Tying up Loose Ends... Literally!

I showed you the finished craft room in hopes that I would cut into that fabric and whip up some baby bedding - all voila!! Unfortunatley I got very stuck in the millions of pattern options you can create with six different fabrics and a 28"x14" panel and 'analysis paralysis' set in.  Luckily I have some good friends who came over and pulled me out of my rut and got me back on track.  I now have all the panels sewn, the ties sewn, the piping basted and thought I was soo close.  Unfortunately - piping is trying to be the death of me (or this project anyway) and we have had some issues.  First basting the original piping and then pinning it to the panels.  Now, I've recut the fabric for piping and re-basted.  Alas, we are on track again, so we'll see.

Design for bedding

In the meantime, while my mom was here and I was showing her all my great handiwork knitting for the little guy she might have noticed that most of my 'finished' knitting projects had some ends hanging off of them (or millions of ends hanging off of them in the case of my striped baby blankets).  So we made a pile and she gave me a goal of two/week to finish and ensure they are all ready for Little E when he gets here.

So far so good with one baby blanket done, one bib, one washcloth, and one vest blocked and ready to receive his buttons.  :)  Some finished pics coming up!

Big Plans

Well its been a LOOOOOONG time (again) but normally when I show you my craft room all cleaned up ...

then I have something up my sleeve in terms of crafting.  Although I have been up to ALOT of this...

That's not why the craft room is clean (knitting can be done anywhere - and believe me there has been alot of it going on that I'll fill you in on soon).  The craft room is clean so that I can start working on baby bedding :)  Our little man will be here in December and I've got ALOT of work to do!  Starting with making sheets and bumpers for his crib.  I found some amazing fabric from Monaluna (absolutley adore it and it has *almost* the exact colors I had in mind and it also has woodland creatures)

I subsidized the Monaluna with some orange pearl bracelets from Lizy House (Red Letter Day) and some stripes from Children at Play

And I think its gonna work out just BEAUTIFULLY!  :)  I am soo excited.

A day late and a dollar short...

...but this is why I was cleaning my craft room to start sewing.

Three pretty camera straps hanging in a row!  I love them all.  I had a friend request one for her D90 - and since I just happened to get a D90 for Christmas myself (sorely lacking a handmade fashionable camera strap as well) I figured it was time to make some.  I bought the nylon and hardware on etsy this time (much better than dog collars I couldn't seem to find anywhere).  I used this tutorial again - and again adding patchwork ala house on hill road.  I love them.  The one on the far right is Jess' and I am using the one on the far left.  The pretty in pink one in the middle is still hanging out.  Maybe it should be my 100th post prize - eh? Anyone interested?  Buehler?  Guess we'll see if this gets a response before we decide (and no promises on when I'll mail it - Jess' has been in an envelope in my car for two weeks now!)

Catching up...

So I went MIA again... I hope that doens't mean you'll quit stopping by.  Excuses I know - but the new job is GREAT - but also means I work alot more (and blog alot less!)  Hopefully my work/life balance will adjust over time and I'll keep you better updated. 
In a short knitting synopsis I finally finished a baby kimono that I knit almost three years ago (I know...) but after knitting the kimono I had no idea how to 'close' it and never finished it (weaving in ends etc).  Some friends of ours had their little girl baptized and it finally seemed like a good time to finish it up.  I decided to add (caute!) buttons to close the front of the kimono and weaved in my ends.

I also finished knitting ANOTHER pair of socks (2010 may just be Nikki's year of Sock Knitting - but as long as they come in PAIRS I'll continue to enjoy it!)  These are my THIRD pair of Jaywalkers.  I absolutely ADORE this yarn and love the way it striped. 

Unfortunately even though they are FINISHED (I promise - they are!) I can't show you a picture b/c um well, they don't fit.  See... I always knit socks on size 2 (or 1.5) needles (ahem, or used to always) til a knitting friend of mine mentioned that was 'cheating.'  So I decided to knit these on size 1's.  I knit my purple Malabrigo socks on a size 1 needle as well - so thought I could continue - but beware!  The rumor about Jaywalkers having a narrow heel is true - esp knit on size 1 needles.  UGH!  I plan to block the ever-living life out of them and see if I can't get them to fit.  We shall see...

I also started a new sweater.  This is a Zephyr Pattern called Tree Sweater and I've been affectionately referring to it as my 'tree hugger' sweater b/c its green too!  I wasn't too sure about it to start with but after trying it on (twice now - in two different stages) I actually REALLY like it alot and think it looks pretty cute.

The yarn is Miss Babs Yowza Whatta Skein (so fun to say!) and so far I am REALLY loving it - very soft, not splity, easy to work with and HUGE skein (so less ends to weave in - thank you Miss Babs!)  I do have to say though, knitting a turtleneck sweater in SC in the summer - not the best idea.  Even in the car you have to have the AC cranked up for it to be on your lap.  But I am loving it so I'll let it slide..

So - not only knitting to update you on... but also (some) sewing....

You might have seen on the 'regular' blog that we are restoring an Airstream trailer.  My job in this restore is to make it 'pretty' inside.  New curtains, new beds, new pillows (quilts!!  eeek!!) and all other inside updates are up to me!  My hubs did have very specific ideas about fabric though (no flowers!) and we both wanted a 'vintage' look to the fabric we chose.  Fortunaltey (or unfortunately) we found a great fabric line that we both thought was PERFECT for our trailer and agreed upon.  The unfortunate part is that it is Arcadia by Moda (aka out of print) and hard to find and EXPENSIVE when you do find it.  We scoured the internet though and could not compromise on another line of fabric so Arcadia it is.  I have a post coming up to show you what I really mean by scouring for the fabric - but first a sneak peek at the pillows I am working on...

This pile of fabric strips is actually the honey bun I was working out of to create the String Quilt blocks (ala Ashley).  I plan to use the large block alone in one pillow front, and the smaller ones blocked together as her normal quilt blocks.  I really enjoyed the technique (it is a bit time consuming) but I am LOVING the outcomes.  I have some other ideas I'll share with you later too! 

So ... thats about it (for now).  Not too bad for a month's hiatus - eh?  Hopefully enough to keep you coming back for more - b/c I have more.  I know - crazy right?!?  But we haven't even TOUCHED on the gardening part of my summer!  TTFN!

PJ Pants

I made my mom these PJ pants for Christmas and although she loved them - they didn't fit that great.  (I tried to make them less 'wide leg' and ended up making them less 'comfy pj' at the same time - ugh!)

So, I told her I would make her a new pair (that hopefully fit).  That was, eh, six months ago (sorry Mom!)  But I finally did get around to it and finished these the other week.  I sent them to her and she LOVES them (and they fit!)  yeah!!!

(yeah, that is me in them - but I wanted to get a pic before I sent them - you can see they are too long on me - that is how I know they have a better chance of fitting her).  The fabric is all Amy Butler Love and the same In Stitches Wide Leg Lounge pant (this is pair #3? for me!)  My mom picked the trim when she was here a couple months ago (good choice! - I think it makes the orange in there pop more!)

There is some fun stuff going on in my life - keeping me out of the sewing room - so I am sorry to not have posted very often - but between happenings and the External Hard Drive crash - I am still catching up.  Hope to see you in this space more often in the next couple weeks.  Happy Weekending!!  :)  xoxo, Nikki

Friday Eye Candy and...

More baby gifts.  

My standard baby shower gift has become burp cloths and a taggy blanket.  I like to think these can be considered 'boutique' burp cloths and the mothers appreciate that they can be more of a  'going out' burp cloth.  By that I mean "looking as cute and trendy as a cloth babies are spitting up on possibly can!"  ha!  Anyway - more burp cloths, gender neutral this time and a patchwork taggy blanket (new to me - I'm loving the idea of a TINY quilt - just one square of patchwork) - but cute!  Still minky on one side and patchwork on the other.

Before you think I'm cheap for just giving burp cloths - Eric and I did make a great diaper cake again!  Meghan is planning to use cloth diapers (which makes the idea of a diaper cake hard) - but we used one cloth diaper and the Earth's Best disposable diapers (she was registered for) this time.  There is a bottle brush through the middle, a bottle, some toys, pacifiers, a rattle and lotion etc.  I enjoy making these - they make a great decoration, a fun gift and I hope the moms like them too!

(I just have to say - stupid dumb flash - but the ones without are worse)

And now for the eye candy.  I bought some new sock yarn (surprise) to finish up my very own sock club (you might have seen it in the picture before).  Its Colinette Jitterbug (and I LOVE IT!) in Toscana.  The possibilities are endless of what to knit with it - but I'm really excited.

We have a wedding this weekend so I won't be sewing :(  I was really hoping to complete a top for Spring Top Week 2010 - would have been my first clothes sewing experience.  I was really hoping that contest would spring me into action (and it did somewhat - I found the main fabric and a pattern - but realized too late I didn't have enough fabric for the trim and tie).  Oh well - hopefully I'll still make it just for me when we get back.  But the wedding does mean lots of car time which means lots of  knitting time!  (well - if Eric will drive!)  So I should have something to show for my weekend after all!  Wonder what it will be?!?!  :)

Hope you have a great weekend!

I still sew...

Burp Cloths (for my favoritest little nephew Drew and his new best buddy, Will)

They each have a matching set of these

Brown is Alexander Henry's Zoo

Green and Orange are Lizzy House's Red Letter Day

And another set for Will

Blues (top and bottom) are Lizzy House's Red Letter Day

Green is Anna Maria Horner's Garden Party

I hope they (or more their styling moms!) enjoy them!

And...if I can get my computer to cooperate tomorrow - eye candy!

A little ditty...

I made this little ditty the other night (in about 15 minutes total including cutting). 

It is so cute and easy!!  I love the fabrics and the fun little bag it made - but I was hoping for a larger size to be a small knitting project bag. 

 (fully opened its only 7"x6" and when you close it the 'pocket' is only 5.5" tall)

I wanted to follow the directions once before I started modifying the pattern - but I have some measurements from a friend's project bag and I'm hoping to try again this week.  I used the tutorial from Sew Mama Sew that Happy Things put together.  It was very simple and made a fantastic little bag.
I used a bit more of one of my absolute FAVE fabrics for the lining...

Lizzy House's Red Letter Day!!

What do you think?!  And what are you working on?  :)

Nursing Cover

My SIL mentioned over Christmas needing to get a nursing cover.  My mind immediately thought, "I can make that!" but I wanted to see if I could get my hands on a good pattern before jumping up and saying "Don't do that - I'll MAKE you one!"  So I researched it when I got back, found some great online tutorials, some great flickr ideas and then got to work.  You might remember the fabric I bought for it...

 

(again, horrible lighting....sorry)  All Heather Bailey prints

I finally finished it (it wasn't hard, I've just been LAZY!) and then I had my work cut out for me convincing hubby to be a model for a nursing cover, but he finally agreed and these are his amazing action shots!

 

"honey, are you REALLY making me do this?!? "

then...he decided to play along...

I think he's trying to look nervous that he's a man...breastfeeding a baby

Anyway - Details:

I lined the back with a really soft flannel (blue and yellow dots - from JoAnn's) and Eric did comment that it was 'very soft' - so I hope she and baby like it (and that it comes across gender neutral enough).

It was my first time using boning - interesting - but it seems to work to hold the top "open" for the mama's eyes only.

I didn't write down finished dimensions - but I didn't really follow either tutorial - just got a general idea from both.

Lastly  - I LOVE this fabric combo!  I actually saw this on etsy - and loved it!  :)

Pretty Pretty Princess Pillowcase

Last week's secret project can now be revealed - our little JoJuice (and by our I mean Brandy and Dave's!) turned three on Saturday!! 

Her birthday party was an explosion of pink (including everyone's outfits, the food, the decorations, the presents - everything!  There are more excitingly pink details here...) but to make the princess happy with pink I had the perfect idea!  I had just gotten some Princess and the Pea fabric (by Heather Ross) and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to use some of it (fussy cut of course).  I used this tutorial and made her a pretty pretty princess pillowcase for her big girl bed!

 

I couldn't find a bag big enough to fit the pillowcase with a pillow in it - so needless to say she had NO idea what it was when she opened it and tossed it aside.  Good thing we had bought her Pinkalicious as well! She did take a minute to look through that.  :)  Later we put a pillow in and showed her what it was - then we got a good reaction!

 I think she liked it!!

 

 Playing with it is a good sign!

 

All in all I think it was a pretty good gift - and I sure enjoyed making it (I kept talking about using all that pink fabric for something!) 

This week is back to the regularly scheduled programming - I HAVE GOT to finish that quilt!  I am going to miss my New Years Resolution in the first month!  :)

Exciting News

Well - I promised handmade things before the end of the week - and I shall deliver - but I must share my exciting news first!!  Glenna sells fabric and she featured my AB love bag here - on her blog today!  I was so excited this morning!  Yea!  Someone noticed my stuff (and liked it too!  ala Sally Field "You like me, you really like me!")  anyway - enough gushing.  Just thought I'd share my excitment.

Now, truly onto handmade things.  I chose a layout for the Nest Quilt (or rather learned how you were supposed to do it) and sewed the squares together.  I still plan to frame the front and have to make the back - but I'm pretty happy with the layout.  Also - my squares are lining up better and better!  The 1/4" foot is making a difference - but I am not invincible - yet.  :)

I do have another handmade I'm working on this week - but its a surprise for a certain little princess's birthday this weekend - so I can't show you.  Luckily, I have a few aces in my back pocket of things I've made that I haven't showed yet.  Here is one!

My fabulous Amy Butler Wide Leg Lounge Pants (complete with fabric upside down - I was just too excited when I started making them that I cut before I realized - lol!)

Anyway - I love them.  But also - just because I thought it was funny - not only are they wide leg - they are wide topped too!  If  you untie them they fall STRAIGHT down...

No unfortunately - I didn't lose any weight for this shot!  I just like to pretend it is my 'after' picture when I'm having a bad day!  These pants are actually why my mom asked for her pair for Christmas!  I love the In Stitches book and have made quite a few patterns from it now.  These, are probably my favorite!

You are definitely going to want to come back tomorrow - Friday Eye Candy is going to be GOOD!  :)

Sublime Sunday

Sublime- adj. - supreme or outstanding

While the rest of the weekend wasn't so fantastic or outstanding, Sunday turned out to be pretty okay! After church (and cleaning) Eric decided to take me to lunch and then to the bookstore ...oh how I love Barnes and Noble!  With their large craft book section, Starbucks coffee and peace and quiet.  I just love spending hours there and Eric decided he would indulge me and take me to the bookstore.

It just sooooo happened though :)  that on the way to the bookstore, we passed a TJMaxx - and I thought - maybe - just maybe - they might have some Munki Munki.  (I know TJMaxx and Marshall's are owned by the same group and other sewing people (that I stalk their blogs online) had been finding some Munki Munki at Marshalls) - so I asked if we could stop for just a second for me to check the pajama rack.  He helped me search - and guess what we found!!!

Munki pajamas!!  I don't know if this is considered a 'good' print - but I LOVE pink and had been thinking about a pink quilt (remember?!)

  and now I am super excited to pull some Munki Munki into my pink quilt - for $14.99!!

Makes me want to start singing "You get the Maxx for the minimum, minimum price, never ever the same place twice."  lol 

Anyway - after we found our great surprise at TJMaxx I still got to go to the bookstore!!  And I found a craft book that I just HAD to have (have I maybe mentioned here before that I have a bag problem, a bagaholic if you will - well this book is PERFECT for me!!)  She reuses stuff and she makes BAGS!!  Lovely bags that I would carry - so I had to get it

I just can't wait to make something out of this book - but I can't even decide where to start!  After searching through all the craft books, I had to search through the magazines too - and then I found this gem!

TO justify my purchase, I had to convince myself there were two or three things in here I would make - but really I just want to rip out my unfinished Wicked immediately and use the yarn to cast on for this...

OMG!  Isn't it gorgeous?!  I mean, my hair will NEVER fall like that and have a perfect glow on my skin with a "come hither" look either - but the sweater...its GORGEOUS!  I am in love!

So what started as a pretty crappy weekend, ended on a very high note with my Munki Munki and amazing bookstore finds!  yippeee!!

(On a side note, as this is a crafting blog and not a shopping blog, I did sew this weekend - and knit too actually - but there isn't alot to show yet, before the end of the week I will post crafty stuff I've done, I promise!)

 

Friday Eye Candy and Choices...

Friday Eye Candy for this week just arrived yesterday!  I've been waiting patiently after a bad week at work for my retail therapy to arrive.  This fabric already has some plans waiting for it (which is a good thing...)

 Well - some of it I have plans for - the AB Pressed Flowers I have never been able to find in the pink colorway (my fave) so I had to have it - and the AB green dots set it off fantastically I think - so those were a bit impulse - but the Heather Bailey on the left has a plan for it

(sorry about the crappy photos - no light again)

This is the Heather Bailey and its destined to be a nursing cover for my SIL.  I didn't know she wanted one until Christmas and I've found a couple free tutorials and some great example pics and like this fabric combo.

And the best Eye Candy for last...

ahhhhh!!!  AB love (decorator weight) for a duffel bag.

Finally, my New Years Resolution was to make a quilt a month.  (gasp! - I know!)  I only made 3 in six months last year - but I think I can get the hang of it better this year and I have to start eating up some of this fabric I can't stop buying! 

So - I finished my Nest Quilt Disappearing Nine Patch Squares - but I don't know how I want to lay them out (is there a certain way you are supposed to?!)  Here are a couple ideas I've had...does anyone have more photos / inspiration / instruction for how I should do this?  Do you like either of these options?!  I need help here - getting the top put together and the back made is my goal for this weekend so I can stay on track with my "Quilt-a-Month" goal.

So...Option A

Or Option B

Whaddya think?!