Nursery Projects to Sew

6 more weeks to go until Baby Dennis arrives!  5 weeks to go until we're into the house!  I've got everything in my head for how I'd like to set up the nursery and it's killing me that I can't be setting everything up.  But at the same time, if we were in the house, I'd have everything done already and just sitting around driving myself crazy waiting.  Today I'm working on some things that to add to the boxes of ready to move baby items.

  

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 Crib Sheets

     

Looking at the options for crib sheets most are around $10 for one fitted sheet.  And they are not my style or very plain.  So I hit up Joann's for fabric to make my own and followed a tutorial from Dana Made It.  Each sheet requires 2 yards of fabric.  The stuff I got was around $6/yd but on sale was $4/yd, so it's even less to make them than buy them.  Plus there's a little bit of extra fabric left over to use for other projects.

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Curtains

 

This is what I bought to make curtains with.  Bought enough to make crib bumpers for later on too.
 

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Room Decor

 

 

The extra fabric from all my bigger projects is getting used to fill embroidery hoops that I painted dark grey and to make a bird mobile like this one.  Haven't picked them out yet, but also going to hang up some prints by Charley Harper.

 

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Play Blanket

  

  
Even though the carpet is pretty cushy, I'm working on a nice extra padded blanket to throw down on the floor to let her play (and spit up) on.

Baby Project: Burp Cloths

I way overbought when I was picking out fabric for a baby blanket I'm sewing.  But I have plenty of other sewing projects for the baby to use it up on.  Making my own burp cloths was one of them using cloth diapers and sewing a strip of fabric down the center.  Glad to have gone with general colors so we can use them if baby #2 (someday!) is a boy.  And because they're all different I'll be able to tell between the one I've used all morning and picking out a clean one : )  The rest of the fabric will be turned into some onesie art, bibs and soft toys.

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On another note, or rant really ... I was picking up batting for my blanket today at Hobby Lobby and it's a total nightmare!  It always is.  Between them, Michael's and Joann's I'm not sure which is the worst.

Michael's doesn't carry fabric but has tons of yarn and other general craft things.  Things aren't always super organized when I go in, but they're very good about calling whatever help they need to up to the cash register to get people checked out.  Wish they carried everything I needed because I'd just stick with shopping here.

Joann's is a complete time suck if you go to buy any fabric because there's always 10 other people in line with several bolts to cut and only 1 person there to do it.  This was never done in MT, but with the ones I've been to here, they always announce each fabric's price per yard and if it's on sale or not to make sure you're aware.  Maybe they've had problems in the past with people cutting stuff cut and realizing later how much it was, but if I've got the same type of fabric and am asking for the same size cut of each each, I'm pretty sure just informing me on the price once will do.  And by the time you get things cut and head to the check out, the line repeats itself there plus all the other shoppers from the store and only one cashier.  Really? Where are all your employees??

Hobby Lobby is huge.  What can't you find there?  But the service is TERRIBLE.  Today I stood behind 2 other people to get some fabric cut while I watched the one lady actually cutting the fabric gingerly take her time doing so, while chatting to the other two employees in the department about I don't even know what.  And the lines at check out are the WORST.  Even if 5 cash registers are open there is always a line of 5+ customers at each one and they all move like molasses.  Lots of employees all around the store but no one seems to know what they're doing :/  I get that for most of the people that work there it's probably only a part time job, but really, can't you at least do your job well??

I really enjoy that I can shop at all these places and that I do have the option of where to go depending on my crafting needs, but sometimes I just wish it wouldn't take an hour for a trip that really could be made in 15-20 minutes.   

Baby Blanket Love

Had a Sunday afternoon and no plans so I convinced Chad to come with me to Joann's to find some fabric for a baby blanket.  What I have in mind is just for a play blanket to throw on the floor with some toys or can take outside to enjoy some sunshine.  Very excited about the fun colors and patterns!

Also started knitting a blanket.  Not anything super special but easy to take along and throw in the wash when it needs cleaned.  And it's yellow : )  Here's the pattern from Ravelry.

Just Super

Two boys that I've been babysitting for are about to have birthdays.  At going-on-3 and going-on-5 they are both very into super heroes.  Their mom commissioned me to create some capes for them as part of their gifts.  Here's what I've been working on, just need to sew on their super hero logos and I'll be done!

Batman * Captain America * Spider-Man * Superman * Iron Man

 *** As Spider-Man and Iron Man do not wear capes, I had to come up with something to represent them with, hence just a spider and Iron Man's glowing heart battery ***

scd: rainbow onesie

(source: pinterest)

(source: sarah christine design)

BUTTERY BUTTERFLY

There's a sweet little girl that really likes butterflies. Here is the latest addition to her closet : )

ONESIE MANIA

I've spent the last little while on the sewing machine working on onesies to have ready for either a bazaar or to set up my Etsy shop. There are about 40 done in sizes ranging from 3/6 months - 24 months with these designs. For close up pictures, visit SCD on Facebook.

SCD: BABY BOY SETS

The perfect baby shower gift!
(3 burp clothes, 2 pacifier clips, 1 tie onesie)
After a little splurge on fabric, I've got myself lots of things to work on. I spent a few evenings ironing out wrinkles, cutting to proper sizes, and am finally getting to the sewing part. It actually makes it all much easier to conquer when making a lot. I really like all the fabric I've picked out locally, but next time I may order some online for more options. I've also worked on some "pee pee tee pees" or "caution cones" for preventing getting showered on when changing your baby boys and have a co-worker testing them for size (I made 2 different sizes) and absorbency.

Vowing to myself to be more prepared for the next craft show and to really set up my Etsy shop with items. I've got a list of things that I think are sellable. Need to make myself a schedule to make sure I don't forget anything.

Also in the process of knitting some hats and making mittens as special orders. Also have a fun Valentines present made up to share later!

AND THE STOCKINGS WERE HUNG

This is the first year that I'll be waking up Christmas morning in my own bed! The last few years I've spent the night before at my grandparents or been out of town somewhere else. This also means that there was a need for Christmas stockings.

I generally like things to be matching and coordinated, so the idea of picking up stockings this year for 5 (my parents, brother and the two of us) and then possibly needing more in the future was kind of scary. I decided that I would be coordinated by not having anything match. Each sock is made from a patterned sweater. And when the need to have more arises I'll just cut up another old sweater. So, there's a theme and no one ever feel like their Christmas sock doesn't belong because it doesn't look like the rest. Here's the beginning of my collection!

{SCD} CUSTOM ORDER

So excited to share with you my first order via a facebook fan!

She saw a similar pair of mittens on {scd} on facebook and asked if I could make a pair with a dark grey hat to go with them. Here's the set she'll be getting!

The mittens are super cozy. They're made of coordinating wool sweaters and lined with fleece, so they keep your hands very warm. And the hat is both machine washable and dryable!

If you're interested in a custom order, give me a shout!

HAPPY HALL(HOO)WEEN

OWL SHOPPING TRIP

Went on a little shopping excursion to find pieces for my owl outfit. There's not a Michael's or JoAnn's real nearby, but there's Hobby Lobby - which was kind of slim for fabric options but has great selection for all kinds of other crafts (and for some reason, lots of home decor).

Here's what I got:
- 5 different fabrics, 1/4 each (5.91 total)
- Various felt (2.80)
- Felt glue (3.99)
- Elastic (1.29)
- Pillowcase (1.50 ... from Ross)

Total Costume: $15.49!! Plus my time : )

"HIPPIE BAG"

I made this for myself back in Montana a few months ago and obviously slacked a bit on getting a picture up. It's the same pattern as another bag I made but I shrunk the bottom of the bag down a little and also added some darker fabric to the bottom in thinking the patterned fabric would look more worn on the bottom after setting it down all the time. Also had a great orange button to add some for flair and found my yellow scarf/handle at Target.

Chad and I were out shopping the other day at Kohl's and the woman at the cash register said to me "oh! I love your hippie bag!". I'm not sure if that's how most people would describe my bag. Chad said it must have been the way I'd dressed (brown gouchos, olive tank top, red flip flops) and that if I'd been in jeans and a nice shirt that she would have made a different comment.

However you want to describe my bag, it's now referred to as "my hippie bag" and the next one will definitely have a more modern look!

FINISHED: TWEED/SILK SCARF PURSE

Well, the pattern is called that anyways. . . pretty sure my fabric from JoAnn's is not tweed, nor is the scarf that I got at Target, but it looks pretty good! I made it for someone else, but I'm a little in love with it -- I'll have to make myself another. The pattern is from the perfect handmade bag (recycle and reuse to make 35 beautiful totes, purses and more).

IN PROGRESS: LUCY BLANKET

MITTEN MANIA

As I previously mentioned, there's a project I've been working on that I'm a little obsessed with. A wonderful lady that goes to the same quilt group I attend shared her own mitten project (she brought like 15 to the meeting to show off!). Shortly after that we had a "sew in" day, which is to come work on a yearly group charity quilt or something of your own or to see someone else demo a technique. Right before Thanksgiving she brought extra mitten patterns to sew in day.

They are made of "old" wool sweaters. Once they're washed, they shrink, fusing the fibers together, making it better for cutting apart and sewing . . . and the end result of keeping your hands warm! The insides are lined with fleece.

With the long Thanksgiving weekend, I packed my sewing things to bring along to Great Falls with Mission: Make Lots of Mittens all planned. I checked out the second hand stores for their sweater selection, but didn't find many that were cheap as I wanted them to be. Another quilter suggested checking out the many thrift shops in Great Falls. I think I kinda cleaned them out. Of the 3 I visited, I ended up with about 20 sweaters! I wasn't able to make many that weekend as they need to be washed and dried. I got around to that right when we got back to Bozeman.

Over a week, I'd come home and work a bit on them. One night I spent cutting things apart and matching up the tops to the upper and lower palms and wrist bands. Another night I spent cutting out the fleece linings. A couple nights of sewing the outer shell and linings together. And finally adding the wristbands and having many nice sets of mittens!

The first round of mitten making was just in time for Christmas. I made 12 pairs to begin with and gave away as gifts. Unfortunately in all my crazy cutting and sewing I neglected to take pictures. I've got lots of sweaters left to make more though : )

So, round two begins . . . this time also smaller mittens for kids with the left over pieces that are big enough. I'm still in the matching things together stage and have got them all over the guest bedroom. What am I going to do with all my mittens? No idea really, but I think I'm in mitten love . . .

AMY BUTLER BAGS

I had an odd car problem which resulting in these fun bags -- sometimes it doesn't want to start. . . mostly when I have to run a quick errand and need to restart it within a few minutes of last turning it off. A couple weeks ago, I stopped at The Beatnik to drop off more of the bobby pins I make and sell there. Not thinking that I would be in-and-out, I shut everything off, ran in and came back to a car that still needed a few minutes.

Luckily, there is a very nice quilt shop across the street! Most of the time I will go to JoAnn's for my fabric since I get their coupons in the mail . . or even WalMart if I find something great. But this little shop is so nice and cozy and ORGANIZED!! I tried to limit myself to $10, but ended up spending $20. I bought 4 half yards of some amazing Amy Butler fabric to make these bags for my friends Kelly and Holly. Obviously it's the same pattern in different colors. And I have some of the fabric left over for another project when the right one comes along.

This is the same pattern as a previous bag I made from Bend the Rules Sewing. I LOVE IT!

Halloween Costumes

I've had my eskimo costume done since last year - it was made and then something came up that we weren't able to go out for Halloween. This year I also made a Harry Potter robe and a clown suit for my roommates.

GREAT HANDBAG

This is a project from a new book I bought - Bend the Rules Sewing. It is called the "Charming Handbag" and was very easy to make! Outside fabric is printed corduroy, inside fabric is something I found leftover from another project. Everything I need to have in my purse fits perfectly. The pattern for the handle would be easy to change, next time I may buy an actual handle -- or make the bag bigger to use as a tote.