Random Thoughts

I've got a bunch of random thoughts floating around in my head today and I thought I'd just put them into one post instead of 3 or 4. :)

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Today is the last day of girl, disconnected! I've thoroughly enjoyed it. I've learned that social networking is not vital to living a quality filled life. Going cold turkey from Facebook was probably the best thing for me to do. On the other hand I will be glad to check in with my friends and a few groups I'm in. I have a lot of online friends all across the country and it's easier to keep up with them on there. I've also missed the immediate feedback I get from there and I will be glad to get that back!

Part of the disconnected experiment was to cut back on how much time I'm online and I've done that successfully. I've learned that the best thing for me to do is to shut off my laptop and put it out of sight. I'm not tempted to hop on and off then and I can focus more on other things going on around the house or in my sewing room.

I've really enjoyed girl, disconnected but I don't think I will do it again any time soon. I will go back to fully disconnecting one day a week with my Unplugged Challenge and I will be satisfied with that!

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Today is the last day of this month. I got so much done on my goal list. It really helps me to keep a visual reminder of what I've done and need to do still. I might not get everything done on the list but I'm not stressing about it. I think next month I will focus on getting some of my unfinished projects done. My list is a mile long! I must have sewing or craft ADHD. :)

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I'm looking at ways to make my life less stressful and am really trying to slow down. I think I have too many irons in the fire. I can't do it all, I know that, but getting help sometimes is next to impossible. Cooking, cleaning, homemaking, sewing, business, laundry, homeschooling, kids, husband, exercising, fun. How does one fit it all in?

I'll be honest, the first thing that came to my mind was (and still is) to quit homeschooling. That's probably harder to admit then the fact that I'm stressed out. There seems to be a wide-spread guilt trip put on those who do quit. Those on the homeschooling side are appalled that you’d ever think of putting your kid back in those evil schools and those on the pro-school side are of the I-told-you-so stand point. Now, if I had a great support system and an easy child then I'd never think of quitting. Unfortunately, neither are true. My immediate supporter (aka husband) doesn't support me much, if at all. He didn't want me to homeschool in the first place and now that I do he has very high expectations. Ian is also not the easiest child to teach (no matter how I teach to his learning style) and though it's better now that his reading is better, it is just tough. You'd have to know him to understand that fully. I try to remember the long term benefits to homeschooling and how much more freedom we have but it is difficult.

I'm also a pretty strong introvert. While I love people, they drain me dry, including my immediate family and children. I know I have to spend time away from others so that I have the energy to give everyone the things that they need. It's hard to set up time for myself, uninterrupted, when you're never alone. I've had several people, including my doctor, tell me to leave the house alone. That's hard for 2 reasons… 1)no babysitter (my husband makes me feel guilty if I ask him); 2)it puts me around people whom I need to get away from to reenergize. Doesn’t that sound like a big horrible cycle? And I wonder why I feel like crying sometimes and feel like quitting homeschooling.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Now I'm not going to think about this for the next few hours but go sew for awhile!

Wordless Wednesday: Homemade Bubbles

A New Shirt for Me!

I had planned to make this shirt in May during May for Me but I had so much on my list that I didn't get around to it until this past weekend. In May I resized the pattern and cut the fabric out, sewing was just put on hold.

I think the fabric came from Hobby Lobby but I'm not sure what line it is. The pattern is McCall's M5138 which is a fitted collared shirt with puffy sleeves. I really like this shirt and is a great addition to my closet!

(Sorry my pictures aren't the best... ligthing wouldn't cooperate!)

An Update and a New Awareness

This past week I wrote that I'm having some possible health issues. I went to the doctor last Tuesday for my women's wellness check up and was told that my thyroid was/is swollen. Many people have thyroid problems but it is usually something the older population, particularly women, have. Not a 27 year old.

Blood tests were run and I asked around my family for more detailed history which is a pretty negative one. I got my results back Thursday and they were in the upper normal range. Not great but not bad enough to do anything about.

I went back to my doctor this morning to talk about the results and what needs to be done. As of right now I will only need to monitor it yearly with a blood test to check the hormone levels. If I ever develop lumps or if the thyroid causes me any other problems I'll be sent to an endocrinologist for further testing.

But having my thyroid possibly malfunction brought up some other issues today with my doctor. Because I have a pretty strong history of thyroid issues and diabetes in my family, we talked about what I can do diet-wise and health-wise to push off any developing future problems.

I was a gestational diabetic (pregnancy induced diabetes) during my last pregnancy. I was able to eat extremely healthy, avoided all starches (bread & potatoes), and especially avoided anything with high fructose corn syrup. I will basically be doing that again… eating a well balanced, as-close-to whole foods, and no processed foods diet as possible.

We also talked about how I need to lose weight. She said I should lose between 20-25 pounds and get my BMI under 22. Doing that will also prolong my health and life and hold off any future health problems. Loosing weight is a no-brainer it's just getting my body to cooperate, making a habit of it, and finding the time. I'm making baby steps though!

Lastly, we talked a little bit about my mental status. That's not particularly something that comes up in everyday conversation. lol But she was concerned that I am not handling things, that I'm stress, and need a little extra support. She basically hit the nail on the head, as they say, and we agreed for me to go see someone about stress management, find out more information about military spousal support, and for me to get out once a week, alone, for a 'mental health' break. (Doctors orders, dear husband!!!)

I'll be going back in a month to check in on my healthy eating habits, weight loss, and mental health.

So, basically, I need to take care of me so I can take care of my family. Sometimes I feel that it's easier said then done but I know, for real now, that it HAS to be done, one way or another.

Thanks for reading such a long post!

Wing Snap Fitted Diaper- Testing Phase!

I've recently come across a cool new diaper style. I guess this style has been floating around out on the web for awhile and I somehow came across it one way or another. Anyways, my baby is growing and it was time to make him some new diapers, so I thought I'd give this kind a try!

So far, so good! I really like them. :) Basically, you fold the wings to the center of the diaper, put baby on and snap the diaper on like a regular diaper. I like the extra thickness it provides, yet it unfolds for quicker drying. I had to experiment with how I applied the snaps but the 2 shown here are what I finally settled on (2 diapers not shown as they were just 'practice'). I love snaps so much better then touchtape/velcro and I think I've finally found a diaper to use my stash on.

Overall these are a great fitted diapers for day use. The only draw back is that they required a diaper cover. In my opinion, that's not really that big of a deal. I already have a bunch over covers. :)

What does Jameson think of his new diapers? He loves his RARRRR & Eeee-Eeee-Eeee (aka dinosaur & monkey) diapers!

I'm definitely going to add them to my shop as I find time.

Here are some photos of the diaper unfolded and snapped together…

And here are some in-action diaper photos (sorry for the blurriness, my model wouldn't hold still for long)…

girl, disconnected check-in

Things are going extremely well in being disconnected… at least from facebook!


I recently changed my schedule around to include exercising and then things changed again with us finishing up school. I've yet to find a good schedule for staying off the computer and including exercise and play time for summer vacation. I'm sure I'll figure it out soon! Hopefully! And then things will change again when we re-start school mid-July. I just have to remember to go with the flow!

I'm really enjoying staying off facebook. I'm getting more personal interaction with those I really consider close friends and family. But I will keep my facebook page because it does have it's benefits!

Honestly, there is not really anything earth shattering to report… I'm still here, still blogging, still sewing, and still going crazy with my little family.

Halter Top Apron- Orange Floral

This pretty little number is now finished and available in my shop. :) Click HERE!

The Marcia Top

I ment to post this much earlier in the day but I've been very badly side-tracked with a doctors appointment and some worrisome news. I'm trying to not make a mountain out of a mole hill. The waiting will be the hardest in the next few days. I don't really know anything until I get those lab results back and I keep trying to tell myself that it's just a few days and I can make it. I will fill you in when I know more. Now back to our regularly scheduled program!

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I have been going over and over in my head as to what to call this shirt style... Remember these? I made myself 3 of this style shirt during May for Me.

Not to long after posting about those shirts I got an order to make one for one of my dear blog followers, Marcia. You can find her blogs here and here. And because she was the first to order one I decided to name the top after her. :) And without further ado, here is her beautiful new shirt!

I hope she likes it!

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If you would like to order one they are $30 (fabric provided by you) or $45 (fabric provided by me). I have sizes 10-18. Email me if you are interested and for accurate measurements and yardage requirements. heatherscustomsewing@gmail.com

Simple Things in Life: Jean Diaper Covers

Up-cycled jean diaper covers for a wholesale order... there are 17 total. I'm simply glad they are done!

Sewing Saturday: WIPs

For those that don’t know WIP= Works In Progress.


This past week or so has been super busy for me! No wonder with 3 baseball games, doctor appointments, and a traveling husband who's gone out of town, come home and gone back out. Oh yeah, and finishing the last week of our homeschool in the middle of all that. Sometimes I wonder how I've not gone insane with all the busy-ness.

Well, I haven't gotten a lot done so I thought I'd show you my WIPs.

WIP #1 > Jean Diaper Cover Wholesale Order
-I'm on the final leg of these, all I need to do it put the elastic in the waistband and legs. If I could find another hour or 2 they'd be done!
-These last 5 will complete the 17 I've created. If you are wondering why it's taking me so long to create these… well, I added up my time one day… 1 cover takes me 2 hours from start to finish, multiply that by 17 and when all is said and done I will have worked for 34 hours. Now, IF, I could devote a full 8 hour day to these… no problem… but if you've been reading my blog for any length of time you will know that I might get to sew for an hour or 2 a day, late at night, if I can stay awake… *sigh* :)

WIP #2 > Marcia's Shirt
-This isn't technically started but she sent me this really cute rooster fabric and it's just sitting there waiting on me to finish WIPs #1. More on this later!

And that brings me to show you my sewing room closet where I hang all my WIPs. They are just begging me to work on them… can you hear them? "Heather… come SEW me!" LOL

Last Day of School!

We finished the last day of 2nd grade today! We follow a year-round schedule in our homeschool. We'll have a 4 week break and then jump back into 3rd grade with both feet.

This was our 1st year of homeschooling. Technically, it was just a half year since we started after the Christmas break.

The year has gone very well! Ian has sufficiently caught up on his reading and I could even venture to say he's reading at a 3rd grade level, instead of the 1st grade that we began with. If you are wondering how I got him to catch up so quickly... well, I didn't do a whole lot, just got books he was interested in (even if it wasn't at reading level). He then had to read a little bit every day. It's become more of a habit now then anything.

He's also gotten his moods and attitude under better control either by maturing and/or just being home. His writing has improved some but still needs work and I'm sure it'll come along as he gets better fine motor control and more direct teaching and feedback from me.

His favorite subject is history and he has enjoyed the shorter school days. When he's done, he can go play!

He has been a big help to me around the house but still enjoys instigating things with his little brother (even though he knows I'm just going to yell at him to cut it out, again). You can just see the orneriness in his face. He is definately all boy!

Wordless Wednesday: Amigurumi (Crocheted) Little Owl