A pink tutu, too too…
Sewing and even speaking in duplicate right now:)
Since I was so sure of your understanding and trust, I wanted to give you a double blessing by visiting you twice… 2 Corinthians 1:15
June 17, 2011
Strawberry Tutu Cute!
Turning out tutus and other strawberry stuff…
Strawberry Shortcake makes an appearance on bonnets…
Red gingham lovin’ with this little bib…
Just around the corner…
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. Proverbs 31:13
March 29, 2011
Eureka Experience
Last year, I had a EUREKA experience about gift giving. For one thing, the gap between what I wanted to give and my budget widened last year when I made the leap from earning a paycheck to full-time homemaking. Additionally, I love unique, beautiful, handmade, quality, excellent and inspired creations. With many art, fashion, design, textile and decorating classes (and several degrees) under my belt, my taste runs toward the expensive, the artsy and the just plain different from every other Joe. Also, I was just plain tired of “Made in China,” big box retailers, and the overly franchised everything – UGH!
Like I said, I had a moment. It was one of those moments where you just want to pinch yourself really, really hard and ask “what is your problem?” Why not make gifts? Okay, it’d been a few years since I’d sewn and I’m not feeling as artsy as I was say in college. But, it wouldn’t be “Made in China,” it would be unique, it would be personal, and it would be FUN!
And, then I got the brilliant idea of making things in fours. With 8 nieces and 4 sons – easy math! I’ve 4 nieces who are between the ages of 13 and 21, and 4 between ages 3 and 7. This simple idea revolutionized my whole world and I was inspired (so much easier to do life when you’re inspired!). Now instead of agonizing over what I’m going to get for so-and-so, I have a plan and I’m constantly finding tutorials, patterns and ideas for my next series of fours.
Last summer, I began my journey with four sundresses each with a matching doll dress for my younger nieces. They were so cute I wanted to keep them all – my sons thought I was a little touched by that point. At that point, I realized my skill-level needs to dramatically increase to compete with the demands of my demanding & creative side….
Well before Thanksgiving, I’d my holiday gifts planned and I was so excited for the Season (a big coup for me). Christmas was probably the least stressful and more enjoyable I’ve had in years. I’ll have to blog about Mermaid Land sometime in the future – it was grand!
I’ve started my next round of gifts for the older nieces and had earlier bookmarked a really fun pattern – here. It’s a reversible purse so I needed fun fabrics….
The pattern was really easy to follow and I loved the results!
Please excuse the really old and ugly ironing board cover… I’ve found some patterns to replace it, but that project is toward the bottom of the list right now:)
I’m really not sure 4 is enough…. I may have to make a few more for kicks!
How about you? How are you breaking free today from the norm and finding freedom in the challenging and unchartered waters of your life?
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Galatians 5:1a
March 4, 2011
Surprise
Surprise! My mom made this lovely shamrock runner for my March table. When I was born, the nurses hung little shamrocks on my bassinet and served my mother grasshopper pie for dessert. It’s no wonder I enjoy celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
Doesn’t the sweet shamrock teacup my son brought home for me from his summer in Ireland look absolutely perfect? Bring on the corned beef and cabbage!
That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3:13
February 24, 2011
Baby Gift Set & Comfort Food
Still battling the flu here with lots of attention, love and comfort foods. Homemade chicken noodle soup (homemade egg noodles), chicken and dumplings, pannekokens, egg salad sandwiches and warm chocolate chip cookies – do you see a trend? Eggs, I find, are very comforting and healing.
My mother requested a pair of baby booties to give as a gift today.
I could not just stop there…
I just had to create a whole set!
So elated!
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:3&4
February 23, 2011
My week…
A major snow storm & the flu working it’s way through my family pretty much sums up my week so far. A glimpse of what I’m attempting to work on now:
More BABY BOOTIE JOY:)
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. Psalm 139:14
February 9, 2011
Handmade Baby Love
Ta-da!!
Darling fabric now dandy baby shoes and bibs, aaaaand with fabric to spare…:) I found this baby shoe pattern here at Star Dust Shoes – aren’t they just precious?
Put on your shoes so that you are ready to spread the Good News that gives peace. Ephesians 6:15
February 8, 2011
Fabric Inspiration
Isn’t this soooo adorable!! Just bursting to become something sweet for a new wee babe… I’m inspired!
One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4
January 26, 2011
Handmade: Baby Gift
The birth of a new child is one of the most precious times in life. The first few days are so fresh and surreal as time seems to stand still. Then the frenzy begins… The demands of a new baby and regular life are in daily, even moment to moment, conflict until a steady rhythm is finally achieved (although this is always a delicate balance often upset by growth spurts, tummy aches and teething). Those are beautiful days to be cherished and treasured.
For the new mom, it can be a veritable roller-coaster ride. The elation of birth, the joy of family and friends, and the beauty beyond description of a newborn baby bring so much wealth to a mother’s soul. Lack of sleep, recovery from birth and the awesome responsibility of a wee babe who needs her constant attention can weary even the most seasoned of mothers.
It’s a vital time for those who’ve gone before to band together provide their help and support, and to give back, in a way, to those who gave to them. In our congregation, we organize meals for these young families which are delivered warm each evening. New mothers are exceedingly blessed, lifted and loved through this practical service. The newest members of our congregation are watched and waited for, and upon hearing of their arrival the forces that be mobilize.
As life has it, these babies usually come during hectic times. Even though I’m usually juggling several things and putting out a few fires, I still love planning and preparing a meal so vivid are my memories of those days when we brought each of our 4 little ones home. As a plan, I reminisce. I remember some of the best gifts I received during those days whether word or deed. I remember the fuzzy, crazy days filled with newness and love. I remember the extreme lack of sleep and difficulties and struggles of nursing.
The last time I was called upon to deliver a meal, I wanted to add a little gift. I had some baby yarn and found this pattern on Lion Yarn’s website and I knit. Knitting a gift affords one a lot of time to prayerfully ponder the recipient which I did with each stitch. For me, there is a joy unspeakable in creating something uniquely special and personal. Since the baby girl had an older brother, I also created a busy gift for him which hopefully would bring him joy and be helpful for mom (I was completely enamoured with busy gifts for my older sons when the littler ones were born!). I decided on a crayon roll similar to the one I made for my little guy inspired by this tutorial and this tutorial.
All projects are a learning experience. As a whole, I loved how the sweater turned out, but would definitely change a few things next time I use the pattern. I would convert the pattern to circular needles so it would be a more seamless design. What do you think? What is your new baby tradition? Do you have a go-to baby gift?
Oh, yes – I also made a pink gingham (it’s just a phase) bag for the gifts…
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13
Dancing with Daffodils 