Jedi Robes Tutorial

My mom did a super job on these robes. She figured out how to do this without a store-bought pattern. She has some serious sewing skills! I also know I taxed her by having her write all of this down, so thank you, MOM!

Buy 2 yards of brown 72” wide felt per robe.

Cut a 50” piece from the folded fabric.

Fold that piece of fabric in half.

I made a pattern for half of the robe. It was 21” wide from the center seam to the end of the sleeve. It was 36” long from the shoulder to the bottom of the robe. I cut out a curve for the neck opening. This works well for children about ages 4 - 6.



Lay the pattern on the folded fabric with the shoulder at the top fold and the center line 4 inches from the side fold.

Cut out the underarm/side seam section through all 4 layers.



Cut out the neck curve. Cut down the front center line only on the top layer of felt. Flip the robe over and cut 4 inches from the fold. This makes the front section of the robe and leaves and extra 8 inches in the back for a pleat.

Pin and sew the side and under arm seams with right sides together.



Create a pleat at the back neck by overlapping the fabric 2 inches over itself and both sides. The photograph shows the inside of the robe with the pleat pinned. The second and third photos show the front side.

Use the rest of the 2 yard piece to cut a rectangle 12” x 24” for the hood. Fold it in half to make a 12” square.

Starting halfway across the fold, stitch close to the edge and curve down to meet the side. Continue stitching down one edge. Trim off the extra fabric at the curve.

Open up the bottom of the hood and using a basting stitch, sew across 1/2” from the bottom. Pull the thread to gather the bottom of the hood.



Match the center and edges of the hood to the center back and front edges of the robe with right sides together and ease to fit. Stitch the hood to the robe.

The felt can be cut at the bottom and the sleeves for smaller children.

Death Star Pinata

This pinata was actually really easy to make.

We were not as authentic as our one friend, who actually stole his wife's exercise ball to create his! However, I think this one turned out pretty well.

I bought a soccer ball pinata. Then we took all the black markings off of it and spray painted it with a metallic gray paint.

After allowing it to dry we pushed gently on one section to make a divet for the laser cannon, which we painted black. Then I used elecrial tape to make the trench around the equator.

Swing away!

Do Your Homework!

Recently, getting homework done without a headache or tears has been an issue in our house. Usually, Alyssa does her work at the kitchen counter. I am usually helping her, keeping her focused, making dinner, answering the phone, doing something for Patrick, or letting the dogs out or in. It is constant chaos. For weeks now I keep hearing what every good teacher knows, what I have told countless parents when I was a teacher, “She needs a quiet place dedicated for homework.” But my rationale for not acting on it sooner was that I needed to be preparing things in the kitchen, and I need to micromanage homework. Yes, a little like Claire on Modern Family the other night. By the way, I LOVE that show. So funny. But back to the homework, so I decided to act on the voice nagging in my head. Yes, Brett, if you are reading this, I do nag myself too!


I moved some things around in her room to make room for my old desk.

I made a really cute pencil holder her for her:

To make this simply use a can where you take off the entire lid. You can't use one that cuts the lid, the edges will be too sharp. Here is a can opener that would work.
Then, peel off the label and wash out the can. Dry it.
Measure the height of the can.
Find a piece of scrapbook paper or other card stock and cut a strip.
Then, use double sided tape to secure one end of the paper to the can. After that, roll the paper around the can and secure with more double sided tape. And voila, a pencil holder.

I liked this desk blotter Michael's had. They have all kinds of cute American Girl craft items there now.

The other thing I added was a swing arm lamp.

This one came from Pottery Barn Kids about seven years ago, here is the newer version.

Before I moved the desk in, she had a night table that had a lamp on it, once the desk was it, it was right next to the bed and the lamp took up way too much room on the desk. Swing arm lamps are terrific space savers. Now this lamp can be used for reading in bed and then shifted over to work at the desk.

I love this toy! Alyssa got it for her fourth birthday. It is so educational. You use a pen to touch the different parts of the globe and it tells you information about the country or contitnent, such as currency, poplation, what time it is there, cultural facts. There is also a game mode and you can quiz yourself.

Now that the desk has been in there for more than a week I can say that she has been more responsible about doing her work. She does more of her work independently. I do go up and get her started on tasks, and periodically check in, but all in all, she is taking more initiative. I think because she has a place to take it seriously and knows that I take it seriously, it has become more important to her.
The best thing I saw her do at it was "study for college" (her words, not mine) and what was she studying? The Bible! Now, that is something to work at. Amen!

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Colossians 3:23

Teacher Gifts

Tomorrow is Alyssa's last day of Preschool. Wow! Can't believe that! It seems like just yesterday she started.
During her bedtime we talked about it being her last day, which she is really excited about. I am not sure she realizes what "last" means. I told her I might cry happy tears and she was so concerned. What a precious child she is. "I really don't want you to cry, Mommy." So I will do my best to fight back those tears. I remember hating my mom crying at sentimental stuff, I thought I would NEVER do that. Yeah, right, I am so worse than she ever was. I ever cried at the confirmation video on Sunday at church. I don't have a confirmation kid, nor am I that involved with that group, I only know a few of the kids. But I can appreciate the beauty of a baby becoming a child, a child become a teen (ok- is that beauty?), and the beauty of becoming an adult. That is how God wants it.

I wanted to do something special for her teachers. They have really helped Alyssa bloom these past two years. She had one teacher for both years. I am pretty darn excited with what I came up with. I painted terra cotta flower pots with chalkboard spray paint and then spray painted the rim and inside with pink. Alyssa and I made paper flowers by punching out 2" circles and gluing them together. She signed the daisy. Then we pasted her school picture on the pink one. I used glue dots to secure a Borders gift card to the Black-eyed Susan. Then we taped floral arrangement sticks to the back and secured them in styrofoam inside the pot. I put seeds for "Alyssum", Sundflowers and Zinnias in the pot. Perhaps my favorite touch is the little poem I came up with.
When you plant these seeds
Think of the seeds
you planted in me
Love
Faith
Kindness
Courage
Confidence
Like these seeds I will bloom
From all the love
in your classroom.

I have to give credit to my friends Alex and Katie who both inspired me separately. Alex with her paper flowers and Katie with her chalkboard paint pot. Thanks!

Love,
Steph