Kitchen Swap 2009

I am excited to venture out into a few more swaps this year. It is always so much fun to get a present in the mail. Well, almost as much fun as it is to make handmade items that you know someone will really enjoy. I have signed up for Kitchen Swap 2009 at sew-fantastic .

Hmm, things you should know about my kitchen-- natural cherry cabinets, light blue walls, I collect white/ivory ironstone pitchers and red and white enamelware, my favorite thing in my kitchen is my red kitchenaide stand mixer. I love aprons and usually my LM and I wear one for cookie making.

Looking forward to seeing what I can make for someone. Can't wait to begin.

working off the scraps

I have been working on and off with this project. LM loves Tom & Jerry so I bought this panel about 1 year ago to make him a special lap quilt. Well, there it sat in my stash. Finally pulled it out this last week and started thinking of ways to make it up. Using 5" square scraps from my scrap bin together with strips I have been pulling it all together. I think I will use white to frame the blocks a bit. Then I was thinking of quilting the white sections with multi-color thread with words- like his name, Tom & Jerry etc.

This isn't my greatest masterpiece but it is fun and will see quite a bit of wash and wear so I am trying not to obsess about it. Hoping to get this done by the weekend. We shall see. It is supposed to be beautiful weather.

Great giveaway

There is a great giveaway going on here:
http://thatssimplyfineandfancy.blogspot.com/2009/04/you-did-it.html

Who doesn't love flowers. I know I do. While you're there click on over to her etsy store. Super adorable things if you have a little girl in your life.

Playing with fabric

One of the many many joys of having a little one in the house is finding some stolen moments during nap time for yourself. Sure the housework slips, maybe you eat a bit more takeout but now seems the perfect time for that to happen. I was excited to see the Nothing but Scraps challenge over on this wonderful blog , flickr group here. I have a plastic tote full of bits and pieces of quilt fabric, scraps for sure. I don't think any of them match but I am going to pull out and make bits and crumb blocks for this challenge. I hope it will be a fun and funky picnic blanket for our family.

My goal is to sew a bit everyday and granted, that might be 5 minutes while waiting for the laundry to finish drying.

I do need to finish up some super simple goodie bags for my big guy and his friends. I can't believe he is going to be 4 in just a few weeks. Love you little man! I can't believe I am so blessed that I have you in my life.

Love for Etsy.com

I love etsy. com. It is like going to the best arts and craft fair ever and only seeing what you love. Support handmade and WAHM and artists at the same time. What could be better.

Here is my recent favorite purchase from Tadpoles and Tutus. This is her picture but I will upload a picture of the boys shirts soon. I got one for LM- size 4T with custom measurements and a newborn onesie. They are better than I ever expected. Soft, adorable, well-stitched and unique. Something you would find only in the best boutique. I can tell I will be haunting her store for new designs until the boys outgrow all her sizes.

Do you have a favorite etsy site?

Thought for the day

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

Baby Crafts-Part One

Before the newest little man got her I had some fun making him some special items. Someone should have told me embroidering on onesies was so much fun. I have been having a ball transforming all the solid onesies into custom shirts.

I especially love this rocket ship from Sublime Stitching: Hundreds of Hip Embroidery Patterns and How-To by Jenny Hart. Love this book! He likes the shirt, honest he does. He just like's mama's milk better right there.

I have been just using Gerber onesies (because they are what I had on hand and I like that the sleeves are finished instead of just serged). Some (okay most) of the onesies are his big brother's hand me downs. Now they are uniquely his.

I didn't use a backing on these. Sometimes when doing embroidery on clothes I use a bit of cotton quilt batting on the backside cut to shape. This often hides knots, makes the stitches even and is a bit softer against the skin. I wasn't liking the look of that on these little onesies so I just put the onesie in a hoop and stitched away. I also just used whatever colors I liked in my big box of tangled floss. Worked just fine.

Since his borther had these type of shirts for every holiday I am afraid the newest guy will have to suffer momma's crafty endeavors as well.

Next installment- the knitting projects.