The Apron Skirt

I saw this cute little number over at lil blue boo, a blog I'm obsessed with right now. Ashley is amazingly talented in so many ways, sewing, crafting, DIY, creativity, honest forthcoming blog posts, etc., all while currently battling cancer. And she posts many times a day, so I always have tons to read and gawk at!

But I digress...

I decided to make an Apron Skirt for the sweet little daughter of my friend. She was turning 1 and I thought she needed something cute to wear. 

I followed the easy tutorial that Ashley made, and came up with this cute little skirt!

 Sorry about the crummy phone in the car photos!

 

And of course, she needed a matching headband. Who doesn't love a giant bow?

 

Presents (235:365)

Making some of these for someone special (and for myself).

Easy and way cute...may add some to my shop.

Valentine Headbands (213:365)

I made these cute little headbands today for my girlies to wear tomorrow.

Only, I didn't put them on hard headbands, but stretchy ones, since Dee WILL NOT keep a regular headband on no matter what!

I got the idea/ found the great tutorial over at Blue Eyed Freckle, who, btw, has the cutest felt headbands! I can't wait to try out some of her ideas myself!

Nursing Cover (197:365)

Made my first nursing cover today (for a friend, NOT me!) while crafting at my friend Julie's.

I used this amazing tutorial over at Freshly Picked.

 With help from the tutorial, I added a little corner of terry cloth to wipe the drooly baby and a pocket for such necessities as binkys and snacks for momma.

Ladies Weekend (183:365)

Today was part 1 of the rockin' mommy party.

We celebrated 3 birthdays, as well as a brief vacation from motherly duties, by shopping till we dropped, eating out in fancy places where kids are not welcome, doing cartwheels down the hotel hallway, and laughing until we cried.

We are all crafty moms, or are aspiring to be such, therefore most gifts for the b-day girls were homemade. Unfortunately I don't have pictures of what others gave, but I do have pics of what I made.

Hairpins made from vintage cabochons.

Rosette hairpin, button hairpin and hair tie.

Fabric wrapped headband with a gold filigree and rose cabochon.

What have you made for someone lately?

Birthday Gifts (182:365)

I've been working on some birthday gifts for 3 of my girlfriends.

No, I will not be sharing what they are because I know you all read this blog.

Hope you like them!

Giant Adult Slippers and a Christmas Card Garland (159:365)

We have lots of Christmas cards from friends this year just stacking up
 around the house.
Solution: a garland! Just hung up some cute ribbon and clothes pinned all the cards to it.
Way cute, quick and festive!

Also, made some for someone as a gift today.

Pretty cute with poofy flowers on the toes.

Handmade Christmas is awesome!

What have you made for someone this year?

Christmas Gifts (131:365)

I'm hoping that this Christmas will be a (mostly) homemade Christmas.

I think the idea of a homemade Christmas is so appealing, I really want to continue that tradition, to help us all appreciate more what we get and put more feeling into what we give. Plus, it may save a little moolah. Who doesn't need more moolah?

Today I made gifts for my dad and brother, but, obviously won't be posting them!

Not that they read this anyway...ahem...

Are you doing a homemade Christmas this year?

Self Binding Baby Blanket (99:365)

I made my first (baby) blanket today.

My friend Kuei is having her first girl and I am excited to welcome her to the club of cuteness that is a baby girl. So, I decided to make her a modern baby blanket.

I found this really great tutorial on how to make a self binding baby blanket.

I followed those great directions to a T minus the monogram.

I think I'll add a monogram next time, it will be a fun thing to try.



Cool stitch I used for my edge, all thanks to my awesome sewing machine, not my rad sewing skillz.

Tardy Issues (53:365)

I have a disorder called "Tardy-to-Everything-Itis". 

What this means is that I am chronically late for everything. Meetings, picking up my Jane from preschool, church, parties, and I even gift late for birthdays and holidays. 

Yeah, I'm super cool and reliable.

I am working on it, but my poor sister is just another one of the casualties of this disorder (which runs in my mom's side of the family, so she is also a carrier of the disease, therefore, she is understanding and forgiving).

The purpose of this confession is that I am working (still) on her birthday stuff, as you can see that things came up this week to displace my b-day projects. Therefore, there are no pictures today since what I am doing is for her and I KNOW she is reading this post. 

Sorry Sarah! Love you!

Flower Barrettes and Handmade Gift Boxes (52:365)

A little girl from our church was baptized today and her mom is getting married tonight, so they are moving right away to another state. That's a lot of changes for little girls! So I made her and her little sister some cute flower clips (one is that vintage-looking flower I made the other day with a homemade button in the center) and handmade the gift bags that I put them in. The gift bag tutorial and printable template is here. 

I think they turned out cute!

The Book is Done (26:365)

Ahhh...I'm finally done! It only took forever, but I'm so proud of it! I haven't made a book in 6 years, so I feel like I've accomplished something big! Man, I forgot how much work it takes to get it done. I don't know if I'll be whipping out another stab stitch anytime soon, but I do like how it allows me to create a prettier looking spine that it would look otherwise. I also experimented with ribbon for the sewing instead of using waxed linen thread. Hopefully it will hold well. I didn't make the wholes large enough to be able to pull the needle through very easily, actually breaking 1 needle and stabbing myself in the thigh at least 3 times, but I learned my lesson and hope that next time it won't be so ridiculous!

I'm excited to give this to my friend for her b-day...