Back to School Giveaway and Sale

I know some of you have already gone back to school, but for those of us in Chicago, back to school is always the Tuesday after Labor Day.  It's coming soon! 

I've been ready to send Hummingbird back for a bit now.  We've gotten all the school supplies and even dropped some of them off at her school.  She knows who her new teacher is, and she's started to think about what she'll wear. 

I nearly forgot, however, that I'll also be sending Bumble Bee to school on Tuesday.  I don't have as much to get ready, and she doesn't have as far to go.  We'll merely cross the street to drop her off.  I do need to get my camera ready.  The very first day of school is definitely an opportunity for a photo shoot.  She's actually ready, too.  She's been itching to go to school like Hummingbird for a year now.  And she survived a week of Vacation Bible School this summer, so I'm hoping we won't have too much separation anxiety.

Anyway, I have 3 copies of Josiah and Julia Go to Church which are "less than perfect."  So, I've decided to do a giveaway (and a sale).  If you haven't bought a copy for your home school classroom, or your "church bag" as we call our bag of church appropriate books, here's your chance to own one.

I'll be giving away one copy, and two copies will be on sale for $10 (plus shipping if you don't live in the Chicago area).  But if you win & buy the extra two copies, I'll ship them all for free (within the U.S.).  If you'd like your copy signed, you'll have the chance to tell me whom it is for.

Ways To Enter: 

1. Follow me here, and leave a comment.

2. Follow me on Twitter (I'm branching out, mostly for updates on OCN posts), and leave another comment.

On Tuesday, September 4, I'll figure out how to use a random number generator to choose a winner after my kids are in school!

To celebrate the beginning of the school year, I've also reduced the Kindle price for my French and Spanish counting books on Amazon.  They are currently $2.99/book instead of $9.99.  If you don't own a Kindle,  Amazon offers free software to read the books from any laptop, PC, or other device.

The Other Side of the Bonfire: By Melinda Johnson

See the review here.

Upcycled T-shirt Bag

It's been awhile -- quite the crazy summer -- but I'm back with an easy sewing project.

The girls have been attending a great Vacation Church School program this week.  Each child was given a t-shirt with the week's theme on it.  Sadly, Bumble Bee's is too big, and the logo is upside down.  So, she has been refusing to wear it.  I can't really blame her for that.  So, I thought this was going to be a wasted shirt, until I had an epiphany at bedtime last night.  If I sew across the top and add some ribbon for straps, it would be a nice bag with the logo right side up!

This would be a good use for any too small t-shirts you hate to part with.  So, here's how I did it.

Finished Bag

What you need:
a t-shirt
yardstick or ruler
light marker
ribbon
velcro (optional)
sewing supplies

1. Fold over the sleeves.   If they are bulky, trim first.

2. Use a yardstick & marker to draw a straight line across the top of the shirt beneath the collar and size information.  You'll need this to sew a straight line since the top of the shirt is curved.

3. Sew across the top.  Then, sew down the sides in a straight line from the sleeve seams.

4.  Cut two strips of ribbon to desired strap length, and fold the edges under.  Sew one to the front hem and one to the back hem.

5. Sew a bit of velcro to the middle of the hem (or use stickable velcro).

6. I haven't done this, but I'm considering adding some fusible interfacing for extra stiffness.

 It occurs to me, I also could have made a throw pillow...