The Pirate and the Pardon

Here is what's been consuming my time for the past month.





I was the Costume Coordinator for my church's VBS play this year. It was an amzing experience.  I loved being in the thick of it and seeing it all come togther.  I was especially touched by all the 6th grade and up kids that put so much time and effort into their roles (whether it was in the classrooms, on the praise team or as part of the drama production) so the little kids would have a meaningful week.


Here is the dress I made from scratch. My first "adult" piece. It was perfect for "Lark" with a vecro closure up the back for her quick change. Her brother "Jimmy" found his own wardrobe and I just tea-stained the shirt and spray painted the pants to look dirty.  He was a pirate wannabe which got him in a little trouble and soon they both found themselves on a pirate ship called the Sea Wolf.





One of my favorite pictures after having read the comments on facebook is now this one. Specifically the young man praying over the nearly drowned Butterknife Bill.  Luke said that he wasn't just acting here, he took this time to actually pray for the kids in the audience, that they would get the message. I'm so proud of the young people in our church. They really get it and do everything for the glory of God.




I have to give a hand to our director, set designers and techs. This picture is just all kinds of awesome because of their hard work. Josh did a good job too. ;)



There was singing and dancing... 


 

(I didn't know pirates had such perfect teeth)

and a very clear message about God's Grace.  





We show about 20 minutes of the play each of the 5 days and then the play in it's entirety Friday night. Seeing it all as one production was very moving. I found myself wiping away tears when Lark tells Butterknife about God's act of Grace and at the end when her father (Commodore Bunting) extends grace to him as well.


I snapped 1200 pictures throughout the week and here are just a few more of my favorites.





Aboard the Sea Wolf. Mr. Pigeon, in the middle, his costume came completely from the women's section at a thrift store. I added buttons and some bands around his cuffs to make it more nautical looking. His sash is a sari that I shorted down the middle and spray painted. I added elastic to his cuffs so they could be hiked up to his knees and bloused out.



Nelly NoBeard, our MC for the week and captain of the J.Crew praise team.





Our fearless leader, Dara, the writer and director of the play.  She is crazy talented. Growing up I always thought of her as a Julie Andrews and that still holds true today.  





Dara found all the pieces for the sailor's outfits.  I just shortened and tapered the pants with buttons, made vests from basic tees, kerchief and sash from pillow cases and dirtied it all with black spray paint and tea-stained the shirts I cut the collar and sleeves off of. Dara made all the tri-corn hats from simple ladies felt hats she found at Penny's. The buttons down the vests aren't actually buttons, they are flatbacks and I used a sharpie to draw the button-holes on the other side. For this sewing perfectionist, it was a departure for me to make everything "costume" quality. ;)





I think all but two of these kids go to the same school my girls do. Love that they have so many good role models to look up to. Ahem...when they aren't being pirates that is. 





I was blessed to be at every dress-rehearsal the whole week so I could move about the sanctuary freely and capture all the shots I wanted. This is definitely a fave.





Poor Jimmy got a little seasick. And yes, that's a butternife instead of a hook. There were so many clever touches to this play.  Like all the character names were from birds giving homage to Jack Sparrow (Finch, the Longspur, Lark, Bunting, Mr, Pigeon, Shearwater, Thrush, Plover, Sixpense, Junco, Crowe, I'm missing 3 more I think).




The crew of the Sea Wolf






A little fun with dry ice after the performance.





Praying over Pastor Josh before he gave his message that day.





Pastor Mac announced how much the kids raised each day for their missions project. He's wearing a rented costume.  All of the colonial period outfits you see were rented. They were a ton of fun to pick out. If you ever get a chance to hang out in a serious costume rental place do it.  It's a hoot!





Every year, the kids have a special project that they raise money for throughout the week. Though VBS is free, kids are encouraged to bring an offering. They usually raise about $4000. This year our church partnered with a ministry in the Philippines. It's an orphanage for older children. The kids their make friendship bracelets to sell which makes them enough money to keep them off the streets and from being sold into the sex trade. We then sold the bracelets here and our profits went to an orphanage in India that was started by a man that grew up in an orphanage there.  He will be coming to our church this year to speak. I can't wait to meet him.  Our kids raised $22,000 last week!!!  We also had an anonymous donor who gave $10,000 once we hit $20,000.  It was quite amazing to hear about! I especially loved that kids in the Philippines, by way of kids in America, helped kids in India. Don't you just love how God works?

My kiddos held a lemonade/cookie/bracelet stand and personally raised $90 for the effort.



Their Auntie Julie stopped by on her way home from work to support their efforts.  Love that!



My sister in law had her baby boy two weeks early so we'll be watching Bella for the next week or so to help her recover. I'm off to take some newborn photos right now.

Our First Dance Recital

They had lots of fun, learned a few things and now have some pretty fancy dress up clothes. We'll be taking just ballet (no tap) next year at a different studio (closer to home and faith based). I tell ya what, watching the other classes (especially competition) was eye-opening. I'm not ready for the skimpy outfits or 9 year olds shaking it to Mambo #5. Know what I mean? I'd say we were lucky that our dresses and music were appropriate. Another thing we learned was that, at least at this studio, the level of teaching and what's expected of the kids (consequently what you get out of the kids) was greatly different between recreational and competitive dance. That may be the way it is everywhere, but now we know and we understand better what questions to ask. All in all it was a good learning experience on many levels.

This is how you get to the car after rehearsal when mom forgets to bring your regular shoes and you can't walk in the parking lot in just your ballet slippers. Sam has no excuse except for not wanting to be left out. Good thing he's got a strong Daddy!



It was fun to see what they were capable of and what parts came a little more naturally to them. Right now they feel equally at home on the stage, the soccer field or the softball diamond. Next school year we hope to add in piano lessons. 

A Little Sneak Peek

I'm pretty sure I have carpel tunnel due to many hours of hand embroidery this past year. Most of this piece was done through the pain of aching wrists and tingling fingers. But I couldn't let that stop me from bringing it to life.



It will be part of a wall collage over the girls dresser that I'm working on this week. Let's just say, I spent four hours spray painting on Tuesday.

Next week is VBS at our church. I volunteered to be the Costume Coordinator this year as table teaching isn't my gifting. Though it's been a lot of work, I am having a blast getting to sit in on rehearsals for the play. Our children's music director writes a new play for it each year, and she does a phenomenal job. Here's a sneak peek.



More to come next week including my first ever clothing piece for an adult.  I haven't even sewn for myself yet and I made a colonial dress for one of the lead characters.

A Little R & R

I had the privilege of spending another relaxing week-end at our church's retreat center recently.



I could never tire of this place. This time we stopped for lunch in Red Wing. I forgot how much I love that town. We definitely need to take a day trip there as a family this summer.













They added a little petting zoo a couple of weeks ago, complete with two llamas, some goats and sheep. They also have chickens now too.



Aren't they cute?



I got to do two of my favorite things that week-end.  Sit on a porch swing and embroider and sit by the pool reading. *sigh*

Last Day of School

I am so glad that school is out. We've been looking forward to sleeping in, trips to the pool and zoo, VBS, camping and just being together more. And it's finally here!

Congratulations girls, on finishing your first year in school. I am so excited to have you back home with me for ten weeks and I look forward to making many fun memories this summer.



We had a K-5 pic nic after our early release last day on Friday and it was a ton of fun. This is Allison with her teacher, Ms. Gillitzer. Sam loves to sneak into as many pics as he can. ;)



Sweet friends from Emily's class.



Her tooth became wiggly that morning after accidentally getting kicked in the mouth. *OUCH* She said too bad it won't make it onto the tooth chart this year. We were all surprised when it fell out at the pic nic just one hour past being able to make that chart. It's definitely more fun to loose a tooth when you are with your friends.



This little guy had a fun last week of school too.



We found out that his nickname at school has been Sammy Whammy as many of his teachers wrote that in his farewell card.



He seemed right at home with all his new friends, though even up to his last day, he was so shy going in everyday that he covered at least one eye and often both while walking to the room with his teachers. The director said he's just that all american kid that's always smiling and happy.  Everyone wants to take him home with them. That's my boy!



Sam you are such a fun kid. We look forward to watching you grow and learn.

I'll be back soon...tons going on and lots to share...