'Tis the Season!

I have never been a huge fan of Christmas. Well, at least the commercialized version.

But this year, I was really excited to get to decorate our apartment for Christmas. Maybe it was because it’s our first one as a married couple. Maybe it was because it was the first time I actually got to pick out my own decorations and do everything myself. And maybe it was because Pinterest is filled with a ton of amazing ideas. Definitely all of the above.

I still feel like there should be more decorations…but it’s our first Christmas, can’t go all out and buy everything at once! These things are supposed to be accumulated over time, right?

Well, since I had never been a fan of the traditional red and green Christmas colors, I decided I was definitely going to have to change it up. As luck would have it, the vast majority of our decorations are navy, light blue, white, and silver. I know, I know…you’re surprised. But I have to say, Scott was for the color scheme just as much as I was.

Now for some pictures and links.

Scott found this little guy at Walmart, so we had to get him.

Pinterest has a lot of hoilday printables, and I found a couple to match frames that I already had. (The website where I found the Subway Art printable has free printables for almost every holiday. So check those out, too.) In between them is a mini Christmas scrapbook of sorts made out of paper bags. I made that a couple of years ago with my Mahm & Aunt Karri. And there is our first little nativity scene.

 

Free Merry & Bright Printable // Free Christmas Subway Art Printable

And today, because most Christmas printables seem to be in red & green, I decided to make one of my own. I need to buy a frame to put it in, but feel free to download it if it goes with your Christmas decorations.

(Click to enlarge and then "Save As.") It should be 8x10. The background is also transparent, so you could print it on any color of paper you would like.

I found this banner template and tutorial that I really liked (even though it was red & green) so I put it together and along with a red Santa hat Scott picked out, decorated this frame I got a while back from Ikea.

 Free Noel Banner Printable

Now for the two biggest projects. You know I couldn’t have done Christmas decorations without having to sew something.

My Mahm used to always see these ruffled tree skirts on Pinterest. And of course she always teased that I should make her one. I always meant to…but just haven’t gotten around to it. But then I decided that I should have one! :)

As luck would have it, my color scheme wasn’t too popular in the Christmas fabric sections of Joann’s or Hobby Lobby…so I had to go another route. I’m not normally one for glitter and sequins, but those are just about the only things I could find in the right colors. It’s pretty large and took a while, but it’s actually really simple.

And our Christmas tree with the skirt.

 

Ruffled Tree Skirt Tutorial

I then decided that making stocking would be better and maybe cheaper than buying them. Once again, I couldn’t find fabric to match the color scheme very well, but I figured grey was close enough to silver for it to work.

I followed the main “sock” part of the tutorial, but wanted to make a somewhat manly stocking for Scott and prettier ruffles for my own stocking.

I have to warn you, you can’t tell from the picture, but these stockings are HUGE. I didn’t know stocking stuffers were supposed to be as big as iPads and a pair of shoes! I’m telling you, they would fit in these stockings.

 

Free Stocking Tutorial & Pattern

I’ll probably add more, because I like to overdo things, but that’s all for now.
So there you have it. Our first married Christmas and all of the decorations that come along with it.

A Flannel Memory

In my last crafy post, I shared a flannel onesie that I had made. I had to be pretty cryptic about my inspiration, because it's a surprise. Now that it is officially finished and in the mail, I can no longer keep it a secret.

My mom's dad (we call him Bobo) always wore button up shirts. Mostly the pearl-snap, flannel, or plaid variety. When he died last year, one of the things that often crossed my mind was the fact that my (future) kids and my husband would never get to meet him. It made me sad, because I knew they would have loved him and he would have loved them.

When my grandma had to move and didn't have enough room for everything in her new house, I knew that I wanted to get some of Bobo's old shirts to make into baby clothes. Even though my kids will never get to meet him here on earth, I thought it would be special for them to have something of his. 

When my nephew was born in September, I thought that he should have something of Bobo's, too. So after figuring out the logistics with the first, practice flannel onesie, I (eventually) got to work. 

I have to tell you, I had a lot of mixed emotions when I got out the shirts. I was afraid to cut them. I didn't want to ruin them. They still smell like him...these shirts that my grandpa wore every time he hugged me and kissed my cheek. I was both happy and sad as I remembered.

But, I'd like to think that my nephew, and someday my own kids will wear his old clothes, and remind us that memories can be more sweet than sad. And even though one life has ended, we all carry him with us. These new lives that are just beginning will get to wear his memory and will eventually treasure something so precious from a great grandpa they never got to meet, but will love anyway.

Update: Here is a picture of my nephew, Zayden, wearing Bobo's shirt...sitting in Bobo's chair. 

Flannel Onesie

Even though I can't yet share just yet where a great deal of my inspiration came from, I'm really excited about this post. (I'll share my main inspiration some other time.) But I had a plan to make a flannel baby onesie. And luckily for me, I found a pattern and tutorial for one! You can try it out here.

I didn't follow the pattern too closely, mostly I just used it to get an idea for size. I found this shirt at a discount store and really liked the look and the price wasn't too bad. I used it more for a guide than the pattern.

Before

(Forgive the poor quality, at this point I can't go back and take another picture! :))

I don't know how well you can tell, but the original shirt was put together in a pretty interesting way, but I knew it was going to make it difficult to get the look I wanted out of the onesie. So somewhere along the way, I had the bright idea that I was going to completely take apart the shirt. Yes, you can imagine how tedious that was. I even had to take off and reapply some of the pearl snaps. The center button placket (if you're like me, I didn't know what a placket was until I started this...in this case, it's the strip of buttons where the shirt opens) was about the only thing left standing.

So it was pretty slow work, what with the seam ripping and figuring out how the shirt was put together, but I finished it!

Are you ready?...

  After

I haven't decided yet if I'm going to add pocket(s) or anything else, but I have to admit, I'm pretty proud of how it turned out!

I'm sure I'll be making more of these for all of the lumberjack/cowboys in my life! 

A Great Recipe & Something to Sell...Maybe.

Hubby is sound asleep on the living room floor...I swear, that man could sleep anywhere. But I won't hold it against him. He's only slept about 14 hours this week, so I think I'll give him a break.

So, though it's Friday night and we're young, I will blog while he sleeps. 

I think we have a new favorite meal in our house. I found this recipe for Baked Chicken Bacon Ranch Taquitos on Pinterest. And I love me some bacon, chicken, and ranch..especially together. I made it for the second time tonight, and I think it was even better than the first. You can find the recipe here. The only thing I change about the recipe...I leave out onions. But that's just 'cause I don't like onions. I guess I also use massive tortillas and split them in half, but that's more out of laziness than anything. The Taquitos in the link definitely photograph better, but I think mine have to taste just as good. If not, then hers must be AWESOME!

 

In other news, you know how I said in my last blog that I was going to be opening up an Esty shop? Well, turns out there is a lot of paperwork and legalities to the whole thing. Like getting state, county, and city permits. Who knew? I mean, I figured with all the people that have Etsy shops it was some simple thing where they just signed up and then sold stuff...but yeah, not so much. Soooo..I don't think I'll be taking that leap just yet. I'd hate for it to cost me more to start it and deal with taxes than I'll be "making" selling things. But oh well, maybe some other time. 

Because of that though...I'm thinking the boots I made yesterday are up for grabs. For sale, maybe? But I'd probably be willing to give them away. I left the ruffle off the top this time...out of, once again, sheer laziness. They are supposed to be size 0-3 months...so if you or someone you know is about to have a baby this winter, then maybe this is just what they need!

 

I don't know why they look so goofy in the picture. Maybe an actual camera should be my next investment.

But now I need help deciding what to make next...I'm up for suggestions..or even requests if someone needs something! :)

My First Very Own "Design"

Ever since I started making gifts for little baby Avery, I have been getting more and more interested in making clothes. I've started looking at clothes in stores thinking how easy it would be to make them...and how they are robbing us blind with their prices. 

Several people have told me that I should start selling the things I make. So a few days ago, I decided that I was finally going to take a small "leap" and open up an Etsy shop. I'm still a bit skeptical, because I can see all of the mistakes in each piece of clothing or shoe that I make...but, you never know until you try, right?

I figured I couldn't just keep making everything out of patterns and tutorials I find on Pinterest, so I decided I would try out something on my own. I had to pretty much completely wing it, since I don't have a baby of my own to measure and compare things to. I even tried to be all professional and made a sketch beforehand.

 

Obviously, it didn't turn out exactly like the sketch due to lack of the right color and amount of fabric on hand. And maybe the bow and shoes will be next...though it'll be hard to make shoes in the right size if I'm not sure what size the dress is. It was very trial and error, so there are more mistakes than I would have liked (though the picture hides them), but now I know what to do next time!

I used a onesie that I already had to try and figure out the measurements. It's supposed to be size 6-9 months, but it seems much bigger than that. So if someone has a baby they would like to let me borrow, just let me know! Cause I have no idea if this will actually fit a real baby. Minor details...haha.

So without any further ado...the first dress I made out of my own pattern...

The Adelaide

Baby Boots

I finally have something to show for my lack of blogging. 

Our friends Kaylyn and Trever have a beautiful baby girl. And I decided that I was going to take it upon myself to spoil her just a bit. I mean, she is the reason I started making baby clothes and then I pretty much got stuck on them...so she deserves more clothes in return, right?

well, I have this really hard time making decisions. Even if it's just what I'm going to sew today. So the other day, I let someone else do the deciding for me. I asked Kaylyn what she would like baby Avery to have and she said...a hat and boots. And immediately I thought...done and done. 

I'm really liking the newsboy hat...and maybe eventually I will branch out to other hats, but I decided to stick with it this time.

Then, as luck would have it, I saw these cute little boots on (none other than) Pinterest:

Needless to say, I was a fan. For the first time, I actually BOUGHT a pattern. So I won't be able to share a tutorial with you (not because I'm cheap..you know, this thing called a "copyright.") But you can buy the pattern and tutorial here. (You can also omit the ruffle to make boy boots. Maybe I will make some sometime.)

While mine didn't turn out as well as hers did, I was pretty happy with the end result. And I'm sure I will get better at making them with time.

I used fabric instead of felt for the ruffle. And I didn't have a handy-dandy little tool or snaps like hers, so I used buttons for looks and then tiny brass snaps on the inside to close the flap. 

And of course, because I get attached to the things I make, I had to have a pair to keep as well. 

I know, I know. Imagine me having something with this blue.

And here are the boots with their matching hats.

Can't wait to see baby Avery model hers! And maybe someday in the not-so-near future we will have one to model the other pair.

Newsboy hats, a vest, and a bunny

So, as expected, my blog posts are fewer and further in between.

But I finally have a few more projects to show you all.

Since I finally started making some boy onesies and shoes, I decided that there needed to have a third piece just like the girl outfits did. I finally found a newsboy hat tutorial. She explained it really well, but I had to adjust the pattern so that it would fit a baby instead of adult. I was worried about it, but I was SO excited about how it turned out. Now I just need to borrow someone's one year old to model it! :)

Scott really liked the baby hat and just had to have one.

Unfortunately, it didn't fit him right, so I will be making him another one sometime. But, the good news? It fits me! You'd think I did it on purpose. (I didn't.)

Bambi has been trying to trick me into thinking she is a puppy lately. Always chewing on things, running around like a maniac, and now...trying to get into the trash can.

Eventually, she got the cookie dough package out of it and tried to make me chase her for it. I'm telling you, she thinks she's a puppy. Little punk. But she's just so cute!

We're planning on going to Texas in the next few months and Bambi will have to go with us. Contrary to popular belief, rabbits weren't made to live in cages ALL of the time, so she will need some rests from riding in the car to run around outside for a while. Unfortunately, she is NOT a dog and won't come back to you when you call her. (Also, a dog might try to eat her!) So she'll have to have a leash. Yes, you read that right. A rabbit on a leash. It's possible, people! Funny, yes...but possible.

So they sell these so-called rabbit harnesses at the pet stores, but they are like 10 or so dollars. So being the person that I am..I decided it couldn't be too hard to make. Plus, I figured I could make one much cuter and for much cheaper than the ones I have found at the pet stores.  

I found this pattern and tutorial. Of course, it is actually for a dog, so I had to adjust it. But I like the way it turned out.

  

It looks a lot like a vest. But she seems to like it alright. We'll see how it actually works out. But feel free to laugh because it's funny to see a rabbit wearing a harness/vest.

In other news, Scott is off of his 24 on/24 off schedule and will soon be coming home to stay! We. can't. wait. It'll be good to no longer have a long distance relationship. 

That's all for now. 

So long from the West Coast!

More Onesie Sets

So I have this problem.

I've started making onesie sets and now I can't stop! 

My first attempt was successful enough that I wanted to try it again. And again. And again. And I think there are probably more to come. 

I decided that it was time to ditch the ruffles and try something for a baby boy. The problem was, I like colorful and pretty things, aka girly things. So I only had a couple of fabrics that could be used. At least it made my decision easy. (I'm not good with those.)

So I mixed and matched a couple of things I had seen, and this is what I came up with.

I think it's pretty cute, in spite of its lack of ruffles.

I couldn't stay away from the ruffles for long though, so I made another set for one of my friends who has a baby girl on the way. 

I went back to the Mila baby shoes for this one. I think they turned out better than the others I've made. 

And then of course, I decided I just HAD to spoil our little "niece" with a set of her own, too! I LOVE how this one turned out. Probably my favorite so far.

I made a different flower this time. Can't remember where I found this tutorial. But maybe I'll do one of my own sometime. It's pretty simple.

Well, that's all for now. Hopefully tomorrow I will post a little update on our life!

So long from the West coast! ;)

Baby Onesie!

After painting only three pairs of Rangers shoes, I was pretty tired of painting. Period. So I decided I would go back to the sewing machine.

Not that I'll be having babies anytime soon, but I have gotten hooked on making things for babies!  And I had seen this really great idea--once again, on Pinterest (no surprise there!)--so I decided I would try it out. It turned out to be extremely simple. Especially since I just used one of her templates for the giraffe instead of drawing something myself.  

I decided that I would make it match some of the shoes I had already made. 

These Kimono shoes:

Here's the onesie:

I liked the look, but it seemed too plain to me. I wanted to at least add a ribbon bow to it, but wasn't sure if it would get ruined when washed. (If any of you know, please tell me.)

So I set out to find something else I could do to the onesie. I remembered seeing things with ruffles on the little baby bottom and thought it was adorable, so I found this tutorial. I had to modify it some, because I didn't have a serger...but the idea is the same.

And well, what little girl's outfit is complete without a large bow/flower of some sort? I can't remember where I found a tutorial for this fabric flower because I started making them several years ago. 

I like putting flowers/bows on clips so that they can either be interchanged on a headband or clipped right onto the head. I had bought some stretchy headbands at Hobby Lobby (they're only like 79-99 cents) a while back, so I made the flower and just put the flower on one I already had. 

And all together:

Oh and did I mention I recently discovered they now have Instagram for Android? So you will probably be seeing a lot of these mini collages from me. :)

And that's my craft of the day!

If you have any suggestions about what I should make next or even blog about next feel free to let me know!

So long from the West Coast.

(Hubby makes fun of my little catch phrase. What can I say? I love cheesy sayings!)