Drum Roll Please . . . Five Little Ladies has MOVED!

Well . . . after a month of working every spare moment ( and all the ones in between too)  I am finally ready to introduce you all to my new home on the world wide web!            (and do loads and loads and loads of laundry, something has to wait when I’m bloggin’!)

www.fivelittleladies.com

Oh, yeah . . . the address didn’t change much did it {wink} just a little bit shorter. There is still a lot of work to do, but I couldn’t wait any longer to introduce it to you.  I’m so anxious ( I can never wait to open a present either, I always try to peak!)

Please go over to the new site and take a look around.  Let me know what you think!

If you are a subscriber here I won’t be posting here any more . . . so don’t miss out on all the great things I have in store for you, subscribe over there.  You can join my newsletter for an occasional update and free gift or if you would rather, you can subscribe to my rss feed and get emails when I add new posts!  It’s up to you, but I’m sure you will want to choose one or the other, because I have so many fun things to share with you.

Here are some highlights of what’s over there

• My Notebook.  This is like my personal diary or journal, where I have my virtual to do list of the great inspiration and ideas I find out there.  Memoirs of hilarious events that keep me rolling on the floor still wondering if it was for real.  Even a guest post from the girls every once in a while.
• In the Kitchen Oh I was so excited when I added a recipe print feature!  Now when I find a “can’t live without” recipe you and I can print it in recipe card format!  { squeal in delight }
• Free Tutorials Of course I still have a page with all the links to my free tutorials and I have so many more to add!!!
• Home & Garden This section is bubbling over . . . scrapbooking, crocheting patterns and tutorials, FREE printables! Party planning ideas, decorating,  hmmm you’ll just have to see for yourself 🙂
• Homeschooling  Some of you may know I have dabbled in homeschooling!  I have learned a thing or two and definitely have some tips for you here and a free lapbook or other fun printable you can use
• Photography I love photography!  Sadly, I don’t know much about it, so here I will post as I learn.  You may like to learn along with me!  I do know some about Photoshop and so I will post tutorials for photoshop here.  One of my girls is really interested in photography also and she has some great photos there already
• A Love Story  I added a new page for a wonderful Love Story set in the World War 2 era, inspired by real letters sent from my Grandfather to my Grandmother.  If you are a history buff, you may like this section.

So there you have it . . . an invitation to my work in progress.  I hope you will love it and leave me lots of great comments, ideas and don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter! I have some really great gifts for you to download instantly after you sign up. Free circus party printables, Father’s Day party tags, and even a fun save the date Play Date card!

     

See you over there { wink}

xoxo

ps.  Lia was a stage name one of the girls gave me  . . .  I decided to just be Me!

{ Tips on Tuesday } Some changes and a Behind the Scenes Look at Writing a Children’s Book

Hello everyone!

It is a beautiful day here in Southern California!  The sun is shining and the sky is blue and the pacific ocean is just Gorgeous!!!

I am working on some exciting changes for this site and so will not be posting any tips for a few weeks . . . of course if I think of something I “just have to” share I will! 

Keep in touch because I think you will really like all the new features I’m adding.

I do want to share a really great post I saw today.  Over at The Pioneer Woman Ree posted about writing a childrens book.  I just loved her “behind the scenes” account of getting her new book published

 

{ Tips on Tuesday } DIY Birthday Banner

Ok . . . having just celebrated our 6 year olds birthday today ‘s tip is a fun idea for an easy birthday banner! I saw this over at ucreate and thought it was a good idea and one you could be creative with and add your special touch!

Check it out over here at u create

Have a great day! {{ smile }}

{ FREE Tutorial } Beaded Zipper Pull

Collect a few beads or buttons

For the zipper pull on this little pouch I used the old bead buttons from the sweater I  made the pouch out of, I love to upcycle and recycle all I can!

Next get some heavy thread.  I used a waxed thread

Thread the waxed thread through the zipper end and cut a nice size thread to work with

Tie a knot.  Do this twice

using a needle add a bead

tie a knot again

One bead on!

continue to add beads and knot until you are satisfied with how you zipper pull is taking shape.

Once you reach the end secure with two knots and trim the thread

Ta Da!  You’re done . . . It’s that easy

Subscribe on the right, and you will be emailed when I add great new tutorials!

{ Cake Decorating } Invaluable Post on Royal Icing

If you have ever worked with Royal Icing you know how difficult it is in many ways!  BUT look how beautiful it can be . . . the options are endless.

I found this fabulous post by The sweet adventures of Sugar Belle.  If you are at all interested in making your cookies look like this . . .

you need to see this post!

In this post you will even find a color chart to mix your colors to a perfect hue, a tip for thinning the icing, a simple solution for an easy pastry bag ~ it is a must see post for anyone interested in Cookie art, or fancy additions to cake decorating.

Happy Baking

~Lia

{ Tips on Tuesday } Eggcellent Trick

Have you ever dropped a piece of eggshell in your eggs when you are cracking eggs?

More importantly, have you ever tried to get a piece of broken eggshell out???

Here’s a trick that can help! . . . .

When you are trying to get a piece of eggshell out of a bowl of cracked eggs, use a half eggshell to get it out!  Dip the half of an eggshell into the eggs and you can easily pick out the broken piece.

That’s it!  Simple.  It works.

 

 

{ FREE Printable } Corner bookmark

A FREEBIE for you today!

I made this little bookmark one year when we were homeschooling.

Originally I had different reading comprehension questions on the book marks to prompt deeper thinking when the girls were reading.

These come together nicely and are a fun way to keep your place.

Have your kids color them to make them special

Then you could have the bookmark laminated to make it last a bit longer.

1. Click HERE for the image
2. Right click on the image and select print or save to your hard drive
3. Cut the image out on the outer lines
4. Fold  to make the triangle shape
5. Glue to make it secure

Optional

• once your bookmark is completed laminate with contact paper or have it heat laminated, then carefully cut through the lamination at the opening edge where it will slip over the edge of the book page.

clipart courtesy of clipart etc

Enjoy!

{ ordinary days } Hilarious ride home from school

So I picked up the girls from school and on our 30 min ride home this was the conversation I heard:

Mom:  ( to 10 yr old) Why are you so grumby this afternoon?

10 yr old:  I’m hungry.  Thats why!

Mom:  Didn’t you eat your lunch?

10 yr old: NO

Mom: Why not honey?  I made you a nice lunch.

10 yr old:  (In a grumby comanding tone)  The cheese was so thick I couldn’t get my teeth through it!!

Mom: (thinking . . . cheese is soft even if it is thick.  She could have removed the cheese.  What a waste of money)  So you didn’t eat it?

10 yr old:  NO

13yr old:  So why didn’t you just cut the cheese???

Hilarious giggles explode in the minivan as we trott down the interstate at a clipping 70mph

Even grumby 10 yr old had to laugh.

6yr old totally not understanding the joke:  I cut the lettuce!

I love being a Mom

~Lia

{ To Do List } Waldorf inspired Doll

I have had this Under the Nile Walorf doll and when Little Lady came along I pulled it out and put it in the crib.  Well, she is about 6 months old now and just LOVES this doll!

I plan to add some cute hair using these tutorials

• flick photos detail description of wig
• http://starrysheep.com/crafty/?p=103

Then I’ll make some clothes

What a relief to leave this project here on this virtual “to do” list!  Now I can cultivate a new project idea with that brain cell! {{ throw head back in hysterical giggle as all busy Mom’s can relate! }}

~Lia

{ Tips on Tuesday } Alternative to backstitching to secure a stitch

The quaint little town, a mile high chalk FULL of American History with snow like glitter and warm and friendly folks was my favorite place we ever lived.  Coming home to our log house was like living in a vacation home!  This is where I learn this trick . . . even though Custer, SD is a  small town of about 4000 people, there is a cute little quilt shop and a friendly owner.  This gal and I were visiting and she shared this trick . . .

When you begin to stitch, were you would go forward and then backstitch before you continue to sew your seam, do this instead:

1. decrease your stitch length to a very small stitch and begin to sew
2. sew 1/4 inch – 1/2 inch with a very tight, small stitch length, this will secure your seam where you begin
3. increase stitch length to normal setting and continue sewing your seam
4. as you near the end of your seam, decrease your stitch length again to secure the end of your seam

(I have an electronic Elna so this is how I adjust my stitch lengths, whether you are sewing on an electronic machine or manual one the idea is to adjust the stitch length)

This is how my machine looks when I begin with the normal settings for a straight stitch

Now I decrease my stitch length quite a bit to secure before I begin to sew my seam

Once I have sewn a bit, then I return my machine to the normal settings finish my seam and do this process again before I reach the very end of my seam.

Ta Da!  An easy quick way to secure your stiches at the beginning and end without backstitching!