Belle + Bee

Easter Swap Update

2012-02-27T10:08:00.002-05:00

Are you as excited about the Hand-Made Easter Swap as I am??? Look...Bee is demonstrating just how ecstatic I am feeling:)

Just a quick update for our participants. I sent out an email this morning requesting swap info from you...if for some reason you have signed up for the swap and you did not receive that email, please let me know right away. The shipping deadline is going to be March 31, so please send back your responses as soon as possible, so we can all get busy crafting! Thanks so much...and I can't wait to see what you all come up with!

Blog Button Semi-Tute and Sponsorship Swap

2012-02-15T14:21:00.000-05:00

Have you ever accomplished something and looked back and had absolutely no idea how you did it?
Welcome to my relationship with html:) [For all you non-bloggers, that's the computer code you use to make magic happen on your blog...links and clickables and all that jazz.]

Out in bloggy-land there is a sponsorship swap going on. Basically, it's a way for smallish blogs to help spread some love to other similar smallish blogs. I put your button on my blog, and you put mine on yours. And I really wanted to play along...I mean REALLY!

Unfortunately, that means that you have to be good enough with html to make that whole button and grab box thing happen. HA! With the help of a new bloggy-friend, Rachael (that's her over there on the sidebar at Imagine Gnats, so go say hi!), I managed to get the crazy thing functional. But, I have no idea how I did it! NONE! Really!

But, I'm quite certain that I'm not the only html-hating bloggy gal (or guy) out there, so I'm gonna try to help y'all!

So for you fellow html-clueless...here's kinda how I did it.

1. You need a square image. I'm a photoshop girl, but for this I highly recommend photobucket. It's just way too simple to make a cute one and get the codes you need. It also cuts out a step because you do the edit right on the host. And if you have no idea what I'm talking about it's ok, I don't either...but, here's what you do.

1a. Find a pic of something that relates to the content of your blog. I chose the pic of the fabric rainbow I'm using in Belle's bedroom (that is - yes- STILL unfinished). It is colorful, fun, a decent photo, and hints at the content of my blog.

1b. Upload that pic to photobucket...you will need to create an account if you don't already have one.

1c. Crop that pic to as close to square as you can. Then be sure to save a copy and work from the squared copy. That preserves your original image so you don't have to upload it again.

1d. Add your text by using the decorating tab. It's super easy and pretty self-explanatory...just click around until you get something you like. You can also play around with the other tabs to make changes...I think I sharpened the image, but that was all...but there are some fun things you can do:)

1e. Save all those edits.

2. So you have your square image...great! I wish I could tell you that was the hard part....but, sorry. No. Now you need some code. I would love to just be able to give you the exact code I used, but I'm pretty sure I messed it up somehow because blogger changed what I typed after I saved it. And unfortunately, I have no idea what I did wrong, what blogger changed, or how to help you use the code that is embedded in my button. So instead, I'm going to tell you how I got to where I am and we will hope that it works for you too! I am completely convinced that the html deities just sit around all day and arbitrarily give you a "WORKS," or "NO WAY LADY!" response depending on their mood or what they had for breakfast. So I really will keep my fingers crossed for you.

2a.Anyway...go into your design tab if you're on blogger...or wherever you make changes to your blog. Open up a text widget...in blogger you click Add a Gadget and select Text from the list.

2b. Then hop over to The Little Hen House and check out the post on button making. There you will find the code that I started with. Go ahead and copy and paste it into your text widget.

2c. Then it's time to make it work. You will need to edit the code you just pasted to include your own links. You will know your blog URL (be sure to include the http:// business). When you need to input the code for your image, photobucket is going to come in really handy. Swing back on over to your image and you will find a little box on the right hand side. Click in the boxes to copy the html code, the img code, or the direct link...depending on what your particular code asks for. There are different codes for different hosts.

2d. Cross your fingers and click save.

3. Now it's time to test it.

3a. Test one...is it there? Yes - Good!

3b. If you click on the pic does it link you back to your blog? Yes - Excellent!

3c. Copy the code from the grab box. Create a new html widget on your sidebar. Paste in the code and save it. Now view your blog. Click on the NEW button...does it link you back to your blog? Yes - SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPEALIDOCIOUS! You did it!

4. Now for those of you who answered NO to one of the above questions...that was me. About 600 times. I actually broke out in a sweat trying to make this thing work. If you're totally stuck, feel free to shoot me an email or leave a comment here and I will try to help...notice I said, "TRY." I really want to help. I do. But, I think I was pretty clear that I have no idea how I actually made mine work, so my assistance will be limited. But, I will try!

Good luck and let me know when you're ready to SWAP!

DISNEY...Our Random Tips for First Time Parents

2012-02-05T14:53:00.011-05:00

I hope you like pictures! This entire post is really just an excuse for me to slather the blog with eye candy from our recent trip to DISNEY WORLD! So, now that you've been warned...I actually might have some content that you will appreciate.

This was our first trip to WDW as parents. And we were just a tad on the clueless side. We tend to be last minute people who rarely think through the entire day that we are in let alone what we might be doing tomorrow. But, you can only operate that way to a point when it comes to Disney or otherwise you might miss out.

Now, we're no experts. And you can find a gazillion and one websites out there that will give you tons of insider tips from people who visit the parks more times in one year than we will visit them in our entire lifetimes. But, these tiny random tidbits may not make those lists...so, sit back and enjoy our list of top tips for first time parents...

1. Dress your kiddos in clothes that OBVIOUSLY brand them as a set. I'm not talking about matching t-shirts and shorts. I'm talking something that will get them noticed. Why? You ask. Because when small children are meandering through the park it is very easy for them to get cut off from you in the crowd...sometimes even when holding their hands. But, when our kiddos had on noticeable outfits that made it more than obvious that they were a set, then people did not cut through our family.

2. Magic Kingdom on DAY ONE! It's where the real magic happens and you want to start off the trip with that sense of wonder. AND...the monorail will automatically become the first ride of your visit...which is super fun:)

3. There are picture points marked throughout the park. They are there to make it easy to spot the perfect background for your photos. But they get crowded! And there are plenty of other spots where the views are just as good if you just move 20 feet to the right, left, or ahead. So, don't feel like you have to get sucked into those crowded spots...just move a little and you will get a much clearer view.

4. All the characters have handlers. They keep the lines orderly and let you know when the character is taking a break....make friends with these people. Chat with them, engage them with your children, and smile a lot. It may make the difference between getting to see the White Rabbit AND Alice or just the White Rabbit. That's what happened here. Alice was supposed to leave after the person right in front of us...but, we were nice and cute so the handler let us squeeze in:)

5. Book it to the back of the park! Get there when it opens and make a beeline for Fantasyland. We saw waits of 20 minutes or less on ALL of the rides. We had assumed that we would ride maybe one or two rides before our lunch reservations, but because we skipped the front of the park and went straight to Snow White's Scary Adventures, we were able to ride ALL of the rides in the area with time to spare.

6. Character dining is an absolute MUST! If you can afford it, DO IT! We were able to see Cinderalla, Snow White, Ariel, Princess Aurora (that's Sleeping Beauty for you parents of boys), and Belle at our table. They talked to the girls, gave lots of hugs, signed autographs, took lots of pictures...all with no rushing to let the next person in line have their chance. We did lunch at Cinderella's castle and breakfast at Chef Mickey's. Avoiding dinner saved some pennies and avoiding long lines to see the most popular characters saved some sanity.

7. Character dining! This one needs repeating...trust me! We waited in line for almost an hour to see Rapunzel. Then we felt really rushed because everyone else was waiting too. It was the low point of our Magic Kingdom visit (it's a relative low point as the entire day really was magical!).

8. Snow White's kiss! I can't say anything for certain here, but it appears that Snow White bestows one kiss to a special child during each character dining experience. How do we know that? Well...Bee's kiss was the only one given at our lunch event. And every cast member who saw her after the lunch commented on her kiss and knew that it came from Snow White. We didn't see any other children with kiss prints through the course of the day, and we saw a lot of the diners coming and going from the castle. So...it's just conjecture. And even if true, probably isn't a hard and fast rule. So...want it to be your child??? Once, again, we can't make any promises. But...Bee was wearing a special Snow White outfit. She told Snow White that she was her favorite. And she hammed it up quite well....lots of hugging and smiling and staring up in awe. We're guessing that's how it happened.

9, Parents of small children worried about their kiddos being afraid of the characters - Start with the Princesses. Even if you have boys. They are clearly humans, normal size, and talk. It's a good way to get your feet wet with the meet and greets.

10. Gift Cards - When planning your trip, put in a request to close family members that they give Disney gift cards to your children for holidays leading up to the trip. You can find them at Disney stores, but also at Target, and probably other gift card kiosks in other stores. It made souvenir shopping very easy. "You have X number of dollars. We need to make sure that we look at everything and make good decisions about how to spend your money." Then let them pay for their items. When the card is empty their shopping is finished.

11. And while we're on the topic of shopping...all the stores in all the parks have pretty much the same merchandise. Unless it is a specialty item that will only be available in one location (like Muppets from the Muppet Store), then don't buy it at the park. Take a trip to Downtown Disney on one of the last evenings of your trip andbuy all of your goodies at the gigantic Disney store there. It will save you from carrying bags around and will help you make wise shopping decisions because you will be doing all of your buying in one location. PS - I've heard that if you are staying at a WDW resort then you can have your purchases sent to your hotel room. We didn't stay on property so I don't know anything about that.

12. Document the little moments. Like Bee holding her new best friend. It will help you remember more details from the trip.

13. Check out this photography blog and her tips for getting great character photos. I definitely used her tips when we were there! You can also check out her tips for when to lug your SLR and when a P&S will do just fine.

14. Share food to save money! When your little ones are spent, you'd be amazed what half a hot dog and some fries will do for their energy level. My husband and I even split food sometimes...and large appetizer sampler at the T Rex restaurant at Downtown Disney was more than enough food for the two of us and was a lot cheaper than ordering two entrees.

15. You have to see the Magic Kingdom at night. We found a great place on a bench on the bridge from Tomorrowland back over to Main Street where we could lounge and watch the fireworks. The bonus...Tinkerbell flies literally right over your head if you're on that bridge! Which makes it much easier for little eyes to spot her. And you avoid the crowds over on Main Street.

16. Plan to eat a HUGE breakfast. And if you can do it for free even better! Our hotel had an awesome breakfast buffet and we made good use of it...Mickey waffles every morning are totally worth the wait for the waffle iron! I've read that you will walk 6-7 miles per day in WDW, so fuel up to get the day started on the right foot!

17. Park Tickets - The park tickets look like gift cards...so, first, don't keep them with your gift cards. It just makes things less confusing. Second, each adult will have a scan taken of their finger upon each entrance to the park. That means that your tickets are not interchangeable among the members of your group. So...who cares? You will, when you use the Goofy ticket on Day One and then try to get in with the Pluto ticket on Day Two! So...be sure that when you purchase your tickets (we got ours at our local Disney store before we left town) you buy a different character for each adult. Then when you use your ticket on the first day of your trip, remember which character is yours and be sure to use the same ticket every additional day of your visit. Traveling with a large number of adults...maybe try putting stickers on your tickets.

18. Take a picture of the parking lot sign before you leave your car each day. You may never need to look back, but in case you do, it's there for you. Apparently the parking attendants also note which lots were filled at which times during the day, so at the very least, know what time you got there so the cast members can help you find your car if you lost it.

19. And if Goofy is just WAY TOO TALL...don't fret! The picture of her looking freaked out in the booth is just as cute as the one with Goofy would have been:)

20. Beware the lighting. Each character experience is different, so be sure to check your camera settings in each new place! And it can change if you take even a step or two to one side. So just keep an eye on those settings...you'll regret it if you don't!

21. Don't want to worry about camera settings? Use Disney's Photo Pass. You will get a card, much like a credit card. Each time you have a photo taken by a Disney photographer, they will scan your card and at the end of your trip you will have a collection of photos taken by the pros. A few warnings...1. Even though they are "pros," they aren't perfect...especially with night time shots. So if you really want that perfect pic of your family in front of the castle at night, you might want to visit a few different photographers to increase your odds. 2. You can share the pics for free, but doing anything else with them is PRICEY! You can download individual pictures for $14.95. Yep - you read that right! One picture for $14.95. Or you can buy a CD with all of your pics from the trip for $149.95. Yep - again...not a typo! So here's my advice...not a professional photographer or have advanced photography skills? Then do the pass. But then make sure you use the mess out of it. I mean get those people to take pics of you at every turn. Because in the end the price of the CD is the same no matter how many pictures you have on it. I wish I had known that because we would have stopped at a lot more photographers as we made our rounds. 3. They also add some stock photos to your collection...pics of the characters and the best locations. It's a nice bonus if you're getting the CD, but won't do you much good if you have to pay $14.95 to download it...a postcard is much cheaper 4. The photographers don't come to the character dining experiences, so you need to be prepared with your own camera and know how to use it.

22. The attractions for little ones at Animal Kingdom are pretty spread apart. It isn't like Fantasyland where you can hit all the major preschool attractions without having to walk more than a fwe yards. This may be the day you want to have a stroller. (Belle and Bee walked all four days of our trip, but only had difficulty doing so in Animal Kingdom).

23. Let 'em play! You don't have to race from one sight to another. It's ok to take an hour and just play. The bonus...there are usually places for adults to sit and still be able to monitor the kids:)

24. But be sure to play with them for a least a little while. It's fun!

25. Hit the most popular attractions first. Or during parade time. The waits will be shorter. For example, Animal Kingdom opens at 9:00 and the first Lion King performance is at 9:30. Book it to make sure you get there! There's no wait and you can get great seats! Wait until later in the day and you will have to stand in line and may not be able to see well.

26. Use the Fast Pass system!!!!!!! If you go in late January like we did, you may not need it for most rides (ride times were about 15-25 minutes for most rides), but for the popular rides it makes a huge difference. Be sure to get one for every member of your party. The first time we did it we just got one...luckily it wasn't crowded and the nice cast member let us go through anyway! Random note - even with the small January crowds, the Fast Passes for Toy Story Mania were gone before 10am...so get there and get one first thing when you are at Hollywood Studios!

27. Parades - We only watched the parade at Hollywood Studios, so I'm not sure if this tip is true for the other parks. At Hollywood Studios, you will find a goldish colored line imbedded in the pavement along the parade route. This is the "Do Not Cross This Line!" line. Meaning...a few minutes before the parade begins, go find a spot to sit right behind that line. You'll have a front row view. The line may be a little hard to spot at first, but once you know what you're looking for it is super easy to find a good seat. Not sure what to look for??? The cast members will start to line the parade route about 15 minutes before parade time and they are more than happy to point out the line...or point out when you've crossed it:)

28. Getting some nutrition - It's really not as hard as you think. The park does a great job of including fruits and vegetables in every kids meal and there are salads and great sandwich options at all of the restaurants. Looking for the freshest produce? Check out Seasons at Epcot. They use produce straight from the greenhouses in the park!29. Here's another of those..."not really sure if this is 100% accurate" tips. It APPEARED that the characters at Epcot come out right at the end of the street performance. Can't make any promises...but each time a street performance was wrapping up we noticed that the characters were streaming out of the hiding spots. Just an observation, but you may want to linger around the backs of the crowds during that time and see if you can score a quick visit without at line.30. Jessie is currently at the bottom of Splash Mountain. We missed her...so in case you're looking for her, now you know.

31. I recommend saving Hollywood Studios and Epcot for the end of the trip because they have lots of shows that little kids will enjoy...that means air conditioning and seats!32. Look for little things to enjoy...like the cast members blowing bubbles at the park entrances. Disney really does do details really well!

33. The Peoplemover at the Magic Kingdom was one of the highlights of the trip for me. Why? No line, long ride, goes through various other rides like Space Mountain, toddler appropriate, and GREAT VIEWS! Be sure you don't miss it...and better yet, hit it at the end of the day when your feet are tired:)34. Visit before your youngest turns three. Then she's FREE! Everywhere! And there are plenty of things to keep a 2 year old happy:)

35. Finally, cherish this time together. It will go so fast! Then start planning your next visit on the way home:) We did!

Easter Swap Project Inspiration #4: Fabric Eggs Tutorial and Pattern

2012-02-05T12:14:00.002-05:00

Hello sewers! Is that a word? Seamstress sounds so...I don't know...official. Like you have a little tailor's shop somewhere. But I never can seem to find the right word to describe people like me...oh well!

Another great Easter toy swap inspiration for you! Or just a simple spring sewing project if you prefer:)

I went searching for a pattern for fabric eggs and found this fantastic tutorial/pattern over at Retro Mama. It is really well written, and has tons of pics to explain each step along the way. Whether you are swapping or not, I think you will be excited to add this to your growing list of must make projects. I can see these in bright springy prints for Easter, but also in various shades of natural, brown, or even light blue linen or possibly wool felt to be added to your play food collection. YUM!

And while you're over at Retro Mama, be sure to spend a little time browsing around. Her patterns are gorgeous (just love Ruthie Bear!) and she has some other super sweet tutorials - you're just going to flip for her little houses, I know it:) And you just might find her somewhere else....

Hello Hearts!

2012-02-01T10:36:00.003-05:00

Belle actually counts down to her birthday using major holidays. After Christmas, we have to get through New Year's, Valentine's Day, a few family birthdays, Easter and Mother's Day before she gets another round of excessive numbers of presents. Strange calendar system, I know. But her favorite questions are, in this order: When? In the morning? Is that tomorrow? It can really drive one up the wall:) Needless to say, on January 1 she is ready to haul out the hearts. Let's get a move on...there's a birthday waiting for me at the end of this endless parade of holidays!

I held her off as long as I could, but we've been playing with felt Valentines for about 2 weeks now. And there have been heart shaped cookies coming out of the tiny wooden oven in the corner of our kitchen for even longer than that.

Here are just a few of the Valentines crafts that have been seen around these parts recently.

The felt Valentine set didn't last long in the Etsy shop, but have no fear...there are tons of these little things floating around our house:)

And this little guy has just captured my heart! I designed this new Bowling Pin Doll pattern especially with toddlers in mind. It's neck is just right for little hands to grab hold of, and the lack of dangling limbs means that even the roughest round of tug-o-war won't amputate any body parts. This was the prototype for the pattern and I think it turned out pretty well...just like a bowling pin. I'll be trying it out with a different head shape soon:)

And finally, how can you bake heart shaped cookies without an adorable play apron??? I picked up this vintage Valentine print by Kokka at a local quilt market a couple of weeks ago. The ticking and chambray came from my stash, but I think they are pretty much a perfect complement. This apron is in the shop for now, but someone is NOT very happy about that. She has plotted any number of attempts to commandeer it from the sewing room. So far I've managed to stay one step ahead of her, but I have a sneaking suspicion that she's just letting me think that I have her number:) We'll see how long it lasts!

What Valentine crafts are you whipping up this year?

Liebster Award

2012-01-30T21:49:00.003-05:00

This evening I found out that my "old" friend, Courtney, had received a Liebster award over at Mon Petit Lyons. Old as in, "of long ago", not actual age!!! I think I was roughly half my current age when I met her in college...plus or minus a couple of years:) I was especially honored that she then passed the award along to me!

So what is it???

The Liebster is a blog-land award for us little guys. It's just a way to throw a sliver of spotlight on the smaller blogs out there in craft land.

And this I borrowed directly from Courtney...Liebster means beloved, favorite, dearest in German. Who knew? So now it's my turn to spread the love.

Here are the rules:
* choose 5 up and coming blogs with fewer than 200 followers
* mention them on my blog
* send them a message and let them know that they've been honored

1. First up, is a lovely lady who I "met" in a round about way through the blogland. I think we first connected via Handmade Holiday, but I honestly can't remember. She's an amazing knitter and has blessed my home with numerous toys that my girls simply adore. She's also the one who inspired me to give knitting another try. Let's hear it for Melissa at Wild Faerie Caps!

2. Next up is a professional photographer who just happens to craft on the side. Seriously! How does she manage it? Her quilts are amazing and you can bet that the pics on her blog are out of this world. Now run, don't walk, but haul tail over to see the stupendous quiet book she made for her daughter's birthday (and she might be just a bit hard on herself with that one!). Put your hands together for Traci at Stolen Moments!

3. The clothes...ACK! They are too cute! That was the draw that led me to follow our next award winner. And the patterns make it super simple to have the same serious cuteness for your own little one. Her new dress pattern makes me squeal...let's send some love to Becky at Owly Baby! And, no, I don't just like her because of her name:)

4. Prepare to be amazed! The dolls on this next blog completely blow my mind! They've inpsired me to begin drafting a new doll pattern with more 3D construction (gussetts, gussetts, and more gussetts, oh my!). Let's make some noise for Bybido!

5. And last, but not least...this Happy Find came to me through Kids Clothing Week Challenge and some random flickr browsing. I fell in love with a super cute little skirt that she made for her daughter and began to blog stock her almost immediately. Let's give a shout out to Venus. Now she can be your Happy Find too!

Please go visit these lovely ladies...and pop in and say hello to Courtney too. She has a Valentine's Day week coming up soon that you don't want to miss! Be sure to let them know that you heard great things about them, and maybe click that Follow button to keep in touch with them:)

Have a great week!

Easter Swap Project Inspiration #3: Homemade Bouncy Balls

2012-01-30T11:55:00.000-05:00

Couldn't you just see a handful of these in spring colors brightening up your little one's Easter basket? Or simply bouncing through your house on a rainy day? What fun!

Disclaimer - I haven't had a chance to test this "recipe." So, I make no promises for how it works or how difficult it may be...but the ingredients are pretty common and relatively inexpensive. And the directions seem really easy...you do mold the ball by hand, but I'm guessing that if there were imperfections then they would just contribute to the fun of bouncing it:)

Definitely seems like it's worth a shot...and a great no-sew inspiration for our fun Easter swap! Have fun bouncing!

Easter Swap Project Inspiration #2: Do you crochet?

2012-01-25T10:49:00.001-05:00

For my crochet friends out there...I found this adorable little pattern via, can you guess? Yep, PINTEREST! Seriously, what did I do before I could "pin" things?

Pop on over to Easy Makes Me Happy...what a great blog title! Doesn't easy make you happy? It sure makes me grin:) Check out the Easter egg pattern and then browse around for a while. She has such cute crochet patterns available in her Etsy shop too!

Easter Swap Project Inspiration #1: Tips for Softie Construction

2012-01-20T09:14:00.001-05:00

Have you heard? There is a handmade Easter toy swap in the works! What a great way to fill your little one's Easter basket with gorgeous handmade gifts without having to persoanlly master 16 different crafts! Want to join us? GREAT! Check out the rules and sign up here...sign ups are open until January 31.

Now on to the inspiration...

Over the next few months, I will be sharing tons of great ideas for making toys for your little snuggler. You'll find some projects of my own design, but lots of love for other artisans and their handmade wares, as well. Fall in love with something? I'll always be sure to include links so you can find your way back to purchase them.

For our first inspiration, I'm sticking with a topic that I know well...but, I promise to branch out in the coming weeks:)

These super sweet teeny tiny little bunnies have been lingering in my Etsy favorites since last year. I just adore them! Don't you? Hop on over to arixystix and grab a few...you may even want to pick up a chick along the way:) What a great little addition to any Easter gift!

Or if you're thinking of creating softies for your contribution to our little Easter swap, then skip ahead and check out my top tips for fabulous softie construction.

Simple Soft Toy Construction Tips:

1. Stitch length is or paramount importance! You want those stitches nice and tiny. The seams of a soft toy are under constant duress simply from the stuffing, but add a pair of tiny hands, lots of hugs, and possibly a round or two of tug-o-war and things get dicey:) A short stitch length will help ensure that the stuffing stays where it is intended...on the inside!

2. Stuff your toy until it is fully stuffed...then go back and stuff it again! Seriously, the more stuffing you put in it the smoother the seams, the firmer the squeze, and the longer the life of the toy. Think back to the days of cheap quilted comforters...remember how all that stuffing would shift over time and suddenly only your feet were warm??? Same idea! So when you think you've stuffed enough, go back and add at least two more handfuls, maybe more.

3. CURVES! - When you are designing your toy keep those curves subtle! Any sharp curve will pucker and bow when you turn it...the result isn't pretty! Trust the one who has created hundreds of doll prototypes trying to perfect a graceful doll neck:)

4. Curves again - Where there is a curve there is a pucker. You can reduce the appearance of these puckers by carefully clipping the seam allowance while the toy is still inside out. On an inward curve, you will clip tiny little triangles of fabric out of the seam allowance...similar to what a pair of pinking shears will create (bonus tip - yep, you CAN use pining shears to accomplish this!). On outward curves, you want to trim as much of the seam allowance as is possible and still maintain a sound seam. Be sure you don't clip through your stitches.

5. Embellish first - If you're planning to add any details, appliques, or embroidery to the outside of your toy, do it before you put it together...trust me again. I've had more than one toy that I just wanted to see come to life, so I waited to add the face...and each time I kicked (and pricked) myself!

6. Find inspiration in the world around you and from other artists, but make the toy your own. Not only is this just good crafty manners, but it makes the toy that much more lovable if you can feel a piece of the artist in the design. PS - outside the realm of the swap, but still...if you are planning to sell anything you have made that was heavily inspired by another artist...check first! Most people are super open to sharing their creative products so long as you get permission and give credit:)

7. HAVE FUN! It's a toy, for goodness sake! It should bring a smile to your face as well as the face of the recipient:)

Now, if you haven't already...go sign up for the swap. And remember, lots of projects coming to inspire you, most of which require absolutely NO sewing, so don't be shy:)

An Easy Handmade Easter Swap...Who Wants to Play?

2012-01-09T17:52:00.005-05:00

So, about that Pinterest obsession...well, this time it has tipped off a fantastic little idea. I found a group of moms who hosted an Easter toy/goodie swap at a playdate. Each mom contributed multiples of fun little things to fill Easter baskets and everyone went home with a wonderful variety of exciting handmade things for their little ones.
That led me to the very obvious conclusion that I should host a similar swap right here on the blog! Don't you think it's a GREAT idea? I thought you would:)

So here are the rules...
1.Leave a comment here that you want to play along. Also note the number of children you are swapping for and their ages. Be sure to include your email address if you are a No-reply commenter.
2. All items must be handmade, but that doesn't mean you have to sew...over the next several weeks I will be sharing links to all sorts of projects that you might want to try.
3. Spread the word...the more variety the better!
4. Should the number of participants get way out of hand then I will divide everyone into circles so that you don't end up making 4,652 bunny baskets:)
5. Create one small gift for every child in the swap and mail them so that they reach the recipient at least one week before Easter.
6. Have patience with the swap mama...this is the first time I have hosted a swap. I will forget things, get confused, and make mistakes, but we will work through those as they happen.

I will close sign ups on January 31. After that I will send everyone an email asking for your shipping info an then another with the swap details. I would so greatly appreciate it if you would let me know after the second email, what you plan to make. That way I can prevent any duplications before they occur.

Does that cover it? Come on y'all...play along, ok?

Now a little Etsy love... I am drooling over that little play set up there and I know Bee would flip for it too! Interested...you can find it here

Pinterest, Pinterest, Pinterest

2012-01-03T10:30:00.001-05:00

Have you caved to the addiction? I held out for quite some time, but finally gave in a few months ago. I can honestly say that I am much LESS productive since.

But then, I find things like this from ohdeedoh. It's so easy, doesn't take any additional time out of my morning, but it makes my girls positively giddy! And especially on a day where everyone is under the weather and just a bit on the grumpy side (or in Bee's case, a LOT on the grumpy side), a little pick me up can make a real difference.

So, I'm hooked. And I can admit it, embrace it even. I will continue to pin a million more things that I will ever be able to do. And that's ok with me:)

And in case you're wondering...I very rarely use a pre-made pancake mix. I've pretty much memorized the basic mix that we make because we eat a lot of pancakes, and I do mean, A LOT. But the snowman shown above was made with Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pancake Mix. And that's a strip of bacon, a few blueberries that we froze earlier this year when they were in season, and some vanilla yogurt. I opted for blueberries and yogurt instead of the marshmallows and chocolate chips from the original post. I wish I could say I did this for health reasons, but in all honesty...it's just what I happened to have close at hand. And no breakfast is complete in our house without yogurt.

Reflections and Predictions

2011-12-31T08:37:00.001-05:00

At the beginning of 2011, I skipped the resolutions and just went with a few sewing goals:

1. STOP HOARDING!
2. Return to my quilting roots.
3. Closures.

So, how'd I do??? Pretty darn well on two out of three...and so-so on the third.

I definitely returned to my quilting roots, churning out numerous doll quilts, part of a quilt for Belle's bed (yep - still unfinished and still not in a big bed...Mama is TOTALLY ok with that!), most of a Christmas quilt, and a few crib size quilts pieced and waiting for quilting. CHECK!

Closures - got it! I LOVE zippers! And while they aren't nearly as much fun, buttons are cool too.

Hoarding - Well...I did raid my stash on numerous occasions. And that would result in a decreased quantity of stashed fabric...IF I didn't keep stashing. Oh well!

Now, while you sympathize with that poor pitiful creature with the ear infection down there, I'm throwing in my two-cents on the Sew Mama Sew end of year reflections and predictions questionnaire.

Looking back at the 2011 sewing scene, what trends stand out in your mind?

A return to hand-stitching, novelty kid prints that aren't so childish, and a vintage feel to quilts, apparel etc.

What were some of your favorite things related to sewing this past year?

I fell in love with pre-cuts. I know these aren't anything new or earth shattering, I just haven't really used them all that much before. I think I always felt a little limited by the size...like I would want more of the really fantastic fabrics that I discovered in that little bundle of mystery. But this year, I began to appreciate having a piece of every fabric in a collection...even if just a tiny slice. I began to love the complete-ness of the concept.

Are there any trends you are over and done with?

Gray! Ok - not gray in and of itself...because what would I wear everyday if I didn't start with a base of gray??? I mean, gray as THE neutral for quilting. It's almost like you aren't cool if your quilt uses white, or (GASP) ivory! It's just been way overplayed in the last two years. Which is sad for me because I simply love it.

What do you predict for the 2012 sewing industry?

Orange. And a focus on really small scale prints. And a surge of bloggers using video tutorials to teach sewing classes to the masses. But also, a pull back from the blog world. As our sewing has seemed to head back to earlier traditions, I'm thinking that we may begin to distance ourselves from our technology a bit too. Not completely, but, as Belle says, "just a smidge."

And what to expect from me in 2012?

NOTHING! That way I can't disappoint right??? Actually, I have two sewing goals for 2012...NO MORE FABRIC! and let's finish some of this mess up already:) So hopefully, you'll be seeing some projects revisited and some massive quantities of fabric being used! And one small caveat - If I must purchase fabric to complete a previously abandoned project then that will be acceptable...but only if it be deemed absolutely necessary:)

Enough of my rambling already...go ring in the New Year with someone you love!

Random Little Piece of Warmth

2011-12-28T09:24:00.000-05:00

Lest my knitting friends think I've given up the yarn completely...I wanted to share one of the yummy little knitting projects that I've been working on sporadically.

One day a few weeks ago, I realized that my knitting projects basket was overflowing onto the table and floor around it. And, yes, my knitting habits are highly similar to my sewing habits...lots of fun new ideas, very little completion of actual projects.

So, I decided to try to finish up some WIP that were near to completion. This super yummy cowl fit that bill perfectly. I started it on a road trip, but once home again, returned to other projects and left this poor thing abandoned with only a few rows remaining to finish it.

The thing about blogging about knitting...a computer screen really does not do a plush yarn justice. There is no way you can tell how soft and delicious this is. Which is very sad for you all...unless you happen to live nearby and want to pet my neck at the playground one day:)

The yarn is Sugarbunny from Knitpicks. I used Hawk and Platinum and knit with two strands at a time to produce the tweedy effect. There's no pattern for this...just a big circle of knitted stitches. Plain and simple. I left one twist in the loop of stitches for an infinity style wrap. And you can easily twist this thing around your neck three times. It's soft. It's warm. It's gray. Is there a better combination?

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T09:16:00.000-05:00

May your day be Merry and Bright!

Cookies for Santa and Holiday Wishes for You

2011-12-24T15:33:00.000-05:00

We've wrapped and hung and baked and sung. The tree sparkles, the presents shimmer, and the cookies smell delightful. And now we wait...for Christmas, for Santa, and for the birth of our Lord.

Tonight, I send to you my warmest wishes for a very happy Christmas! I hope you find yourself surrounded by loved ones, filled with the spirit, and blessed by the Savior. And an abundance of cookies never hurt anyone:)

And in case you need a last minute gift, these little cookies are sure to delight a child in your life. My present to you...a quick almost-tutorial. Directions only, but pretty simple to follow. And you have just enough time to whip up two or three as you sit by the fire and enjoy the glow of you tree (and the cleanliness of your family room - cuz that won't last long tomorrow!).

You will need:

some felt scraps (red, white, green, brown, tan, cream, yellow, etc.)

a tiny bit of stuffing

embroidery thread

cookie cutters

1. Select a cookie cutter for the outline of your cookie.

2. Trace the cookie cutter onto the felt color of your choice TWO times for each cookie. Example - to make 1 chocolate chip cookie you would trace two circles onto tan felt. Cut out your cookies.

3. Draw and cut out embellishments for the top of your cookie. Example - to make one chocolate chip cookie cut out approximately 9 small circles of dark brown felt.

4. Use embroidery thread to stitch decorations to the top of your cookie. You can also embroider details like sprinkles at this time too.

5. Place the two pieces of your cookie right sides together and sew using 1/4" seam allowance. I did this on my sewing machine for speed and durability, but you could do this by hand if you would like. Leave a 1.5" opening for turning and stuffing.

6. Clip any corners and curves, then turn right side out.

7. Add a small amount of stuffing...don't overstuff these or they cease to look like a cookie and become more of a hockey puck.

8. Fold open edges in and whipstitch the opening closed using matching thread.

Merry Christmas!

Teaser...

2011-12-22T08:49:00.001-05:00

Quilt in progress...cross your fingers that it's ready for Christmas morning!

The Set that Will Likely Never Be...

2011-12-21T09:05:00.000-05:00

Did you create a holiday sewing list? I'm wondering if your vision for all the things you were going to make for the loved ones in your life was as unattainable as mine. I seriously overestimated how much I could accomplish! And even more than that, each day seemed to trigger a new idea for something else that would make someone in my life (mostly my girls) smile.

Meet Gingerbread Baby.

Are you familiar with Jan Brett's books? Each and every one is truly amazing! And many of them make a nice addition to your holiday/winter reading rotation. The Gingerbread Baby and Gingerbread Friends are two of our favorites! With gorgeous illustrations and a slightly new take on this classic story, they are highly engaging. [Insert former literacy teacher's comments on repetitive text, the value of following characters from one book to the next etc.]

And so, our Gingerbread Baby was born. After reading the books at bedtime one night, I thought to myself, "You know, Belle would really love to have a Gingerbread Baby to carry around. I think I'll make her one tonight." Was this a project on my previously established holiday sewing list? No, but it's just one quick little doll. And she'll really love it...

A few hours and a small stack of wool felt later, I snuck into Belle's room and tucked Gingie into her clothes for the next day. A fun little surprise!

If only the insanity had stopped there...

Because at this point, I realized that we were headed to the Nutcracker in a few days. And, the gingerbread cookies just happen to be one of my favorite parts. And this little gal really did look just like the costumes in the ballet. And Belle would really fall in love with ALL the characters. And, of course, I should just make her an entire Nutcracker play set...right???

Can you see how I get myself in trouble around here???

I sat for a few hours and sketched patterns for Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Nutcracker, and the Mouse King. Then I meticuously traced each of those patterns (why didn't I pull out the scanner here?), so that I could have a copy of each to save. Then I cut each tiny piece. And well, you can see where this is headed.

At this point, Gingerbread Baby remains a loner, though the skirt part of Clara's nightdress is finished. Of course, once we actually saw the ballet, Belle's favorite was the Sugar Plum Fairy and I haven't even cut those pieces out yet.

So, as the title suggests, this set will never be complete. Especially not before Christmas. But maybe over time I'll finish it up for next year. But then, who am I kidding? I will have thought of a million and one other projects to do between now and then.

So, am I the only one whose brain works faster than her hands? Do you all struggle to control zillions of creative thoughts that just can't feasibly be brought to fruition? Or am I the only one who gets herself into these kinds of situations?

A Very Special O-ccasion!

2011-12-18T15:53:00.002-05:00

Once upon a time there was a very special little girl. And she loved to attend special "vacations." It only took about 300 attempts to teach her that they were special, "o-ccasions." And one day she will eventually leave out the exaggerated pause between the syllables when discussing these unique events. That will be a sad day for her Mommy!

This very special little girl had a fascination with all things girlie. Twirly dresses and ballerinas included. So, she was blessed with the opportunity to see the Nutcracker for the very first time...from the FRONT ROW!

And such a special "o-ccasion," called for a very special frock, indeed.

Red and white damask with touches of black corduroy. A fluffy black tulle tutu for volume and a party dress pattern. All the tiny details coming together for maximum twirlability and a very happy child.

Let's just say...She loved her dress. She loved the ballet. And we have watched many Sugar Plum Fairy performances since our very special o-ccasion. One holiday memory that we will never forget!

What holiday memories are you making this year?

What We've Been Up To...

2011-12-16T22:37:00.005-05:00

So what have Belle, Bee and I been up to recently?

Well, we feasted with family. Our tummies have never been so full or so happy:)

But, we did save some room for dessert!

We've spread some sisterly love...and accidentally excluded all the pictures where the love wasn't so sweet!

Then we made some time to decorate this monstrous thing in our jammies. We even went back later and added a tree topper, but somehow it didn't make the "film."

We froze our cute little tushies off at the Raleigh Christmas parade on the ONE cold day we've had so far this fall. It has been seriously warm here and we are looking forward to a little chill tomorrow!

And even spotted our hometown hero along the route!

Can you guess who's driving these reindeer???

Someone knows who it is and she is being sure to show off her most winning (and innocent looking) smile.

But this one just doesn't seem to get it...no, Bee, you're supposed to be GOOD!

We've read a lot of books and worn more than our share of costumes.

We even sported some rocking Daddy-made "crowns," at bath time.

This has to be the best picture I've ever taken...I just love it!

But, "Wait," you say. What's missing here? Oh, yes. The craftiness.

Well, lest you believe that all projects have come to an end, here's the list of WIP and completed fun stuff over the last few weeks: felt Christmas cookies, a pile of holiday bookmarks/ornaments/gift tags, a good portion of a rather large Christmas quilt pieced, a GORGEOUS dress for Belle to wear to the Nutcracker, a super-fab embellished stocking for a dear local client, mountains of glittered holiday play dough, a wool felt gingerbread baby, a partially completed Clara doll, and a partridge in a pear tree (ok - that was just to see if you were paying attention).

Now, why on Earth aren't there any pictures of those goodies. Well, you see, when one is so busy living life and crafting on the side, one somehow runs out of time to edit the 600+ photos clogging up the SD card, preventing you from photographing all the crafty goodness. UNTIL TONIGHT! All 9,000,000,000 pics have been edited, saved, and organized (and shared) and there is finally room on that card for some pics of the fun projects we've been working on.

Just wait until you see the present Belle is making for Bee for Christmas...it's pretty darn amazing and I'm not the least bit biased.

So, I hope you've been just as busy living life as we have. And I'll be back soon with some of the fun holiday sewing that we've been up to:)

Are you hungry?

2011-11-17T21:18:00.002-05:00

Looking for a holiday gift for little hands? This quick and easy tutorial that I found on One Inch World has Bee's stamp of approval.

I whipped up a batch of felt farfalle using just one sheet of cream colored felt during our drive to and from our fall family reunion. FIFTY-SIX little pastas later, we pulled into our driveway. When I poured the pile of butterflies into a wooden cooking pot, Bee was hooked. She played with these the entire evening.

Fill, pour, stir, spoon, and nibble (pretend nibbles, of course). While a bit tedious on the stitching end, it was well worth it to see how much pleasure it brought to my sweet Itty Bit. I'd highly recommend these for the toddlers and preschoolers on your holiday "shopping" list!

A Head Start:)

2011-11-09T08:20:00.000-05:00

I'm notorious for waiting until the last minute to make holiday outfits and gifts. Remember the fish outfit I whipped up for Bee the night before her birthday??? Crazy, I know!

Well, thanks to Becky over at Owly Baby, I'm getting a head start on Christmas!

Becky asked for volunteers to test a couple of her new patterns, and I jumped on board in a hurry! The City Jumper pattern is super cute and it was a great excuse to get started on holiday dresses for the girls. I'm not sure when it will be available to the public, but I'll try to keep you posted so you can snap it up:)

For my version, I started with a black and white palette. The little punch of red piping adds just the right amount of flare without the dress screaming CHRISTMAS! That way, hopefully, we will get a bit more wear out of it. I just can't stand to make (or buy) dresses that we wear one time!

With the piping, and the pockets, and the adorable red zipper on the back (that I, of course, forgot to take a pic of...) it is just the sweetest little dress. Don't you think Bee will be the cutest little bit around?

Now to decide on a pattern for Belle...anyone else looking for a dress pattern reviewer in the next couple of weeks??? Apparently, I need a little push:)

Warm and Snuggly Just In Time

2011-11-06T09:41:00.000-05:00

It's a really good thing that I was in such a hurry to start knitting when my yummy alpaca arrived. The hubs and I had the chance to get away to Charlottesville for a long weekend. And with a winter storm warning and lows in the 30's my snuggly new cowl got a lot of use.

And as much as I detest having my picture taken, I did promise to share my finished product. So focus on the scarf, ok? I mean...not only is the yarn amazing, but those buttons! And the scenery isn't bad either:)

I, of course, don't have pics, but this cowl can be worn in several different ways. Buttoning just the top button, for example, turns it into a capelet. Leaving just the bottom button undone results in a cute little slit that looks great over the shoulder of a turtleneck. Or if it's 35 degrees outside, go ahead and button it all the way up and hunker down:)

Knitting Notes: In all honesty, I have no idea how many stitches, or rows, or what needles I used or anything like that (remember I reknit the thing 5 times!)...but here's the gist of it:) And I'll pretend that the "pattern" is intentionally vague so that you can apply it to any yarn you may choose to use!

After a lot of trial and error on the gauge, I settled on really large needles so the stitches were super loose. This seemed to show off the super-chunky yarn best. Then I cast on enough stitches so that the piece measured about 16 inches wide. From there I worked in garter stitch until it was long enough to wrap around my neck and overlap, as Belle says, "just a smidge" without having to be stretched. At that point I STRUGGLED with the buttonholes. I tried a few different methods and just couldn't seem to get the spacing right. I finally settled on a basic eyelet buttonhole and put in 4 buttonholes. To finish up I added another three rows of garter stitch plus the bind off to reinforce the buttonholes. Then I took the finished product to the local fabric shop to pick out buttons that would fit through the holes, but be pretty snug so they wouldn't slip out while I was wearing it. Ginorma-buttons fit the bill:)

Intentionally vague enough??? :)

Purpose - Spreading Love

2011-11-03T09:14:00.001-04:00

If you've visited my blog recently, you might recall that I have been searching for a higher purpose for my crafting/sewing/knitting/cooking/etc/etc/etc. Just a means of using the gifts I've been given to touch others. So, periodically you'll see some links, tutorials, challenges etc. that will hopefully inspire you to do the same.

And this one's a breeze!

I love to cook! Love it! And, no, that isn't sarcasm. I really and truly enjoy it...ok, maybe not with a needy two year old hanging on my leg and a VERY talkative four year old providing endless commentary, but anyway...

Cooking is one of my ways of spreading love. Whether just to my immediate little family of four, or to a neighbor in need. It's one of my favorites ways to give to others.

And my secret to easy, affordable, and delicious treats...BISQUICK! I've found several easy-peasy recipes using the baking mix in various creations. This yummy apple cake recipe takes very few ingredients, very little time, and no baking experience whatsoever. Go ahead, sniff the screen, you know you want to:)

Then, when you are finished drooling, click the link and go make one for someone you love...or better yet, make one WITH someone you love! Then let me know with whom you shared your apple cake...have a great week!

Halloween Memories

2011-10-31T20:53:00.007-04:00

Because Halloween 2011 is already just a memory. And I know that, in what seems like only moments, Halloween 2025 will be only a memory. We had a slew of 1-4 year olds running through our house this morning, and the squeals and giggles were priceless. Some of my favorite moments from this day and how I wish I could live it all over again...

And as a gift to my readers who also happen to feel that time is slipping through their hands faster than they really appreciate...I discovered an amazing new-to-me blog while browsing Pinterest (yes - I'm on there and one of these days I'll figure out how to do the whole Pinterest button on blog thing, but that will have to wait until another day). After reading several posts about photographing Halloween, I just knew that this was a must follow. So, if you're looking to preserve some of your memories, head over and visit Katie Evans Photography. And for your future photography tip needs, I've added a link to her blog on my sidebar.

She happens to be running a contest right now, and while my photography is amateur at best, it seems to be getting better every day, so I'll be sending my memories as entries...you should join in on the fun too! Directions for how to submit your entries can be found on the blog. And just a note - I've included the tips that inspired each shot just for your info:)

UPDATE: You can vote for my pics by liking them on Pinterest. They're the ones from belle-n-bee.blogspot.com (obviously:).

Entry 1: Moving beyond the traditional pose

Entry 2: Capturing the details

Entry 3: Getting behind them

Hold tight to those memories in whatever way you can! Happy Halloween:)

Trick or Treat

2011-10-31T09:08:00.002-04:00

We'll be sporting brand new treat bags as we make our rounds this evening!

They were supposed to feature an applique monogram in the open space at the top. But, Belle can't seem to make up her mind which one she wants, so I figured this way we can trade as often as we need/want. Maybe next year I can add a pumpkin and a spider to jazz them up, but for now I quite like them as they are.

And have no fear...my sweet children will not have their long-term health sacrificed to the candy monsters! Oh no...the hubs and I will take care of eating most of that candy for them:) Have a safe and happy Halloween!

A Little Something Cozy

2011-10-27T23:50:00.004-04:00

A little birdie told me that it is supposed to be cold and rainy in the southeast this weekend. And that's music to my ears. There is nothing like a morning mist and nip in the air to get the blood flowing...and nothing like a warm sweater and a pair of comfy boots to warm the soul!

A while back I fell in love with this ball of alpaca from SpinUp Yarns. Ever since our visit to the Alpacas of Niagra farm last winter, I've had a bit of a soft spot for alpaca yarn. And gray is my go-to color in the colder months. I marked it as a favorite and proceeded to "visit" it every single day for weeks, sometimes several times a day. And finally, in a moment of weakness, I clicked, "Commit to Buy." And then the waiting began.

When the package finally arrived, I tore into and fell in love all over again. I cannot possibly describe how soft and squishy this hank of alpaca yumminess felt.

And since it was probably not acceptable to carry it around everywhere with me like a grown-up lovey, I began knitting immediately. I actually knit and reknit the same 20 or so rows 5 times, just so I could extend the experience a bit. The finished product is absolutely divine...truly! Maybe one of these days I can get someone to snap a pic while I'm snuggled in the cuddly depths of my new favorite accessory...

Because sometimes, you need a little something cozy to brighten your day!

Finding a Purpose...

2011-09-16T16:11:00.005-04:00

So...in the last week I have run across the same theme, not once, not twice, but three times. It's kind of been one of those sledgehammer-meets-noggin moments in your life. And I'm pretty hard-headed, but after the third whack, I decided I needed to pay attention.

For the record, I am a Christian, and yes I am veering slightly off the crafty path here, but for my Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, etc. friends, don't run away just yet. I'm pretty sure this message is non-denominational.

The question I've encountered THREE times this week is this:

What talents/skills has God (or insert your own belief system here) given to you? And what purpose do those skills/talents serve in the greater plan or for the greater good?

So I did what any crafter would do...I picked up my knitting needles and started to think. Or am I the only one who thinks better with busy hands?

Eventually I came to the conclusion that I have primarily been using my skills to serve my own purposes. I make things because I like to. I sell things to have a little bit of extra money to buy materials so I can make more things. And I blog about what I make because I like to talk about the things I enjoy. Except that, recently, I haven't been enjoying it...at least not very much or very often. It seems I really was lacking a purpose and it was leaving me with very little motivation.

I continued to knit...and I began to think of alternative purposes for my craftiness. Why did I receive this particular set of skills and what was I intended to do with them? I came up with a list of ways I could use my skills in service to others...you really don't want me to list them here. Trust me, it's a long list.

But in the end, I came up with one realistic goal of how I could use my talents to have a more positive impact on the world, and it centers on this blog. Rather than merely showing off my latest creation, I could use this as a forum to share ways that crafting can serve others.

Not that I won't ever just post cute pics of my kids in clothes that I make...'cause I will. But, in general, you will begin to see a change in the content of the blog. Lots more opportunities for you to give back by crafting, tutorials on items that can be made in service to others, and links to great charitable organizations that need your help. Because, regardless of race, creed, color, of craft preference, we can all get behind the idea of helping others, right?

So let's start off with a knitting/crocheting challenge for all my yarn-craft friends out there...Special Olympics Scarves. A friend of mine shared this project with me and I committed to helping out. Each year, the various Special Olympics winter events give coordinating scarves to the athletes, coaches, and volunteers. The scarves are a symbol of unity, support, compassion, and empowerment for all who are involved. I'll be making at least one scarf to send to the NC Special Olympics and I challenge all of you to do the same. You can find specifications, yarn colors, and due dates for the various states by visiting the Special Olympics Scarves 2012 website. Willing to lend a hand??? Leave a comment and let me know that you'll be sending one or more scarves to the Special Olympics and we can cheer each other on!

Because our crafts can have a purpose that is larger than ourselves!

Happy Birthday, Bee!

2011-09-12T11:07:00.011-04:00

Affectionately known as "Itty Bit," our little Bee turned TWO on Saturday! She's still roughly the size of a 15 month old, talks like a 2 year old, and races through the house like a 6 year old:) She's bubbly but demanding, adventurous but knows her own limits, sassy but sweet as sugar...basically a walking contradiction. And she's the pepper to her sister's salt. They are nothing alike, but the best of friends!

Bee has a sense of style all her own. Her favorite ensemble is her "white" dress (Snow White, that is), her flowered rain boots, and a pair of binoculars around her neck. But don't you dare come near her in a mask...she is NOT a fan!

Did I mention that she's a bit on the animated side? The facial expressions and comedic timing on this thing are unbelieveable!

And like every diva, a wardrobe change mid-event is always necessary:) I'm not sure if you recognized the dress in the pics above, but it came from none other than the famous Katy at No Big Dill, who just happened to give birth to her first little boy on my little Bee's birthday! Congrats to Katy and the entire Dill family:)

But we couldn't eat Carolina blue (is there any other color???) cupcakes in that dress. I mean, I ordered it before Bee was even ONE!

So, to complement the party theme, I whipped up this little fishie outfit the morning of the party...yep, nothing like waiting till the last minute:)

I'd say the cupcakes were a big hit, but I think that's pretty obvious:)

A while back, I confessed that Belle had a birthday party that was completely store-bought (except the cupcakes that my hubby baked). I had a lot of guilt, but she had a blast. And I learned a pretty important lesson...sometimes it's better to be the parent enjoying your child instead of the parent making things for your child.

This time around, I aimed for the middle ground. Thanks to a very busy tax season, I've had quite a bit of time on my hands in the evenings, so I used my free time to practice a new knitting technique...magic loop. Not complicated at all, but something new to me. And if I was going to be practicing, I might as well make something for the Bee's birthday while I was learning a new skill. So the "Birthday Baby" was born.

In a futile attempt to make Bee love her, I dressed her like Dora, but my goal with the doll is that it will grow with Bee. Right now she loves Dora, so a few basic accessories turn this simple doll into her much-loved friend. But with a quick clothing change she can be just about anything. I'm planning a Halloween dress next...maybe white with a ghost face on the front. Then a dress for a very special secret event coming up this winter...more on that later:)

Of course, even the totally yummy belly button couldn't make Bee interested in her doll. She quickly tossed it aside and moved on to much more exciting toys, but maybe one day she'll grow to love the doll. And if not...oh well. I learned a new technique and enjoyed the process.

So...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEE! I love you more than the moon and the stars and could not imagine our little family without your spunky sweetness!

Something old...

2011-06-05T20:46:00.004-04:00

I picked up a pair of these vintage pillowcases at my local thrift store. I just loved the yellow print and the tatting on the edge was simply divine. As I was putting them away with the rest of my vintage stash (I keep the vintage fabrics, trims, etc. separate from the modern), I noticed the bag of hand-made doilies that my husband's grandmother had made over the years. We lost Grandma Ollie 10 years ago, but I know she is smiling down on Belle and is so proud of her sweet personality and sassy intelligence. So I didn't think she would mind if I put one of her doilies to use embellishing a skirt for little miss Belle.

Other than the fact that I had to repair a bit of the tatting, the skirt came together in literally 8 minutes. I chopped off the bottom of the pillowcase (where it opens) to the appropriate length for the skirt. A quick press of the elastic casing and two speedy seams and it was finished. Attaching the doilie, on the other hand, was a bit time consuming. My kids don't wear anything that I can't throw in the washing machine and dryer, so I wanted to make sure that the doilie would stand up to the abuse of a now FOUR YEAR OLD. So I stitched and stitched and stitched it to the front of the skirt.

Belle isn't old enough to understand the significance of this particular skirt, but she adores it. And it means a lot to the rest of us who do know the history of the doilie. And the super soft, light weight vintage fabric is perfect for the steamy NC springs/summers.

On the art of balancing...

2011-05-21T19:13:00.003-04:00

Just a quick note to explain my absence...

Blogging is actually rather time consuming...it's happy time, but time none-the-less. And recently, I've been considering the fact that I may spend so much time making things FOR my kids that I'm not actually spending that much time WITH my kids. And all though they are certifiably rotten...I kinda like 'em.

So today, Belle celebrated her 4th birthday with her friends. And the only thing that was homemade for her party were the cupcakes...my husband made them. Yep, that's right. Plastic goodie bags from the party store filled with books and magnifying lenses and colored pencils, a ruffly dress from good ole Tarjay, pizza from the local Little Caesar's, and not a decoration in sight. And you know what? I think she had a great day. And even better than that...I had a great day. And even better than that...we had a great week leading up to the shindig!

So instead of sewing like a maniac for the last week to get everything ready, I played Candyland....lots of Candyland. And I think I'm ok with that. And I'm pretty sure Belle is too.

Balancing all the various parts of your life is a challenge. It just is. So if I go missing for days on end, just know that I'm probably stuck in the Licorice Forest or maybe visiting Gramma Nut. And don't worry, I'm sure to turn up again soon:)

Teach Yourself to Knit in Just ONE Day - A Somewhat Tutorial for which I can claim NO credit

2011-05-05T15:18:00.007-04:00

Once upon a time, I taught myself to knit. I HATED it and promptly vowed to never again pick up a pair of needles.

But, then I started to feel frustrated at the lack of options available to those of us who prefer to crochet. Those knitters got all the cool patterns, and I was a just a tiny bit jealous.

Go on...click the pic to buy this super cool pattern! After a couple weeks of practice you'll be ready to try it:)

So, I decided to try again (mainly so I could use that pattern up there!).

And guess what...I LOVE it! I'm officially hooked and have been knitting up a storm. In the last few days I've completed two cowls and started a third. I've visited the craft store to pick up additional needles, and even scored a bundle of great yarn on $0.99 clearance (YAY!).

So here's how I learned...please note that NONE of this is my own work! I'm by no means an expert after a grand total of 6 days of knitting. But, because the learning process is so fresh in my memory, I thought that you might benefit from seeing the process I followed. I hope the following links, posts, patterns, etc. are helpful. And if you have any questions, shoot 'em my way and I'll see if I can answer them, find an answer, or locate a video that will help.

So here goes...

You will need:

*a #9 circular needle that is 16"

*a stitch marker (if you want to save a couple of bucks, get a small rubber band or hair band...just something small and round that will fit over your knitting needle to mark your place)

*a skein of SOFT worsted weight yarn (at least 150 yards) - read the package info if you aren't sure if you have worsted weight, and yes, SOFT is important...your finished product will be cuddled up next to the soft skin of your neck...you don't want something scratchy

Here is a link to the pattern that we will be using to create a cowl (that's a short scarf that doesn't have ends). It's from Confetti Creative Knitting and can also be found on Ravelry. Some of the pattern directions will be summarized in this post, but you will need the actual pattern to be able to follow along. This is the very first pattern I attempted. I chose it because it uses only the two most basic knitting stitches, the knit and the purl. I also like the fact that by knitting in the round and using a stitch marker, you don't need to do much counting. Always a plus when I tend to knit while chatting with Belle or snuggling with Bee.

First you will need to cast on. This is how you get your first round of stitches onto your needles. There are a gazillion ways to cast on out there in the world. After auditioning MANY of them, I recommend the "gun" method. It was the easiest for me to figure out and actually remember for the second project. NOTE - Some patterns will specify a particular type of cast on, so as you move on to other patterns, make sure you check that. So, now go view this video and it will get you started.

Now because we are going to be knitting in the round, you will need to know how to join the ends. MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T ALLOW YOUR STRING OF STITCHES TO TWIST! Here is your video to show you how to join.

Now it's time to start stitching. Because I began as a crocheter (is that a word???), I really don't like the traditional method of knitting. It feels awkward and clumsy. So, I received a tip from a family friend (thanks, Mrs. Starr!), that I should try the "Continental" method. Well, folks...that's what did it for me! As soon as I began to use the continental method, I fell in love. It has the same easy rhythm as crocheting, but allows me to use those cool patterns that made me so jealous before. So, the videos in this quasi-tutorial will teach this method.

Be sure to use your stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round. You use it by simply slipping it over your right needle before the first stitch of each round.

The pattern calls for you to begin by purling 3 rounds. Here is a video to show you how to purl continental style.

Now you will need to knit 2 rounds. Here's your continental knit stitch video.

From here, you will be able to follow the pattern through the remaining rounds until the binding off. When you are ready to bind off, use this video to see how it is done. She isn't knitting in the round or using the continental style, but you should be able to see how the bind off works.

YOU DID IT!

Disclaimer: This was most likely your FIRST attempt at knitting. If you crocheted in a previous life and have some idea of how to control the tension on the yarn, then you are likely at least somewhat pleased with your end result. BUT, if you've never stitched before, then the whole tension thing is tough, and your cowl may be a little wonky. First, it will still keep you warm in the snow. Second, each one you make will get a little better. My first attempt (even with years of crochet experience) resulted in such mismatched tensions from the top to the bottom that it actually looks like I added some extra purl rounds. But my second one only had one small section that was a little crazy. And my third is looking GREAT so far. So stick with it and keep trying...it does get easier and faster as you go.

Now...if you're in love, be sure to visit Elisa McLaughlin Designs on Etsy. Her projects are quick and so fashionable. And she has been incredibly helpful as I try to pick out patterns that are actually manageable for a newbie like me. That's her head wrap up there...so go click on it, ok!

All Dressed Up...

2011-05-02T12:21:00.001-04:00

I've been working on some accessories for the dolls, especially the boys. It just didn't seem fair that the girls got wear frilly little skirts, and even eye patches, and the boys were left without extras.

So now, a valiant, medieval knight can spend his days jousting with his friends.

And the resident super hero can save the day every now and then.

What do you think? Would your little boys appreciate the chance to accessorize??

Style Stitches - March

2011-04-30T16:35:00.000-04:00

First, let me defend myself...these were almost finished on time! Just a few days late, I promise. They just didn't make it to the blog sooner because of all the other seasonal projects that I've been completing. PROMISE! So...a while back I told you that I was too nervous to tackle my third sewing goal for 2011. But not that I've partially conquered it, I think I can finally share. Sewing Goal #3: CLOSURES! I've been sewing for too many years to be nervous in the face of zippers and buttonholes. And to be completely honest, it's not the closures themselves that scare me...it's more the mechanics of the sewing machine. Something about needing special equipment just really turns me off. This goal is actually the entire reason I joined in the Style Stitches challenge. I needed something to force me to figure it all out. And I can honestly say...I have a new obsession! I am completely in love with colorful zippers. I've started collecting them on every trip to the fabric store. It's getting a little out of control. I've made a collection of these bags for myself and various people...and I'm having so much fun! And nary a white or black zipper in the bunch! For my first set, I actually just picked out the zipper color I wanted for my own bags. Then I came home and pulled fabric from my stash to go with the zippers...totally backwards, I know, but lots of fun that way. I finally settled on this bizarre palette of hot pink, chartreuse, and dove gray. It may be my new signature palette...I am THAT in love with it:)

So...now on to button holes!

Olivia

2011-04-29T16:26:00.002-04:00

Olivia is a smart, sassy, and serious little bundle of knowledge. She can educate you on the classification of butterflies, enlighten you on the subject of color coordination, and broaden your understanding of the physics of a cartwheel. But, she won't hesitate to point out your misconceptions, so you had better be on your toes:)

Olivia can most often be found with her nose in a book, but she also spends considerable amounts of time studying the world around her. She carries a field journal with her on all of her adventures to keep a record of her discoveries.

I'm sure those of you who know me and my children personally, can probably see little bits of all of us in the characters I create...bet'cha can't guess who inspired this one:)

MMM Swap COMPLETED:)

2011-04-26T16:14:00.003-04:00

SENT: 1 reversible mini-quilt, 2 zippie pouches, 1 needle book, 6 skeins perle cotton, 1 1/2 yards Modern Meadows, and a handful of needles to fill the book

RECEIVED: 1 needle book, 1 pack needles, a rainbow of 5 AMH zippie pouches, 1 pin cushion caddy, and a pile of AMH and Metro Living

I am one seriously lucky gal! Kelly spoiled me rotten:) Thanks so much for all my wonderful goodies! I sure hope my partner enjoys her little treasures as much as I am enjoying mine!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T14:58:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite hymns from my childhood begins with, "Up from the grave he arose..." I love Easter because it is a time of such renewal, and spring in NC is an amazing thing to witness. It is a glorious day here to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior.

And regardless of your spiritual leanings, I hope that you are enjoying this fine spring day.

We've had a visit from the big bunny, visited family, and hunted more eggs. Sadly, we missed church due to a couple of unseasonable colds and some nasty little coughs:(

But, we still looked springingly cute in our new dresses:)

And just in case you're wondering...

Belle's dress was made with this tutorial from Freshly Picked. I added an underskirt, a sash, and some pretty little pleats just for fun. I also cut a slit in the back and added a button closure...the size of the heads on my little angels would amaze you! This is the first time I've used this pattern and I am in love! Assuming you leave out all the little extras that make it Easter-special, I think this would come together in less than an hour. And the inside is fully finished with no raw edges, zigzag stitches, or serged seams. It is a very professional-looking finished product and so sweet on.

Bee's outfit made use of the Sweet Pocket Pinafore pattern by Heidi and Finn. I followed the pattern directions to a tee, except that I added ric rac around all the edges. Once again, the pattern, as it is written, comes together very quickly and results in a very professional-looking finished product. Adding the ric rac makes the process a little more tedious, but it was just too cute to pass up. The bloomers are made with the Scientific Seamstress Easy Fit Pants pattern. I made a pair at shorts length, then stitched in a piece of elastic about 3/4" from the hemline on each leg. I've definitely gotten my $9.95 out of this pattern. It comes together with only two pieces and six seams and fits a WIDE range of sizes. It's also available for teens and adults and I'm seriously considering grabbing that one too. I know I've used the kids version at least 15 times already and my kids won't outgrow it for many years:)

One note about Bee's pinafore...that's a size 2T on my very tiny 19 month old. I think the pattern runs pretty short over the tummy, so I would recommend that if you want to be able to wear it with just bloomers that you make a size larger than you normally would.

Both outfits, are made with fabrics from the Flower Sugar line by Lecien. I don't normally splurge on imported fabric, but for this occasion I just couldn't resist.

So, Happy Easter and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Spring Pinwheels - Completed

2011-04-22T16:11:00.001-04:00

Spring Pinwheels is finally complete! And Belle is loving it:) All her babies now have a genuine quilt under which to snuggle. Thanks again to Chrissy and Linda at Sew Lux for hosting this quilt along!

Randomness

2011-04-21T11:13:00.000-04:00

My children play together really nicely. I'm lucky and I know it! I think back on all the times Belle nearly popped Bee's head right off her little body trying to hug her when she was still an infant, and I'm hoping that by letting them establish their own boundaries with each other I've in some way fostered their relationship. I'm realistic enough to know that's a bunch of baloney, but I sort of like my delusions:) They love to color together, kiss each other good night, and make family beds (big piles of pillows and blankets) to share in the family room.

And who is the first person Bee asks for when she gets up from her nap??? Belle (except that, for now, she calls her "Nee-Neet," a name we will never figure out!).

And as a mom, it really makes life easier when your children will entertain each other for extended periods of time. On rare occasions, you can almost...ALMOST, have a complete thought, all at once:)

And every so often you can get a little work done. Not often, and definitely not all at once. But over time, it can add up. A hem-band here, a waistband there, and every so often an applique or two.

Though I will admit, that sometimes I wish they wanted ME to play...but I guess that's the price I pay for having such an amazing pair of sisters in my house!

A Vintage??? Modern Bunny

2011-04-18T11:04:00.000-04:00

After all the hullabaloo surrounding the Growing Your Baby feature, I thought it was high time to start making some things for and WITH my kiddos. Belle wanted a bunny oh-so-very-badly, so we pulled out the Modern Bunny pattern at naptime one day and got started. Of course, I let Belle pick out the fabric...and wouldn't you know, she picked a vintage pillowcase and a reproduction print. This one's a quirky one, that's for sure:) So we made a vintage modern bunny!

So, Flowery has taken up residence at the head of Belle's bed, along with the matryoshka we made a while back and the knit doll I gave to her when she was born (no - I didn't knit it!). This kiddo has never carried a particular doll or stuffed animal around with her, so being given a place in the bed is the highest honor.

Now to plan a bunny for Bee...hopefully in time for Easter!

Spring Stitchings

2011-04-16T01:37:00.001-04:00

A few peeks at the second embroidered Easter quilt. I used the two blocks that I decided to leave out of the first quilt. Then I sketched two new designs to complete the quilt. This one is a more traditional spring color palette. And a little more girly.

Looks like Lilac likes it!

Swashbuckling Pirates!

2011-04-13T01:28:00.001-04:00

Another of "My First Friends." If you haven't met Penelope, hop on over to the shop to read her bio. She's one-of-a-kind! And yet another, embroidered doll quilt. I just LOVE this color combo...it makes me so happy!

Belle adores Penelope! I think her favorite part is the removable eye patch. It drives her crazy that she can't play with her! I guess that means I need to get busy on another pirate doll:)

New Friends - A Doll Swap

2011-04-12T15:57:00.003-04:00

Make new friends, But keep the old, Some are silver And the other gold

Thanks so much to my new friend, Melissa! We are so in love with our new baby...though we can't seem to settle on a name. I'm hoping to get your doll in the mail tomorrow:)

Modern Bunnies

2011-04-10T00:42:00.000-04:00

Over the last several weeks you've seen a million and one of my dolls. I've developed a pattern which I'm calling "My First Friend," and with each doll I tweak the specifics a tiny bit. I think I'm finally happy with the dimensions, curves, etc. for the girl doll, but Timothy here is my first attempt at the boy adaptation. Thinner through the bum, pants, shirt sleeves... What do you think???

The doll is designed to be appropriate for kids of ALL ages. I think that having a "big" girl and all her "big" girl toys around a smaller child has made me think about the accessibility of toys. Small parts, removable pieces, long strings/ties...all hazards for a toddler, but all involved in just about every toy my 3 year old owns.

So I set out trying to design a doll that BOTH of my girls would love. It's large enough that an older child will be able to consider it a friend, but lacking in all the choking hazards normally found in dolls.

With My First Friend working really well (and selling really well locally), I decided that we needed some animal friends around here too. So....

I'd like to introduce you to my new friend...Modern Bunny!

The Modern Bunny pattern is actually designed to be the base for numerous animals just by exchanging arms, ears, noses, etc. And once again, I'm trying to make something suitable for all ages.

Fabric selection is or paramount importance for this pattern. A skull and crossbones fabric immediately toughens it up. A vintage floral makes it sweet and precious. A modern novelty makes for a fun playmate.

One day, we'll have Modern Kitty, Modern Puppy, Modern Elephant...and a host of others. But for today, I just really like these two. If you want to read the story of each of my new friends, you can find Lilac and Bennett in my shop (Timothy's there too!). Their bios are in the listings. They're pretty lively characters, but I'm afraid this post is already way too long:)

Show It Off - Quilt Pattern

2011-04-08T01:32:00.001-04:00

This quilt is all about showing off! Whether you choose to show off a hand-stitched design or a large print on a beautiful fabric, you'll have this whipped up in a jiffy! The pattern below is really just intended to give quilters the dimensions of my pieces, so they can replicate if they so choose. But, I added more detail so those of you with sewing experience could play along. If you're a total quilt newbie and would like to see a Quilting 101 series, just leave a comment and let me know. I have one in the works, but it keeps getting pushed to the back burner. Having someone hold me accountable, might actually make it happen:) You'll need: 4 center pieces 8.5" square (something you want to show off) 4 coordinating fabrics perle cotton thread if you choose to do hand-quilting crib-size batting (or a 32" square of batting if you're like me and buy big batting and cut it up) 1.5 yards backing and binding fabric Note: All pieces are cut using a rotary cutter and square ruler. All pieces are joined by placing right sides together and sewing using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

1. From each coordinating fabric: Cut 2 rectangles measuring 3.5"x8.5" and 2 rectangles measuring 3.5"x14.5". [And you experienced quilters can probably stop reading right here and run off to find something to show off:)]

2. Lay-out: Decide which coordinating fabric will accompany each center piece. Then decide on the block placement for the finished quilt.

3. Assemble Block: Attach the two smaller rectangles (coordinating fabric) to each side of the first center square. Press seams toward outside. Then attach longer rectangles to top and bottom of center panel. Press seams to outside. Repeat for next 3 blocks.

4. Assemble quilt top: Sew top pair of blocks together. Then sew bottom pair of blocks together. Press seams in opposite directions (ie. top seam to right and bottom seam to left) as this will make matching seams easier. Sew top row to bottom row matching the center seams. Press seam toward bottom of quilt.

5. Create Sandwich: Place quilt top on batting. Trim batting to approximately 2 inches wider than top on all 4 sides. Place top and batting on backing fabric. Trim backing to approximately 2 inches wider than batting on all 4 sides. Extra around edges allows for any slipping during quilting process and will be trimmed later. Baste well using your preferred method (pins, basting spray, etc.).

6. If machine quilting - Stitch 1/4" on each side of center square outline and 1/4" on either side of seams between 4 large blocks.

7. If hand-quilting - select perle cotton thread to complement block. I prefer to use variegated, but that's just my personal choice. Hand-stitch, keeping stitches as even as possible, 1/4" inside and outside center square. To stitch around the outside edge of each large block, you will need to stitch 1/4" from the 2 inside seams and 3/4" from the outside raw edges. This will accomodate your binding in the next step.

8. Prepare binding - Cut three 3 inch strips of backing fabric for binding. Sew short ends together to form one LONG, SKINNY piece of fabric. Fold strip in half lengthwise and press well.

9. Attach Binding - Place binding raw edges together with quilt top and sew using 1/2" seam allowance and mitering corners. If you don't know how to miter the corners of quilt binding and want to see some pics, just leave a comment and I'll get a quick tutorial together for you:) Fold to back, press well and hand-stitch folded edge to back of quilt.

Questions? No? GREAT! Now go get busy:):):)

FREE Embroidery Pattern

2011-04-05T16:36:00.000-04:00

Well, you've clearly discovered that I have a temporary embroidery obsession. So I thought, as an early Easter present to all of you, I would share one of my embroidery patterns. Sadly, I can't share any pics of a finished design, because...well...it just isn't finished, and with the looks of my To Do list, it won't be any time soon. But, this pattern is ultra-flexible and can result in a trillion different things. In my version, each circle is a different color. But, you could just as easily make them all the same...or alternate colors...or rotate 3 colors...or do different shades of one color...I think you get the picture. It isn't a super fancy pattern...and not even hand-drawn, but it's one of those things that could go SO far awry in a hurry if you tried to draw it out by hand. Ask me how I know!! I hope you enjoy it...and if you try it out, I'd love to see pics of your finished products!

VERY Special Announcement and a GIVEAWAY!

2011-04-04T08:59:00.003-04:00

I'm so excited to tell all of you that Belle + Bee was selected to be featured on the Growing Your Baby website today! And they're hosting a GIVEAWAY of one of my handmade bunnies! A while back I was contacted by the editor of the website and asked if I would like to be part of their month-long series on Etsy artists...um, yeah! So I've been working my little fingers to the bone to update the shop listings and get some new designs ready before the big day. I hope you'll hop on over to the feature, take a look around in the shop, and share your favorite item in my collection. Then I really hope one of you will win a handmade bunny from me:)

Chasing Away the Rain...

2011-04-03T15:55:00.002-04:00

Rainy days are always a challenge, but when they're COLD, rainy days it just isn't pretty! So we decided to try to chase away the rain. Out came the colorful tissue paper and up popped some new spring blooms. Belle has a thing about always needing a centerpiece on the kitchen table. We've had everything from a pair of scissors to my husband's hat thrown in the middle of the table just to satisfy her. I think these are a big improvement! And to kill some time while we were waiting for the sunshine to arrive, Belle designed her first tee. Look how proud she is!

I had her draw a picture on white paper with a dark marker. Then we traced the outline of the shapes on Lite-Bond fusing paper. She picked the colors of fabric she wanted and we got busy with the applique. I had to do all of the ironing and most of the stitching, but she sat with me and picked the thread colors and helped when she could.

And this little gal must be a sunshine fairy, because by the time she was finished the sun was shining brightly! Thank goodness!

Pinwheel Quilt Along

2011-04-02T22:32:00.002-04:00

So, a while back, I told you that one of my sewing goals for 2011 was to return to my quilting roots. I think I might have taken that one a little TOO seriously! Right now, I currently have 4 quilts in process that I hope to finish in the next few days. And I have finished two others in the last week. That's a whole lot of quilting! Now mind you...they are all doll or baby/crib size. Nothing large has been completed, though there are 3 of those in the works too! YIKES! Oh, and I just remembered a mini that's almost finished too, good grief! So when my new friends at Sew Lux Fabrics let me in on their little quilt along, of course, I jumped right in:) This one was a no brainer. I could whip it up in a jiffy and I could make use of some of my stash (the other sewing goal that I've revealed...there's one left that I refuse to admit because I'm just too scared to pursue it!). This little cutie is intended for my Belle. She's been a little jealous ever since Bee got a baby quilt for Christmas. Belle plays with her dolls every morning before the rest of the family gets up. She has the doll cradle that my grandfather made for me when I was little in her bedroom now. It already has a hand-knit blanket that her Aunt made her when she was born folded up in it as the mattress, but those poor dollies just look cold:) So it seemed right that she needed a new quilt for the cradle. We won't even mention how CRAZY she has been going since there have been so many dolls and doll quilts flying out the door for orders recently, while none were heading her way:)

This quilt has actually already been quilted and the binding is attached. It's just waiting for the binding to be completed. But, I don't have pictures of it since then, so just take my word for it...and I promise I'll show it to you when it is finished.

And just a note of thanks - My mom sent me the charm pack that I used for this quilt quite a while ago...so thanks, Mom! You've made Belle a very happy little girl yet again (and she thanks you doubly for her new movie!).

Easter Stitchings - Doll Quilt

2011-04-01T15:14:00.001-04:00

I shared the sweet little spring stitchings that are the foundation of this quilt a little while ago. In all honesty, I embroidered the designs and then had no idea what I was going to do with them. Thankfully, Harriet caught my eye and I just knew she needed a new quilt.

I think she likes it:)

I trimmed the embroidered blocks to 8.5" and then added a simple border to each one. I really wanted the focus to remain on the stitchings and not the complementary fabrics and I think it worked out pretty well.

Then I started combining the blocks. I had originally planned to use all 6 stitched designs, but once I had these four together, it just felt complete, so I left the others for another project. And I really love this color combo...the pink and green on the other blocks somehow ruined the quirky palette.

The finished dimensions are perfect for Harriet or any of my other 19" dolls and bunnies. She likes to be swaddled up where it's warm and cozy:)

Once the top was finished, I just had to do some hand quilting with my DMC cotton perle! It is a great complement to the embroidered designs and really gives it a fun, vintage feel.

The quilt is already SOLD, but if you're interested in making one yourself, the embroidery patterns are available here. I'm so glad this little beauty found a home that will love her for many, many years!

Sweet Stitches

2011-03-30T11:06:00.003-04:00

I've really been enjoying all the handwork involved in the gazillion and one dolls and bunnies I've made over the last few weeks. So I owe my mom an apology...on a long visit down to our part of the country she spent hours stitching. Redwork. I just couldn't understand how she could do the same thing over and over, day after day. Ok, Mom, I get it now. Mom was right, as always:)

The methodical up and down of the needle, the mindless activity, the rhythm of the stitches...it's all so peaceful. But even with all the bunnies I've made, there weren't enough little faces to stitch. So I began a collection of spring themed illustrations. This particular set is bound for an Easter doll quilt (look for it in the shop soon!). But, the patterns are available in the shop now in case you have a hankering to stitch.

And my early Easter gift to you: A list of my top embroidery tips:)

1. Use high quality thread! Whether you're using traditional embroidery floss or perle cotton like I used in my designs, you'll be a lot less frustrated if you spend a tiny bit more for the nicer thread. It won't tangle nearly as much and will result in a smoother motion.

2. SHARP needles! If you've been using the same needle for the last 26 years, it is time for a new one.

3. Tie off before moving. Like in the little chick above...I easily could have moved from one of the little eggshell chips to the next without fastening off and cutting my thread. It would have saved me time. And really, who's gonna know??? Well, everyone maybe. When you stretch a long thread across the back of your design it will either show through the fabric to the front side or cause all of your stitches to become loose and not so cute. So don't do...REALLY!

4. Use variegated thread. Ok, this one is pretty non-traditional and maybe not for everyone. But a nice variegated thread is going to add depth and character to your illustration. And it's just plain fun:)

5. Use the right size hoop. You want to be able to stitch as much of the design as possible, but you still want to be able to pull the fabric nice and taught. If your hoop is too small, you have to move it every few stitches. But, if your hoop is too large then you can't enclose all of the edges of your fabric...not good!

6. And finally...have FUN! Embroidery is a great way to add whimsy to even the most serious of projects. So tuck a tiny bunny in the corner of your own grown-up skirt and wear a happy smile all day long:)

Might as well bag it...

2011-03-28T18:01:00.002-04:00

SO...about that Style Stitches Bag Challenge. Not looking so good for me:( But, I did manage to FINALLY finish February's bag! And this one definitely qualifies as EASY!

The patterns in the book are supposed to get progressively more difficult...except I think they might have gotten things a bit out of order. This one was MUCH easier than the Cosmo bag that we made in January. So that begs the question, "Why did it take you so long to finish it, Becky???"

I have no excuse. Well, actually I have about a million excuses, but nobody really wants to hear them:)

If you need a bag large enough to carry a small child, then I highly recommend this project. The directions are clear, the steps are simple, and aside from a lot of time spenting steaming interfacing it is actually a pretty quick pattern. But, I'm not kidding when I say it is large enough to carry a small child! This thing is HUGE! If you filled it with overdue library books it would take an 18-wheeler to pull it. And somehow we always have enough overdue library books to fill a bag of this size...maybe I should sign off and hurry to the library!

And as for March's collection of small zippered pouches...don't hold your breath! But maybe things will look up for April:)

Yummy, Yummy Goodness

2011-03-25T13:09:00.001-04:00

Three simple ingredients. Three simple steps. Yummy, yummy goodness!

1. Melt 1 box of bittersweet chocolate in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds. Spread the melted chocolate in a thin layer on a sheet of parchment paper (I put my parchment paper on a jellyroll pan for stability).
2. Sprinkle the top of the chocolate with a handful of crushed almonds (I HIGHLY recommend the ones in the pic...Planters Sea Salt and Olive Oil skinless almonds) and about a tablespoon of flax seed.
3. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Then break into chunks.

Like I said, YUMMY, YUMMY GOODNESS! Now quick, hide it from your husband and children!

Make Mine Modern Please!

2011-03-24T14:09:00.000-04:00

So I think I've explained most of the buttons over there on the right...but I'm not sure that I told you about the Make Mine Modern swap that I was lucky enough to get into.

The rules of the swap are:
* Your partner is a secret. You know who you're making for, but you have no idea who is making for you.
* You spend hours, days, even weeks stalking your partner to find out what they love and what they need.
* You create 1 hand-made item for you partner.
* You send one item to decorate your partner's sewing space (makes me wish I had one!).
* You send 1.5 yards of fabric that your partner will love.
* You can include any extras that you wish.

This is a sneak peak of the main part of the package for my partner. I'm not going to tell you exactly what it is, but it makes use of my current obsession (DMC perle cotton) and has hours and hours of hand-stitching in it. Wondering about the fabric??? Kona solids from here. You can create your own Kona solids fat quarter bundles in various sizes...and they're really reasonably priced for Kona.

I'll share more of the goodies headed to partner in the next few weeks...I really hope she likes them!

Bottled Rainbows Block 1

2011-03-22T20:55:00.000-04:00

Here's my first block for the Bottled Rainbows Ticker Tape Quilt Along!

I started with the mustard (which isn't really all that mustardy) because that seemed to be the color that I had the most of...odd since, I rarely use yellow.

I opted to use just a straight stitch around each scrap. I really like the raw edge look (and the fact that my machine is currently having a zigzag stitch malfunction had nothing to do with that decision what so ever!).

I also chose to not do a "quilt as you go" method. I've done that on several projects before and it does make everything go faster, but it just didn't feel right on this one. I think I will do some hand quilting with my new obsession, DMC perle! But, I haven't yet decided how I will do it...something to think about when I can't sleep:)

And I couldn't finish this post without a HUGE thank you to my friend, Courtney! She so generously supplemented my scrap stash for this quilt...and sent some super amazing fabrics in the package. Everything from Heather Ross to Anna Maria Horner. She's the BEST! The background scoop: Courtney and I met in college and are somewhat kindred spirits. We are both stay-at-home moms who love to run and sew. Hop over to Mon Petit Lyons and say hello to her! She has some really fantastic recipes, ideas and tutorials on her blog. And she has two boys to match my two girls, so she can share the other side of the parenting story:) Thanks, Courtney!

Treasure Seeker - Once Upon a Thread

2011-03-20T21:07:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure how this happened! I left this book out of my earlier post of selections for Once Upon a Thread! I must have been completely insane...or maybe just sleep-deprived:)

We first introduced this book to Belle on a trip to the beach when I was pregnant with Bee (7 months pregnant + bathing suit = really scary vacation pictures!). She fell in love with it instantly!

The basic idea of the story is that the boy is bored because no one in his family will play with him at the beach. So when a band of pirates offer to take him on a treasure hunt, he decides to go along. At first, he is in love with the life of a pirate, but when he discovers that pirates don't read bedtime stories, it starts to lose its appeal.

The language, illustrations, and plot are lively and fun! It's a must-read for summer...or for any land-lubber with a pirate's spirit.

So, in honor of pirate adventures...a treasure bag with built-in treasure map:)

I used my friend, Courtney's, drawstring bag tutorial...and she isn't kidding when she says it's the easiest one ever! I really wish I had seen this before I made a gazillion treat bags for Bee's birthday. But, you can bet that I'll be smarter for Belle's birthday coming up in a few weeks!

And then a little DMC perle (I told you I was obsessed!) in black for the route and red for the X. I think you can probably see the stitches in the pic...it took about 5 minutes. I didn't even bother to draw out the design. I just started in one spot and worked my way around until I felt like it looked right.

Now if I could just convince Belle to have a pirate themed birthday party:)

From Trash to Treasure

2011-03-19T20:34:00.000-04:00

A few days ago I had one of those, "absolutely NOTHING is going right," days. Literally everything I touched turned to trash. Thankfully I was smart enough to stick to sewing for my own kids, so I didn't destroy any custom orders!

But, I was more than a little frustrated!

One of the projects I attempted to make was a dress for Bee for this summer. It really should have been easy. It should have taken about 20 minutes total. It should have been a lot of things that it wasn't!

The problem: I cut the arm holes too deep. In my brain I was making a pillowcase dress with a ribbon casing at the top. In real life that wasn't the case. And since arm holes cut to your belly button just aren't cute on anyone, I decided to try to fix the issue.

Another disaster! I cut off the top edge so that the arm holes were more appropriate, but then my dress was way too short. So I added a red hem band...that was way too stiff.

Can you see where this is going?

In the end, Bee has a new blouse. Roomy, breezy and lightweight. And I just love seersucker for the hot and humid NC summers!

It's cute right???

She had better love it! And wear it twice a week all summer long! Good grief!

Not on the walls...

2011-03-18T15:46:00.001-04:00

That's the mantra around here these days!

I know you can't compare one child to the next. It isn't fair and it won't work. But in this case, I just can't help but do it. It's just so telling about life in this house. Belle has never colored on the walls...not once! And she has had pretty much unlimited access to crayons, markers, oil pastels, etc. since she could hold them. Bee...well it took about 30 seconds. She picked up that first crayon and before I could blink there were huge orange scribbles all over our kitchen wall.

So for now, we color only while strapped into the booster seat. But she does love this toy! It is made by Crayola and plays music at the same tempo as your coloring. Color faster and the music speeds up...pretty fun:) If you have little ones who like music and like to color, it's definitely great for rainy days.

Welcoming a New Baby

2011-03-16T15:43:00.000-04:00

Welcoming a new baby is always fun! Those tiny toes, that sweet smell, the feathery hair....mmmmmm!

And every baby deserves a little something special, made just for them!

And a cute little cupcake on the bum can't hurt either:)

Meet Millie and Her Very Special Friends

2011-03-14T15:30:00.000-04:00

Millie is a very special little lady with a smile that will make you flip. Not to mention her wispy wings and shining eyes. Be still my heart!

Whether playing outside, dancing to music, or reading a book, Millie can always be found with her best pals at her side. Elise is the shy, peaceful member of the bunch. She soothes her friends when they are hurt or sad, and holds their hands when they are scared. Piper, on the other hand, is the rowdy one. She's always looking for the next tree to climb, wall to scale, or refrigerator to paint:)

Like the angel and devil on Millie's shoulders, Piper and Elise push Millie to new heights. Whether it's challenging her to climb a new tree or encouraging her to slow down and smell the flowers, they bring out the best in Millie in every situation. What a lucky girl to have friends like these!

And on the rare occasions when her buddies aren't around, Millie pals around with her best human friend who even sports a coordinating dress. I hope the human Millie will love her new doll for many years to come!

Bottled Rainbows Quilt Along

2011-03-13T15:54:00.000-04:00

I've been prepping to start my Bottled Rainbows ticker tape quilt for the quilt along. If you haven't heard about it, click on the button to the right to find out more...there's still time to join in!

I don't maintain much of a stash of solid fabrics (something I'd love to change in the near future), so I ordered a fat quarter set from Whipstitch just for this quilt. The set includes the 16 Kona shades recommended for this quilt....BEAUTIFUL!

So once it arrived, I started digging through my scraps. I laid each of the solids out on the table and starting pile my scraps where they matched. It was really a lot of fun playing with all those tiny pieces that I had been hanging on to for who knows how long.

I then dug into my regular fabric stash to suplement. I cut small scraps off of larger cuts and added them to the piles.

After pressing each scrap this was what I ended up with. Isn't it lovely???

Except that I have some MAJOR holes in my scrap stash:( So if you have scraps in any of the shades below that you are willing to share, PLEASE send them my way!!! PLEASE!!!! Scraps can be as small as 1"x2" or as large as about 5" square. Many, many thanks in advance!

plum
eggplant
indigo
ocean
cerise
raspberry
pumpkin
moss

ROAR!

2011-03-12T15:19:00.003-05:00

I am lucky to have a group of very lovely and very loyal, local customers. I've done everything from birthday party t-shirts, to holiday skirts for these super sweet ladies. And even though I don't know their children, I feel like I am watching them grow up through their clothes, toys, and bedroom accessories.

I "met" Davis through his birthday party t-shirt quite a while ago. You may remember that one with the giant 2 on the front. I even had to privilege of helping him announce his new "Big Brother" status when his mom found out she was expecting. And now that his little brother is about to arrive, Davis is getting a big boy bedroom. His super-creative mom has designed quite a room complete with dinosaur wall decals and a hand-painted growth chart. And I got to add these adorable pillows to the mix.

The dinosaur pillow has a corduroy applique design on the front. The Charlie Brown pillow was made with this tutorial. It is really simple, but really tedious! All the measuring, clipping, and pressing of those tiny points just about drove me bonkers. But it is so cute now that it's finished, that I think it was totally worth it!

I hope Davis likes them...and his new brother:)

Once Upon a Thread

2011-03-05T22:43:00.002-05:00

Have you heard about Once Upon a Thread??? If not, look over there to the right and click on that button. You aren't going to want to miss this! Katy over at No Big Dill is hosting a MONTH of projects based on children's books. Clothes, toys, and who knows what else! I'm just a tiny bit excited!

A little background for those of you who don't know me personally...I used to be a teacher, an elementary teacher, an elementary LITERACY teacher. To say that we have a lot of children's books in our house would be like saying there are a few stars in the night sky. Maybe one day I'll share some pics of all the books you can find in all the various places in our house, but for now, let's just say that I didn't need to head to our local library to prep for this challenge.

The problem was narrowing the selection! I spent nap time today thumbing through the books in our playroom. After pulling a stack of possibilities as tall as Bee, I curled up in the rocking chair to read and brainstorm. And a couple of hours later, I think I've made my final choices.

It's a mix of award winners, old favorites, new classics, and some just for fun stories (and not a princess story in the whole mix!). I have projects planned for each of the books, but I make no promises that I will actually get around to all of them this month. But, I'll do my best and hopefully we'll have some fun along the way.

Now being a former literacy teacher and all, I can't pass up the opportunity to share some of that knowledge stored in the dark recesses of my brain. So along with the projects, I'll include a little about each of the books, as well as ideas for engaging your child in the stories, words, pictures, and letters found in each title. You may even find some "do with your child" projects for a few of the books.

I hope you have as much fun as I do!

What's your favorite children's book?

February Style Stitches Bag Challenge

2011-03-01T17:58:00.002-05:00

Want to see my Everyday Shopper for the month of February Style Stitches Bag Challenge???

Well, here it is!

Ugh! It's only February (well, now March), and already I've fallen behind. And I had such high hopes for this one. I even cut out the pieces in mid-January. But then I started hearing how easy it was, how quickly it came together, how simple the construction, and well...if it's that easy and that quick, I can wait until tomorrow. And tomorrow. And tomorrow. And here we are on March 1 and there my bag still lies, sadly abandoned, pushed to the side, neglected. Maybe tomorrow...

Sometimes you just need a little alcohol...

2011-02-28T14:22:00.002-05:00

to get the pen marks out of your microfiber sofa:)

Remember those pesky purple pen lines? Well, you're going to have to take my word for it, but they're GONE!

Apparently, rubbing alcohol is a distracted mama's best friend. So if in the future, you should end up in a similar scenario, here's what you need to do.

Take a Q-tip and dip it into rubbing alcohol. Test by rubbing the alcohol onto an inconspicuous area. Assuming all goes well with your test, then use the Q-tips to gently blot your pen marks. It took me three applications to get all of the pen out, but you can't even tell where the marks once were!!! BRILLIANT!

Sweet Little Harriet

2011-02-24T15:30:00.005-05:00

Harriet is a sweet, shy, little bunny. She lives at the edge of the woods with her many brothers and sisters. Of the entire family, she is the quietest. Her best friend is a field mouse named Henrietta. The spend their days nibbling rose petals and watching butterflies.

Most of her siblings don't know this, but Harriet loves to sing. Her favorite song is Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. She sings it every evening to help Mama Bird put her babies to sleep.

In the spring, Harriet wanders among the trees looking for fallen bird eggs. When she finds one, she gently places it in her pocket and sets off in search of the mother bird. Once she was unable to find the mother bird, so she brought the egg home with her. A small blue bird named Esther hatched from the egg and decided to stay with the loving Harriet. Esther built a nest in the tree directly above Harriet's burrow so she could always be close to her friend.

Harriet is made with linen-look cotton and a blend of vintage and modern fabrics. She measures 19" tall, not counting her floppy ears. If you're interested, you can find her here.

A Disaster...Oh, and a Skirt too!

2011-02-23T13:53:00.004-05:00

Ok - Look closely just to the left of the skirt. Do you see the purple pen line on my microfiber sofa? Don't ask how it got there. Let's just say it had something to do with a one and a half year old and a slightly distracted Mommy trying to have a meeting in her house.

But here's what I need to know...HOW DO YOU GET PEN OUT OF MICROFIBER WITHOUT LEAVING A BIGGER MESS THAN YOU STARTED WITH????

I've been afraid to try anything in fear of just making the mess worse. Advice??? PLEASE!

Oh yeah, and that's my new summer skirt. I used the tutorial on Anna Maria Horner's blog and her Pastry Line voile. Here are my tips:

1. You can see through the voile. I am planning to tuck a lining in once I find a fabric that is appropriate. I started to use a lightweight muslin because I had that on hand, but really...why use a gorgeous voile and then put stiff, scratchy muslin underneath it? So I left a bit of a lip on the waist band where I can tuck a lining in later. Not smart, I'm sure, but I was antsy to get the skirt finished and try it on and who knows how long it will be until I make it to a fabric store! I suppose I could always wear a slip...if I even own one!

2. The larger the width of fabric you use, the better your result will be. I had already used this piece of fabric to line an infinity scarf (wait - I don't think I've shown that to you yet! another day, I promise!), so I didn't have a full-width cut to start with. It's still cute as it is, but it just doesn't have the flounce that I was looking for. So plan for width...lots of it.

3. Um - Measure! I didn't measure or mark the elastic channels at the top because I'm a wing-it sort of gal. I ended up a little off and had to add some stitching below the elastic channels. You don't really notice it until I point it out to you, but if you're a perfectionist, go ahead and measure then you won't have to worry about that little imperfection. Me - like I said, I wing it:)

Overall, the skirt came together super fast (even including the time it took me to splice together elastice pieces so I would have enough to finish) and the result is adorable. I will definitely be making more of these...in fact, I've already started picking out fabrics.

Now somebody tell me how to get the pen mark off my couch...PLEASE!

I've Been a Busy Little Bee

2011-02-22T16:29:00.004-05:00

REALLY! I have, I promise!

There have been LOTS of orders.

And lots of tees!

And lots of late nights!

And some really poor photos taken in the middle of the night!

I just didn't want you think that I had abandoned you. Remember me being buried alive??? Well, these are just a few of things I've been churning out recently. Don't you just love that train? It kinda makes me wish there was a little boy in the mix around here. KINDA.

Now...BACK TO WORK! There's a mostly-finished football jersey calling to me from the table:)

Buried Alive!

2011-02-17T22:25:00.003-05:00

To my loving family...just in case I can't be found by week's end, look under the pile of Works in Progress on the "sewing" table.

I'm afraid to admit that I am in a little over my head on the random projects that I have managed to start in the last few weeks. The MASSIVE flannel quilt for the cabin that we haven't yet built, the Princess and the Pea playset that was intended to be Belle's Valentine's Day gift, a top-secret super-fab quilt pattern that I've been designing, a totally random interlocking circles piece of embroidery...and that's just the beginning of the list!

I'm really not sure where my mind has gone, but did I seriously believe that any of these projects stood a chance of being completed? I didn't mention the MANY, MANY orders that I am currently committed to completing. OR the NEW business that I have started (more on that later, I'm sure).

I've gone completely batty!

So what did I do today??? I read the last 200 pages of this book, like it would burst into flames at the stroke of midnight if I didn't find out how it ended. Don't you just love when a book grabs you by the hair, pulls you in, and won't let you go until it has had its say?

The book is part mystery, part romance, part super-natural (not my usual cup of tea), part history, and every bit dramatic and engaging. I found this great little independent book store last time I traveled with my husband for his work and spent the better part of an afternoon previewing books and sipping coffee, before settling on this. It was a great choice for passing a long, quiet afternoon alone...not such a great choice for encouraging productivity once I returned home!

And since I am seriously unmotivated to take pictures of UNFINISHED projects right now, that's pretty much all I can offer for tonight. Maybe, just maybe, something will be finished in the near future and I will love it enough to take it's picture...

Style Stitches Bag Challenge - February Fabrics

2011-01-31T15:02:00.003-05:00

For the month of February we will be making the Reversible Everyday Shopper bag. This pattern looks MUCH easier than the last one, so if you haven't joined the challenge yet, February is the month to jump in:)

I'm not happy about my fabric selection, but it seems to be the best choice at the given moment. The pattern calls for home dec fabric, but I don't have any in my stash, and I am trying really hard to use up what I have before I buy more. So I raided the stash. I really wanted to use this great floral corduroy that I have, but unfortunately I just didn't have enough. So I kept digging...quite literally I'm afraid!

I finally settled on the Nicey Jane. It was one of the only fabric combinations I could come up with for which I actually had the necessary yardage. Don't get me wrong...I LOVE MY NICEY JANE! I just really wanted this bag to be a work horse, and this fabric just doesn't seem to fit the bill. But, I'm certain I will love the result...even if it does show dirt too easily to be my "Everyday Shopper."

FINALIST - Holy Macaroni!

2011-01-27T15:38:00.003-05:00

My Pip is a FINALIST in the Blogger's Pillow Party for January! SHOCKED, AMAZED, STUNNED, SUPER-EXCITED! Can you tell I am pleasantly surprised??? I never thought that, with all the talented seamstresses and amazing pillows, that my little Pip might stand a chance. WOOT WOOT!

Ok - enough of the all-caps...A huge thank you to Rachel for giving us all the chance to play along! And another huge thank you to Anna from Noodlehead for stopping in to judge all the gorgeous pillows. And one last huge thank you to all the other folks who entered pillows and shared some terrific inspirations with the sewing world! If you haven't already, be sure to go check them out...you will drool!

Now I'm off to do my happy dance!

TUTORIAL - String Pieced Quilt Block

2011-01-24T13:54:00.007-05:00

New to quilting? Tired of traditional piecing? Looking to machine-piece for the first time? Need an eye-catching product that requires little thinking? You've come to the right place!

I've been working on a quilt for Belle's bed for a few weeks now and thought I would take some time and show you all how I'm doing it. This is a standard foundation method for string piecing...nothing fancy here. I haven't reinvented the wheel or created some magic method...just a basic show and tell of the steps in the process.

The tutorial below is heavy on pictures and light on words. You will need a square of foundation fabric (with this particular method this fabric WILL show on the front of you block, so pick something that complements your color scheme), strips or "strings" of a variety of fabrics in a variety of widths, a large square ruler, a rotary cutter, pins, a hot iron, thread and sewing machine.

This is the completed block, and while it doesn't look incredibly impressive by itself, don't let it fool you! When combined with other blocks it is pretty fantastic!

Begin by determining your finished block size...mine will be 12.5" square. Use your ruler and rotary cutter to cut a square that is 1/2" to 1" larger than your desired finished block size. I cut a 13" square of natural colored linen for my foundation. If you are new to quilting and are afraid of making errors you will probably want to go a full 1" larger than your finished block size just to be on the safe side.

Fold your foundation square in half on the diagonal and press well.

I like to assembly line piece these blocks as it saves on trips to the iron, so I prepped 8 foundations. I recommend that if you are new to string piecing, you start with one at a time. As soon as you get the hang of it though, you'll make progress a lot faster if you do more than one at a time. Here are my 8 prepped foundations.

Use your square ruler to draw a faint pencil line 1/2" on EACH side of your fold line.

This line will not show in your finished block, but it is very important for getting everything lined up correctly.

Here are my pencil lines.

These lines will result in a 1/2" strip of visible foundation fabric in the center of your block. If you would like to see more or less foundation fabric you can adjust the distance of your line from the fold on your fabric.

If you are planning a large project then you will need to know which colors to select for your blocks. I used graph paper to design Belle's quilt. Then it was very easy to count up the number of blocks needed for each color combination. You've seen all the blocks with red/pink in them already. Today's block will be blue and green.

Another option is to go SCRAPPY! For this you will select any fabrics from your stash without regard for color or even value...it all works out in the end I promise:)

At this point, you will need to cut your "strings." Strings are simply long strips of fabric cut in various widths. My widths range from 1-3.5". When making smaller blocks I tend to use thinner strings so that there are still 12-16 different fabrics in each block. If you are following my dimensions you will need at least 8 different fabrics of each color (8 blues, 8 greens, etc.) so that you do not have to repeat a particular fabric in a block. I'm sorry I don't have any pictures of string cutting...I pre-cut all my strings for the entire quilt last week. Just use your ruler and rotary cutter and slice away:)

To attach your first string, with right sides together, align the raw edge of the string with the pencil line on your foundation. Pin in place. Use a 1/4" seam allowance to sew the strip to the foundation.

Fold the strip back so that wrong sides are together and press well.

Repeat the process on the other side to attach the second string.

You now have a string on each side and a small strip of foundation peeking out in the middle.

From this point forward you can work on both sides of the block at the same time. Select your next two strings, place them right sides together with the previously attached strings (blue to blue; green to green) and align the raw edges of the new string with the one that has already been attached to the foundation. Pin in place and use a 1/4" seam allowance to attach the new strings to each side of the block.

Open up the strings you just attached and press well.

You will repeat this process to continue attaching new strings to each side of the block. Be careful that you do not use the same fabric twice within a block. Your edges will be messes and that's OK! It is VITAL that your press well each time you attach a string. This will prevent bumps and rumples in your finished block.

When you have covered the entire foundation in strings, it is time to trim the block. I just happen to have a 12.5" ruler and want a 12.5" finished block...this is VERY HELPFUL, but NOT necessary.

If you haven't used a square ruler very much, you are now about to become good friends with your new tool.

Look carefully at your square and you will see a diagonal line running across it in one direction. You need to align that diagonal line with the diagonal fold in the middle of your block. MAKE SURE THAT, HOWEVER YOU MOVE YOUR RULER FROM THIS POINT ON, THESE TWO DIAGONAL LINES REMAIN ALIGNED!!!

Center your ruler on your block.

Check that diagonal again...still lined up??? GOOD!

Now use your rotary cutter to slice off each messy edge.

Keep an eye on that diagonal...your ruler may want to slip a little at this step.

You now have one string-pieced block! Like I said, it doesn't look like much now, but put with similar companions, it becomes a show-stopper!

Now go give it a shot, and be sure to share your results. AND if you're still with me and interested in a block swap let me know and we can set up a little exchange:) I'm working on scrappy 6.5" blocks (a little bit different method, but we can chat about that) for a doll quilt and would love to get some new fabrics into the mix!

HAVE FUN!

Meet Frances

2011-01-23T15:02:00.000-05:00

Frances is a girly-girl! She loves twirly skirts, gigantic hair bows, and the occasional sparkly bauble. Her quick wit and slightly sarcastic humor make her the center of attention on the playground. She prefers chatting with her friends and soaking up the sun to running around and getting her clothes dirty...though she has been known to scale a tree or two for the best vantage point on the toddler scene.

She frequently wears her name or initials emblazoned on her clothing, though no one really needs to read it...EVERYONE knows who Frances is!

She has a passion for vintage goodies and goes positively gaga over a perfect floral print on amazingly soft cotton.

The youngest of three girls, Frances knows how to gain the spotlight, but also how to avoid it when necessary. She has been know to entertain her family for hours with her sparkling personality, but occassionally she seems to be invisible, slipping in and out of the action with a skill that every cat envies. And that usually means she's up to no good.

I hope Frances's new best friend has as much fun playing with her as I had making her!

Pay It Forward 2011

2011-01-20T14:49:00.004-05:00

Have you heard about Pay It Forward 2011? It's been everywhere from various blogs to Facebook. A couple of days ago, I signed up to play on FB...but only got two takers!!! Come on folks, I'm offering to give you something, probably something fabulous, and you won't take me up on the offer! So maybe there are a few strings attached. Are you worried about having to make things for 5 other people? I'm fairly certain that a batch of brownies would count:)

Well, then I found the blogger version at Lindsay Sews. I figured I might get a better response out here in Blogville...so here's the scoop.

The first three people to comment here will receive a handmade gift from me sometime in 2011. BUT, you have to respost this to your own blog and offer three handmade gifts to others, who of course, have to repost, and so on, and so on. Pay it forward:)

What will you receive...who knows, but I have already planned super fantastic gifts for Holly and Shawna who bravely agreed to play on FB. Things that I know they will love:) So who's gonna play in Bloggieland???

Be sure to leave some way for me to contact you in your comment...and if you haven't already click on "follow" and show me some love:)

Blogger's Pillow Party - Take 1

2011-01-20T13:05:00.004-05:00

Remember this cutie??? On a whim I entered it in the Blogger's Pillow Party for January. Ridiculous really, because have you seen all the amazing pillows that have been entered? They are truly stunning!This pillow was all about showing off the Pip. With the release of the line still so far away and such a limited quantity of adorable little squares, I really wanted to make the most of each one. Showcase them, I guess you could say. This pillow is supposed to be the first in a collection of several, but you know how it goes...an order here, a birthday there, and before you know it weeks have flown by. Maybe now that I am revisiting this sweetie it will spur a little more Pip creation:)

I love these prints because they remind me so much of my little Belle. That child could swing forever, maybe even sleep on a swing if someone would stand out there and keep pushing (we're working on learning to swing by herself, but it is slow-going). And since Santa brought a scooter for Christmas, that has become her second favorite outside pastime. But I suppose that's why everyone has fallen in love with this fabric. If it doesn't remind you of a child you love, it probably reminds you of yourself as a child. It's a real tug-at-the-heart-strings collection. Well, it sure got me. It makes me a tiny bit misty to think about how fast these days will disappear.

So, head on over and check out all the other entries...tons of inspirations. And say hello to Anna from Noodlehead, who will judging this month. Leave her a little note...maybe it will inspire her to pick my Pip:)

Miss Storybook

2011-01-15T14:31:00.004-05:00

A while back I purchased a copy of Wee Wonderfuls by Hillary Lang. I'm certain that I didn't NEED it, but I was drawn to it, magnetized, a weensy bit obsessed. I absolutely love Hillary's work and was somehow convinced that if I used her patterns I could rise to her level of talent....well, close maybe???

You've already seen my first attempt at one of the toys in this book. And here is my second...Miss Storybook. I'm in love! A Golidlocks skirt and Red Riding Hood cape...what's not to love? She's the perfect playtime or bedtime companion. Flexible, easy-going, and adventurous. Now if we could just contain all that CURIOSITY!

Like a good little girl, I broke into the stash to make this cutie...I'm sticking to my 2011 goals so far this year. I even used some of my vintage fabric pieces that I have been guarding like mad. I think it came together beautifully. Since hand-made is the new modern, her vintage appeal is so current...try wrapping your brain around that concept:) YIKES!

This time around, I thought I would include a quick review of the book just in case you have a hankering to make some toys.

First, there isn't a single doll in the book that I do not absolutely love. They are simply splendid! And more than 1 (10) of them are on the short to do list:) The little sleep over girls are a definite for our camping adventures this summer!

At this point, I've only made 2 of the toys, so I definitely cannot speak to every single pattern, but here is what I have discovered so far:

The pattern directions are pretty simple to follow. The directions are clear and each set of steps has its own heading. I LOVE this because I don't ever get to sit down and complete an entire project all at once. This way, the pattern sections work almost like chapters, giving me clear places to stop and then pick back up. BIG +!

The photos are inspiring! The staging of the dolls and toys is playful and makes me want to get started right away. +

The actual pattern pieces are printed on the last several pages of the book. They are not on removable pattern pages contained in an envelope in the back. I don't really know if this is a + or a -. I like them on the pages like they are in this book, because then I can't lose them. I'm sure others like the pull out pages because they can maneuver them better or carry them around as needed. +/-

There are some errors in a few of the patterns. Miss Storybook happens to be one of the patterns with errors (1 piece is missing and 1 piece is the wrong size). The doll I made before wasn't. I'll admit that I was more than a little frustrated at one point, but it worked out in the end. -

However, the publisher has made all corrected pattern pieces available. Sure wish I had known that when I was struggling with Story's bum! So, you can easily print what you need and add it to your book. +

Overall, I love the book! Even with the few errors, the patterns are adorable, they are easy to complete, and they are perfect for little hands to love. I will be making more...maybe this evening:)

Miss Storybook had a grand time playing in the back yard...she's an outdoorsy kind of gal! Just the way I like 'em:)

Do you have any pattern books that you can't live without? I'd love some new recommendations...

Lucky Me!

2011-01-14T15:55:00.002-05:00

I won!

I love giveaways, and I enter them all the time. Unfortunately, I very rarely actually win anything. But it seems my luck may be turning. I won two great prizes on Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway day (pics to come when they arrive...both from outside the US), and now I've won a bundle of gorgeous Henna Garden. A HUGE thank you to Kaelin at The Plaid Scottie for her super generous giveaway. And also congratulations on your 10,000th hit!

Maybe I'm lucky afterall....

Strings!

2011-01-13T15:28:00.003-05:00

I spent a good chunk of the day prepping to work on Belle's quilt later tonight. I've cut and marked 8 more foundations, as well as cut about a million strings to use. If all goes well this evening, I should have all of the blocks containing red/pink completed before I fall asleep...if all goes well, HA!

What are you working on this week?

Look At Me Go!

2011-01-12T14:47:00.004-05:00

I'm determined to keep up with the Style Stitches Bag Challenge this year! So here is my Cosmo bag:)

My Quick Pattern Review: This bag is listed as EASY, and there has been a lot of discussion on the Flickr group about whether or not it is actually "easy." Here's my opinion...The pattern is listed as EASY, not BEGINNER. And I think that is pretty much accurate. The bag construction is pretty standard, the instructions are well written, and discounting the 6 million years you will spend putting interfacing on each piece, it actually comes together pretty quickly. HOWEVER, if you are a beginner you WILL struggle with this bag. Why??? Because it is constructed with a large number of curved seams. So here's my tip for you...don't pin the curves! Just gently work the two edges together as you sew. It's really much easier that way, but you do have to go slowly! Another note - if you are accustomed to following online tutorials or PDF patterns that have a picture of every single step, reading this pattern may be a challenge as well. It's just a different style of presenting the directions, so take your time and read carefully. Overall - if you have some time, this bag is a great project...especially if you want some practice sewing curved seams or you need a facial (there sure is a lot of steam involved in all that interfacing!).

You can see more of my bag on Flickr.

Style Stitches Month 1 Fabrics

2011-01-06T14:03:00.004-05:00

Did you notice the button on the right? The Style Stitches Bag Challenge? You really should play along. 17 bags in 12 months...sounds like fun, right? The best thing about this challenge is that each bag in the book gets progressively more difficult. So you begin with the super easy ones and learn a little bit more with each bag along the way. Even with all my years of sewing, I'm a total bag newbie, so I'm really excited about this challenge. There's even a Flickr group where you can talk with others who are participating in the challenge. I've already learned a few tricks about making sturdy bases for bags from one of the other Flickr group members.
In January we will be making the Cosmo Bag from Amy Butler's Style Stitches. It's ENORMOUS! I'm planning to use it for road trips. It seems the perfect size for my yarn, book, bottle of water, travel pillow, and sweater/sweatshirt (which is mandatory even in August if you travel with my husband). These are my fabric choices...

Flower Fields by Joel Dewberry will be the exterior. I wanted a dark color since this bag will spend most of its time on the floorboard of the car.

This coordinating fabric will make the handles.

And because I desperately want to be one of those people who can make seemingly unrelated fabrics look fabulous together...Spring Geometrics for the lining. Of course, I ordered all my fabric online, so when this last piece arrives it will probably look terrible with the other two in person...but for now, this is the plan:)

Are you joining in on the fun? I'd love to see what everyone else puts together! I'll be back with my finished bag before the end of the month...and if January 31 rolls around and you haven't seen it posted here...CALL ME ON IT! Keep me honest...please!

Welcome 2011!

2011-01-01T10:14:00.002-05:00

We rang in the New Year pre-school style complete with noise makers, glittery shakers, boas, and jewels. The countdown began at a few seconds before 5:00 and concluded with much cheering and clapping and giggling and squealing.

So this morning, we welcomed 2011 with glitter on every surface, balloons covering the floor, and sequins as far as the eye could see. And I wouldn't have it any other way. It seems a good omen to wake up to a sparkly house on the first day of the new year:)

Happy New Year!

Return to My Roots

2010-12-30T14:24:00.004-05:00

My life as a sewer/crafty person started with quilting. The first quilt I can remember making was peach and forest green (blech!) and true to the country decor of that decade (I'll let you do the math!). I don't know what happened to that quilt, but it started a life long obsession with "projects."

I once spent an entire summer (yes - summer...don't ask) quilting a massive navy blue and white quilt that the entire family, including the cat, still fights over.

But somehow, in recent years, I have strayed from my quilting roots. Clothes, toys, orders, and gifts have monopolized what little time I have. And I'm beginning to miss the joy of watching tiny scraps grow into beautiful patterns.

So #2 on that prominently displayed list of goals is, "Return to my roots." Get back on the quilting horse.

First project - A quilt for Belle's big bed.

I spent some time combing through Flickr for ideas and then called Belle over to help me pick the final design. I had 4 relatively simple examples to show her, and after scanning through them all once, I got ready to show her each one again so she could decide. Unfortunately, she caught sight of all the other favorites I had marked and fell in love with a huge, rainbow, string-pieced, diamond quilt and that was it. She had to have THAT one.

"Are you sure? Don't you love this one? Or this one?" NO! So, diamonds it is...I guess. I sketched out a color plan and figured up dimensions with the resulting number of blocks to be created...

48!

This may take all of 2011 to finish! But, she loves it...and I'm beginning to love it too. I decided to work in sets of 8 blocks at a time. Yesterday afternoon, I prepped the first 8 and began to sew, hoping to finish 1 or 2. I was so excited by the results of the first one, that I dropped pretty much everything else so that I could do the other 7. Thank goodness for Chinese take-out!

But with 40 still ahead of me and all the quilting to be done after that, it's going to be a long time in the making. I guess the longer it takes me to finish the quilt, the longer she has to sleep in her little girl bed...this quilt is looking better and better every minute:)

2011 Sewing Goals:

1. STOP HOARDING!

2. Return to my roots.

Pips on a Roll...

2010-12-28T21:27:00.004-05:00

The Pips and I have been on a roll! But, I do have a confession to make...I hoard fabric. When I get my hands on fabulous fabric, no project ever seems worthy of cutting into it. It sits there for weeks, months, even years...untouched. One of my goals for 2011 is to stop this ridiculous practice. Repeat after me, "Fabric is intended for use. Fabric is intended for use. Fabric is..."

So when the first set of Pips arrived, I immediately made these skirts. The fact that I started with charm packs definitely helped me begin to conquer my hoarding ways. There was no pristine yardage that had to be butchered. Just neat, little squares that were already cut for me.

But I'm no fool. I knew when that second charm pack arrived that it would be filed away for future use. I mean, this fabric hasn't even been released! How could I possibly use all of it???

Luckily, I've written down my sewing goals for 2011. A short list, in a prominent location, that must be faced every day. At the top of that list....STOP HOARDING!

So reluctantly, I planned out a few projects and got right to work.

I must admit, I'm really glad I didn't hoard these...and I even have a few left over for that "perfect" project down the road. But just a few, and I'm already making plans for them...I PROMISE!

And just to prove that I really am trying to rehabilitate myself, I'm not even going to hoard the finished products. Both of these will be for sale in my shop when it reopens on 1.4.11. Use the coupon code PIPS10 for 10% of any order.

2011 Sewing Goals:

1. STOP HOARDING!

Pips in Action

2010-12-27T16:42:00.002-05:00

Coordinating Christmas Eve outfits from the yet-to-be-released Sherbet Pips.

I only wish my models would have cooperated enough for me to get a shot of both of them together with no one crying...oh well!

I love these skirts because they were perfect for a holiday family gathering, but the "not red and green" color palette will last them through the winter too.

More pips to come, I promise!

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!

2010-12-24T13:19:00.004-05:00

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The mama was nestled all snug in her bed, while visions of AMH flannels danced in her head. Wishing you and all of yours a warm and snuggly holiday. Merry Christmas!

Distracted

2010-12-22T08:05:00.000-05:00

I might have been a bit of a distracted Mommy for the last week...

It's a good thing Bee is good at entertaining herself....

Maybe you'll be reading her blog before long....

Looks like she's a natural:)

Making Do Monday - Cover Those Stains

2010-12-20T08:49:00.002-05:00

Somehow with all the holiday hullabaloo, I just forgot about Making Do Mondays. I promise to at least try to do better:)

We're a messy house...clementine juice running down our arms, paint splattering across our chests, garden soil ground into the knees of our pants. It just happens. We seem to have no control over it. So we make do:)

Both of these shirts featured lovely stains on the front (strawberry and chili if I'm not mistaken).

A quick sketch, a light iron to fuse, and a few rounds through the sewing machine and they were good as new...actually, better than new!

All you need are a few scraps of fabric and some of this.

Handmade Holiday Update

2010-12-18T07:31:00.001-05:00

After much debate and more than a little searching for inspiration, I finally decided to make Bee a baby play set for Christmas. She's really gotten into loving on her dolls and stuffed animals and this gave me a chance to make something really special for her that I hope will grow with her in the next few years.

I used the string-pieced swaddling blanket pattern from Anna Maria Horner's Handmade Beginnings. She is my sewing crush afterall! She also has an adorable baby pattern in the book, but I wanted a doll that would look a wee bit older.

So I turned to my other sewing crush, Hillary Lang. This is the Tag-A-Long doll from Wee Wonderfuls. I omitted the pigtails and hair in exchange for just a few embroidered curls, but I'm seriously considering going back and adding some wool felt hair (no pigtails though...I want it to look about the same age as Bee).

I also made the dress as a separate entity, so that it could be removed for diapering...Did I mention the SUPER easy diaper pattern in AMH's book??? I'll have to show you pics of those later. It turns out that I am out of Velcro. I could have sworn that I bought a package last week, but apparently not:(

There are still a few more pieces to add to the set...a bib, some diapers, maybe some cloth wipes,

and a sweet, little teddy bear for the doll made of some faux fur I grabbed from the remnant bin this morning. You didn't think that obnoxiously large pocket on Baby's dress was just for decoration did you??? It had to be large enough to hold her tiny teddy:)

Every baby needs a bottle, right? I seriously considered making one of felt, but then remembered that we had three bottles that we bought before Bee was born that had maybe been used once each. It took some searching, but I managed to find one and whipped up a quick cloth cover just for cuteness.

Belle gave the whole set a test drive this afternoon. She promises me that Bee will love it. She also promises to teach Bee how to wrap her baby. I think this translates to stealing the whole kit-n-kaboodle, but we'll see.

To keep the whole set together I made this little bassinet. Belle thinks it is hilarious that we are going to carry the baby in a "bag." I've given up trying to explain the difference.

I really hope Bee loves it! If not, I may take it myself...it's just so cute:)

I Love My Mailman!

2010-12-17T17:41:00.002-05:00

Look what he just brought me:) I've spent the last hour combing through Flickr looking for fabulous inspirations...and with another set on the way, I'm pretty sure there will be a baby quilt in the shop in the near future!

The Giveaway Winner is...

2010-12-17T12:12:00.003-05:00

Addy:)

Who said, "Your hats are lovely, and since I can't knit or crochet at all, I am super-impressed!"

Congrats! You should already have an email from me in your inbox...if not, leave a comment here and we'll track it down in cyber-space.

And for those of you who are super jealous of Addy right now...custom hats are available for order through my Etsy shop. You'll notice the shop is on vacation through 1/4/11, but I'm still taking custom orders, so just send me a convo and we'll make sure you get the hat of your dreams:)

Last Chance and Another Teaser

2010-12-16T23:17:00.003-05:00

It's your last chance to get in on my GIVEAWAY! Comments will close tomorrow (12/17) at NOON EST. You don't want to miss out, so scamper on down the page and be sure to leave a comment about your favorite winter crafting activities! I'll contact the winner by email sometime tomorrow afternoon.

In the last couple of weeks I've been churning out holiday orders like mad around here, and I'm almost there. Two tees, one hat, and one grocery bag are all that remain. And then I get to really start on all the gifts that I have planned. A little late...I'm fully aware. But, I have a rock solid plan to get it all completed:)

So here's the Handmade Holiday update...

You've seen the start of Belle's BIG gift (and there's still lots more to come on that one). So here's sneak peak at what Bee will be finding under the tree next Saturday. Any guesses on this one???

What might have ducks...

and dots...

flowers...

lattice...

and more dots...

and even some leaves???

I need to make a run to the fabric store before I can finish it, so I guess you will just have to wait and see:) But if you love those fabrics...most of them came from Melanie, so pay her a visit and get $5 shipping no matter how much you buy!

And seriously, don't forget the GIVEAWAY!

Handmade Holiday Update

2010-12-14T08:49:00.002-05:00

Before we go any further...have you entered my GIVEAWAY yet??? Yes? Good! Now on to the post...

Princess pillows??? That's what she wants! I have no idea where this idea came from. I've probed and prodded and tried to get more details, but to no avail. Belle is insistent that Santa bring her princess pillows. When questioned, she explains that she wants to put them around her knee when it hurts. Hmmm.... She plans to use them in the family room. Hmmm.... They must include her favorite princesses. Hmmm... Santa was perplexed, so he passed the task to Mommy and went with something much less nebulous.

I just hope that Mommy can rise to the challenge!

Ariel didn't photograph very well, but she was the most time-consuming, so I started there. Still to come...Cinderella, Rapunzel, and a castle pillow.

The sad news...Belle will be moving to a grown-up bed shortly after the holidays. The real deal. I'm not handling this "growing up" thing exceptionally well, and if I let her move to a grown-up bed, then I might as well start shopping for a wedding dress. I seriously need a pause button for life.

The good news...these pillows will be the perfect start to her new grown-up bedding set. AND, you all will get to see all the parts as they are created. Quilt, wall art, accessories, the whole shebang! That is assuming that her knee is willing to share the pillows with her bed:)

GIVEAWAY DAY!

2010-12-12T15:52:00.007-05:00

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. I'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH THE WINNER VERY SOON:)

If you are a new visitor to Belle + Bee...WELCOME! I'm so excited about Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day because not only do I get to meet new blog friends, but I also get to roam cyber-world and drool over all the prizes that I want to win! I had the WORST time trying to decide what to offer here at Belle + Bee. There were just so many choices of fun things to share:)

But, first a tiny bit of background about Belle + Bee for our new friends. I'm a stay-at-home mom with two adorable little girls, "Belle," who is 3 and "Bee," who is 1. I started quilting as a little girl and over time have branched out to pretty much any thing that can be sewn, stitched, or created. I'm a compulsive project-starter, which drives my incredibly supportive husband just a little crazy. And Belle + Bee, the blog, is my outlet to share all the various projects that fill my days. You can find everything from needle felted fairies to clothing tutorials to kids' crafts in the archives. And there's always something new around the next corner!

But enough of that...on to the fun stuff:)

In my world, winter is all about cozy crafts...things that warm you as you work. So, after much debate, I settled on a COZY CUSTOM HAT AND SCARF SET for my prize. The options really are endless. Adult, child, infant, earflaps, fur, fuzz, animals, flowers, pompoms... I'll contact the winner via email to design your custom set.

Now, if I were you...I'd take a good hard look at that Christmas shopping list. Then I'd bury it in my bag and order this first set for myself. Of course, I'm just a bit biased. That's my hat and scarf:) It is the thickest, softest, my luscious yarn ever! Warm, wooly, and oh so happy:) (And available in other colors, of course!) The perfect way to reward yourself for surviving all the holiday hubub! I just wish you could touch it through your screen!!!!

But, there are lots of other options too! Animal hats are very popular with small children, but also HUGELY popular with teenagers and young adults. I've actually sold more in adult sizes than child sizes this holiday season.

And every little girl needs a snuggly flower hat that ties securely around her chin so she can't wrestle it off in mid-walk. Because that has NEVER happened in our stroller! HA!

Teddy bears, panda bears, cats, and lions, oh my! [That's a "GRRRR!" in the pic:)]

But of course, if you live in a windy climate, it's nice to be able to tie your own hat securely around your chin.

And one more flower because Bee is just so darn cute!

As you can see, the options really are endless...you design your own prize. I'll work with you to get color, yarn, style, and size that will be perfect for anyone on your list, including yourself!

To enter, just comment below! Tell me your favorite winter crafting activity, and PLEASE leave your email address in your comment so that I can track you down easily. I'll randomly select a winner on December 17. Of course, I'd love to have some new followers, so take a look around and if you like what you see you can use the various tools on the right to follow in your reader or on Facebook. If you follow on Facebook you'll find occassional FB specials and Etsy coupon codes available only to followers.

That poor child is so tired of having to pose in hats!!! I hope she'll forgive me someday!

Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to take a look at the other great giveaways at Sew Mama Sew.

Handmade Holiday Update

2010-12-08T14:13:00.003-05:00

Belle has put in a most unusual request for Christmas....

This is what I'm working with. A rainbow of lovely lusciousness!

Bee and I had a blast picking all these out while Belle was in school...can't wait to share more:)

Any guesses???

Holiday Treasures

2010-12-03T16:10:00.002-05:00

We all treasure different things during the holiday season. It may be the precious ornament from your great-grandmother, the platter on which you always serve the holiday ham, the parade of cards arriving each day...or the artwork of a precious child.

What holiday treasures do you hold dear?

Ha!

2010-11-30T12:57:00.003-05:00

This just makes me laugh!

Wish Upon a...

2010-11-22T20:08:00.005-05:00

Bolt!

I think I might have mentioned my fave online fabric store a few times...Above All Fabric. Well, in case you missed it, Melanie is fantastic! She has great sales, shipping is always $5 or less, the selection is super, and the points system is tip-top!

The options are endless! Here are a few of the things I'm drooling over right now....

And did I mention, that you can set up a wishlist to keep track of all the things you're drooling over!

Handmade Holiday Update

2010-11-11T21:09:00.003-05:00

I'm slowly making progress on my gifts for the girls. I think I've spent more time brainstorming gifts for Bee than actually making anything. Belle was the ONLY grandchild on either side of our family before Bee was born. Calling her spoiled is possibly a bit of an understatement. Now that little Bee is here, there just doesn't seem to be anything that we don't already have. But, I finally had an epiphany...

Bee is fascinated with filling and spilling right now. Blocks, crackers, small stuffed birds...anything! So for Christmas this year everything will have a container, be in a container, and be spillable from that container. First...a Three Bears Play Set! Three soft, fuzzy bear balls in a box bearing the images of porridge, chairs, beds, and Goldilocks. Fill, spill, toss, cuddle....

Baby Bear is the first of the set. He's made with lovely, camel-colored alpaca fleece from Alpacas of Niagara. Belle and I were fortunate enough to visit with Diane at the Niagara Alpaca Shop while we were vacationing last week. Belle had a blast watching the animals in the field, and I had just as much fun (and maybe more) chatting about felting and fingering all the lovely gloves, hats, yarns, and toys available in the shop. But more on that visit later...

And I'm still working on the river fairy play set for Belle.

I'm here...

2010-11-04T02:32:00.000-04:00

for a week! Taking a little break and hanging out with the family. Hope you have a great week!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

2010-11-03T10:33:00.004-04:00

It's interesting to be on the other side of the Christmas rush...I always used to get a little freaked out when I started to see Christmas decorations in stores before Halloween was even over. Especially since I've moved to the South, we often start to see Santa Claus while we're still wearing shorts.

But now that I'm on the seller/blogger side of things, it starts even earlier! I took my first Christmas order in early October. And I know that moms are starting to shop for the perfect little outfits for holiday card photo sessions...I know, because I'm a mom doing that very thing.

So this year, I had to give in and start the Christmas madness before Halloween. I'm really hoping that by getting a jump start, I might actually have some down time to enjoy the holidays this year, but I'm realistic enough to know that will NEVER happen.

Belle + Bee is going with a MODERN HOLIDAY theme this year. Fresh takes on traditional colors and symbols. I'm having a lot of fun with this collection! The bright colors and bold prints make me smile:)

So here's a sneak peek at some of the first pieces. What do you think???

100!!! A Celebration and Giveaway:)

2010-11-02T01:45:00.005-04:00

I can't believe this is my 100th post! In celebration I've put together a little round up of some of my favorite moments from the last several months. And as I was working on this post, I noticed a distinct absence of Bee. Poor thing is always getting left out:( So for the next 100, I'm going to try my best to include her a little more. It is getting easier since she is actually able to participate in things now!

And if you actually took the time to scroll through all those pics, then I have a tiny little giveaway today too:) The first person to get Belle + Bee 5 new followers on facebook or the blog (that's 5 different people) will win a custom designed t-shirt. I'll work with you to create something that your special little one will truly treasure! So go recommend Belle + Bee to your friends and family. Have them comment either on the Facebook page or on this post and let me know who sent them. First person to 5 wins:)