Brodie's Bib.

I decided to make a bib to go with Brodie's blanket. I hope you can tell that it is a necktie appliqued onto the bib. I am thinking of making an easy tutorial for this project. Leave me a comment if you would like to see one. Who says babies shouldn't be able to get dressed up just because they like to spit up? Thanks to my lovely model, Wyatt.

Free Amy Butler Patterns!

If you are looking for some great free Amy Butler patterns, you can find them here. There are some great patterns, including quilts, pillows, scarves, and even a yoga mat bag, which is going to be my first project. That's right, I like yoga. And I don't even have to try not to smirk or peek through one eye during the mediation parts anymore. Namaste.

Told you.

I told you that my new STP being on its way would help me finish some projects. Brodie's blanket is now ready for him. I did a simple decorative stitch to finish the edges. Now the temperature in Phoenix just needs to drop below 100 degrees and he might be able to use it before he turns 10.

Swedish Tracing Paper

I'm officially one step closer to becoming a pattern drafter/clothing designer/person with any ounce of creativity.  I just ordered some Swedish Tracing Paper.  I'm really excited.  It's basically for tracing patterns, pattern alterations, and pattern design.  I was deciding between the STP and medical exam table paper (like the stuff on the tables at the doctor's office that's on a big roll), but I thought I'd try the STP first.  You can sew on it which is good for drafting patterns, and it's a bit wider than you can get with the exam table paper.  And since I'll have to wait for it to arrive, it'll be good motivation to finish up some other projects that I've been putting off.  This is what it looks like (no big surprises, it looks like tracing paper):

Sew good.

I just found a new blog (new to me, anyway), and I think I'm going to be visiting it often.  I wanted to share it with you.  It has some great tutorials and lots of fun information.  I hope you enjoy it.  Check it out here.

Baby Patchwork Quilt

I will be on the road for the next few days, but I will be back soon.  I have plans to add some new tutorials and once I am back to my regular printer that actually has a scanner, I will get going on it all.  I found this picture of the first quilt I made for Wyatt.  The fabric is all from JoAnn.  I love that place.  Even though they don't have all the super cute fabric that you have to get online or at a quilting store, I still love it.  Wyatt loves it too, cause he gets lots of Cheerios while he's there to keep him happy, and there's always lots of "mature" ladies to give him attention.

Baby Sling Pattern

I made this simple baby sling after Wyatt was born and although he didn't really like it (translation: hated it), I thought the pattern was good.  I just did mine single layered because I used a home-decor weight fabric and I didn't want it to be too hot for him in Arizona, but you can also make them with a lining.  You can find the pattern here.  It's the same site that I got the shopping cart cover pattern from.  The author calls it a "pouch" sling.

Plans for applique project #2.

Now that I have completed my first applique project (or at least completed the applique part of the project), I can't wait for my next.  I've had it visualized in my head as soon as I found the tutorial.  The hard part has been finding a pattern to go with my ideas.  One day I want to be able to draft patterns from scratch, but so far I pretty much need something to get started with that I can make changes to as I wish.  This is Kwik Sew 3150.  I'm gonna do the zip-up hoodie on the left, but add ribbing on the sleeves and bottom, and we'll see what else.  And I have a special idea for the applique.  Don't worry, it's going to be cool (at least it is cool the way it looks in my head), it won't be anything like a train or a boat.  After all, Wyatt is a big boy now and doesn't have time for such childish things.

If anyone knows of a better pattern for a size 12m or 1, let me know!  It's unfortunately a pretty limited selection.  I'm hoping to get working on this as soon as I get back from our summer in Virginia.

No birthday blues, just bunny cakes.

I have a condition called the birthday blues.  Some of you might have heard of it.  It comes once a year on my birthday, and sometimes even the week before.  But not this year.  My birthday was yesterday and I was in the best mood all day.  Joel had one of the guys in his office who knows how to do cake decorating make me two bunny cakes.  How could I have a bad day when I have two bunny cakes?  I can't, that's how.  So although this is not a sewing-post, is is about baking, so I think that counts.  And thanks so much to Kevin, he apparently stayed up until 4am making these for me.

Then yesterday afternoon my friend Kirsten and I and our kids went for a walk to the park.  Wyatt's stroller got hijacked by Alliyah, so he got to ride home next to Kenzie.  Lucky boy!  That has nothing to do with sewing, but it was my birthday so I can write if I want to.  Write if I want to... Write if I want to... You would write to if it happened to you...

Brodie's Applique.

So this is not a finished project, but my BSF Audy wanted to see some pictures of it in process, so here they are.  This is baby Brodie's blanket.  I'm pretty sure his mom doesn't have my blog address, so I think I'm safe.  I still have to bind the edges, but so far so good.  I used cotton on the top and minky a striped pile on the back.

Hello again.

Well, my in-laws just left this morning, and my parents had been visiting us just before that, and now unfortunately we're all alone again.  We had so much fun with all of them.  I don't know what Wyatt's gonna do without all the attention.  Let's just say that he napped for about 4 hours today!  I think he was catching up after all the fun.  This is a picture of the Baby Bjorn cover that I made a while ago.  It's just a simple slipcover with openings on the sides and bottom that can be taken off to be washed.  We were in Williamsburg, VA that day.  Polka dots really suit my dad, don't ya think?

I also gave my mom her apron.  Unfortunately the East Coast humidity was not kind to her natural curl (natural frizz, as she calls it), so she asked that I leave her head out of the picture.  She makes a great model anyway though.  Thanks Ada for noticing that the double eighth notes are upside down.  I spent about 5 minutes looking at the fabric from every direction to make sure nothing was upside down, and of course still got it wrong.  I told my mom I did it on purpose so that when she wears it she can look down at the apron and everything will be the right side up.  She loves choir and music.

I gave my mother-in-law her apron too, and I also ended up making one for my father-in-law.  It had fish on it and her's was kind of like the brown one I made, with a few differences.