Sunday, February 28, 2010

Birthday Projects and More

Kate,
Wow! I'm embarassed at my lack of contributions this month. It's been almost a whole month since I've posted. But I promise I have been busy with crafts. Thanks to your help these past two weekends, I've actually boosted my productivity. The craft day at your moms helped me jump start and almost complete the fabric dollhouse (almost 6 months after starting it!) and meeting up at JoAnns in Columbia this past Friday made me fall in love with R's first birthday quilt idea all over again. Thank you!

So here's what I've been up to....

Scrapbooking
No pretty bragging pictures or anything. But I promise, I set up shop right next to our large living room window and watched the blizzards come through and hubby shoveling the snow, while I organized pictures and got cracking on R's pregnancy journal, baby book and completing journaling V's baby book. Very productive, I am very proud of myself. I still have alot more to work on, but here's to hoping it might actually be completed before R's first birthday party!

Valentines
V and I actually worked on V day cards. You wouldn't believe it since they were never completed and only 2 went out (one to each set of grandparents). I still have them set away in a drawer, hoping I'll completing them so more family members can have some, but I'm having doubts since we're almost hitting easter! I thought it would be a quick and easy craft to do while snowed in, but instead V was easily distracted and only wanted to do a handprint or two at a time. We spent time setting up paper, paint and paper, covering our clothes to prevent stains, just to stamp two handprints, then have to clean it all up again (all while R was napping, because I knew it would be a disaster if he got a hold of any of the paint). So needless to say, we were not productive.

Fabric Dollhouse
The fabric dollhouse inspired by this blog posting http://uklassinus.blogspot.com/2008/08/fabric-dollhouse-tutorial.html is finally in it's last stages. I had put this thing together before Christmas (it was supposed to be V's christmas gift), but realized it wasn't working correctly, so ripped it all apart to start over. Thanks to the craft day at your mom's two weekends ago, I was able to concentrate on it again without kids as a distraction and got pretty far. It's in it's final stages, only needing the handle and button closure. So next time we meet up in a coffee shop (hopefully next weekend), I can quickly hand sew it together and be done. Looks like it's going to be V's 3rd birthday present :)

R's First Birthday
I can't believe we're already starting the planning for R's first birthday. It seems like not that long ago we were doing this for V. I'm super excited about the Dr. Seuss theme. Thank you so much helping pick out coordinating fabrics. I've been playing around with the fabric and the layout possibilities while V is at church and R is napping. I'm thinking about not using the pillow sham I originally was going to use as the center, and instead use the cat in the hat from the fabric. I just wasn't liking the blue color of the sham. I can return the sham to Pottery Barn. What do you think?

I'm hoping to start cutting the squares soon (once I make a decision on the layout). And then I can start sewing this thing together!

V's Pillowcase
Of course, my little girl has grown fairly found of the fabric store, since we visit it a little too often. So when we were picking out R's seuss fabrics, she decided to pick out some of her own. She fell in love with this cute ice cream print. And of course, Kate, you persuaded me to get it and make something. I was hesitant about the pillowcase idea. But it really was SUPER EASY! I was shocked. I'm tempted to make more now. I used this tutorial http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2008/07/novelty-pillowcase-tutorial.html . I completed it in 20 minutes tops and that's while juggling two kids who were eating breakfast. I even added a third fabric for the trim, it's leftover from V's first birthday strawberry quilt, it's the pink satin. It's adorable and goes really well in her polka dot bed.
















Dinosaur Print
I am still smitten with that dinosaur print we found at JoAnns. I'm still on the lookout for something to make with it. I did see this cute reversible pant (http://madebyrae.blogspot.com/2010/02/guest-post-fold-up-cuff-pants-tutorial.html), but that might be too big of a project for me right now. So any ideas, please shoot them my way. I am dying to use it!
















I promise more crafting and pictures soon.

Laura

Monday, February 22, 2010

Snow, horses and someone elses crafts

Dear Laura,

I realized the other day that you would think with all this snow I would have lots to show off. Well I don't. Its sad and embarrassing really. The thing is I got so busy doing snow things, that I was (get this) to tired to craft! I know its crazy, but what can a girl do?
Let me tell you what a girl can do, she can provide pictures of her friends crafts.
I am sorry the pics are poor, my camera and I are working on our relationship. As you can tell we might need professional help.

These items are for charity. I sent a box of machine made sweaters (and a handmade cowl) to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Their group on Ravelry is currently doing a collection for babies, toddles, children and adults. So pretty much everyone. I sent another package with the hats and bibs went to their OB ward for the babies. I am working on another package with toddler items- see this is me trying to redeem myself.


Here are Amy's projects: a cute white sweater and matching bib.
And a few cute hats. The tiny one will be sent to JHU for their NICU hat drive via Ravelry in March and April.


The Adult Cowl, I made from some left over Lion Brand Woolease. In grey. You can find the pattern here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/knit-cowl

I also sent along the little blue hat from my last post and the brown bib.


I do have pictures from my parents house after the second snow. The horse is my aunts. He is very pretty from rolling in the snow. Oh, there is nothing better than horses in the snow. My sister, E, wanted to knit them all legging so they would be warm. I told her to go right ahead. Lets see what she comes up with ;-)


I have lots more to post, once I get some decent pictures. If you (or anyone) has any questions or would like to participate in one of charity efforts, please let me know.
Kate

P.S. The sock and I need professional therapy. This I know for sure. We are going tomorrow. I am sure we will experience progess.


Friday, February 5, 2010

A little respect

Hi Laura,

I can totally respect your commitment to use your stash (and green your home). Its a fantastic mission, which I completely support.

Immediately after I read your post, I found this free pattern for using your scraps to make an awesome pillowcase. Below is the link , they also have cookie recipes! http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/ec27af6b#/ec27af6b/87

I love your scrubbers. I have made the knit version before as gifts, I actually never thought to use them in my own house! I have little yarn they use and how quick they knit up.

I am in the middle of a few things. I hope to make a lot of progress this weekend- assuming the snow starts again. Pictures then.

Keep warm!

Kate

Eco-friendly Craft Mission

Kate,
I don't truly make new years resolutions, since I don't want to disappoint myself mid way through the year, but I did tell myself that this year I would continue my mission to green my home with more eco-friendly projects and healthier foods. I also decided that I would limit my craft spending and focus on creating projects from my bins full of fabric and other crafting accessories.

I've started to follow through with these goals with a few projects completed. I already feel a little better inside :)

Crochet Dish Scrubber/Tawashi
The motivation behind the crochet dish scrubber actually came while I was in Florida. One day, we hit up the pool and there were a couple of women knitting. I noticed one was knitting dish scrubbers and chatted a little with her. I thought, awesome, this will be a perfect quick project to use up some of the Sugar n Cream cotton yarn I've had sitting around. I came home and searched the internet and found this one for crocheting - http://www.craftstylish.com/item/43848/how-to-crochet-a-tawashi. It looked simple enough and I was right. I completed 2 in the time it took us to watch Snow White (our quiet time for the day since we had windows being installed in the nursery).

So I've used up some of my scrap yarn and now all I have to do is wash and toss in the laundry. No more yucky sponges for me!


Hairbows Holder
I've been making hairbows with a fellow MOMS Club member during nightly craft nights we have every once in a while. I love making hairbows, however, my lovely daughter does not enjoy wearing them as much as I'd like. So I have stopped making them for now, but I saw an adorable way to display them - http://theidearoom.blogspot.com/2009/07/girls-barettes-and-hair-bow-holder.html.

I used an old picture frame I had, painted it white, hot glued some scrap ribbons I had vertically across the frame and all I had to do was clip the hairbows on. (Mine isn't as cute as the sample, but it works!) It's cute, it's easy and it's done.



Cloth Wipes
When I was pregnant with my first, you know I was eager to be the perfect mom, and provide only the best for my kids. I thought cloth diapering would be the answer. Unfortunately for me, it became overwhelming and more of a problem. I still vow that I will return to cloth diapers, one day. (For now I'm focusing on getting one kid out of diapers and using the potty!) So instead of dwelling on my cloth diaper failures, I've picked up a new goal - using cloth wipes. I thought this might be an easier way to step into the cloth diapering world. And it's a great way to use up scraps of fabric. I happen to have scraps of flannel from a blanket I made R and from pajama pants I just cut off to become shorts/capris.

 It's as simple as cutting squares and sewing up the edges. And they are supposed to fit perfectly into a wipe container! All I need next is to make up a homemade liquid or just use water. My goal is to complete these during our snow in!

So look at me, I've completed a few projects, without spending any extra money at the fabric store! And hopefully they'll help me green my home just a little bit! :)

More to come,
Laura