No Sew Costume for a Pow Wow Princess

Recently, our Cub Scout pack had our end of the school year awards banquet.  The theme was a Pow Wow.  We were fortunate to have an anthropologist who has studied the Native American culture lead us in the Pow Wow.  He allowed the children to assist him in setting up a lifesize tee pee.  We learned about various tribes. The Scouts and their siblings wore Native American style outfits.  It was a fantastic event!

I turned to the internet for inspiration on a design for LG's outfit.  I found this site http://blogilates.tumblr.com/post/9876043253/diy-pocahontas-costume-for-under-5-tutorial, and got a few ideas.

I purchased a Youth Large t-shirt at Hobby Lobby.

 I couldn't find the RIT dye, but I did find Tumble Dye.  

First, I cut off the hem at the bottom. Later, we used the hem as a belt to cinch the costume. Next, I cut off the sleeves at the angle shown in the original tutorial.

Then, I cut thin strips from the sleeves.

  Next, I cut fringe in the raw edge of the bottom of the shirt.

 Then, I cut small slits below the neck of the shirt. I looped the strips through the slits.

Longer strips were used in the middle and shorter ones were used toward to outside.  I tied them in a simple knot.

I prepared the floor by placing clean garbage bags on it.  I dampened the costume and wrung it out. Then, I put it on the trash bags. I applied the spray dye evenly over the garment. You could do it outside, also.

Next, I hung the costume in the kid's shower to dry overnight. In the morning, I put the costume in the dryer to heat set it. It turned out beautifully, but it was a little short, so, LG wore gym shorts under it. It is unlikely that I will wash the costume, so I don't know if the dye washes out.

LG, the Pow Wow Princess

LG wears a little girls 5/6 and the shirt was a youth large. 

Disclaimer: I have not been compensated in any way for mentioning the products and store listed in this post. Although the above mentioned website was used as inspiration, the completed design belongs to Clever Ideas of a Random Mom.

True Warrior

A dozen or more.

That is the number of times each day that I think to pick up the phone to call my mother. I don't actually do it, you see.  My mom lost her battle with Lupus just days before my 39^th birthday. 

My mom was diagnosed 18 or so years ago.  I didn't realize that she was truly sick until 2006.  One Sunday afternoon, after eating lunch with our family, I noticed the rolled up sleeves of her white, linen tunic revealing her battered-looking arms.  They were so very, very thin, and bruised. They were shades of black, purple and blue.  I asked her what happened. She replied, “nothing”.  Really?  That began my lesson into the horrors of autoimmune disease.  Lupus ravaged her body, but it couldn't steal her courage, faith or love.   

To the untrained eye, one of these hands may look like it belongs to a frail, elderly person, but that couldn't be further from the truth. This is a picture of me holding a true warrior’s hand. It is the same hand of the strongest person that I have ever known, my mom.

I miss my mother and I grieve my loss, but not for a second do I wish that she were here.  I would never want her to suffer for even another second.  I can only imagine what an incredible Mother’s Day she will be having in Heaven.  

During one of our last conversations, my mom told me that my children would help me get through her death. As always, she was right.

Happy Mother’s Day, Moma! 

Moma and Me