Yes, I bought a tutu

And a Hello Kitty one at that. It's pink, it's tulle, and it's totally ridiculous. And I love it. I am SO grateful that my hula hooping After School Program allows me to justify this addition to my wardrobe.

Disclaimer: Don't be alarmed. I will be wearing this over leggings. I am over the moon with glee about this skirt, but I haven't completely lost my mind!

My to-do list: February 7, 2012

I'm thinking that it will be therapeutic to share the insanity that is my to-do list. Here are just some of the things I want to do soon. Or now. Or yesterday. Of course, this list does not include my "regular tasks." You know. Like my full-time job, my part-time job, my other part-time job, my hooping activities, my involved-mom tasks...

• Try this recipe. I'm actually planning to make it for dinner. Tonight.
• Make this dress. I already have fabric for three (3!) of them.
• Work on this quilt. I'm scheduled to "Quilt 'Til I Wilt" this Sunday. Yay!
• Introduce Mason to Lacrosse. For a variety of reasons, tennis isn't going well.
• Finish my picture wall. Well. Hang the frames on my picture wall, anyway. Getting pictures in those empty frames is another project entirely.

What’s on your to-do list?

Five pillowcases...in a single weekend

Floral pillowcases with lace accent

For weeks now, my oldest has been asking me to teach him how to make a pillowcase. Last month, I finally found time to teach him and a friend how to make one. And we ended up with 5. Because I’m an over-achiever like that.

Actually, I ended up with 5 pillowcases because I tried a variety of methods. The very first one had exposed seams which I did not like at all---even after I finished the seam edges with a zip zag stitch. Next, I made one with a regular border and French seams. This was better, but not good enough. That’s when I decided to make a “sausage-style” pillowcase with French seams. The result is a pillowcase with no exposed seams.

I originally found text-only instructions for the sausage method. They made sense, but it hurt my brain to picture what the instructions were explaining. So I was grateful for the video tutorial that I later found. Online tutorials are awesome. Especially when they’re free.

SUPPLIES: To make a standard-sized pillowcase you will need 1/3 yard fabric for the border and 3/4 yard fabric for the body. If you want to add an accent strip (I used lace in my floral pillowcases) you’ll need 1/8 yard of fabric or about 45 inches of at least 1-inch wide lace or ribbon.

I made three floral pillow cases, then taught my oldest and his friend how to make one.

Update: I originally used 1/4 yard for the border but I've decided that's not quite large enough. 

Making the pillowcase "sausage." (Hey! I made those gloves!)

Straight stitches require intense concentration

This part was fun until one of the pins jabbed him in the neck

Proud owner of a green-checkered pillowcase

I originally planned to help my youngest make a pillowcase also, but he chose a pom-pom border that was too difficult for a six-year old to manipulate through a sewing machine. (Goodness! I had a time of it myself!) So I made that one, too. Result: 5 pillowcases in a single weekend.

12 Schools - 24 Hoops

A. L. Burruss Elementary: Coach Amber Tyler and Alb the Beaver.
(I'm pretty sure this will be my only photo-op, ever, with an over-sized stuffed beaver.)

Alphabet Hoops is focused on introducing kids to the joys and benefits of hula hooping. I do as much as I can with the time I have, but I have a family, a full-time job AND a penchant for crafting---all of which occupy a portion of the limited hours in my day.

So, to increase the number of kids that I reach, I also need to introduce hula hooping to adults who work with kids. To that end, my goal for 2012 is to donate two adult-sized hula hoops to the P.E. department of each of the 12 Marietta City Schools. (And, if the teachers are interested, each hoop handover will include a mini-introductory lesson to hooping!)

Check my donation tracking page for updates on my 2012 hoop donations to the Marietta City School system!

I, too, am a casual hooper!

My goodness, have you visited Hooping.org lately? It's a wonderful information source on all things hooping. Yesterday, there was a write-up by Abby Schwartz  that was coincidentally published on the same day as my "regular people hoop, too" Facebook post!

I, too, am a casual hooper. I LOVE introducing hooping to kids and grown-ups because it's EXERCISE THAT'S DISGUISED AS FUN!!! I will hoop in public (mostly to spread awareness of hooping), but I have absolutely no desire to perform. I am a "regular gal" who's a "casual hooper"!

On a side-note, this Monday will be the first day of my hooping class at A.L. Burruss Elementary! I'm looking forward to all the happy hooping faces I will see there!

Autism: The Power of a Hula Hoop

I haven't had the privilege to work with kids with Autism, but because of its meditative and calming aspects, I've long suspected that they would connect with hooping. This article on hooping.org speaks about the "Power of a Hula Hoop." One of the comments also made a lot of sense to me:

"I think the repetitive sound is soothing for them and it provides sensory input without anyone being in their “bubble” as well."

Hooping most definitely puts you in a "bubble." This is why I, someone who is not keen on drawing attention to myself, am able to hoop in public...I am so focused on my hooping on that I lose most of my awareness of the external world.

Happy New Year!

I'm so crazy excited about 2012! Hooping, quilting, building my community family, getting back into photography, driving a new Jeep (maybe :-)!

Happy New Year, everyone! May you all be blessed with good health, peace, and love!!!