Jayna's First Loom Projects

Now that Christmas is over and my shop is on a short break, we are catching up on some personal hobbies and craft projects.  For Christmas, I got Jayna one of these weaving looms, and she has really enjoyed making little "mug rugs" for everyone.  She has made one for about every adult she knows!  She even took one to her teacher at school after the break.  I am happy to feed this little spark of interest in crafts for her!  I hope someone takes after me and shares their creativity with the world.  ;)  Here are a couple of her pieces.

Pink Rag Rug for Girls' Room

A looooooong while back, I made this post:  http://thecozyhousecrafter.blogspot.com/2012/01/afterthe-girls-room.html.  I was really excited to have updated the girls' room, and I started looking for a rug to match their walls and bedding.  Unfortunately, everything out there is expensive when it comes to floor coverings, and also with specific colors in mind, I couldn't find exactly what I wanted.  So, I started collecting sheets from yard sales and wherever I could get them (my mother gave me some old sets and what-not).  I was determined to just make my own rug...fast forward to now...and it's finally done!  hahaha  That didn't take long, did it?!  Anyway, I am pleased with the finished product and it does match their room really well.  Just hoping they don't want to update their room again too soon.....

It looks a bit "wonky" in this bottom picture but once I was able to get it in their room and pull it and straighten it out a bit, it looks perfect.  It's just from where it was just finished and hasn't been walked on or anything much yet.

Handmade Bonnet

Hello, all! I know it's been QUITE A WHILE since I've posted any crafts. I've been too busy to really sit and make any! But recently we had a celebration of Pioneer Day (http://lds.org/study/prophets-speak-today/unto-all-the-world/we-all-share-pioneer-legacy?lang=eng) at our church, and in the spirit of making it fun and accurate, I decided to make some bonnets for my girls to wear to the activity. I don't have any pictures of Carly's, but here is what I made for Jayna. I only had a toddler sized pattern to fit her head, so it looks small, but she "broke it in" so to speak and by the end of the evening it fit her head perfectly, keeping the sunshine out of her eyes. She actually loved wearing it, to my surprise; she usually doesn't like wearing whatever I've spent time making myself! The fabric I already had on hand, and the pattern is one from a yard sale I bought two years ago when she was still a baby. Thanks for looking!

Ruffles, Ruffles,...and More Ruffles!

If you haven't met this amazingly talented lady named Anneliese, go now! HERE: http://www.aestheticnest.com/. She paints, sews, crochets, knits, makes party invitations,...and everything she touches turns out beautifully! (I want to be her when I grow up! ha!) ;) Well, recently she featured this beautiful crocheted ruffle skirt for one of her little daughters, and I fell in love at first sight! I immediately left her blog and went to purchase this pattern http://www.etsy.com/listing/53843165/cotton-ruffled-skirt-and-top-2t-to-4t from Sandy's Cape Cod Originals on Etsy.com. Then I started crocheting away! I tweaked the pattern just by changing the hook sizes...the underskirt on mine is a "G" but the ruffles are in "I" because the "H" ruffles didn't seem to want to lay as flatly down the skirt. I used the same Lily Sugar n Cream 100% cotton as Anneliese because I loved the warm brown color and Jayna already had a sweater that nothing dressy matched yet. So I solved that problem, and this was the best money on yarn I've spent, as well as the best time I've spent on an item for Jayna. My husband was impressed and adored the skirt as well...which is saying a lot! Since Sandy does allow for the crocheted skirt to be sold following her pattern (I can't give, sell, or pass on the pattern, though) I might just add these sweet skirts to my Etsy shop this winter. What do you all think?

Jayna's Birthday Skirt

I followed this tutorial: http://alemonsqueezyhome.blogspot.com/2010/05/scalloped-skirt-tutorial-sew-through.html, and made this skirt for Jayna's second birthday. Thanks for looking!

Jayna's Newest Handmade Skirt

I've been wanting to make Jayna this new skirt for a while, but I lacked the much-needed knowledge and confidence in the area of sewing and using my sewing machine. Before I sew ANY clothes, I have to read, re-read, and read again the sewing pattern. Then I have to talk to myself for a while about how I can do this. But I am not really sure. Then I look for the perfect fabric for the item for a long while...this could take months. Then when I finally start my project and hop on the sewing machine, I get very discouraged. If the bobbin is the least bit off, I struggle for about an hour to get it all right and ready to go again. Very frustrating! Thus, I do not sew often. If anyone is willing to tutor me on my sewing machine I would be very attentive and a fast learner. Until then...

I recently came across this book at Hobby Lobby entitled, "making children's clothes." (The title of the book is in lower case...normally I would capitalize a title.) The book is by Emma Hardy, and probably for anyone who already knows how to sew it would be an awesome book to make some really cute stuff. It has great instructions and detailed pictures. But this skirt took me 4 1/2 hours to make. But again, I am incompetent at this hobby so far. The corduroy flower print is from JoAnn's...can't remember where I got the brown polka dot print...maybe JoAnn's? The velvet trim is from Hobby Lobby. The button I had in my stash of scrapbooking supplies. And now Jayna has a skirt. She was not happy to model it for me, though. So I didn't get many cute pictures of her wearing it yet. She doesn't care that mom spent lots of time sewing that skirt the night before --- she just wants to go into Adam's room and pick out a toy to play with...sheesh, MOM!

Thanks for looking, reading all this, and putting up with my poor humor. haha! :)

Keeping Baby Girl Warm!

I finished Jayna's helmet and mitts today. Just in time, too, cause it is really starting to get cold, snowy, and windy outside around here! I couldn't find anything I liked in her size at Target, or anywhere else for that matter, so I decided to find out how to make her a toboggan and gloves. I came close enough and I think this set turned out pretty cute! She liked clapping her hands with the mitts on. It was funny. Look for some sets of these in my Etsy shop soon.

What a cheeseball?!?!?!

Matching Gift Set (Christmas is coming!)

I just finished some things up for Jayna tonight...a crocheted scarf with ribbon fringe and a knitted hat with matching bow! I don't know if you can see the ribbon well, but it's sheer and matched perfectly, and (I think) adds a dressy little touch to the items. The yarn is sooooooo SOFT! I know Jayna won't really know what time and love by mommy was put into her little winter set but I am excited for it nonetheless. She will be so pretty in it. She needed a new one as she is outgrowing an old toboggan that my niece made for her last year. Thanks for looking!

Crocheted Matching Skirts

I recently learned how to make these crocheted skirts for Carly and Jayna. I really, really, really like the way they turned out!!! The hardest part for me was the flowers. And I did make Jayna's a little too large so thank goodness for the drawstring. So for about $8 and some time (well, LOTS of time) I made these adorable skirts. Then I found the jean jackets at a thrift store and got them both for $12. Found off-white shirts and tights at Target. I like the way the looked turned out, and this is what they wore to church today.

Cupcake Celebration

For Jayna's very first birthday celebration, I decided on cupcakes for the party theme. She is our little cupcake, you know....Anyway, here are some pictures from the decor for the party today. The birthday banner was made with the Cricut Expression and the Doodlecharms, George, and Cuttin Up cartridges. The idea for the cupcake stand was from Lowe's Creative Ideas latest edition. It is basically flower planters primed, painted, turned over, and stacked. You could really adapt this idea for any party with cupcakes...Halloween, Easter, baby showers, etc. I really like the way it turned out. I am not a cake decorator so my cupcakes could have been cuter for someone else's party, but I loved the way they turned out. As for the pin cushion cupcakes, those were donated by friends who received them as a gift from our latest Relief Society Stake Enrichment meeting. Don't I have great friends and talented sisters who surround me?! :) All in all, the day was wonderful and I was pleased with my craftiness for Jayna's first birthday party. Thanks for looking! And leave a comment if you have time! ;)

Our Cupcake is Turning One!

Hello! I have been busy with several crafts and have not had a chance to upload the pictures here, but I will be working on that in the coming week. Today I am posting an invitation I have made for Jayna's First Birthday. I have to make about 12-15 of these, and I know I can do it! (Thanks to the speed and ease of the Cricut!) For this card, I used My Mind's Eye papers; pearl accents by Martha Stewart; Cat's Eye Chalk Ink in Chestnut Roan; ribbon; machine stitching; and glossy accents for the "1." I also used the Cricut Expression with the Doodlecharms and Mini Monograms cartridges. And I am entering this cute card into Regina's current contest at Bitten by the Bug, found here: http://regina-bittenbythebug.blogspot.com/. The inside of these invites will read, "Our cupcake is turning one, please join us for some fun!" Thanks for looking, and please leave a comment if you have time!

Baby Bubble Romper

I don't remember where I got this pattern (either Etsy.com or someone's crafty website/blog), but I finally tried my hand at it this week. I found this fabric at Hobby Lobby for $2/yd. clearance (I only needed 1/2 yd. for this pattern), and I also got the ribbon there -- and this week the store's "ribbon by the roll" is 50% off. I think it turned out cute, but I am learning it may have been a wasted effort because Jayna pulls the ribbon tails and the outfit slides down her little body! Thanks for looking!

Homemade "Boutique" Dress

So recently (actually months ago!) I fell in love with the knot dress for little girls. I found a great website, http://www.sandihendersondesign.com/, with a beautiful pattern and easy-to-follow directions for a petal knot dress. I put off making this for such a long time because I wanted it to be closer to Jayna's first birthday so she could wear it for the party. I finally picked out the fabric, and sat down last week to sew, and here it is! I think it turned out alright for my first time sewing a dress on my own. I don't have much knowledge on sewing at all. Straight lines work best for me. I did hand-stitch the flower onto the apron of it. This dress took me a couple of nights after the kids were in bed. It has a few imperfections, but I am happy with it. If you are interested in seeing more, also try: http://www.portabellopixie.typepad.com/. Thanks for checking out this blog post!

More Felt Hair Clips - original design

The pumpkin is an original design (I think, I haven't seen it on that website I posted last time), and it is too cute! Just in time for Autumn dress-up, too. I love Fall, and I will post more pictures on that later. Also, here is a picture of little Jayna at 6 weeks. She now weighs 11 lbs., 8 oz. She is smiling a lot (I have yet to catch it on camera), and is very pleasant. She is just so lovable, and is very snuggly. Thanks for checking my blog!

Aren't these ADORABLE?!

My sister-in-law, Jessia (Gavin), brought these up to Jayna as a gift. She also got her headbands and a matching pink dress with flowers. But these little booties/shoes were handmade by Jessica. I think they are absolutely the cutest little shoes and I can't wait until Jayna is big enough to wear them! What makes them even more special is that she hand-stitched Jayna's initials on the bottoms! Too cute!! Thanks, Jessica. You are so talented! If you would like to see more of her work, click here: http://criserfamilywv.blogspot.com/