Flared Jeans into Skinny Jeans Tutorial

It's a happy day when you fit into jeans that you've been waiting for YEARS to fit again.

But it's a sad day when you realize they are grossly out of style . . . and maybe *ahem* they were even out of style the last time you wore them.

Start with your wretched flares . . .

Try them on inside-out.

Pin (on the outside) one leg to a comfortable fit,
be sure to leave at least an inch away from your
legs--it will be smaller when you sew it. (You can
go as loose or tight as you want--I don't like my
jeans skin tight on my calves. These are actually
more "boot cut" than skinny jeans.

Remove jeans and mark pins with a highlighter

Remove pins, and use a ruler to connect your pin
dashes--make the line as straight as you can
[Only YOU can prevent forest fires]

Sew over the line, be sure to backstitch several times at both ends.

And sew a second seam alongside the first . . . 

Here's how it looks before cutting . . .

Cut away the flare, not too close to the seam

Fold your sewn and cut leg over the "un-sewn" one.  I used my iron
on this step to make sure the legs were completely the same.

Cut the"un-sewn" pant leg.  Then sew a double seam up the side.

Try those puppies on!

Totally got these cuties at Deseret Industries

I don't care if light-colored jeans are out.
I love 'em.

Halloween Costume Idea: witch shoes

I know, I know.  This idea would have helped you out A WEEK AGO.  Let's just say I'm helping you out a year in advance.  I like to plan ahead.

My sweet mother-in-law sent my daughter Mollie the CUTEST Halloween clothes at the beginning of October, which prompted Mollie to decide she wanted to be a witch for Halloween.  I was so excited!  She already had a witch hat, so I just needed witch tights and some witch shoes.  I paid $8 for some witchy high heels at the D.I., with plans to turn them into five-year-old witch shoes.  I think they turned out pretty cool.

Original Banana Republic high heels: $8

I used a bread knife to saw through the shoe. Then I hot clued a pair of her
Sunday  shoes (that have been getting snug, anyway) and glued those pointy
babies on over the shoe.  VOILA!.

With the shoes, the hat, and the clothes, and a pair of stripey tights from Target, she was ready for a photo shoot.  This is the first year I have thought to take pictures BEFORE Halloween Day, and I was proud of myself for thinking of it, because those pictures are always taken in a mad rush before trick-or-treating.  {When I write "mad rush," I really do mean mad: my kids are angry with me for cutting into their candy-collecting time with photos.}

That shirt "Tutu Wicked" was totally designed
and made by MY fabulous mother-in-law.

If I have baby chicks, they are going to be
incorporated into every photo possible.

Beyond adorable, right?  I certainly think so.  And every I showed these pictures to thought so as well.  So assumed Mollie would like to see how cute she looked.  As soon as I showed her the above photos, she looked at me, her eyes filled up with tears, and she wailed, "Mo-ommmm, I just want to be Rapunzel!"

C'est la vie, people.