Sunday, February 28, 2010

Baby Gifts

My dear friend from dental school is expecting her first baby girl in April so I decided to make a few gifts for the new baby.  After making the New Years resolution to learn something new in my personal and professional lives monthly, this satisfies the February requirement.

I tuned in to YouTube after seeing bows and headbands at a posh store selling for $6-10 each.  That's crazy!  Not that I wanted to go cheap but seriously, if I can make the same things for less then she can get more.  Also, I can personalize them to the mother/daughter.  So, after a trip to Hobby Lobby, (they were having a sale on the ribbon) I was stocked and ready.

Also, I found some Minky and Zebra print flannel in hot pink to make a blanket.  Baby blankets at this store were also about $75 each.  The mother wants a hot pink animal print theme for the little baby.  Do you think I over did this???

Blanket and basket (these baskets are great for wet toys from the bath)

So, here are the fruits of my efforts.  My mom is embroidering some towels for burp cloths and lining them with some fab animal print I also found at Hobby Lobby.  Who knew they were such a good resource?

These are the fronts of the bows, flowers and butterfly (it's got beads on it and is too cute IMHO).  I also made the headband from an elastic ribbon.

This photo shows the backs of the hair accessories.  Each clip is covered with coordinating ribbon to hide it better.

The assembled gift- it looks like it has eyes:)

Side view of the gift prior to wrapping.

This was fun to make and super easy.  I hadn't used my glue gun in a while so it was nice to get it out.

If you want to learn to make various bows, here is the link to Hair-Hardware.com on YouTube.
Hair-Hardware Tutorial

So, 4 burp cloths ($14 ea. retail), 2 flower accessories ($10 ea) , 5 bows ($6 ea), 1 butterfly ($10 ea), 1 hat ($6), 1 headband ($6), 1 baby blanket ($75)and a basket later($2.50 actual)- my cost $36.  The actual estimated cost of retail- $177.50.  Sometimes it pays to make things yourself.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

NOOOOOO!!!!!!

Ok, the new Pantone chart has come out for FALL 2010!  http://www.pantone.com/downloads/articles/pdfs/PANTONE_Fashion_Color_Report_Fall_2010.pdf

Alright, it's nice and all but seriously, this cruddy Winter isn't over yet and we're thinking about next Fall.  Give me a break: I'm not buying it.  Since this Winter has proven to be a bad one that will not let go, I am going to spend my time dreaming of Spring and not the next Fall and Winter to come.  Please, give me a break here, I've been quiet (for the most part) about all the snow and gloominess this year...

Join the crusade to stop this Winter!  Start sewing for a long Spring and Summer.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Dreaming of Sugar!

My mom got me interested in this project. http://www.conkerrcancer.org/help.html
It's making a pillowcase for children going through cancer treatments or admitted to various hospitals for "scary" stuff.  So, on a snowy day I got into the car and let fate take control.  This is what it ended up telling me to make...  sugar laden dreams!


Pillowcase


Accent strip with batiste for the collar

I used instructions from Quilters Haven, Olathe, KS.  They are pretty simple but here are instructions if you're interested in making one, or more, yourself.  I serged all seams to finish them off.
Pillow instructions (1 method)

The accent strip which is basically a strip 40"x 1.75" which is not included in the pattern above.  Talk about a super easy project but way too much fun.  This would make a wonderful project for teaching kids how to sew because it involves straight lines but overall, simple.

I've contacted some ladies here in KC to see if they would be interested in helping.  We're going to donate to our local Children's Hospital- Children's Mercy

How great will these kids feel when they get to pick out their own pillowcase and take it with them when they leave?  One father wrote about his daughter who called it her "Magic Pillowcase" and she felt it helped her get better. (Wiping a tear)  So, off to CM this pillowcase goes.  I hope the little girl (I assume) finds it just as magical!