Purple!

I recently had a customer request a purple birthday board!  She wanted darker lettering and a lighter ribbon.  I really think this is pretty!  I don't have any purple in my home, though.  Hopefully she likes it when she gets it!  Pretty unique, too!  Especially using the family last name in the title.  :)

My First Dresden Plate

I have been obsessed with a Dresden plate quilt my mother-in-law has hanging on her wall for the last couple of years.  When she moved to her new log cabin, she chose to display this beautiful quilt in the main living area.  I wish I had a picture to show you!  It's lovely.  I believe it was made by someone in her family, but I can't remember exactly who at this time.  At Thanksgiving and Christmas (before my little baby was dog bitten on the face), I was researching the Dresden plate quilting on google and Pinterest and made several pins to help me figure out how to do it.  I thought it unique on the quilt to see the pointed fan looked, and was interested in learning how hard it would be to make.  After Christmas, when I took a month off from Etsy, I decided to order my templates and what-not.  Then I set to work.  This is the beginning of it. I have yet to applique it to a quilt block.  I don't think it's as particularly pretty as the Dresden plates my mother-in-law's quilt, but I was trying to make it special from my grandma's hand picked fabrics from many years ago.  And I am also still learning.  I will post more pictures later when I finish it.  This is as far as I got with taking care of my kiddos and the house before I had to re-open my Etsy shop.  :)

My Quilted Gift!

I am so excited to share something I received for Christmas!  I normally do not like to brag about gifts I receive, but when it is handmade, it's hard not to share! And this is especially sentimental.  My mother had a rough upbringing; and thus dropped out of high school, later got her G.E.D., and then worked at schools close to home as a school cook which gave her the flexibility to still be at home with the children when we would be there.  I admire my mom for a lot of reasons for she has overcome a lot of hardships in her life.  Well, she does not craft.  She jokes she can't sew on a button even!  But she retired a couple of years ago, and she had hundreds of those "scrubs" in fun patterns and colors since she worked at an elementary school.  She asked a distant relative who quilts to take all of the uniforms and make each of us children (four in total) a quilt from her old uniforms.  Then she gave them to us at Christmas.  I absolutely love mine!  I am not even going to use it.  I bought a quilt rack from Etsy (here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/101014543/reclaimed-wood-3-foot-quilt-rack-with?ref=shop_home_active_22) to hang it on in my home...at least until my children are older and we can be more gentle with the quilt.  This was such a wonderful gift to receive and I look forward to handing it down in the family along with the stories of my mother and her life.  Thanks for looking!

Chevron Crochet Blanket

I am in love with chevron crocheted items right now!  I love these ones on Pinterest:

Scarf - http://babytoboomer.com/2013/12/29/chevron-infinity-scarf-crochet-pattern/

Baby Blanket - http://annemarieshaakblog.blogspot.com.au/2014/06/new-baby-blanket.html

Love this ripple blanket and colors! - https://crochetcricket.wordpress.com/2013/05/30/modern-granny-stripe-baby-blanket/

and then this is the pattern I followed to make mine:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/granny-ripple-afghan

And using only leftover yarn from other projects, I created one of my favorite afghans!  I am so pleased with how it turned out.  I am enjoying catching up on some projects of my own pleasure while I have a break from the Etsy shop.  :) 

My Husband is a Crafter, too!

So, yeah...my husband is awesome!  Let me brag for a post.  He really is a good carpenter, among other talents.  He is an engineer by day, but he does jump into the jobs I give him on his "honey-do" list at home when he can.  He helps me manage my Etsy shop by sawing, routing, etc. my birthday boards.  He's taught me how to use tools, too...which he has many.  When we were dating and I was 16 years old, he presented me with an awesome cherry chest which I still have to do this day.  He really has impeccable craftsmanship.  So earlier this year, we were discussing how to better organize the many pairs of shoes that belong to the 6 members of our family.  My kids are growing and the wicker basked we've used since my older two were babies just wasn't cutting it anymore.  We decided he'd take the challenge to custom build a storage shelf to fit 6 baskets I had found at Target.  Well, after planning and shopping, this is what he built!  Isn't he amazing?!  I love it.  He even bought milk paint and waxed it for me as I requested.  Next up:  built-in bookshelves around our fireplace.  I love him!  ;) 

Crocheted Coasters

Until now, I had always used a folded paper towel every night to set my drinks on.  But now I have these awesome coasters...handmade, too!  I (again from Pinterest!) found this great link: http://colorncream.blogspot.com/2014/08/flower-coaster-tutorial.html to a pattern and knew immediately I wanted to make them.  The lady was very friendly in the transaction on Etsy.  She has an English version of the pattern.  I personally prefer the look of the coasters without the scalloped edge, but they're cute either way.  In her link, she uses very bright and fun colors.  I don't typically decorate that way, I'm more traditional and mute in color around my house, so I opted for more neutral yarn colors.  I used sugar n cream 100% cotton yarn.  And the awesome thing is I won't be wasting paper towels anymore, and I can just throw these coasters in the wash and they're clean.  It took me maybe 2 hours to do the set I created.  Thanks for looking!

Precious Moments Custom Title

I was recently requested by a customer to create a celebration reminder board using the title, "FAMILY precious moments."  I really like how it turned out!  She even ordered a second one after she received the first.  I am glad she was happy with my product.  Thank you!

Red, White, and Blue Bunting

So I found this awesome pattern on Pinterest for an American bunting:  http://www.whiskersandwool.blogspot.com.es/2012/06/patriotic-bunting-free-pattern.html.  The pattern is free, but the rights are reserved for it to not be sold.  So I just made one for myself.  I thought at first I would use it in my traditional 4th of July pictures with the kiddos.  Here's how that turned out:

Shelby dropping the bunting

Jayna fidgeting

Shelby and Jayna not really into this

 

 

So I decided that wasn't such a success.  Luckily, I could use the bunting not just for a photo shoot, but also as decor for the upcoming Independence Day celebration.  This was a much better use! 

 

Happy 4th of July!  Slightly late...



A New Title

I'm still selling the custom reminder boards for birthdays and anniversaries on Etsy.  Here is a title recently requested from a customer, and I really like the way it turned out.  Thanks for looking!!!

Celebrations Board with Multi-Colored Tags

Since I started selling my birthday reminder boards on Etsy, copycat sellers have popped up, which was expected.  I don't mind too much, unless they look exactly like my style and then I get a little perturbed.  It's so dang expensive to get a design patent and I'm trying to make money, not spend it!  Anyway, occasionally I get a customer who wants my work to look like another seller's work on Etsy.  This is slightly offensive and I try to coax them to the other shop if that is what they are looking for.  I like my particular style board.  I can't help it!  :)  It's my creation.  Well, recently, I did agree to color code the tags (which other sellers typically offer and I do not -- it's just so hard to match exactly what colors they want when I am guessing at what they want without pictures or getting shades of colors just right in pictures transmitted over the internet).  Anyway, I agreed to at least bend on the colors for the tags some, and I am glad I did.  I am actually thinking when I FINALLY make my own board that I will do mine similar.  (No, I don't have my own yet, and I've been making these for years now!  And I've been so busy working on these for others I've been missing birthdays in my families.)  So for this board, each color represents a different branch of the family tree.  It really was a good idea for such a large family.  Thank you, customer!  :)  Anyway, what do you think?  Pretty, eh?!

First Shipment to the UK!

I was so excited when someone from the United Kingdom became interested in purchasing from my Etsy shop!  I have shipped to Australia a couple of times before, and even Canada, but was really excited about something going to Europe!!  I am really excited to be an international shipper, though it does present its own challenges.  Anyway, my customer wanted 6 birthday boards and over 200 tags!  I was able to get the work done and ship it and I am happy to say that he received the items, and e-mailed me yesterday that he was impressed and happy with the product.  Thank you, Etsy and customers! :)

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.

Crocheted Bumper

Before Shelby's birth, I found this on Etsy and fell in love!! LOVE!!!!  https://www.etsy.com/listing/106646733/custom-designer-breathable-crib-bumper?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=bumper  Unfortunately, I couldn't afford the price.  Fortunately, I can crochet and do the granny square.  So I made my own!  Here is how it turned out:

It wasn't very hard or time-consuming, but I just finished it recently because we've had so much going on,...and she's been sleeping with me.  (However, she started sleeping in her crib in the past week and she's doing great!  At least 8 hours without waking!)  When I took these pictures I had only crocheted "ties" along the bumper at about every other granny square.  I since took it down and added ties to every square because it wasn't staying up the best.  So as far as crib bumpers go, it doesn't really have padding and it isn't exactly the most functional, but it's beautiful, right?!  And she is still sleeping in my room and I am a light sleeper so I am sure she will be safe.  I am excited to pass this down to future generations!!!

PS - The quilt was bought on Etsy (I SO WISH I HAD THIS TALENT!) here:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/Dancingangelsquilts.

Pinterest Party - Burlap Wreaths

I hosted my first Pinterest party; it being the second I have participated in since my pinning obsession began a couple of years ago.  Who doesn't love Pinterest?!  With Spring on the way, and my Easter décor coming down next week, I decided to invite some friends over to create wreaths inspired by this one:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/93952197/rustic-burlap-ivory-and-jute-wreath-love.  This Etsy seller has several beautiful, rustic wreaths available if you aren't into trying your own...but I love trying new crafts so I wanted to do it myself.  I had most of the supplies already on hand, too, so that helped inspire me to try my own.  Here are the ones I made...yes, I made two.  I couldn't settle for just one and I wanted to try a couple of different times to be sure I made a good one. ha!  So here they are.  Sorry I do not have pictures of my friends wreaths - they turned out really great! 

Encouraging Spring and Sunlight!

For some reason this winter has been hard on me.  Not sure if it's because of the mild winter last year which may have spoiled me, or just that I have a new baby and I don't feel like getting out as much and lugging so much around with me often.  So I am in a hurry for Spring!  In my quest to lighten my spirits, I decided my house looks "too dark."  Maybe it's all the cloudy weather, but...I decided to start painting to "brighten" my days.  I love this room and have always loved it - it's been our dining room and now our "homework" room.  There is no t.v. just a table and a couple of hutches and a cherry chest that Brent built for me when we were in high school.  So it used to be a dark mauve as shown; now it is a light green/sage color.  I love it and thought I'd share.  Happy Spring!

Newer Custom Birthday Boards

I haven't posted pictures of these but I wanted you to see the custom variations I like to make and have been asked to make.  :)  Enjoy!

Menu Board - Pinterest Inspired

In February, a group of my friends and I got together to complete a couple of Pinterest-inspired projects that we all agreed we liked.  The one I worked on was a "menu board."  See here:  http://www.cgdickson.com/2012/01/08/the-ultimate-menu-board-2/.  I thought it was an awesome idea and it truly has been helpful the past couple of weeks I've had it up and "running."  My kids enjoy getting to pick dinner on one of the days of the week.  Sundays are almost always "Breakfast for Dinner" and Fridays are almost always "Go Out."  But either way, it helps make cooking for the rest of the week easier.  And at least I don't have to think of what to fix!  ;)

Blue and Green Birthday Board

I'm back to taking orders again for custom birthday boards!  Here is a newer color combo I recently put together.  :)  If you plan to order for Mother's Day, don't wait until May!  :)

Christmas Bauble Wreath

I've not had a lot of extra time on my hands for crafts with kids being sick, hubby recovering from hip replacement surgery, and the kids home on Christmas break, but I did find time to make this simple wreath for my door.  I got the idea at a homemaking meeting at church in December.  Basically, you take a wire hanger, bend it into a circle, then string on dollar store ball ornaments around the wire.  The whole thing cost me less than $10, and that includes the ribbon, which also came from the dollar store.  It was really easy and  didn't take too much time, except I did have to take some off and re-string them so I didn't have a clump of ornaments all the same.  I wanted it varied.  My friends made red and green ones, red and gold ones, and so on.  I like the gold and silver, and even though I've already put away Christmas at our house, I did leave this wreath on the door as it doesn't scream Christmas altogether. Some of the ornaments have glittered snowflakes printed on them so it's wintry to me!  I think the lady I got the idea from had found a tutorial on Pinterest.  I just realized as I uploaded this picture that it's not a very good picture and it's much better in person on the door.  But...thanks for looking!  PS - My Etsy store is back open on-line now that things have settled back to somewhat normal!

Blue Birthday Board

I stayed very busy with my Etsy orders for birthday boards all the way until I gave birth to Shelby.  As a matter-of-fact, I just mailed my first international order to Australia two weeks ago to finish all the orders I received before her arrival.  I plan to resume making the boards after the holidays.  But for now, here is a pretty blue one I made upon request for a customer.  I think it turned out very lovely.