Halloween Costume & Catch-Up

I received a lovely email from a complete stranger telling me how much she enjoyed my blog.  That note made my day and gave me just enough motivation to pull out the computer and post something new.

Shortly after I posted in September we begun what would be 3 months of crazy travel.  Our little girl has now been on 9 flights and traveled through 6 states!  Although my crafting slowed during those months I did complete 2 things that were very special to me - her Halloween costume and Christmas dress.

Halloween is my favorite holiday and I aspire to make every one of P's costumes (at least as long as she'll let me!).  This year I was inspired by this Pottery Barn Kids costume:

It's called the Witch Tutu Costume and anything that uses tulle is a good-thing in my book!

I wanted to make this costume simple but special at the same time.  Since P was only 3 months at the time I didn't want to go overboard and overwhelm her in a huge costume.  I started by purchasing a black long sleeve onesie on Amazon and black and white stripped leggings from babylegs.com.  This served as the "base" for the costume accessories.

Using the Pottery Barn costume as a guide I decided to make a tulle skirt, cape, and hat to bring the witch to life.  I bought a yard of 3 different tulle materials:  orange glitter tulle, orange/black polka dot netting, and a velvet-burnished black spiderweb tulle.  The skirt was very simple - layers of tulle stacked then folded over and sewn to create an elastic casing.  I threaded elastic through and sewed it shut - I didn't even seam the back of the skirt.

The cape was also simple.  I just drew 2 concentric circles and cut out a "V" shape in the front.  I trimmed the netting with thin double-folded black bias tape.  I love how the circle shape gently lays with some volume.

The hat was a little more complicated.  I used freezer paper to make the cone and bottom shape/size then cut it apart and drafted a pattern.  I fused the spiderweb tulle onto 2 layers of fusible black interfacing to make fabric that was stiff enough to hold it's shape.  I then cut it all out and assembled.  The hat is probably my favorite part!

All-in-all this took me over 10 hours to pull together but I love how it turned out.  I think I could have been faster, but it's hard when you're sewing during nap-times and at night.  I'm now back at work and it's even harder to find time to sew . . .  however I will continue crafting!

Next week I'll post pictures of her Christmas dress 

(my new goal is a post a week, we'll see how that goes!)  

7 Weeks

Seven weeks ago I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.  She weighed in at 6lbs 6oz and is just precious.  We affectionately call her "P" - below are a few photos we had taken professionally when she was 5 days old as well as some more recent shots that I took.  I'm happy to report that crafting has begun again - watch for posts soon!

Nursery Tour

As my due date approaches, we thought we should finally reveal the nursery. It's not 100% finished yet - I still have to make a pillow for the rocking chair and there's a closet door that's waiting to be finishing and hung, but it's 95% complete and ready for this baby girl whenever she decides to come.

View from the Door

Crib & Chandelier Close-Up

We painted the walls a dark chocolate with a very light pink ceiling and wide white crown molding.  My parents bought us the crystal chandelier and I think it fits the room just perfectly - not too prissy, but very classic.  

The ruffle curtains are from Land of Nod (great prices at the outlet), and I made the matching ruffle quilt that's hanging on the crib from this tutorial.  I also made the tutu bed skirt (over 9 yards of tulle!).  The rug is made from pieces of t-shirt material that kind of mimics the ruffle detail (and is machine washable!).  The picture you see hanging is a print I found from an artist in the UK called Famille Summerbelle.  It's a map of Paris that shows all kinds of fun, quirky Parisian life - it's based on a hand paper cut the artist did.

 Turn around and you'll find . . .

Changing Table

On the other side of the room we have the changing station and dresser.  It's hard to tell from the photo, but the dresser has gorgeous crystal knobs and is quite girly.  Above the changing pad are Tea Party fabric decals I found from an artist in Australia called Mae Well.  The white decal on the left says "teatime" and I love the delicate tea-cups and cups cakes we've sprinkled throughout the room (especially the tea pots on top of each window). 

Closet

Every little girl needs a great closet.  Since we live in an old house we relied on The Container Store to design us an awesome Elfa system to really utilize the space.  A fun fact - about half the dresses you see on the upper rack were mine from 1980 - can't wait to dress her up in them!

 Reading & Rocking Corner

There is the last corner of the room - the glider and bookshelf.  The glider is so comfortable, I have a feeling we will get our money's worth out of it!  The bookshelf we found at the Land of Nod outlet in the Chicago area.  My favorite part is the toy bin at the bottom.  As you can see we have quite the head start on books and toys already!  We again used the fabric decals to add some cupcakes and tea cup interest (I couldn't help myself!).

Well - that's it!  What we didn't show you was the "before" picture where the ceiling collapsed from water damage and caused a whole domino effect of renovations.  Over the last 5 months we replaced the ceiling, upgraded all the electrical, painted the ceiling and walls, refinished the floors, installed crown molding, painted all woodwork, redid the doors and hardware, and redid the closet.  We hired out some of the work, but Will and my parents helped immensely as I couldn't climb a ladder or use any chemical-based product (Thanks again!).

Hope you enjoyed the tour, now we wait . . .

Mega Post

I have been crafting - quite a bit actually!  I've just lost all motivation to actually turn on the computer and blog - I'm chalking it up to the 100+ weather we're having and the fact that I'm 38+ weeks pregnant!

Anyway, let's catch up a little . . .

A friend from high school was due 4 weeks before me and I wanted to make something special for her baby shower.  Of course I mailed it late - but I was really happy with the end result.

 Quilted Play Mat for Baby Madelynn

At the time they didn't know the gender, so I wanted something modern, fresh, and gender neutral (which is hard for me). 

Pattern:  Baby Life Quilt tutorial from the Moda Bake Shop

Fabrics:  Mostly Michael Miller (purchased from The Linden Tree) with some Amy Butler thrown in 

Modifications: I satin stitched around all of the letter applique (even though I used Steam-a-Seam 2 to adhere it to the fabric permanently).  Doing that satin stitch was pain-staking and I don't know if I love the way it looks (but I didn't want to take the chance of the letters coming off later).   If I make another one for me, I will probably skip the satin stitch.

Quick Change Trousers

 Before we knew the gender of the baby I was itching to sew something.
First up - gender neutral bicycling pants:   

 Cute contrasting butt which I love!

Pattern:  Quick Change Trousers from Anna Maria Horner's book - Handmade Beginnings

Fabric:  From Crafty Planet

Modifications: I didn't really have to make any!  The pattern is written really well and the pants are totally reversible which makes them even more fun.  I don't love shopping for gender neutral fabrics so I decided to use the reversibility of the pants to make a "boys" side and a "girls side". 

Because these pants are made to "cuff" I will likely have to cut off the bottom and hem them (so they fit appropriately) and so you can't see the blue fabric cuff (which I don't love in the picture).  But - I think this would be a really cute baby shower gift for anyone who wants the gender to be a surprise.

Coming Home Outfit

 

You've seen this dress before.  But I wanted to make something to go over it in case it was a little cool out (which I don't think will be a problem anymore).

Cardigan Pattern:  Baby Shrug by Debbie Bliss (free pattern available on Ravelry)
Yarn:  Bingo in light pink (100% merino wool)
Modifications:  All of the reviews on Ravelry say that the pattern runs at least 1 size big - and the smallest size it's designed for is 3-6 months so I rewrote the pattern to size it down to what I hoped would be a newborn size.  We'll see if I was successful . . .  Additionally, I added a crochet scalloped trim instead of the knitted ribbed trim the pattern called for. 

Handmade Gifts

I was fortunate to have two beautiful baby showers thrown for me over the last month.  Our friends and family were so unbelievably generous with gifts - we are very lucky!  Since this blog is all about crafts, I thought I'd highlight some of the wonderful handmade gifts we received. 

I got this little Goodie Bag from my friend Becky and her mom Sue

What's in it you ask?

Dick & Jane Quilt, Embroidered Bib, Changing Pad

Close-up of the Quilt (isn't it fun?  I love Sally!)

Next Up:

A Doll from "Great-Grandma" Celia

She'll be well-loved!

Knitted hat from Michelle

I love this pattern from Itty Bitty Hats!
Top View

Sensory Blanket from Jenny

It's so soft and I love all the ribbon/textures the baby can feel

Are we spoiled or what??
Thank you to everyone - these gifts will be treasured!!

Easy Peasy Voile Summer Scarves

My love of voile continues.  Below is a simple scarf I made for a friend's birthday.  With a yard of each of 2 different coordinating voiles, you too can also have this simple, soft, lightweight, heavenly scarf:

Directions: 
*All of the voile I used is from Anna Maria Horner and is 54" wide

• Cut 2 - 16 or 17 inch strips of fabric from each yard (you may even be able to cut it up to 18" wide depending on how generous your fabric store was while cutting).  You want to cut across the width of the fabric, which will leave you with 2  ~16"x52" strips of fabric.  
• Trim the selvage edges and sew the strips together along the SHORT edge using a 1/2" seam allowance (you'll have 2 very long strips of fabric - 1 in each pattern)
• Decide how long you want your scarf and cut to length.  I typically cut mine down to 88-90" long
• With right sides together, pin and sew the two strips together along the two LONG edges.  I used a 1/2" seam allowance again
• Turn the fabric tube right side out and press.  
• Now turn the unfinished short ends in about 1/2" and top-stitch them closed.  You can even add a fun trim like the pom-pom trim pictured below (this scarf I made for myself).
• All done! 

Update

I've been busy the past couple of weeks:

Had 2 baby showers where I got to celebrate with our incredibly generous friends and family!

Went to the Glee Live Concert with my Mom

Got a pedicure 

Went to the hospital (everything's ok!) 

Working on decorating the baby's room (here's a sneak peak!)

Prototyped a Pottery Barn crib skirt knock-off

(hope to sew the actual thing this weekend)

And most importantly - growing a baby!

8 weeks to go!

Receiving Blankets

I love voile - and after reading this post on Anna Maria Horner's blog I knew I had to make receiving blankets out of voile and flannel.

Blanket 1 - For our nephew

Blanket 2 - For our little girl

Both of these were made using a yard of Little Folk voile and a yard of Little Folks flannel.  I trimmed the corners using a plate then stitched them together using a 1/4" SA.  I trimmed the blankets in purchased extra-wide double fold bias tape.  I didn't have the patience to make my own bias tape, especially out of the slippery voile that's recommended.  Super quick and easy and they're soooo soft!  

 Patchwork Blanket

For Christmas I received a fat quarter pack of the Little Folks voile in a pink/red colorway.  I cut 89 -  5.5" squares then sewed them together using a 1/4" SA.  I used 54" width flannel as the backing so I could keep the blanket on the larger side at 45"x45".  Given the size of the blanket, I knew it needed to be quilted but wanted to keep it simple.  I used my walking foot and stitched 1/4" on each side of every seam.  It's trimmed the same way the other ones were - using extra wide double fold bias tape.  This is one of my favorite blanket I've ever made - I want one for me!

Quilting Detail

New Crafting Space

Baby Update:  3rd Trimester has officially started and is offically kicking my butt!

As I emptied out the old "craft room" to make way for Baby E, I was determined to keep a "crafting space" for me.  The only other logical place was our guest room.  After a few trips to Ikea (to buy and return bookshelves), some major Craigslist finds, and a new bookshelf from Crate & Barrel my space is ready . . .

Ta-Da!

We took down the huge bookshelf we use to have on this wall and replaced it with a smaller sewing desk, bookshelf, and my apron collection.  I have a few more things I need to hang on the wall, but overall I love this space!  All of my fabric/yarn/tools are stored in containers under the guest room bed.  Everything has a place and it really feels way more organized than my old space. 

Now off to get sewing before this rapidly expanding belly makes it harder to get my projects done!



Accessorizing the Baby

I love accessories - hats, gloves, scarves, headbands, jewelry - you name it and I probably own it.  I'm afraid the apple won't fall far from the tree because as I look to make things for our baby, I keep gravitating to accessories - especially hats.

Pattern:  Little Sister from Petite Purls
Yarn:  Cascade Ultra Pima as called for in the pattern
Size:  Baby
Modifications:  None - it's perfect!



















 I love this hat!  The pretty scalloped edge, the big flower, the open crochet pattern - it's just so cute!  And I have plenty of yarn left over to make the Toddler size.  It only took a few evenings in front of the tv - less than 3 hours total to make the entire hat (flower included). Now off to finish that newborn sized shrug . . .