Silent Auction Class Quilt

Yeah, yeah... I haven't posted here in ages. I've actually done plenty o'projects but - haven't been good about taking photos and posting them. But, no worries - I haven't quit my day job.

So - my latest, biggest project has been this quilt that I made for my daughters pre-k silent auction. I took fabric squares and fabric paint into the class and each student painted a spring painting. The students are all 3- 4 years old. Just so you know. ;) At home I trimmed, pieced, added appliques, and sewed the quilt. Technically, I did not "quilt" it (the process of sewing through all layers in some sort of pattern throughout) - I binded (bound?) it and batted it - but I wanted it to be more of a snuggly, blanket type-thing. It measures about 3 x 4 ft. I think?

I hoping for big money at the auction this weekend. Not for me of course. For the children of GLDS. :)
My daughter's picture is the one in the top row, middle here. Yellow butterfly with red polka dots.These pictures don't do it justice. The flannel backing is beautiful and the lettering matches the front picture borders.

Linking to the DIY Day Party at A Soft Place to Land!

A Friend's Nursery - ooh la la!

Oooh - pretty baby stuff. Who can resist?! Here is my latest sewing project. I know many of the blogs I read and a lot of what I've been doing right now focuses home decor and thrifty decorating and reusing of old items. However - one of my loves is sewing! Last year I spent a lot of time sewing and selling on Etsy... but it began to feel like a chore and let's face it - the dollar per hour is not too alluring in the sewing business. So, now I have been enjoying projects that present themselves with no stress or payment involved.

The latest project is one I mentioned here. This delightful fabric choice by my friend is for her upcoming (soon!) arrival's nursery. I made the bed skirt, bumper, basket liners and valences for her. It was a lot of fun and turned out super cute! So - the finished project... ta da!

Here are the little baskets packed with her goodies for the shower.

I couldn't resist this picture - check out the homemade cupcakes...they were scrumptious if I do say so myself and coordinated with the bedding!

Chocolate with mint buttercream icing and pumpkin with cinnamon cream cheese icing were both topped with little mod-podged owls from her fabric on sticks trimmed with coordinating ribbon. Fun stuff!

This is her finished crib - lovely! I love the colors with the dark wood - I think she did an awesome job picking out the fabric!

The making of a beautiful nursery!

Phew - long time no post. I think that is the first time that's happened to that extent since I started blogging here. I was out of town for work and have also been undertaking some big things around my home. First, I have been asked by a good friend to sew some of her decor for her nursery for her upcoming baby! She has chosen a very cute owl print and coordinating patterns. I'm very excited about seeing it all come together and getting to be a part of the project. So - that is where the artistic piece of my brain is going to be for a bit. I hope to get some before and after pictures of the nursery and will share soon!

Here are the fabric choices:

Purdy, huh?!

In other BIG undertakings... I'm toying with the idea of putting our house on the market and renting a house closer to our kids school. I say "I" because my husband seems luke warm to the idea as he is ear-deep in dissertation writing. However, the move would also benefit him (we'd be very close to campus) - once we actually completed it. The tricky part is the selling of the house and moving of the stuff. The part that makes this decision difficult is that we will, undoubtedly, be moving at some point in the next 2 years. If we knew we had 2 years left here - I'd jump in and move in a second... but what if we only have 9 months left? That's a lot of work for 9 months. Our location has become increasingly inconvenient since our son started kindergarten on the other side of town and I'm just looking for some relief. Plus, the idea of not having to sell a house when we do get ready to leave town is very appealing.

I'm blogging about this here because I know some of my readers have experience with moving AND with making rental spaces look lovely... both of which I'm going to solicit ideas on when the time comes. Perhaps even a give-away involved. Stay tuned!

Toddler Birthday Outfit

Busy days around our house. Our first child is heading to Kindergarten tomorrow! So - I've gotten to spend the last week hanging out with him (he's usually at Pre-K as I work full-time) and supply shopping and getting ready! He wanted to sleep with his new backpack on last night. So sweet.

My crafty ways have been for the most part stifled this week as I stay extra busy juggling my kids, work, and home. I did get this little beauty from my Etsy shop shipped out today though! It is a little birthday outfit I made for someones daughter. I hope she loves it! It was fun to make (that's a hair bow attached - not some weird bow tie)! In fact, looks like something I would love to wear on my birthday next month. Hmmm... do 37 year olds look OK in tutus? ;) I think so.

Finally - a new sewing project

My little ones have "water play" days once a week this summer at their preschool. I made my daughter a little cover-up to wear over her suit to school on those days and I love how it turned out. So - I am offering them in my Etsy shop now. I've been busy with so many little projects and a couple Guatemalan T-shirts that I hadn't had time to do many new things lately. It was great to get to play and come up with something fun! Here's a sneak peak but click on my shop link to see more!

Because you have to look the part...

Our family went to The Renaissance Festival last weekend. Each child got to pick out a souvenir. My daughter picked a tiny little carved treasure chest that she got to fill with colored stones. My five year old son picked a bow and arrow (a toy one - the arrow tips are erasers...which -by the way - would be very easy to make). When we got home he declared that he needed a Robin Hood hat and a quiver to go with it. For those of you who (like me) aren't completely up on your bow and arrow lingo - a quiver is a carrier for the arrows.

So - after much discussion of the shape of the hat, and some resizing due to by son's huge headbrain, I whipped up the requested hat and quiver. I love that I even had a red feather on hand. See... being crafty pays off. ;)

Bringing the Sunshine

It's raining, it's pouring...

Rainy days are some of the best days to sew. I kind of love being couped up knowing that it's not a good day to be outside anyway and just creating something beautiful. Today - it shall be a little dress. It's in my head right now - but it shall soon be on my Etsy site. I think I'll use a brilliant yellow with little colorful polka dots. It's the perfect fabric to turn this rainy day into something sunny.

I'd love to hear from others... I don't have many commenters yet - but if you happen upon this, share a link of what you're working on today - or your favorite rainy day project!

Little Leggings!

I'm loving these little leggings for my daughter to wear under her dresses this spring. I like that she doesn't have to have tights on - but she is not just exposing her bare legs and undies while playing. This is the only picture I have right now that shows what I mean (can you see them peaking out from under her dress?)... I am making some more today to go with this shirt I have listed on Etsy. The shirt is cut long, but not long enough to be considered a dress. I think I will turn the listing into an outfit instead of listing separately. This is a fabric that I don't have more of currently so I am selling as a OOAK. I keep debating just keeping for my daughter, but it is a little big on her. I do love it though!

More Revamping, Reusing, Recycling

How do you demonstrate to your children the concept of waste reduction? I know most of us talk about recycling plastic bags and bottles, etc. ~ but what about less obvious ways? The outfit I posted in the last post is a flimsy example...but it is a way I reused something that could have just been stuck away in a box until next year, or even thrown out. After I posted it - I started thinking about how else I am being resourceful and creatively reusing, revamping or recycling items in our every day lives. The best way we can teach our children is to lead by example.


In that spirit - here are a few other projects around the house that are getting us thinking about revamping, reusing and recycling!

• I just went through my daughter's closet. We are very lucky to have two nieces each a little older than my daughter. We get LOTS of hand-me downs. Most of her other clothes I make (I know, this will probably only fly until she's about 9 or 10). But, with good care many of the clothes still have life in them when the third child has outgrown them. We sorted together (which is fun and spurs memories and talks of how much she has grown) and came up with a box of clothes to donate to our American Vets and a box to take to an upcoming consignment sale. We talked about donations and giving to others and also about working hard to save and make money. (Side note... the sorting of the styles, sizes, seasons of clothing was actually a great activity for my five year old to take part in too. Categorizing is right up his developmental alley.)

• Next, I am cleaning and revamping my office and sewing supply area. This is a CHORE. Our current space in the house is not exactly an ideal setup for my sewing... however, with some creativity and using what I already had on hand - I've made some great progress. I'll post before and after pictures. One of my favorite things... I used a little wooden horse stable toy that my daughter doesn't use to store a lot of my tiny items for sewing. I tried to entice my son into sorting all my pins and buttons and such for me, but he drew the line.

• The cleaning of all my sewing items resulted in the discovery of some t-shirts that I had started to use for my little Guatemala tops I make (yes, that beauty is my daughter;) ) and then found that they ran too small for the size I needed. So, instead of throwing them out - I have used them for the basis of a new spring outfit! I kept hanging on to them thinking I needed to just get rid of them... and then it hit my that I could rework them into something really cute! Pictures coming soon!

Some other every day ways we try to reuse...

• Save all egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls - this make great craft basis'.
• Buy the reusable grocery totes! If you haven't done it yet - do it - or make one. They're easy. Or just search on Etsy... here, I'll get you started!
• Refill water bottles - or just buy a big pitcher.
• Save cardboard boxes. They make great forts, cages... the possibilities are endless.
  

So, please share...how are you demonstrating to your kids the art of finding new uses or even just re-uses for old things?