Bed Time Baby Tutorial Up

I made some adjustments to my pattern and created a tutorial on flickr.
Hope you enjoy!

Bed Time Boys

This weekend I discovered a new site called Craft Hope. I love to blend my passion for crafting with charity giving. It's one way I can stay in our budget and still give to others. Of course when I read about their plan to take dollies to the Casa Bernabe Orphanage in Nicaragua I was right on board!


I went to the flickr group and saw that most people were making girl dolls. So I decided to make some boy dolls. I have a few boy doll patterns in a vintage doll making book I got many years ago at the thrift, but they all required yarn hair. The hardest part about making a boy doll, in my opinion, is the hair. I don't have any yarn and wanted to use my stash and not add to it.

For better or for worse, this summer is going to be all about using what I already have.

I decided to do baby dolls for the sole reason that they can be bald!

A quick google search and I had my "inspiration doll." Before long I drafted my very first pattern! I used the sleeve design from my raggady anne dolls. It wasn't to hard to draw a big "U" for the bunting, but getting the proportions right was a bit trickier.



I have a thing for bald fades! I think that swirl on the back of a bald fade boy's head is absolutely precious. Sponge painting with simple craft paint worked great for the hair.

To make the eyes show up on the dark fabric, I first made circles with fray check. Once it dried, I went over the circles with a sharpie. I also used sharpie for the mouth and cheeks.


Tah Dah! Bed Time Boys! I am going to tweek the pattern a bit more tomorrow and then I will make a tutorial.


What do you think... long and lean or short and chubby? I am thinking of making a rounder head with the long body.


* The hats were created using a mini version of Soule Mama's Caps for Cap- Haitien.

School's Out for Summer! ( My Track Anyway!)

I went a little crazy making last day of school cupcakes for the Crayons. My insanity included using a toothpick to make teeny tiny goggles.

I am pretty sure I was inspired Bakerella.

When I got tired though, I went for the easier shark attack cupcake which is all mine. I am sure the kids will love it!

Proving that the opposite of Nesters famous saying is also true:
It doesn't have to be beautiful to be perfect!

Challenging Myself

I got this pattern for a BB Bag a few years ago in a swap. I held on to it, but was intimidated by it for quite some time. It has two zippers and lots of bias tape. Plus it is small and curvy. It's wasn't the directions or the pattern, I swear! I was intimidated before I even opened the pattern. I am sure others wouldn't have the same hang ups.

I have been thinking a lot lately about the balance between pushing myself with sewing skills and remembering that it's just my hobby. Sewing is my stress reliever. Getting immersed in a new pattern/ project can take me so far away from my ghetto classroom that an hour can pass with nary a concern. Something too frustrating defeats the purpose.

Arg! My head just went to teaching. This is what I deal with in the classroom every day! Where is the edge of learning? How do you walk that line without going overboard? Akk!

Another reason I sew is to support our thrifty budget. Yes, I do spend money on fabric and notions, but by making my own (I hope meaningful) gifts, I save myself the mall experience. Sewing makes me feel abundant, the mall, not so much.


Anyway, Mother's Day was just the incentive I needed to try this pattern. It's good for walks and trips to the beach. Just room for keys, a debit card and some cash.

I took it slow and worked a bit at a time. I did break three needles on that metal zipper! And, I learned that cheap metal zippers ($0.10) from downtown are not worth it! Pay for nylon! Other than that, it wasn't too tricky at all.

I like it. It was a bit wonky and needed a button to hold it closed.

The handstitching is something only a mother could love. I won't go there. My feelings about hand sewing are "a whole 'nother Oprah."

Squeel!

Look what my mama sent me! I was so surprised! Actually, I was a little startled. I had been looking at this book on Amazon, so when it arrived, my first thought was, "Yikes! Did I press '1-Click' ?" I am trying to save not spend!

Nope! My mama sent it. She knows my passion for vintage linens well!


This page reminds me of my Grandma Mary. She had a very similar hot pad to the grapes. Each "grape" had a bottle cap in it. Just looking at it reminds me of sitting in her kitchen eating Fig Newtons from her special cookie drawer. With my love for junk, that bottle cap hot pad thing was quite intriguing. And that pot holder loom! Another blast from my past. Don't be surprised if I come home from the thrift this summer with one of those.

Lots of eye candy in here plus some reproduction tea towel transfers. Of course, I like those so much I may never be able to use them. That's so like my Grandma Mary.

Trash To Treasure: Bag Makeover

This week's Trash to Treasure is nothing too original, but this kind of "upcylcing" really does prolong the life span of promotional items. A simple patch made from scraps and a bit of fusible web makes a cheesy freebie fourth grade acceptable. I did use this pattern for the monkey face.



This bag was made for Mulberry, one of My Many Colored Crayons you can read her story here.

A Reminder for Me

In November my good friend Berry asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding! I am thrilled to oblige.

She's not yet engaged, but that hasn't stopped her from planning the wedding.

Berry figures, by planning early she will save money and spread costs out over time. Also, she wants to walk down the aisle moments, well, days after the proposal. What can I say? When you know- you know.

For my part I have starred a dozen or so shower ideas on my Google Reader.


This is a memo pad/ Post-It case I made with a pattern from the Moda Bake Shop.


All it requires is fabric, fusible web, a photo brad thingy and of course, a memo pad.

I'm thinking these would make good favors. I need a catchy phrase...
"Thanks for remembering Berry's special day."
"Thanks for making this a note worthy day."

Or maybe I should skip the catchy phrase altogether.

Whatever, I have time.