Happy Easter!

 

Happy Easter from this sad little bunny! He loved the peeps but hated the bunny hat.

 

 

See? All better! :)

Photos from Lissa May Photography.

Itty Bitty Easter

Here are some little quick projects I've been working on in between orders. They are super quick and easy to make, especially when you follow the great tutorials.

The first item is a little bow. I found this tutorial at craftiness is not optional. I can't say enough about this little tutorial. It's super easy and super quick. I literally made this bow in about 15 minutes. If you are a beginner, than this tutorial is perfect because it has step by step pictures to help you through the process. If you are a little more seasoned, then it just has the pattern at the top. Perfect!

 

This bow was for a Dr. Seuss set I made, but I thought I'd give it a try as a hair accessory. So cute! You could just bobby pin it in place or sew it to a headband. Or you could use them as I intended for this one and make a little bow tie (you just have to add a strap with a little button to go around the neck). I will definitely be making more of these.

 

Next up is the bunny applique. This is another great picture tutorial. I found it at Love the Blue Bird. Again, this is great for a beginner or an old pro. I love how it's a backside view of the bunny. The little tail was really easy to make!!

I thought these might be great for sewing on a hat, headband or blanket. I even thought some people might like to attach it to a pin for Easter! If I had enough time, I would make them in lots of bright spring colors for a garland.

 

 

Finally, I whipped up a little mini Easter basket. I shared a picture before of how I was inspired by the basket pattern I found at Craftsanity. The pattern was pretty easy and it didn't take very long. I've been thinking about upgrading and trying to make a bigger basket for Little Bub to collect Easter eggs. It would be lightweight, but big enough to hold a few eggs. 

 

If you have any time before Easter, these are three easy and quick projects that will make your little ones smile. Have fun!



St. Patrick's Suspenders

Just popping in to say I hope you enjoyed your St. Patrick's Day celebrations yesterday. In honor of the occasion, I made Little Bub his own bow tie and suspender set.

 

He doesn't much care for either, but he was content to let me put them on him if I let him play with the sewing machine. ;)

 

I used the tutorial from Make It & Love It for the suspenders. Super easy to follow directions with pictures. The only trouble I had was that I wanted to include snaps on the front so I could lengthen the straps for next year. It took quite a lot of banging and extra snaps. Oof.

 

For the bow tie, I found another great tutorial at Paper & Stitch. Again, lots of pictures and detailed instructions for a beginner like myself.

 

I hope to have enough time to make a set for Easter. I'm still looking for the perfect fabric to go with the little blue and white seersucker blazer I bought for Little Bub. I can't wait until his Easter pictures!

Inspiration Boards

I have two favorite places to search for inspiration for future crafting projects. I can easily get distracted for a few hours searching through all the tutorials, patterns and ideas out there.

One addicting site is Pinterest, which has been a great source of many free patterns or ideas of patterns to make up myself. I wish I had time to try out all the things I've found! I'm always looking for something new for my crocheting, knitting or sewing boards.

 

 

The second place is Etsy. I love looking through other people's work and combining the things I see into something new. I just started creating treasury lists. I just get inspired by a color or a theme and a treasury list is a way to keep a collection of things together. Here are the lists I've posted so far.

I try to only include things that I would use or love to have. So a lot of the items end up being crafting supplies, or crochet items. :)

If you like what you see, I'd love to have you follow me on Pinterest or on Etsy and get inspired!!

Fantastic Fringe

For me, the best part of crocheting is finding different things to make while testing and expanding my skills. When Lissa May Photography asked me to make a fringe blanket for her, I was pretty nervous because I thought it would be a huge undertaking. She wanted one with spring colors that could be used for both boys and girls.
I was inspired by the fringe blanket here, that I found on etsy. I did end up buying the pattern from Sunset Crochet. It has the option of making it into a hammock for newborns, which is pretty cool.
I bought 7 skeins of yarn to use in this project.

Here is the shopping list:

• Lion Brand Homespun: Hepple White
• Lion Brand Hometown: Daytona Lemon
• Lion Brand Fun Fur: Ivory
• Sensations Beautiful: White
• Sensations Wave: Turquoise Lime
• Tizzy: Sweet Green Pea
• Red Heart Pomp-a-Doodle: Fluff

After making the blanket/hammock part with the white homespun yarn, I was ready to start cutting the pieces for the fringe. It was actually easier and faster than I thought. I just wrapped the whole skein of yarn around the back of one of our dining room chairs. I started with what was left of the homespun and did the same for all the skeins. I cut down along one edge of the chair to make the long strips. This is what it looked like when I was done.

 

Then I took one piece of each different kind of yarn and looped and knotted it through the end of each row all the way around the blanket. I have to say I was so proud with how it turned out. I even had a few skeins of yarn that I didn't even use!

 

I think the best part was buying and using yarn that I have never used before. I hope to make another one soon!

Little Leprechauns

A couple of weeks ago I had a sale in my shop for leprechaun hats. It is one of my favorite hats because it is adorable and so quick and easy to make. Last year I made one for Little Bub.

This year with the sale I made 4! One customer wanted a little bow tie to go with it. I love how it turned out! This picture from Cortney Rowley Photography is wonderful!

Since I made Little Bub a leprechaun hat last year, I wanted to make him something a little different for this year. I was inspired by the color block hat from Micah Makes. I followed the directions for her versatile earflap hat and then added a large, dark green shamrock to the front. It came out exactly like I pictured it.

 

I finished it just in time for Little Bub to wear for a few weeks. It's a little big and keeps slipping forward and covering his eyes, but he is too cute!

 

I'm not sure if I'll be making an Easter hat for him this year. I'm running out of time and I have no ideas. Any suggestions?

Sixteen Months

Today Little Bub is sixteen months old. It seems like we just had his birthday! During Little Bub's first year, I took a picture each month as he grew. I thought I would continue that as he grew, at least until his second birthday, but it's hard to find the time. Also, his baby book doesn't have entries for those months, yet I feel like they should because he is still learning so much each month and growing so fast that I feel like I won't remember all of it!

 

 

So this is going to be my baby book entry for 16 months of new things since his last entry.

 

Sleeping patterns: 7/8 PM-7 AM; 1 nap per day about 1.5-2 hours

Eating habits: Breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner; will try just about anything; often eats whole grilled cheese sandwiches, slices of pizza and pancakes

 

 

Favorite foods: peaches, pears, string cheese, yogurt, pizza, pancakes, bananas, lunch meat, grilled cheese, and BREAD (especially garlic bread)

New foods: hot dogs, Chinese food, pulled pork, Chef Boyardee Ravioli

New skills: walking, riding the tricycle, using the potty, shape sorting, following directions, swimming without any adult help, climbing into little rocking chair, flushing the toilet, feeding self with a fork

New words/signs: Nap, bath, blowing kisses, eat, more, drink, mama, milk, uh-oh, hot, brrr, yuck

Favorite activities: playing with Frankie (the dog), helping wash the dishes, reading books, looking out the window, coloring (read hoarding crayons), playing kitchen, throwing balls

 

 

And we can't forget his first haircut!!!



Garlands, Banners and Bunting, Oh My!

Besides making many crocheted hats, I've been busy with some holiday garlands, as well as name banners. They are quickly turning into a popular item in my facebook shop. I love making these because each one turns out so different depending on the colors used.

Two years ago I came across a kit at my local quilt shop with materials to make a heart garland for Valentine's Day. I loved how easy and quick it was to make! Shortly after, I came up with my own template to make a shamrock one for St. Patrick's Day. These are the two I made then.

 

This year, I've been so busy with making hats, I asked my sister-in-law if she wanted to tackle making some garlands and banners. She made the garlands for the few orders we had for V-day and St. Paddy's. Then I came up with some new templates and she made this one for Easter. We put a surprise white Easter bunny in the middle of the eggs!

 

My sister-in-law also helped me with some name banners. As I said before, I love how they all turn out so different because of the colors.



One of my mother's friends ordered this name banner and a birthday bunting.We used glittery fabric for these two.

 

And don't forget about the birthday banner I made earlier this year! I made a matching one in blue for boys to use.

 

I just got an order for another name banner for a little boy's nursery. Gray, orange and turquoise...I can't wait to see how it turns out!!



Marshmallow Peep Love

When I was younger, I really used to love peeps. What's not to love with the pure sugar and the vibrant colors? I was always excited to get some in my Easter basket. My parents used to like to open the package and let them get a little hard before eating them. Yuck! I liked to eat them still soft, so of course, I had to eat a whole row at a time! Now, I might have ONE peep at Easter time but it's totally sugar overkill, but I still think they're cute.

 

I even love the idea of threading peeps on a stick and making a colorful, edible centerpiece for an Easter table like this (photo credit):

 



 One of the photographers that I've partnered up with, Lissa May Photography, asked me if I could make some of these crocheted marshmallow bunnies. I thought I could give it a try. We decided on vibrant colors and I think they turned out adorable!! Here are two of the pictures she took with them.

 

 

Then I had such an amazing surprise when I downloaded my weekly issue of Gathered to my iPad and my marshmallow bunnies were featured on the Show and Tell page! I couldn't believe it! If you have a chance, check out the magazine. I love all the little goodies and free DIY crafts that are in each issue. Right now, you can get 5 issues for free!

 

Easter is sneaking up fast. I wanted to make a yellow bunny, but I'm not sure I'll have the time. But I definitely want to make time for these little baskets!



 

They look simple and fast. I only need to make one for Little Bub and then if I have time, I'll make 4 more for his cousins. I'm not sure what I'll put in them yet...maybe some peeps!!

I'm Back!

It's been a little over a month since my last post. Whew! I hadn't planned on such a long break, but I've been so busy launching my little business through Facebook. In the last month and a half I have made over 30 hats and 5 banners. That's just an estimate, I'm sure it's more!!

I'm so incredibly grateful to be able to put a smile on people's faces by making cute hats and other items for their families. I started this to be able to give people an affordable option for quality items that are personal and homemade.

The orders are slowing down a little now, which gives me a chance to start some other projects I have been eyeing up. I have some hat patterns I haven't even tried yet! I can't wait to see how the bonnets and the sun hats turn out.

Little Bub has grown so much since my last post. He is walking up a storm and learning all sorts of new words. He has even been swimming at lessons without parental assistance. He has a "bubble" floaty around his waist and a noodle under his arms and he can swim across the pool!! It's totally amazing and sad at the same time.

 

We were able to play outside a little bit the other day and now that Little Bub is walking, he loves it!! I have to say it was the funniest thing to see him trying to stand back up while bundled up in his gear. He looked like an orange marshmallow! His hair is getting so long. I want to cut it, but Daddy says no. Can you believe it? Actually he says to wait until it's warmer, so it keeps his head warm. As long as he's not mistaken for a girl, I don't care.