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

[alisonthorn]

I am loving your custom bags!! I saw the Christmas one on a TR and had to come check out your PTR. I've been looking through your designs all weekend

 

[lovesdumbo]

I am planning on doing an Up bag for dd - I have most of the fabric for it now, so I just need to get one more accent fabric, then I can start working in it - in between other projects.

Can't wait to see what you come up with!

How exciting about the marathon - I hope you'll post pictures! I think a crossbody iPhone case would be an excellent idea... How about a pouch sized for the iPhone (mabye a bit deeper), and have it hang on a lanyard around your neck??? Possibly some sort of velcro/button closure on it??? Deep enough that it doesn't fall out while you are running, but easy enough to get out when you want to take a picture??? Does that help you at all? I"d happily make my idea for you, if I'd have time to ship it... I wish you the best of luck anyways - I am sure you will have a wonderful marathon! I hope you'll come back here and tell us all about it.

I started one today. I have it cut out and have the interfacing and batting ironed on the pieces and the strap all folded and ironed. I even cut out a little pocket just big enough for a room key/credit card. Shouldn't be too much work to put it together tomorrow.

Just made sure that all my travel sized stuff is full, made a list of travel sized items I need to get yet.

Target has a great travel size section.

So, it's official... The packing has begun... WHOOT!!!

I should pack for Wednesday.

 

[wakica]

Loved looking through your pretrip report - you are SO talented and all the outfits and bags are amazing!!!!

i look forward to following the rest of your pretrip and your trip report when you return

 

[DMGeurts]

WooHoo Congrats on the packing!​

It's official now.

Well, DH gave me 'the look' when I passed him on my way upstairs with the luggage.

When we packed for The Netherlands, last spring, I was packing the night before. LOL But there's something about packing for Disney - like planning - it's just part of the whole experience, and I enjoy every minute of it! Really, if you think about it... Only 8 more Saturdays...

I had to come on over. I am in awe of your talent. I used your table of contents and oogled your lovely work!

Welcome!!! I've been following your TR too... and, if I remember correctly - I think I may have lurked in your PTR a coupld of times. Your girls are adorable - and such a fun age to be at Disney!

Aside from enjoying your talent, I loved reading about your family. Thank your husband for his service, and thank you for being an amazing mom and wife while he was gone.

Thanks! I will tell DH... Not sure about the amazing mom part - because I sure feel like I am cranky a lot. LOL But my girls seem to enjoy spending time with me...

I've never been in March. You certainly are going to have the crowds, but as long as you go early and stick with your plan (I haven't gotten that far in the reading...) you'll probably not realize it is as crowded as it is.

Yah, I am a bit nervous about the crowds... Especially when I looked back on TP, and our last trip was 1's and 2's - and I thought it was crazy busy... It's gonna be rough. Oh well - we'll get there early and enjoy what we can - and just be happy to be there.

Oh, and I put a link to our "official plans" in my Table of Contents - even though it's the next post - I didn't realize that my link goes directly to my ToC - so people might miss our plans. HTH - if you're interested.

I am loving your custom bags!! I saw the Christmas one on a TR and had to come check out your PTR. I've been looking through your designs all weekend

Thank you! I really enjoy making things - unfortunately - my mind is usually so flooded with ideas, that I can't keep up with myself.

Can't wait to see what you come up with!

I started one today. I have it cut out and have the interfacing and batting ironed on the pieces and the strap all folded and ironed. I even cut out a little pocket just big enough for a room key/credit card. Shouldn't be too much work to put it together tomorrow.

I can't wait to see it - I hope it works out the way you want it to.

Target has a great travel size section.

ROFL... I am such a tightwad though - I am trying to wait for the 99¢ to go on clearance.

I should pack for Wednesday.

Yes, you should... Now, I feel like I am jumping the gun a little bit. The sad part is, I've been walking past our luggage for the last month, and every time, I keep saying that I should really bring it upstairs... I've resisted this long. LOL

Loved looking through your pretrip report - you are SO talented and all the outfits and bags are amazing!!!!

i look forward to following the rest of your pretrip and your trip report when you return

Thank you - I am glad you are following along! I look forward to starting my TR, as well - unfortunately - that means I'll be at home and not at WDW...

I started another mini-project last night... Nothing too exciting. But I should be able to finish it up tonight, before I start work on my next bag.

Also, my TS messenger bag is haunting me... The more I think about it, the more I think it's too big for a park bag... I think I am going to design a new pattern - with all my spare time - n' all. I really want a purse sized (maybe a bit bigger) messenger that I can carry in the parks. It will probably be about the same size as the UPB... I will probably work on that in my spare time too.

I haven't even given much thought to our customs... I am not even sure how many customs we will actually do? Maybe just a few appliqued shirts or something??? I dunno... I really want to design an outfit around "the zebra shoes that I don't own, but really want"... But I should probably order the shoes before I design a whole outfit around them? ACK!! Only 8 weeks and so much left to do!

D~

 

[NiniMorris]

ONLY 8 weeks and you are just now packing? LOL!

Since I make all the tops for us, I start packing as soon as I finish a set. (which will be in a day or so)

We have a red cardboard box with a Mickey head on it that we call our Disney Box. We start filling it through out the year with things we might need for the trip. So far it has a bunch of batteries and half used travel sized toiletries. Each month I buy something for the box. In July, I always get the electric "glow sticks" from Home Depot. They always get them in for the fourth...we use them for night time parades and things.

So, I guess you can say we start packing the day we come home! (and, since I am addicted to my Keurig, we pack a small Keurig in the Mickey box to go with us !)



Nini

 

[Lidian]

So, I guess you can say we start packing the day we come home! (and, since I am addicted to my Keurig, we pack a small Keurig in the Mickey box to go with us !)

Small Keurig? This I have to see ... I thought mine was small, but it's roughly the same size (or bigger) than a normal coffee maker. Which isn't small in my book. Which model do you have? (Because I'm addicted to mine, but won't travel with it.)

 

[NiniMorris]

Small Keurig? This I have to see ... I thought mine was small, but it's roughly the same size (or bigger) than a normal coffee maker. Which isn't small in my book. Which model do you have? (Because I'm addicted to mine, but won't travel with it.)

I have two...one holds 8 cups of water and the other is a true single serving...only holds one cup of water.

Since we drive it isn't too much for us to carry. If we flew it might be an issue! Of course, hubby (and I ) don't travel without GOOD coffee...and before the Keurig, we always carried a small coffee pot and our own coffee every where we went.

On our last trip...our whole party would meet up in our room before heading to the parks to get coffee! It was really funny!

Nini

 

[cogero]

we now have a full size keurig in our owners locker.

 

[idofabric]

Think I finally got caught up with everything you all have done. Remarkable, as usual! I have been really thinking about doing some bags, my next door neighbor,or NDN, Jen made little bags for a ton of friends, just mini totes. But I have some old GF fabric with Alice and Teacups on it, and some MM silver brocade that I need to do something with it all.

Can't believe your trip is so soon! I am taking a friend and her family down in Feb..if they don't have a money emergency. I do have a 3 bedroom condo rented, below AK, we stayed there in Dec. and got to see all the park fireworks, it was so fab!

Anyway,I will try to keep up to date on what you are doing! Also haunting you on FB and pintrest....

Never have figured out how to post stuff I make on this site, or any site. Got wedding pics and some of the dresses I reproduced from Pintrest for the girls of my NDN, for their soiriety parties, turned out pretty good.

Keep up the great work! Can't wait to see what you come up with yet...AG dresses, Park bags, wallets...how about AG Park bags, or AG soft Disney luggage?

 

[Lidian]

I have two...one holds 8 cups of water and the other is a true single serving...only holds one cup of water.

Since we drive it isn't too much for us to carry. If we flew it might be an issue! Of course, hubby (and I ) don't travel without GOOD coffee...and before the Keurig, we always carried a small coffee pot and our own coffee every where we went.

On our last trip...our whole party would meet up in our room before heading to the parks to get coffee! It was really funny!

Nini

I just have the basic Keurig ... it only holds one cup of water. And it's actually a knock-off and a bit smaller than the "real" one. But it uses the K cups, and I dunno how I lived without it.

When at WDW, I usually make do without my coffee and hot tea. Hmmm... maybe this year it will travel with us. I guess it will depend on whose vehicle we take. I wouldn't want to break it, ya know?

That's funny everyone would have coffee parties in your room.

 

[Corrine 1973]

For starting to pack. It's amazing how much more if feels real when you start putting things in the suitcase. Before you know it you will get Mickey Mail and the real party will begin.

I can't wait to see what marvels you come up with for your park bag. I am sure it will be awsome.

 

[WDWCP96]

Yeah for starting to pack. I have a box that we keep in our closet that is our Disney box so when I find things on sale or clearance I just throw it in the box even if I don't know when our next trip will be which is no longer the case

I can't wait to see the smaller version of the messenger bag. I have been trying to think of what customs I will make for our trip. Of course looking at your beautiful bags I know nothing will ever compare


Happy New Year by the way!

 

[DMGeurts]

I just have the basic Keurig ... it only holds one cup of water. And it's actually a knock-off and a bit smaller than the "real" one. But it uses the K cups, and I dunno how I lived without it.

When at WDW, I usually make do without my coffee and hot tea. Hmmm... maybe this year it will travel with us. I guess it will depend on whose vehicle we take. I wouldn't want to break it, ya know?

That's funny everyone would have coffee parties in your room.

I have no comments on the Keurig... We are regular ol' coffee drinkers - so we just have the Cuisinart one I got at TG time. Is coffee in Disney that bad? I know we had it good when staying at SoG - every morning DH would get up and go get me a Starbucks, that was OMG delicious... I have a feeling that this won't be the same.

For starting to pack. It's amazing how much more if feels real when you start putting things in the suitcase. Before you know it you will get Mickey Mail and the real party will begin.

I can't wait to see what marvels you come up with for your park bag. I am sure it will be awsome.

I know, I still have to call all of my GCs into Disney... I've been neglecting that, because my stack is so huge that it's embarassing. I might get to it today - even if I can do half of them - it might seem less daunting.

It will be a while before I get to my own park bag again, I have a few orders to work on first...

Yeah for starting to pack. I have a box that we keep in our closet that is our Disney box so when I find things on sale or clearance I just throw it in the box even if I don't know when our next trip will be which is no longer the case

I can't wait to see the smaller version of the messenger bag. I have been trying to think of what customs I will make for our trip. Of course looking at your beautiful bags I know nothing will ever compare


Happy New Year by the way!

Happy New Year to you too!

It seems I need to get a Disney box, since that's what everyone else does. The only things I am really bringing with this time is all of our hats from previous trips and our pins/lanyards. And, of course, our clothes and customs... Oh, and some breakfast foods/snacks - just in case.

I do have outfits for the girls and I to coordinate one day - probably MK. I've been working on them for months now, and pull them out when I have nothing else to do... But now it's getting to a point where I need to make them a priority.

I have no idea what to do for t-shirts, or anything like that. All of a sudden, I just feel like I am out of time because I have so much on my plate. I would love to do another few Donald shirts for me... And I promised the girls I would do Ice Cream dresses for them (which I still need to redraft the pattern for size - and buy all the materials for)... I am afraid we won't have a lot of customs for this trip - and then I am a failure as a Disboutiquer. I am not expecting every single day to have customs, but I really thought I would have more than this... First of all, I really need to get to Target (I know, I am never there) and get us some T-shirts... Then I can start working on some appliques, I guess...

All I know, is that we have 8 weeks before we leave... I have 3 more bag orders (for sure) that need to get done... I have 2 more (maybe 3) more bags to make for us for our trip (redo my TS bag, Alli's Up bag and maybe an AK bag for me) - so that's 6 weeks worth of work in bags alone - I don't know how I am going to find the time to do all these customs, with only 2 weeks to spare... I need to really get a move on it...

D~

 

[mphalens]

So - what size shirts (and which ones) would you buy at Target for you and the girls??? And yes, I did just come right out and ask

You know me and my love of the clearance racks - you never know what I might find for $1.24

And you haven't told us which of the fab five A likes the best, have you?... We know V's favorite is Goofy and yours is Donald . . . but what about A?

As for coffee - DH & I are pretty spoiled by our home delivery of Peet's coffee but we didn't have issues with the coffee provided in our room to make in the little two cup machine... BUT, we did have flavored creamer. What about a few of the single serve ones??? You know, like the international delights ones they have at a lot of gas station coffee bars these days DH was NOT pleased with the coffee at the food court at CBR though...

 

[NiniMorris]

Even before I became a coffee snob, the coffee in Disney rooms was the worst! It is a cross between brewed and instant. Disney is notorious in the travel world for having the worst coffee ANYWHERE!

The only decent coffee used to be at SOG...but a couple of other places have started carrying real coffee. POFQ is NOT one of those! LOL!

We also bring bottled water for the coffee maker. THAT helps a LOT!

Truthfully, the reason we started bringing our own travel sized pot when we travel (even before the Keurig) was because the coffee pot is never really cleaned by housekeeping. It is wiped down, but not really cleaned inside. Which may not be a problem...just depends on what the previous guest used it for.

Then, we never liked the size of the creamer and sugar they left... and we too like to use some of the flavored creamers.

We went to a convention a few years ago at Jekyll Island. The rooms had small Keurig's in them and we were hooked! Got mine last year for Christmas and have never looked back!

-------------

I have heard that the coffee prior to Nescafe becoming a sponsor wasn't too bad... and I am not sure if Nescafe is still a sponsor or not. But I hate it, when you first come into Animal Kingdom and there is a great aroma of coffee...only to discover it is INSTANT coffee! Yuck!

Nini
(yes, I admit...I am a coffee snob!)

 

[DMGeurts]

So - what size shirts (and which ones) would you buy at Target for you and the girls??? And yes, I did just come right out and ask

You know me and my love of the clearance racks - you never know what I might find for $1.24

Well.... I dunno... Sizes... For me - prob an XL (I really want to tell you I am a small though) - I especially prefer the Vnecks (the womens crews always feel like they are choking me)... For Alli, Larges and Victoria Mediums. Text me if you ever find any good deals.

And you haven't told us which of the fab five A likes the best, have you?... We know V's favorite is Goofy and yours is Donald . . . but what about A?

A has yet to decide. I think I am just going to pick one for her - LOL... And if I was to pick... Well, she likes dogs - so Pluto is a good choice. She likes Pink, so Minnie is also a good choice. And Mickey is so popular - I don't think I could go wrong with him... How about any and all of the above???? Darn girl - I was lucky to get Dug out of her (although about 3 weeks too late)...

As for coffee - DH & I are pretty spoiled by our home delivery of Peet's coffee but we didn't have issues with the coffee provided in our room to make in the little two cup machine... BUT, we did have flavored creamer. What about a few of the single serve ones??? You know, like the international delights ones they have at a lot of gas station coffee bars these days DH was NOT pleased with the coffee at the food court at CBR though...

I was thinking about brining those little add in creamers, I know you can buy a box of them at Target... But - the big question - How do I transport??? I am not planning on sending anything down at this time. I can't carry-on because they are liquid (no powder for me)... I really don't want to check them, or I'll have creamer all over inside my luggage...

Even before I became a coffee snob, the coffee in Disney rooms was the worst! It is a cross between brewed and instant. Disney is notorious in the travel world for having the worst coffee ANYWHERE!

The only decent coffee used to be at SOG...but a couple of other places have started carrying real coffee. POFQ is NOT one of those! LOL!

We also bring bottled water for the coffee maker. THAT helps a LOT!

Truthfully, the reason we started bringing our own travel sized pot when we travel (even before the Keurig) was because the coffee pot is never really cleaned by housekeeping. It is wiped down, but not really cleaned inside. Which may not be a problem...just depends on what the previous guest used it for.

Then, we never liked the size of the creamer and sugar they left... and we too like to use some of the flavored creamers.

We went to a convention a few years ago at Jekyll Island. The rooms had small Keurig's in them and we were hooked! Got mine last year for Christmas and have never looked back!

-------------

I have heard that the coffee prior to Nescafe becoming a sponsor wasn't too bad... and I am not sure if Nescafe is still a sponsor or not. But I hate it, when you first come into Animal Kingdom and there is a great aroma of coffee...only to discover it is INSTANT coffee! Yuck!

Nini
(yes, I admit...I am a coffee snob!)

I am so glad I already had my morning coffee (and I was a good girl - I worked out too) - or I'd really be craving some after listening to you talk Nini.

D~

 

[cogero]

So - what size shirts (and which ones) would you buy at Target for you and the girls??? And yes, I did just come right out and ask

You know me and my love of the clearance racks - you never know what I might find for $1.24

And you haven't told us which of the fab five A likes the best, have you?... We know V's favorite is Goofy and yours is Donald . . . but what about A?

As for coffee - DH & I are pretty spoiled by our home delivery of Peet's coffee but we didn't have issues with the coffee provided in our room to make in the little two cup machine... BUT, we did have flavored creamer. What about a few of the single serve ones??? You know, like the international delights ones they have at a lot of gas station coffee bars these days DH was NOT pleased with the coffee at the food court at CBR though...

Thanks for asking Marianne because I was figuring out how to ask.

Well.... I dunno... Sizes... For me - prob an XL (I really want to tell you I am a small though) - I especially prefer the Vnecks (the womens crews always feel like they are choking me)... For Alli, Larges and Victoria Mediums. Text me if you ever find any good deals.



A has yet to decide. I think I am just going to pick one for her - LOL... And if I was to pick... Well, she likes dogs - so Pluto is a good choice. She likes Pink, so Minnie is also a good choice. And Mickey is so popular - I don't think I could go wrong with him... How about any and all of the above???? Darn girl - I was lucky to get Dug out of her (although about 3 weeks too late)...

Thanks for answering too

 

[mphalens]

Thanks for asking Marianne because I was figuring out how to ask.



Thanks for answering too

I'm blunt like that

 

[Lidian]

I have no comments on the Keurig... We are regular ol' coffee drinkers - so we just have the Cuisinart one I got at TG time. Is coffee in Disney that bad? I know we had it good when staying at SoG - every morning DH would get up and go get me a Starbucks, that was OMG delicious... I have a feeling that this won't be the same.

I'm not a coffee snob by any means ... I'll drink most anything. However, I brewed up a pot of coffee at WDW, took one sip, and ... well ... . I usually take Via.

Even before I became a coffee snob, the coffee in Disney rooms was the worst! It is a cross between brewed and instant. Disney is notorious in the travel world for having the worst coffee ANYWHERE!

The only decent coffee used to be at SOG...but a couple of other places have started carrying real coffee. POFQ is NOT one of those! LOL!

We also bring bottled water for the coffee maker. THAT helps a LOT!

Truthfully, the reason we started bringing our own travel sized pot when we travel (even before the Keurig) was because the coffee pot is never really cleaned by housekeeping. It is wiped down, but not really cleaned inside. Which may not be a problem...just depends on what the previous guest used it for.

Then, we never liked the size of the creamer and sugar they left... and we too like to use some of the flavored creamers.

We went to a convention a few years ago at Jekyll Island. The rooms had small Keurig's in them and we were hooked! Got mine last year for Christmas and have never looked back!

-------------

I have heard that the coffee prior to Nescafe becoming a sponsor wasn't too bad... and I am not sure if Nescafe is still a sponsor or not. But I hate it, when you first come into Animal Kingdom and there is a great aroma of coffee...only to discover it is INSTANT coffee! Yuck!

Nini
(yes, I admit...I am a coffee snob!)

I'm not a coffee snob, but WDW coffee is just YUCK! I bring my own sweetner (I don't do sugar, I use the pink packets) ... but I don't do creamers. If I used creamer, what they have in room wouldn't be enough, I'm sure.

And when I used the pot, I washed it out with soap in the sink before I used it. I just didn't want to take a chance of there being something icky in it.

 

[aboveH20]

I do have outfits for the girls and I to coordinate one day - probably MK. I've been working on them for months now, and pull them out when I have nothing else to do... But now it's getting to a point where I need to make them a priority.

I have no idea what to do for t-shirts, or anything like that. All of a sudden, I just feel like I am out of time because I have so much on my plate. I would love to do another few Donald shirts for me... And I promised the girls I would do Ice Cream dresses for them (which I still need to redraft the pattern for size - and buy all the materials for)... I am afraid we won't have a lot of customs for this trip - and then I am a failure as a Disboutiquer. I am not expecting every single day to have customs, but I really thought I would have more than this... First of all, I really need to get to Target (I know, I am never there) and get us some T-shirts... Then I can start working on some appliques, I guess...

D~

Careful about jinxing the weather gods. The more time you spend on clothes for you and the girls the more tempted the gods will be to send cold and rainy weather so you have to stay bundled up in sweatshirts and long johns.

On the other hand, sew away. I'm dying to see what you come up with.

<-----me, who doesn't need to worry about WDW coffee tasting toxic