it was feeling like summer

At the time I appliqued on these tank tops, it really was beginning to feel like summer. Now, we are being flooded with non stop rain and thunder storms (that keep us up all through the night). But, as it was feeling nice and warm, I pulled a few tank tops out of my daughter's closet and had her pick a few things to applique on them. She chose the flamingo and an ice cream cone. If I would have had a third tank, there would have been a unicorn as well. Next time. She had a friend over the other day and as dress up, Mallory asked her friend to wear her new tank tops with her along with her tulle skirts from Costco.

this girl loves mud and new pjs

This post was supposed to be about the new pajamas I sewed for Mallory. I took a few photos of her in them last night. We went outside to take them and when I was done, I went inside to get dinner ready. My six year old came in a while later and I realized he was muddy.

I went out to check on Mallory and realized she had turned the hose on a mud hole to make it even dirtier and was covered in mud. So much for new clean pjs. I can't say I was mad because of part of me loves that she likes to get dirty and play outside with the boys. I was a bit frustrated because I could have put some other clothes on her if she was going to start digging mud holes. I guess I will just have to soak them a bit!

It was rather warm last week and I realized that she didn't have many summer jams, so I was excited to make some for her. Plus, she said she wanted to have a pajama party with me. I have had this sheet for awhile and used Simplicity Pattern #4767 to make her a new set. I used the extra fabric to make a pair of pj shorts for myself. Mother/Daughter pj party, right? Well, since she got all dirty and I really was too tired, the party has been postponed. I know she won't let me forget that it still needs to happen. She says we will have popcorn, a movie, and "NO BOYS!"

bib for a babe

Sometimes I am very short on time and don't have much to give to a handmade gift. But, I have a hard time giving a gift without a little something handmade. So, a handmade bib is the perfect addition to a baby gift. Here is one I made recently. I always seem to use this pattern from juicybits' blog.

personalized pillowcase tutorial

I was lucky enough to be introduced to Bridget's blog - Mint Green with Envy a while back and even more fortunate to be asked to guest post over there about two weeks ago. For that post, I created a tutorial for a personalized pillow case. I made two - one for my six year old son and one for my four year old daughter. I will admit that I haven't made anything for my boys in quite a long time and I was thinking that my son wouldn't think much of the pillowcase, but I was wrong because he LOVED it. He is sleeping on it everynight. My daughter loves her's too, but I was expecting her to because she gets enamored with anything new...at least until the next thing comes around! The directions are simple and if you head over to Mint Green with Envy you can get the full tutorial. But, basically, you make a simple pillowcase and use the pattern found HERE to make the child's face and hair that best suits the child you are making the pillow for. I drew these and hope they work for you. You applique them on to the front of the pillowcase using the basic technique of Heat N Bond or Wonder Under to adhere them to the fabric and then stitch around the edge of each piece for the child face - head, hair, eyes, hair bows, etc. You can also applique the child's name using 2 1/2 to 3 " letters of your choice. It's all simple and a fun way to add some personalization to their beds. *Remember - the applique pattern is for personal use only*

soldered derby necklace giveaway at louisville family fun blog

Right now the Louisville Family Fun Blog is hosting a contest to give away one of my soldered charm necklaces. The necklace in the contest has two soldered pendants that have a Kentucky Derby theme and a silver chain included. Go over check out the rules and enter the contest. It ends Thursday, April 7th, at midnight. Good luck!

PS - This blog is awesome for locals and anyone planning to visit Louisville as well. It has so much information on what to do around town and upcoming events. I always check it out for weekend information so that we can find something cool to do here in River City!

new easter charms in the shop and other stuff

I listed several Easter soldered charms in my shop a few days ago. I also have some Kentucky Derby charms I am about to list soon. I tried to get them in the shop before I headed to San Diego last week, but I was too rushed for time. In San Diego I was able to meet my niece, Velzy, and catch up with my parents and siblings. It was so nice and relaxing. I just took daughter with me while the boys stayed at home with dad. We hit In N' Out, Konos in Pacific Beach, and I got to shop at Trader Joes. I always have a list of a few places I need/want to go to when I am out there. I came home to some very cold weather and was told I missed snow while I was gone. I am so looking forward to Spring. I have Spring Fever which means every day when I get dressed, I just look at my capris hanging in my closet and wish it were time to put them on. Then, I head to the jeans and longs sleeves and just stare - wishing it just wasn't so. Soon, right? In the mean time, I will keep going knowing that Spring weather is just around the corner!

for baby...again

I haven't done much in terms of creating (unless you count messes) except for the appliques I made for a new baby gift. Lots of babies being born around here and I tend to stick to the same gift! Here's a lion and a dog that I added to a few onesies for this particular baby boy. Now, I need to come up with some for a baby girl that will be born very soon!

posting at mint green with envy

Since I don't post over here as much as I would like, I thought I would try posting on Bridget's blog - Mint Green With Envy! I am posting a tutorial for a child's Personalized Pillow Case. My kids are already using theirs and tonight had a pillow fight with them. So, they are a hit - ha! Check it out.

lil cutie pouch

I have had Noodlehead's Lil Cutie Pouch book marked for quite awhile now - wondering if I could make something with a zipper. I know, I know...it's not too hard to sew with a zipper, but I have this fear you know. One of the first dresses I ever made (which was a Sew Easy pattern by the way)had a zipper in the back and I struggled putting it in such a small 12 month sized dress. That might have scarred me a little.

Anyway, the directions for the pouch were so clear and it was easy to make. I made it for a friend for her birthday and filled it with chap stick and gum and then made a matching key fob to go with it.

And, yesterday I went to Hobby Lobby and bought 7 more zippers, so that I can make an entire collection of these little pouches. They are perfect to attach to the inside of your purse so that you have easy access to the essentials.

my new favorite necklace

I have been making these soldered stick pendants (just 1/2" X 1 1/2") lately and I love that I can add a few to the bigger charms on a chain to make a little ensemble of my favorite things.



I have been finding images to put on the back of these new stick pendants. So far I have New York (Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building), Utah (vintage beehive), Paris (Eiffel Tower)- (not shown) and California (the beach and a few others). I am hoping to find great images that will represent many of the places you all might be from! Let me know what you might like on the back of these charms. I am interested in hearing. I will list the ones I have just made soon in the shop.

she loves pigs

She loves them because they are pink (I think). She has about 3 or 4 stuffed pigs that she carries around and puts in bed with her at night. They are named piggy, cotton candy, taffy and one is even named Traci Underwood after moi (lucky me!). Whenever I ask her what she wants me to put on a shirt for her, she says, "a pig." I laugh and go on and add a bird, a cat, or a something else that is not a pig. I didn't think that she was serious about having a pig shirt, but after having her ask me to make one for almost a year, I decided it was time to give her "the pig shirt" she had dreamed of...
Don't tell, but she wore it for two days straight just so that she could wear it to preschool on the second day. It made me feel good that she liked it that much.
I tried to put the snout up high enough to make room for a mouth, but she said her pig didn't have a mouth because, "pigs don't talk mom." Then she said they "oink" out of their noses. She said she just wanted a bow on the top of the pig's head so that she would look like a girl pig. So, pigs don't talk, but they wear hair bows? I appliqued the pig face and snout on using my usual method - wonder under (or Heat n' Bond) and stitching around the fabric for securing it and adding detail. I used dots of fabric paint for the nostrils on the snout and for the eyes.

i made this bird for mallory

But, I never got a great photo of her wearing it. They were all blury. She was too interested in playing on the computer instead of posing if you can believe? Then, when she came home after wearing it that day at preschool, she had blue marker all over it. I have tried to soak it in Oxy Clean, but there are still marks of blue. So, it's sitting on my dryer waiting for me to try something new to it. Soon... Oh, and the bird applique is from my drawing that I have a pattern for on my side bar.

did you say you wanted to see more appliques?

I don't think that any of you did. But, it seems as though that's mostly what I am working on lately. I had another baby shower to go to last week and that calls for more appliqued onesies. At least in my mind it does. And, just to warn you...I have a few more baby showers to go to yet, so I don't think these are going away any time soon.

This time I only officially appliqued on one of the onesies. I found a cute doggie silk screened shirt in a catalog and made my dog to look similar. I love this little dog and re sized him a few times with the copier so that I could add him to a few other items in the future.

On the other I used a freezer paper stencil that I made from the image I found here (The Boy Trifecta Blog) and stenciled him on with fabric paint. I added a button for the heart. Don't mind the wrinkles!