Tutorial: No-Sew Tutu

October 29, 2014

Hello friends! If you’ve been keeping up with us on the blog or instagram, you’ve seen that for Halloween this year, we’re doing Cowboys and Indians, but not just any Cowboy or Indian. THE CUTEST ONES AROUND!

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To be honest, I really wanted to jump on the Elsa and Anna band wagon this year, but Andrew said no. So, maybe next year after everyone and their moms have already been Elsa and Anna, we can do that (I wouldn’t mind having an Elsa costume myself)!

Do you have your costumes ready yet? No problem! Here’s a really simple, hour long no-sew tutu tutorial for you.

 

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For toddler Cowgirl tutu, you will need:

  • 2-25 ft long, 6” wide rolls of blue tulle
  • Ribbon long enough to tie around waist
  • Scissors

 

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For infant Indian tutu, you will need:

  • 1-25 ft long, 6” wide roll of brown tulle
  • Ribbon long enough to tie around waist
  • Scissors

 

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Step 1: Measure from your little one’s tummy to their knees or however long you want the tutu to stick out (for the Cowgirl costume, this was 11”, and for the Indian costume, it was 6.5”). Double that number and cut strips of tulle to that length.

 

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Step 2: Pinch tulle in half at center.

 

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Step 3: Lay tulle underneath ribbon with pinched center poking out above the ribbon, as shown in the picture. Use the following photos for the next steps.

 

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Pull tight!

Repeat until desired fullness. For my tutus, I found that 4 knots of tulle make about 1 inch, so for my daughter’s 22” waist, I used about 88 strips of tulle. If you want your tutu full-er, add more strips of tulle!

 

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 tutu tutorial

It only took me an hour to make one and turned out just the way I hoped it would!

What are you dressing up as for Halloween?

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Lift the Goblet of Gratitude

October 26, 2014

“There is one thing we can do to make life sweeter, more joyful, even glorious.

We can be grateful.”

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“It might sound contrary to the wisdom of the world to suggest that one who is burdened with sorrow should give thanks to God."

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"But those who set aside the bottle of bitterness and lift instead the goblet of gratitude can find a purifying drink of healing, peace, and understanding.”



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"This type of gratitude transcends whatever is happening around us. It surpasses disappointment, discouragement, and despair."


-Presient Uchtdorf, April 2014 General Conference
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Photography: Alexa’s Baby Blessing Dress

October 24, 2014
I don’t often buy patterns from the store because I don’t like the price-tag, but some patterns are worth buying. The ones that you know you’ll use again, and the ones that have a pretty generic look that you could easily adjust to your needs. The good thing about buying patterns, too, is that you learn a lot about pattern making when you study and use the ones you buy from a store. I definitely have a few patterns that I absolutely love!

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^^photo via "Becoming a Seamstress: 10 Tips for Beginners," a guest post I wrote for Alexa Zurcher's blog, He and I^^

Anyway, this blessing dress I made from a pattern I bought from Hancock (Simplicity 1701A) but adjusted it to look just the way I wanted. I’m pretty happy with how it turned out, and I think Miss Alexa is, too!


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Oh, how I love my little Alexa! Click here to read about her actual blessing day.

P.S. I’ve considered calling myself “The Stay-in-Bed Photographer” because just about all of the photos I take are on my bed! What do you think? Is it cute and catchy or does it just make me sound lazy?
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Alexa’s baby blessing

October 22, 2014
I just want to take a step back from all the festivities today to share with you a very special day in dear little Alexa’s life. Her blessing day.

Alexa was blessed by her father on September 7, 2014. Andrew’s parents, sister, brother-in-law, and Grandparents were in attendance in addition to my parents, some brothers and sisters, their spouses, and nieces and nephews. It was a day that I will never forget because of the love that I felt from my family for me and my family, and the love I felt from my Heavenly Father for us as well.

It is such a blessing to have a husband and father who possess the priesthood ability and authority to give these special blessings to babies when they are born. Andrew was so in tune with the spirit and the things that he said I know did not come from his thoughts or wishes. His words were from the Lord. I felt the spirit testify of this to me as Andrew, along with my dad, Andrew’s dad, my brothers Jim and Kent, Andrew’s Grandpa Wilson, and Andrew’s brother-in-law, Josh held our daughter in their arms.

The amazing thing is that the more Alexa grows and that I get to know her, the more I see that the things the Lord blessed her with through Andrew are true and will come to pass. He truly knows her through and through, better than anyone else, and knows exactly what she needs. I feel so humbled to have her as my daughter.

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^^Both sides^^

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^^My side^^

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^^Stange side^^

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^^Andrew's grandparents and four generations^^

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My mom made Chelsea’s blessing dress when she was born, but since I’ve improved a bit since then, I wanted to make Alexa’s. Here’s a sneak peak of the photo shoot I did of Alexa in her blessing dress (about a month after her blessing). There are so many good shots from this shoot that I have to save most of the photos for its own post, so until then, enjoy these!

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Thank you so much for stopping by today and letting me share some of my deepest thoughts and beliefs with you. I know that my daughter’s have come to me from a divine Heavenly Father who loves His children, and I am eternally grateful for the opportunity that I have to be their mom.

To learn more about my beliefs, visit mormon.org and/or visit your local meeting house and talk to your local missionaries.




Susan is a birth photographer/videographer serving Mesa, Arizona and surrounding cities including Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, and Tempe. Considering a photographer for your birth? Contact Susan for EDD availability.
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Halloween Party 2014

October 20, 2014
My, what a weekend it’s been! Not only did I get to spend Saturday evening dressed up with my family and best friends, but I also became an aunt two times over! And they’re not even twins! of course when you’re the last of twelve grown-up kids, some birthdays are bound to overlap.

We started planning our Halloween party at least a month ago at one of our girl’s nights. We planned the food, the treats, the games, etc., and shared the load together. The result, was a great time! There was ghost bowling, bobbing for apples (and pears), a bean bag toss, and a doughnut on a string eat off at the end of the night! The bobbing for apples/pears and the doughnut on a string competitions were my favorites!

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IMG_7571 edit01  ^^ The winner! ^^

But what these Halloween parties are really all about are the costumes, and there were so many good ones! We had…

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Jesse, Woody, Storm Trooper, Rainbow Dash

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Paul Bunyan, Rosie the Riveter, Venom, Wolverine

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Wolverine 2, Storm, Bat Girl, Wonderwoman

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Gypsy, Hokey Player, Superman, Spiderman

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Bat Girl 2, Minnie Mouse, Queen Elsa

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Prince Charming, Fairy Godmother, Cinderella, Little Mouse

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Cowboys, and Indians

We had so much fun eating good food, playing games, showing off our costumes, and just conversing with one another. It’s definitely a night to put in the books, or on my blog in this case. I feel so blessed to be living where I am and to know all of these wonderful people and their adorable children. They help me out in so many ways, by making me feel special and loved and are such great examples to me. Thanks so much for making October 18th just about the best Halloween party I’ve ever attended, ladies + families!

And congratulations Karissa and Scott on the birth of little Derek, and congratulations Jim and Kim on the birth of little David. We love babies in this family!
One last thing: I posted two new items in my Etsy shop this weekend. There are two tulle skirts available for purchase, but there’s only one of each color, so once they’re gone, they’re gone, plus, they are going for a great price! Be sure to stop by my shop and see what kind of deal I’m talking about (click on the picture to be taken to the Etsy listing). See ya!

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