~~~SEWING my way to POFQ ~ American Girl outfits & Custom Park Bags! ~~~

[miprender]

I've been working on updating this Calendar page for my Mini-Planner since I changed the dates of our trip. The updated version is very similar to the original.

D~

That looks great.

 

[skyecaitlin88]

I've been working on updating this Calendar page for my Mini-Planner since I changed the dates of our trip. The updated version is very similar to the original.

D~

Alright these are awesome.
I deff need one now-but I have to get my printer up and running.
Where do you find all the amazing graphics?

 

[cogero]

D you are making me want to start another project and I have no time for another project

 

[mphalens]

hello hello hello!!!

We paid for internet for 24hrs, so I wanted to pop in and say Hi! Glad you're liking my facebook updates! I'm just sorry i can't manage to stay awake long enough to post a live report

Just wanted to pop in here and say "Hi!" and tell you HOW many people have asked where I got my bag - I've directed them to your Etsy shop And as far as using it in the parks, it is fabulous! Perfect size - and if I didn't shoot a Nikon D80, I could even fit a small digital camara in there along with my other essentials!

 

[cogero]

Marianne you are my hero taking your DSLR to the parks. I bought a point and shoot for Christmas with the boy it is too much for me at times.

 

[ZehnJahren]

Hello!

I'm just jumping in here (very late!) to say that I found you about a week ago, and you have completely inspired me.

I've owned a Brother LS-30 for about 4 years - I got it for Christmas from my mom. In the next days after I got it, I spent about 15 hours trying to get it threaded (no, I'm not kidding) and just put the cover back on and put it in the storage closet, to never come out again.

But after reading your story and seeing everything you've done, I was inspired to pull it out and give it another try - after almost 4 YEARS. After 3 more hours on this past Saturday, I found out what I was doing wrong all those years ago and started sewing! I've been sewing every day and reading sewing books (as well as watching videos online) trying to figure out what I'm doing. I made a pillow cover yesterday and actually made a little ruffled Barbie skirt! I couldn't believe it!

Thank you for being my inspiration! So far, I know I don't know what I'm doing, but I'll keep going. Thanks for posting here so I could read it and give sewing another try.

 

[DMGeurts]

Hi Ogre!
I tease, I tease!

LOL

I hope you can sort out the school stuff with the teachers this year. Maybe they'll be accommodating. Hopefully with it being during the year, they'll be a bit more prepared. I know the end of the year is just chaotic for everyone. But sorry you had such a bad experience.
I'm a bit worried about pulling mine out. In 2010, I pulled DD out, but it was school policy that her absenses are UNexcused (and X amount of UNexcused = mommy & daddy take a field trip to the jail!). They also said that if a child has X amount of absences, period, then they can call in a Truancy officer and hold the child back.

That is kind of how it is here. They get so many absences per year (I have no idea how many that is, we've never gotten close, as far as I know), and then you are in trouble...

Also, the children are NOT allowed to do the missed work. So whatever they're learning, they will miss out on 100%. They can not complete the material early, or late. They're just not allowed to do it at all. I thought it was bad enough they would receive 0s for the days missed ... but they also don't even get to learn the material? Lame.

It's the teacher's choice here, whether they get to do the work or not. Our trip to Europe was just on a whole different level because we didn't have a choice for the timing (Josh's bro's wedding)... and I acually emailed their school counselor about 6 months in advance, and he is the one who told me that if they weren't able to get all the work from their teachers that the teachers could just cut off the end of their school year by a week. This time, is a whole new ball game... it's definately a family vacation to a fun place that could have been planned over spring break - which it is - but we are leaving 4 days early.

Mine will miss a total of 3 days for our trip. Our only other option would be a summer trip ... but the heat will be too much for me. If the kids were struggling in school, I'd never consider taking them out for even one day ... but both kids are doing amazing this year! DD is on the honor roll (all As and one B), and DS is at the top of his Kindy class.

That is how I feel, as well. If the girls were doing awful, I wouldn't pull them.

I have to say reading about all your problems with schools makes me happy I live in NYC. Imagine them clogging the court system because you went on vacation

I just don't get that philosophy.

Chiara, you are making me want to move to NY. LOL

We've been lucky with taking Megan out of school for trips....in CA, they even had a policy of "excused" absences contract, if we signed it and all the homework was completed the school still got their $$ from the state!
In WA they are also allowed to have the time off - they don't want it to be ABUSED- but understand that families sometimes needs to take trips during the school year! I always give her teachers plenty of notice and ask for any/all homework ahead of time if possible....even with Middle school all of her teachers worked with us!

That is awesome Lisa...

my poor mini-planner looks awful compared to yours!

the poor thing is so neglected!

Stephanie... Your Mini Planner is awesome!!! You know that it's been the inspiration for mine this entire time. If I was into scrapbooking or something else, I'd be doing it that way - but since all I know how to do is graphics - I am just doing what I know how to do. Your mini planner will be an amazing memento of your trip, because you made it.

That looks great.

Thanks!

Alright these are awesome.
I deff need one now-but I have to get my printer up and running.
Where do you find all the amazing graphics?

I surf around on the internet until I find what I want. The pictures used from the backgrounds are from a Diser that gave me permission to use his photos for this purpose... all the characters I just found online and the characters of us are from a DISigner down on the creative community boards, she was on vacation when I created them, so she just let me take her heads, and then I added the bodies.

I actually plan on printing my mini planner pages on 4x6 photo paper, so they fit perfectly into my book.

D you are making me want to start another project and I have no time for another project

Which project might that be???

hello hello hello!!!

We paid for internet for 24hrs, so I wanted to pop in and say Hi! Glad you're liking my facebook updates! I'm just sorry i can't manage to stay awake long enough to post a live report

ACK!!! I've been stalking your fb page (I admit it) - I just love all the updates... and even more, I love seeing what each of you is wearing every day! Love it!

Just wanted to pop in here and say "Hi!" and tell you HOW many people have asked where I got my bag - I've directed them to your Etsy shop And as far as using it in the parks, it is fabulous! Perfect size - and if I didn't shoot a Nikon D80, I could even fit a small digital camara in there along with my other essentials!

That's awesome, I am so glad you like the bag and it's working for you. You are the first person to actually carry one of my bags in the parks - so I've been anxiously awaiting feedback from you. I have a couple people that will be carrying them in the next few weeks - I am prettty excited about it actually. I wish I could go to Disney as often as my bags do.

Oh and Marianne... You've neglected to tell everyone that you've been sewing machine shopping while in WDW.... ROFL!

Marianne you are my hero taking your DSLR to the parks. I bought a point and shoot for Christmas with the boy it is too much for me at times.

I agree... Although my new Cannon P & S isn't too hard to work, definately like it better than my old camera. I've always wanted to learn how to use a DSLR, but I have enough hobbies for right now, I don't think I have the time to add another to the mix.

Hello!

I'm just jumping in here (very late!) to say that I found you about a week ago, and you have completely inspired me.

WELCOME!!!! I am so glad I could inspire you... You aren't late, I just talk a lot. LOL

There's a bunch of ladies that sew here on the Dis - you can find the rest of them in the "Disney for families" section and we are called the Disboutiquers. If you ever have any questions, feel free to ask me - or wander over to the Disboutiquers thread, those ladies (and Tom) are awesome, and usually someone is around all the time, so answers come quickly - if you're impatient like me.

I've owned a Brother LS-30 for about 4 years - I got it for Christmas from my mom. In the next days after I got it, I spent about 15 hours trying to get it threaded (no, I'm not kidding) and just put the cover back on and put it in the storage closet, to never come out again.

But after reading your story and seeing everything you've done, I was inspired to pull it out and give it another try - after almost 4 YEARS. After 3 more hours on this past Saturday, I found out what I was doing wrong all those years ago and started sewing! I've been sewing every day and reading sewing books (as well as watching videos online) trying to figure out what I'm doing. I made a pillow cover yesterday and actually made a little ruffled Barbie skirt! I couldn't believe it!

This is so wonderful!!! I am so glad you were able to figure it out! You are doing exactly what I did... I poured over any information that would teach me more, if I wanted to learn how to do something, I would find a tutorial online... and practice, practice, practice... Great job on making the pillow cover and the Barbie skirt - it's so gratifying, isn't it?

Thank you for being my inspiration! So far, I know I don't know what I'm doing, but I'll keep going. Thanks for posting here so I could read it and give sewing another try.

You're welcome... I try not to think of myself as an inspiration - I just throw fabric together and pray it comes out the way I want it to. LOL Just keep sewing, the more you do it, the better you'll get.

OK everyone... I had another dream last night. This time, it's a gift for my oldest dd for Christmas, and I am super excited about it. It will be a couple of weeks before I can start on it though, until then, I'll be gathering supplies.

I got a good portion of my next bag done yesterday. Honestly, it's the quilting that takes the longest - I can easily spend an entire 9 hour day just quilting the pieces, but I would never not quilt the fabric, because that's what gives it the quality... DD has actually been doing some of the quilting for me on the weekends - which helps out immensely, but lately she hasn't had much time... She's been busy making some of her Elephants for holiday gifts.

So, I'll just be sewing today.

D~

 

[cogero]

LOL

Chiara, you are making me want to move to NY. LOL

Nah you don't want to move here.

Which project might that be???

Your super cool planner

I agree... Although my new Cannon P & S isn't too hard to work, definately like it better than my old camera. I've always wanted to learn how to use a DSLR, but I have enough hobbies for right now, I don't think I have the time to add another to the mix.

I have a DSLR a rather high end one but with J, his stroller and all his things I try to pack light. Well this trip I also have my bestie and her DSLR which her wonderful DH doesn't mind carrying.

OK everyone... I had another dream last night. This time, it's a gift for my oldest dd for Christmas, and I am super excited about it. It will be a couple of weeks before I can start on it though, until then, I'll be gathering supplies.

I got a good portion of my next bag done yesterday. Honestly, it's the quilting that takes the longest - I can easily spend an entire 9 hour day just quilting the pieces, but I would never not quilt the fabric, because that's what gives it the quality... DD has actually been doing some of the quilting for me on the weekends - which helps out immensely, but lately she hasn't had much time... She's been busy making some of her Elephants for holiday gifts.

So, I'll just be sewing today.

D~

Oh I so can't wait to see. I love that your daughters sew with you.I love the elephants they are so cute.

 

[VBAndrea]

Sounds like you did pretty well in the AG website. I posted earlier that I was a little disappointed in their sale this year. Not that I was looking for anything, but I thought they had fewer furniture and clothing items for the dolls than in the past. It sounds like you did very well with your Walmart horse. Hopefully your DD will be so excited that she got a horse for her doll that she doesn't care that the mane and tail are darker. My kids played for years with their Target horses, which I bought on sale for like $20. They never cared that they weren't the AG brand horses.

I understand why D is concerned about her girls missing school. I pulled mine out for at least a week or so every winter when they were in elementary school. But now that they are in middle school it is so much harder. My older DD, who is only a 7th grader is already in two classes that will be on her high school transcripts. I wish that they were smaller and we could still take them out of school as easily. I miss being able to travel without the crowds since I hate crowds! I do agree that being together for family time is just as important as school. Making memories with your kids will last a lifetime versus remembering a formula from algebra class, which will only last until June.

I was hoping for some furniture at the AG CM sale but all they had was a lame beach chair! I am hoping I can talk dh into making dd some furniture. He makes life sized furniture so a few doll items will hopefully seem easy for him. We actually still have a baby cradle he made for our kids in dd's room and I may move that to the attic and let her set up a little AG corner in her room. And dd just got a new catalogue in the mail and circled the chestnut horse so I think she will be happy!

My kids are only in 2nd and 4th grade right now, plus we go to a Montessori school so all the kids are learning at different levels anyway and my dd is way ahead so it's no big deal for her. DS is not as bright, but he's not behind either. When I pulled them out for a week two years ago I just wrote a nice letter explaining it was the only time my military dh could get leave before his 7 month deployment and they didn't say a thing. People at our school pull their kids out all the time. We even had one that was on a soap opera so he was always gone up to NYC to film. I'm sure public school is different and I'm sure middle school is harder -- the jump from 3rd to 4th grade is already a huge difference for our ds.

My daughter is in her first year of Middle school. Her teachers had a fit when I pulled her out for a week for Disney in Sept/Oct...so I sent them each a letter explaining my options. I could take her out of school for a week, or I could pull her out and home school. Either way worked for me. The school was going to loose her for their money (she always aces her CRCTs...which is directly tied to their money!) If I felt she would have a tough time catching up I wouldn't have done it...but she said they only averaged a couple pages a day in each class...easy peasy for her!



I guess my attitude about missing school comes from being a military family for 20 years. Schools close to military bases are generally easier when it comes to missing school. Much more lenient. My older kids were always pulled out for a week when we traveled. It was hard to take a month off without missing school. (and with husband's MOS we only got one vacation a year)

However, if my daughter was in high school I might think twice about it....or maybe not! Would totally depend on the courses and her grades.


Nini

I wonder if it is easier here since so many are military families. I know a neighbor who pulls her child out periodically from public school and I don't think it's a big deal. He's not in middle school yet though. Are you back to home schooling your ds or did you find another option for him?

I don't mind pulling them out of school so much, as they mind missing that much school. When I pulled them out of school last spring for our trip to Europe - it was major h3ll... Both of them had to work extra hard to get all their end of year projects and homework completed before we left on our trip - which wasn't nearly as bad as trying to get the teachers to give them their assignments in the first place... That was like pulling teeth. I understand that a lot of teachers don't have things ready that far in advance, but I gave them 8 weeks notice, and a reminder at 2 weeks - then 4 days before we were supposed to leave, the girls finially got their assignments from the majority of their teachers. There was even one teacher that waited until the day before we left to get the girls so come in after school - I drew the line and told her "too bad" you had pleany of notice, they are booked solid with other teachers, so you'll have to finalize their grades with out the work that you failed to give them. I was very angry - because they all knew, and it wasn't fair to make the girls scramble when they had done everything right, and given ample notice and effort to get all their work completed and handed in on time.

~~~~ Sorry, can you tell I am still really upset about this???? ~~~~

Now, granted, there are a few different factors here - such as - it's not the last week of school, so they will have an opportunity to catch up after our return (that is huge)... And this time, it's only four days, vs. 5. I know an extra day may not seem like much - but 5 days at the end of the school year compared to 4 days during the year is a big difference.

The teachers were horrible last year. As a matter of fact, I am afraid to tell them that we are going this year - as youngest dd has some of the same teachers that oldest dd had last year, and I don't want them to think I am constantly pulling the girls out of school. But in the end... I am pulling them out, and they will miss 4 days of school, like it or not. It's not as if they miss excess amounts of school each year - usually it's one or two days from being sick. It happens, families take vacations...

And, I am sorry, but $$ talks... if it was only a couple hundred - I would probably deal with it - we are talking an excess of a thousand... Yah - they are going to miss 2 more days, and we are going to have fun, and we are going to enjoy ourselves... that's just the way it is.

D~ <---who hopes you all don't think I am an ogre - well, I am, but....

I don't think you're an ogre at all -- I think the school is being ogresome! Hopefully you'll have teachers that are more cooperative this time around and I do think it will help that it's not at the end of the school year.

Hi Ogre!

I hope you can sort out the school stuff with the teachers this year. Maybe they'll be accommodating. Hopefully with it being during the year, they'll be a bit more prepared. I know the end of the year is just chaotic for everyone. But sorry you had such a bad experience.

I'm a bit worried about pulling mine out. In 2010, I pulled DD out, but it was school policy that her absenses are UNexcused (and X amount of UNexcused = mommy & daddy take a field trip to the jail!). They also said that if a child has X amount of absences, period, then they can call in a Truancy officer and hold the child back.

Also, the children are NOT allowed to do the missed work. So whatever they're learning, they will miss out on 100%. They can not complete the material early, or late. They're just not allowed to do it at all. I thought it was bad enough they would receive 0s for the days missed ... but they also don't even get to learn the material? Lame.

Mine will miss a total of 3 days for our trip. Our only other option would be a summer trip ... but the heat will be too much for me. If the kids were struggling in school, I'd never consider taking them out for even one day ... but both kids are doing amazing this year! DD is on the honor roll (all As and one B), and DS is at the top of his Kindy class.

Glad to see our tax dollars are hard at work prosecuting you naughty parents for taking your kids out of school for a vacation But if you were dealing drugs or a pedophile I'm sure it wouldn't be an issue.

I went to a parochial school growing up and it was never an issue missing school and my kids are currently at a Montessori school and they seem to have no issues either. I went to grad school in Memphis though and they were so strict with missing time -- the top 25% of our class even got to go on a semi-education trip to a contact lens facility in Dallas and that was counted as missed days of school. Must be something about TN......

Hello!

I'm just jumping in here (very late!) to say that I found you about a week ago, and you have completely inspired me.

I've owned a Brother LS-30 for about 4 years - I got it for Christmas from my mom. In the next days after I got it, I spent about 15 hours trying to get it threaded (no, I'm not kidding) and just put the cover back on and put it in the storage closet, to never come out again.

But after reading your story and seeing everything you've done, I was inspired to pull it out and give it another try - after almost 4 YEARS. After 3 more hours on this past Saturday, I found out what I was doing wrong all those years ago and started sewing! I've been sewing every day and reading sewing books (as well as watching videos online) trying to figure out what I'm doing. I made a pillow cover yesterday and actually made a little ruffled Barbie skirt! I couldn't believe it!

Thank you for being my inspiration! So far, I know I don't know what I'm doing, but I'll keep going. Thanks for posting here so I could read it and give sewing another try.

Come over to the Disboutiquers thread too (it's in the family section of the disboards). I learned to sew from all the ladies there.


I have new items added to my sewing list that MUST get done by Sunday -- dd was invited to a tea birthday party (and we just got the invite on Monday but it's one of her two best friends) and she has to wear tea attire -- however she's not into too fancy of a wardrobe so I was thinking of using my set of Alice applique designs and making a more casual style outfit but it would still be really cute. And then the b-day girl wants clothes for her bitty baby and I see Carla's patterns work for 15" dolls as well (I can make some on my own but I'd need a doll to try them on and we only have 18" here) so I want to make her at least three outfits for a gift -- I'll do a pair of jammies, a portrait peasant and a simply sweet -- also would like to make jeans and a t. And must run to Walmart to pick up my test photos for our Xmas card from our weekend trip -- not as ROMANTIC as D~ would imagine when you have a whining 7 yr old who was peeved we couldn't go riding -- the only stable that would accept a 7 yr old was really pricey and we can ride at home. Off to get busy....

 

[babynala]

The updated mini-planner looks great. I would say it is a bummer to have to make changes to your planner but anytime you get to add more days at WDW it is cause for celebration!!

 

[dianemom2]

And dd just got a new catalogue in the mail and circled the chestnut horse so I think she will be happy!

My kids are only in 2nd and 4th grade right now, plus we go to a Montessori school so all the kids are learning at different levels anyway and my dd is way ahead so it's no big deal for her. DS is not as bright, but he's not behind either. When I pulled them out for a week two years ago I just wrote a nice letter explaining it was the only time my military dh could get leave before his 7 month deployment and they didn't say a thing. People at our school pull their kids out all the time. We even had one that was on a soap opera so he was always gone up to NYC to film. I'm sure public school is different and I'm sure middle school is harder -- the jump from 3rd to 4th grade is already a huge difference for our ds.

I went to grad school in Memphis though and they were so strict with missing time -- the top 25% of our class even got to go on a semi-education trip to a contact lens facility in Dallas and that was counted as missed days of school. Must be something about TN......

Sounds like your daughter will be very happy with the horse that you bought her. I sent you a PM about a great place to buy AG furniture.

I think that it is very strange that your grad school counted a school sponsored, educational trip as missed days of school. For me, it isn't that the school would give us a hard time about missing days. It is that the classes have so much work in our middle school and making everything up is so challenging. My 6th grader would have less of a hard time than my 7th grader. My 7th grader has taken two high school level classes this year. If she doesn't pass the high school level final exam, she'll have to repeat the entire class next year. And any grade she gets in those classes will be on her high school transcripts when she applies to college. When my girls were in elementary school the teachers were always great about us pulling the kids out of school. They totally understood that family time was important.

When my kids were in 4th and 5th grades, my in-laws took us to Hawaii for the first two weeks of December so my kids missed about 2 1/2 weeks of school. Then we came home and the very next day, there was a blizzard and school was closed for a week. It never re-opened before winter break so my kids missed the entire month of December that year. But there was NO WAY that we were going to skip going to Hawaii!!! The funny thing is that my kids were ahead of the other kids when school reopened because the teachers didn't cover as much as they had expected when they gave my kids the work to take with them.

I've been working on updating this Calendar page for my Mini-Planner since I changed the dates of our trip. The updated version is very similar to the original.

D~

Your mini-planner looks great! Your plans sound like so much fun! I love all your dining reservations.

 

[poisonapple_PRINCESS]

LOL

Stephanie... Your Mini Planner is awesome!!! You know that it's been the inspiration for mine this entire time. If I was into scrapbooking or something else, I'd be doing it that way - but since all I know how to do is graphics - I am just doing what I know how to do. Your mini planner will be an amazing memento of your trip, because you made it.

Thank you! I'm home sick today...so maybe I'll work on it. Sizing drive me nuts-o. Thank you for the kind words.

Hello!

I'm just jumping in here (very late!) to say that I found you about a week ago, and you have completely inspired me.

I've owned a Brother LS-30 for about 4 years - I got it for Christmas from my mom. In the next days after I got it, I spent about 15 hours trying to get it threaded (no, I'm not kidding) and just put the cover back on and put it in the storage closet, to never come out again.

But after reading your story and seeing everything you've done, I was inspired to pull it out and give it another try - after almost 4 YEARS. After 3 more hours on this past Saturday, I found out what I was doing wrong all those years ago and started sewing! I've been sewing every day and reading sewing books (as well as watching videos online) trying to figure out what I'm doing. I made a pillow cover yesterday and actually made a little ruffled Barbie skirt! I couldn't believe it!

Thank you for being my inspiration! So far, I know I don't know what I'm doing, but I'll keep going. Thanks for posting here so I could read it and give sewing another try.

She is SO inspiring isnt she?! Because of her I'm planning on buying a sewing machine when I come back from my upcoming trip! Something my grandmother has been trying to teach me has only really struck an interest once I saw D's creations and I've done some occasional lurking on the Disboutique thread!

 

[NiniMorris]

I wonder if it is easier here since so many are military families. I know a neighbor who pulls her child out periodically from public school and I don't think it's a big deal. He's not in middle school yet though. Are you back to home schooling your ds or did you find another option for him?

Yup... I am homeschooling him. So far he loves it! He is progressing much faster than I thought he would. Even more amazing, he is retaining so much of it! This is a major issue for him. Even his doctors and therapists are noticing a difference in him.

He is still struggling with math and is still a non reader... for reading I am reading him one of the Harry Potter books. After the first of the year we will start back trying to teach phonics. I think the break from reading is helping...and we do a lot of talking about how important it is to be able to read. (as a side note, he has his own way of dealing with his inability to read. When he plays games on the Wii with his sister, he changes the language to Chinese...that way they are even! Neither of them can read!)

I think the no pressure system is working great for both of us!



Nini

 

[cogero]

D~ where did you get the templates for your planning journal. I want to try and put something together.

 

[DMGeurts]

D~ where did you get the templates for your planning journal. I want to try and put something together.

I didn't use any templates... yet again, it was something I pulled out of my head.

Which graphics program do you use? I might be able to send you a blank - depending on how I saved it.

D~

 

[cogero]

No worries D.

I am going to figure out something with some pages I have here and maybe even try playing in PSE for a bit.

Need to start small since I havent played in PSE in a few months.

 

[DMGeurts]

Chiara, just let me know... I did check, and I have a really blank one I could send you - however, I am not sure that all the layers will transfer over - I've never tried to send a .psd file before.

I have to work today, so no sewing. But I should be able to sew all weekend. Or most of it anyways. I was able to get another good portion of the bag I am working on done - I plan to finish it up this weekend.

D~

 

[karebear23]

The New Mini Planner page looks great!

I was disappointed in the AG CM sale too. I was hoping to get some kind of cool furniture for DD. She really doesn't have any furniture except for an old doll bed.

I tried to comission DH to make some but I'm not sure if it will happen before Christmas!

 

[DMGeurts]

Well, since we added an extra day, that means an extra day of food... Had to update the dining checklist, and here is what I came up with.

D~

 

[dianemom2]

Well, since we added an extra day, that means an extra day of food... Had to update the dining checklist, and here is what I came up with.

D~

That looks great! It is a smart way to keep track of everything. I lost track of the snacks part of our way through the week when we had the dining plan. Then at the end we bought some stuff to take in the car with us and we bought each of the girls' teachers a Mickey rice crispy treat.