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!!



Life Lately

I've been having issues with blogger lately. I haven't been able to upload pictures from my computer to the posts, so that's why I haven't been posting lately. It's really no fun without adding pictures! It works in HTML mode, but I'm not very good at that either. No time to learn about it!

My little business adventure is taking off on Facebook. I've had a lot of orders already and we hit 100 likes and did a free giveaway! I'm very blessed to have so many people like my work. My sister-in-law is adding some items too. She makes taggies (or ribbon blankets) and scarves.

I had a logo made from Red Meadow Design Co. on Etsy. I love it! Now I just have to get cards made.

I've been busting my behind trying to keep up with all the orders. Maybe someday I'll venture over to make an Etsy shop, but right now I have enough business from friends and facebook fans. One of my best customers is Melissa from Lissa May Photography. One of my favorite pictures is the one where she used the banner/garland I made with the word "one".

 



 

The little girl is adorable! And I must say, the banner looks amazing here.

 

On a personal aside, Little Bub has started walking! Finally! I never thought it would happen. He only wanted to hold on to the furniture and our hands, but then he just started taking a few steps here and there. He's still not super steady, but he does take many steps in a row! As a first time mom you worry about when they start doing things, but with Little Bub I've learned that just because he isn't doing something doesn't mean he can't. He just doesn't want to! He also has a new tooth! He's just growing in leaps and bounds. I'd like to press the pause button.

 



 

This picture is from the last weekend when we had beautiful spring weather in New York! It was about 50 degrees the day we took him outside. It was his first ride in his little red wagon (a gift from Christmas). He wanted to keep going and going. Whenever I stopped, he would point at the handle. I just love the coat and the hat. Although it isn't one I made for him, it's just perfect for his little face! 

Bunting and Garland

To continue with DIY party decorations, I made a few wall decorations. I was inspired by the month-by-month bunting from The Scrap Shoppe, but I wanted to customize it for the Very Hungry Caterpillar theme. My sister-in-law suggested I do circles for the caterpillars body (why didn't I think of that?)

It was a super simple project. I started with circles cut from green scrapbook paper and cut the pictures a little smaller, then used foam tape to adhere them so the pictures would pop off a little. I wanted to add a little more so I included the head of the caterpillar, added some shiny gold stickers for each month and made some glittery, gold clothespins for some sparkle. I think my guests will enjoy seeing how Little Bub changed over the past year!

I also wanted to make a happy birthday bunting that I could use every year if I wanted to. First I made a triangle template from cardboard and traced it onto the wrong side of the fabric. Then I used pinking shears to cut on the lines, so I could leave the edges unsewn. I used some of the leftover fabric from his shirt and hat (I just love that number fabric - it's so perfect for a birthday!). I used store-bought double fold bias tape and sewed it with metallic gold thread to tie in with the gold clothespins.
I didn't sew down the edges on this yet:
1. the letters are so small they intimidate me
2. I just did this the last weekend before his party and haven't had the time!