Crafting

Lately I've developed a new love for my sewing machine.  It's really quite remarkable, considering it sat untouched in our guest bedroom closet for about 5 years before ever seeing the light of day.

I think it all started when I starting 'nesting' at about 8 months pregnant.  For me, nesting meant redecorating every nook and cranny of our home, the first of which was the master bedroom overhaul.  I sewed a duvet for our bed, and then some new curtains.  Then it was some burlap cafe curtains for the kitchen, them some super cute (and cheap) window box valences made out of Styrofoam (and covered with fabric) for the playroom and sliding glass door, and then some pillow duvets for the decorative pillows in the living room.   I admit it, I was pretty proud of myself.  I will also admit that all of the above mentioned projects were accomplished using only one stitch: the zig zag.   I don't know why, but for some reason I grew quite fond of it and used it for everything.  You'd think I didn't know how to move the stitch selector dial on my machine or something.....*ahem*

Anyway, once Blake was born I moved into sewing tailored to a new audience: babies!   It would be an understatement to say I've had a lot of fun.  I'm going to photo dump a bunch of my latest and greatest creations, and then I'll come back over the next few days with some tutorials (which aren't the best, because I'm a figure-it-out-as-you-go girl that doesn't slow down enough to use pins or measuring tape or seam allowances....or take very many in-process pictures)

Ah well.  No one is perfect.

But here we go anyway!

Top L to R:  Baby bow ties and ties!  They attach to a onesie with a snap.  These were for a sweet friend who is expecting a baby boy in April (Blake's new BFF, I'm pretty sure) but Blake has also sported a few recently that I'll share soon.  Pacifier bib.  Ahh, how I love these.  We were always losing Blake's pacifier in the carseat, high chair (well, anywhere) until I whipped one of these up for him.  We attach his pacifier to the bib with a snap, and it ain't goin' nowhere.  Always works great for attaching a teething ring of any other ring toy we don't want to lose. Initial taggy:  Seriously love this!  Taggy blanket in the first initial of baby's name. 

I was messing around one night and ended up making this scrap football for Blake!  Used ribbons for the laces to make it a taggy. 

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a....TRAVEL BIB!  Seriously, such a lifesaver.  I saw something like this on Etsy and just messed around until I figured out a pattern.  It has three compartments on the back to hold utensils, a wash cloth, etc.  Then, I added a snap so it can fold up for the diaper bag!  LOVE IT so far. 

Just made this yesterday!  I'm just trying to use up some odd pieces of scrap fabric, so decided to make some different sized soft blocks for Blake.  I have a whole tutorial for this one, so I'll leave out the details.  I think Blake approves!

Much to his daddy's dismay, I've been putting Blake in baby legs recently!  I make them out of Adam's old (no longer worn) work socks.  Clearly, our little man is a DUCK!

MY FAVORITE!  Tutorial for this one coming, too, so I won't say too much :)

See??  I told you I've been having a bit of a love affair with the sewing machine.  As soon as the little one goes to bed, you know I'm digging around in my fabric bin pulling out bits and pieces to see what I can come up with. 

Luckily I have a cute, agreeable subject to test my creations on.