Smocking on the Cheap/Easy

Remember how I low on time and high on responsibilities? Add to that I am extremely frugal (Michael and I prefer this over what family members like to call us-cheap) and I always have running in my head an old saying- "Use it up, wear it out. Make it do, or do without."

The older I get, the more kids I have, the more God presses on my heart to "make it do" and give, give, give, the more I am searching for ways to do things cheaper. That's when I found this dress:

 

I was rummaging through the clearance at a local consignment store and saw this dress for $6!!! Can't beat that, right? It was the beginning of the summer. Easter was long gone and it would be too small to put it away for next Easter. Then it dawned on me. I was about to take an 8 hour (really more like 10 with potty breaks) drive to the beach and an 8 hour drive back. There was plenty of time there to rip out the smocking and redo with something for Fall. 

To tell the truth, 2 kids ago I had put away my darner needles and embroidery scissors due to the time and cost of smocking something fresh. Know my heart, I would love nothing more than to pick out every detail of a dress from start to finish. It's what I LOVE about sewing. After the fabric was bought, pleated (I don't own a pleater), and the time and energy it took to smock it and put the finished dress together, I just couldn't justify it. I could buy something already made on clearance for much cheaper and it only took a 10 minute shuffle through the clearance racks. Does anyone else struggle with this!?! 

Enter new breed of projects. The dress was put together and was only $6. I also needed something to do in the car for 18 hours. After constantly taking care of 4 kids, I have grown into quite the restless person. I found the smocking pattern I wanted:

 

I updated the colors (a subject for a future blog), and could not wait to start.

A couple of tips:

1. Depending on your pattern, you will want to back smock according to instructions before you begin ripping out. There will not be guide threads to determine the lines, but it will be easier to figure out where you need to back smock based on the original smocking if you keep it intact. 

2. Rip second and BE CAREFUL! Don't undo all the back smocking you have just completed. Tiny, sharp embroidery scissors are necessary.

Sorry about the blurriness. I told you about my camera, right?

3. Don't forget your Zofran (anti-nausea) from all your previous pregnancies to abate the car sickness you get while you work on it.

This is a perfect project for:

1. Busy moms

2. Cheap, I mean frugal, moms. Total cost? $10

3. Ladies who are intimidated by sewing, but want to try their hand at smocking
4. Time filler that is totable- meaning you don't need a sewing machine to complete. Everything you need to do this project fits into a small tote bag.

Before(Easter), After(Cinderella)

WE ARE STARTING A BLOG!!!

Folks, we are hopping on the bandwagon. Michael and I (mostly I, I am still talking Michael into it, but I know he won't be able to resist) are starting a blog. Here are the details:

Who: Michael and Sara Shea

What: This is the single most reason I have yet to start a blog. I could not decide on a theme. Is it going to be a family blog? Funny blog? Spiritual blog? I decided Michael and I are not in-the-box type thinkers and themes are a drag. This is going to be a catch all blog. Hold onto your panties, you never know what you will find.

When: Yet another stumbling block for our new internet voice was WHEN. We have four kids and no time. This should be interesting.

Where: World Wide Web

Why: Why, in the world, do I think the web needs two more voices? I have been thinking long and hard-not clearly mind you. Did I tell you I had four kids? A list of things we bring to the blog table:

1. Measure of intelligence- I used to be smart, I think. I have 3 National Latin Exam Gold Medals. I keep them in my office to remind myself I used to be able to think clearly enough to take tests and take them well. Michael, more than I, has managed to hold onto his intellect. He is a rocket scientist. I know this not because  I have any clue what he does all day to bring home the bacon, but one day while arguing one of his main points of argument was that he was one and I was not. 

2. Witty- Here again, a lot of my wit has seen it's better days, but I think we both would not be able to survive this life without our wit. I thank God for that. 

3. Great material- I daily marvel at how God decided to place 4 vivacious kids all under the care of 2 parents. We continued to have kids just to see if he would give us a normal one. We gave up at 4.

Things I cannot promise:

1. Great pictures- Most, if not all, of our pictures might very well come from another website. Copied and pasted. 

2. Great grammar- Time and mental constraints will prevent proper sentence construction and word usage. 

3. That this blog will go beyond the first post. 

Things I can promise:

1. Transparency- We are going to try our bests to be transparent. One of the reasons I was not starting a blog was because I am impatient and have no time to make it look great. In addition to that, our main camera  in the Shea family is a point and shoot with a broken display screen. I might be the only person in Alabama who is looking through the view finder on their point and shoot to take picture. This block in my wanting to start a blog is more of a true depiction of WHO Michael and I are and WHERE we are in life than have a beautifully designed blog with great pictures. We are cheap and will not shell out the money for a great camera and we lack the time to make it look really pretty. 

2. A couple of broken people clinging to the cross of Christ going through life with the Holy Spirit ministering to us as as we go . Michael and I will, from the onset of this blog, let you know that everything good in our life comes not from us (refer to reasons 1-3 of "What we bring to the table.") or anything we do, but from God (James 1:17) and His grace. Thus the blog title. We will be pouring out to you, the grace that God pours in our life.