered. She picked out a simple yet attractive pattern. So here are the dresses and I am just crossing my fingers they fit!

 

 

I managed to get one picture!!!

 

 

More beach robes!!!!

I made beach robes as birthday presents but of course as protocol, before they are wrapped and given away, my kids have to model them for me.

 



   

 

Halloween 2014: Jake and the Neverland Pirates

Jakes Boots

 Prepare for picture overload.

Leila's Sunday best

I made this little dress a looooong ago and am only now putting it on my daughter. Its a tad bit to small but she was a cutie in it even though she was not too happy about taking pictures. =)