Dove Bib

Yesterday I ordered fabric for an Easter project I am so excited about...I'll surely post pictures when it's complete. I can't make it to the fabric store to pick up a new pattern until after naps this morning, so last night I had to do something. Being away for several weeks on vacation has left me eager to sew. So I rummaged through my scrap fabrics and pulled out some ribbon and came up with this lovely dove bib. Again, I backed it with the brown baby corduroy, but something like ribbed chenille would be so soft and perfect to wipe up the after meal mess. I hand embroidered the dove on just to add a little more homemade, personal feel. I wasn't in the mood to sew on Velcro, sometimes it just ends up looking messy, and I wasn't willing to take the time to sew a button hole, so I place the ribbon lengths in and called it good. I actually love that it ties in the back for an adjustable neck hole size. I think I'll be making more of these. I can just imagine cute, fresh, bright patterned fabric in orange and white for another bib! Now, here's a question...is this a bib for a boy or girl? I don't know, you tell me so when I give it away I'll be giving it to the right mom to be.

Belts and Barrettes

These two ideas are easy peasy and almost not worthy of a post, but I said I would share my ideas, so here they are. Maybe my amateur attempts at craftiness will spark something in you more creative people and result in something far more brilliant.

I mentioned on my family blog that Gabs is getting less and less interested in having her hair done. Well, luckily for us, these little clipy do-dads have saved yet another battle of the wills. We have found a compromise. Ever since Gwens hair has grown long enough to hold a clip, Gabs has insisted in having a clip too. I bought Goody barrettes, scrapbooking flowers and used buttons I have saved from clothes for years. Apply a little hot glue and now you have a mom and a little girl happy with the hair wardrobe situation. I choose more spring colored flowers, but can't wait until Fall rolls around when we'll make red, brown and orange ones.

And, if you're anything like me, you see a little more of your little girlies behind than you'd like. Gabs has a serious problem, I have yet to find any pants that stay on her. So I bought d-rings and some ribbon and sewed a little seam, and there you have it. I added the floweres for fun, but they were cute without too.

So, now hopefully I'll be seeing a lot less bum and lot more groomed hair around here!

Crayon Roll

Another project that was so so super fast. These crayon rolls was my ticket to a peaceful sacrament meeting...unfortunately I only made one and Gwen was more interested than I expected. I need to hurry and make another before next Sunday! I went with the twistable crayons because Gabriella likes to peel the paper off normal crayons. Although that would keep her quiet and occupied for several minutes, probably not such a good idea in the chapel! I also made some with colored pencils. You can make the roll as long as you need, and each pocket size can be adjusted to fit whatever writing tools you have. I also added the pocket for paper. The instructions on how to make one can be found at http://www.skiptomylou.wordpress.com/. Fun for a gift as well!

Colored Rice

Since many of you inquired about this on my family blog I thought I'd share it here. This is not a sewing or craft project, but it is nothing fancy, and oh so popular with my girls. Ever since I made this with Gabs last Friday, she has asked to play with it every morning! We put it in a storage bin that we have here, but I think the best one would be those shallow, sweater tupperware that fit under the bed. The girls have loved filling all their bowls and cups and making "picnics." I cut up an egg carton and those have provided hours of joy as well as ice trays, especially if you have fun shaped ones. For boys, I'm sure trucks and G.I. Joes will be just as entertaining. We've also buried pennies, buttons, clips, and yarn and searched for them in the rice. So, here's how you do it, so easy...

Take a plastic baggie and add a tiny bit of vinegar...like 1 tsp. or so.

Drop a few drops of food coloring in...the more you put in, the darker the rice will turn out.

Add 1.5 to 2 cups rice.

Shake bag to coat all the rice.

Lay out on cookie sheet and put in oven for 30 minutes at 200.

Use same baggie and repeat with different color food coloring.

Total we made about 5 cups because I was out of red food coloring. I'm sure if you have a big bin, you'll need more. We just layed out a big oil cloth mat and they went crazy...what's vacuuming the house one more time than we already do anyway?

I got this idea from a a web site called write, mama write. There are millions of ideas for little toddlers.

Poodle Skirt and Mail Bag

Next Friday Joe is taking Gabriella on a daddy daughter date. There is a Valentine's dance at the elementary school down the street for girls and their dads. The theme is a sock hop, so Gabs I went to the store to pick out the felt for her skirt. She choose purple and wanted a purple leash too. I added a little pink tuille underneath to fluff it up some and give it a little someting extra. She wore it all around the house the day I made it, but you'll have to check out the family blog next week so you can see pictures of her all dressed up. She is so excited to go "dancing with daddy."

I just found a "how-to" on line. It was very straight forward and easy. Very little sewing...I even cheated and hot glued the leash and poodle on. So fun for a dress up box! Now if only I could make saddle shoes...

As for the mail bag, I found another easy, easy tutorial. I decided to go the inexpensive and free route and use muslin and ribbon I already had for the bag. But the possibilities are endless for this fun bag...bright fabrics to carry pool toys to the pool in, or a book bag for the car, or to put goodies in for your neightbor...lots of ideas. It's amazing what kinds of ideas you can find on the internet. Thank goodness for talented people out there!

Mail Center

At the first of the year, my sister e-mailed links to a bunch of things she wanted to attempt to make this year. There were so many cute things, but I fell in love with a felt mail box set. I'm a little obsessive about things. Once an idea is in my head, I really can't seem to let it go until I see it through. So, I found these tin mailboxes at Michael's for $2.99 and went to work. They also have these at the $1 spot at Target, but they're a bit smaller. I also seem to have a knack for turning a simple idea into a complicated, tedious project.

A paper mail center simple wouldn't work, and the felt was driving me crazy because I didn't care for any of the colors I saw. Finally I saw an idea where fabric was used, so that's what I stuck with. I used fabric I already had, placed pellon (a stiff felt), which I already had in between the two pieces of fabric, and used sticky Velcro, which I already had to attach the different pieces. It would have been quite simple to do, but I decided to sit an embroider everything to give it a little more flare. What started out nice and easy turned to tedious and time consuming. But in the end, I think I love it! And, it only cost $2.99, how could I go wrong?

I know Gabs will have such fun playing "mail center" with actual play mail and not just scraps of paper she finds me cutting apart for her and envelopes that bills came in! Total, the girls will have 2 mailboxes, 2 envelopes, 5 stamps, 5 letters, 4 postcards, and 6 mail recipients. The last thing I have to complete is a small bag that says "My Mail Bag" for all the loot to be stored.

I will give this to the girls on Valentine's day. Since we will not be with them for the next several days, I am going to supply my mom with stickers, candy hearts, valentine crafts, lip gloss, or anything else I can find at the dollar store. Each day my mom will put something new in the mailbox for them and say that we "sent" them mail. I hope it's a hit and helps with the separation anxiety they may be feeling!

Aprons

I really think aprons are the most fun things to make. I love to get carried away with ric rac and pom poms and fabric combinations. It's fun to have something a little saucy and sassy to wear in the kitchen. I made these for a few friends for their birthdays and they were so easy. No pattern, just more straight cutting and sewing. Sorry if you're sick of seeing this fabric. I'm tired of it too, but when there's a good deal you have to get lots right? I've finally finished it off, now I will allow myself to go out and get some more!
Oh, and try to ignore the cheesy pictures, I really didn't know how to best display the aprons for a decent picture! If anything, this crafy blog is helping me with my still life photography, I really stink at taking pictures without living subjects!

Placemats

My friend once said that she was raised with the philosophy that as long as there was nice dishes, candles and music, any old meal was instantly great. I always remembered that. I love sitting down to dinner with my family! Joe and I got a few sets of place mats when we were married and those have been what we have always used. Not my first choice of place mats, defiantly not my style and really they are now in terrible shape. It was about time that we ate dinner on something that was worthy of putting dishes on. I enjoy cooking and spend lots of time in the kitchen, our meals deserve some good place mats.

I really should be embarrassed about the not so difficult level of my projects, but you gotta start somewhere to get to where you want to be right? Really, this is something that any one who can sew a straight line can do. Maybe we're not quite to the candle lights and music, but who knows, maybe we can pull off a good looking place setting on Sundays.

Bibs

These are definitely not fancy, or original for that matter, but personalized bibs are fun, easy, inexpensive, and cute. I think these are the perfect little gifts for those friends that didn't have a baby shower because they had baby number 2, 3 or 4. Or for someone that you are taking dinner to after they've had a baby. Even for visiting teachers or teachees. Really, I just think they are perfect for that mom who has everything, but their new little baby needs something of their own.

I bought brown baby corduroy for the back, because it works with boys, girls, and unknown genders. Dig through some of your left over scrap fabric-they hardly use any, find a cute font, embroider the name, add a little ric rac and viola, you're done. I like the idea of using "bebe" for friends that don't know what they are having, or just monogramming it with the babies initials. Anyway, really don't inspect the sewing or the final product, just thought I'd share what I think is a great little gift idea.

Fans

I love when I can do something that doesn't cost a thing and has a huge impact. I admit I am pretty cheap when it comes right down to it...except for coats, I'll pay a pretty penny for coats. Anyway, I saw these wonderful fans on a gals blog that I knew back in my BYU days. I had to do it.

The girls room is a cozy, small square room. The room consists of old frames painted white with some of my great grandmothers doilies inside, a bed we got from a neighbor that we put new hardware and crown molding around, bedding from my mom that is on loan to us until both girls are in beds and I'm ready in invest in bed sets, a crotchet baby dress that my great grandmother made for my mom, a vintage baby cradle and highchair, a shabby chic light fixture, crib and home made baby quilts. Not a whole lot of money has gone into this room, but I really do love it's girliness and charm.

I felt the room lacked a little spunk and color, especially during these winter months, so these retro feeling fans were exactly what it needed. They were a breeze to make, and completely free, using the supplies I had right here in my house. Just what the room needed...a free makeover! Don't you just love it? I might just be adding a few to the master suite I love them so much! :)

I'll try to take pictures of the other side of the room so you can see all the nostalgia items later!

Ornaments

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New:

I have no idea where this little ornament came from. Was it from mom, grandma, a great aunt? I don't know, but it's an ornament that I've had forever. I noticed Gabs playing with it yesterday, so I thought I could make her and Gwen their very own versions. It doesn't have quite the perfect craftsmanship as mine does, but it will do. Joe thought I was kinda crazy for making a red bird with blue and cream wings, but I wanted the ornament to reflect me and my tastes at this point. I think it's fun to look back over your ornaments, or anything and see the decades and style they represent. Most of my ornaments say 80's, but that's what they should say. My favorite christmas colors are this bricky red, and light blue. I don't know if it screams 21st century, but it certainly expresses in a small way my style. I want my girls to always have pieces of me, and this little 2007 bird ornament fits the bill.

Oh yes, Gabs reminded me that she needs a necklace too, so I'll have to come up with some way to work that out.

Bean Bags

While this is less of a sewing project and more of an embroidery project, I just wanted to share these fun bean bags. This September while we were in California, we visited with my grandma and grandpa. Gabriella and Dax quickly found these bean bags that my grandpa's sister had made for my dad and his sisters. They thought they were great. Bryn and I remembered playing with them when we were little. We loved them. We decided that we needed to replicate them for our kids, and maybe our kids kids, since bean bags are one of those timeless toys that all kids seem to love. Yesterday they opened them for Christmas, and while they aren't the favorite thing right now, I can't wait for this summer when we can go outside and take sidewalk chalk and make a hopscotch and I can teach them a game or two with these cute, little bean bags.
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Jammies

Well, not so much jammies, but I tried.

I had this idea to make the girls jammie bottoms for Christmas this year instead of buying them like I have the past several years. I went and picked out the fabric and my friend loaned me a pattern. I saw the pattern also had a night gown pattern. So, knowing my own daughter, I thought Gabriella would be much happier with a "jammie dress" (that's what we call them around here), then jammie bottoms.

I guess I have a bit to learn on fabric selection, because the jammie dress looks more like a church dress. Gabs informed me when I tried it on her, "that's not my favorite mom." Oh well. It'll probably make her cry, but she WILL wear them to bed one night! Horrible, but I'm going to be a little selfish about it. At least Gwen won't mind her elf looking bottoms.

Besides the less pajama feeling fabric, I really like them and am happy with my first attempt at clothes. I learn something however, I don't understand patterns for anything! It's like another language. I do much better going with how I imagined it in my head than trying to follow those instructions.

So reluctantly I give you, Jammies 2007!

My Resolution

All my cute friends have amazing scrapbook blogs where they show glimpses of treasures they are creating for their families. I love seeing what they're doing, but mostly, I just feel guilty for not having something for my own family. Countless times I have said that I am going to start scrapbooking-usually around January 1 and I never have.
I've been thinking a lot about New Year's Resolutions. Among family, spiritual, and motherly resolutions, I have resolved to do a few more things that I enjoy doing, things that make me happy. When we first moved to Washington, my mother-in-law taught me how to crochet. I made a baby blanket for Bryn's little Dax. I loved making that blanket. I told myself that I needed to learn more skills like that.
I got a sewing machine for graduation about 3 years ago. I have loved having that machine. I've made a few things like quilts and bedding for the girls crib, and I'm working on a quiet book now. I've done little crafty things but not nearly as much as I would like. I come from a long line of seamstresses. Both my grandmothers were fantastic seamstress'. I have dolls, quilts, dresses, and stockings made by each. My mom made us pajamas, and dresses when we were little. Joe's mom sews always, and so did his grandma. Like my mom said on the phone the other night, sewing is kinda a lost art. Not too many sewers these days. I want to be a sewer.
I walk into a fabric store and I love it. I feel inspired. I always catch myself saying, "I can do that." So why not? Why haven't I? Well, this is the year. I am going to sew!! And I can't wait! I want to do this because I love originality. I want to make things for my girls that they will be able to hold on to because it was made with love for them. It may not be perfect, but it will have come from me. That's a treasure I can pass on.
So here is my blog of creations. Trust me, it won't be anything fancy, so don't expect greatness. I will post my projects, just so I can remind myself what it is I promised to do for myself. I am fueled by words of affirmation, so please leave kind feedback and share any information about where are fun places to look for ideas on sewing projects. I want to make it all, dolls, clothes, aprons, bibs, books, toys, shoes, anything!
I promise not to bore you with my thoughts anymore. Here's what I'm working on-remember though, Nothing Fancy Schmancy.