Recent Projects

It seems I only find the time to post about once a month! Hopefully I can find the time to post more often...but something always seems to take priority.

I have been working on a few small projects here and there.  Nothing huge or even very time consuming...I have found that sometimes I enjoy the small projects most.  I also got two new bag patterns, and hope to be making a couple of new bags here in the near future.  I will keep you posted...but for now, here are some fun and simple projects that you can do too!

I love to make nursing covers.  They are SUPER simple and a lot of fun to put together.  I especially love picking out the fabric...that is my favorite part.  I found this tutorial on one of my favorite sites- Prudent Baby.  They have ideas for so many wonderful things, I could brouse their site for days.  You can check them out and find the tutorial HERE.

This one I kind of made up on my own- but they are really easy.  Numbered Bean Bags.  I made these for my nephew who recently turned one.  I bought three different colors of felt from JoAnns, the kind on the bolt.  Cut out numbers and made beanbags (using rice instead of beans, it's more affordable).  I had fun with this...and will probably make a set for my little guy as well.

Lastly, can you guess from the picture what my next project was??

 

If you guessed the tie, then you are correct!  I had bought this pattern a while back and recently found the time to try it out!  I was really happy with the results and can't wait to make more.  The pattern I used was from Little Londyn: Little Guy Ties  I purchased my pattern from a local quilt shoppe - but you can purchase them online as well.  The pattern includes 5 different ties- even one for daddy as well!  I will definitely be making my boys matching ties...won't that be fun! 

What projects have you been working on?!

Until next time (hopefully it won't be another month)!  Happy sewing.  

Its Official....

By request, I am selling some headbands on Etsy.  I am not sure if this will become a permanent venture,  if anything it will be an occasional upkeep.  But I am excited to make headbands for anyone who will enjoy them as much as I do.  You can check out my new shop at cinderellasews.etsy.com

Let me know what you think!

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things: Organization

I love to organize.  It gives me the best feeling. Wouldn't you agree?  Sometimes the question is, where do we start?? Here are some of my favorite Organization websites, crafts and creative inspirations.  Check them out, you won't be disappointed.

http://www.readymade.com/  I love a good DIY website and this one has it all. 

I am obsessed with furniture and all things in that category.  I told my husband if I could blow all my money something it would be furniture! I thought this little Periodic Table was fun...AND simple.

{Check it out HERE}

picture courtesy of readymade.com

readymade.com has SO many fun projects and ideas.  Build it, Craft it, Celebrate it, Eat it, Light it, Organize it, Plant it, Plug it, Sew it and Wear it.

Definitely something for Everyone.

With my husband (and several friends) over seas, you better believe I spend a lot of my time at the Post office.  Elise Marley shows you how to make this handy post office bag. 

 {picture courtesy of www.elisemarley.com}

I love pickles.  My husband hates them.  My little boy will tolerate them.  This is why I love pickles.

The Everything In Its Place: Playpen Bag

because EVERYthing needs a place, especially when it comes to toys.

{picture courtesy of www.pickles.no}

If you are like me, and I am sure most people are, your mail lands in a pile on the kitchen counter or table.  Well this little gem will help you manage the paper clutter...and dejunk all that junk mail! 

Bright and Blithe shows you how to make THIS mail sorter.

{picture courtesy of www.brightandblithe.wordpress.com}

Need a cute way to organize random stuff?  Find a How To for these Undercover Crates

at Paint in My Hair

{picture courtesy of lauragunn.typepad.com}

I thought this one was totally innovative!  Rain Gutter Book Shelves.

Cheap and easy!  Find the How To at Raising Olives.

 {picture courtesy of rasingolives.com}

Lastly.  You can find ALL things for an well organized home here at http://www.organizedhome.com/ or www.lifeorganizers.com/  I am obsessed with these websites.  I am going to use all their tips and tricks when we finally get back into a home of our own.  Happy Organizing!

PS. Checkout these stores for some great stuff to help you on your organizing journey!

www.organize.com/

http://www.ikea.com/

http://www.containerstore.com/

Do I Win an Award??

An award for neglecting my blog, that is?  I think if there were such an award, I would be in the running!!  Please forgive me!  The holidays were a crazy/exciting time for our little family.  Many of you who know me personally know that my husband, A-train, is currently serving in Afghanistan.  We were so lucky to have him home on leave over Christmas...and obviously, that took priority. 

My sewing projects have been a LITTLE slow as of late...but I have been working on some things-as well as other crafts and knick knacks.  Speaking of knick knacks, I actually hate knick knacks.  When I think of knick knacks I picture something like this.....

Forgive me if you are a fan, but I am not.  So we will just say I have been working on some random CRAFTS, and leave it at that. 

Here are some recent projects that are noteworthy. I have posted some of these on my FAMILY blog, so forgive me if this is a repeat for you.  Hopefully you don't mind hearing about it twice.

This Christmas I decided to spend a little more time and creativity on Christmas gifts.  I should have taken more pictures but alas, I failed.  Here are some that I did get though.

For my Mother and Father in-law I (along with the help of my very talented mother) made a quilt.  My first official quilt.  I will say that I did do all of the sewing, and was very pleased with the finished product.  I am not sure if I will tackle another quilt of this caliber anytime soon...but I hope to be making a tied gigham quilt in the near future.  Maybe I have caught the bug?  Not sure, but we will see I guess.   This picture was taken before the actual quilting and binding were put on...but you get the idea. 

The name of the quilt is Log Cabin Hidden Stars and you can find it in THIS quilting book. The fabric I used was Moda-Charisma  I am not sure if Moda still makes this fabric, but I know they make one very similar called Botique. 

For my partents gift I also enlisted some help...this time from my sister-in-law Larissa.  She had made one of these for her parents and I wanted to copy her...but I am a horrible artist!  So she drew it up, scanned it and emailed it to me.  All I had to do was have staples blow it up and trace it on watercolor paper.  It was a sinch...the hard part was the painting.  I don't claim to be a painter, but I had fun with this, and am happy with how it turned out. 

It's a family tree, and my parent's loved it.

If you are interested in making one for yourself, but don't have the drawing talents?  Let me know and I can put you in touch with Larissa.  She is super, and very talented as well.

Next was my baby boys first birthday.  I wan'ted to make him something fun...but practical.  So I decided to make him these...plush magnetic alphabet letters.  I love them...but there were parts that were a little difficlut to do.  For example...letter with a cut out A B D O P Q etc. were especially difficult.  The instructions stated to cut out the center and then stitch around it to make the edges complete...even with a zipper foot this was hard...because of the magnet that was already sewn in.  I ended up using Liquid Stictch on letters with a cutout.  It's not perfect...but it served it purpose. 

If you are interested in making some for your little ones you can find the instructions at Chez Beeper Bebe I love her stuff.  A couple of changes or suggestions of my own.

1) She used cotton fabric and I used flannel.

2) The letters on her template were a little small, so I created some larger ones of my own.  Same idea.

3) Like I mentioned before, for letters with a cut out I would suggest either making your letters larger, using a smaller magnet OR using the Liquid Stitch like I did.  This might make it easer to sew around the cut out.

Lastly, a couple of weekends ago I went to a little 'Crafting Class' put on by my sister-in-law Megan (yes, I have very creative family members).  Anyway...she taught us how to etch glass.  We had such a fun time and I love my YOU ARE SPECIAL plate.  I think it will be perfect for those special occasions and birthdays.

She has so many wonderful ideas on her website...check her out HERE.

Well friends.  That's my update for now.  Later this week I will post a blog of links to my favorite things.  So stay tuned!!  

Sorry Friends, This ones For me!

Mama's got a brand new bag (isn't that how the saying goes?)...well it's true and I love it!  With the supervision of my mother, and my beginning sewing skills, I finished my most recent project!  The Birdie Sling aka my newest accessory. 

Who says that just because I have a baby boy, that means I can't carry a girly bag??  Not me!  I am a girl, and therefore I choose pink.  The little man doesn't mind.  

Love the Fabric?? It's my favorite!  Find more from MODA here.

Aside from Christmas crafts that I have been working on (which I can't share just yet)...here is another small and simple project for you to try.  The 'Baby Breakfast Bib' - click here for the tutorial from The Object Project.  I made one myself, and they are super simple.

* My notes: the pattern calls for terrycloth or some other absorbent material- but I just used simple flannel and it worked great (and it's a lot cheaper).  Also, I used a little bit of a bigger coffee cup for the neck hole, and as you can tell - it's a little too big.  So a standard size cup will be perfect!

Dear Little Man,

I hope you can forgive me for dressing you in a ladies bib (I especially hope your father can forgive me).  You are such a good sport!

I love you, Mommy

I love this little man...he makes such a good model - and as you can tell, that bib is pretty stylish too. 

Happy sewing!

Melissa

Flower Headband Winner!

We have a winner!  This time, since my mom wasn't around...I decided to use a website that I had heard of previously.  So if you didn't win...blame Random.org!  Anyway, I hope to have some of these headbands and hair clips up for sale...so keep checking back. 

On to the winner!! Random.org picked #5- Christin K.  Yippee!  Be sure to send me your mailing address Christin - so I can get it to you!  Thanks to everyone who left a comment!  Lately most of my time has been sucked up in making headbands and working on my in-laws Christmas gift (I can't reveal what it is until after Christmas of course)...but it is pretty darn spectacular!

As a side note, check out Vale Design for a ton of free downloads!!

Flower Headband Giveaway!

I am in LOVE with these headbands! Spell it with me - L. O. V. E. I love making them and I especially love that I get immediate gratification! No long-term commitment required...unless you want to commit to wearing it all the time - which I do, thank you. You know the drill, leave a little comment if you want it! We will pick the winners Wednesday, November 11th!! Please don't feel like you have to beg for it either - no groveling required, winners are picked at random...so everyone has an equal chance!

PS. Don't mind the dirty blonde roots - and I promise my hair is clean, no lice OR dandruff!  If you want me to wipe it off with a little antibacterial wipe, that can be arranged. haha.