Purple Water Lily

I'm Gonna Do It!

My sister is the buyer for a high fashion boutique in Chicago. I have talked with her and the owner about selling my adult hats but I have not pulled the trigger. I don't know why except that I don't like to mass produce and I have always been a bit insecure about my creations. I worry that people won't like them or that they will fall apart... not that that has ever happened. I much prefer giving my handmade items over selling them.

Last week they were perusing my blog and decided that their store needs a little girl corner that will consist of some of the things I make. I have decided to bite the bullet and hope for the best. I am going to start with a line of sun hats and tutus. I must admit that I am really excited to get this first shipment out and see where it goes.

I have been working away and Ella (watermelon) and Grace (lemon) reluctantly agreed to model the 2 new sun hats in my fruit collection. The strawberry can be seen modeled here. The fruits are barrettes and are removable. I am going to make a couple more hats with different color trim and a bunch of different Bellis to mix and match.

I have ordered TONS of tulle in every color so next week will consist of tutu making. I have a few ideas up my sleeve to make them special. I hope it all works out. I'll keep you posted!

A Birthday Gift

A sweet friend of mine turned 30 a couple of weeks ago so I had to make her something. I thought she would really enjoy a bobble stitch pouch with a vintage broach. I decided to line this bag and include a couple of credit card slots and a cell phone pocket so that she can use it as a little clutch if she'd like. I am in love with this rosy pink color and I think the broach compliments it nicely.





Happy birthday my friend!

Bring on the Warm Sun

Wishful thinking never hurt anyone. I made this little sun outfit for the girls. I found the bloomer included with a dress pattern. I was not a huge fan of the dress but I really wanted to make a little tank shirt to go with the bottoms. The shirt is my own creation.

The floral fabric was on super sale at Jo Ann...score. I just fell in love with it. It reminds me of a vintage sheet. My girls are a HUGE source of inspiration for me but I gotta say that it is always a tad overwhelming that I have to make 2 of everything to have a complete outfit. Fortunately this little number only took me a couple of hours.

More Pants for Sammy

I just love the patchwork pants that I made for Sam a while back. They were so quick and easy and he looks great in them. He is a bit different so a handmade pair of pants seems to suit him. I made these yesterday during naptime. If you haven't tried this little pants tutorial yet, you really should! Sam will be getting another pair and I am working on some crop pants for the girlies.

I think he likes them.

It's 3:30 and Still Quiet

What a lovely naptime it has been. I drug the kiddos to Jack's baseball game over 45 minutes away last night and we didn't get home until after 9pm. I guess I am not surprised that they are tired. Great thing for me is that I have had ample time to putter. The Nook has been a-buzz the last few hours. I will share more later. Its stuff for the kids and I need them to try everything on before I finish so here I am, chillin' like a happy mama likes to do every now and then.

Watchin' the Cubbies, practicin' the knit and hangin' out with Tucker dog.

Who, me?

By the way, what's up with this whole knit/crochet rivalry? I think they are both fantastic crafts and both worthy of learning. It seems that crochet has always been the second class craft and now people are staging a revolution? What's that about? I joined a group on Ravelry and a whole conversation amongst the knitters ensued over who is corrupting who because they were caught crocheting (gasp!). I learned to knit first but, for some reason that I cannot recall now, I switched to crochet and took off. I love knit and would really like to be good at it. I think knowing both well would be perfection!

A Tote All His Own

Many moons ago I made a tote bag. It was one of my very first sewing projects actually. Sammy took it as his own because it was the perfect tool to transport all of his Matchbox cars. He likes to play with them on every floor of the house and getting 50 of them from place to place is a challenge for a 4 year old. The old tote was a bit girly so I told him I would make him one of his own. I took the old one back and have been using it as a craft project bag so he has been left high and dry. Here we are 3 months later and I have finally come through for the little guy. He is napping and I can't wait until he wakes up and I can give it to him!

I gave embroidery a go and it was really fun! I realize that I am not an artist in the traditional sense but I think you get the gist. I free handed the letters and the little car onto the fabric with a marking pencil. I really like the words because it looks just like my handwriting...a personal touch. I think I'll embroider a lot more now!

I think I hear him!!!

Outfit Complete

I wish I could say that I made it all but alas, I cannot. The seersucker shorts are from Old Navy but I did make the shirt way back when. The shorts came with a bulky belt that I knew the girls would never wear so I took it apart and used the fabric to make a headband.


As we all know, I am a huge fan of making accessories so it comes as no surprise that I really loved making this headband. I went to Jo Ann and bought a bunch of little fabric pieces so that Ella and Grace can had a reversible headband in every color. With their very unruly hair, it will be a good thing!

Hard to see through the crazy hair but I tried my hand at an applique. I did OK actually.

Two things: yes, it looks like Ella is my favorite daughter because she is always my model. Not so. She is just the more willing of the two. Its funny because Grace tends to be more photogenic but she doesn't like to be photographed as much as her twin sister. Second, I too am getting tired of the blue flower fabric. My issue is that I am a hoarder of fabric and I have a hard time cutting new stuff. I am moving on though so fear not, my girls will not look like they only have one outfit in their closet.

Back in the Crafting Saddle

I have been home nearly a week from a family vacation to Phoenix. We had such a wonderful time and seeing my extended family was great! I must admit that I have been in a bit of a funk. The funk sapped all of my creative energy for a while. I think its just a matter of readjusting to life as usual.

Today I finally felt up to venturing into the Crafty Nook for a little creative expression. Here is what came of my couple hours of quiet time.

I used one of the sheets that I thrifted with some fabric scraps and made the girls a skirt with pockets. I am happy with the finished product and so was my little Ella Belle.

I bought this book at Jo Ann a couple of weeks ago. It is full of incredible motif patterns. I am not sure what I am going to do with these but I just love them, especially the pansy. I'm sure I will come up with something.