No Sewing Required

I think this is the first Christmas Eve in a long time that I have not needed to still be working on a Christmas gift :)
I finished this Swaddled Baby Love on Wednesday. It's from Colin to his little cousin Brooke, he got her in the name draw. Another pattern from Anna Maria Horner's Handmade Beginnings book.

My doll doesn't look to bad here but in person it is a bit deformed and wonky looking. I hate am seriously disappointed in all/every doll/ softie I have ever made. I expect it to look like something I would buy in a store and when it turns out different then I had envisioned I am just not happy with it, sigh.  Both Brooke and Colin like the doll a lot so I don't know why it bothers me so much that I could not just give it to her. Maybe if I wasn't so worried about the opinions of the in-laws??
I was hoping that my doll would be so wonderful I could make one for Colin too. He has been really curious about taking care of baby brother and I thought this little gift was perfect for that.
I love, love the diapers. Super easy and fun to make. I got 8 or 9 from my 1/4 yard cut of fleece (enough for Colin and Brooke). Needless to say I bought a doll. I am not sure if I can explain in words what it felt like to be searching for a doll that's 1. fabric/ cloth 2. clothes came off or at least up to expose the diaper area 3. could wear the  diaper size I already made 4. could zoom or have different angels in the pictures online to see if it was possible for meeting the 3 requirements. I felt the need to tell each and every store clerk that was looking at me why I was looking under the doll clothing and had to show them my diaper :)

The doll quilt is a bit different in size then the pattern. The pattern is for a 24" x24" string quilt. I decided to do paper pieced hexagons. Why I decided to start this a few days before Christmas I do not know. A charm pack and a few scraps later and I was done. I had to go to Joann's for the binding and I was blown away by all the cute fabrics they have in the store right now. I also was shocked that this pocket looked exactly like the other polka dot print fabrics from the MoMo Wonderland fabrics.
Have I ever mentioned I love polka dot binding? Hmmm... well I do :)
The back of the quilt has a big pocket for the diapers to go in or for putting the doll in for easy swaddling.

   Just for a reminder for myself I have a picture of the pieced hexagons before cutting it down to a squareish shape of around 21". I have plans of making one for Colin with some primary solid fabrics and Japanese robot fabric I have.      
Sorry for such a long post.
Merry Christmas/ Happy Holidays,
E & the non stop kicking baby in my belly :) 

Patchwork Sleeping Sack

I bought this book last Thursday.
 
There are a lot of projects in it that I would like to make for myself and the baby. I started with the Patchwork Sleeping Sack. I am so glad Anna Maria included illustrations with her instructions, my pregnancy brain could not visualize what I was supposed to do in some steps just by reading the instructions :) The project didn't take very long considering my brain was not working as it normally does.

It took to much thinking on my part to make the patchwork front; had to add a couple squares at the end :). The instructions just give the dimensions for how big to make your patchwork fabric piece for the front. I cut my squares 3 1/4" that way I could get as much of the hedgehog print as possible. The below picture is my fabric piece before cutting out the pattern. I plan on using this as a reference for myself if I decide to make a second one..lol

I used various prints, linen, and woven cotton (my fav!) for the patchwork. Linen for the side and backing and a Oliver + S knit/jersey fabric for the inside. The pattern calls for flannel, I am not a flannel person. Call me weird or crazy :) It's a texture thing for me, I do not like that mated balled up texture thing that happens to it ( I know it doesn't happen to all but I don't have the time to search out some that would be suitable for me).  So linen it was. My only concern is that it wont be as warm as the flannel. I debated on using some batting but decided against it in the end since the baby is due at the end of March; the weather should start to warm up then. The jersey/knit (i don't know what they call it) fabric is super soft and reminds me of some of our favorite Gymboree blankets Colin has.

Overall I am very happy with this sleep sack and I can't wait to see our little guy sleeping in it. Only 20 more weeks :)

Num-Num Bags

i.e. Snack bags


I needed a sewing fix so Colin and I decided to make him some reusable snack bags inspired by this book. And while making these I came across Amy's video. If you haven't seen it...well even if you have you should watch it again. I was crying and snorting I was laughing so hard. I just love her :)
When I say Colin and I made them together we really did. He helped me pick out the fabrics, helped hold the ruler while I cut, and he sat on my lap and helped me sew them. I was amazed when we turned them right side out that the road lines on the, Heather Ross, Rabbits and Race Cars print all matched up. We made one with Velcro and one without. I like the without version so much more. For that one I did a bigger flap and left some extra room on the top for folding it over

Fishy Pajamas

Fishy pajama's for a very special 2 year old.

Brice (Christina's son) turned two last Saturday. He is a wonderful "little boy", since he is official not a baby anymore. He is: super smart, playful, adorable, and darn that kid can entertain himself for what seems like an eternity compared to Colin :) They are the best of buds and it is a lot of fun watching them play together. They got to have "happy-happy", as Colin calls it, twice in one day.

Colin had a blast driving Brice's Jeep around. 

Have I mentioned how much he loves Jeeps? He points them out ever time he sees one :)

Days 2-4

Day 2: Sitting in the window waiting for Dad to get home :(

Cleaning his kitchen while I was cleaning mine :)

Day 3: My mom and youngest brother, Ben, came and stayed for a few nights. Ben helped me take down the birthday decorations. Colin loves his Uncle Ben so much. When he woke up on Tuesday morning the first thing he said was "Ben?" and went looking for him.

I made a crocheted basket for some of Colin's toys. Pattern found here. I used some yarn I got out of the clearance bin at Joann's

Day 4: Colin is busy playing with his kitchen and wearing his new pajamas that I made him from this pattern. I opted out of the kimono top and went for a Hanes t-shirt instead. I love the pants on him and have plans to make some more.

Plans for the rest of the day include: treadmill for mom, nap for Colin, post office, Joann's, and maybe Toys-R-Us/Babies-R-Us. I need to get him a booster seat for the kitchen table (I am seriously regretting that our table is counter height).

WIP's Done!

I finished my WIP's from this post :)

A car boot shift cover for my brother- I am hoping this is what he had in mind.

The Revoluzzzionary bunny was a big hit with Colin. Not so much with mom. I had a really hard time with stitching it all together. I am not used to making stuff so small :) I still love the little bunny and think it is adorable. But don't look to closely at it. I had to sew up a few little spots on the outside by hand :) I think it gives the bunny character.

Colin's apron is finished and ready to be washed. It did not turn out exactly how I had pictured it. But I think it will work just fine. Plus there is lots of room in it so he can use it for years :) I still need to wash it and wrap it for his birthday party this Saturday.

Happy 1st Birthday Noah

Still needs to be gifted. The party was last Saturday,  for whatever reason I thought the party started at 2 but it started at 1.  I went any way to drop off the gift and left sick little Colin at home with Brett. Apparently the pizza place had three banquet rooms I thought it had only two. I came back home feeling confused and embarrassed still carrying the gift.  Hopefully I can get it to Noah soon because every time I see the bag it calls me an idiot.

Show and Tell: Christmas

We have all been sick with a very nasty head cold. It would appear that we are all on the mend. Or so I hope.

I made Colin a Christmas bib on Christmas Eve morning before we went to my grandparents house. I used a very dark denim for the front and a super soft flannel for the back.

I still need to top stitch around the edge and sew the appliqué on (it is currently being held on with steam-a-seam).

Also, I made Colin a Crayon Portfolio adopted from this pattern.

I topped stitched around twice hoping to hide the wonkiness of my stitching.

I wanted two rows of crayon holders so I could fit 20 crayons. But the more times I tried to make the little holders the better I got. Which meant the worse the ones in the beginning looked. I can not tell you how many times I ripped it out and started over. I then finally decided to forget it and attempt a zippered pouch.

Overall I am happy with it, it is wonky but I think that adds to the overall character of it :)

I used a navy blue linen as the main fabric and a Japanese canvas for the pockets. The Sometimes Crafter's pattern was super easy to follow and had great pictures just where they needed to be.

Trick or Treat Bag

I got to cross another project off the to do list :) It always feels so nice to do that.

Colin seems to be enjoying his trick or treat bag this morning. So far he has put the Wii remotes in it and his Kitty.

The free pattern is from the Happy Zombie, you can find it here. The pattern was great, especially since it only requires 3 fat quarters. I had yardage of two prints so I just improvised :)