Happy Birthday Madelyn!

My sweet niece Madelyn is turning 3 today!  Where does the time go?  She is such a fun kid to be around (just like her siblings).  Madelyn and I share a special bond...we are the M's...of course both of us with an M name and also being the middle child.

For Madelyn's birthday this year, I decided I wanted to make her a special present, or presents I guess by the time I was done.  Here is what I made.

I spy bag.  I found this great tutorial here and thought this would be a great activity bag for Madelyn, especially to keep her occupied while in the car.

Hairbows.  Madelyn's hair has always been so fine, but this past year it has really grown in and gotten so long.  And I personally think hairbows are adorable!  I think these will also be great for Madelyn as she starts preschool this fall.  I made the bow one using this tutorial and the curly one using this tutorial.  Both super easy!

Tutu and Embellished Shirt

I embellished a t-shirt with a cute fabric and tulle flower.  It coordinates with the tutu I made, I figure every little girl could use an extra tutu.  I know Madelyn likes to play dress up and dance, so I thought this would be a perfect for her.  No tutorial used here (hmm...maybe I will have to create one!)  I love all of the pink and fluff of the tutu and hope she likes it as much as I do!

Close up of flower.

 Tutu, view 1

 Tutu, view 2

And just for good measure, a few more pictures of the M's!

 While she is cute, I don't think we could handle 2 Madelyns.

 Silly Madelyn!

 She rules everything!

Weekend Craft Project

This weekend while I was feeling a bit crafty, I found a cute necklace project.  I used a tutorial from here, making just a few minor adjustments.  I had everything I needed to make the necklace (and a second too).  I had to make the strip of fabric smaller, as my beads were not big enough for the strip in the tutorial, but that was it.  Such a quick and easy project, and I think both of the necklaces turned out pretty cute, if I do say so myself!

Sorry for the mediocre quality pictures, I couldn't quite figure out the lighting situation.  I hope you enjoy anyway.  Let me know what you think!

Colorful print, with large beads:

Gray and white print, with smaller beads:

 Both necklaces:

Close up

Back on the Blogging Wagon?

I have taken a long hiatus from blogging, for many reasons, but mostly because I didn't have all that much to blog about.  But I am going to try and get back on the wagon for this fall.  Hopefully I will be able to post some fun stuff (at least occasionally).

For now, here are some pics from my summer:

I went to Iowa over Memorial Day weekend and got to have an outing with my parents and nieces and nephew to the fish hatchery (yes, home to the famous Decorah Eagles).

Grandpa with his best girls.

 Making sure Drew doesn't go for a swim.

 Madelyn feeding the fish.

 Group shot...can we call it a success since I got one of the kiddos to look?

 Avery striking a pose while waiting for brunch.

In June I travelled to Phoenix for the annual AAFCS conference.  This of course means that I spent most of my time in a meeting room, but in the morning I got to get out (when it was relatively cool in the 90s) to go for walks in the desert.  Here are a few shots of the area that the resort was in.

I spent majority of my summer in an office in Athens preparing for my written comprehensive exams (sorry, no fun pictures of that).  After I finished taking my exams, my parents came to visit.  While they were here we vacationed in the Charleston area, staying on the Isle of Palms.

Finally on vacation after all that studying and 15 hours of taking exams!

One day we went to the Charleston Museum, here are some goofy pictures of my spicing up our visit to the museum (yes I am aware that I am a dork). 

Showing off the tea etiquette I learned in London last summer. 

On the beach!  Beachfront condo was so amazing!

Now my life is back to the office, running data and trying to work towards graduation (meaning dissertation and oral comprehensive exams).  Sadly this was my life this past week (yes, I was actually using all 3 screens), but luckily I was able to beat the data!

 Okay...I promise next post will be less about me and my life and more about crafts or something else fun!

Latest Sewing Projects

I was able to use some of the down time to get some sewing in.  Here are some of the projects I have been able to finish.

Project 1. Half Apron

I have some great friends, the Bishops, that host an annual white elephant party.  This year (2010) was the first year I was able to attend.  I decided to make something for the gift exchange (no surprise there).  I thought a half apron would be cute and I knew some of the girls at the party really like them.  I used some Amy Butler fabric I had and it can even be reversible.  The apron is made primarily using 2 fat quarters and then some coordinating (matching in this case) yardage for the ties.  I also added some extra detail with two large yo-yos.  

In this close up you can see the yo-yo details with buttons to look kind of like flowers.

I called this gift my "hostess with the mostess gift."  I packaged the apron with a trifle bowl I bought experimented with glass etching.  I added a design of dots around the bowl and I think it turned out great.  Hope you like it Randi!

Project 2. Embellished Hats

I just recently (in November or December) bought yo-yo makers.  I got two different sizes, before this I had been making them all free hand.  Since my life drastically changed for the better with these new yo-yo makers, I thought it would be fun to make a few gifts for some friends, so I decorated some hats (about 12 to be specific).  I made all of them different, so everyone got a custom one.

Thanks April for modeling your hat for me!

Project 3. Casserole Carrier

Every year my Mom's side of the family gets together and has a white elephant style gift exchange.  I usually make something for the exchange and this year I decided to change it up from my normal purse or tote and make a casserole carrier...perfect for parties and potlucks.  I used a great tutorial from the blog, 2 Little Hooligans.  Here is the finished product.

 Avery helping model the casserole carrier.

 The carrier all folded up and ready to go.

 My cousin's daughter Addison helped to model the unfolded casserole carrier.

Project 4. Diaper Bag

Recently I have started making diaper bags for my friends that are expecting (as you know there are quite a few of them).  I love the tutorial from A Mingled Yarn for the Hip Mama Diaper Bag.  Here are some pics from the latest bag.  The bag is a great messenger style and has lots of pockets inside and out, about 10 total.

Project 5. Dr. Seuss Baby Quilt
You have already seen this quilt in my post about the Dr. Seuss baby shower I threw, but I love this quilt so much I wanted to show off the pictures again.  This is based off of the tutorial from the blog Momfetti.    And thanks to my Mom for helping me finish this quilt while I was sick.

Front of the quilt.

I decided to piece the back of the quilt and it ended up being almost reversible.

Project 6. Owl Baby Quilt

This quilt was made for Mazlyn who should be entering this world in the next few weeks...I can't wait!  This was also based off of a tutorial online, but again I made some additions to mine.  The tutorial is from The Polka Dot Chair.  This quilt also received some of my Mom's expert sewing...she is such a huge help!  

  

Project 7. Tablerunner (Snow day project #1)
This project was actually something for me.  If you remember I said I was snowed in for 3 days once I was back in Athens, so I used some of the time to work on sewing projects, including this one.  This is also based on a tutorial from The Polka Dot Chair.  I had to make it a lot shorter than the tutorial, as my table is much smaller, but I think it still turned out great.

Project 8. Taggie Blanket (Snow day project #2)
Another gift I like to give to new babies is a taggie blanket.  This is a great developmental blanket for babies and I just love making them.  Each one I make turns out in its own unique way.  The front of this one is a soft fireman flannel and the back is an even softer white bumpy and furry fleece.  (sorry the pictures are the best, I forgot to move the iron cord)

Project 9. Burp Cloths (Snow day project #3)
I made a set of three coordinating burp cloths to test out my idea for a burp cloth.  It isn't anything special, but I like the shape and size of the cloths.  I think they will be good when out and about with baby.  I also like that they coordinate so well with the taggie blanket I made.  Please ignore the wrinkles, I had them rolled up and packed away from gifting and then I remembered I had forgotten to take a picture!

Now I need to figure out what sewing or other craft project to work on next.  Suggestions are welcome!

Seuss Shower

While I was back in Iowa, I was able to throw a shower for a great friend of mine, Val. Val and her husband Ian are expecting their first child in March and I am so excited for them.   Val and I met while we were in high school when we were both on the State 4-H Council.  I have been very blessed to have Val’s friendship in my life since then. 

Since they are not finding out the gender of the baby yet, I needed a gender-neutral theme for the shower.  I came up with a Seuss themed shower.  I was so happy with how everything turned out for the shower!  My mom was a huge help with the last minute preparation and baking.  I owe her big time!   I can’t wait until March and I can come back on spring break to meet Little Plagge (LP)!

Here are the highlights from the shower, starting with the decorations.  Table centerpieces were fun, Seuss-like items.  I was inspired by several blogs that showed Seuss themed decorations and their ideas morphed into my centerpieces.  I was really happy with the final masterpieces!

Table #1 

 Table #2

 Table #3

 Table #4

With a theme like Seuss, books made great decorations for the shower.  I got some books from Goodwill and cut the pages out of the already loved books to make bunting for the room.  You can see the Green Eggs and Ham bunting on the welcome and food tables.  

 Here is the Oh The Thinks You Can Think bunting on the wall. 

Here are a few shots of the whole room:

The welcome table was decorated with some Green Eggs and Ham bunting and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  Also on this table were the favors, Hop on Pop Popcorn for the guests to take home.  On the other end of this table was the coloring book activity.  I found a Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That coloring book with a story in it.  I cut out the pages, asked guests to color a page and sign their name to it.  I put all of the pages together into an album so LP will have a custom book  when he or she gets here in March.

 The welcome table!

 Close-up of the favors.

 The Grinch!

 The coloring book activity.

I also used books to help decorate the food table as you will see in the next set of pictures, the food pictures!  I took on the challenge of serving Seuss themed food for the shower.  There was:

• Green Eggs and Ham Key Lime Cupcakes
• The Cat in the Hat Thing 1 and Thing 2 Cupcakes
• Oh the Places You’ll Go Trail Mixes
• Hop on Pop Candied Popcorn
• One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish Swedish Fish and Goldfish
• Seuss Juice: Cranberry, Apple, and Blueberry Sparkling Juice

 Close-up of the Green Eggs and Ham cupcakes.

 Close-up of the two kinds of Hop on Pop candied popcorn.

 Close-up of the Thing 1 and Thing 2 cupcakes.

And of course present time!  LP got some great gifts from all the wonderful ladies at the shower.

 A farm scene playmat.

 A little Cyclone hoodie...adorable!

 A duckie bath robe.

 A diaper bag from Aunt Amanda.

 A puppy sleeper from Aunt Rachel.

 I heart Mommy sleeper.

 The back (above) and front (below) of the Dr. Seuss quilt I made for LP.

 All of the Aunts-to-be and Grandmas-to-be with Mommy-to-be.

And finally, me with Mommy-to-be!