The Train To Crazy

Make It Wear It

Welcome to the blog party where you can get inspired by what all your fellow bloggers are making to wear! Have you been busy making?

The Rules: 

1. Click on "add your link" below. Enter your item information. Please link to the actual blog post that includes your project so it is easy for people to find! 

2. Pretty please link back here somewhere on your blog. You can grab the button if you want.

  <a href="http://www.thetraintocrazy.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/thetraintocrazy/makeitwearitbutton.jpg" border="0" alt="make it wear it"></a>

3. Go check out the others who are linking! Have fun and get inspired! Leave comments because everyone loves comments!

The little things

I made this long sleeve onesie for Jack before he was born. He was bigger than expected and has grown out of it. Oh well. It made a cute picture! 

To make this I used a short sleeve onesie and a long sleeve t-shirt as a pattern. Then I added the hand covers. It was a fairly easy project. Definitely worth a try if you've got some special knit fabric you want to see on your little one. I still have more of that fabric so I'm sure you'll see it again.

Interested in winning $20 worth of fabric and a cute pattern? Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Pattern Giveaway PLUS Fabric.com Gift Card!

Thanks to Rachel at Mama Stellato Patterns one of you will win the pattern of your choice plus a $20 gift card to Fabric.com so you can buy your fabric! 

If I were you, I'd consider making the Somerset Hoodie

with one of these fabric combos from Fabric.com

Which patterns do you like?? 

Enter the giveaway! Leave a separate comment for each entry.

1. Go to the Mama Stellato Etsy store and leave a comment telling me which pattern you'd choose if you won.

2. For a second optional entry, become a follower or subscriber of the Mama Stellato blog. Leave a separate comment letting me know you did this.

3. Tweet about this giveaway. You may tweet once a day for additional entries. All tweets must link back to this post and include @TheTrainToCrazy. Leave a comment here for each tweet.

4. Blog about this giveaway, linking to this post. Leave me a comment with a link to your blog post. 

Contest Closed! Congratulations to Jess who said she would like the Somerset Hoodie!

25 Days of Giving, a year round effort

Each year that I've done the 25 Days of Giving since I started the tradition, I've found it difficult. Planning and actually carrying out 25 days of giving activities is tough! There are days when we don't accomplish our task. There are days when we just don't feel like doing the project we had planned, or maybe it just makes us plain uncomfortable. There are also days when our planned project just seems like a waste of time.

I don't allow it to become a stress because that is not the point. The point isn't to "do good" or to see how much we can accomplish. The point is to focus on loving and serving others during the season we celebrate the one who came to serve and love {and SAVE} us. (read more about the 25 Days of Giving)

Though maybe you have joined in with our 25 Days of Giving because you just want your kids to stop thinking of the holidays as a time of "give me." Whatever your motive for joining, I'd like to encourage you to keep it up while putting realistic expectations on yourself and your family. This shouldn't just be one more thing on the To Do List. 

December is fast approaching so now is the perfect time to begin thinking about the 25 Days of Giving. I compiled some great lists last year to help get your creative juices flowing. 

Free (or nearly free) giving activities

Not so free giving activities

While you are considering joining the 25 Days of Giving this year, I'd like to encourage you to do some research in your area and see where your family can serve others regularly. Perhaps you'd like to make a monthly meal at your local Ronald MacDonald House for the families staying there while their children are in the hospital? Or maybe you can volunteer weekly to collect food for your local food bank. Perhaps you want to get up on Saturday mornings and make a giant stack of hot pancakes to handout to the homeless? Maybe you can volunteer year round at a local Operation Christmas Child Collection Center. Tempted to help your 6 year old sew or knit something monthly from the Craft Hope book?

There are many organizations that do not want your children "helping". But there are many creative ways you CAN involve them. Let's think outside the box. What are some ways that you get your family involved in regular activities of giving? Anything you've been wanting to do or been tempted to try? Let's share our ideas and I'll compile a list!

Do you know of ongoing charities that accept handmade items? I'd love to hear about those as well!

Make It Wear It

I'm taking this week off to rest and snuggle this guy.

Stop back next week to link up to Make It Wear It!

Good things come to those who wait!

Jack is here! Our sweet little guy made his appearance October 17th. We are home recovering and figuring out how to be a family of 6.

Thank you so much for all your well wishes! We'll be doing a lot of eating and sleeping in the coming days. I'll be back when I'm a bit rested!

Welcome Mama Stellato Patterns and More...

Welcome to my new sponsor, Mama Stellato Patterns! Have you seen these patterns before? 

Here are some of my favorites.

How cute is this style? And perfect for all seasons.

And what a cute peasant dress!

And I cannot wait to make this hoodie! I'm so excited to get started!

So, drop on by to Mama Stellato's shop and see which patterns you like best!

Costume Tutorial Extravaganza

Do you have a tutorial for a costume? Something you posted 4 years ago or even just today? Link up as many as you want!

It can be as easy as how to be a general "how to" or a detailed tutorial! Maybe you made Wall-E out of a cardboard box and want to show us how you did it? Perhaps you made a cute little monkey costume? Anything goes!

Link up your costume tutorials so we can all get some ideas! 

I'm taking the week off so can you help me out by spreading the word? I'm hoping we'll be able to compile a great list of homemade costume ideas!

And finally, to answer everyone's question: No baby yet. Yes, I'm past my due date. Don't forget to enter the giveaway for an Oh So Sassy DIY dress or skirt kit!

Happy Linking!

Oh So Sassy Giveaway & Discount (Closed)

So many of you participated in the Daphne Dress Sew Along and made such cute little dresses. Now is your chance to get a FREE Oh So Sassy kit!

Haven't heard of Oh So Sassy? Go check out the shop! There are precut dress & skirt kits ready for you to make! With cute patterns and fabulous fabric, who could refuse? For a low price you'll get a complete kit, including instructions, ready for you to sew it up quickly.

This is the one I would choose:

Or maybe this one:

Yes. Probably that one. 

But I think I'd be tempted to get these too:

Not only is Oh So Sassy giving away a free kit to one lucky person, but you all get 10% off one kit or 15% off two (not including sale items)!

Enter "Riding The Train" at checkout and receive your discount refunded!

Want to win a FREE kit? You have 3 chances to win!

Contest closed! Congratulations to the winner, Robin!

The never ending piles of fabric....

I sewed for baby a bit this week. Sticking to the De-Stash Challenge I used only what I had.

I reaffirmed my distaste for sewing satin. But really, what baby doesn't love satin?

I made swaddle blankets by simply serging the edges of a giant flannel square.

I made over our very used burp cloths.

I made a couple changing pad covers using Prudent Baby's tutorial.

My mom says a brown changing pad cover is a bad idea. She may be right!

I used Cluck, Cluck, Sew's tutorial for the car seat cover she so aptly calls the Greeter Deterrent. 

I bought this baby flannel 5 or 6 months ago for around $1.50/yard. 4 yards has gone a long way. I've used it for a couple other projects this week as well. 

All this sewing and barely a dent in my stash! I'll share more of this week's projects in the coming weeks.

Linked here

Make It Wear It

Making things to wear is so much fun! What are you making these days? Link up below! There were some fun projects linked last week.

Sweet Jilli Beanz figured out her ruffler foot!

Fabric Therapy made this cute little dress for her little cutie.

If Only They Would Nap made her own T-shirt!

Craftily Ever After whipped up this cute hair accessory

Sweet Pea & Jojo made this cute Apple Picking dress

The Path Less Traveled Market made this adorable nightie and these aprons

The Beaz Hive whipped up this great dress

Shwin & Shwin show you how to make this little skirt

Wow, so much great stuff last week!!

If you've been featured, feel free to grab a button.

Next week will be a bit different. We won't be having the usual Make It Wear It because of the Costume Tutorials Link Up. Stop by and link up your new or old costume tutorials next Monday through Friday. 

So what have you been making that you can wear?? 

The Rules: 

1. Click on "add your link" below. Enter your item information. You can even add a picture now! Please link to the actual blog post that includes your project so it is easy for people to find! 

2. Pretty please link back here. You can grab the button if you want.

  <a href="http://www.thetraintocrazy.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/thetraintocrazy/makeitwearitbutton.jpg" border="0" alt="make it wear it"></a>

3. Go check out the others who are linking! Have fun and get inspired! Leave comments because everyone loves comments!

Sorry the Linky was down earlier! It is now working.

Easy Halloween Costumes?

Have you done a tutorial for an easy Halloween costume in the past or planning to do one soon? You know, the last minute/busy parent variety costume. Let's link up here next Monday the 8th! Let's help each other save time and make some great costumes! 

Spread the word!

 

Because you can't do it all

I get many comments about how I must be this way or that way to handle 3 (4) kids and do all we do and sew and have a blog. There really is no secret to getting it done. I don't do it all. Really. For example, last month was Sewing For Baby month here. I had a great list of projects to get done. You know, actually sewing for my baby. How many did I get done during the month? One. That's right. One. 

I think one of the best things you can do is to constantly reevaluate what you are doing and how you are spending your time. So, I decided to unpack the new house and then spend the month doing more relaxing and playing than anything else. It was necessary. 

For those of you list makers, that probably makes you nervous just thinking about ditching a to do list. The problem is, if you aren't able to do just that, you'll find yourself constantly stressed or overwhelmed. 

Trying to do it all? What do you need to ditch right now?

Blogging perks

There are some perks to blogging. I'm not going to lie, "free stuff" is nice. I enjoy the privilege of being a CSN stores preferred blogger so once a quarter I get a bit of money to use as I wish at their stores and then review. It's a dilemma to me trying to figure out what to buy. Should it be something especially pertaining to the theme of this blog, or should I just go ahead and get something I need/want?

Well, it's that time to chose again. I don't need any end tables (actually, I don't NEED anything). I don't need furniture or accessories but I have been considering using the money to splurge on some good sheers for sewing. Do you use good sheers? I think just saying the word "sheers" really sets them apart from other run of the mill fabric "scissors." At any rate, please excuse me while I go searching for something to buy...