Sewing projects- A Baby Quilt & Nursing Cover

So, my in-laws have arrived here in Alaska! Even though we have been busy, busy, busy showing them around the last frontier, I did have a few moments to work on a couple of my pregnant friend's baby projects. It seems like a majority of my girlfriends are either pregnant or new mothers lately! I love it because it gives me an excuse to make fun accessories for them!

My friend Beth is due in September with a boy and has been having a hard time settling on baby bedding. I suggested we go to the fabric store and see if anything inspired her. We landed on four fabrics that are absolutely darling together! We both like how they are reminiscent of a vintage storybook palette.

We decided to stay with a homemade cozy look in a patchwork quilt. We have the center piece done, and just need to sew on the 5' trim and thick minky backing. I have always wanted to pick stitch a quilt so we are toying with the idea of trying it on this project.

This picture is of Beth with the beginnings of her baby's quilt. It is so fun to help her hand craft something she will treasure and be able to pass down through her family's generations.

My new friend Kati is also due the same week as Beth, but she is expecting a girl! For her shower, I made her one of my nursing covers. I just love this fabric!

This nursing cover will be available in this fabric soon in FMA's shop. If you would like to make one yourself, you can find the pattern I shared earlier here.

Well, I am going to go join our guests for now. I hope to checking back in soon with another master bedroom update. I think I have landed on a gorgeous color for my dresser...finally!!

Newborn Photography Session

Last week I had the honor of photographing my dear friend's two week old baby boy! It was so fun spending time with this precious little boy and his doting parents. Read on to see a sampling of my favorites from the shoot...

DIY Easter Toddler Tie

Happy weekend everyone! I am adapting this project from the FMA archives while there's still plenty of time before Easter.  I originally sewed this fun toddler tie for my son to wear last Father's Day. While rummaging through my son's closet taking inventory for an Easter outfit, I ran across this tie and was happy to see it still fits my little guy. Wouldn't it make for such a cute Easter outfit? Since this was one of my first 15 posts, I figured many of you haven't seen it. If you're interested in making one for the little men in your life read on for the step-by-step picture tutorial.

Baby Gift Idea: How to make a nursing cover

My friend Jessica is having a baby! We are expecting her little bundle of joy to be making his grand debut any day now. When I say that I think you all know that means mom and dad, grandmas and grandpas, family and friends alike are all biting our nails with anticipation, attentively watching Jessica's every move, and jumping at every call or text message hoping it's "the one!" To keep my anticipation at bay, I busied myself sewing Jessica a nursing cover to take to the hospital. I learned to make these when I had my son. They make for a simple, easy, and quick project if you need to make a gift in a pinch or want one for yourself. Read on for the tutorial...

Baby Dress from an Antique Tablecloth

My cousin's wife is about to have their first baby. Its a girl! I had hoped it would be a girl. See, this summer once I heard they were expecting, I began collecting antique linens and lace to make the new baby a beautiful dress so I had a vested interest that she would be a girl ;) My cousin's baby shower is this weekend, and I just finished the dress! All I used was a yard of quilting fabric and the lacey corners of an antique tablecloth. The pattern I came up with is so easy it can be done in 3 seams or less and can be adjusted to fit girls from 3 months to 2 years old and even longer if she uses it as a tank top. Read on for details, the pattern, and the tutorial...

A Simple & Elegant Baby Shower {free printables}

All week I have been planning a baby shower for my dear friend Sarah.  The shower was on Saturday and now I can share all the details about everything from the invites to the games and the decor. Read on for the details and to download the printables...

Darling Patterns- an Etsy jewel

Remember my friend Stephanie at Deviantly Domesticated? I have told you about her amazing site that features all things domestic (here), and today I am introducing you to her uber-awesome Etsy shop! Stephanie sells patterns for her gorgeous projects in her shop. I love it all! She is just so talented. I eat up every little thing she makes. Those baby quilts {swoon}... Drop in and take a look around her shop. You are going to love it!

DIY: Five Minute Sweater Pants for Babies

Last year while visiting my sister-in-law, she showed me how to make baby pants out of old sweater sleeves.

Seriously? ...Seriously? ...Seriously!

And, what sweetens the deal even more? It can be done in 2 seams and five minutes! Now, grab an old sweater, a strip of elastic, your sewing machine and lets get busy! Read on to see the picture tutorial.

DIY $2 Ruffled Baby Legs

Is there anything cuter than chubby baby legs? Well, maybe if the baby is wearing these ruffled leg warmers! Baby Legs charges $12 for a pair (and they aren't even ruffled!), but thanks to our good friends at Target, we can make these adorable warmers for $2 a pair! Read on, to see my step-by-step picture tutorial...

Diapering Wine

As you might have already gathered, I am entertaining out-of-town family this week. My brother-in-law is still here but my father-in-law left on Wednesday. Remember our trip to Leavenworth? We all bought alot of wine on that trip and now they are faced with the problem of getting it all back to Colorado on the plane. I have been faced with the same problem while travelling with my husband for his training. While in Albuquerque last year I was looking at my suitcase, wine and various barbeque sauces, and a pile of all our stuff, including extra diapers I didnt want to leave behind (you can call me a cheap skate, but I was determined to bring those diapers home one way or another!). This is my light bulb moment...wine: breakable, leakable...diapers: extra, extremely absorbant, padded......

It's really funny when you think about wine and diapers in the same sentence but in this context I swear it works! Laugh all you want, I have never had a bottle break or leak! This works for just about anything, it doesnt have to be wine. Like I said, I used it to bring home BBQ sauce too!


Reminder: Be sure to enter my April Cornell giveaway while you are here! Ends July 28th.

Pack-a-snack

Isnt this great? What a neat and fun way to pack snacks and on-the-go meals! I picked up my silicone baking cups today at World Market for $2.99. I borrowed the idea from Holly at Tutus and Turtles- a now dormant favorite of mine...tear :(

Linked up to Keeping It Simple, Delicious Ambiguity

Up-cycle Baby Food Jars

Ever wonder how you could reuse all those baby food jars?

All I did was wash them up and apply rub on transfers and... ta-da! Romantic tea lights!

I linked this up to The Shabby Nest.

Update 6/30/11: This was featured at-

DIY Patriotic Tutus and Tees

Does your littlest patriot still need a holiday outfit? If so, think about giving this a go, its super easy and quite fun! I already have an outfit lined up for my son (red, white and blue plaid checkered short sleeve button down shirt with navy blue shorts with mini US flags...so cute!).  I made these for my neighbors children. I am smitten with my neighbors little girl who will be turning one next week, and my son adores her four year old little boy. These outfits are going to make for some great photos of the kiddos!

I was inspired by a Lil Mop Top's blog tutorial on how to make this argyle tee using fabric paint and embroidery floss. I picked up the muscle tee at Walmart for $3.50.

Also posted at Centsational Girl, My Backyard Eden, Blue Cricket Design, & Somewhat Simple

Father's Day Tie

I was going to post this tomorrow, but I finished up early so here it is! I wanted to make a fun toddler-sized tie for Noah to wear on Sunday. Isnt he a ham?

Here's how I did it!

Bwinks

A few days ago I met these charming little owls and now I am wondering where they have been all my life! I am obsessed with owls, the extent of which you will realize the more time passes! Anywho, arent they just the cutest?!

These darling little creatures are straight from the mind's eye of Bwinks! I cant wait to order mine...but which one?! Head on over their shop to meet the owls and their designer. You can also find them on Facebook!

"Often imitated but never duplicated in style, fabric design or craftsmanship, BWinks’ Owls are the modern teddy, fun, funky, super-cute and distinctly original!"

The Mommy Hook

This is my new favorite mommy gadget! Its a giant carabiner that attaches to strollers, shopping carts, and anything else imaginable. It makes life simpler and now my stroller can hold so many more shopping bags than before! ;)

"What a genius invention! Where can I get one?"

Well, I spotted mine at the Baby Depot in Burlington Coat Factory but you can also find them at here diapers.com or at Babies R Us, Target, or Bed, Bath, and Beyond for anywhere from $6.99-7.99.

Little Sapling Toys

I just LOVE these toys from Little Sapling Toys, dont you? These organic wooden toys are made by Nick and Kimber Christensen in their home in Boise, Idaho. I love how beautiful, timeless, and natural their creations are. They are made with certified hardwood and finished with local beeswax and organic jojoba oil to bring out the natural beauty of the woods. What's even cooler? For every toy they sell, they donate enough to plant a tree through Trees for the Future. I cant wait to get some of these for my son!  Check out their etsy shop and follow them on facebook!