Happy needle crafting!

Some dear friends were discussing ideas for cheap and crafty baby gifts so I cut and pasted my favorites below. Some I have tried, all I hope to try. I can't wait to try the toddler dress from a button up shirt for D next summer. Be sure to check out the last two as there are links to multiple projects (I love the SewMamaSew blog!)

Baby Sling
Kids pants
Toddler dress from button up shirt
Baby Booties
Headbands for adults and kids
Embroidery tutorial for burp clothes
Embroidery patterns for burp clothes
Sew Mama Sew: Girls' clothes tutorial round-up
Sew Mama Sew: Boys' clothes tutorial round-up

I love to hear if you have other tutorials I should add to my list.
Happy needle crafting!

Edit: Most of these links ask that you make these for yourself or gifts. They don't want you to use their patterns and then sell them. Just wanted to warn you.

What'cha Making? Below are some of my latest projects

I have been making these baby slings for friends. That's my little D in there, sleeping. I got the fabric last spring at Hancock's for 3 bucks a yard! I wish I had bought more. Here is the pattern/instructions if you want to give it a try:
Karma Baby Sling.
Here is a photo album for my friends in Africa with pics of our first few weeks as parents. I am making another for Mike's grandma.

...Someday soon I'll post the instructions on this tied baby quilt which I made as a baby gift for Nathan and Amy(it's similar to the one in the Oct. Martha mag, which is originally from the book, Last-Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts, which BTW is on my wish list) .


Post a comment and let me know what you've been making and any favorite sewing or crafty links you have. God Bless you all this week!

Which Austen Lady are you?

Take the Quiz here!

Come on Carrie, Leesa, Hilary, Rebecca... I know you want to know!

No title needed.

Friends Forever...

Little Miss Coffey, Little Miss Cosper, & Little Miss Abell!

Mondays.

We use to hate Mondays around here. Sunday night's were full of dread for the upcoming week, my dear husband would have just worked a sixteen hour work day and I was always polishing up lesson plans and grading spelling tests. Now Monday is our day of rest. Yesterday Mike got up with little D at 6am. They watched the weekend's football highlights together while I napped and after I got up Mike went and got some Nord's donuts and Quill's coffee. To top the day off we had Kasmir's Tiki Masala for dinner.

After all the indulgence yesterday, today marked our getting back to healthy eating. We don't live on junk food but I have had quite a bit of cinnamon toast and oreos in the last 10 months. So here is to healthier alternatives.

Smiling and crafting.

I know, I know, this is turning into a blog all about Dorothy. I know lots of you don't mind that though, especially her grandparents! This pic is her again at just a few days old. Mike and I haven't loaded her newer smiling pics. She is smiling at Mike all the time. She is pretty use to me and she only smiles at me every now and then, but when she does it melts me.

D was measured at her one month check up this week and is 11 pounds 2 oz and 21 1/8 inches. Since late July we have had SOOO many friends who have had babies. There is Thomas, Anna, Levi, our Dorothy, Logan and this week we welcomed Nora, Arlen, and Ruby. Next up is baby Eubanks. It's in the water people.


In other news...
Leesa and I have known each other for about seven years but realized recently that we have the same birthdays and mutual love of crafting. She encouraged me the other day with this:

"At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a
disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of
my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong,
stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see
myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up
at a job that they will never see finished, to work on
something that their name will never be on.
The writer of the book went so far as to say that no
cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there
are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the
friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My
mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies,
and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and
presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built
a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to
come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his
friend, to add, "You're gonna love it here."

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We
cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it
is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at
what we have built, but also at the beauty that has
been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible
women.

May the passion of your building be fueled by your
faith that the eyes of God see everything."

Thanks to all who commented last time. It encourages me to keep posting when I know you all are reading.
God bless you all this week.

One month old!!!

This is Dorothy in th hospital on day three...












And this is one month!







That is the little quilt I made the week before she was born. I started it once the c-section was scheduled. I was going stir crazy because I felt huge and it was so hot. I didn't want to watch TV all week so I made her this blanket and Mike got her the bear. We are hoping to take a picture on the quilt with the bear every month to show her growth.

Obviously she is a great eater. Some random nerd at a restaurant called her a meatloaf!!! Mike thought I was going to kill the guy. Whatever, she is super healthy!

Anyway post a comment and say hello. Especially all our family and friends who are visiting for the first time.