little bits & bags

After I rearranged the house and put the craft room downstairs, we did a little rearranging of the playroom as well.  We happily found a new place for the puppet tree.  There were a few sets of little bits and pieces that needed a home - so they found one there too.

One bag holds the Toy Story set, one bag holds the Beauty & the Beast set, and one bag holds all our little Finger Puppets.

I serged the edges of the bag, folded over the top, and added a ribbon for a drawstring.  Yay for organization!!!

abcs and 123s

These fabric letters come in a little yellow bag - perfect for playing with anywhere! Numbers are also included.
Other possible variations on the set: different font, lower case, magnets inside, velcro for use on a feltboard... what would you do with fabric letters?

i spy a birthday present

We have a couple birthday parties coming up in the next few weeks.

One little girl saw some shirts her mom made at one of my parties and said "where's mine mommy?!!" which in my mind is code for "just wait til your birthday, sweetie!"

I also made one I SPY pillow for a Cubs fan we know, and another one for my niece.
Thanks Jen, for the tutorial. It went together SO easily!

Now if only I had Father's Day figured out.....???!!!!

rock a bye baby

Check out this adorable doll cradle. It was one of my daughter's birthday presents. And you betcha - it was handmade by her uncle. Doesn't he rock?? (he'll make you one for a small fee. contact me for details. His business is called Rustic Ridge Woodworking.)

Here it is in her bedroom, photographed with the quilt from her bed. (My mom made her that tulip quilt before she was born.)
I covered the foam mattress in a dark blue swirly fabric. Why? Because I love blue and had a bunch of it in my stash, and I looooove the look of blue and white.

Here is one of her dolls in the bed, covered in a little piece of fleece. I did stitch her name on the little pillow, but these details are just temporary. I'm planning on something bigger and better. Something classier, for sure!

My mom said she thinks she has another tulip square. I know the perfect home for it!!!!

ocean expansion

Well, I originally made a fishing set for my son for his birthday. My friend has her own magnetic fishing pole, but had an even better idea. Why not expand the ocean? There's more than fish, right???!

So I started with a couple of starfish.


Every ocean needs a shark or two, right? I was playing around with the design a little. I can't decide which one I like better. I'm guessing the one on top will hold up a little better, but I love the more realistic teeth on the one on the bottom!

Add a pair of octopuses (octopi, octopods - whatever plural you prefer)...
Two jellyfish...

And finish off the set with a few fish. I couldn't resist. They're so bright and colorful and easy to do.

I think her boys will love them! Happy fishing!!

Now off to the store for more magnets... time to expand my son's ocean collection, too! I'm thinking I might need to make another batch for ArtFire... the only problem is the fishing pole. Hmmmm... we'll see.

custom princess, pt 2

You may remember my niece's adorable princess bedroom - princess pillow, princess quilt - well, this is the latest addition to her princess collection. (We're not quite out of fabric yet, so watch out - more may be coming!)

It is a bucket hat, complete with velcro chin strap. The brim of the hat is three layers - the crown fabric is repeated on the top and bottom layers, but the middle layer is pink, white and silver swirly stars.

The other little darling? She's getting a new toy!

I tried out a slightly smaller block at her mom's request. I think I may have to stick with the new size! I also added a new fabric - it's white with little grippy dots on it. I bought it once thinking I was going to try and make a few booties. That didn't happen. But I think it is another great texture to add for the baby to play with. It also seemed to work out well with the polka dot ribbon, don't you think?

Her baptism is coming up too.

So I've put together the perfect combo - a hooded towel with a rainbow on it and Noah's Ark by Jerry Pinkney.

fishing set

Check out these adorable fish! Each one of them has a small magnet sewn inside. Using your fishing pole (with ring magnet attached) you can go fishing without the bait or a boat!