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

[babynala]

Your AK bag looks so cute. I love how you added the bow, it makes the bag really pop. Your quilting stitches are perfection as usual. I think that size looks good, perfect for holding your extra shoes (that I hope you will not have to wear - because those zebra shoes are tooooooo cute).

The pictures from your previous trips are adorable. The girls have grown so much. I wish I was better about getting pictures in the same spots/poses with my kids during our trips.

What year was your first trip with the kids?


Nini - that balloon sounds cute and what a fun idea. I'm sure they stopped doing that because people were probably "trying" to be the last person on line!

 

[DMGeurts]

I love the bag (your quilting is done to perfection!) but I am so bummed about your zebra shoes. I was able to find these clear gel pads at Target for my little Crocs Mary Janes and that made them so I could wear them all day. Keep working on breaking those shoes in. I will be so sad if you have to lug them around in your bag. Tell Josh you got them at the thrift store. Or do what my mom always did -- she always quoted my dad half the price of what she paid for anything. They were happily married for 45 years (they'd still be married except he passed away).

Thanks Andrea... Well, I've had them smooshed in the shoe closet for a few weeks now, so they could probably pass as a thrift store find. LOL

Oh, so you have an eye problem and now you're willing to talk to me again. I see how that works. Using me again. So you wear your current glasses (or are supposed to) for distance? But you generally don't wear them -- so they can't have much of a prescription in them, yet you get motion sick? Must be astigmatism. Let me know what your doctor says. Just wait until you get old like me and can barely wear your contacts anymore. I am in progressives now. I used to wear my contacts 90% of the time to 10% glasses and now it's the opposite. My contacts dry out and are for crap at near. And once you go into progressives you will shell out some $$$. I get my glasses at cost and they were close to $400 I have a high prescription though so have to get the ultra expensive thinner lenses. My kids' glasses are soooooooo much cheaper!

OK - I don't know what kind of prescription I have in them... All I know is that I can't read road signs from far away - or anything from a distance... I have to turn around a lot, because I miss those darned signs until it's soo late. And I also have depth of field issues (like stairs like to go "flat" when I am going down them - so I can't look at stairs when I am going down)... I am supposed to wear them when I am driving at night too - if I remember to put them on when it's light out and I know I am going to be driving at night. I can't wear the darned things when I am eating, because they make my food distorted (if that makes sense) or when I am doing anything close-up (like sewing)... I totally don't need them, actually - I will be the first to admit that... However, I should be wearing them so that I can see things far away. I told my Optician last year, when he first said I should get glasses, that I really didn't need them... Now, I am coming to realize that I should probably wear them for certain occasions... Most of the time, though, you will find them on top of my head - if I remember to wear them at all. Still debating if I need to take them to WDW with me???

Just for you , D~, I thought I'd tel you about the special Donald souvenir we got on our very first trip...back when the kids were 2 and 3.

We were in line to meet Donald. The CMs were testing a new way to show the end of the line. We were given a nice helium balloon to hold that said the line ended here.

When we got to Donald...after he signed the kids books, he took our balloon and gave us a new one that said...nothing...until he signed it! He then spent a few minutes posing with the kids with a special Photo pass photographer...which we didn't know anything about and did not get the cd.... before he left.

We kept that balloon tied to the stroller all day! When we got back to the room it lived there until we were ready to go home. It now resides in my sewing studio. Still a bright yellow/orange foil type thingy with Donald's ginormous signature on it!

I really wish they had stuck with this...it was cute.


I now return you to your regularly scheduled PTR....


And yes, we do pictures like that of the kids....but I can't seem to find any of them. I really miss the ones at Minnie's sewing machine! I think I may have to have those framed and put in my studio as well....thanks for reminding me!

Nini

That is a super cute story Nini... I hope you find those pictures some day so you can post them - I love looking at Now N' Then photos.

D~

 

[aboveH20]

I know I'm behind, but let's see how well I do catching up.

Your new line of peace, love and _______ shirts are great. Matching is always nice, but I love coordinating, too.

(<-----pretend it has stripes) I love the new MUPB. So versatilve and you could use it post-Disney with your Famous Zebra Shoes.

+ Great photos of the good old days. We didn't have a particular spot at Disney where we'd take photos each time, but there was a chair at my MILs where we have about six photos of my older son through the ages.

<----- I'm pretty sure there was one other thing I was going to comment on.

 

[solana131]

Love the zebra bag. I also like the smaller size. I would carry that bag everyday ... very cute

And your before and after's are great. I had planned on one before and after....my profile pic of me with Minnie when I was 5. I wanted so bad to get another one, but we never saw the original Minnie. We saw Safari Minnie at AK, but her line was way too long. Alas, I will have to get it next time.

 

[miprender]

OMG Love the bag and love seeing all the pictures. We try to do that too but will Dumbo be open when you are there? I thought they pushed back the opening but hopefully not.

Dude! I think it's because passing down houses is the only affordable way to own one in RI these day You know that commercial on tv with the grandfather and grandson sitting on the front steps that's all about how our children's generation might be the first to NOT experience home ownership? I always think of RI and how I want to live there again some day and how out of reach that seems.

That commercial always makes me "wicked" sad

I know I'm behind, but let's see how well I do catching up.

Your new line of peace, love and _______ shirts are great. Matching is always nice, but I love coordinating, too.

(<-----pretend it has stripes) I love the new MUPB. So versatilve and you could use it post-Disney with your Famous Zebra Shoes.
.

You can thank me....

 

[aboveH20]

You can thank me....

Thank you.

(Boy it's true what they say about stripes making one look fatter.)

((But not striped sneakers. They easily take 20 pounds off.))

 

[BrerMama]

Totally jumping on board. I read about 3 posts in this thread before totally falling in love with the Ultimate Park Bag, finding it on Etsy and sending a crazed convo wanting to get myself in line for one.... so totally in to read about your trip plans and further creations!

 

[tinkbell13]

I've finally figured out which appliques I am going to do on our pirate shirts - I want to get those done, so I can show you all my hideous pirate capris and our outfits... I am hoping to work on those during the week... I work 3 days this week, so it's gonna be a bit busy.

Attn. Andrea...
And then, I would like to do a case for my glasses/sunglasses... Since I've just recently started wearing my glasses again - I've just noticed that lately I can't read anything far away - I am thinking that my prescription has changed quite a bit over the last year, so I am anxious to get into the eye Dr. tomorrow and see how that goes. My current glasses definately help that situation - but they used to make me so motion sick when I'd wear them, that I couldn't stand to have them on - now they don't bother me at all? Weird, I know. Honestly, I haven't worn them once since we went to The Netherlands last May... Shame on me, I know.

D~

I just finished a pirate shirt for DS, still have to do two more for my nieces. Then it is on to Canadian Mickey head shirts for all 7 of us. If I get those done and still have time left, I may do one more set of shirts for us all, maybe Mickey/Minnie heads with our names.

I feel for you on the glasses. As someone who wore glasses from the age of 8 to 18 (when I got contacts ) I know how horrible it is to wear them. However, I think it would be worse to have to wear them while doing some things and not others. Since getting contacts I only wear my glasses for 30 minutes in the morning before I put the contacts in and about 5 minutes before I go to bed.

There are a couple of Now n' Then pictures I'd like to recreate while we are in Disney... and I thought I would do a post about them...

Does anyone else do this?

D~

What a cool idea! Great pictures too. We were just looking through some of the pictures and videos from our 2008 trip. Now I have to go through them again to pick my favourite shots to repeat this trip!

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

I can't keep up - you have too many fans...um, friends...

The EQ bag and your AK bag are awesome...as if, they wouldn't be. YOU SIMPLY ROCK.

I keep reading about your zebra shoes but I don't remember seeing them...did you/ can you post picture? Who makes them?

Your trip is so very close!!! (oh, and I love the peace, heart tees too!)

 

[DMGeurts]

I know I'm behind, but let's see how well I do catching up.

Your new line of peace, love and _______ shirts are great. Matching is always nice, but I love coordinating, too.

(<-----pretend it has stripes) I love the new MUPB. So versatilve and you could use it post-Disney with your Famous Zebra Shoes.

+ Great photos of the good old days. We didn't have a particular spot at Disney where we'd take photos each time, but there was a chair at my MILs where we have about six photos of my older son through the ages.

<----- I'm pretty sure there was one other thing I was going to comment on.

Thank you Cheryl... You always say the best things - even if I don't always understand what you say.

Love the zebra bag. I also like the smaller size. I would carry that bag everyday ... very cute

And your before and after's are great. I had planned on one before and after....my profile pic of me with Minnie when I was 5. I wanted so bad to get another one, but we never saw the original Minnie. We saw Safari Minnie at AK, but her line was way too long. Alas, I will have to get it next time.

Thanks! You definately have to get a pic with Minnie when you go back!

OMG Love the bag and love seeing all the pictures. We try to do that too but will Dumbo be open when you are there? I thought they pushed back the opening but hopefully not.



That commercial always makes me "wicked" sad



You can thank me....

The first Phase of the Fantasy Land expansion is supposed to open on March 12... We will be there until the 15th... so we are hoping hard that it will be open - at least a soft opening.

Thank you.

(Boy it's true what they say about stripes making one look fatter.)

((But not striped sneakers. They easily take 20 pounds off.))

Maybe I shouldn't wear stripes?

Totally jumping on board. I read about 3 posts in this thread before totally falling in love with the Ultimate Park Bag, finding it on Etsy and sending a crazed convo wanting to get myself in line for one.... so totally in to read about your trip plans and further creations!

WELCOME!!!! We are all crazy around here... by "we", I mean "them" - not me.

So glad you're following along! Are you planning to do a PTR?

I just finished a pirate shirt for DS, still have to do two more for my nieces. Then it is on to Canadian Mickey head shirts for all 7 of us. If I get those done and still have time left, I may do one more set of shirts for us all, maybe Mickey/Minnie heads with our names.

Those sound awesome! Did you post pics in the Disbou thread yet?

I feel for you on the glasses. As someone who wore glasses from the age of 8 to 18 (when I got contacts) I know how horrible it is to wear them. However, I think it would be worse to have to wear them while doing some things and not others. Since getting contacts I only wear my glasses for 30 minutes in the morning before I put the contacts in and about 5 minutes before I go to bed.

I don't think I could ever wear contacts... They say you get used to them, but I don't think I could???

What a cool idea! Great pictures too. We were just looking through some of the pictures and videos from our 2008 trip. Now I have to go through them again to pick my favourite shots to repeat this trip!

Do that!!! It's so awesome to look back and see how the girls have "grown up Disney".

I can't keep up - you have too many fans...um, friends...

Excuse me... I can't keep up with your TR either. LOL

The EQ bag and your AK bag are awesome...as if, they wouldn't be. YOU SIMPLY ROCK.

Thanks Deb!

I keep reading about your zebra shoes but I don't remember seeing them...did you/ can you post picture? Who makes them?

Off to find the pic of my Zebra shoes... The brand is Allegria and the name of them is the Feliz.

Your trip is so very close!!! (oh, and I love the peace, heart tees too!)

I know, I am really excited!!!

*********

Now... for some sad news.... And a prayer request...If you are my FB friend, you probably know what's going on...

Our sweet Rufus hasn't been feeling well these last few days... Last week Wednesday, we noticed that he wasn't eating - but we were at the bottom of his food bin - and sometimes he just doesn't enjoy that last little bit... So, on Friday, Josh and I stopped at the Vet and got him a new bag of food. Over the weekend, he still refused to eat it... We tried to coax him with all his favorites... Raw eggs on top... Beef gravy on top... Nothing worked - he was still very tired and lethargic. Any little bit that he did eat - he threw up.

Josh called our Vet this morning, and it just so happens that he is out of town until next week. Figures. So, they referred us to another Vet, in a suburban city (expensive)... We took him in this afternoon... They took his blood and ran some tests - some of his #s were too high, some of his #s were too low (I wish I would have gotten a copy of that print out - I bet Judy could tell me exactly what was wrong)... His Lymphnodes are swollen - like his is fighting an infection - but the Vet said they weren't "overly" swollen - so he was optimsitic. But Rufus is 13 years old and our days with him are numbered - we know that. But he is our Little Man... We are not ready to let him go yet...

The Vet also took a sample of his cells to send off to be tested for cancer... We pray so hard that what he has isn't cancer and it's just a "bug" that can be treated with the antibiotics.

We adoped Rufus from a neighbor at our old house... he was kept in an outside kennel 24/7 and the girls would go over and pet him every day (they were 2 & 3)... When those neighbors had to get rid of Rufus - we took him... Ruf has been our 3rd child for 11 years, and he's been a true joy to our family every single day... We are so blessed to have him.

He has always been so patient while the girls dress him up as a ballerina and any other clothes they want to dress him in... He loves Christmas... He loves going to the lake and he loves riding in the boat... He loves to go fishing, but he is scared to death of jumping off the dock... And he protected us while Josh was in Iraq... If it wasn't for Ruf - I never would have felt safe... We are truly so lucky to have him...

I ask for prayers - if that is what you believe in... that whatever he has, he can get better... 1 week ago, he was his normal self, and just in one week - so much has changed. None of us are ready for this.

D~

 

[nowellsl]

Awwww, sorry about your fur baby! We had a black lab that got cancer, and it was a much more gradual thing. With it being sudden like that, I'm praying for it to be a simple infection!!

 

[mphalens]

Oh D~!!!



The boys & I will keep Rufus and y'all in our prayers!!!!

 

[tinkbell13]

I don't think I could ever wear contacts... They say you get used to them, but I don't think I could???

When you are as blind as I am, contacts are a godsend! Some people have a hard time with them and others don't. Thankfully I fell into the second group. My DH on the other hand, can never wear them. He can't stand anything near his eyes or anyone elses. He almost passes out if he walks into the bathroom when I am putting my contacts in.


Keeping my fingers crossed that Rufus just has a bug and it passes quickly. It is amazing how much they they become a part of our families, isn't it? My other kids are a 2.5 year old German Shepherd and an almost 17 year old Calico cat. I the pictures of Rufus with your girls.

 

[DMGeurts]

Awwww, sorry about your fur baby! We had a black lab that got cancer, and it was a much more gradual thing. With it being sudden like that, I'm praying for it to be a simple infection!!

THank you Stephanie.

Oh D~!!!



The boys & I will keep Rufus and y'all in our prayers!!!!

Thank you Marianne and boys...

When you are as blind as I am, contacts are a godsend! Some people have a hard time with them and others don't. Thankfully I fell into the second group. My DH on the other hand, can never wear them. He can't stand anything near his eyes or anyone elses. He almost passes out if he walks into the bathroom when I am putting my contacts in.


Keeping my fingers crossed that Rufus just has a bug and it passes quickly. It is amazing how much they they become a part of our families, isn't it? My other kids are a 2.5 year old German Shepherd and an almost 17 year old Calico cat. I the pictures of Rufus with your girls.

THank you!

First, I will start with a Ruf update...

When we were at the vet yesterday, he recommended taking Ruf off of his dog food, and feeing him a mixture of half rice/half boiled hamburger. We gave him a cup of that last night, and he managed to keep it down all night. He was even a bit playful last night, Josh stole his Woobie, so Ruf was trying to get it back... We were very careful not to over exert him - but it was nice to see him wanting to play. In his defense - we are not allowed to touch his Woobie - so he could be on his death bed and trying to get his Woobie back... So, it's probably not a good indicator of how he is truly feeling. He still seems pretty tired and lethargic... Normally, at this time of the morning - he is stalking the girls to feed him - and he is currently snoozing in his bed. I keep praying he will get better.

Josh and I have our eye appts this afternoon, I am a bit nervous about leaving Ruf today, so we will only be gone as long as absolutely necessary.

I hope to get started on our Pirate appliques for our Tees this morning... I really need to get them done.

Again, thanks for all your prayers for Ruf.

D~

 

[BrerMama]

WELCOME!!!! We are all crazy around here... by "we", I mean "them" - not me.

So glad you're following along! Are you planning to do a PTR?

I actually started my PTR this weekend: Life's A Happy Song PTR I'd love to have some readers as it's pretty sad right now. It's going to feature an appearance by an Ultimate Park Bag in a few months, so it's going to be full of awesome, right?

So glad to hear about Rufus. We did all kinds of diets for my Hayden when he had kidney failure about five years ago. He survived and now we're back to the original food. Hope you have a happy ending, too!

 

[cogero]

D I am sending prayers for Ruf. I am really hoping it is just a bug.

I didn't do very much sewing wise this weekend and I really need to get back on track this week. So here is hoping I am productive.

I need to go to work today and J is coming with me.

 

[cajunfan]

We will keep Ruf and you all in our prayers. I have two 10 1/2 year old large breed dogs that have also been through a lot with me. I pray that he heals and gets back to himself soon!

Lynn

 

[Lidian]

Praying for Little Ruf! Please keep us posted!

 

[aboveH20]

Maybe I shouldn't wear stripes?

Oh contrare. People's brains make immediate recalculations when they see someone wearing stripes. Whilst they may start to think "that person's a little bit chunky" before they can finish the thought their brain intervenes and automatically recalulates the stripe factor and they think "stripes are very slimming on that zebra."

WELCOME!!!! We are all crazy around here... by "we", I mean "them" - not me.

Pssssssssst. Not me, either.

I don't think I could ever wear contacts... They say you get used to them, but I don't think I could???

Agreed. Who wants shards of glass in their eyeballs?

Now... for some sad news.... And a prayer request...If you are my FB friend, you probably know what's going on...

Our sweet Rufus hasn't been feeling well these last few days... Last week Wednesday, we noticed that he wasn't eating - but we were at the bottom of his food bin - and sometimes he just doesn't enjoy that last little bit... So, on Friday, Josh and I stopped at the Vet and got him a new bag of food. Over the weekend, he still refused to eat it... We tried to coax him with all his favorites... Raw eggs on top... Beef gravy on top... Nothing worked - he was still very tired and lethargic. Any little bit that he did eat - he threw up.

I ask for prayers - if that is what you believe in... that whatever he has, he can get better... 1 week ago, he was his normal self, and just in one week - so much has changed. None of us are ready for this.

D~

Keeping Rufus in my prayers. We had a boxer for 7 years (I grew up with cats, my husband with boxers). I didn't realize how much I loved him until he was gone.

There's an old man in our neighborhood who walks an old dog (gray muzzle anyway). Every time I see them I wonder how it's going to be for the old man when the old dog finally goes.

Your update on Ruf sounds encouraing, so here's hoping he's on the rebound.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

yes, i've gone and done it... I've redrafted the upb and made a mini version. I must say, it's a bit small for me, personally, but i am tempted to make my toy story bag into a mini, just to try it out... It's super cute!

Finished size is approximately 9"x 9".

Anyways, i know you all have waited a while to see this bag - i hope it is worth your wait, because it was a super fun bag to make and i am very happy with how it turned out... Everything came together in the end, better than i hoped it would.

because the bag is mini, i had to make the strap narrower, which means i had to find an alternate plan for the lgmh... What's better than a "hidden lgmh"????

Applique close-up:

interior of the front zip pocket:

the apple zipper pull:

looking down into the bag:

the slip in pockets:

the matching wallet:

with the bag:

again, thanks for waiting...

D~

love this!