Tu-Tu Easy!

I made this tu-tu for a darlin' girl's first bday gift. It was easy and fun to make. I'll put up a little tutorial soon so you all can make one too. It could even be no-sew if you like.


Doesn't she look so cute?!

Waldorf Doll In Progress

Ok, so I felt bad after posting that I might not get to the Peanut's xmas doll. I ordered him a rocking horse as his big gift, but I am now doubting it will get to me in time. (Long story.) Anyway, this was my other main gift I had planned and that would be pretty lame if I flaked out on that one too!

I snapped this pic Saturday night. Not bad for one day's progress, right?

He now has hair but needs a hair cut.... latching that hair in took FOR-EV-ER! This week I'll be adding on his arms and making him an outfit.

Doll Kit from Dancing Rain Dolls

10 days to go!

The count down is on people! Can you believe that xmas is a mere 10 days away? I can't. I am so behind on the whole deal this year that I am not even close to the end of my to-dos. I'm afraid that many of them will simple not get done. I am not going to stress though. I have been feeling sick and uninspired lately and I am just going to try and enjoy the season regardless.

Here's what I still have to do:
1) Finish BFFs Apron and creative wrapping idea.
2) Finish and Order photo calendar for Stepmom (deadline is tomorrow!!)
3) Think of 7 surprises for the Hubs. I am doing a "best week of your life" thing this year featuring things like cooking his favorite meal, cleaning out the garage, etc. Each night he will come home to a just-for-him surprise.
Gettin' a little creative and I just hope that I can keep up with it.
4) Sew the Peanut's xmas doll. (I am thinking that this one might have to wait for his bday. hmmm)
5) Finish shopping and wrapping for pretty much everyone.
6) Order new years cards because I'm not going to make the xmas deadline.

Is it too ambitious to start planning my xmas gifts for next year already? hehe
I am thinking that maybe if I plan ahead well in advance, I will have time to make this yummy moonshine and grow these in my garden this upcoming summer.

getting my scrap on

I am on vaca in FL this week. Our gracious host, my DH's Aunt, is a scrapping fan. Despite a huge stash of scrapping supplies, I never seem to finish any projects. (ie the box of supplies and photos from our cruise... 2 years ago... that is under the bed in the spare/craft room.)

Well Aunt B does lovely work. She created the most wonderful scrapbook from pictures from Peanut's first year. The book has a place of honor in our livingroom. She also made these cute little grandma brag books for her sisters. She is thinking about selling them. I told her about Esty. I think they would make a fab gift for grandma or a new mom who doesn't have time to scrap a beautious brag book.

Since she had all the supplies, I bought a chipboard and am making one for my mom for xmas.

Here's a couple of the pages thus far:

Handmade Toys

Some xmas gifties for my Dear Son. I made the "bread" from recycled, felted sweater leftover from making wool pants (aka longies). I just slip stitched two pieces together. Inside is cheese and deli meat just cut from more felted sweaters. I think they are quite cute. Oh yeah, and lead-free too. :)


I have seen eggs and all other kinds of cute food fashioned from felt or even knit or crocheted. I think DS needs a play banana next.

more gifties

Over a month between posts? How do I do it? lol

Ok so here are some gifties for my friend's baby's Christening. I also put in a book of Bible stories for the kiddo when he gets older.

Check out my NEW EMBROIDERY MACHINE SKILLS! Since this is my first go round I put the name on a little patch and hand sewed that to the blanket. I didn't want to screw up the large piece of Minkee by accident.

I started the turtle as a welcome-to-the-world gift, but since I didn't finish it until it was time for the Christening I put it in there. And seriously, I couldn't have planned the colors matching any better than they did.

Enjoy baby D! Made with love by your (fake) Aunt K.

WIP

I have another baby gifty in the works. I'll tell you this, it's a plushy and it's for my friend's new lil man. I'm going up to hang out with them on Thursday so I hope to have it done by then.
For the first time I am using cotton yarn to make a plush. I hope that the fibers don't relax too much and make the toy too floppy. I usually use acrylic, like RH Soft, for plush. But I figured cotton would be soft on lil gums if he wanted to chew on it and it would get softer with washing and wear. Besides, cotton just seems more... babyish?

Cute Baby Burp Cloths

I made these for my friend. The shower is Saturday so I doubt she will be on here before then. They are Gerber prefolds topped with yummy, soft flannel prints. I got fancy and used a different topstitch on each one. They are the perfect addition to my gift basket!

baby shower basket

I finished my shower gifties! I can't post a picture yet 'cause I'm not sure the recipient doesn't read my blog occasionally.

However, I will share my favorite baby shower gift to give a close friend.

This picture is of the basket I gave to my dear friend for the baby shower we threw her in May.

New Mama/Nursing Basket

Standard Contents for each basket:

*A breastfeeding book (The Nursing Mother's Companion or So That's What They're For!)

*New Mama Bottom Spray by Earth Mama Angel Baby

*Nipple Butter by Earth Mama Angel Baby

*Mother's Milk Tea

*Lansinoh "First Days" Extra Soft Nursing Pads

*a nursing bracelet to keep track of feedings

*assorted Luna bars (gotta have some snacks handy!)

Variable Contents:

*The Joyous Gifts of Motherhood

*The Baby Book by Dr Sears

*Cushy "spa" socks to wear at the hospital

*Chapstick "Natural" (very light scent shouldn't trigger nausea)

*Boppy and extra covers

*burp cloths

*a sleep mask

*a water bottle for mom

*other pamper mom items like hand cream and soaps

My theory is that everyone likes to get cute stuff for the baby. As a result you get a ton of baby clothes they out grow in like a month. You get a million baby blankets that you can't really use in the beginning 'cause most of us use those nifty sleep sacks anyway. And since buying the really big stuff isn't in my budget I like to get the mommy-to-be some items I found useful in the early weeks. It's all stuff I used and loved and it's stuff you wouldn't think of it unless you had just "been there done that and bought the t-shirt." If you have time, you can shop around for the best prices for each item and you can get the basket and shred at the dollar store or the craft store when they go on sale. I'd say the basket, shred, cellophane and ribbon all add up to the cost of a nice gift bag and they can always put the basket to use.

So far I've made up two of these baskets and am working on a third. Each one is a little different based on the recipient and my budget at the time.

cutest baby hat evah!

I was waiting to post this gifty until it was given. I love the way this hat turned out! I used Peanut as a model, but the pictures were kinda crappy. It's also too small for him of course. I bet it looks even cuter on the newborn baby girl I made it for.

I hope her mommy takes a picture for me! : )

Pattern: Pixie Hat
Yarn: Lily Sugar 'n Cream - don't remember the color name, but it is pale lavender, yellow, cream varigated

Bow to your Sensai... BOW TO YOUR SENSAI!

My good friend and fellow beach bum, Mel, is the one who taught me to crochet 5 years ago. She always says that I am her best student. She also says that I surpassed her.

I beg to differ.

While I like to experiment with different yarns and fibers, she learns new stitches and tackles big projects with simple worsted weight. I don't have the patience required for large or intricate patterns. The only full size afghans I ever completed were done on on a Q-hook for goodness sakes.

She gave Peanut this awesome blanket that she made just for him. I'm sure he will love it as much as I do. There are so many cool details that make this one really special.

It is constructed in 9 main pieces and all the animals and other objects are appliqued on.

Here is a close-up of the waves under the boat.

The elephants' ears flap!

My favorite part is Noah and his wife.

THANKS MEL! We love it!

I'd like to credit the designer too as this pattern was in a book, but I don't remember what one!

new WIPs and shower pic

I thought I'd share this pic of me and DH's grandmom at my shower. She had made some baby items years ago and was saving them. She gave me a crocheted bunting for a present. The funny thing is that she says she no longer remembers how to crochet and can't do it anymore! Obviously she was pretty good at it when she did it.
PS - I look so tired!

Crazy me, I've decided that I'm going to make all four of my brothers afghans for Christmas this year. I had the idea to do this before and have all the yarn in my stash, it's just getting the time to do it. I'll have to divide my crochet time between craft sale inventory and gift making if I am going to get every thing done on time. This is pretty ambitious considering that I still haven't finished making DH's scarf that was supposed to be a gift LAST Christmas! I guess I have knit/crochet ADD.

Baby Gifts

I had my first baby shower yesterday. Click here to see the fabulous cake my friend Dirkey made me.

Some of my knitting girls from church were there. The one girl made me this adorable baby hat. She even taped on washing instructions! How cute is that?








My other friend made me this cute blankie. I think it will make a nice nursing shawl or "tummy time" mat. I didn't even know she could crochet. We will have to get together and craft sometime.
I love getting (and giving) homemade gifts. I either give away or sell most of my projects; I don't keep very many projects for myself. (And usually they are the "rejects" that aren't quite perfect enough to sell.) So it is extra nice when someone takes the time to make something just for me.
Personally, I am majorly slacking in the crafting dept. My silly lion wrap is just missing the ears and tail! I will have to make a point to finish it tonight. I go for a 3 hour glucose screening tomorrow. I will have to find a good project to bring with me while I sit in the lab. Finish a UFO? or start something new and exciting? decisions, descisons....