Kathryn Crafts

Fast & Easy Delicious Soup

2012-01-04T21:33:00.001-05:00

Welcome 2012! This time last year I was pregnant with baby number 2, who is now 7 month old baby sister. Wow. Time is going much too fast, but I'm doing my best to enjoy every minute of it. I look forward to future days that hold some extra time & energy so I can get back to sharing more crafts and projects. Until then, thanks to those who are still up for peeking at my little part of the mommie made blog world!

Recently I happened upon a delicious soup recipe that I have to share. It's a one pot wonder that is so tasty, so good & super easy to prepare. Here's my vegetarian version:

Tomato Soup with White Beans & Pasta


via AllYou January 2011

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped (I squeeze 'em thru our press)

1/4 tsp dried oregano

2 14.5oz cans diced tomatoes

28oz veggie broth

1/2 cup small pasta (I use elbows)

1 can cannellini beans, drained & rinsed

salt, pepper & any other seasoning you enjoy

Start by warming the oil in your pot over medium-high heat. (I like using my dutch oven.) Add the garlic, stirring frequently and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in oregano, then tomatoes & broth. Bring the soup base to a boil. Next add the pasta, stir occasionally and cook about 8 minutes. Add the beans, stir and lower to a simmer for about 5 minutes. Season with salt & pepper, and I like to add some of Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning Salute too. Keep it warming on the stove top for a bit or go ahead & ladle into bowls alongside some warm crusty garlic bread. YUM!

Most recipes I find in magazines typically turn out bland, so I was shocked that this turned out so well! I found it in All You, which I began subscribing to a few months back for the coupons. (I'm not a candidate for Extreme Couponers, but do enjoy saving our household serious cash!) What a pleasant surprise and an excellent addition to our dinner rotation during cold winter nights. I hope you give it a try and like it as much as we do!

Pine Cone Bird Feeders

2011-11-20T20:44:00.000-05:00

On an October afternoon walk around the neighborhood, big brother and I spotted some lovely pine cones. I instantly knew we should grab a few for a fun project - bird feeders! So into baby sister's stroller basket they went.

A few days later we just happened to be stuck indoors due to rain. I found some spare ribbon in my craft stash and tied loops to the tops of our pine cone treasures. Then I newspapered the dining room table and filled a shallow bowl with bird food. After grabbing the jar of peanut butter for the shot above, I decided to spoon out a glob of it into a separate dish to avoid double dipping the spatula back in the jar. (Good thinking mommie!) Once the sticky layer was complete, it was time for big brother to cover the cones in bird seed.

Once he got over the initial prickles of the pine cones, he had tons of fun smashing lots of seeds into the peanut butter. He was so tickled and excited to make these for the birds that frequent our yard.

Once our feeders were complete, I stored them in a resealable bag. A few days later once the sun returned, we headed out to hang our creations and spy on our birdie friends.

We watched our pine code feeders often, but I wasn't able to capture an action shot. Oh well, such is the life of this busy mommie bird! We have proof that our efforts were enjoyed tho - the backyard feeder was knocked down and devoured by pesky squirrels, and the front one is still hanging just as bare as the now leafless tree!

Since this easy project was such a hit, I plan to do it again and again. If we don't have the good fortune of accessible pine cones, there are tons of ideas online (pinterest anyone?!), including stacked cheerios on pipe cleaner stems or this adorable inverted sugar cone - genius!

via www.BettyCrocker.com

Taggie Blanket

2011-10-10T22:04:00.001-04:00

Here's a little something I recently whipped up for baby sister - a mommie made taggie blanket!

I found the pre-quilted fabric at Hancock, which matched up to the coordinating gingham already in my stash. The tags are trims and ribbons in a mix of new and stash also. I found a nice reference here and it came together SO quickly!

This spur-of-the-moment project was immediately put to good use. I love that she loves it!

I'm starting to find creative moments again, but lack the additional time (and sometime motivation) to post all about the fun. I'll share and catch up the best I can tho! Thanks for taking the time to check out my space and Happy Fall to all!

Baby's First Embroidery

2011-08-26T21:19:00.000-04:00

Summer may be coming to a close, but my crafty endeavors are just beginning for baby sister. I finally found some extra time to whip up a personalized burp cloth. I mentioned before on my Facebook page, I've got them all over the house, just never in the exact spot I end up needing one. So here's another to add to the laundry load!

I started by sewing polka dot grosgrain ribbon to the bottom hem of a Gerber organic diaper cloth. After browsing all of my Monogram Wizard Plus fonts, I decided to use 3 different fonts to spell her name...yes, I'm a nut, lean towards obsessive compulsive, and always seem to make things harder than need be. But isn't that why we crafters create? - to make exactly what we want and uniquely so to boot!
- E is Exact, LL is Fletch and A is Curly Q -

Big brother's first embroidery was the same (but with his name in a more masculine font of course), so now I have a pair of baby keepsakes. Good thing they are absorbent because I am sure they will wipe my tears when I fondly reminisce of baby days.

For now we are enjoying our precious chubby bundle's sweet smiles and coos. She's pictured above on a blanket made by her great-grandmother, and is wearing her mommie's very own vintage bubble suit!

Summer Reads

2011-08-09T22:32:00.000-04:00

Hello there! Our summer continues to be filled with caring for my two most precious creations - big brother and baby sister. However, I've got a few small projects waiting for me on the dining room table along with my sewing machine. I'm ready to get back to it!

Today we braved the heat (which doesn't happen often unless necessary...hello fall? we're ready!) and made our way out to pick up some library books. I often come across blog posts that share favorite reads of preschoolers. I check the story lines out online, add them to our hold request list if they look appealing and hope we'll find exciting new stories. We've tried LOTS, and sadly most don't hold big brother's (or my) attention. However, today we hit the jackpot so I thought I'd share.

Our local nature museum has the sweetest, cutest pair of owls. We've visited the mommy and baby owl more times than I can count, so I had high hopes this book would be a hit and it is!

This one was spotted first on our holds stack and met with "Mommie look - bunnies!" Adorable animals are an instant attraction at our house!

Both books have well told, sweet stories. The illustrations are beautiful, and really hold my 3 year old's attention. We read them as soon as we got home, and Daddy was requested to read them again at bedtime. Ahhh, sweet summer reading satisfaction with worthiness of future purchases!

Girly Burp Cloths

2011-07-05T12:31:00.000-04:00

I whipped up these two fancy burp cloths a few weeks pre-baby. One for us and one for a friend who welcomed a baby girl just 2 weeks after baby sister's arrival. The floral fabric is a Circo (Target) soft flannel blanket that I thrifted. I loved the colors, it was brand new and a total fabric bargain at only 75 cents! The coordinating rick rack just happened to be in my stash left over from big brother's nursery curtains.

Due to my nesting frenzy, I didn't think to take pictures of the (very few and basic) steps involved. So here's a text style tutorial. I promise they are super easy to make!

1. Prewash + dry your fabric and plain burp cloths

2. Measure the middle, thick panel of the burp cloth. They're often uneven, so be your own judge and make the best rectangle you can.

3. Add a quarter to a half inch to the rectangular measurement for a seam allowance and cut fabric accordingly

4. Fold and iron under the seam allowance of cut fabric panel

5. Measure and cut desired lengths of rick rack

6. Place fabric panel over rick rack, turning under rick rack ends and pin in place over the burp cloth mid panel

7. Sew around the panel. Quick tip: I usually keep white thread in my bobbin and use a matching color on top.

8. You're done - burp away baby!

And just for kicks, here's a few more I've made along the way:
personalized embroidered burp cloths
more fabric burp cloths

We're still without a schedule around here, but I've got a few embroidery projects lined up for baby sister. I'll share once they're complete!

Another Birthday Beach Towel

2011-06-18T14:20:00.000-04:00

My go-to gift this late spring / summer for kiddos has become a personalized beach towel. In case you missed the others, check 'em out here. I love the color combo of this handsome towel for Garrett, our neighborhood buddy who just joined the big brother club this week. Baby sisters are popping up everywhere!

Curvy Font in Monogram Wizard Plus

I hope everyone is keeping cool and enjoying summer!

Baby Sister is here!

2011-06-09T22:33:00.000-04:00

So the reason for the big pause in posts is baby sister's arrival! She graced us with her presence on her exact due date. Go figure! Big brother's arrival was several days before his due date, so we were thinking a May baby was in the works. But not for our girl - she wanted June!

I'll do my best to post when I can during this new chapter of mommiehood. I'm not sure when I'll be breaking out the sewing and embroidery machines next...sleep is the first priority for a bit! So for now I'll leave you with the shirt I made Big Brother. He is so proud, loving and being such a helpful sibling!

Chachie Font from 8 Claws & a Paw
Blue & white gingham appliqued letters with matching blue embroidery

Choo Choo BBQ

2011-05-27T16:38:00.000-04:00

We are anxiously awaiting the birth of baby sister. Big brother arrived several days before his due date, but it seems our girl is snuggled up and has her own agenda. So as we kick off a Memorial Day weekend of waiting, I thought I'd share one of my husband's favorite go-to crock pot recipes. It's on right now for dinner, planned to go alongside some ears of fresh corn. (And for those that don't know, I'm a vegetarian, but the ease of preparation allows me to put this on for the hubs and move on to my own version of chicken!)

My brother is responsible for sharing the super simple recipe, found here. Thanks Esteban! We make a half batch most times which still yields plenty. And a great tip of my bro's is to use half of the BBQ sauce initially, shred the meat about 30 minutes before time to eat, then add it back to the crock with the remaining sauce.

I served this dish as Choo Choo BBQ for big brother's 2nd birthday party and it was a hit in the Dining Car...get it?! We also offered Chugga Chugga Punch. This mommie loves a good theme! For more on the Train Party, head here and here.

Happy holiday weekend everyone! Hopefully I'll have baby news to share soon...or lots more nesting projects!

Birthday Beach Towels

2011-05-20T14:38:00.000-04:00

We celebrated a couple of birthdays this week, so here's a peek at our friends' personalized beach towel gifts!

A mermaid towel for Julia:

Easy Font in Monogram Wizard Plus

And a handsome striped towel for James:

High Pockets Font in Monogram Wizard Plus

Now to ponder when our May baby will arrive...could be any day now! :)

Nursery Artwork

2011-05-17T22:43:00.001-04:00

The clock is ticking and my nesting instincts are raging. If only I could bottle this creative energy - I would love to take a sip during the upcoming newborn sleepless nights we are about to encounter!

In our baby boy nursery, we had a sweet collection of turtle prints:

For baby girl, we decided to keep the same frames, but paint them white. My sweet husband handled the priming and painting, so I was free to create the new art work. Our yard is full of nesting birds, so it seemed perfect to use them in our nest!

This adorable birdie is from Planet Applique. At first we contemplated using 4 different birds, but in the end we decided to go with 4 of the same, all made out of different coordinating fabrics from my stash. One is even made with a swatch of nursery curtains from big brother's nursery!

The following "after" pictures aren't nearly as bright and crisp as I'd prefer, but I'm up against the clock and wanted to share a peek. I'm really pleased with the results and look forward to introducing our girl to her home any day now!

Even if you don't own an embroidery machine, there are a couple of cute bird templates here and here. Fabric is such a fun canvas!

My DIY Nursery Curtains

2011-05-10T08:08:00.000-04:00

In case you happened to miss my decorating train of thought for baby girl's room, you can get caught up here.
Now for a quick look back at what was hanging before in the baby boy nursery:

These were mommie made by my mommie, also known affectionately as "Mi" by big brother. It was bittersweet taking them down, but I've tucked them away, and hope to put the material to good sentimental use someday.

I'm a girl that likes to have a pattern to start with, so I did some online research to see if anything existed along the lines of my vision. The closest pattern I found was view A of McCalls 6093. It's a box valance meant to be board mounted, but the paper pattern was perfect for my fabric and lining. All I needed to add was a rod pocket - easy!


I can't help but giggle at the "Home Dec in a Sec" tagline they use on the envelope. Is DIY home decor truly possible in one second?! Not at my house.

After selecting and preparing my fabric, I measured both rod sections over the connecting windows to determine my custom panel widths. Turns out they were not exactly equal...gotta love older homes! Each panel was cut on a fold, so I made sure to carefully line up my stripes which is always a bit daunting. Luckily the pattern repeats easily, and the lining is solid. Next I lined up the pattern fold line at the appropriate half-width (including seam allowances) and got to pinning. To create the a-line on each side of the treatment, I used a fabric marker to draw a slant edge from pattern top to bottom, shown here:

I first extended the bottom cut line


and connected to the top cut line with a straight edge.

I always feel so accomplished once a project is cut out, don't you? Most of the logistics are finally figured out, and it seems at least half, if not more, of the battle is over. Finally time to get sewing!

Right before my first stitch, I draped the cut striped panels over the rods to determine matched placement of the inner middle seams. Even though I cut both panels with a-lines on each side (due to the fold), I wanted them to look continuous despite the small middle rod brace. Hopefully I'm making sense here! I marked each panel at a desired stripe near the brace, placed right sides together with my lining, and followed the mark sewing up a straight seam. Then I figured out exactly how much of a seam allowance I needed to carefully take on the a-line side. The goal was for the panel to hang perfectly flat across the rod. After ensuring I had sewn both side seams correctly, I cut the inner straight seam's a-line excess off. Unturned edges shown below:

I hemmed each panel thereafter, turned them right side out and pressed. Almost done!

Lastly I needed to create the rod pocket. I folded the open top down 1/4", pressed, and then folded and pressed down another 2". I sewed a straight seam across the lower pressed edge. Done! Time for their debut!

I'm really pleased with the results of the these simple, classic curtains. They even inspired me to deep clean the blinds, windows, trim and sills. If only I could bottle this nesting energy! I hope my how-to ramblings made sense - thanks for following along or at least trying to!

Making Over The Nursery

2011-05-03T21:13:00.000-04:00

As soon as we found out baby #2 is a girl, I immediately started looking around for nursery inspiration. Luckily we already have big brother's essentials...crib, dresser / changing table, and glider. All are white to match the room's trim, and the walls are a neutral tan. Gotta love the practical (yet stylish!) minds of crafty, frugal parents!

My first find for the updated room was crib bedding. I landed an amazing Dwell Studio boutique set (now discontinued) from Craigslist of all places! I was immediately drawn to the modern and fresh alternating patterns:

Next I began to think about curtains. With the bedding so strong on print, I wanted to keep the window treatment style clean and simple. Below are two of my favorite inspiration photos. Both showcase basic toppers that are classic and feminine:

via Cheap & Chic Nursery and Me and Wee

via Celebrity Babies

Then it was time to find a fabric that would tie in the bedding with our glider cushions and various other accesories. Light green was a main color in baby boy's nursery, so my mother and I selected this print at Mary Jos to tie the new room together:

Down the Road by Waverly

I've been working on the curtains in stages over the past couple of months, so I'm excited to finally reveal baby sister's mommie made creations. A simple a-line look - LOVE!

Freshly pressed and hung today!

I'm tickled pink with the results (couldn't help myself with that one!), and look forward to sharing the curtain how-to soon. Stay tuned for more on the nursery transformation as this mommie bird nests away!

Boppy Cover

2011-05-01T20:42:00.000-04:00

Boppy Covers are a super easy and fun nesting project. I purposely bought a Naked Boppy back before my son was born just so I could sew my own unique covers. Naturally on top of my project list for baby girl was a new mommie-made cover just for her!

Isn't the pale pink, gray and white sweet?!

Inspired to make your own?! This printable pattern via Scribd (which no longer appears to link to a current blog) includes instructions and is a fantastic reference for all sewing levels:

Once assembled, I found the pattern to be a bit large, so I made my own that falls somewhere between it and my actual pillow. Then I cut my fabric, placed the zipper and got stitching. It comes together SO quickly!

I also suggest adding some top stitching to reinforce the zipper ends once you've turned the cover right side out:

And there you go - a personalized cover!
Soft, sweet and simple.

The countdown is on with less than 30 days to go until we meet our girl. Wow! Guess I need to pack my bag and stack this necessity right on top. But for now, back to nesting with more crafty posts to follow!

The Thrill of Thrift

2011-04-27T19:08:00.000-04:00

I am still reeling over my thrift store find this morning - a gorgeous smocked baby bonnet! It appears to be unworn and brand new. One of the ribbon ties needs reinforcement, but otherwise it is flawless.

Wanna guess how much I paid for this beauty?!

Nope, not $50...not $5 or even 50 cents. It was half-price day and I landed this gem for A QUARTER!!!

When baby #2 was in the works, I came across this post over at Prudent Baby. My heart melted when I saw the Janie and Jack bonnet, so I added their tutorial to my project list. I've also had my eye out for something special like it and had no idea I'd land it for such a steal!

My mother hand smocked many a dress for me back in the day, and I have been obsessed with the craft ever since. I've taken classes (pre-babies if you can believe!), and can't wait to share the stash my mom has saved. But first my girl will wear this darling baby bonnet this summer - perfection!

What treasures have you found thrifting lately? Don't you find it thrilling?!

Decorated Sugar Cookies

2011-04-26T11:46:00.001-04:00

Last week was Spring Break around here, so making Easter cookies was high on my list of fun activities. Big brother loves cooking, so we whipped up a fantastic sugar cookie recipe. It's delicious, easy and instantly ready to roll out if you have an impatient baker as do I! It even held up nicely in the fridge between cutting sessions...someone lost his steam once we got to the cut outs and wasn't the most gentle. Even so, I think our final shapes turned out nicely!

I let the cookies cool and packed them in airtight containers overnight. Soon we were ready to decorate!

After having such success with my cupcake frosting, I was excited to make my first batch of Royal Icing. Once again, I turned to Prudent Baby's wisdom to get started. I made a large batch of white icing and then divided it into small bowls for coloring. Once the color was mixed, I spooned the frosting into my handy squirt bottles. I kept things basic by starting with outlines, and then filling them in for big brother to happily sprinkle.

I've got a long ways to go to match some of the gorgeous cookies I've seen in blogland, but our first go at it was fun! Figuring out the correct consistency of the icing is key, and having a little helper always produces homegrown results. And that's what makes them extra special!

As you can see, the cookies were well loved, shared excitedly and eaten quickly.

Here's to the next batch and I hope everyone's Easter was great!

M-i-c-k-e-y M-o-u-s-e!

2011-04-18T09:17:00.000-04:00

For those that don't know, I have a fondness for all things Disney and Mickey Mouse. I was fortunate enough to work and perform at Walt Disney World during most of my twenties. Needless to say, I can't wait to take big brother and little sister to mommie's ol' stompin' grounds someday soon. But until then, we were lucky enough to meet Mickey this past week here in Charlotte!

Late last year my best friend informed me she would be working in Charlotte this spring with a Disney Live show. I was super excited, not only to spend time with my bestie, but to have the opportunity to share the Disney entertainment world with big boy. With our calendar marked, I browsed the spring consignment sales for blank t-shirts and found this pristine blue one for under $1 - score!

I found the Mickey applique via Etsy and the Disney font here. Both stitched out beautifully! I had the black fabric and thread colors already in my stash, so it was a quick and affordable project. My creative past and present officially melded!

The show was lots of fun, but the best part was meeting the gang afterwards (thanks Jessica!!). Minnie Mouse loved his shirt and made quite a fuss over it. Mommie swooned!

It's hard to put into words how great it was to experience Disney magic again, and as a mother. My performing family is just that - family. I miss them dearly and reminisce of special memories often. It was really rewarding to be on the other side as a guest, and to see my own child enjoy the fun of it all. Here's to many more Disney memories...and of course personalized mommie-made outfits to highlight the experiences!

Playful Playdoh

2011-04-01T14:37:00.003-04:00

We've had a rainy, chilly week but are expecting Spring's return this weekend. Hoorah! Since we were stuck indoors, big boy and I had fun making April's preschool classroom batch of purple playdoh yesterday...and giving it a test run too!

Find my trusty recipe here.

Apologies for the dull photos. I snapped these in front of an open window, but this was as good as it got due to the gray day. Luckily the sun has poked back out today - aahhhh!

And a big welcome to many new followers both here in blog-land and on Facebook! I'm honored and excited to share my creations with you! Thank you for stopping by!

Easter's On It's Way...again!

2011-03-22T16:06:00.000-04:00

I say this all of the time, but time is flying! I've got probably less than 10 weeks left to bake little sister all the while finishing big boy's room and preparing hers. I'm getting so excited to meet our girl! Of course there are several crafty and creative endeavors on my list, so please bear with me as I create and take the time to post them! :)

In the meantime, I was looking back at projects I completed this time last year. One of which is the adorable felt peep. Looks like the tutorial link no longer works tho - bummer. However, I did save the pdf pattern, so here it is in case you want to whip up some for your special baskets. Enjoy!

Fire Truck Party: Part Two

2011-03-16T09:57:00.001-04:00

I revealed the invites and several key themed accessories in Part One . Now on to the actual event! It was so much fun (& easy!) to plan, plus it didn't cost a fortune. Birthday party success!

I used the birthday boy's Ikea easel to welcome our guests. Yellow chalk and a couple of printable party logos instantly set the theme. (more on the logos below) Aren't the polka dot balloons fun too?!

I pondered how I was going to create this year's birthday banner...I wanted something simple but all of my ideas were complicated. Thankfully a trip to Dollar Tree saved the day! I found this red and black banner, and the only flaw it had were monster truck icons on each end and the center - ha! I simply had Maureen of AndersRuff create a firetruck and "3rd" circle printable logo to transform my bargain banner. Themed perfection!

Now on to the cupcakes...mmmnnnnn! In the past I've created a themed cake, but again, I wanted to keep things simple this year. Cupcakes are so easy and fun for all ages. There are SO many adorable decorating ideas floating around, so I decided to jump on board the toppers craze. My pal Maureen of AndersRuff created the cutest printable toppers. I had so much fun punching, cutting and assembling - you can't beat no mess decorating!

Our dining room buffet was the perfect display for the cupcakes. I used red and white polka dot fabric to highlight the scene. Big thanks to my mom for supplying the cake stands and white trays. And I couldn't resist using a favorite fire truck, firefighter and accessories to round out the table!

I'd love to say the cupcakes were made from scratch, but alas they are from cake mix. However, it's seriously the best cake in my opinion! Dr. Oetker makes the yummiest organic flavors and are my go-to for special occasions. I used Jacinda's Decorator Icing recipe from Prudent Baby and piped it on in sweet swirls. (I used the butter + vegetable shortening minus transfat + meringue powder version, and it was ah-mazing!) They were absolutely delicious and happily consumed by all...especially by this pregnant mommie!

Party day was super, including the weather. The firetruck and it's crew were prompt, gentle with the kids and achieved near rock star status. After the cupcakes, ice cream cups and "fire extinguishers" (aka juice boxes) were consumed, everyone kept busy with indoor toys or the backyard playset. We are so lucky to have such great friends and family - kids and adults alike!

After the birthday blitz settled, it was time for thank you notes. (Proper Southerner here!) I re-printed the backside of the party invite to use as a notecard and used the same envelopes and labels as before.

Thanks again to all who celebrated the big day with us, and thanks to you for taking the time to check it out!

Resources

Party Printables including Invites, Toppers & Logos - AndersRuff Custom Designs

Printing - Office Depot and my home HP PhotoSmart

Polka Dot fabric & balloons - Hobby Lobby

Basic Banner, Yellow Napkins - Dollar Tree

Cupcake Liners & Topper Sticks - Michaels

Dr. Oetker Vanilla Cake Mix - Earthfare

Red Plates - Target

White Napkins - Ikea

Vanilla & Chocolate individual Ice Cream Cups - WalMart

Photography - Maureen Anders & yours truly ;)

and

A Great Year!

2011-03-13T15:31:00.000-04:00

I just realized that I've been blogging for a little over a year now - wow! I'm so glad I started and am thankful for every reader - that means you! Having a space to share my creativity is lovely, and so is the crafty community out there. I'm learning so much, and look forward to all that lies ahead. Having a newborn may slow me down a bit this summer, but I have a feeling little girl will bring out a whole new level of craftiness. Thanks again for taking the time to check out my space, and don't forget you can follow me now on Facebook too!

Fire Truck Party: Part One

2011-03-08T16:34:00.001-05:00

Calling all firefighters to the station! It's time to share the 3rd birthday celebration!

This year's fire truck theme has been on my mind almost since the close of last year's party. My boy loves a service vehicle, so I knew a home visit by the neighborhood fire crew would be a great way to celebrate. A couple of phone calls had us on their schedule and I was ready to work on invitations!

I worked with Maureen of AndersRuff (another super creative mommie & great friend!) on this adorable personalized invitation. I had the red envelopes in my craft stash from a previous holiday card, created mailing labels with a coordinating font to the invite, and made 2" circular return address labels.

Once the invites hit the mail, it was time to applique the birthday shirt. I found this great design over at Applique Alley. It's especially nice because it can be personalized with a number or initials. 3 is the way to be!

The party favors were also an exciting part of my planning. I'm always cruising Target for clearance bargains, and happened upon these repositionable sticker sets last summer. I wrapped them in solid yellow paper, tied on an organic lollipop with red raffia and included a personalized thank you tag.

And it just so happened that one of big boy's smaller toy bins matched the color scheme and served as a useful container to store the favors. I kept it on our foyer table so we could pass them out as our guests departed.

Stay tuned for Part Two of the party details. I can't wait to show the cupcake display, birthday banner and more of the actual fire truck visit! It was such a fun day!

Resources

Printable Invitation & Thank You Tags - AndersRuff Custom Designs LLC

Envelopes - Paper Source

Gray t-shirt - Garanimals

Applique - Applique Alley

Fireman Sticker Play Set, Raffia, Toy/Favor Storage - Target

Yellow Gift Wrap - Dollar Tree

Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops - Earthfare

Feeling Lucky

2011-03-03T17:15:00.001-05:00

Life feels like it's moving in fast forward this week. Big boy's 3rd birthday went off splendidly, and now baby #2 is due in less than 90 days! Nesting is in high gear, and I can't seem to say it enough - where does the time go?! No matter, I'm feeling lucky to have good health, a wonderful family, lots of terrific friends, and just the amount of resources we need to accommodate our growing family. And the spring-like thaw just makes it all even sweeter - don't you agree?!

Are you gearing up for some St Patrick's Day fun? I was hoping to grab my Irish Soda Bread at Trader Joes this week, but it's yet to come in. This preggie mommie was not happy! As I wait for the deliciousness to begin, I found several outstanding freebies if you're looking for some Irish fun. Head over to eighteen25 to grab adorable subway art, gift tags and lucky toppers. Thanks ladies for the downloads - love 'em!!

I promise that I'm working on some upcoming detailed posts with party details. Stay tuned as I can't wait to share the crafty and celebratory fun!

Party Mode

2011-02-23T16:31:00.001-05:00

Our household is eagerly preparing for a fun 3rd birthday weekend. I can't wait to share this year's party! While I'm away crafting, baking & celebrating, I thought I'd share some pics from our boy's first two parties. I'll do my best to create dedicated posts to each party eventually, but for now, please enjoy the abbreviated fun!

A frog theme kicked things off for the 1 year old celebration. I handmade the invitations asking everyone to "hop over," served themed food and packaged themed favors. My mom and I had a blast creating this cake!

Double layer cake with cupcake eyes and peanut M & M feet.

Then, turning 2 was all about the Choo Choos. We set up the train table and hosted a train inspired party. I appliqued this shirt for the occasion, and made bag tags as part of the party favors. Here's the front door welcome sign. I was fortunate to only have to add the "2" portion as it was a fantastic borrow from another crafty mommie from her son's transportation birthday bash - thanks Maureen!

I tried to make as much of the decor as possible, including this birthday banner. I crafted it by tracing train cookie cutters onto card stock, printing the letters, cutting & threading through raffia.

There was also a train cake...a main engine with lots of cars. It was a bit of a task, but worth it in the end!

As a child I always loved birthday parties, so having my own child to celebrate is such fun...tiring for a mommie at times, but fun! I am constantly amazed at the number of other moms out there going all out for parties. The blog-o-sphere is just full of 'em - have you seen the insanity?! Tons of inspiration is floating around, and I'm excited to pair it with my own spin for a happy and easy celebration. Now off to make some birthday magic!

Corn Chowder

2011-02-20T15:29:00.000-05:00

I first made this chowder moons ago when my husband and I were simply boyfriend and girlfriend. He's asked me to make it again several times, but I somehow misplaced the recipe. Then we moved, got married, and started our family. Well, much to my nesting delight, I recently came across the missing recipe while going through a stack of books I'm purging. I immediately made a batch and the recipe is settled in our permanent binder of go-to meals. Here's a pic of the deliciousness in my cast iron pot. Find my take on the recipe below!

Vegetarian Corn Chowder

adapted from Rachel Ray's Clam Chowda

2 tablespoons butter

2 slices bacon, chopped (I like Morningstar Farms)

1 medium onion, chopped

2 ribs celery with greens, chopped

4 springs fresh thyme

salt & pepper

2 teaspoons (or more) hot sauce

2 tablespoons all purpose flour

1 pint half-and-half

2 cups stock (I use vegetable)

1 cup raw hash browns (usually found in the dairy case & I use much more)

2 cans kernel corn (I drain the water, but you can add what you like)

In a medium pot over medium high heat melt butter. Add bacon, onions, celery and thyme sprigs. Season with salt, pepper and hot sauce and cook 5 minutes. Add flour and cook a minute more.
Add half-and-half and stock and bring to a bubble. Then stir in potatoes and corn. Bring soup back to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes, until potatoes are cooked and soup has thickened to coat the back of a spoon.

Even though we're enjoying some spring-like temperatures, I'm sure there are still more cold, gray days ahead. Give this a try on one of those nights and snuggle in before it's too hot for soup!

Pipe Cleaner Flowers

2011-02-16T16:42:00.001-05:00

It's teacher appreciation week at preschool...not sure how Valentine's week was chosen instead of the typical May celebration, but c'est la vie. The children are asked to bring in a flower for each teacher, so last year I started the handmade tradition. Tissue paper flowers were lots of fun, but this year I felt inspired to keep the materials uniform. And I loved the results!

It all started with a segment I caught awhile back on The Martha Stewart Show. I knew such a simple, yet lovely craft would come in handy one day! After watching a refresher how-to via video tutorial, I grabbed my pack of pipe cleaners and got to work. Instead of using a ring finger as my starting base, I grabbed a small wooden dowel. I ended up with a smaller loop better suited to thread the flower stem through. Each stem is a green pipe cleaner folded in half. I worked the 2 ends into the flower head, and then twisted to make the stem a tad bit thicker and more sturdy.

Before we headed off to school this morning, I added a sweet tag to each blossom in honor of teacher apprecation. You can print a free sheet of your very own tags over at eighteen25 - one of my new favorite blog finds!

Big boy was so cute & proud carrying in these mommie-made florals. His teachers (and a few others) seemed to love them too - success! Thank you teachers for shaping our children and giving mommie some much appreciated child-free craft time!

Shopping Cart Cover

2011-02-11T22:09:00.001-05:00

This post is a fun trip down memory lane. My about-to-turn-three boy no longer likes riding in the cart, unless it's in the main part taking up entirely too much room or standing on the side holding on like a renegade. Neither makes for a pleasant shopping experience these days, so it's nice to remember a time I could pack a Snack Trap, plop him in my mommie made snuggly cover and attempt some shopping. But how did I get our errands done I wonder - the cuteness is just too much!

My cart cover coordinating fabrics, batting and elastic came from good ol' Hancock Fabrics. Have I mentioned there's a store less than 3 minutes from our house...dangerous but oh so convenient! And you may remember, the cute fabric found even more life here recently.

I constructed the cover using McCall's Crafts pattern 5721. The project was surprisingly easy, especially since I omitted the slits for the cart belts and made no travel bag. Have you noticed that cart belts always seem quite nasty if they're even there at all? Plus, trying to strap a baby in them is usually a struggle and who wants their sweet bambino touching and sucking on all that grime?! I always kept a close eye on my boy who always seemed fine and loved his soft warm cover. I adored that it fit every cart we crossed including restaurant high chairs. It was easy to wad up, carry in, wrap around abandoned Cheerios & toys, throw in the wash and return to the car. Looking back I'm sure I barely had time to whip up the cover, but am so glad I did - it was a staple back in the baby days! It garnered quite a few compliments and I'm excited to use it again with baby girl.

May your weekend be filled with happy smiles, memories & giggles!

Baby Shower Gift

2011-02-08T16:05:00.000-05:00

It seems like 2011 is a big year for babies, girls especially. Recently I was excited to attend my cousin's baby shower and made a gift set. I ended up not being able to attend since I developed bronchitis...boo! Luckily I am on the mend and another great granddaughter arrived safely. I can hardly believe my own little bundle will be here in just 3.5 months - wow!

Since the baby's name had yet to be revealed, I went with a little sister applique. I used the trusty petal patch from Applique Cafe and dropped in wording from Monogram Wizard. A sweet bib that I may just have to replicate for our little sister!

I also embellished 2 coordinating burp cloths: one with the same green striped fabric used in the applique, and the other with a green & pink paisley print. The green striped fabric seemed too simple on it's own, so I also added some ric rac and quilting seams to fancy it up a bit more.

Burp cloths are such a fun and easy baby gift to make. Plus they are super functional. Who wouldn't want to have a glammed up burp cloth nearby to wipe away the mess...I mean baby love!

Pretty Play-doh

2011-02-03T15:55:00.001-05:00

Back in September, I signed up to make monthly batches of play-doh for my son's preschool class. Here's a peek at February's classroom love:

You can find my recipe here. I just love it (as does my son!) and it makes a wonderful homemade gift. Wouldn't it be cute divided into little clear containers with Valentines attached?!

Handmade Valentines

2011-02-02T11:25:00.002-05:00

February snuck right in didn't it?! With less than 2 weeks until Valentine's Day, I thought I'd share a fun project. Last year I made felt chocolate chip cookies for each of my son's preschool classmates. I love felt food, and figured a cookie would be a fun addition to all of the play kitchens out there!

My supplies consisted of:

light & dark brown felt
lightweight batting

coordinating thread

clear cellophane bags

blank card stock for the adorable printables
a hole punch & ribbon

I started by making a paper pattern for the cookie and chips. I used my Martha Stewart circle cutter, but you could easily trace anything like the bottom of a glass or small bowl. Once I settled on sizes I liked, I cut out my felt pieces. Then I cut batting circles slightly smaller than the cookies.

Using doubled up dark brown thread, I hand stitched 3-4 chips on each felt cookie top. I even cut a few of the chips in half to place along edges. Once all the chips were in place, I sandwiched the batting between a top and bottom layer. Lastly I used a decorative zig-zag machine stitch with light brown thread to seal up each cookie. Good enough to eat!

To specially package each cookie for Valentines Day, I used individual cellophane bags, folded them closed and punched a couple of holes up top to attach the Valentine. I even ran the blank back side thru the printer to include "to and from" details. I used my trusty paper cutter to set each lovable critter free, punched a hole in the corner and tied it on with red ribbon. Voila!

This was a fun project and easy to whip up for the 2 year old set. With so many other projects going on this year, I'm pretty sure big boy's classroom Valentines won't be as creative, and that's ok. Or so I keep telling myself! This year he's going with a box of good ol' standard Thomas the Train cards. It will be his turn to color & scribble on them to his heart's content. I used to love preparing & bringing home my decorated paper bag full of Valentines back in the day, and I'm sure my boy will too no matter what's inside.

If you're looking for fun free printables this year, check out Anders Ruff. SO cute! And another great list of links to peruse is here. Many can even be printed in black & white so your child can color them in. Happy printing and creating!

Girly Birthday T's

2011-01-24T20:06:00.000-05:00

Big boy and his playmates are turning 3 this year - wow. Weren't we just half asleep, hauling around bucket carriers and talking about starter foods?! Nonetheless, this age of toddler independence is lots of fun and we're ready to welcome another year of bliss. This past weekend we attended a birthday party for our sweet twin friends. The bash was held at the local nature museum and the kiddos had a blast. It's a favorite spot for playdates on cold/hot/rainy days, and this time we got a hands on meeting with a few of the animal residents too!

I'm always keeping an eye out for blank items to embroider, and was lucky enough to score a pair of pink Gap tees on sale last fall. I immediately pegged them for the twins' birthday gifts. I found this layered applique heart over at Planet Applique. If you embroider, go get it - it's a terrific freebie!

Both fabrics are from my stash. They're actually remnants from the shopping cart cover I made...must post on that project soon! I added each girl's initial in the center. If memory serves (preggo brain is somethin' else), I'm pretty sure it's the Techie font from Monogram Wizard. It just so happens to match their backpacks. The camera flash made the print show thru the solid aqua more so than in person. Perhaps next time I could double up, line or cutaway to avoid any show thru, but I think they looked sweet no matter!

Plans for big boy's 3rd birthday bash are already in motion around here. Hopefully it will work out to be a fun, simple affair. It's so easy to get revved up with all of the cute ideas floating around the internet and blog-o-sphere. Here's to keeping my nesting instinct focused and equally spread out over the many projects in the works!

Baby Things

2011-01-20T16:24:00.002-05:00

Ever since we found out baby #2 is a GIRL!!!, I've had practically nothing but babies on the brain. I still think of my little boy as a baby, but looking at the size of a newborn onesie quickly jolts me into a new reality. We're slowly starting to work on moving our boy to his big boy room and converting the nursery into girly-land. Lots to do over the next several months, but lots of fun as our family prepares to grow!

Speaking of babies, I made a couple of bib & burp cloth sets for my mother to give as gifts recently. The baby girl has 4 initials, so I wasn't quite sure how to accomodate. Thank goodness for Facebook and Yahoo Group user suggestions!

I went will all 4 initials on the bib, and used the first two only on the burp cloth. The patch is the same one used here but without the additional applique inside. I don't remember the exact fonts I used, but they came from Monogram Wizard. I kept with pink letters and used white mini polka dots on black fabric for the patch. Sweet & simple!

For the baby boy gift, I chose to applique the bib and monogram the burp cloth. I really like this set - so sweet!

The adorable elephant came from Applique Alley and the font is another from good ol' Monogram Wizard. I used a gray print fabric from my stash and kept the theme simple with gray and black thread.

Now I'm off to work on several other gifts...we've got a couple of birthday parties and baby showers to attend. More to come soon!

Hostess Gift

2011-01-15T15:45:00.000-05:00

Our family was invited to a holiday party last month, so here's what I whipped up as a hostess gift. A fun hand towel - you know I have a love for them.

The party hostess is another crafty mommie, so I had a good feeling she (and her little one) would enjoy this gingerbread man. I purchased the applique file a couple of years ago and was excited to put it to good use. Find it here at Embroidery Library.

On a tan blank towel, I used brown corduroy for the body and outlined him in brown thread. Then I used green, red and white threads to create his face and handsome buttons. So simple but sweet!

This post is a tad overdue being that I made & gifted it last month, but still worthy of sharing. It's too cute not to - don't you agree?

Snow Days

2011-01-12T09:18:00.002-05:00

The big talk this week around here, and many places for that matter, is SNOW. First a white Christmas, and now another blast ending with lots of ice. It was beautiful to watch coming down, but now I'm ready to defrost. All of the toys have been played with, food has been eaten and cabin fever is setting in. Ice and school closures are no fun as a mommie!

So I found a fantastic ear warmer tutorial a few weeks back via Prudent Baby. I already had the necessary supplies on hand, and finally finished it during Monday's nap time. Talk about the perfect snow day craft! I blended a few of Delia's techniques - pleats and a "Lucy" flower. This video tutorial really helped me understand how to work up a rosette for the first time. Fun stuff!

I've had this cream fleece since I received my sewing machine years ago. I was living in Florida at the time and pining away for cold weather accessories. I'm so happy to finally have made something cute & functional for the NC cold weather!

Stay warm!

Homemade Holiday Apparel

2011-01-07T15:25:00.000-05:00

My baby boy is growing up. How can he be turning 3 so soon?! He'll always be my baby, but a tall lovely boy is emerging...one who likes to tell us he's a "big boy" often. For the past 2 years I've sewn him holiday longalls, but this year I knew it was time to move on to "big boy" apparel. I decided to applique a long sleeved shirt and match it to a sweet pair of soft corduroy pants. Ta-da!

I found several Tree-in-a-Truck applique files online, but landed on this one at Planet Applique. It resembles Daddy's truck closest, and little boy is all about equipment these days. The red gingham truck fabric is left over from the very first holiday outfit, the gray pattern bumpers were in my stash, and I picked up the wheel & tree fabrics at Hancock. The tires are black corduroy with a black & white polka dot cotton print in the hubs. The green fur tree was a really fun find. It matched the pants perfectly and little boy loved touching it! I originally wanted a green corduroy tree, but things have a way of creatively working out for the best!

This may be the most complex applique I've stitched to-date. I had to baby-sit it like mad, but had fun making it come together. The fur could have been a disaster, but I tamed the beast and would use it again. I also used Heat 'n Bond Lite for the first time. I've been reading about others swearing by it, and am so glad I tried something new. It really gives the applique an extra smooth and professional finish.

As usual, our holiday season flew by. We visited with Santa (aka Ho Ho Ho) at least 3 times, took a holiday train ride, and even met Frosty & Rudolph. I guess this shirt is now set to hang with other special garments of holidays past. Sigh. Perhaps one day I will make a quilt or other keepsake with all of his mommie-made things...or hold on to them for his children to wear. My mother has a cedar chest full of homemade lovelies just waiting for the next generation. What a southern & grand tradition - I love passing it on!

Christmas Break

2010-12-23T16:32:00.000-05:00

The bad news is my blog has fallen off the super busy to-do list for the most part this month. The good news is that I've got plenty of projects to share in the coming new year! My embroidery machine has been practically smokin' and the sewing machine has gotten a bit of good use too. Santa visits are complete, travels are done, so now time to prepare home sweet home for the magical morning of Christmas. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Deck the Halls

2010-12-08T15:49:00.002-05:00

My favorite time of year to skim magazines is October thru December. I love finding new recipes to try and refreshing takes on holiday decor. I personally tend to stick to traditional styles, but by keeping my mind and eyes open, I usually find new twists that refresh my annual decor. This year I was drawn to several wreaths featured in Better Homes and Gardens.

Offset placement of simple accents spoke to me, so I headed to the craft store in search of decorative stems to update our usually WAY basic front door wreath. My favorite photo inspiration is inside the BHG mag (page 120 for you subscribers out there). The spray of winterberry looks so classic yet modern, and reminded me of my December wedding. Maybe one day I'll splurge for a fresh wreath, but for now I'm quite pleased with the updated look on our front door! And it cost me less than $4 - affordable stylish crafts are always a holiday treat!

Their joyful tone, to every home...will my 2010 Christmas cards happen?!

2010-12-06T21:40:00.002-05:00

Much to my dismay, I have yet to create, order, address or send my Christmas cards. Please tell me I'm not the only one! We haven't received any yet, so perhaps I am not as far behind as I think and feel? I have been diligently decorating the house, crafting some homemade lovelies, and trying my best to stay on task during this busy season. I promise to share some of my crafty fun shortly, but for now Shutterfly has come to my holiday greeting rescue!*

I'm a big fan of all things personalized, and can't wait to get started with cards like these:

Speaking of further to-dos regarding photos, I started a new tradition a few years back of giving the grandparents photo calendars. They are always a big hit. And in true southern form, I'm a big advocate of thank you cards and notes. Wouldn't these be the cutest all winter long?!

Little boy saw Santa both Saturday and Sunday this weekend, so hopefully we scored at least one decent photo to use in our card. He proudly wore his holiday ensemble that I can't wait to reveal - stay tuned!!

*In full disclosure, I'm entering a Shutterfly promo for 50 free holiday photo cards. When I heard they were rewarding bloggers who share the love of personalized products, I was ready to face my self-inflicted annual card challenge!

Kicks, Crafts & Additions

2010-11-22T16:15:00.000-05:00

photo courtesy of marthastewart.com

Two of my favorite things combined last week...The Rockettes & Martha Stewart! I was overjoyed to see the girls open Martha's show and even stick around to craft with her. I proudly auditioned to be a high-kicking Rockette back in my dancing days, and would currently love to craft with Martha...a creative girl always has a dream, right?! Hop over to MarthaStewart.com if you missed the fun. The lobby of Radio City Music Hall even got the Martha treatment!

And with all of this talk about the Rockettes, it must officially be the holiday season. Is Thanksgiving really only 3 short days away?! At this point on the calendar, I usually have my son's holiday apparel stitched, pressed and hung waiting in the closet for holiday photos and events. This year the materials are still waiting for the magic to begin - aaaccckk! This mommie's got to get a move on. But my moves are a tad slower right now because baby #2 is baking away! It's been a rough 1st trimester, so I'm eager for some 2nd trimester relief. My mom will be visiting this week, so I'm thankful (as always!) for her cooking, crafting and decorating helping hands. Here's to kicking off my favorite time of year...and feeling some little baby kicks soon!

Birthday Blanket

2010-11-07T15:33:00.000-05:00

A preschool buddy invited us to party on the Fun Bus last month, so we just had to go and check it out. What a clever and great birthday party idea!

I always enjoy making gifts for said occasions, but with boys it can get tricky. Luckily I had this blank fleece blanket in my stash just asking for personalization!

I used Monogram Wizard's Blackboard font. Cute for a boy I think!

My little guy loooves his many blankets. We have lots of favorites that mostly include those made by his great-grandmother. A flannel Thomas the Train print is the current snuggly of choice, but we rotate often. I hope the birthday fleece is proving to be cozy now that the weather is finally chilly!

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T15:05:00.004-04:00

Wow - how is the big day already here?! Unfortunately the second half of October has been a project-free zone due to a nasty virus circulating thru our abode. BOOooooo! Thankfully we all seem to be on the mend, and are looking forward to a fun evening of trick-or-treating. Little boy will be carrying his appliqued treat bag, mommie will be beaming with pride and daddy will be trying to stuff the bag full! Be safe and here's to many treats!

Holiday Hand Towel

2010-10-07T21:30:00.000-04:00

An adorable Halloween applique has been sitting on the back burner, so I grabbed a blank kitchen towel from my stash this week and got to stitching. I'm a sucker for a cute holiday hand towel. What do you think?!

The patch is from a new favorite source, Applique Cafe. I found the polka dot fabric at Hancock, and the white came from my stash - scraps from lining rompers...that my boy is now too tall to wear...sigh.

I'm excited to adorn my kitchen with some Halloween cheer. Luckily my "big" boy is beginning to enjoy the decor of the season as well, so here's to filling our house with more mommie made boo-tiful love!

Girly Patch

2010-10-03T21:52:00.000-04:00

Remember that blank white tee on my to-do list? Well, here's the finished product!

I instantly fell in love with this patch over at Applique Cafe. It's so sweet and simple. Options galore!

I'll be adding tshirts to my etsy shop super soon. Time to get stitchin'!

In with the New

2010-09-30T21:19:00.001-04:00

Have you noticed my beautiful new banner return readers?! I am SO excited to have it up! My super talented friend, Maureen of AndersRuff, mastered it for me. She's the best! If you dig her style like I do, be sure to check out her Etsy shop and blog. Maureen and her biz partner Adria offer fantastic invitations, party supplies and more! She's a special lady and I'm grateful to have had her generous help - thank you Maureen!!!

And speaking of Etsy and new exciting things, I finally opened up my own shop: www.kathryncrafts.etsy.com! I'm just starting to fill up my space with inventory, so please take a look around and let me know should you be looking for something special. Check back often, and the blog will continue to highlight all things Crafts - personalized for the family, friends and beyond!

Welcome Fall

2010-09-26T21:42:00.000-04:00

My posts have slowed down recently due to fall activities, but stay tuned for more mommie-made fun! Recently I took my little one apple picking and we had a blast. Here's a peek at some of our bountiful harvest:

This simple bowl of hand-picked fruit is the best souvenir! But we'll see how long these last as fall decor. There's nothing like apples fresh from the NC mountain trees!

Now I've got some girlie fun planned for this blank tee, plus a fun reveal. Check back soon!

Sweet Snowman

2010-09-14T21:20:00.000-04:00

Summer is lingering way too long around these parts if you ask me! Luckily we are waking up to cooler mornings, but by lunch, the taste of fall is gone and summer makes an ugly return. I'm ready for fall leaves instead of dead crispy ones falling when the hot dry wind blows. So in an effort to keep (my) cool, I whipped up this little winter number for my boy:

I've been trying a different applique process other my norm, and officially decided after this stitch-out that I will return to my usual. Normally I stitch the applique outline on paper and cut out the fabric piece(s) by paper pattern(s). An alternate method is to stitch down small squares of fabric and then cut them closely to the stay seam with applique scissors before the final edging. I've definitely decided that I like prepping everything ahead of time, and then just going for it. It's less annoying to me and provides a tidier finish in my opinion. You never know until you try! (please pardon the shop talk non-applique-rs!)

The snowman face turned out a little more shabby chic than polished to me. And I think in his case, it works! I found him over at Planet Applique. Join their mailing list for monthly freebies that are super cute like this one. I can hardly wait for temperatures to drop enough to wear long sleeves again. Here's to a cool down - FAST ...and a little snow this winter wouldn't hurt one bit!

Trick-or-Treat Bag

2010-09-08T15:18:00.000-04:00

So did you guess what I was putting on little boy's bag?!


Hello jack-o-lantern!

I had to remove the bag's side seam to accomodate my large embroidery hoop, so while the stitching's out I'm going to applique something fun to the back too! My son already loves his goodie bag and is practicing trick-or-treating around the house. Big smiles for this mommie! Final project pics to come.

ps - I found the cutie face over at Applique Cafe. So many adorable designs, so little time...sigh. Thank goodness preschool is back in session!

Favorite Foods: Macaroni & Cheese

2010-09-05T23:00:00.005-04:00

I don't know of one male (or even female for that matter!) in my family that doesn't love this Macaroni & Cheese recipe. This dish is a must share as it's requested often...birthdays, rainy days, chilly days, holidays...you get the picture! I always try to serve a green veggie with the Mac, and my Mom started the tradition of serving it alongside blueberry muffins. Sounds crazy, but the combo is soooo gooood! I think it's something about the savory and sweet together. Or maybe it's just the giant carb-fest we all crave from time-to-time. Whatever the case may be, it's delicious and I hope you enjoy it as much as our family does!

Macaroni & Cheese

8 oz cooked macaroni noodles

2 cups + shredded cheese

2 eggs

2 cups milk

salt, pepper, seasoning to taste

Whisk together eggs, milk and desired seasoning. Butter a casserole dish and cover the bottom with a layer of shredded cheese. Alternate layers of cooked noodles and cheese, ending with cheese on top. Pour liquid over entire casserole. Top it with a few small cubes of butter to assist in browning (and deliciousness). Bake in a 350 degree oven for 40-45 minutes. YUM!

I like to use sharp cheddar cheese, but am also known to mix it up with colby or other specialty cheeses. If you have a meat lover in your household, you could add ham or even sausage. This recipe delivers a casserole consistency and is definitely a southern delicacy. Don't forget to try it with blueberry muffins!

Sneak Peek: Treat Bag

2010-09-01T15:34:00.001-04:00

I'm sooo excited to complete this project! It's been on my to-do list since last Halloween! I found the black & white gingham fabric over the weekend and purchased an applique file last night. Everything's washed, pressed and ready to go. Can you guess what will appear on the bag? Stay tuned!

Fancy Guest

2010-08-31T15:06:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to share another personalized towel I made for my Mom awhile back. White towels really set off initials and monograms beautifully!

It's been a great summer, but I'm so ready for the hot weather to be closing out. Here's to Fall and all the fun it brings!

ps - my fellow "Friends" fans will appreciate the post title. It's from one of my (many) favorite episodes!

Birthdays & Brainstorms

2010-08-24T16:14:00.000-04:00

Apologies for the recent lack of posts. The blog may be silent, but my creative brain is quite the opposite! I've been reading, researching and brainstorming my home embroidery business ideas. Inspiration has hit and I'm in the zone. ha ha My self-diagnosed OCD has me wanting to start this venture out just right so that I avoid as many obstacles as possible. I may finally be ready to do this thang - woo hoo!!

And now a few details about that present above. Remember my Paper Flowers? Well here's more proof of my "green" addiction - a birthday gift, for my Mom, wrapped in tissue and raffia all recycled from beautiful gifts given to our household. I even printed the card (free template found here!) on cardstock in my stash that was passed on to me by a friend. Beautiful frugal is a drug I just can't get enough of!

Here's to birthday wishes and making things happen!

Bag Tags

2010-08-12T15:46:00.000-04:00

With all of the back-to-school preparations buzzing, I thought I'd share the bag tags I made as favors for my son's 2nd birthday party. Bag tags are a GREAT favor because they are easy to make, inexpensive, can match any theme, and are totally functional.

I got this sweet idea from a fellow crafty mommie friend who made super cute tags a month prior for her son's birthday party favors. (keep reading for more about this creative chica and her adorable biz + freebie!) When I unexpectedly received matching blank calling cards alongside my order of party invitations, I knew just what I had to do!

Tag Construction:

I just so happened to have the green gingham scrapbook paper in my scrappin' stash. Then I found the adorable King Cool font at dafont.com. I liked that it was child-like and loosey-goosey similar to the train tracks! I printed out the kids' names and mommie phone numbers onto the gingham paper, then cut rectangles for the names on front, and circles for the mommie info on back. After gluing the personalized info onto the train calling cards, I laminated them at an office store. Once back home I cut them out and punched a hole in the side to add the ties. Done!

This post isn't complete without a BIG shout out to my crafty pal Maureen! We met years ago in a smocking class (the youngest 2 there - hee!), and have been fast friends ever since. Thanks Maureen for your constant inspiration, help and creativity! For super cute free bag tag printables, check out her terrific blog. And don't forget to cruise her Etsy store too: AndersRuff. Viva personalization!

Paper Flowers

2010-08-05T15:04:00.001-04:00

This "green" mommie really enjoys using recycled materials. For example, I keep almost all of our household's gift packaging, including bags, tissue paper, ribbons,... all for re-use. With August comes another year of school, so I thought I'd share a fun recycling project I made last school year for my son's preschool teachers. Would you have guessed that the beauties above were made from Victoria's Secret tissue paper?!

To make your own,
gather the following supplies:

recycled tissue paper

crepe paper or felt

pipe cleaners

hot glue gun

template*

*this is an existing template from MarthaStewart.com*

Cut out the petal shapes (top box of template) from your tissue paper. I folded my tissue in an accordion fashion to cut down on the number of cuts.
Cut out the single, smaller heart-shaped template from the crepe paper or felt. I cut 2 for each stem, and used green crepe paper. I had it on-hand and found it easy to work with since it stretches around curves easily.
Bend one end of a pipe cleaner making a soft small center tip on which to build you flower.
Squeeze a small ring of hot glue slightly below the center tip and begin building the petals, single petals first, adding glue, and then the heart petals as you go.
Affix the base leaves.
Fluff petals and shape stems as desired. Voila!

I bundled these in pairs with rick rack, and added a personalized note. My son was excited to hand these over to his teachers. It's never to early to learn that recycling can be beautiful!

Fancy Home Goods

2010-07-28T15:27:00.000-04:00

Due to the oppressive summer heat, I've been keeping busy indoors working on home projects. Beautifying your home can be quite rewarding when/if you're in the mood! This quick post is to share a couple of goodies I've made for my mother's home in the past. She found the blank pillow sham above, and I added the monogram. I just love the color combo - so fresh!

I've also personalized several hand towels to adorn her powder rooms. Ooh La La! I'm always amazed at how a simple initial can instantly dress up everyday items. So nice to leave out for guests don't 'cha think?!

Until next time, keep cool!

Christmas In July

2010-07-25T11:00:00.006-04:00

Santa Claus is coming to town...in exactly 5 months that is! As the Christmas countdown begins, let's use our holiday spirit to cool off a bit shall we?! I'm already skipping down peppermint lane fondly reminiscing about my son's first homemade holiday romper:

Another infamous use of Easy McCall's pattern #2033, minus pockets, and cut to size 1. The fabric is adorable, yet handsome red mini gingham (also used here) lined in the same white goodness used in the 1st romper. Now the super fun stuff - embroidery! I used chocolate brown corduroy to accentuate the Rudolph Applique. And the shoulder button holes are embroidered too - stockings! I can't seem to find them on Embroidery Library anymore...perhaps it's due to some sizing issues. (I had to experiment with several sizes of buttons besides the ones suggested.)

I can hardly believe 2010 will be my 3rd Christmas as a mommie. I'm officially a goober adult that totally gets what all those grown-ups mean when they say "TIME FLIES." ha ha I get a little misty looking back at my sweet baby boy...but it just keeps getting better & better!

Adjustable Art Smock

2010-07-15T14:46:00.008-04:00

I've been eyeing the waterproof smocks at our local children's museums, and finally got around to making one for my boy. Our easel and play table are daily activity zones, so why not sew something fun to protect all of those mommie-made creations?! Thank goodness for washable markers and crayons tho. Toddler creativity most always goes waaay beyond the seams of a smock!

I found a great tutorial here that practically mirrors the aprons we use while splashing in the museum water tables. I made my pattern even smaller than suggested, but it still turned out a tad larger than I'd hoped. Oh well - all the more to cover up with!

The fabric is a cotton with laminate overlay - Annette Tatum's Blue Alphabet. It was my first time sewing on this type of (genius!) material, and I found it easiest to stitch on the cotton/wrong side when possible. (more great laminated cotton sewing tips here and here) The adjustable ties are color coordinated blue twill tape. Just zig-zag those ends and you've got yourself a chic no-sew shortcut! I left the ties long to accommodate big boy's growth, and so they could be wrapped around the front and back again. What a tidy and fashionable artiste!

Fruit Pie

2010-07-13T15:25:00.006-04:00

It's just not summer without a fresh-from-the-oven fruit pie! I happened upon a simple recipe* for this scrumptious concoction last week, and quickly baked up my very own peach & blueberry version. YUM!

Ingredients

1 frozen Wholly Wholesome pie crust
sliced fruit & berries of your choice
1 cup half-and-half
1 egg
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions: 1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Place fruit in pie crust and spread evenly. 2. In a small bowl, combine half-and-half, egg, sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt; whisk until well blended. Pour over fruit. 3. Place pie in oven and bake at 400 degrees F for 50 minutes or until center is set.

The liquid portion ended up being a bit too much for my fruit packed pie, so either put less fruit in or try less half-and-half. Thank goodness I had my pie on a baking sheet that caught some of the excess - whoopsie! Once it's cooled enough to dish, don't forget to plop a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on top!

*original recipe found in Family Circle's August 2010 issue

The First Romper

2010-07-09T20:01:00.019-04:00

I can hardly believe that I made my son his first homemade romper 2 whole years ago! How far we've come from the days of baby boy delights and sleepless nights. This mommie is sooo thankful for sleep in toddler-land! Thinking back, I'm astonished and quite proud that I actually made this little outfit. It was the start of a brand new creative path that I am so happy to be walking on!

Materials & Construction: I used Easy McCall's pattern #2033, minus pockets, and cut to size 1 with generous seam allowances as my son was only 6 months old at his first wear. The striped fabric was in my stash, and the front lining was leftover from the nursery curtains my mother made...have I mentioned this creative thing runs in the family?! The bee embroidery is from Embroidery Librar y. (it's so sweet that I've also used it here) I omitted the center bloom and inserted a monogram instead:
One of the biggest challenges was working with snap tape for the first time. It was a big puzzle of sorts, but I'm impressed with how professional it turned out!The first romper was great practice and still hangs in his closet...I can't bring myself to pack it up just yet. He wore it from 6 months to 15 months. I'm not quite sure how that feat happened as he is outgrowing clothing at record speeds currently. At least I got good use out of the pattern - check out my other fun rompers here and here!

My Little Firecracker

2010-07-05T14:14:00.012-04:00

This navy tee was destined for craftiness after I picked it up at a spring consignment sale thinking it was completely blank. After returning home with my treasures, I discovered a small resort logo stitched underneath the pinned-on sale tag. Grrrrr. Note to self - make sure to look everywhere, including under the tags from now on. But I still managed to come out ahead of that sneakiness!

I found the adorable (and free!) embroidery file here at Planet Applique, and all supplies came from my existing stash. For the main design, I used red, blue & gold thread on white fabric. After stitching out the file, I cut an oval border with my pinking shears. Then I layered it on top of a red & white gingham square...that just so happens to nicely cover the resort logo! I outlined and attached the square to the shirt in white zig-zag stitches, and used a red, elongated stitch within the oval.

Thanks to my friend Traci for providing the inspiration for this handsome creation - it suits my busy cutie perfectly!

Drawstring Bag

2010-06-24T16:02:00.008-04:00

I made this cute little bag a while back, and used it recently for shoe packing while traveling. It works great and makes me smile. Wouldn't it be adorable in a solid with a large monogram?! If only I had the time, I'd make all of my special shoes their own little pouch!
This particular lined drawstring bag came to be from a very easy Martha Stewart how-to. The outer fabric is orange Baby Starbursts from the Rainbow Garden by Prints Charming. The lining is a turquoise Robert Kaufman from my stash. I cheated a tad by stitching closed some pre-made white bias binding for the drawstrings, but fancied it up by adding gussets to the bottom. There are TONS of drawstring bag tutorials out there with unlimited options, so get to searching if they pull at your heartstrings too!

More Lunch Fun

2010-06-21T14:31:00.006-04:00

My son had a summer session of preschool last week, so I gave his new lunch set a try. Here's a peek at my favorite lunch:

top left - honey graham sticks & fruit leather butterfly cut-outs
top right - chickadee crackers
bottom - cream cheese & jelly on whole wheat duckie sandwich

I was excited by how cute it turned out! And from only the crumbs that returned, I could tell my son enjoyed how tasty it was too! I'm looking forward to creating more fun lunches this summer. Hopefully I'll be a pro by the time preschool resumes this fall...a mother can dream, right?!

Train Ride

2010-06-13T15:07:00.011-04:00

My family is lucky enough to live close to the beautiful NC mountains. We vacationed there last week and treated our son to his first theme park - Tweetsie Railroad! Now there are many reasons why it was a particularly exciting adventure for this mommie:

Both the mountains and Tweetsie hold numerous childhood memories of mine; sharing the fun (and cooler weather!) with my husband and son was priceless.
Thomas the Train was making an appearance, and my son LOVES choo choos.
The park instantly reminded me of my cherished time at Walt Disney World...I performed there for many years, and miss those times often.

So back to my 'made it' reason for posting - hee! I of course had my son wear his appliqued train shirt for the special occasion. I made it back in February for his 2nd birthday party, which just so happens to have been a train theme. Multiple themed use is always a plus!

Simple Train Applique, Embroidery Boutique
I used a blank white T-shirt
& various threads and fabrics from my stash
Navy Engine with gray steam
Green Pinstripe Car
Red Gingham Caboose
Black connectors & wheels

Lunch Mania

2010-06-03T15:16:00.003-04:00

I can't seem to shake my new-found creative lunch packing passion. And it seems I'm not the only one from the threads I've recently come across on the local mommie site. I guess summer break has us mommies re-examining the task of packing lunch. I personally never dread the duty, but do find myself packing the same ol' things feeling guilty about the food rut. But have no fear, this mommie is gearing up for fun lunches to pack for summer and beyond!
While checking out a few new sandwich cutters and some popsicle molds, I purchased the Sassy on-the-go lunch set to add to my son's collection today. (pictured above, but his set is all blue and was found locally at Buy Buy Baby) I'm excited because the size of the main container is perfect for a preschooler. Our Bento Box is great, but has always seemed too large quite yet for a 2 year old.

I have lovely memories of my own special lunches packed by Mom, so I guess I'm destined to pass the creative love on. Plus I'm always super excited to provide my son fun, healthy, waste-free and cost-effective food! Have you seen the fun over at Another Lunch?! Wowza.

And in other homemade topics, I promise to share a few new things I've recently stitched soon. We've got a new digital camera, so time to figure out the upload changes. Stay tuned!

Homemade Play-doh

2010-05-20T14:28:00.006-04:00

One of my son's playmates turned 2 this past weekend, so I whipped up a homemade batch of play-doh for her to enjoy. My mother made it for me growing up, and gave her grandson his first batch at Christmas. The texture and peppermint scent instantly transports me back into my own childhood. It's a fun gift in that color and scents are endless with this handy recipe. Plus it's just a darn good old fashioned "toy" that's fun and safe to play with...and even eat should it somehow end up in a child's, mommie's or even doggie's mouth!

MHB's Homemade Play-doh
1 cup flour, sifted
1/2 cup salt
1 cup water
3 tsp cream of tartar
1 1/2 Tbl oil
food coloring
(peppermint) extract

Mix all ingredients in a pot, then place over medium high heat and stir constantly for 3 minutes. It gets difficult to stir the last little bit, but stop when it reaches the consistency of play-doh. Some of it does stick to the pot, so don't worry that it's not right. Turn it out on the counter or wax paper and it's ready to go.

We keep our homemade stash in airtight containers in the fridge, and I try to set it out prior to playtime. However, my little guy usually demands it immediately and doesn't seem to mind it cold and less pliable. Once it hits room temp, it really works great with cookie cutters and various play-doh toys. Enjoy!

Food for Thought

2010-05-08T15:05:00.005-04:00

Mmnnn! Just made these delicious (and super easy!) granola bars today, and had to share the recipe. I DVR "The Martha Stewart Show" daily and was pleased to catch this particular treat. I used ingredients we already had on-hand, but certainly appreciate the ability to prepare this for others with food allergies. I also used raisins instead of chocolate chips as my little one somehow did not inherit his parent's love of cocoa concoctions. So proud he prefers fruit!

And speaking of preparing food for my sweet bambino, check out the lastest blog I'm obsessing over: Another Lunch. I immediately broke out my cookie cutters for his bento lunches this past week...why hadn't I thought of it before?! My fellow bento-using hometown bestie turned me on to this site and I can't thank her enough. The photos, ideas and products are too much crafty/nerdy fun not to share! Cute waste-free healthy lunches rock!

Mommie's Got a Brand New Bag!

2010-04-26T15:13:00.006-04:00

As previously mentioned, I'm taking the library's DIY sewing catalog by storm. An adorable project caught my eye and finally gave me some sewing inspiration. I give you my take on the Mama's Bag from Amanda Blake Soule's Handmade Home:

This bag was SO easy and fun to make. It's mostly cutting, ironing, and pinning with some finishing seams thrown in. My lining is a gray & white houndstooth flat bedsheet I scored at Goodwill and the outer fabric is dark purple denim I found (on major sale of course!) at Hancock Fabrique. I even added an interior accessories pocket for my trusty phone, lists and coupons!

It's the perfect bag - stylish, expandable and washable. And I'm excited to make a few more...I'm thinking about altering the body by both size and shape...and adding personalized embroidery! This item is definitely going on my gift list for ladies and will be given to myself again from time-to-time. Who doesn't need a reason to buy more fun fabric?!

Random Thoughts of Crafty-ness

2010-04-17T22:23:00.006-04:00

Maybe it's Spring Fever or just a lull, but I'm finding it hard to pick my next project. My inspiration list is only growing, yet that one special spark hasn't fired me up. So to possibly ignite some creative energies, here's a random list of things and ideas on my mind.

1. My lovely husband recently proclaimed he would clean up the home office in order to provide me a dedicated sewing space. I am aflutter with dreamy color schemes, organizational efforts and the coming reality of having my machines ready at all times. A wall it may be, but I'm in heaven I tell ya.

2. My hands may not be busy, but my mind is craving crafty food-for-thought via books and blogs. Check out some inspirational work sites here and here - oh my! My library hold list is hearty and I was excited to check-out and read thru Handmade Home this evening. Project Mama's Bag jumped immediately on my to-do list!

3. I continually strive to hone my domestic goddess skills. Housework is just that - work. One day I hope to have a better plan or schedule suited for the tasks at hand. But for now I will enjoy the daily highs and hope to improve the lows tomorrow. Cooking can be such a joy...now if only my kitchen would keep itself clean!

4. And lastly, here's to projects past and future. Creating is not just an outlet for me, but an expression of love. I am so thankful to be sentimental, southern and crafty!

Spring Shortall

2010-04-11T14:00:00.006-04:00

I'm back from a fun Easter and terrific Spring Break spent with family in my Georgia hometown. Before our trip, I appliqued this boutique shortall I found at a consignment sale earlier this year. I love finding bargain blanks! It was a steal and looked hardly worn, if at all. I found the adorable fish applique over at Embroidery Boutique. It's quite a handsome, yet playful ensemble if I do say so myself! Please pardon the blurriness of the shot below. I have the most unfortunate luck with cameras these days, but at least the lacking crisp focus hides the hideous pollen dust that consumed us last week!

Sweet Citrus

2010-03-31T14:44:00.004-04:00

Voila! Mommie-made felt fruit slices for a certain little boy's Easter basket. I can't wait to be served all kinds of fruity drinks and things from the play kitchen this summer!

Here's my how-to:
I started by cutting out 3" circles from felt sheets. Then I cut slightly smaller circles of quilt batting, and cut them in half. They fit perfectly inside the felt when you fold the circles in half to make the slices! I pinned and machine stitched the edges aka rinds. Then I marked and stitched the segment details with a slightly larger stitch than the one used around the edge.

After last week's basket liner project, these were a breath of easy fresh air! I plan to make more and may stitch some of the segment details prior to stuffing and sealing next time. A plump, juicy wedge of fruit is always a delicious treat! YUM!

A-tisket A-tasket, A fabric lined basket

2010-03-26T15:18:00.007-04:00

This idea has been on my to-do list for over a year now. I fell in love with PBK's fabric basket liners and thought it would be fun and easy to make my own. I had all the supplies needed, current catalog pictures to reference and even a handy how-to to get me started - how difficult could it be, right?!

Maybe I've been watching too much Project Runway and was carried away with the idea of pattern making and crafting under pressure. I thought for sure I was on my way to post a how-to on this little number - ha! Little did I know that rough times were ahead for my "easy" holiday project. The liner base is not nearly as attractive as I had envisioned, I had numerous thread issues on both my sewing and embroidery machines, and the overhang did not end up quite even from basket front-to-back. Don't get me wrong, I think it turned out just fine in the end, but there are a few flaws hiding in this sweet basket. It was a-TASKet indeed, but luckily my sweet Easter boy is worth it!

PS - Should anyone happen upon a fabric liner for handled baskets tutorial, please leave the link in the comments as I may add a liner re-do to my to-do list!

Misc Monday

2010-03-22T08:23:00.001-04:00

The beautiful Spring weather is keeping me outdoors, therefore leaving many incomplete projects on my never-ending to-do list. Here are some past projects that make me smile - hope they do the same for you!

Owls are so sweet. This one lives at my friend Traci's house!
Find the embroidery file (and other fun ones) here.

A wedding gift for the matchmaker who introduced me and my husband.
I used Monogram Wizard's Miami font.

A Gap bag gets the personalized treatment.
Monogram Wizard's Monogram Script.

Here's to a great week!

Sweet little Sunday surprise - Part 2!

2010-03-21T14:26:00.004-04:00

Just checked today's Project Round-Up over at Prudent Baby and happened to find myself some link love! The discovery was the perfect dose of sunshine on this gray Sunday afternoon - thanks again girls! Big smiles for this new blogger! If you're in need of organizing recipes or a great gift idea, check out the details here. Now I'm off to Michaels to buy some supplies for our living room art project. More details soon!

Hippity Hoppity

2010-03-17T14:48:00.012-04:00

The verge of spring has me fondly reviewing the romper I made my son for his 1st birthday - we had a frog party! The bad news is that he woke up with his 1st fever that morning and never made it into the outfit. The good news is that it turned into quite a fetching Easter ensemble! I kept it as a longall thru Spring, but as the summer progressed I hemmed the legs into shorts. Here's to warmer weather and sights of sweet seersucker!

Materials and Construction notes: I used Easy McCall's pattern #2033 and omitted the pockets. I added coordinating piping and lined the seersucker due to it's thinness. The vintage frog applique is from Embroidery Library. I also added a layer of batting under the applique to give Mr. Froggie a bit more dimension.

Easter's on it's way

2010-03-16T15:40:00.006-04:00

Felt food is a new passion of mine. Not only are there SO many cute foods to make and play with, they're softer and safer than all of the yucky plastic stuff. With hopes of holding off my son's sweet tooth for candy (at least this year anyways!), here is a mommie-made Peep ready to hop into his Easter basket. I admit, I made this a little more for me than for him, but hopefully he'll have fun serving it to me from the play kitchen!

To make one or more of your own, find an easy tutorial here. And may I recommend not hand stitching while suffering from allergies. Stitch consistency on this little rabbit is lacking due to a few sneezes and tissue breaks. At least the weather is beginning to warm and I was able to make it child-free during naptime!

Sweet little Sunday surprise!

2010-03-14T14:33:00.003-04:00

I am so tickled - one of my embroidered bibs is featured on today's Prudent Baby Project Round-Up! How exciting and what an honor. I just love Prudent Baby's style. Be sure to check them out and thanks girls!!

One down and too-many-more-to-list to go!

2010-03-12T14:48:00.011-05:00

One of my MANY cousins had a baby girl a few weeks back. Now my baby is no longer the youngest great-grandbaby...but isn't it great that my son has 3 great-grandparents?! Today I completed a bib and burp cloth gift set for little Columbia. I can't wait to wrap it up and send it on it's way!

I just love the turquoise paired with the brown - so chic! Here are two outfit sets I made last year for a couple of other baby girls with the same fabric stash:

sweet Chloe

sweet Sophia

Happy weekend everyone!

Monkeying Around

2010-03-11T15:39:00.004-05:00

Monkeying around is kind of how I feel lately! My son's 2nd birthday party was pretty much the sole focus of my crafty free time since the holidays, so with it's passing I now feel all over the place without a target. Have no fear tho - I've got several new projects in motion. Can anyone say Easter?!?! I'll likely feel better once one or two tasks hit completion. How I hate deadlines, but what else can get my hands really moving?! For now, enjoy these sweet personalized PBK monkey backpacks. I hope the twins are enjoying them as much as my son enjoys his!

Bibs

2010-03-08T15:27:00.019-05:00

Another fantastic gift to give (and make!) is a personalized baby bib. I could never have enough clean dry bibs during my son's infancy! The top two photos show bibs I've given that also served as great practice on my embroidery machine. Blank terrycloth bibs are definately easy on time when you need a quick gift. Recently I've started taking it to a new level - making my own blanks by tracing some of my son's favorite bibs onto leftover fabric. Fancy while frugal!

Check out a few more adorable quick-stitch bib projects here, here and here over at Prudent Baby. Let the fabric speak for itself or add embroidery. The fun and gift possibilities are endless!

Diaper Covers

2010-03-07T21:55:00.008-05:00

Embroidered diaper covers are such a fun and sweet personalized gift for baby girls. They can even be used as big girl panties once potty training is a success! I remember being oh so proud of my fabric painted ones back-in-the-day. Journey down memory lane with me and check out a few of my gift creations!

Pretty Cookbooks

2010-03-05T14:59:00.004-05:00

The girls at Prudent Baby recently inspired me to jazz up a couple of my recipe binders. Aren't they great?! My mother is handing down some of her recipes/cookbooks, and she just so happened to have transferred them into binders. Creating covers for these jems had fallen to the bottom of my project pile until I saw the fantastic printable templates! My binders are on the smaller side, so I just cut and folded accordingly. Voila! I really found Jacinda's organizational tips insightful as well. Bon Appetit!

Fun with Potholders

2010-03-04T21:48:00.000-05:00

My 2 year old adores the kitchen, both the real and play ones. Ever since he started "cooking" I've been wanting to make him a child-sized potholder. I finally whipped one up!

Before I got to work I did some brief internet searching for inspiration and came across LindaMade's tutorial. I followed suit by using scraps from previous and future projects to make a quilted side and decked the other with matching brown corduroy. I added a corduroy hanging loop, and a few more stitches to really give it that quilted feel. I had so much fun piecing this together and it took no time to make! Now time to anxiously await and watch him use it when he makes something HOT! Mommie's felt pancakes perhaps?!

Creativity Emerges

2010-03-04T20:52:00.000-05:00

2010 has brought about surge of creativity for me. So much so that I finally bought a blank journal to log the never-ending ideas I seem to keep coming up with and stumbling upon. My mommie-brain just couldn't keep up! While eating dinner tonight, I picked up a section of the weekend paper I had yet to read, and stumbled across my horoscope: "Your creativity emerges. Observe an unusual abundance of feelings that exists between you and others. Enjoy the moment." How fantastically fitting AND it gave the day 5 stars! I love finding these kinds of things. Just like I enjoy déjà vu because it makes me feel like I'm somehow on the right path...but I digress. This particular horoscope corresponded with my son's 2nd birthday which was a GREAT day. Full of fun, family, friends, and my creative efforts outfitting an adorable (if-i-do-say-so-myself!) train party. I enjoyed so many moments, both in preparing for the big day and during. More to come on the train party soon!