Mamma Tortilla Is Taking The Plunge!!

I decided to join my old co-workers and take the Polar Bear Plunge. I can't convince Melissa to do it , she thinks I'm crazy. But a little thrill in a stay-at-home mom world isn't so bad :).

If you like to donate to a great cause, please donate here

Pictures Worth A Thousand Words

The suitcase by Melissa W. (The Blogger)

The Pho-Tak by Nicole E. (The Sister)

The Vintage Fabric by Christina P. (The 89 year old Great Aunt)

The Apron by Katie R. (The Friend)

25 New Year's Resolutions for Going Green

Head over to PlanetGreen.discovery.com on 25 things you can do to go green in 2010! Here's some of things I am going to aim to do:

1. Banish paper and plastic bags from your life. Always carry at least one reusable bag with you and it will soon be as routine as grabbing your keys when you head out. Don't won't want to spend the money on reusable bags. Head over to Dana at Made and see her tutorial on how to make reusable bags.

2. Recycle anything and everything you can. Even if you have to drive items to a depot once a month, it's worth it to save raw materials.
3. Start composting -- it's simple and you get free fertilizer.
4. Buy a bike, or build one at your local bike shop. While other people are stuck in the snarl of rush hour traffic, you'll breeze by and be home much more quickly.
5. Start my own vegetable garden.
6. Try to eat only organic, raw, local produce.

Finally Something for my Husband!

Sorry we were missing for a few days!  Both Les and I had sickness running rampant in our houses.  But we are back!  I can hear you all cheering... oh, no that's the radio...oh well.

My poor husband! He puts up with so much for my crafting obsession but rarely benefits.  Well today I rectified that.  He is outside most of the day and doesn't really like wearing a big ol' scarf around his neck.  So, I made him a fleece neck warmer.  It couldn't have been simpler (shh, don't tell him!)  It probably took close to 20 minutes, and that was while Bella was awake.  So here is is:

    1.  Cut a piece of fleece 22x20 (making sure the stretch is along the 22 inch length)


 
 
  2.  Fold cloth in half (right sides together) so it measures 10 x 22. Sew along the long edge to form a tube.

  3.  Turn the tube in on itself so the right sides are together.(this step is hard to explain in words and my  drawing is really bad.  You are basically taking the tube and making a tube half the size)
    4.  Sew around the circle leaving a opening to turn.  Only sew two layers together - not all four.  That would leave you with no hole for the head!

  5.  Turn and hand stitch opening closed.

Sorry that I didn't take step by step pictures.  If you have any questions let me know.

Tada!  That should hold him over for a few months=)

Make your life beautiful!

Cute Little Girl Dress

Ooooo pretty little girl dresses!! That's my new thing right now. I  want to be able to open Chloe's closet and see that every dress in there I made. Well, that's the goal anyway. A couple of weeks ago Melissa and I went to the thrift store and found this beautiful old vintage bed sheet. I decided to make a dress for Chloe out of it. Oh my, did it turn out super cute! It is super easy and the design possibilities are endless.

Materials:

1- bed sheet
1- dress for pattern
scissors
pins
sewing machine
matching thread

Step 1-Take the old dress and rip the seams out. Once you have the seams ripped, cut along the shoulder creating two pieces, a front and a back.

Step 2. Lay out the two pieces on top of the sheet. Pin the front and back pieces to the sheet then cut around. The pictures doesn't show it but I made the length longer because Chloe had grown out of the dress I was using for the pattern.

Step 3. I folded the arm sleeves and the bottom of the dress (both pieces) down creating a hem. Iron them down before sewing, its a lot easier that way. Then sew your hem. For the neck line you could do the same thing or add some hem tape or ruffles. The possibilities are endless.

Step 4. Once you have sewn the hems. Place both pieces right sides together. Then pin the dress together.

Step 5. Sew at the shoulders and the sides of the dress. Don't sew the neckline, the opening of the sleeves, and the bottom of the dress :) I've done it before.

Step 6. Turn the dress right side out. VIOLA!! beautiful new dress.

Creative Vibes To You,

My New Red Scarf - read: I'm in love!

I had a red scarf.

It was red.

It was a scarf.

It was okay.

Okay, it was boring.

So...

I added a long straight stitch down the length of my boring red scarf.

Then, I added another long line of long stitches.

I gathered it all up it a simple ruffle.

I added a vintage button from buttons "borrowed" from my mom. ;)

I fudged my way through a button hole (cut a hole and zigzagged the edges)

And now...?



Now I'm in love. Sigh...


Make your life beautiful,

Goodbye 2009 Hello 2010

Wow 2009 has come and gone! Today is the day where I sit back and reflect on all the wonderful things that happened in 2009. I had so many blessings this year. One of them being that my daughter was born in March at home. From then I became at permanent stay-at-home mom and realized that being a stay-at-home mom is the most rewarding and difficult job I have ever had (and I have had plenty). Since my journey at home has started, I have met so many wonderful people, my son made a best friend (miles), I learned how to cook, sew, dream and have confidence in myself. But the person I am most thankful is my husband because without his support and encouragement 2009 wouldn't be what it was. Thank you Scott!

Though Mamma Tortilla has only recently started and we are still brand new to this blogging world, I want to thank those who have become followers. We have a lot of plans for 2010. So please stick around and lets make 2010 AWESOME together!.