pinkebody

Goals

2012-01-08T08:50:00.001-08:00

I don't do resolutions, because I never stick to them. Instead, I have set some goals for myself this year.

In no particular order, I would like to accomplish the following:

Spin 12 pounds of fiber

Knit/spin down my stash before purchasing more or swiping stuff from my Etsy/Hyena Cart stock

Make a quilt a month.

Make something for myself each month

Do not buy fabric on a whim, only for a project that will be finished within the month of purchase.

Keep up with my blog

I would also like to start doing fun holiday things with/for my kids. I always have big plans, but never follow through & it's time I start making time for them!

So far, I'm making great progress! I have knit a Honey Cowl for myself from stashed yarn.

I also knit a Regina for my Step Grandmother's birthday out of scrap yarn.

I have already spun & plied over a half pound of yarn!

Christmas Candy merino

Wood Sprite BFL

Out With The Old...

2011-12-29T10:11:00.001-08:00

Wow, it's been a long time since I've attempted to blog. Almost as long since I've even glanced at any of the blogs I follow.

2011 was a crazy, busy year. I took on far too many projects & customs & got more than a little burnt out. After taking some time away from customs to reflect & regroup, I am ready to enter the new year with a fresh start.

It was a difficult decision to make, but I will not be taking many custom orders in 2012. I will be focusing on ready to ship items, with the occasional custom offered in very limited numbers.

I have been working on writing my first knitting pattern & hope to have it ready for release for the January Capella stocking. I will also be joining the ranks of Their Own Knitted World & I find it is a huge compliment to be in a group with so many talented knitters.

As the year winds down, I am frantically trying to finish up my current UFO's (un-finished objects) so I can start the new year with a completely blank slate.

I am challenging myself to only purchase fabrics or yarns needed to complete a specific project. No more buying just because it's pretty & I must be realistic & let go of supplies I will not be using. I have a group of friends that are entering the challenge with me, which should make it easier for all of us to stick to our plan.

Tour de Fleece

2011-07-03T19:54:00.000-07:00

So, did I mention that I got a spinning wheel from my awesome husband for Christmas? Well, I did. I was all excited & attempted to spin a little here & there when I had a few extra minutes in Jan, Feb & March. Then, I got frustrated that it wasn't just clicking & well, poor Betty (yes, I named my wheel) has been sitting in the corner of my craft area ever since, just begging for some attention.

Enter le Tour de Fleece. JUST the motivation I needed to get Betty the workout she so rightfully deserves. What the heck is the Tour de Fleece, you ask? It's a group on Ravelry for those of us that need motivation to, um, actually spin the fiber that we have been collecting & petting. And motivate, it did!
The TDF started yesterday & runs along with the Tour de France ;) I spun a couple ounces of the lovely purpley yarn on the right last night after the girls went to bed. I then spent the better part of today ignoring my children & household duties to finish spinning & then plying the two lovelies below :) (Don't worry, I didn't really ignore my kids, I just didn't follow them around cleaning up the little pathes of destruction, i.e. toys & clothing). Oh & did I mention, I dyed the fiber myself? That's another new hobby of mine, but we can talk more on that subject at a later date.
Not too bad for the first two days of the event, eh?

Celebrating Seuss

2011-02-13T16:46:00.000-08:00

Dr. Seuss is a HUGE favorite in this house. We read his stories over & over & they never get old. In honor of his upcoming birthday, I will be doing a special Seuss themed stocking. I've got several cute sets in the works & some hand dyed yarns inspired by a couple books/characters as well. I'm still not 100% sure where I will stock yet...Hyena Cart? Etsy? Both? All I know for sure is March 2nd is the day, so keep an eye out.

I've got a stack of several prints from the latest Suess line from Robert Kaufman, as well as some discontinued prints I've been hoarding. I will be offering lots of new goodies & may bring back an old favorite or two as well.

Knitting Christmas

2010-12-21T15:11:00.000-08:00

Now that it's officially over, I can share some of my handmade projects. I am so blessed to have a family that appreciates hand crafted gifts & I enjoy creating new things for them whenever possible.

This year, it was mostly knit items that were gifted, but I did make the hubby a new case for his Nook & a squishy velour pillow case.

Nana got a Cedar Leaf Shawlette. I absolutely adore this pattern & used one of my favorite yarn bases Madelinetosh Vintage in Kale.

My Dad works at a nuclear plant, so I just had to make him a mutated fish hat. We've always joked if you ate the fish from their cooling pond, you would glow in the dark. LOL
This is just one out of a set of four holiday wash/dish cloths I made my Mother-in-Law. She got a shawl for her birthday in November, so I kept her presents simple this year :hides:
For my teenage stepsons (and my pre-teen & teen nephews) that are too cool to wear a scarf in the chilly Illinois weather, a cool mustache cowl. These were a huge hit & they have been wearing them indoors even! Knit using my own Shelby Merino Superwash Wool in Grasshopper.
My Great Grandmother has lovely blue eyes & this color looks fabulous on her with her silver hair. It's also knit from Tosh Vintage in Baltic.
Bad lighting, but this Boneyard Shawl is also knit from the same dye lot of Baltic & looks fab together.

Sneak Peek

2010-08-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

The fundraiser items have started to arrive. I got a box of squishy soft Malabrigo yarn today that will become a couple newborn sets. I plan to have one girly set, a boy set & hopefully a gender neutral set if time allows. This yarn is so unbelievably soft & absolutely perfect for wrapping a newborn in.

Here's a couple of my recent knitting projects:

This hat was knit from the Truffula Tree yarn I kettle dyed.

Part of a custom order for Shane. Still have a couple matching dresses to finish up.

Fundraiser

2010-07-27T09:36:00.000-07:00

In September, I will be holding a fundraiser on my hyenacart shop to raise money for Operation Smile. All monies will be donated in honor of sweet little Carter. I am currently looking for donations, if anyone is interested in donating a handmade item, yarn or a knitting slot, please contact me at pinkebody@yahoo.com or simply leave a comment here with your contact information so I can get in touch with you.

It only takes $240 for one operation, which will change the recipients life forever.

You can also donate directly via TeamCarter's One Smile page.

Custom Updates

2010-07-24T16:47:00.000-07:00

I know I've said it a thousand times....I'm going to be more organized & keep my blog updated, yada yada yada... Well, this time I mean it! No, really. I promise. I'm also going to be regularly updating my etsy shop :)

Blog updates will be coming at least once a week & the shop will be updated the first Friday of the month (at least to start out). I also stock at Capella the third Monday of every month, along with several other talented ladies.

I'm also working on a new blog header & have a few patterns running through my head that I hope to finally get written up to share with my fellow craft junkies.

Now, to the custom list.

Shane ~ started 7/22

Melissa ~ starting Monday 7/26

Stacie ~ starting after Melissa's (should be Tues or Wed of next week)

Dye job

2010-07-02T18:49:00.001-07:00

Anyone that knows me, knows that I cannot sit still. My hands are always busy. When I was younger, I was always drawing or writing. I absolutely love to work with color & I still sketch out clothing ideas as they pop into my head.

Lately, my creative outlet has been yarn. Knitting mostly, but I decided to dabble in dyeing & I.am.hooked.

These are a few of my attempts & I see a LOT more in my future. I am taking a couple along on vacation & will hopefully return with finished garments......depends on how well the fish are biting ;)

I will share my creations in two weeks when I return, until then I leave you with some yarn porn.

I have a new addiction

2010-07-01T19:00:00.001-07:00

Carter Needs Our Prayers!!!

2010-05-26T19:20:00.000-07:00

If you could spare a moment & say a prayer for sweet little Carter & his family, they could sure use it right now. This beautiful little boy has had a special place in my heart from the day he was born & he has touched so many in his short time here. I truly believe he's not finished with his journey, but still has a long way to go.

You can read all about Carter here

Craft Show Booth & Custom Update

2010-03-24T06:47:00.000-07:00

Please excuse the cell phone pic, but I wanted to share some of the fun from my first craft show. I shared the booth with my friend Kelly(the cutie in the pic) of Megan's Musings & we had such a blast! It was a first for both of us & we can't wait to do it again.

I'll be listing my leftover merchandise in my etsy shop this week & Kelly has her extra bows up on facebook ;)

I am going to use my blog to keep an update on custom orders from here out. I am so thrilled with all the requests I've gotten recently, and look forward to seeing all your little cutie pies in their pinkebody gear :)

Ok, here goes....

Kristen ~ crossover tee, recycled footies & elastic repair on 3 diapers ~ cut out

Allison (the fancy one) ~ 18 month reversible dress w/bloomers, Apron knot dress size 8, boyish embellish burp cloths ~ cut out

Aimee~ 2 twirl skirts to match "just peachy"

Alison (TM) ~ twirl skirt to match Octo tank

Issa ~ Raspberry Ginseng Sydney jacket size 8, seahorse tee & crab tee

Fabriholic's Will

2010-03-09T07:49:00.000-08:00

Being of sound, mind, and body, I _____________ do hereby record my last will and testament, knowing that _____________, my ______________ (husband, sister, daughter, etc.) has no appreciation of, or in some instances, knowledge of my extensive fabric collection deposited throughout the house.
Knowing that also _____________ has contacted the local thrift store, should I precede him or her to the great fabric shop in the sky, to pick up or dispose of the aforementioned collection.
Therefore, I do will this collection and all collections related to it, to my dear fabric preservationist ______________. It is my wish that she upon hearing of my death, and the inability to take it with me, come to my house and stack my entire collection in my studio.
She should then purchase refreshments for all of my friends and they shall gather in that room and remember me, then peacefully divide the collection amongst themselves.
Be forewarned, I will be hovering over this process! The rest of my worldly possessions (cars, stocks, house, etc.) can go to those who do not understand this event.
Signed __________________
Date____________

Let's Do This!!

2010-02-07T06:33:00.000-08:00

What a busy month February is turning out to be! Not only is there a stash game going on over at sewingmamas, there is an ebay listing challenge at herecomesthestork. PLUS, I'm testing a new knitting pattern for my friend Lynne.

So far, I have been very productive! I've finished 2 knitting projects ~ a fish hat for one of the hubby's friends & a pair of longies for Lala.

I've also been productive in the sewing department. I've finished a custom hooded dress and a horse themed raglan tee for my oldest daughter.

There are several other projects in the works that just need finishing touches (including something for ME, yay), but those will be finished up before the Super Bowl tonight.

I finally listed the embroidery accessories I don't need/use or had duplicates of on ebay and 2 of them sold within 24 hours!! If that isn't motivation, I don't know what is!

AND, in case anyone is wondering, my kids ARE all fed & the house is clean (minus my stuff to list pile by the computer). I can't say they don't spend some days in their pj's, but it's too cold to go play outside anyways ;)

Not too shabby for the first week, eh?

Now that it's over

2009-12-27T08:54:00.000-08:00

I guess it's safe to share pics of some of the gifts I made this year :)

Not sure if I've mentioned it or not, but I started knitting this year & I am completely addicted. Living in Illinois, I had a few hat requests this year.

The above fish hat belongs to the hubby & I cannot believe the amount of requests I've had for these things now!!

An ear flap hat for my stepdad.

Beret & dropstitch scarf set for Grandma D.
Hooters pj's for the eldest man child.
Mario tee for the youngest man child.
Hudson Hat in Harley colors for my Pops.
Hudson Hat in "rainbow" for the eldest girl child. She designed it herself :)

We haven't had our Christmas with the inlaws yet, so I have a few more gifts to share next week.
I also ran out of knitting time & gave my mom an IOU. Luckily she's crafty & very understanding. I should have a cowl & some fingerless gloves finished up for her in the next week or so.

The Winners Are In!!!

2009-12-17T09:47:00.000-08:00

The girls just drew names for my etsy prize giveaway and the winners are.....

Girl prize - zacatecas
Boy prize - JessAnnT
Mama prize - elphaba71

I will be contacting you all in a bit to get shipping info & will get them all in the mail tomorrow :)

And, random.org chose comment #5 Congrats Snarky Mom!! I'll email you in a bit to get your address as well.

It's giveaway time!

2009-12-15T06:52:00.001-08:00

Want to win this cute little monster? All you have to do is leave a comment & tell me what your favorite Christmas ornament is & why :)

Today is also the last day to earn an entry into my etsy giveaway. You can still earn an entry until 11:59pm pacific time with each single item purchased. I will be listing a few new things throughout the day as well.

Names will be drawn for each giveaway on Thursday morning :)

Last Day

2009-12-10T10:19:00.000-08:00

To get that special letter from Santa!! AND, they're 15% off as well :-)
You could also get one from Rudolph, Frosty or Mrs. Claus as well!!

Custom Updates

2009-12-04T07:23:00.000-08:00

I'm going to start keeping track here of the progress of my custom orders.

These will be in the mail tomorrow:

Maddielayne-3 Christmas stockings

GoJagsWins-Twirl skirt & the tee you set me to match

emric2278-Thing 1 & Thing 2 Crossover Set

I'll get pics up in the am, so you can peek if you want to ;-) I will also be posting another giveaway tomorrow.

Miss Fancy, your coasters will be on the way Monday.

I greatly appreciate your business & look forward to working with you all again next year.

Next year, I'm going to start taking Tuesdays off & will not even be turning the computer on that day, at least that's the plan.

Etsy Christmas Prize Package Drawing

2009-11-22T09:44:00.000-08:00

I figured it was probably time to give you a little hint at what will be included in my etsy drawing prize packages. I'm not going to tell everything, but I will give you a couple hints ;-)

In case you have no clue what I'm talking about, I am going to give away 3 wonderful prize packages in December. Each item in the package will be hand made by me. Some are items similar to things I have stocked & some will be complete surprises!! Every single item you purchase from my etsy shop between now & December 15th will get you one entry into the drawing. Winners will be posted here on December 17th, items will ship via UPS to guarantee Christmas delivery!!

Each prize package will come to in a very festive package, you may want to hang with care.

The mama package will be sure to get the recipient cooking in style.

The boys prize package will bring out the monster in your little man (not the scary kind).

The girls prize package goes perfect with a spot of tea & also includes a little something to hang from the tree.

These are just a few little hints, I may post teasers pics between now & then, so stay tuned.

Custom listings count as well, so if you see something listed, but it's not your color/theme, feel free to contact me, I may just have what you're looking for :-)

Apples & Fabric

2009-11-10T07:22:00.000-08:00

My inlaws live on a farm & have a wonderful fruit tree orchard behind their house. Every year, at least one tree protests & refuses to produce any fruit, well this year, the apple trees made up for the others shortcomings.

Yesterday was a day of apple baking & I must say, the Apple Peeler, Corer, Slicer from Pampered Chef is the probably the best invention EVER! It saved me hours of peeling & slicing apples for the abundance of pies we made yesterday. It takes about 30 seconds to finish an apple & the little one's thrilled that they could help crank the handle.

My house smells scrumptious & we now have pies stocked for Thanksgiving, Christmas & a few just because occasions. We also have enough applesauce to last until next harvest! I am quite happy to announce that I finally found something to use those itty bitty cookie cutters that the kids HAD to have last year! They are the perfect size to use on the leftover crust pieces for pie decor.

I still have a basket of apples if anyone has a great apple recipe, please share it.

In the midst of my baking, I was pleasantly surprised to have the UPS man show up with a box of fabric that I ordered on Friday!! I guess 3 day select counts weekend days now as well :-) There is nothing better than a stack of beautiful fabrics fresh off the bolt. Swoon.
The Moda figgy pudding will become a quilt for us & perhaps a dress or two, if I decide to share.
The Lantern Bloom is mostly mine & will shortly become a mama skirt. The girls already have dresses from this line, so now it's my turn. I also have some scraps saved from my last batch & will more than likely transform them into a quilt as well.
I also got a bunch of Michael Miller's Christmas line as well, but the pink was turning almost blindingly neon with the flash (stupid cloudy days). Those are for custom orders, which I will post more about in a few days.

And the winner is

2009-10-25T18:59:00.000-07:00

Jessica!!

Thanks for all the input ladies, I greatly appreciate it & have lots of new stuff in the works :-)

Opinions = Oven Mitts

2009-10-22T12:19:00.001-07:00

Yes, you read that right & no I have not lost it. It's giveaway time & all you have to do is post a comment here telling me what handmade gift items you'd like to see in my etsy shop. Got a special theme or color scheme in mind, go ahead & post that too. I will choose a winner randomly on Sunday evening.

This is just the first of several giveaways I'll be having this holiday season, so keep your eyes open for the next blogaway. I'm also holding a fabulous giveaway in my etsy shop. For every item purchased from my etsy shop from today until December 15th, you're name will be put into a drawing for one of three handmade prize packages!! More details will be coming soon on what is included in the prize packages, but there will be one each for boys, girls & mamas!!

Major Reconstruction

2009-10-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

I know I've been MIA for awhile, but I've been working my tail off trying to build up some inventory for my online shops. I've also started homeschooling our 2 oldest daughters, it's just preschool, but we are all having so much fun & C is even starting to recognize words!!

Babycakes is 5 months old already & is such a joy. She is the sweetest little thing & by far the easiest of the 3 (or maybe I've just mellowed out a bit more lol).

From now until mid December, I will be stocking my etsy shop like mad, so be sure to keep checking back. I've got lots of great gift items in the works, as well as embroidered holiday gear for the kiddos.

After the holidays, I will be focusing on stocking cloth diapers & woolies.

I'll be cleaning up my blog this week & holding a giveaway, so stay tuned :-)

I'm Back!

2009-07-08T11:43:00.000-07:00

Wow, have the last 7 weeks flown by! I can't believe the baby is almost 2 months old, it just doesn't seem possible. I've still been sewing like crazy, just haven't had much time to post. Now that E is somewhat on a schedule, I should be able to update on a regular basis. Yay!

Here's a few things I've been working on, as well as planning a fall line for my etsy shop.

First, is this adorable patchy Dr. Seuss set that was a custom order. I just love how it turned out, but it used up the last of my beloved yardage, sigh. I plan to use the few scraps I have left to eventually make myself a quilt.
Next, is this cute little newborn romper made to match an apron knot dress I made awhile back for Miss Lucy's big sis.
Also for baby Lucy, this was made from a pottery barn crib skirt! I just adore it & cannot wait to see modeled pics ;)
This is a very belated baby gift for Miss Charlotte. Hopefully, she'll be able to wear it a few times before it's too small.
These newborn gowns are my latest addiction, I will be adding several of them to my etsy shop this weekend, it both boy & girl prints, so be sure to check out the shop if you're interested, they will each include a matching beanie hat.

I've also been making more cloth diapers for our wee one. I am completely hooked on these & I blame you Kristen :-)

Catching Up

2009-05-13T11:45:00.000-07:00

A couple custom items for a friends daughter

Fitted Diaper Stash for Ella

Items I sent out for a Baby Swap on Sewingmamas

Goodies I got back from the Baby Swap
Only 2 more days till baby, so it may be awhile until I update again <3

Only 3 Weeks Left!!!

2009-04-23T09:08:00.000-07:00

Until I will be mommy to 3, well 5 really, but I can only take credit for 3 of them.

This pregnancy has FLOWN by & I must admit that I am NOT ready for Ella's arrival yet. There is still so much that has to be done & so many projects I want/need to finish first.

I've had a nasty cold for the last week & a half that put me out of commission for a few days, so now I have to play catch up on top of the things that were already planned.

This weekend, I will post some pics of the projects we've been working on, lots of painting & sewing been going on & an attempt at knitting that was less than successful.

Stash Game day 2 ~ Chickadees

2009-04-02T16:15:00.000-07:00

I spent the better part of yesterday cutting out several items for my stash game sewing. I decided it was finally time to cut into my beloved chickadee fabric. I wish I had more, but I love how everything has turned out so far.

I made 2 matching Olivia dresses for Cassidy & Sophia. Cassidy had one on before I had a chance to finish the hems lol. I did eventually get her to take it off long enough to finish it up.

Then, I just had to make another pair of undies. I just love how simply & comfy (according to Cassidy) these are. It's the That*Darn*Kat pattern, you can get it here in her etsy shop :-) It's a wonderful pattern to use up your scraps on!
Last, but surely not least is another fitted diaper for baby Ella. I am becoming addicted to making these, I especially love the bamboo fabrics I'm using for the inside layers. Miss Ella is going to have one pampered little tushie <3

Let the Stash Game Begin!

2009-03-31T16:28:00.000-07:00

Starting tomorrow, there will be a stash game in progress on sewingmamas. I'm super excited to join in on this one, because I NEED to make a newborn diaper stash for baby Ella. I also need to work on a spring & summer wardrobe for Cassidy & Sophia as well as nursing essentials for myself. A diaper bag would be nice too, but I'm not going to push it lol.

I have spent the last week tracing patterns & organizing the fabrics I plan to use & I am ready to get started. I even plan to cut into some of the yummy knits I've been hording for the past couple years.

I've already made a few things to practice new patterns, including this recon of a Gymbo blanket! I can't believe how much I was able to squeeze out of it. There was also another pair of undies, but Cassidy grabbed them as soon as they were finished, so no pic. (a 3 piece newborn outfit, diaper, pair of nursing pads & 2 undies!)

I made this from the latest kids edition of Ottobre magazine. I was VERY intimidated by these patterns for awhile, I'm so glad I finally took the plunge, it was not nearly as bad as I had made it out to be.

Lots more to come between now & the 12th, so stay tuned :-)

Thing 1 & Thing 2

2009-03-10T09:30:00.001-07:00

Dr. Seuss Twin Sets
Originally uploaded by pinkebody

How cute are these girls?

When I was asked to create these sets, I was absolutely thrilled. Dr. Seuss is my all time favorite & I had so much fun working on these. I've got about 8 hours invested in each set & it was worth EVERY minute! Especially after seeing the joy in these adorable little faces.

Custom designers wanted

2009-02-17T08:35:00.000-08:00

Are you a clickin' mom?

2009-02-03T10:01:00.000-08:00

If not, now is the time to join! During the month of February, receive 10% off your subscription when you use the code FRIEND at checkout.

Clickin mom's is a great site for those of us that are finally going to learn to use the fancy camera we just "had" to have, & is also a great place to improve on the skills you already DO have.

Click the banner to check out this fabulous site.

Team Spirit

2009-01-25T10:25:00.000-08:00

This adorable Vida dress was a custom order for a Hawkeye loving mama I know. As soon as she asked what I could do in the teams colors, I instantly thought of the Taxi line from Timeless Treasures. I just love all the prints in the collection & was so excited to have an excuse to use them :-)

I did something a bit different with this dress & made it so it can be worn 2ways. The straps knot in the front & the back, so it's like having 2 dresses in one. Hope you like it Gena!

Fabric Hound Giveaway!

2009-01-23T08:16:00.000-08:00

Yay, One of my favorite online shops is having a goody giveaway!

You can check it out here or click the free stoffe button in my sidebar.

National Bankruptcy Day is Coming

2009-01-14T08:33:00.000-08:00

And I realize that some of you have no idea what I'm talking about or what can be done about it. Patty of ModKidsBoutique has written a much better post than I could have written, so I'm going to direct you there to read more on the subject. She has included some great links to get our voices heard!

I have written my Senator & Congressman, tho I did not like the response I received from good old Dick Durbin. Hopefully, if enough people voice their opinion, these big wig political types (that have no concept of what it's like to be a stay at home mom trying to make some extra $$ to pay for things such as diapers & food) will take another look at the terrible way this law is written.

Now, I am ALL for protecting our children & fully agree that something needs to be done to keep the lead levels down, but hurting the small businesses that ARE making safer toys is not the answer.

A few fancy things

2009-01-09T11:16:00.000-08:00

My friend Allison sent me a couple dresses to recon as well as a sheet & a table runner to "surprise her" with a dress or two. Here's what I came up with, as well as a little surprise for her :) She had mentioned she needed new oven mitts, so I made her a mis-matched pair.

Hope you like everything Miss Fancy Pants.

Better late than never

2009-01-03T12:18:00.000-08:00

Here's a few more Christmas gifts I made. Our last get together was on New Years Day. I, of course, procrastinated, so I was up till 3 am finishing up gifts. I didn't take pics of everything, but managed to finish 6 pair of fleece pj pants, 2 fleece scarfs, 2 purses, 1 appliqued sweatshirt & 1 lonely dollop on New Years eve. Not too shabby, but I've decided to start working on Christmas gifts in February this year, to avoid the last minute rush.

Sweatshirt for BIL
purse for SIL
for other SIL
Coasters for mom
Coasters for MIL
And a lonely dollop of poo for my nephew Brett lol. I bought this book & my boys decided I just HAD to make it for their older cousin. My 2 younger nephews have each requested one for their bdays this year. I had no idea a dollop of poo would make such a great gift!

Gifts Galore

2008-12-18T13:58:00.000-08:00

Here's a few gifts I've been working on the last few days. I've got a lot more to do, just wanted to post a few pics before I get back to work.

I made a few pot holders to practice hand stitching the binding before I tackle my first quilt. I was so intimidated at first, but it's not nearly as bad as I had expected it to be, it's actually quite relaxing :)

Coasters for Nana

Coasters for Gpa & Gma
Karen's apron & oven mitt
MIL's set
Grandma H's set
Mom's set
Mom's quilt top (my first quilt. . . I'm hooked!)

My mom rocks!

2008-12-11T14:31:00.000-08:00

I got 2 early Christmas presents today!

A walking foot & a plus hoop for my embroidery machine. I am so excited & cannot wait to test them out.

I'll post pics later, right now we're heading to my inlaws to watch the Bears game, because we don't have a dish & don't get the NFL channel :-(

Name Pillows

2008-12-07T14:13:00.001-08:00

A few more to cross off the to do list :)

More done

2008-12-06T12:51:00.001-08:00

Tho, they were not on the list, ooops!

My mom bought a kit to make a fabric book back in July & I finally got around to it today :)
It's keeping the kids out of my hair so I can work on projects that ARE on my list.

I also made a sweat band for my buddy Andy's hard hat. He brought some Bears fabric over a few months ago & I figure I've looked at it long enough, I may as well sew it up for him.

Sorry it took so long Andy. Hopefully it was worth the wait.

2 more finished

2008-12-05T07:43:00.000-08:00

I finished Robbie & Ethan's fleece blankets.

I plan on sewing all weekend (hopefully the kids will cooperate).

I have a few custom orders thrown in the mix, but should still get all my gift items finished in time.

My Insul-bright is supposed to arrive on Monday & then I can get started on all the hot pads & oven mitts.

I want to get all the pj pants cut out so I can put them together in assembly line fashion. If I don't do it this way, I fear I may run out of enthusiasm since I have like 250 pair to make this year.

I'm saving the dolls & quilts for last as they require the most detail & time. I don't want to worry about having other projects to finish & not give them the attention they deserve.

Secret Sis gift

2008-11-29T09:33:00.000-08:00

This is just the hand made part of the gift that will be on it's way Monday. Can anyone guess who it's going to?

Accountability

2008-11-23T08:53:00.000-08:00

So much to do, so little time left. Eeek!!

Why do I always put things off till the last minute? I'm making my New Years resolution now to stop doing that. I aggravate myself in doing this & can only imagine what my family feels about my frantic last minute dashes. Sorry guys!

Since, my family doesn't read this blog, I'm going to make myself a list of gifts that need to be finished, er started & post picture updates as I finish them. I'm doing it this way, because every time I write myself a note, it disappears (seems we really do have paper swiping fairies in this house).

Secret Sis gift FINISHED
Nicole-name pillow FINISHED
Julia-name pillow FINISHED
Sam-name pillow FINISHED
Erik-pj's CUT OUT, monsters, scarf FINISHED
Scott-pj's CUT OUT, mosters, scarf FINISHED
Brett -pj's, scarf
Rob -pj's, t-shirt, fleece tie blanketFINISHED, scarf FINISHED mr. t doll (hey, he asked for one)
Ethan - pj's, t-shirt, fleece tie blanketFINISHED, monster doll, scarf FINISHED
Paul -pj's, t-shirt
MIL - wall quilt, oven mitts FINISHED/hot pads, tumbled tile coasters
Mom - Christmas Quilt, oven mitts FINISHED /hot pads, tumbled tile coasters
Cassidy - Quiet book, new baby doll, doll clothes, dress up clothes
Sophia - Quiet book, patchwork balls & blocks & a new baby doll (or two)
Nana - tumbled tile coasters FINISHED, movie night gift basketFINISHED
Great Grandma H -oven mitts FINISHED/hot pads, soup mix basket FINISHED
Pops - t-shirt
Karen - apron, oven mitts FINISHED (or maybe just coal)
Josh - name pillow & t-shirt
Gma & Gpa - tumbled tile coaster FINISHED, soup basket FINISHED

All the store bought gifts are wrapped & under the tree, so aside from cooking Thanksgiving dinner on Friday, I have no excuses & a month to get these finished.

Wish me luck! That sure didn't seem like much before I typed it out.

Happy Halloween!!

2008-11-01T07:22:00.000-07:00

M.I.A.

2008-10-21T10:18:00.000-07:00

Has it really been 5 weeks since my last post?! Please forgive me for taking so long to update, I have a valid excuse at least..................I'm 10 weeks pregnant!! Morning sickness, nak all day sickness has reared it's ugly head & I have not done much of anything here recently. Now that I am becoming a bit more accustomed to it, I am slowly getting back in the swing of things.

I have a couple custom orders that I need to finish up (hopefully today) and then my holiday sets are next in line. I have had them planned out for months & was hoping to really get a jump on them this year, but it just didn't happen that way.

I promise to update more often & not let 5 weeks pass between posts again.

C is for.......................

2008-09-11T09:11:00.000-07:00

Christmas!!

Yes, I realize it is only September, but I have already started my Christmas sewing. I purchased a few different books for some new patterns & gift ideas, but this one is my favorite, by far. I want to make everything in this book for myself as well as gift giving.

B is for.........

2008-09-01T13:37:00.000-07:00

Birthday gifts. A friends daughter is celebrating her second birthday today, so I made her a few gifts. I used fabric from Moda's Five Funky Monkey's line for the outfit & my favorite Ginger Blossom print for the dolls dress. I have no embroidery floss on hand, so her face was hand drawn with sharpies :-)

I made the doll from the Black Apple pattern & will be making several more. I promised my girls, they would each get one tonight if they are on their best behavior at the party this afternoon.

Six Flags

2008-08-26T05:08:00.001-07:00

I know I said I was going to keep this a sewing/craft related blog, but I just had to share these pics from Sunday. We took the family to Six Flags Great America & had such a wonderful time. My brother in law & his family came with us & the kids all had a blast (and slept like rocks that night).

Monkeys & Elmo & Ruffles, Oh My!

2008-08-25T12:05:00.000-07:00

I started working on the kids fall/winter stuff this weekend. So far I have completed 6 ruffly pj bottoms for the girls. Of course, they had to match so nobody would fight :-) I just need to find some coordinating knits for matching tops (which I'm sure I have somewhere in my stash).

I'm loving how these turned out. There are days the girls just don't want to get out of their pj's, so at least now they won't look like they just rolled outta bed.

A is for.........................

2008-08-23T10:58:00.000-07:00

Addiction

Yep, I said it. Addiction.

With all the beautiful fabrics, notions & patterns available it's very easy for a hobby to become an addiction. If you're anything like me (and I know most of my fellow seamstresses are) you have quite the collection of goodies to work with.

At the moment, my main addiction is patterns. I already have hundreds of yards of fabric that I *could* be creating with, I just need to take that plunge & cut into it already.

Some of the fabric in my collection has become highly sought after & hard to find, making it that much harder to make that cut....seriously, it's painful to even think about it.

What if I don't like the way it turns out?

What if I find a pattern down the road that would suite the fabric better? When you begin thinking like this, that is when you truly know your hobby is not a hobby anymore, but an addiction.

I've come to the realization that If I don't start using these glorious fabrics for their intended purpose soon, I will be forced to part with them (not by my choice).

So, what's a girl to do? Find the coolest patterns she possibly can to let the true beauty of the fabric shine thru. How do you do that, you may ask? Why, you simply get yourself a subscription to Ottobre magazine. This, my friends will not only inspire you to cut into your beloved fabric, but to do so as often as possible.

I got my first issue the other day & have been pouring over its brilliance every chance I get. Starting Monday, I will begin my Ottobre sewing, moving next to Farbenmix , most of which do come translated into english. A great place to buy both Ottobre & Farbenmix is Sewzannes.

Happy sewing :-)

Some motivational blogging

2008-08-22T08:34:00.001-07:00

I've been very bad about keeping up with this blog, so I'm going to copy off a few blogging buddies & start some A-Z posting.

I'm going to try to make each post sewing or craft related, but can't promise anything. I've been in an unmotivated slump lately, so hopefully this will challenge me & help get my creative juices flowing again & maybe inspire some of you along the way :-)

BPIE BooTique

2008-08-15T10:26:00.000-07:00

Search BPIE BOO on ebay August 11-18th.

Playing with food

2008-08-02T13:52:00.000-07:00

While blog browsing last weekend, I came across a post about Bento egg molds. I just knew my kids would LOVE them, so I bought a couple sets right away. Well, they came today & let me tell you I enjoyed making them just as much as the kids did. Here is a quick pic I was able to get before the eggs were devoured. As you can see, our car lost a tire, but overall they turned out great for our first attempt.
For more information on how to make them once you receive your molds, check here. Unless, of course you read Japanese, which I do not. A huge thank you for the wonderful directions, I would have been pretty much lost without them.

I purchase mine from bento crazy I purchased ours last Sunday & they made it all the way from a military base in Japan already!! Shipping is very reasonable as well :-)

And, we're off..........

2008-07-06T07:49:00.001-07:00

to our favorite family vacation spot......Grandpa's cabin in Minnesota!

I, of course, will be taking along my machines & a suitcase full of fabric, notions & patterns. Two weeks of nothing but sewing (and fishing) is one of the most relaxing things on the planet & a trip I look forward to all year long.

When I return (hopefully with a suitcase full of finished garments & purses) I will be opening a shop on etsy. I wanted to build up a good stock of ready to ship items before opening, and should have plenty done by the time I return.

Here's a sneak peek at what I've already finished for the shop.........see you in 2 weeks!

School of Style

2008-07-06T07:36:00.000-07:00

BPIE designs will be holding it's debut launch from July 14th-21st.

Be sure to search BPIE STYLE on ebay to see what our fabulous group of designers comes up with. We have some very talented members that are sure to become your favorites once you see their wonderful, unique styles.

Summer Sewing

2008-06-28T13:32:00.000-07:00

I'm caught up on custom orders for the moment, so I finally get a chance to sew for my own kids.

I finished these 2 dresses yesterday. It's so fulfilling when the girls actually LIKE the clothes I make them.

Strawberry Sweetheart

2008-06-26T11:53:00.001-07:00

I just listed this sweet set for the Haute Couture for Kids Summer Is...... launch. I just love how it turned out!
Click here to see the listing.

The gorgeous matching hair bows can be found by searching lilbellebowtique on ebay.

Kelly is also to thank for the fabulous photos.

Latest Addiction

2008-06-21T07:29:00.000-07:00

I have a new addiction....it's the round neck top/dress pattern that I bought from that*darn*kat
Thank you Katie for another awesome ebook!!

I've made a few for each of my girls & plan to make a bunch more in an attempt to use up my stash & raise some $$$$ in the process. The girls actually LIKE these & can hardly wait for me to get the buttons on them so they can try them on! I really like the fact that they can be layered in the fall for maximum wardrobe potential.

Here's just a couple that I've come up with so far. I have a couple that I used some beloved vintage fabrics to make, but they are in the wash, so that will be another post.

Back in the Saddle again

2008-06-01T10:49:00.000-07:00

I've been MIA a bit lately due to some personal issues, but I will be blogging again regularly soon :-)

I'm going to take a new direction here & try to make this blog creative & inspiring. I get so much inspiration from the many blogs I read & would like to try to give some as well.

I will be including links to my favorite fabric shops and sharing my creations as well as the places I draw my inspiration from.

To start off, I am going to share my favorite place for online patterns. I met the creator of this site on a forum a couple years back & it's the first place I go when I need a new pattern, thanks Kim for creating it, I taught myself to sew with the ebooks you offer YouCanMakeThis.com.

Be warned tho, it's very addictive! Make sure you set up an account so you can earn points that that you use to get FREE ebooks yay!

A day with Daddy

2008-05-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, my wonderful husband took the three older kids fishing, so I could get a little break & spend some one on one time with our youngest.

Cassidy caught a fish for the first time on her own! She's done it with help before, but this is the first time she reeled it in on her own. Her brother did take it off the hook for her, she'll have to wait a few years before she can handle that task on her own :-)

The boys had some luck too. Ethan caught this beautiful rainbow trout & Cassidy just couldn't get over how big the fishy was! She's used to bluegills, so this was something new & exciting for her.

And, just to show how crazy Rob's hair is getting, here he is! He is about the same height as me now! I'm not sure if it's due to the massive amount of hair he has, or if it was another growth spurt.

Let's Get This Party Started!

2008-05-05T05:31:00.000-07:00

Houston, We Have a Problem

2008-05-04T07:52:00.000-07:00

So, Admitting you have a problem is the first step, right? Well, I'm admitting it, tho I'm not sure it will help me in the slightest.

I am a fabric junkie. That's right, fabric. I just can't say no. I love the colors, textures & the rush that comes with finding the "perfect" print. This is the reason you can no longer find my dinning room table without a map.

I realized I needed help when I found three separate stashes of the same black & white dot fabric. I have more than a bolt of it now & each time I ordered thought I was out....ooops.

I'm going to challenge myself. I cannot purchase any more fabric until I have transformed a substantial amount of my current stash into a summer wardrobe for the kiddos. I have enough fabric, elastic, buttons, trims, thread & zippers to make myself & the kids a complete new wardrobe...yes, it's that bad.

I am also going to start using the embroidery function on my sewing machine. I've spent a small fortune on accessories for it & have only ever done a test run with it. It's time to let my baby show her full potential & hopefully make me some $$ in the process.

I started last night & have so far made:

A Dozen cloth wipes (from flannel I bought on sale last summer & had no particular plans for)

A Manatee outfit for Cassidy (from fabric leftover from a custom Sea World set)

I will have to update later with pics, because as always, the camera battery is dead when I need it.

What's to Come

2008-04-28T08:09:00.000-07:00

My kids don't cooperate when having their pictures taken & I want to come off as professional as possible when posting my designs for sale. I sent a few sets off to my friend Rachael who is also the woman behind the camera at Goody Two Shoes Photography.
I am so excited with these sneak peeks she posted & can't wait to see what else she does for my designs!

A Productive Weekend

2008-04-28T07:12:00.000-07:00

What a busy weekend we had! Saturday morning we were all up at 6 am to get ready for Ethan's baseball game. It ended up being in the low 30's so I had to stay home with the wee ones & miss yet another game. His team won 8-7 and Ethan got a hit every time he was up to bat....this is a huge progression! Not only are his skills improving, but so is his attitude. I couldn't be prouder of the little man.

Saturday afternoon was spent preparing for a small gathering in honor of Ethan's birthday. It was not technically his birthday party because several family members were tied up due to the prom, but we still had a good time. The older kids stayed outside until they could no longer spot each other in the dark & they were forced to retreat indoors for cake. They all crashed shortly after cake consumtion.

Sunday was a slightly relaxed day. I decided I was going to get some cute wipes made because I am not going to open another pack of disposable wipes. They're almost too cute for their intended use ;-) They do work great to clean up a messy yogurt covered baby tho & I was able to use up some of my small remnant pieces that were just waiting to become something useful.

With the help of our oldest Robert, I whipped up this ipod cozy out of some flannel I had left over from pj pants. Rob stood next to me & watched the entire process. He was amazed that I could make a pattern myself & have the cozy turn out the way he had described it to me. To tell you the truth, I was a bit surprised myself. Rob's been saving his money for awhile now. Originally the money was intended for a laptop, but he decided this 80GB ipod was more practical for a boy of 12 & I must say I agree.
He also was kind enough to hand down his Nano to his ipodless brother Ethan, who is beyond thrilled that Rob gave him anything.

Our little Miss Cassidy is now officially potty trained. She has not worn a diaper or pull up (even over night) for a full week now. She even gets up in the middle of the night/early am if she has to go. Hopefully Sophia will pick up quickly..... but not too quickly because I just bought a bunch of cute cloth diapers for her.

Team Renee

2008-04-22T11:15:00.001-07:00

">Team Renee listings on Ebay now!

A Sweet Reminder

2008-04-21T15:04:00.000-07:00

....to stop & smell the flowers. Not that Cassidy actually stopped to have her pic taken, but at least she slowed down enough that I could focus.

A huge thank you to Becky
for turning my mediocre attempt at photography into something beautiful.

Taking the plunge

2008-04-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

For months now I have been toying with the idea of cloth diapering. With the help of a fabulous sale on blueberry diapers, I've decided to wait no longer.

I have spent way too much time this afternoon painstakingly choosing a variety of diapers & the needed accessories to get started. As I type this, I am counting down the minutes until the start of the sale so I can place my order.....I feel a new addiction starting.

Pretty much everything there is to know about me

2008-04-09T08:18:00.001-07:00

April is my name, but my good friends & brothers call me Api.

Blue is my all time favorite color.

Cassidy is my free spirited, highly independent 3 year old.

Driving is something I don't do.

Ethan is my big hearted, frog loving, baseball playing, almost 11 year old & my favorite wii bowling buddy.

Fabric is my biggest addiction & I can't get enough of it.

Grandpa's Cabin in Minnesota is our favorite family vacation spot.

Homeschooling is something we just started with our girls.

Ice Cream may quite possibly be the greatest invention ever.

Jumping in Puddles is something you are never too old to do.

Kids can make you crazy & humble at the same time.

Love is the one thing you can never give/receive too much of.

Monkey's are what my children are most days.

Nap time....why is it never my turn?

Oopsy is never a good word to hear from your 3 year old in another other room.

Paul is my husband, best friend & soul mate.

Quiet is what this place never is, but that's OK.

Robert is my artistic, football playing, Green Day loving, 12 year old tough guy with a heart of gold.

Sophia is my almost 2 year old diva, sweetheart, cuddlebug, who's favorite past time is singing "itsy bitsy spider".

Time is something there is never enough of.

Uncles.......how can the kids have so many & yet never see them?

Value is not measured by what you have, but what you do with it.

Wii boxing is one of the best workouts ever!

Xrays are never ending with four children.

Years seem to fly by.

Zoo's are a family favorite. Our favorite is the one in Omaha.

Spring has Sprung!

2008-04-06T07:41:00.000-07:00

It's finally that time of year again when the kids can run wild & burn off their pent up winter energy. I swear they store it up during the indoor months, because their feet did not stop moving until their little heads hit the pillow last night.

Aside from the major "I don't want to leave the park" meltdowns it was a really fun day. I will have to take my camera on todays outing because the pics taken with my camera phone sucked.