Getting back into it

So after I finished my first post and was all excited I haven't been on in over a month.  A lot has taken place in that span of time.  My nieces turned 3, I traveled to DC for one of my good friend's surprise baby shower, I took a short vacation to San Diego and Las Vegas and I turned 30!  I thought I would chronicle what I am currently working on and then pepper in some of my older projects.  Because I had the Twin's birthdays in September I worked on quiet books for them.  I saw a bunch of ideas on oneprettything.com and then followed the tutorial for construction from sytyc.com Season 2, Kalleen.  Here are the finished products:

I used different colors of felt for each girl and modified a few things inside but they are basically the same book.  I found that I had to sew almost everything on.  I like hot glue ad liquid stitch but for 3 year olds I think the stitching will help hold them together longer.  I drew the letters of their names freehand and then cut them our of felt and washed the marker lines off.  I used a magnetic closure that I got at the craft store with the purse accessories.
   I also worked on a bunch of projects for my friend's baby shower.  The shower was a surprise and she and her husband are not finding out the sex of the baby so I tried to stay gender neutral with the gifts.  I made a crocheted blanket with a bear head in the corner.  I actually found the pattern in a Vanna White embroidery book that I took out of the library.  The blanket took forever but the little bear head is so cute!  It was fun to crochet that part and I used a little stuffing in his nose so it is puffy.  I used a single crochet to attach it to the blanket and then finished with a single crochet border to tie in the brown.  I used my childhood (and my mom's childhood doll) for a model.

I also made her some little tag toys with a pattern I made up, some appliqued onsies and our family pattern for the perfect burp cloths.  Here is the rest of the basket:

I was also in charge of favors and I used an idea I found when I was surfing around.  I took Styrofoam cups, cute them and hot glued them to look like booties.  I made some homemade chocolates for inside and decorated them with ribbon, a cute thank you poem and some netting that matched the shower's theme.  Here is a brief tutorial on the cup booties:
1. Cut a slit in the cup and then remove the top 1/3 of the cup with scissors, all the way around.  (I found that the shorter the cup the more they look like booties).
2.  Cut 2 slits about 2" apart down to about an 11/2" from the bottom.
3.  Pull the 2 flaps together so they overlap and hot glue into place.
4. Decorate as desired.

My first Blog Post!

I actually can't believe that I am trying to do this.  I spend a lot of time in my car for work and I have been flooding my ears with CraftyPod.  Sister Diane really inspired me to try and start a blog.  I am completely addicted to surfing other craft blogs...my favorite being oneprettything .   I really just want this to be a space where I share what I have made.  Most of my projects are inspired by crafters everywhere.  I will start with a post about the craft and the friend that really helped me get back to crafting on a regular basis.  My close friend Ande showed me a book she picked up while living overseas.  A bit interesting that she discovered this awesome find in Germany when the creator is right back here stateside.  The book was Sublime Stitching by Jenny Hart.  I had never embroidered anything in my life and she showed my this adorable book and cute projects she had completed.  I went right to to website but the book was sold out so, I settled for her terrific transfer patterns and used the tutorials she had on the web.  In no time I was stitching away.  I wanted to share a few of my early project pictures with you.

I have 4 nieces and I used one of Jenny's patterns and embroidered a shoe and their first initial on these little purses that I picked up for $1 a piece at the Christmas Tree Shop.

This bag was another find at the Christmas Tree Shop.  I think I paid $3.99 for it and I used another one of the sublime patterns to make myself a nice little farmer's market bag.  My favorite is either the garlic or the lemon guy with the cane!

I think 2 project pictures is a good start!  I will post a few more of my embroidery projects on my next post.