Fab New Fabrics

 I just got a whole bunch of new fabrics in the mail yesterday!  I am giddy as a school girl!  It doesn't look like a lot in the pile above, so I spread them out.

 So exciting!

 I love the bottle cap one and the alphabet font one!

I have been longing for the Michael Miller Citron Bird Sing print for a long time, so I finally bought it.

And then I used it to make this set of burp cloths, which I am selling in my Etsy shop.  Shamless plug, I know.

Monsterz

I made another baby gift for a friend today, this time using Cloud 9's "Monsterz" collection in orange.  If you look closely, you can see my favorite part of this cute print, which is a little blue monster saying "Growl".  Again, I thought this was a fun print to use for a boy that's a little different than the standard baby blue type stuff.

Commute by birch organic fabric

Some friends of ours recently had a baby and I absolutely love making a gift to celebrate new little ones!  Our friends had a baby boy and I did not want to go with a traditional baby blue and I definitely wanted something modern.  

Picking out the perfect fabrics to match up with the recipient's style is sometimes a challenge, but my husband helped me pick these out and I think they turned out really well.  We decided to make them some burp cloths and chose fabrics from birch organic's Commute collection.

Alexander Henry 2D Zoo

We were thinking of taking our son to the zoo this past weekend but it was waaay too hot.  The closest I got to the zoo was starting these burp cloths.  I just finished and listed them today!

Patchwork Burp Cloth!

I typically make burp cloths with just one fabric on the front, but today I felt like doing something a little different so I made a patchwork burp cloth featuring four different fabrics.  The fabrics are all from Monaluna's Monaco collection.  This burp cloth is part of a set of three that I just listed in my Etsy shop.  I like this concept and will definitely have to play around with some different patchwork designs to see what I like.

Gettin Squiggy with It

This morning I actually managed to get a little sewing done with my 15 month old son in my lap!  He was fascinated by the sewing machine and it went pretty well.  Only one time did I have to tell him not to touch the machine.  Here's what we made!  It's a set of 4 burp cloths in a fabric called "Figure 8 Summer Grey" from the Free to Grow collection by Nancy Sims for Mod Green Pod.  It's 100% organic cotton.  I backed the burp cloths with 100% cotton terry cloth for great absorbancy.  I just love how the vibrant colors bounce off the grey background.

New Organic Burp Cloths

We are finally experiencing a break in projects on the house, so after giving the sewing cave a good cleaning, I got down to some sewing on Friday.  My newest burp cloth set is made from all organic fabrics.  The front fabric is Cloud 9's Astors in Sky and the backing is organic fleece.  I love how the dragonflies pop off of the blue flowers in the background.  I'm looking forward to re-stocking my shop this week, so keep an eye out for new items!

Happy Valentines Day!

Well, we are having a low key Valentine's Day around here, as my husband surprised me on Friday morning with a box of chocolates and a card containing two tickets to go see the movie "The Vow" on Saturday night.  He had arranged a babysitter and everything all without me knowing.  We had a great night out on Saturday, shopping, dinner, and a movie.  

But back to Friday!  In the afternoon, a bouquet of red roses and tulips arrived.  Then, after dinner we got the call that my niece had been born!  So exciting.  We did not know until then whether we were going to have a niece or a nephew, and she came a week and a half before her due date, so it was a fun surprise all around.  We got to go to see her on Saturday afternoon, after a morning of shopping for baby girl clothes, of course.  Having a boy, I relished the opportunity to buy a pink hair bow.  

After our relaxing and exciting weekend, today is just sort of a normal day.  My son and I have hung out at home, reading stories, playing with trucks, and playing on his toy xylophone.  He's in love with the xylophone at the moment.  During his naps I showered, picked up toys, did laundry, and sewed a set of burp cloths.

 And so today, I am enjoying the simple things of normal, everyday life.  If there is one thing that watching "The Vow" on Saturday, and "One Day", a movie we rented on Sunday, have reminded me that life is short and I need to just enjoy the simple moments of having my husband and son with me.  

And so tonight there will be no Valentine's fanfare, just a simple dinner at home with my boys.  And maybe a little xylophone concert.

Bubble. Dot. Minky.

Prints: Ironwood & Mahogany Echo by Lotta Jansdotter

Recently I made my first burp cloths with bubble dot minky as a backing.  I generally prefer to use more organic fabrics, but there was a remnant of minky on sale at Joanne's and so I thought I'd give it a try.  Many people love the softness of the minky, and so I thought I'd make a few burp cloth sets from it.  I made one for a friend who recently had a baby and I made the set pictured here.  It's interesting stuff to work with.  It has more stretch and give than a lot of materials that I work with and it fills the sewing machine crevices with fluffy stuff and you can't iron it.  

What do you think?  Do you like things made with minky?  Do you like making things with minky?  If you have made something with minky, what did you make?

Cloth Diaper Wet Bag

We have been cloth diapering our son since he was born a little over a year ago.  We love it.  I've been looked at as though I have about four heads when I tell people that I cloth diaper, but really, it's much more practical and easier than most people think.  Essential to cloth diapering is having a wet bag or diaper pail to put soiled diapers in until you wash them at the end of a day.  We've used a pail from the beginning, and it works well, but I wanted to try a wet bag because at the end of the day I can throw it into the wash along with the diapers instead of having to wash out the diaper pail separately.  I initially had my eye on a Planet Wise hanging wet bag, but they run about $30, so I decided to make my own.  Mine is roughly the same size and it only cost about $8 to make.  I was able to get the PUL (Polyurethane Laminate) for the inside lining, cotton print for the outside of the bag, and zipper for the top all at Joanne's.  I used ribbon that I had on hand to make the straps.  I have to say, it took me a little longer than expected, and I learned a few new things, but even if it was a little frustrating at times, I'm glad I did it. 

I do have enough material to make a second one using leftover PUL and material I have leftover from another project.  In the future, I hope to write up a tutorial when I do that, but right now I don't have the patience.  I can, however, provide you with two tutorials that I loosely used when I decided how to make my own.

The Mary Frances Project

Make Baby Stuff.com

Gender Neutral Baby Shower Decorations

A Close-up of the Table Runners & Flowers

Last Saturday I helped host a baby shower.  I volunteered to do decorations.  Mom and Dad are waiting until the baby is born to find out the gender, so I kept things neutral.  In my planning I scoped out things online, looking for ideas.  I saw a few showers with beautiful fabric table runners, so I decided that making runners was a definite must.  I also decided that flowers were a must as well.  It's the middle of winter, so I feel like flowers add some life and vibrancy.  

 In an effort to keep things neutral, I chose this "elephant parade" print that I found at Joanne's.  If you look closely at the runner, there is an elephant that is green with white polka dots.  While shopping at Target shortly after Christmas I saw the polka dot napkins and matching green plastic utensils and plates.  They were on clearance, and while a little bold, I thought they would make a nice statement with the table runners, so I snapped them up.  Plus they were on clearance, so how could you not?

 The shower was held at church, which presents some challenges that you don't have when you have a shower at a home.  Metal folding chairs, busy floral patterned carpet, nothing I could do about those sort of things.  Well, if you had an unlimited budget, you could rent fabric chair covers, and a floor covering, or even different chairs, but who has that sort of budget for a baby shower?

One of the Tables

Overall, I was pleased with the results.  They were simple, but nice.  As my husband warned me when I was planning and showing him ideas for the shower "Make it nice, something that satisfies your desire to make it beautiful, but know that it will not look just like the magazines."  Which I know, and it doesn't look as good as the magazines, but a girl can't help but try.

New Burp Cloth Set!

I just listed a new organic burp cloth set in my Etsy shop.  I LOVE this fabric!  It's "Soar" from Monaluna's Marin Collection.  Monaluna makes wonderful 100% GOTS certified organic cotton fabrics and the quality is wonderful.  They're perfect for making baby items.  I love this print in that it reminds me of this painting that my parents had in their room when I was growing up.  The painting was this seventies beach scene with birds almost exactly like the ones on this print.  I need to order some more of this so that I can make something else.

New Bib!

So I helped host a baby shower this past weekend and as a part of my gift I made the baby a burp cloth.  It was the third burp cloth that I've made, I think.  So I decided to make one for my son as well.  I had some leftover fabric from when I made the art for the door of his nursery, so I used that.  Yes, I am still obsessed with Alexander Henry's 2D Zoo even though I know it's years and years old.  Don't worry though, I have one more project coming with that fabric, and that will be it.  This week I will be making a new cover for Baby Bear's high chair, so look for a tutorial on that later this week!  I'll also be posting a few baby shower pictures as well.

Taali Fat Quarter Giveaway!

Photo from Fave Quilts

Fave Quilts is giving away a fat quarter bundle from Monaluna's Taali Collection.  The bundle features all 9 of the prints from this collection.  I have had excellent experiences with Monaluna fabrics.  They are beautiful, 100% organic cotton prints and they are high quality.  You can enter by visiting their page here.  The giveaway ends on January 25th, 2012!

Free to Grow

Free To Grow- One of my fabrics that arrived last night.

Life seems to be moving really fast right now.  I'm working on numerous projects and my days are really full.  I think they feel especially hectic since I designated Christmas as a time to slow down and not work on projects.  Well, since then, I have been working on the following: 

1. Kitchen Remodel- This involves removing wallpaper, Prepping and painting walls, painting the ceiling electrical work, replacing light fixtures, refinishing cabinets, replacing hardware, and replacing flooring.  So far my husband and I have finished with the walls and ceiling, some of the electrical, and will soon be moving on to the extensive task of redoing the cabinets.  
2. Baby Shower Decorations- I'm doing decorations for a baby shower this Saturday.  I'll be posting pictures next week!
3. Baby Shower Gift- I decided to make part of the baby shower gift since I make baby things.  I'll be posting about this after the shower as well.  Let's just say that I tried a few new things, and I'm learning a lot.
4. Baby Bear's First Birthday- We cannot believe it has been almost a year since he was born, and yet it seems at the same time like he has always been here.  We've got a party to plan!
5. Rebuilding My Etsy Inventory- I had a few sales and now I need to add more inventory!  I've got tons of new fabrics just waiting to be used, including three that just arrived in the mail last night.

In the midst of all this craziness I have had to let go a little bit of my perfectionism.  If letting something be slightly imperfect (like letting my house be not quite clean for a day or two) means being able to make some progress on projects but still spend some time with my husband and baby, then let things be imperfect because I don't want to miss out on these times with them.

First Sale! Second Sale! Third Sale!

My first sale!  A set of birch organic burp cloths.

On the day after Christmas, my husband was going to log in to check his email when he saw that I had an email letting me know that I had made my first sale on Etsy!  I was ecstatic.  It's been 2 months since I posted my first item, so it has not been very long in my opinion.  In fact, I was shocked that I had sold something considering that at the time I only had 8 items in my shop and I was still working on getting better photos, getting wrinkles out, etc.  Plus, I know that as a buyer, I am leary of buying from someone who is new.  

Well, as excited as I was that morning, I was excited yet again two days later when I had my second sale.  Then, I woke up this morning to find an email about a third one!  I guess when it rains, it pours.  As validating as sales feel though, really it will all be complete for me when I know that my customers are pleased with the items that they have received.  I've been taking a break from sewing for Christmas, but this week I need to get some work done.  I've got some great fabrics waiting in the wings, so I should get to work! 

Etsy Treasury- Whale Nursery

My Whale burp cloth set was featured in a Whale Nursery Treasury! I love this collection and the whale trend for kids stuff.

'Whale Nursery' by AlaskaNicole

A little nautical whimsy for a little boy's nursery.

Whimsical Whale Kids Wall Ar... CuteAsAButtonA... $35.00	sea creatures baby nursery s... lulufroot $50.00	Humpback whale Mama, handmad... ashleymccally $35.00	Original Whale Mobile - PB J... SouthernPearlD... $69.00
WHALE Quilt Set, Baby Boy Cr... AlphabetMonkey $175.00	Nautical - Peg Rack - Lighth... BirchTreeKids $79.99	Hand dyed Whale Onesie LittleLoveBell... $11.00	natural wood baby rattle - W... SmilingTreeToy... $26.00
Boys Nautical Whale Sailboat... LittlePrintsPa... $8.00	Whale Bookends Celebrate the... ThornappleFarm $59.00	The Moby Dick HOODIE--- Blac... WeeDees $59.00	Kids Wall Sticker Wall Decal... designedDESIGN... $88.00
Dotted Whales Cozy Flannel B... Waddlles $20.00	Organic Baby Burp Cloths (Se... BabyBearNecess... $15.00	Whale Baby Gift - Oversize B... HipViolet $18.00	Embellished Whale Hoodie KaitEmersonDes... $40.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Girly Burp Cloth Set

I have finally finished with Christmas preparations and so I took a little time today to sew.  I made this girly burp cloth set. Having a boy, and having made mostly boy items so far, I had fun making something a little more girly.  I know, there is some blue on each burp cloth, but there's also pink on each one!  Besides, I love blue, and I'm a girl.

You can see all the details at the listing on my Etsy shop.

birch Organics Giveaway

Birch is a fantastic organic fabric company that I adore! I used their fabrics to create my whale burp cloth sets in my shop on Etsy.  Well, birch has created a line of baby bedding and they are giving away one Woodcut bumper!  You can read about how to enter the giveaway on their blog.  Giveaway ends midnight on Wednesday, December 21st!

birch's Woodcut Crib Bumper

A Close-up of the Woocut Fabric Pattern

Improvements

I've been very busy getting ready for Christmas, but I did take a little time today to work on re-shooting the photos for my Etsy site.  I wanted to clean things up a little and make the items stand out more, so I re-shot everything with a white background.