Jumbo Teddy Bear

Yep, that's what the pattern said JUMBO.

But for some reason the 5ft part, or maybe I just didn't want to see that part.

Oh well it is done and Jaxton loves it, or maybe it is just the furry softness of the fabric but at least he is not afraid of it.

He loves the fabric so much when I came across this cute little guy I knew Jaxton needed one.
So I made one out of the scraps and put at rattle in it.
He takes Monster with him whenever he can

The pattern was really easy to read and follow except I must have done something wrong because the head and neck look more like a dog then a bear...

New Bag

So this bag was super easy to make, and I should be posting a tutorial on just how easy but I'm not.
It took me days to complete, I forgot to add a few things I wanted to, and I only got to work on it after dark when the lighting for pictures was horrible.
Yep those are my excuses.
That just means I get to make another one in another fabulous color so I can make a tutorial.
I needed a bigger bag, one that I can throw diapers and wipes and baby toys in and not need a separate diaper bag because I kept forgetting ours at home.
So I made one.
I spent a few days "shopping around" on the internet looking at different styles, then came up with one that would work for me, and was free (the fabric was some I bought on clearance looooong ago)
There is one small built in pocket on the side, but as I found out that is not enough.
I miss all the pockets on the outside of my old purse.
So next on my sewing list, a few zippered pouches to organize things.
Maybe like these? or this one?

(Oh and those jeans...those are my prepreggo jeans :)

Maternity Shirts

I really like the fit of fitted maternity shirts, you know the ones with scrunchy sides that don't leave a little tent overhang over your extra large belly. But there are not many places here in Missoula MT that sells maternity clothes, and those that do charge outrageous prices for shirts I will only wear for the next three months. So I set out to make my own.

I found three plain tee shirts for $3.99 at Old Navy size large (I usually wear a medium) and a pack of 1/8" elastic from Walmart. I cut two 7" pieces of elastic, measured 3" down the seam from the armpit and placed a pin to mark my spot. I tacked down the end back stitching several times, then pulled the elastic tight and fed it through the machine.







The best part is that because the finished edge is so wide you can't see the stitching on the outside of the shirt so it does not need to be perfect!

I've Been Kinda Lazy

with the whole posting thing. I have been slowly working on projects, completing somethings starting new things.

First off I used left over fabric from my car seat tent to make some spit up cloths. When I was shopping for some I saw a few in a peanut shape that I thought would keep it on our shoulders much better, so I copied it :) A few of them I finished the edges nicely, and the others I just sewed the two pieces wring sides together then clipped around the edges every 1/4 inch or so and washed a few times.





I also made a boppy slip cover using the pattern from Vanilla Joy. I mostly just used the pattern and made a few adjustments. Her pattern uses a zipper to close the back, I made my back piece longer and used Velcro to close the back.





I have another project that is almost complete, just need R to hang it up so I can take pictures and get it on here

Sewing and Coloring

I had three projects I wanted to get accomplished this long Labor day weekend, and here it is Sunday afternoon and they are done. First on my list of things to do was was a stop at JoAnns fabric where they are having a huge sale, 50% off all their baby fabric and fleece, to pick up material for a nursing cover and a car seat tent. I also picked up some dye to spruce up a few of the onesies I have been given that have seen their share of spit-up and blow-ups already.

I used the tutorial from Little Birdie Secrets for the nursing cover. I added a small corner of fleece to both corners and my piece of boning was a little longer but it all worked out, and I love it. I have lots of leftover fabric and I am going to use it to make a few matching burp cloths.





Then I made a car seat tent loosely following a tutorial from Scraps N' Strings. I did not use the binding around the edges I just sewed around it to give it a finished look. And I used snuggle flannel for both sides since we are going to be spending a lot of time watching hockey games.





Lastly I used Dylon to dye a handful of used onesies. I really like the results, except that I think I splashed some of the orange into the other colors so a few of them look 'dirty' but I have plans to fix that :)

Crinkle Blankie

Okay okay I know I have lots of time before little boy shows up but, I am so excited! I have seen these in stores and all over the i-net but here is my version.

Alright I started with 18 squares of 4"x4" scrap fabric, sewed three squares togeather and pressed the seams.



Then I sewed my three rows togeather to created two equal squares. Because some of my fabric was light colored I ironed on a piece of lightweight interfacing to each square.



Next I cut random sized pieces of ribbon to place around the edges of the toy. Then I cut and washed a piece of a Doritos bag slightly larger than the blankie for extra crinkleness.

Then I sandwitched them. Doritos bag, side one face up, ribbon tabs placed randomly, then the top side face down.



Sew around the square leaving an opening to turn it right side out. Snip the corners so they will lay flat then turn. I sewed twice around once to close up the hole and a second to make it look finished. Yep easy peasy, I just hope that the ribbon loops arn't too big.

First attempt

at baby shoes! I found these on Etsy and fell in love, they are just so adorable. I knew I would need a ton of practice, I am still just a beginner at sewing so I figured I would get practicing...21 weeks to go!

Well, I need A LOT of practice. Here is a picture of try 1 and 2.



I like the tongue and the strap in try 1, but I did not pay any attention to the stitching when I sewed the sole to the rest of the shoe, so you can see the stitch marks. But hey for my first and second attempts I believe I did a pretty good job.

I also got this pattern and can't wait to find out if it is a girl or boy. I have so many projects in mind but I don't want to make everything green and yellow. So I have to be patient for a couple more weeks....

Home Improvements

Happy Independence Day!!

We got so much accomplished already this weekend. Starting Friday night we bought pipe to re plumb the washing machine. If you remember when we bought the house the washing machine was in the kitchen and the fridge was right smack dab in the middle of the room. Well my amazing hubby ran new pipe to the mud room and a new pipe into the kitchen where the wash machine used to be. So now all the laundry can be done in the mud room and the ice maker in the fridge is up and running!! I looks so much better.





I also finally finished making curtains for the bedroom. What should have been a quick easy project lasted me over a month because of the morning/ evening sickness, which is finally gone (knock on wood). I used two twin sheets from walmart ($3 each) for the front and an old black sheet for the back. I waned the color to match my blankets but I wanted the sun to be completely blocked out. I sewed the right sides together using the finished edge of the sheet for the bottom of the curtain, turned them right side out, ironed, folded the top down and sewed creating a pocket for the rod. Quick and easy, once I got started :)







Now we are off to enjoy the nice holiday. R is off to the track for a little bit, and I am going to do some yard work.



Enjoy your day!!

Embellished Shirt

The second time I wore this super comfy shirt I did a load of whites and splashed bleach on the pocket.



Bummer. Several ideas went through my head, using a bleach pen to make a design...but I am not very good at free handing, ribbon...nah, replace the whole pocket...nah, ooh how about trying something out of my usual relm, something kinda girly like these fabric yo-yo's? I saw them on a shirt here and kinda liked it.

Since all of my sewing stuff is packed in boxes in a storage unit :( I headed to Jo Ann Fabrics to find some matching fabric. I borrowed my MIL's sewing room and started cutting out circles, keeping in mind the finished product will be about half the size.



Then using your basic hand stitch, stitch all the way around the circle bunching as you go. Once you reach the end tie it off. Easy as that, or if you have a bigger circle it may be easier to run it around your sewing machine and bunch that, but I suppose that depends on how good of a sewer you are.



Because mine will go in the wash machine I tacked down the middle with a small zig-zag stitch to make sure it was good and secure.



Finished product...

Valentines Weekend Part One

I had a very busy Valentines weekend, most of it spent at the Ice Rink. Friday night I finished a sewing project I had been trying to complete all week, I found the fabric at JoAnns and knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. Ta Da!



Not the best picture, I will have to see if I can get a better one, but when you live in a cave of an appartment this is what you get. (If it is so bad you can't tell, it is a half apron with a ruffle at the bottom....)

Second, my wonderful Mother-in-law let me 'borrow' her old KitchenAid! I have wanted one for as long as we have been in our own place, going on three years? It is in perfect working order and she even had a few extra attatchments to throw in. She has a second larger one that she uses and this one had been in a box in storage.



Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!

My eye is twitching from lack of sleep and I am supposed to be working, so the second part of my weekend will have to come later...

Sneak peak..

Etsy Shop

Its OPEN!




After R, my mom, my sister, a coworker and the checkout lady at Maurices this weekend asked me if I was selling my Cup Cozies anywhere I decided to start with an Etsy shop and if all goes well maybe selling them at Peoples Market this summer. So I whiped up a few this weekend and put up for sale.

Here it is!!