To Wear to a Christening

Thomas is getting baptized in just under a month and I have to get in gear and organize the whole shebang, and pronto.  I ordered a cute not-too-girly looking romper for him to wear -- my boys look sweet and girly enough on their own, thankyouverymuch -- and found myself looking at shoes online to go with the outfit.  Um, shoes?  Don't I make those myself?  Oh yeah.  I'm so silly sometime (read rediuclous and blond).

So, now I'm off to see if I can find a cute sewing pattern to work up.  Do you have any favorite patterns that would look nice paired with a simple christening outfit?  I ordered him this one.

My first thought was to use one of the shoe patterns I already make for my Etsy shop, and in a somewhat funky patterned fabric.  Not too over the top or bright, but not your run-of-the-mill standard issue, either.  You know those people who show up in a handsome outfit but with funky shoes?  That.

Which shoes would you go with for a christening?

Some Extreme Cuteness... Sewing Pattern Preview!

In a fit of creativity, I let loose recently and came up with my very own sewn design!  Meet Who the Taggy Owl!

Thanks to my two little ones, my job and this house, it takes me quite a while to accomplish anything extracirricular -- but in this case, it was a good thing.  It gave me the time to simmer on the details and let the elements come to me -- which they righteously did.

I love the tufts of yarn on the tips of his ears...

...his hand embroidered eyes, which can be sewn on or ironed on with fusible web.

...his wings with contrasting fabric, made heavier with fusible fleece and crinkly with cellophane lining.

...ribbon tags on the bottom, which Thomas always makes his way to after going to town on the ears.

I just love him!!!  And I hope you do, too.  The sewing pattern will be available here soon.  I just need to double check the instructions and edit and add all the step-by-step photos.  You know, because I have time for all that with these two adorable boys keeping me busy.  :)

Stay tuned!
 

A Little Contest -- Win a Free Sewing Pattern!

Hi, friends!  I'm just popping in to announce a little contest I'm holding on my Facebook page.  To celebrate the creation of my first-ever sewing pattern (it's still in the works), I'm giving away a PDF copy of the pattern to the first person who can guess what it will be.

Here's your clue:

Now head over to this Facebook post and comment there with your best guess.  Comments left here won't be included in the contest.

Good luck!

Sewing Tutorial: Baby Sleep Mittens

No matter how much we turn up the heat in the house, our bedroom always feels much colder than the rest of the hosue.  Lots of covers and warm jammies keep us warm, but we have a new roommate. And despite Tommy's layers and warm blanket sleeper, his poor little hands would become ice cubes by the time he woke up next to nurse.

So I made him a pair of baby mittens from an old felted sweater.  Here's how I did it:

I folded my felted wool fabric in half lengthwise and drew a mitten shape with chalk, eyeballing the size.  (If you're smart, you'll either generously trace your baby's hand, or measure the circumference of his wrist, or ideally both.  Eyeballing it wasn't my most shining moment in the fit department, but I was short on time, the baby was asleep and he needed to wear the mittens the same evening.  Sewing time is scant these days!)  I then cut out two of the mitten shapes, keeping in mind the need for a 1/8- to 1/4-inch seam allowance.

 

I cut a piece of elastic about 3/4 the length of the wristband and sewed it to the wrong side of the wristband, stretching it as I sewed.

Next, I folded the mitten in half lengthwise, right sides together and stitched as close to the edge as possible.  Be sure to stitch through the elastic when you get to the wristband, and not alongside it.

Turn mittens right side out and fit them onto your baby's chilly paws.  Hopefully yours fit your baby better than mine do!

Check my night vision -- I love the arms-over-head look.

 

 

Along the same vein, I made a pair of slippers for Nathan using this tutorial from Collecting the Moments. 

 

I used puffy paint to make the bottoms non-slip, or less slip, anyway.  I couldn't get this kid to stand still if I paid him!

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Building a Fabric Stash

Wow, guys.  I haven't written in a week and a half!  There is so much I want to write about, but I have less free time than ever.  Although Tommy is a good sleeper at night (he's been sleeping for 5-6 hours straight since he was 5 or 6 weeks old!) he doesn't sleep that well during the day.  Getting one of his cat naps to line up with Nathan's afternoon nap has been quite the worthy challenge.  And he doesn't start sleeping soundly at night until 10 p.m.  And condsidering that he nurses every hour and a half on the dot (or less), it' s a wonder that I get anything done, let alone the fun stuff. 

So without further ado, here's some fun stuff:

 

I've been buying fabric here and there for specific projects since purchasing my sewing machine back in March, but only with this last purchase did I realize that I'd been following a strategy for how I was building my fabric stash.  Unconscious Fabric Stockpiling (UFS) -- is that a disorder?  Like the people who sleepwalk to the refrigerator and stuff their faces in the middle of the night?

 

It's simple -- I've been buying more fabric than I actually need.  Or, UFS. Buying a bit more fabric than I need for a project isn't just smart sewing, it's how I've been growing my useful and productive stash.  Much of my leftover fabric already goes together, and if you're drawn to the same colors over and over again like I am, you'll have countless combinations to work with as your stash grows.

 

I've been sewing small Christmas presents during my scant free time, and I feel very pleased (and satisfied -- is that wierd?) that all of my projects are coming directly from my stash.  Even the fusible fleece, thread and emboidery floss.  (Yeah!!!)  I also made the crayon roll I sewed for Nathan's birthday entirely from my stash.  I love how easy it was to select coordinating colors -- a no-brainer because I already did all the sweating it out over what fabric to buy and how the colors work together when I bought the fabric for the original project.  Opening the doors to my fabric stash is getting to be a little like going to a [very small] fabric store.

 

In the photo above, I bought the first three fabrics on the left for an apron for Nathan.  (All four fabrics are from the Woodland Tails collection by Sherri Berry designs, blue pallet.  I know, it's too nice for an apron, but I have nothing else lined up for it.  Should I do a quilt instead?)  I loved the collection so much that I bought the fabric on the right to make Thomas a pair of reversible shoes.  (Baby deer, giraffes and toadstools all on the same fabric?  Yes, please!)  So of course I had to buy some extra blue dot fabric for the lining.  While I was at it, I bought some extra deer/giratte/toadstool fabric -- and I already knew I'd end up with more stripe and animals fabric than I needed for the apron.

What else will I make with all the leftover fabric?  Who knows?  That's the fun of having a stash.  Someday I'll have a project in mind and I'll know exactly what fabric I'll make it with.  And I'll be able to start it right away.  Or, as soon as I can squeak some free time outta these boys.  I love being able to start on a project as soon as inspiration strikes!

 

In today's mail I received this laminated fabric to make a smock for Nathan.  The fabric is Bermuda Owls from Robert Kaufmann's urban zoology line -- I received it already laminated from from the Laminates Etsy shop. I'm excited to get started on the smock for one of his Christmas presents, and I also see some nifty pencil cases in my near future.

My name is Kelly and I have UFS.  I buy more fabric than I need.  What is your your affliction?  I mean, what are some of your stash-building tactics?

Thanksgiving Birthdays and Thanks

Hi, all.  I first wanted to say thanks to those of you who commented on my last post about your experiences with reflux-y babies. We're implementing your tips and suggestions and are seeing good results with the little guy.  So thank you.

Of course there still isn't any crafting going on around here, between a reflux-y baby who isn't sleeping much during the day anymore (is this normal?) and an active almost-three-year old.  But I did just sew the button onto the crayon roll I made as part of Nathan's birthday present.  Finished!!  I felt victorious in the half hour that both kids slept at the same time.  I even made a few important phone calls. 

Without further ado:

I used leftover fabric from the curtain I made for Tommy's room (which I still have yet to, um, show you) and Nathan's number game and this pattern from the Pleated Poppy.  Instead of using a layer of flannel inside the crayon roll, I ironed a piece of fusible fleece to the back piece before sewing the whole thing closed for more heft.  I love how it came out.  This will be part of a huge box of art supplies I'm giving him for his birthday.

Thanksgiving is extra special around here because both of our families come together at our house and because we celebrate both T.J.'s and Nathan's birthdays after dinner.  In addition to pumpkin, coconut custard and apple pies, we have an ice cream cake and Nathan gets to blow out candles and open gifts.  Even though his actual birthday is still a few days away, he was born on Thanksgiving and I'll always, always associate the two.  For him I am thankful.

P.S. Right now, both kids are still asleep and I brewed some coffee and actually started drinking it. Now that's what I call victory.

Last Sewing Project (for a while, anyway) -- a Bed for Nathan's Baby

Hi there!  We're still waiting for Baby #2 to make his appearance (he's five days late and counting!), so I gathered up all my spare energy and used today's naptime to start (and finish!) one more sewing project.

You might remember the doll I sewed for Nathan from the Winter 2011-2012 issue of Living Crafts magazine.  I made it with the intention of Nathan having his own 'baby' to tend to while I tend to our Baby #2.  But like most of the toys I lovingly make myself, this one didn't really grab his attention and got little use. 

I can't blame him, really.  He's a boy who loves trucks and cars and all things boyish, and he'll probably grow up to be a man's man, like his father.  (Does that make him a boy's boy now?)  Also, back then I don't think he grasped the "we're having a baby" concept.  But now he does, and he started playing with the doll a litlte bit and added him to his core group of "guys" (stuffed animals) that make up his bedtime menagerie.  He even said recently, "Soon I'm going to have two babies!"  Almost made my heart melt.

So I thought I'd make the baby some accessories so Nathan can actually do something with his own baby while I tend to mine -- I made him a bed with a sheet and pillow.  And he loved it!!

Naptime for baby!

Put him somewhere good for safe keeping.

Naptime's over!

Time to get grabbed in the face!

It's bedtime now!

Tucking him in.

Happy boy.

Good night kiss for baby.

He's actually reading him a bedtime story!  I love how this sweet boy pretends.  I love this sweet boy!

After a few minutes of putting the baby to bed and then "waking him up," Nathan asked for clothes for the baby to wear and for some diapers.  So next I'll make some felt diapers with velcro closures and will try to figure out how to quickly make some clothing for Nathan to throw over the doll's perma-jammies.  I don't think I have time to knit something, yet don't know when I'll have the energy to lug out my sewing machine again and wrap my brain around another custom-designed project.

I wish I'd taken better photos of the bed, sheet and pillow while we had daylight.  I tried hard to make the sheet look like a real sheet, although I added some topstitching for extra detail.  The striped fabric (from a hand-me-down crib sheet) made it easy to press hems without having to measure, and I eyeballed the size of the sheet and pillow.  I even machine sewed the pillow shut after stuffing it, instead of dreaded hand-sewing.  I love how it came out!

The bed itself is a cardboard crate from Cuties brand clementines.  I wrapped a piece of sheet around it and neatly folded and hot glued the edges onto the bottom of the box.  I wish now that I'd also secured the fabric inside the box,  but I think the fact that I didn't makes it look more cosy and bed-like and less cardboard-box-like. 

I love saving things to use later in crafts (like the clementine crate) and being resourceful with the materials I have on-hand (like the hand-me-down crib sheet I never used because the colors didn't match Nathan's room).

I'll try to feature the baby's diapers and clothing, if I ever get around to creating them before the real baby gets here.... and I haven't forgotten about my last installment of the baby's nursery before the big reveal.  I'll try to do it very soon!

Nursery Sneak Peek: Lamp Before and After

Today we're back from the beach, a long weekend away -- our first family vacation, in fact!  Now that the craziness of packing, then relaxing, and then repacking (and sorta unpacking) is done, it's time for me to get back in Baby #2's nursery.  I'd better finish what I've started before he makes his big appearance (in just five weeks, give or take!).

For the nursery, I scored an inexpensive lamp and shade from Target that go perfectly with the green backdrop of our nature theme. I found that the plain white lamp shade was fading into the background, and at first I thought that was okay.  After all, your eye needs a rest every so often, and I seem to be packing this baby's room with more stuff than I did Nathan's room.

But then I got an idea....  Cover the shade with one of the softer coordinating fabrics from the pennant banner, like the yellow one.  And then I got a better idea: Trim the lampshade in the same fabric as the curtain, which also appears in the banner.  A-ha!

I love how it turned out.  The vibrant colors and fun, cheery, irregular striping just make me happy, and the lamp no longer fades into the corner.
So, how did I do it?  I simply cut two strips of fabric one inch wide by lengths long enough to wrap around the shade.  I folded it in half lengthwise, right sides together, and sewed a seam with a half-inch seam allowance resulting in a half-inch-wide tube.  I trimmed the seam allowance to a quarter inch, turned the tube right side out and pressed it with the seam in the back. Viola!

Then I used Thermoweb self-adhesive sheets to adhere the strips to the lamp.  It was almost too easy, if you ask me.  Especially for this great result!

Since the lamp photos are a bit dull, here are a few other inexpensive Target finds that fit right into our color scheme:

The bear in the blue shirt is from Babies R Us (not Target). Allen wrench not included!

Stay tuned for more nursery-themed posts.  I want to get this room finished within the next few weeks and will then do a big reveal.  Can't wait!

Nursery Sneak Peek & Fabric Pennant Banner Tips

I've been diligently working on getting our new baby's nursery ready. Room painted, check. Dresser delivered, check. Carpet installed, check. Now it's time to decorate!

I'm making a lot of my own touches for his room, but it all began with this Treetop Friends bedding set and wall decals.  I love the design, and it goes well with the nature theme I had planned before I even knew if baby was going to be a boy or a girl.  (It's a boy, in case you missed it.)

Little by little I'll showcase each handmade element in the room and then I'll do a big reveal of the whole nursery when it's complete.  I'll start with the fabric pennant banner.

I took a piece of the bedding set with me to Joann and picked out patterned fabric in colors to match, plus a striped fabric that I will use to make a curtain (more on that in another post). I incorporated the striped fabric into the banner so it all ties in.  I love the patterned fabric choices, if I do say so myself.

In typical Kelly fashion, I winged it and didn't use a pattern....and I love how it came out!  There are so many pennant banner tutorials out there that I'll spare you one here, but instead maybe I'll cough up some of the tips I discovered along the way, since I pretty much made this thing up as I went along. Here we go!

Fabric Pennant Banner Tips

1. Create a triangle template out of lightweight cardboard, such as a cereal box. Here's where you get to decide on the type of triangle you're after. Isosceles? Equilateral? I went with isosceles for a traditional look (two sides are of even length). When you measure and cut your template, be sure to account for seam allowances -- I made mine a quarter of an inch.
    
2. Fold your fabric up right sides together so you're cutting at least four triangles out at once (more folds = more triangles = less individual cuts). A rotary cutter, ruler and mat are must-haves for this project.
    
3. Since you cut your triangles with the right sides together, it's now much eaiser to pin and sew them. Any minor ndescrepancies in size won't be problematic while pinning.
    
4. Sew your seams a quarter inch from the raw fabric edges, trim allowances near the main triangle point and turn triangles right side out.  I've found that a bodkin helps speed up the initial turning of the point, and, of course, a point turner gets you nice, crisp points. Sewing them in the color order in which you plan to arrange them later will shave a few seconds off your overall time.
    
5. To easily press your seams flat, insert your cardboard triangle template into your fabric triangle before pressing. Talk about easy pressing!  I barely had to fuss with a seam to get it to sit right before pressing.
    
6. Buy more double bias tape than you think you'll need. Unless you like making extra trips to the fabric store.  Apparently I do.  I used this tutorial for sewing the piece of bias tape together.

Stay tuned for the rest of the handmade items in our new baby's nursery!

It's a Numbers Game

When we casually started introducing Nathan to the alphabet a while back, I quickly realized that numbers came more naturally to him. 

So when I saw this project in Growing Up Sew Liberated: Making Handmade Clothes and Projects for Your Creative Child I knew I had to make it.  

It was a perfect choice for the boy, who can now count to five on his own and knows all of the numerals, thanks to this toy.  Plus, I was happy to make something for his room, especially because I'm making so many things for the new baby's room.

And sometimes it's just darn fun to clip the numbers onto the stick in any old order and play the way a two-and-a-half-year old boy should.