Crafty Stuff on the Net

Just wanted to mention the So You Think You're Crafty challenge. There are some awesome entries, and the winning entry will publish a tutorial for us all! Yeeha! This goes on for ten weeks. Love it. Check it out and vote for your favorite.

While perusing the challenge, I've seen some of my favorite crafty bloggers, of course, but I've also discovered new soon to be favorites, I'm sure. For instance, check out Homemade by Jill, specifically her incredible, not-quite-edible felt food. I have to make some of this for H for Christmas. He loves playing restaurant, and we could incorporate reading, writing, and counting skills using a "menu," taking orders, making change for play money. Aieee! My mind is racing. She also has templates for a quiet book, felt playhouse, the list goes on!

A New Dress and Some Models

So this is the other little girl's dress I've been working on...
The neckline (above). This dress was pretty simple and fast. The back (below) which I like as much as the front. The arms and back are a Moda fabric which I bought at a quilting store and is a bit pricey. Alas, the pricey fabric is easier to work with and doesn't have to be ironed as much. I was hoping this wasn't true, but it seems that, at least in this case, higher price = higher quality.
Details of the bugs above, and below, a model! Actually, it's the recipient of this dress. She's the daughter of a friend. Sorry about the whited-out faces, but as paranoid as I am about pictures of my own children on the internet, I must do it.

Her older sister received one of the dish towel dresses. Check here for a dish towel dress made from different Target Dollar Spot towels.

I think she's telling me, "Enough with the pictures, Ms. K!" Or maybe she's going to break into "Stop, In the Name of Love."Hooray for hand sewn dresses!
I've got some other finished projects to post soon!

Put Your Hand in My Pocket - Pants-along

Ha! but don't pull out a rocket, or do any pulling on these pockets, please!


What can I say? Toot, toot! That's me tooting my own horn. I laa-uvvv them. Go ahead, click on the picture, see them up close and in detail (C's photography, not mine). When I started to work on them, I got so involved. I didn't eat supper. I left the boys' yogurt container out for a couple of hours (it was still cool, so no loss). I just got in a sewing groove. Ah, and it was a good groove that really worked well, much better (read: easier) than I would have expected. I didn't have any directions other than my own idea of what I wanted, and it turned out just as I had pictured. I've already gotten the casing in, but I still have to top stitch it in place and hem. Then it will be time for the big reveal :)

Giving New Meaning to the Phrase Cutie Pie

I have been waiting for the okay to link to this hat, because I am just blown away at what people can think of and create. Then, when I checked Blue Bird Studio today, the latest posts are a baby bowl and a baby cocoon with the directions for knitting both. Go take a look, all three of these are so adorable.

Also, While They Sleep is having a giveaway for a handmade pod swaddler or the pattern to make your own. Such a cute and useful idea (my oldest HAD to be swaddled in order to sleep as an infant).

Lots of baby stuff out there, and since the two friends I had showers for back in June just recently had their girls a week and a day apart, it's been baby-visiting time around here. When I see newborns, it's hard for me to believe my boys were ever that small. It goes so very fast and is so very precious, rejoice in it.

What to Make, What to Make

Aahhh, and this is just how they were stacked in the package. The colors flowing into one another (well, except for maybe that bottom, Denyse Schmidt, one). That thing in the background? It's a fabric catalog. Yes, you read that right, a fabric catalog. Who knew these existed? It's like a book of dreams. When the catalog came out from between the layers of fabric, I exclaimed, "Look at this! Do you know what this is?" H said, with matching excitement I might add, "A fabric magazine!" That's my boy!

I'll blame this fabric purchase on two blogs: mmmcrafts and her co-conspirator ViolaAndPearl. That's where I read about the sale, and so I went to just look. I resisted for a whole day, but then I was left in the house with only W. He was happily playing...I was happily shopping. I did at least wait for C to tell me I wasn't going to break the bank with one more fabric purchase before actually hitting the Buy Now button. However, I have a terrible non-use problem going on here. I love buying the fabric, but making something with it? Ehh, not so much. I completely planned to tackle Weekend Sewing's Yard Sale Wrap Skirt, but when I look at pictures of this skirt that others have made (via Flickr), they don't look so great. I mean, they are not very flattering. It's not just that they emphasize one's waist, the length doesn't look right. So, what to make? I am thinking the Weekend Sewing Trapeze Sundress. We'll see...

A Little Good Stuff

A few things that are making me smile. This sign on my neighbors' mailbox:
I think that's a deal for fresh eggs, and as a gal who helped her brother run an egg business (picture an eight year-old pedaling her pink bike with a couple of dozen eggs in her little plastic-flower-decorated basket), I want to support the two boys who are behind this enterprise (which includes a blog and home-delivery). After reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, I've been buying range-free, cage-free eggs, so to buy some from right down the street is even better!

Then there's this fabric I bought for half-off! I thought it was too cute to pass up (and Mel got really excited about it).
Sorry for the poor picture quality, and for the placement. I've been having a harder time than normal moving my pictures around in posts (must speak to IT aka C).

This evening I am headed to a knitting class. Looking forward to learning new skills and making something for myself with said new skills! Also, looking forward to asking a few questions on some WIPs I have.





Lastly, I am awaiting several packages (and who doesn't love packages? we've discussed this here before). One is the above book Roots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots by Sharon Lovejoy (underline isn't working today either by the way, but it will underline a link it seems). I saw this book mentioned on BluebirdBaby's blog (sorry no link, pressed for time here). It's about gardening with children, and since the boys have recently discovered the fun of the water hose, I thought it might be beneficial. Another package will be bringing some fabric


It's called Fortune Sea by Anna Maria Horner, sigh, isn't it lovely?

Wishing True's First Giveaway: Bee Gee Bags

Wishing True (a blog that is sort of a combination soul-candy/eye-candy for me) is having its first giveaway, and it's an uber-chic Bee Gee Bag. Hmmm, so do I want one?

Um, yes,

yes,

and yes!

Go here to enter, you know you want one (or five, but Kate's only giving away one).

*All photos from www.wishingtrue.com

Three Chances to Win

Photo from www.alilwelshrarebit.blogspot.com

Christy over at A Lil Welsh Rarebit is giving away three different prizes, and this necklace from Tags-N-Stones is one of them. Now, I am not much of a jewelry girl (gasp, I know shocking isn't it?), but if I do purchase jewelry, I want it to be fairly simple and "clean." This necklace fits the bill, and if you win, you can choose silver or gold for the monogram tag and the stone color (Christy's blog has pictures of the stone colors). Click here to see what else she's giving away (and to enter for yourself!)

A Reason to Renew Your Vows Giveaway

Vintage Wedding Refashioned Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Photo credit: grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com

Seriously, if I won this dress (and the flower laurel since I commented on the post), I'd be talking to C about renewing our vows.

Photo credit: grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com

Do you see those sheer sleeves with light blue buttons down the arm? The lightest of blue detailing? (Excuse me, I need to wipe the drool off my keyboard, ok) Really, I love it!

Earrings from Grosgrain Giveaway

Vintage Earrings Tutorial and GIVEAWAY!!!!

Grosgrain/Shabby Apple Giveaway

Marseilles Dress SHABBY APPLE GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Grosgrain is giving away a gorgeous dress from Shabby Apple, so I am linking up to enter the giveaway. While checking that one out, I've seen two more giveaways I must enter. Plus, I already know of three others on blogs I read. Um, sorry for all the giveaway posts, but I love free, beautiful things!

I did enjoy this note about the company: ~Shabby Apple welcomes you to great dresses that make dressing simple. After years of not being able to find stylish dresses that covered enough skin to make you really feel comfortable (without wearing a tank top, cardigan or long slip), owners Emily and CK decided to do something about it.~ Amen! I detest finding something I really like, only to discover, once it's on, that I need a tank top or something to make it wearable!