Little Monkeys

Fancy Legs! Giveaway!

2012-01-20T11:01:00.000-06:00

I am currently working on a very special pair of "Fancy Legs" legwarmers to offer as a giveaway prize! To enter, you must become a facebook follower of Sew Bananas Boutique. When the legwarmers are offered on my fan page, I will let everyone know so that they may comment telling me who they have in mind for some "Fancy Legs!"

Find Sew Bananas Boutique on facebook here.

Join Me on Facebook!!! Giveaway Soon!!!

2012-01-16T14:58:00.000-06:00

"Little Monkeys" is the blog...Sew Bananas is the shop! I'd love to have you join me on facebook. As a little incentive, there will be a giveaway this week for one lucky follower. If I have several new followers, then I'll add an extra prize!!! Don't forget to comment so I know you joined! Sneak Peek coming soon...

Sew Bananas on Facebook

Freezer Paper in the Printer?!

2012-01-15T22:44:00.000-06:00

I love coming across a new tip or trick that makes life a little easier. I remember how excited I was when I found out that freezer paper makes great pattern tracing paper because you can iron it directly onto your fabric. I was ecstatic when I realized that I could put the freezer paper in my printer! Yep! It works! You can actually print out your patterns right from your computer files to your freezer paper. I don't recommend it for a pattern that you don't intend to use more than once or twice, but if you will be using a particular pattern frequently, then this little trick is for you!

I could have sworn that I took a picture of the first step, but I cannot find it. Basically, I took a piece of freezer paper (I used Reynold's freezer paper) and cut it out so that it was the same size as a piece of card stock paper. Lightly tape it to your card stock before putting it in your printer. This will help to guide it through your printer. Just print your pattern pieces just like you normally would. After you print the pages you need, untape the freezer paper from the card stock. Save the card stock to be reused again! Cut out and tape your pattern pieces together.

Here's the part I love... Iron your pattern pieces directly to your fabric. You will not have to do any pinning! Just cut your pattern out.

You can then peel off the freezer paper pattern and it can be reused many times just by ironing it back on to your next piece of fabric! How cool is that?!

I really dislike pinning, so I loved how easy it was to just cut around the pattern! If you have a time saving trick that you love...please share! I'd love to hear it!

...for the last 6 months

2012-01-01T22:33:00.002-06:00

First, let me wish you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! May the year 2012 be full of joy and blessings!

I know it's been nearly six months since I've posted anything on my blog, and for those of you that stuck around...THANK YOU!! I did receive a new computer for Christmas (yippee!!!), and it is much easier to get online with my new desktop! My old laptop was about ten years old, and it definitely was acting its age. Anyway, I thought I'd share a few pictures of what has been happening in the crafting department... I did continue to sew, even if I didn't blog about it! Thank you for being so patient!

Let's see... my last post was in July with the "too large" wrap dress for Isabella. In August, I moved on to making cutsie socks. These were a lot of fun to make, and I made this particular pair for a very special trip which I'll share in a few...

In August, it was back to sewing summer clothes. This little dress fit Isabella much better than the previous one, and I actually created a quick "pattern time saver" tutorial, which I'll share this week.

The back view is my fave...love a big bow in the back!!!

Action shot!!! Toddlers will not pose, especially when they are outside!!!

Back in the house now, though still rambunctious...

OK, now on to the fun stuff! I told you we had a very special vacation this year. We went to Disney World in October, and the kids are already asking when we can go back! I have to admit, I love it just as much as they do! With four kids, we don't go every year, but we make the most of it when we get the chance to go. We stayed in a Disney resort for a whole week, and it was so much fun! I do think, however, that you almost need a vacation after a Disney vacation to REST!

This outfit was for our breakfast at the Crystal Palace with Winnie the Pooh and gang...

Unfortunately, Isabella was terrified of the characters! Eeyore looks so sad to be shunned...

We planned on a few Minnie and Mickey encounters, so Mom had to whip up a certain number of polka dotted dresses....but....NOPE!!! A big yellow bear was there instead!! Oh the horror of it all!!!

Big sister (wearing a Minnie embroidered shirt) was also wearing a smile and enjoying herself very much!

Not a good picture for viewing the pink version of the Minnie dress, but at least she's not panicking!!! ...and there's the socks again...

On blogs and on Etsy, we are used to seeing outfits like this, but it was really nice to receive so many compliments from other Disney goers...the best one being, "Where did you get that?" As a self- taught crafter/seamstress, I realize I've come a long way from the major mess I created six years ago!!!

Here's a better view of all three of the pillowcase dresses I made for the trip...the two Minnies and the Halloween one...

As I mentioned, we were in Disney during all of the fall/Halloween celebrations. The park looked so pretty in its fall splendor! If you've ever thought about attending "Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party," do it! It was so much more fun than traditional trick-or-treating. There have been a few years that we didn't even go door-to-door. I've got one child with a peanut allergy, and it's not fun to let him get it and then take it away from him...not that any of them need boatloads of candy. It is such a fun, festive atmosphere in Disney anyway, and we had a blast!

Please excuse this poor quality picture! It was taken in the hallway of our hotel with my phone! I have four little "monkeys," but one of them was running down the hall ready to get to the Magic Kingdom! He had a shirt to match his brother's.

Caught him!!! The boys had little stars in their silhouettes, and the girls had tiny candy.

Princess Tiana, herself told them how much she liked their matching shirts!

Disney was fun, but when we got home, it was time to sew for Thanksgiving and Christmas!!!

For the turkey dinner...

I made this dress "just for fun"... (sorry, sometimes they just aren't in the mood for a picture!)

And here are some fun and easy (one not so easy) Christmas gifts that could be given any time of the year...

First, the not so easy project (but well worth it in the end)...

I made this bean bag chair for my oldest daughter. It is adult sized, so there is plenty of growing room! It has a removable cover for washing. It was a challenge for me, and it certainly cost me just as much to make it as if I had bought one, but I'm happy I made it. You can find a free pattern for this on the Michael Miller website. There is a child sized version as well.

For the easier projects, I used a "Precious Patterns" tutorial to make these cute little pillow pals for my younger three children. They all have bonded with them already...dragging them by their little "arms" and "legs," and sleeping with them. These took no time to make (I made three of them late Christmas Eve!).

Well, there you have it! Six months of projects in one blog post! I hope you feel inspired to go sew some new projects. If you do, please comment with a link to your own blog...I'd love to see what you have been working on. :)

"Sew Baby" Pattern Review

2011-07-11T17:19:00.002-05:00

With summer break, dance team, karate, and swimming, I haven't had much time for sewing. It seems like we are always headed out the door! However, there are times when I need some time by myself to just...sew! The project I chose was an adorable wrap dress and bloomers pattern by "Sew Baby." There are many versions of this pattern, and I have most of them, but I decided to give this one a try first. It is reversible, so you do get two dresses for the time it takes to make one...can't beat that!

Using some fabric from my stash, I chose the 12-18 month size for my 16 month old baby girl.

You can see the reverse side in this picture.

Isabella is small, but I do think that the dress portion of the pattern ran large. The bloomers were fine. I didn't really like how large the armholes were on her, so if I used this pattern again, I would definitely make the 9-12 month size for her.

Silly girl! This is her favorite pose!

This was supposed to be a knee-length dress, so you can see that it is definitely too large for her!

Paired with a onesie, the dress looks better...more like a jumper. It will at least allow her to wear it modestly this year, and there is nothing wrong with getting two years out of one of Mommy's creations!

Isabella is constantly on the move, so this is another action shot!

This pattern is super easy to follow (only one pattern piece), and I really love how the derss is full and "swingy!" Most wrap dresses are not as full. This one crosses in the back, but it isn't really an "open-back" style. The bloomers do not show like they do in other versions of this dress. Although large on her, it is wearable, and I have finally warmed up the sewing machine!

Pink Poodle Birthday for Two, Please!!!

2011-02-20T16:41:00.003-06:00

My two daughters have birthdays within four days of each other. Isabella turned one (sniff, sniff!) and Hannah turned 9 (last year of single digits...another sniff, sniff!). We celebrated each girl's special day on their actual birthdays, but we had one big party for the both of them. Isabella didn't understand what all the fuss was about, but Hannah said she enjoyed sharing a party with her only baby sister. We had a lot of pink...including the cupcakes!

My littlest princess was sound asleep when the party guests began to arrive, so I put her in her tutu while she was still half asleep. She seemed to think that Mommy had lost her mind, but she was nice about it... She even let my grandmother stand her up, still half asleep, so that I could get a picture of her. I did add ribbon to the tutu. If you read my post on this tutu, you will remember that I was still wondering what to do with it. It was very easy to make (You can find a link for it on my post on the tutu.).

Here is a close up of the birthday shirt I made her...

One year olds that are about to devour their first cake will most definitely need a bib, so I made this for her just in time... (actually about an hour before the party!).

"Hmmmmm...looks pretty good, and they don't seem to remember that they put this cake in front of me!"

"You mean you still are going to let me have this cake??? Cool!!!"

Since I made cupcakes for the guests and a cake for Isabella, I decided that I would make a special cake for my oldest birthday princess. She told me that she loved it so much better than the Publix cakes we usually get because her mom made it for her with love. Love my girl!!! If you are wondering why she has enough make up on to star in a Vegas show, it is because she is on the dance team, and they had a costume practice that morning. I was so worried she would catch her false eyelashes on fire!!!

A new dance bag from a sweet friend!

I made a special birthday shirt for Hannah too. Last year, I didn't get to make her one because I was in the hospital giving birth to Isabella!

I love this picture! My sweet boy, Aidan, was so proud to give his sister the card he made her and the candy bar that he got her! He sat there patiently waiting for his turn to give her the present.

Daddy sharing a hug with his little birthday girl...

As much as I loved celebrating this special day with my two favorite girls, I am glad that the birthdays are behind us for awhile! They are tiring! :)

Silent Auction Projects

2011-02-12T07:48:00.002-06:00

It seems like I either haven't sewn in a while, or I have so many sewing projects at once that there is smoke coming out my ears! Right now, I have more than I can do...! With Valentine's Day on Monday and two of my children's birthdays this week, I didn't think I would be able to sew anything for a silent auction benefiting my daughter's dance team....However, I did manage to whip up a few things yesterday, and then I "stole" one from my Etsy store. :) That only means that my Etsy store is seriously depleted, and I have more sewing projects coming up!

My corn bags (Therapy Bags) were very popular around Christmas, so I made two of those...

...and hooded towels are always a hit with the kids. Since I couldn't monogram something for a silent auction (obviously), I used decorative fabric for the hood, and I really like how it turned out. If you would like to try making one, "The Cottage Home" has a great tutorial here. She has several fun tutorials.

I also took my cowboy bib set out of my Etsy shop (which I dislike doing) because I really wanted to have one more thing but ran out of time for sewing anything. We shall see how it goes tonight!!!

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

A Tutu Swiffer

2011-02-11T08:43:00.002-06:00

I cannot believe my baby girl will be a whole year old next week!!! To celebrate her big day, I have been working on a special outfit for her to wear at her party. Every little girl needs a tutu, so that is what I've made first. I found a super easy (and free) tutorial here. I could have made it much faster, but Isabella was helping me in my sewing room.

She was infatuated with the ironing board string. Don't worry! Nothing was on the ironing board!

I've never tasted an ironing board string myself, but apparently it tastes pretty good.

Once the tutu was finished, I tried it on her to make sure it fit. She was scared of it at first, so I threw some ribbon on the floor to distract her...It worked!

After Isabella felt a little more comfortable with the tutu, she tried it out.

Word of caution... Do not let your baby crawl around your sewing room floor in her new tutu. I found another use for the tutu... A SWIFFER! There was so much fuzz, strings, and other sewing scrap gunk on her pretty new tutu...!

I did put it in the washer on the "hand washables" setting, and it washed up just fine. I then ran it through the "air dry" setting on my dryer, which I do not recommend unless you want it to look like a ballerina that survived "Twister." I fluffed it up with my fingers and then set it under a heavy box...which I then fluffed again. Good as new!

It is nice and fluffy now! I plan to either add hanging ribbons or a bow to it before the big day. I'll also be embroidering something special on a onesie. I'll share the whole finished project once it's complete!

Featured Item!

2011-02-10T09:31:00.002-06:00

My cowboy bib set with reusable snack bag is being featured on Etsy today! My set was included in a treasury of cowboy and cowgirl themed items. This set is in my Etsy shop, and it would make a great gift for a little cowboy!

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

2011-02-01T20:54:00.002-06:00

Here is a recipe for you that packs a lot of flavor for just a little effort. We are a large family, so one dish meals are usually the easiest...especially on nights when my daughter has dance class. There are many versions of this recipe, and I've tried a few variations. This one is my favorite. It's from a Southern Living cookbook titled Our Readers Top-Rated Recipes. Enjoy!

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

1 large onion, chopped

1 large green bell pepper, chopped

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 cups chopped cooked chicken

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can diced tomatoes and chiles (Rotel)

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon pepper

12 (6 inch) corn tortillas

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided

Saute onion and bell pepper in hot oil in a large skillet over medium-high hear 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in chicken and next 7 ingredients; remove from heat.
Tear tortillas into 1-inch pieces, and layer one-third of tortilla pieces in bottom of a lightly greased 13x9-inch baking dish. Top with one-third of chicken mixture and 2/3 cup of cheese. Repeat layers twice.
Bake at 350* for 30-35 minutes. Yield: 6-8 servings.

*You can freeze this casserole for up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, and bake as directed. (I am always meaning to do this. It would be so nice to have a freezer stocked with ready-made, but homemade meals.)

It's really good garnished with sour cream, salsa, and even jalapenos!

It passed the taste test of my children..even my 3 year old!

I'm Baaaack!

2011-01-06T13:43:00.003-06:00

A total kitchen rennovation...

combined with four excited kids (ok, maybe three excited and one tired) at Christmastime...

has not left much time for blogging!!! Christmas is now behind us, and the kitchen is done! I look forward to creating new projects and sharing them with you! I did have trouble signing into Blogger...anyone else having issues? I was only able to sign in by leaving a comment on another blog and then redirecting back to my own blog. I cannot sign in directly. Oh well, I guess that will leave more time for sewing!

All of the therapy/ spa bags sold out in my Etsy shop, so I am working on more. They are heavenly! They truly do stay hot for a long time. My mother-in-law used hers to warm up her bed. She says that she has no need to look for a husband now...LOL!

This and That

2010-11-22T00:04:00.001-06:00

I know it has been ages since I've sat down and written a blog post, but November is "Birthday Month" at my house. My two sons and my husband all have birthdays this month...and we are getting a wee bit tired of birthday cake! I have been creating...not as much as I would like to be, but I have been in my craft room nonetheless.

I create sewing lists for myself (not that I get to all of it), but it at least helps to put all these ideas running through my head on a tangible list. A shopping cart cover for my baby girl has been at the top of that list for quite a while, so I felt relieved to finally be able to cross that off the list! I shudder to think what wretched germs are on the handle of a shopping cart, and I do have a baby that likes to put her mouth on everything...eeww!

I tried to be discreet when taking a picture of my baby in the middle of Target, so I wheeled her into the card aisle! I think she likes her new comfy ride! I'd like it to...It is a Kwik Sew pattern, and it has a thick layer of quilt batting sandwiched in between the pink polka dot fabric and the lime green gingham.

This outdoor shot did not turn out so hot, but people were looking at me like I was a weirdo! Afterall, I was taking a picture of a Target shopping cart!

I've also been busy making school spirit shirts for some Elementary teachers that wanted something a little different than the cheapo shirts that the school gives out.

And, last but not least, I have some European market totes that needed sprucing up. I sold the "Boutique" market tote that I shared in an earlier post, as well as the black one with the French dot monogramming. I found this cute ribbon at JoAnn's, and I thought it would look great on my brown tote. This ribbon is a little wider than what I normally use, but I still thought it looked pretty...

Eventually, I will get started on the Christmas sewing... YIKES! I get so stressed when someone tells me exactly how many days until Christmas!!!

Keep Your Fingers Cool and Your Coffee Hot!

2010-10-20T21:50:00.003-05:00

How many times has the guy (or gal) at Starbucks handed you a cup of coffee, apologized to you for running out of cardboard coffee sleeves, and then stood there staring at you while you howled in pain and tried frantically to pull your shirt sleeve down to hold your cup?! ...or does stuff like that just happen to me? Now, I will be ready! I made a bunch of these today (My husband wants one too!), and I listed a few on Etsy. I do think these would make nice stocking stuffers for spouses or for teenagers. In my day, teenagers did not like coffee, but now I think it must be a "cool" thing. None of us could have ever afforded coffee shop coffee anyway. Babysitters must get paid more these days!

I like this coffee sleeve more than the ones with buttons just out of personal preference. For one thing, I am a klutz. I will scald myself for sure if I have to hold hot coffee while trying to fiddle with buttons on a coffee sleeve. This one slides on just like the cardboard sleeves. It fits the 16 and 20 ounce cups. You just slide it on and then up until it is on the cup snugly, and you are good to go.

Here is the other fabric I have that I am itching to turn into cute little coffee sleeves!

...And lets not forget the hot tea drinkers!!!

Fave Crafts Blog Hop

The Infamous Pillowcase Dress...

2010-10-14T15:59:00.001-05:00

I know millions of these dresses have been made....(Actually, it's the very first thing I learned to sew), but I can't help it...I still love them! I learned to sew when my 8 year old daughter was 3. I now have another baby girl, and it has been soooo much fun sewing for an itty bitty girl! I decided on a pillowcase dress because this dress is limited to October, and I kind of got a late start. She can wear it next year as a tunic top with leggings (I like it with leggings this year too!). My oldest daughter has gotten as many as three years out of her pillowcase dresses! I can't wait to see her in it, but it isn't worth waking her up from her nap...almost, but not quite!

A New Spin on the European Market Tote

2010-10-09T22:02:00.004-05:00

I'm trying something new with the collapsible market tote. Many of them have the ribbon tied on them, and I offer those too, but a friend of mine gave me this idea...

What do you think??? A cute initial monogrammed on the corner would make it complete.

Howdy Partner!

2010-10-07T21:50:00.000-05:00

I know my post title is corny, but I couldn't help it! This little cowboy set makes me hear, "Rollin', rollin', rollin'...Keep those dawgies rollin'!" Maybe it is the fall break with four kids at home that is starting to mess with my brain a little... Anyway, I had to share! I tried this bib pattern by "Precious Patterns," and I love it! it solves the problem of baby food on the shoulders! I don't know about your kids, but every single one of mine have always turned their faces away when they see me coming with a washcloth. Clean clothes end up instantly messy with something green or orange all over the shoulder. Not anymore! Now, if I can just keep it off mine. My baby always waits to sneeze after a mouthful of pureed something or other...

I have been eyeing all of the reusable snack bags out there and decided to give it a try. Besides fighting with the slippery nylon interior, these were addictive to make. I think I'll make some for my older kids to use in their lunchboxes. Plastic bags can get expensive when you use them as much as we do...probably not so good for the environment either. This pattern can be found at the "Woobie Shop." The pattern is for three different sizes of bags. The one shown here is the smallest bag. It's a good size for those little "Puffs" or "Cheerios."

This set would be great for a little boy, and I just listed it on Etsy in my shop. :)

Indulge Yourself!!!

2010-10-02T17:18:00.002-05:00

"Spa Pillows," "Therapy Bags," whatever you want to call them, they are Heavenly!...And they have just been listed on Etsy! They come in sets of two, so you can plop one on your neck and tuck one behind your back if you choose. :) They are a generous 8"x 10" sizes bags, and I've used coordinating prints to make them fun!

You will be glad they are sold in sets of two...we've only had one in this house, and we fight over it!

Spa/ Therapy Pillows

2010-09-23T11:23:00.002-05:00

Here is a little peek at what I've been up to lately! I have 40 pounds of "Clean Feed Deer Corn" on my sewing room floor!!! If there were security cameras recording me at Wal-Mart the day I purchased this bag, then there is going to be a good laugh at the company Christmas party! I struggled trying to get that thing under my cart (my only available space since I still have a baby in an infant seat taking up the whole cart!). I left in a sweat, but I was on a mission to get this corn!

I've made wheat pillows before, but recently, I came across a site on the Internet that talked about how much better the corn feed bags were. It was actually written by a nurse that got her corn bags/ pillows FDA approved for use in the hospital (she worked on the physical rehab floor). Corn feed is safer. I had no idea that the wheat pillows that I had been making could actually explode in the microwave. I'm sure the kids would enjoy that show, but I sure wouldn't want to clean up that mess! It also has the risk of fire when the small grains dry out. Flax seed can also explode, and it is expensive. So, this is how I ended up with 40 pounds of corn!

After making these, I microwaved each one three times for three minutes each (allowing it to cool completely between each zap). Seeing as they stay hot for so long, it took me quite a while! Doing this before giving them away, or selling them, helps to extract the natural moistures in the corn. Now my bags are ready to go! They can be used hot, or they can be stored in the freezer and used as a drip-free ice pack. I'm going to make small ones to keep in the freezer for my kids. They constantly are bumping their noggins!!! Sooooo many uses for these thing. I'm going to make some flannel ones in fun prints for the kids. I think they would love to have a warm bag tucked in by their feet when the weather gets cooler. ...and maybe a neck wrap...hmmmmm

I've made the 8"x10" size with a removable slipcover for washing. I still have LOTS of corn, so I better get busy. Honestly, a deer jumped out in front of my car the other night... Do you think I smell like corn???

Let's Get Physical!

2010-09-16T21:16:00.002-05:00

My little boy, Aidan, is in kindergarten this year. For a fundraiser, the children ran laps around the school, and sponsors could either pledge per lap or give a flat donation. Aidan's little legs ran him around the entire school thirteen times! To gear up for this big day, we had to record all of the different forms of physical activity that he did each day. He also had to create a self-portrait of himself out of the gingerbread"ish" form that was sent home. It was supposed to be what he looks like when he exercises. Are you ready for this? Here ya go....

Sweatband, sunglasses, muscle shirt...LOL! I was cracking up! My husband thought it looked a little like Richard Simmons, but I would have had to find some curlier yarn for that! I had to share... I thought it was so cute!

We're Gonna Rock Around the Clock Tonight...

2010-09-13T16:38:00.000-05:00

I'll have to say, while making this custom towel for a little girl that "likes purple and puppies" I felt like grabbing a coke float and dance around the floor. Doesn't this towel remind you of a poodle skirt? I was unable to find a girly looking ribbon with puppies on it, so this idea came to mind instead...

I appliqued the dog and sewed on the ric rac leash to the back of the towel. There is still a little stabilizer on the towel. I've got to clean up this little pooch before I ship her off to her new home!

All of my kids have these, and their ages range from six months to eight years old. They love them, and I love how I can wrap my youngest two up and carry them to their rooms without ending up looking like I am the one that had the bath!

Sew Bananas Is On Facebook!!!

2010-09-10T11:23:00.003-05:00

If you have been following my blog, "Little Monkeys," then you probably know that I also have an Etsy store, "Sew Bananas Boutique." Well, I've added Sew Bananas Boutique to Facebook...might as well, everybody else in the world is on Facebook! I'd love to have you join my Facebook site!!!!

For the Boys...

2010-09-06T08:39:00.000-05:00

I know I've been posting one thing after another for baby girls, but that's only because I have a baby girl right now! I sure haven't meant to slight the boys, especially since I have two little boys myself! Here is an infant seat cover for a little fella made out of Michael Miller "Bandana Patchwork" and "Horseshoe" print. My intentions were to use the "Little Cowpoke" material, but I learned that this was one of those cases that you needed a 1/2 yard more of the fabric for a one directional print...hmmmm, shoulda paid attention to that one! So, I will be making some infant and toddler (with crumb catcher) bibs out of the cute cowboy fabric instead. I've been saving that fabric since my 2 year old son was born (I made his bedding set out of it). It would have made a cute infant seat cover... (Do you hear the violins?)

I love the "patchwork" look...

Here is a close-up of the little horseshoes. Giddy up Cowboy!

I made Velcro handles on this one instead of the ties...

Thanks for looking!

Little Bit Modern...Little Bit Retro...

2010-08-26T21:51:00.000-05:00

I know this Alexander Henry fabric has been around for awhile, and I've seen it used as aprons, skirts, dresses, kitchen towels, etc. etc. etc! I still love it though, and I decided to use it for some baby items. I love the modern look of the apples and pears, but I also LOVE ric rac and decided to add a little vintage feel with polka dots and ric rac. Do you think it works as a cute set? I'm pretty happy with it, and most definitely will be making my own little Isabella a set of her own!

I also love how soft and cuddly chenille fabric is for baby items. I backed the bibs with it. I don't like the mess it makes all over my sewing room, however! I made another pink and brown bib for my baby and let her use it before giving it a good wash in the washing machine. When I took it off of her, she looked like she had "Grandma Beads!" Do only Southerners know what that is, or is that a universal thing? Ha! I also was pulling some of the fuzz out of her mouth, so I definitely suggest washing any bibs made with chenille before putting them on your baby! No one likes eating fuzz...yuck!

I do love ric rac and use it whenever I can. I decided to do three rows here because it looked a bit "Christmasy" when I only used the apple green on the red. Adding the pink rows helped that out a bit.

This burp cloth is a little different than the ones I usually make with the band of fabric along the bottom. I like doing it this way when I have some cute fabric I want to showcase. This way is pretty easy. Just sew a strip down the middle and you're done! Now that I've upload these pictures, I notice that a few chenille fuzzies made their way onto this burp cloth...

I've got to get busy making something for boys...don't meant to be slighting the fellas! I've got two boys and think boys are great! I think my 5 year old, Aidan probably gets the most excited (out of all my children) when I make something for him. Doesn't it warm your heart when your children appreciate what you do for them? ...just makes you want to do more, doesn't it?

Crash Boom Bang!!!

2010-08-23T15:51:00.003-05:00

After a looooooong six days, I finally have internet again!!! We had a terrible thunderstorm, and my husband and I both sat straight up in bed after it sounded like someone shot a shotgun in our bedroom. The whole room lit up, and Seth said that he felt like he had just had an x-ray...hee hee! At least one of us had a good night's sleep! Why is it that when I tiptoe through the room, she wakes up over a creak in the floor, but thunder loud enough to shake the house didn't disturb her one bit?!

Before the lightning knocked us in to "Little House on the Prairie," I opened my Etsy store! So, Sew Bananas Boutique is ready for business. I don't have much listed yet (funny, four kids and no t.v. doesn't leave much playtime for mommy), but it is a start. I have a car seat tent listed for a baby girl, and I listed the European Market Totes that some of you inquired about. I am working on bibs right now (all different styles) and I will sew up some more car seat tents after that. I also bought some fabric for making 18" doll ballerina costumes and clothes (perfect for upcoming Christmas presents!). I'm trying to whip up a few hair bows as well (Hannah keeps claiming them all for herself...little heifer!). Check out my store if you get a chance (Etsy button is the little monkey on the top left corner of my blog). For those of you that sell on Etsy, I am always looking for helpful bits of feedback.

I'm so glad to be back!!!

Little Prince???

2010-08-07T09:51:00.002-05:00

OK...How bad is this?! My sweet little princess is wearing her brother's bib that says, "Little Prince." She has a mom that sews, so what is up? I felt bad every time that I rummaged through the drawer and had to pick through all the boy bibs. It was time...

I grabbed a good sized bib and traced around it to make a pattern. I used some soft, absorbent chenille for the backing and away I went...

"Oh Mommy! For Me?!"

"Wow! It even has my initial on it!"

"OK...Let's test it out."

"Amazing! Not a drop on me!"

"Thanks Mommy!"

I've got many more cut out and ready to go. I think Isabella has forgiven me for insulting her with the "Prince" bib. No more boy bibs for her! We even have a new one for lunchtime!

Kindergarten Time!

2010-07-30T21:26:00.001-05:00

My sweet Aidan starts kindergarten on Monday. I try to share in his excitement as he carries around his new Star Wars backpack or shows his daddy his new Mario Cart (a Wii thing) lunchbox. He visited his new teacher and saw the classroom last Tuesday night, and he keeps asking, "When can I go back to that kindergarten?" He's excited and eagerly waits the day that he gets to go to kindergarten and stay all day. I try to join in the excitement, but instead I want to cry! He is second born in a line of four. Does that matter...NO! They are ALL "my favorite." Each one brings a special uniqueness to our family. Hannah returns to school as a third grader. I'll miss our "girl chats" and her laughter that I've heard all summer (She's just discovered "I Love Lucy."). Aidan will go all day right along with her. I'll miss his funny stories that he always seems to have right at lunch time. I won't get to share lunch time with him during the week for a while. Do I sound like I am sending them off to college? Well, it kind of feels that way!

When you go to kindergarten all day, you have to have nap time at school. The teacher said to cover the nap mats and bring a blanket . So, to make it extra special, I covered Aidan's nap mat with Toy Story fabric that I found at Fabric.com (a place that I frequent too much) and bought him a matching blanket at Target. I made and attached a pillowcase to the mat cover so that it would be easy to put away, but it also makes the mat a little longer. This is good because the extra thick Kindermats are a few inches shorter than the basic Kindermat...not very comfy when your legs are hanging over and are elevated two inches off the ground.

He seemed thrilled with it, but so did his 2 year old little brother, Jack (not shown in the picture because he was having a fit and saying, "My cowboy!" (a.k.a. Woody).

Aidan will have a locker (pretty cool, huh?), and they will keep their nap items in a laundry bag. I picked this up at Target too, and I embroidered his name on it.

This picture gives you an idea of just how much this bag will hold! I think Aidan could fit in there as well!

Maybe, I could fit in that bag...I don't think anyone would know I was there. Do you think I could get away with it? ;)

It's a Blog Party!

2010-07-26T09:56:00.001-05:00

Come join the fun by visiting "Making Friends Monday!" It's a great way to visit fun blogs that you might not know about and to generate visitors to your own blog! Check it out here.

2:30 a.m. Sewing Project...

2010-07-08T02:55:00.004-05:00

It's not very bright of me to be up until 2:30 a.m. sewing, and even more dumb of me to post about it at 2:45 a.m....especially when I have four children that are early risers! Oh well, it's not like I have much time for stuff like this during the day with a two year old and a four month old needing A LOT of attention! I'm sure there are others of you out there that do the same thing...right?

This is a little reversible dress that I made for my baby girl. The dress whipped up in no time.

This is the back view. It is an open back which shows off the ruffly diaper cover that I made. The flip side of the dress is the tiny flower print that is on the hens. It's cute, and I meant to take a picture, but I forgot...and my eyes are starting to lose their vision...

I love the ruffled diaper cover, but it most certainly did not whip up as fast as the dress! Sewing those tiny leg holes was a pain in the...well, nevermind.

I would have loved to have taken a picture of it on my little model, but she is fast asleep. Did I mention what time it is??? Oh well, I'm going to take my dry, scratchy eyes and go to bed! Good night...

Have You Seen These?

2010-07-04T10:37:00.002-05:00

I love these European market totes! The first time I ever saw one was after the birth of my daughter. A friend from my Sunday school class brought us a meal, and she carried it in one of these. She had her initial on hers too (but without the ribbon), and I really thought it was cute. Then, I saw one in Paula Deen's magazine, and I thought, "I need one of those!" In case you haven't seen these, they are completely collapsible. They fold up flat once you take out the little plastic thingies that go in the little "pockets" for support. I monogrammed mine with the "French Dot" embroidery alphabet found here, and then I added the ribbon tie. Now I'm ready for the next potluck or picnic. I'm sure there are a million uses for this thing!

...Another Car Seat Tent

2010-07-02T08:53:00.003-05:00

What do you do when you make something to sell, but you really want to keep it??? I need to make a boy seat cover next...I don't have a boy baby anymore. :) My camera does not take great pictures, so just imagine the beautiful colors that are in this fairy fabric.

Nice chlorine bucket in the background, huh?! I'll have to get some better shots before listing this!

This one is made like the one that I made for my own baby. I used sturdy fabric ties. I like them because they look girly but are much more durable than ribbons/ bows. For boys, I'll either make velcro or button straps.

Looking at this picture, I realize just how bad I need that Canon Rebel my friend tells me about!!! She has one, and I have camera envy...LOL! You'll have to imagine bubblegum pinks, soft yellows, robin's egg blue, and mint greens...

The underside... I love that pink!

Anyway, that is a little sneak peek on what I've been working on for the shop! I will use sef-control by not keeping this for Isabella, but...I really want to keep it!

Birthday Parties Galore!!!

2010-06-26T08:12:00.001-05:00

With multiple children, it is not uncommon for us to have to juggle them around more than one birthday party on any given Saturday. Today, my oldest daughter and oldest son both have birthday parties to go to at the SAME time. Thankfully, my husband will tote the boys and I will hang with the girls. Here is what I came up with for the gifts...

My daughter's friend got an American Girl doll for Christmas, so to add to all the "Hello Kitty" goodies that we got her, I whipped up this cute little doll outfit. The top is a "pillowcase" style and is very simple to make and really doesn't require an actual "pattern." The skirt is a wrap skirt and can be reversible. There is a free pattern for it found here.

It was so quick and easy, that I made one for my daughter's doll too. 1/4 yard of each fabric choice will make two skirts. Hannah liked the shirt tucked in, but it is equally cute untucked. (I NEED a better camera!!!)

Aidan's little friend is turning four, and he is having a pool party. To go along with the water toys we got him, I made him a hooded towel. My children are certainly enjoying theirs, and I hope Johnny will love his too!

Have a great weekend!!!!!!!!!

Gotta Love Bubble Suits!

2010-06-08T09:29:00.001-05:00

Isabella is already 3 1/2 months old, and I'm just getting around to making her a baby girl outfit! I have soooo many things I want to sew for her running through my head... Somehow, with four children, I don't have as much time for sewing as I thought I would! So, I sew during naptime and late night (which I'm sure many of my crafty readers do the same thing!). This is the "Carly" bubble romper (pattern found here). It is a pattern by Carla C and Sisboom. I love it! I will have to say, I'd rather do buttonholes than snaps. You have the option of either one for the bottom closure. I did snaps this time, but next time I think I'll opt for the buttons. I am pleased how it turned out, although it is difficult to take pictures of the outfit when my baby is too little to sit up by herself! :)

I chose the ribbon closure option for the back, which was probably the easiest choice...

I had so much fabric leftover (this fabric was from my overflowing stash), that I need to make some matching shoes, bonnet, or both!

A Birthday Bag

2010-06-06T13:45:00.001-05:00

My mom just had a birthday, and since mom's usually like it when their kids make them stuff (even their grown kids), I decided to make my mom a bag using this pattern. It is called the "Metro Bag," and it is simple but fun. It has plenty of room to also be used as a small tote bag or large purse. It is definitely easy enough for a beginner. There are no zippers, snaps, etc.

Here is the keychain that I made to match... It's large enough to find if it should happen to make its way to the bottom of that bag!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Giveaway!!!

2010-06-04T15:49:00.001-05:00

There is a great giveaway going on at the Regan Family Farm blog. You could win a Marie-Madeline Street Skirt pattern and fabric of your choice. I love giveaways! The chance to win ends Tuesday, so be sure to head over there quickly and enter!

Hooded Towels

2010-06-02T21:58:00.001-05:00

Hooded towels are so quick and easy to make! There is a free tutorial on DIY dish (button on my sidebar). I used a washcloth instead of the hand towel. I liked that better because the washcloth is already the correct size for the hood, and the edges are finished.

Here are my three older models showing off their new warm, fuzzy towels...

I think having to sit wrapped up in towels makes kids act a little goofy!

I found a cute ladybug ribbon to use for Hannah's towel, and since we affectionately call her "Hannahbug," that is what I monogrammed on her towel (although it's hard to see in the picture).

Last but not least, here is Isabella all snuggly and warm in her hooded towel. They work so much better than baby towels.

These are great for bathtime, but they also work wonderful for beach/ pool towels as well. My kids love theirs, and the boys even found another use for them...superhero capes!

Activity Bag

2010-05-22T10:12:00.000-05:00

It's been so long since I've posted anything, that I believe the crickets are starting to chirp! I have many projects in different stages of completion, but none complete just yet. So, I figured that I would share a project that I made in February for a little friend's birthday, and I will tell you where to find the free tutorial if you want to make one too. I used a Moda charm pack (Cherry-Oh!) to create this bag, which meant no cutting all those little squares! My friend says that her daughter loves this bag and gets compliments on it all the time. I'll have to admit, it was hard to part with it (my daughter, Hannah was drooling when she saw it!). To make a great gift, just fill it with coloring books, paper, crayons, and markers. I think most kids would be pretty excited to get this gift!

To make this bag, visit the blog "Moda Bake Shop" and search "Child's Activity Bag." Just click on the button located in my left column. Have fun!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

2010-05-09T22:19:00.000-05:00

I am blessed...

Teacher Appreciation

2010-05-04T21:33:00.002-05:00

We have had crazy weather here..major flooding, and I do mean major! Thankfully, our home was not affected, but all around us suffered damage. We were stuck at home for a few days, and even now, some of my favorite shopping places are underwater. One good thing about cloudy, gloomy days is that I am more apt to do something crafty inside. SWAK Embroidery sent this idea in a newsletter last year, and I thought it was cute but I couldn't get any cans in time for Teacher Appreciation Day. This year I was ready!

Here are some cute, easy planters made out of large veggie cans (Coffee cans were suggested, but now they don't come with a peel-off label.).

All you have to do is embroider a design of your choice onto a scrap of fabric, cut it out with pinking shears, and glue it onto the can. I filled them with Gerbera daisies. Very simple, and very cute! I am going to attach little notes that say, "Thanks for Helping Me Grow" on them.

This one is for Aidan's preschool teacher...

...and this one is for Hannah's teacher...

I hope they like them! I may have to make one for our porch...

Bugz!!!

2010-04-24T18:44:00.003-05:00

My daughter, Hannah, was recently in a school musical called, "Bugz." Hannah was chosen to be a ladybug, which was good for me because out of all the costume choices, this one seemed pretty straightforward. The music teacher said to come up with something polka dotted, even if it was gluing dots to a red shirt. After some thought, I decided to sew a simple pillowcase dress out of some black dot fabric by Michael Miller. I was pleased with the results, and it ended up being something that she can wear throughout the summer, rather than a "costume" that we would just throw away.

My friend's little girl, Kayla, was also in the musical. She was a butterfly. Kayla's mom and I went searching for some cute butterfly fabric, and I made her a pillowcase dress too.

I think the girls made cute little bugs, if I do say so myself!

Of course, there's always a little brother that doesn't want to be left out. He says when he goes to school, he hopes they make him a "stinkbug." Lovely...

Dolls for My Girls...

2010-04-07T14:35:00.003-05:00

I've been able to say, "My Boys," and now it's fun to say, "My Girls." I am so happy to have two of each, although Aidan likes to tease Hannah and say, "You've only got one sister, and I've got two!" Friendly competition never hurts. :)

I decided to make little dolls for "my girls." I made them using the Doodle Girl pattern from http://www.bitofwhimsy.com/. They were fun to make, and Hannah loved hers. I made one for Isabella first, but when Hannah saw it she asked me if the doll pattern was just for babies, or could she have one too. Of course, I made Hannah one the very next day!

Here is a close-up of Hannah's doll. She named her "Cherry."

Hannah has been taking good care of Cherry. Here's where I found her this morning...

Hannah decided that she would help Isabella name her doll (since she can't do it yet!). She named her "Lucy." You can't tell it from this picture, but Lucy already has a brown smudge on her bow from 2 year old brother Jack. He ran straight to the dolls with melted Easter chocolate all over his fingers! I did the best I could cleaning up the dolls, but I think Lucy will continue to have a little Easter sweetness on her bow.

This is about all Isabella does with "Lucy" right now...

My Girls...

Our New Little Princess

2010-02-23T11:12:00.001-06:00

There is a reason I haven't posted anything on my blog for awhile. Here she is...

We are in awe of her! Her brothers and sister argue over whose turn it is to hold her. She is already adored by all of us!

Fun Stuff for Baby!

2010-02-07T21:52:00.002-06:00

I've been wanting to make some little toys for Isabella (not that she'll need them right away), and I finally got around to making quite a few things in a day. I had some leftover owl fabric from the car seat tent that I made, and thought that it would be cute to make a stuffed owl out of it. This is actually an embroidery machine pattern from Digistitches.com.

Next, I made this funny little doll (at least with my hand embroidery abilities she is) from the Bit of Whimsy patterns. She is the "Butterbean" pattern. She is perfect for a first doll...very soft and cuddly with a few strands of yarn hair for little fingers to grasp. She is all packed and ready to go to the hospital with me when I go to deliver Isabella.

I love these little "Tag" toys. We all know that babies play with the tags more than the actually toys, so here is the solution. The front is very soft...lots of texture from the minky dot material and the different tag ribbons.

...more owl fabric on the back (I think I've just about used it up!)...

This doesn't really fit in with the "toys," but I thought I'd share it anyway. My friend gave me this diaper bag, and I love it! I may monogram the front flap, but until then, I made this bag tag from Five Star Fonts.com. You can't really tell from the picture, but there is a quilting pattern built into the embroidery design. It was quick and easy! The material I used is a pink polka dot, but for some reason, you just can't see it in this picture.

All I need now is the baby!!!!!!!!

...Because Babies Are Messy!

2010-01-26T10:36:00.001-06:00

I made a bunch of burp cloths, and then washed them and put them away before taking any pictures. I drug them back out, but they could have used a little ironing before taking a picture of them! Anyway, I know from past experience that a mom can never have too many of these things! The yellow one is actually cuter in person. It has a Little Bo Peep pattern on it.

This one is my favorite! I love the old fashioned look of this embroidery pattern. I thought about adding ribbon at the bottom of this, but I think I like it left plain. I will making more of these with the vintage baby animals pattern from http://www.swakembroidery.com/.

Of all the kinds of burp cloths you can create, this type is my absolute favorite. They are soft, absorbant, and easy to make. I've used them for any kind of mess the baby can create. My babies have liked to just hang onto these too...They really are soft with the flannel on one side and the terry cloth on the other.

...two more

...a close-up

I am sure I'll be making more... :)

...Something to Protect the Wee One!

2010-01-24T13:50:00.001-06:00

How many times have you covered your little baby's carrier only to have it blow off into the street? I've had that happen quite a few times with my other babies, and it was usually when there was rain to go with it. So, baby would get wet, and the blanket would get nice and soggy in the street. What is the solution?... a carseat tent! This not only protects the baby from the elements, but also from germs in the doctor's waiting room, stores, etc. If baby is asleep, then it is nice and cozy under the little tent. The tent/ blanket is secured to the carrier with two fabric straps, and it is easily removed for washing.

As you can see, the baby stays completely protected. I loved the fabric because it coordinates with the carseat very well. It's hard to tell from the pictures, but there are little pink and lime green owls on the fabric.

Here is the underside of the tent and a picture of what the carseat looks like. The fabric is from Joann's, and the carseat came from Target. I can't wait to actually put the baby in it!!!

I have been sewing up a storm, trying to get everything ready. I'll share some other things in my next post!

Not Much Time Left...

2010-01-08T15:13:00.001-06:00

I have a new baby girl due in February, and I have been trying like crazy to get ready for her by making some of the things that she will need. I had to get the Christmas sewing done first, but now that Christmas is behind us, I have been able to focus on Isabella's arrival!

Here are some of the projects that I have completed so far...

This is a nursing cover-up, so actually it's for me. :) Isabella will have to eat, but I like to have privacy! The neckline has boning so that I can see her if I need to, and she can have ventilation.

A Moses basket... These are so nice to carry from room to room. That way, there is always a soft place to lay the baby. I used the basket for Aidan, but it was covered in blue material. After two little boys, I was ready for some pink! I used a very soft minky dot material for the pad and flannel for the bumper. When I showed it to Seth, our little Jack tried to climb right on in (although he turned the whole thing over!), so it must look inviting.

A soft flannel blanket...

I plan to monogram this blanket with Isabella's initials. It looks very "girly" to me!

I still have so much more that I want to make...burp cloths, a diaper bag, clothes, headbands, baby shoes, etc! The list could go on and on...

Hubby is Crafty Too!

2010-01-08T15:06:00.002-06:00

My husband, Seth, can take a block of acrylic (or wood) and turn it into this...

He has made some beautiful pens, and we've seen similar sold for $$$.

We hear the "whirrrrrrring" in the basement through our vents in the house. The kids holler down at their daddy through the vents. Hannah drew a picture for him and asked me if she could toss it to him through the vent. I had to explain that the vents did not work as as mail slots. Kids are so funny!

Snuggie Anyone?

2010-01-08T14:53:00.001-06:00

Ok, this just makes me laugh! Here are "Nana" and "Pappy" in their Christmas Snuggies that I monogrammed for them with their grandparent names on them. All of the grandparents got them, and my husband got one for his birthday in November. As much as we all made fun of the commercial, all of the recipients have told me how much they have actually enjoyed their personalized Snuggies...especially in the freezing temperatures we've had lately.

Ho Ho Ho!

2009-12-08T09:36:00.000-06:00

Whew! I can check this off "Mommy's List." I completed the "going to see Santa" outfits just in time for our vistit to see Santa on Saturday. That's two things accomplished... I ordered our Christmas cards (using this picture), so there is another check for Mommy! I have to remind myself of what I have accomplished so I don't get too overwhelmed over the things that still need to be done... soooooo much to do...... I just wish my "to do" list was shorter than my "completed" list!

"Big Kid"

2009-11-13T15:32:00.002-06:00

My baby boy will be 2 years old on Sunday!!! It is so hard to believe...

I decided I would make a backpack for him...although, technically, it will serve as a diaper bag until we can ditch the diapers. Unfortunately, I don't think Jack is going to be potty trained in the very near future. His favorite answer when I ask him if he would like to use the potty is, "Ummmmm, Nope!" Oh well, for now, he can carry his diapers, wipes, etc. in "Big Boy" style. Jack will be a big brother in February, so if he can help Mommy out by carrying his backpack, that would be great!

Doesn't he look like a "big" kid with that little backpack?

Bible Character Dress Up Day

2009-11-02T11:00:00.004-06:00

I am very much behind in my blogging! I have lots of things to post, but it's been a little crazy around here. Aidan had a confirmed case of the H1N1 flu, and Hannah had a suspected case, although they told us not to even bring her in. Jack has been sick too, but I think he has something totally different. Anyway, I need to make t-shirts for the kids that say, "I Survived the Swine Flu!" They recovered quickly, and I am thankful for that. Seth and I did not catch it...thankful for that too!

In October, Aidan's preschool class had "Bible Character Dress Up Day." The children had to choose their favorite Bible character. Aidan loves the story of David and Goliath, so he was David. I actually made his costume last year when the church did the same them one night. I am eternally grateful that the coustume still fit this year, because I really have had no time to make a new one! If you look closely, you will see the authentic looking sling that my talented husband, Seth made! He's quite crafty too!

When I took Aidan to preschool, Jack was very excited to be with Aidan in his classroom. It's very hard to take pictures of your preschooler and make sure your toddler doesn't run off down the hall! Once Jack saw the camera, he popped right up next to Aidan and said, "CHEESE!" So, that is why he is standing next to "David." I couldn't resist this cute pair of brothers!

Oh, Happy Day!

2009-09-11T12:54:00.004-05:00

My daughter, Hannah, was baptized this past Sunday! My camera card was full, and I did not realize it. So, I quickly deleted what I could and managed to catch a quick picture of her after she came up out of the water. Thankfully, the picture turned out very well!

For her special day, I decided to make her a tote bag to carry her Bible. I found this very cute embroidery pattern on http://www.swakembroidery.com/. The only applique is the skirt, and the rest is left blank. I really wanted the ruby to be red, so I used fabric markers and colored it in. After that, I decided to color the girl's hair and shirt too. I really like how it turned out, and most importantly, Hannah loved it!

Here is a close-up of the embroidery...

It was a very special day for our family!

My Grandmother's Bag

2009-09-05T21:24:00.005-05:00

August 31st was my grandmother's birthday, and I wanted to make her something special. I may call her "Granny," but she sure doesn't fit the stereotype! I won't tell you her age, but I'll tell you mine...I'm 36, and my "Granny" has often been mistaken to be my mother. She looks very young for her age and can still wear me out on a shopping trip any day! So, I thought my "cutesie" Granny needed something cute for one of her shopping trips, and this is what I came up with....

I monogrammed it for her...

and gave her pockets (including one for her cell phone) and plenty of room on the inside...

I loved how this turned out. It's a sunglasses/ eyeglasses holder. The pattern for this can be found on http://www.swakembroidery.com/.

All finished! I am very happy that she loved it!

SOLD!!!

2009-09-01T09:22:00.003-05:00

I have made plenty of gifts, but I've never had an actual paying customer...(Although, I did have a lady at Dollywood offer to buy the diaper bag I made for Jack...right off Seth's shoulder! We were out of town, though, and I didn't know how I was going to tote diapers and stuff around for the remainder of our trip.) The diaper bag below was for a new baby granddaughter named, "Mallory." It is a messenger style bag, just like the style I made for my son. It's nice because no matter how full it gets, the flap keeps everything covered up. I was nervous making something for a person that would actually be paying me for it, but I think it turned out rather nice...

a close-up of the embroidery...

Now, I'm off to make my grandmother's birthday gift...

Vacation!

2009-06-27T07:42:00.002-05:00

We have been on a much needed vacation! It was time to get away from the dust and remodeling going on in our home and head to the beach. We haven't been since my oldest two were very small.

To gear up for our trip, I made Hannah and Aidan some beach towels. My plan was to make all of us beach towels, but after the first two, either the machine or myself went haywire...still not sure which one.

Here is Aidan's towel...

And here is Hannah's towel... (Thankfully, Jack is only 19 months and doesn't care which towel he uses...if any.)

Shark!!!!

Jack had never been to the beach. The first day, he cried if his feet touched the sand (We were pretty tired from the drive.). By the second day, he liked the idea of a day at the beach!

Wish you were here!!!!!!!!

Who Knew?!

2009-05-12T21:23:00.006-05:00

Who knew you could make bread without kneading it?! Now, that I know it is possible to make bread without having to do much more than mix the ingredients, I will be making it more often!

I found this cookbook on Amazon.com, and I thought I would give it a try. The "No Kneading" method of making bread actually works! The name of the book is Kneadlessly Simple by Nancy Baggett, and it is full of a huge variety of bread recipes...all of which do not require kneading. I started with the most basic...white bread. Here is a picture of the dough after its "first rise." I then plopped it into two bread pans and let it rise a second time.

Here they are after baking, and I did it without a bread machine. :)

I believe that there is a sample recipe on Nancy Baggett's website. She also has a blog called Nancy Bagget's Kitchenlane, and I have it listed on my blogroll. Go bake some bread! You will love the way your house smells while it is baking!

Recipe Swap Thursday

2009-05-07T08:11:00.009-05:00

I tried these cookies at a friends house, and it was all I could do to not eat every single cookie on the plate!!! She gave me this wonderful cookie recipe...

Butter Brickle Cookies

Butter Pecan cake mix

3/4 stick of butter, melted

1 egg

2 tablespoons water

3/4 cup chopped pecans

3/4 cup vanilla/white morsels

3/4 cup Heath "bits of brickle" (toffee bits)

Mix all well. Drop on cookie sheet with a melon ball or large tablespoon. Bake for 9-13 minutes on 350*. Cool slightly before removing from cookie sheet. YUM!!!

Yipppeeee!!! I Won!!!!

2009-05-06T07:51:00.007-05:00

Last night before going to bed, I checked my email....and guess what?! My little strawberry outfit that I shared a few days ago was featured in the http://www.swakembroidery.com/ newsletter! It was chosen to be featured in the "I Made This" spotlight of the week, so I get a free design and a spot in the newsletter! Yippppeee!!!!

If you have an embroidery machine, you need to sign up for this newletter because they will give you a bunch of free designs. You will also get tons of ideas and free projects in each newsletter!

Why Do I Procrastinate?

2009-05-06T00:31:00.006-05:00

I have no idea why I wait until the last minute to complete a project... Maybe I work better under pressure.

Teacher Appreciation Day is tomorrow, and this bag is for Hannah's 1st grade teacher. I have known what I was going to make for her for about a week now, but this was a new pattern ("The Reversible Tote Bag" from YCMT.com), and I had not tried it before. I guess that would have been all the more reason to start this project sooner! Oh well, I got it done! ...but it is now 12:38 a.m., and I better go to sleep while I still have the option!

Little Boy Blue

2009-05-03T14:36:00.008-05:00

I love this romper pattern!!! I have made so many already, and when it was cold, I made the long pant version. They are so cute for church. I made this for Jack to wear in his pictures, but I can't ever get him to stop bruising his head so that I can take him to have them done!!! He fell off the couch the other night and hit the coffee table. OUCH! Thankfully, we are still using an old table (donated from my parents when Seth and I first got married), and it does not have sharp corners. It is made from bamboo, so it is not as hard on the head as it could be. I think that is why we are still using it. Every child I have seems to want to test it out on their head! Anyway, since I am still waiting on Jack's head to be "bruise-free," I thought he might as well go ahead and wear his new outfit to church.

It is almost impossible to take a good picture of a toddler! I was singing at this point, so Jack started dancing! At least he is happy... You will notice Aidan in the background wanting to be in the picure! I was trying to get Jack to look out the window (at nothing), so Aidan was saying, "I want to see!"

At this point, my sweet little boy was feeling left out. He started saying, "Hey, Mama...I'm four years old!" I couldn't resist a picture of that...Scooby Doo tattoo and all!

Then my oldest was even willing to show a little love toward her brother for a picture! Sibling Rivalry!!! Aidan looks a little unsure about the whole thing. They are all three soooooo different, but they each add something special and unique to our family.

A Girl Has to Have Something Special to Wear...

2009-05-02T08:21:00.011-05:00

Last Sunday, Hannah informed me that she had nothing special to wear that would match her red "Sparks" vest for the Awana awards at our church. Hannah has a closet full of clothes, so I decided to take a look. Well, she was right! Everything was either mostly pink, or another soft pastel (her favorite colors). So, what is a mommy to do??? Make a new outfit of course! However, I only had a couple of hours, so it had to be pretty easy and quick. I decided to use a new tutorial pattern that I downloaded from "Oliver + S" called "The Lazy Day Skirt." It uses a ribbon trim for the hem and is simple but cute! It can be made in any length.

I wanted to dress it up a little, so I added the strawberry vine embroidery that I got from my favorite embroidery website, http://www.swakembroidery.com/. This added some more of the red that we needed, and "cutesied" it up for Hannah.

....a couple of berries appliqued to a t-shirt, and Voila! Hannah has something new, cute, and red to wear with her vest! Notice that I had to add just a touch of pink! She was very happy, and she looked very cute when she walked across the stage to receive her medal! ...a proud mama moment!