Crafty me

Is this thing on?

2009-03-08T13:14:00.002-04:00

Ummmm..... I think I forgot I had this blog. I haven't updated it in nine-ish months. I think that may be a record even for me.

Of course I've been making things this whole time. Still selling here and there on HC and Etsy. I really am going to get it all moved over to etsy in the near future. I LOVE making things and can not possibly keep or gift all the different things I like to make, so I still want an outlet... I just don't want the politics and drama that come along with HC. So, there ya go.

I am not 100% sure where my camera is right now, but I have bunches of pictures on it that could be loaded on here. Hopefully that won't take another nine months. ;)

Working Hard or Hardly Working?

2008-07-06T13:01:00.003-04:00

I am going to go with the first one. Usually. Occasionally the second, though.

I've debuted a new product.... hair pins (bobby pins) for tweens, teens and women. I love them, love making them and there seems to be somewhat of a market for them. I also have been working on building up my etsy store, in hopes of someday moving off of hyenacart and into a "real" website that people find through search engines and stuff. :) A girl can dream.

Here's my etsy mini, which shows items that are in my store right now. You can see the hair pins there, since that's all I have stocked at the moment.

Update in pictures

2008-03-07T11:02:00.003-05:00

I've done a lot of creating recently, although not too much blogging. Here's some pictures of things that I have done in the past few weeks.

Gratuitous baby pictures

2008-02-20T18:18:00.003-05:00

This is NOT something I made, but one of the most precious homemade things I've seen in quite some time. And seriously, how could I pass up a chance to let everyone see this cutie? (the baby, NOT me!)

Lisa had her son, Connor Grayson, at 8:56pm Monday night, February 18th, 2008. Congratulations, Lisa and Ken! I am so happy for you!!

Done! (almost)

2008-02-20T14:52:00.002-05:00

Ivy's outfit for Saturday if done. Well, almost. Ignore the wacky neckline on the shirt, I left the elastic I just bought in the car and I don't want to go out and get it!! It's too cold!

The shirt is a little longer than I wanted it to be. I am debating hemming it even further. It's cute on her, but the combination of the falling neckline and the guitar she insisted on holding in the pictures did not make for a good photo shoot. In fact, it made for a photo shoot that was promptly disrupted by lunch. Which is why the next picture is her Valentine's Day outfit on my dirty computer room carpet instead of the outfit on her!

Crafty Mood

2008-02-18T12:01:00.006-05:00

I've been in a crafty mood the past couple of days. Of course, I haven't been in the mood to do what I NEED to do, like finish the 120 bow wholesale order I have that is due at the end of the month. I'm just feeling the need to sew, instead. So here's what's was put on the project list yesterday:

Purse from a free pattern I got on YCMT.com
Twirly skirt for Ivy from this pattern
3/4 sleeve peasant top for Ivy from this pattern

The new outfit is for Andrea's engagement party this weekend. Can't have the flower girl showing up in a not new not mommy made outfit, now can I? Here's the fabric that is going to be used:

That's the main skirt fabric with the pink trim.

That's the skirt fabric with the fabric I am using for the shirt.

The purse, you know, the one thing that isn't on a "deadline"..... well, I finished that already. Don't worry, the pieces for Ivy's outfit are cut, just need to get to sewing tonight. Here's the purse:

And a close up of the button closure:

Tonight (maybe today if Ivy lets me) I will get busy on the outfit. And maybe some bows.

Table Runner

2008-01-22T17:02:00.000-05:00

Jessica wanted a table runner, too. She picked the fabric out and handed it over this weekend. Here's how it came out.... super easy project. It's just turned and top stitched. I would have liked to use a decorative stitch for the top stitching, but with the funky fabric, that would have looked awful. Oh well, it looks really nice this way, too. (Click on the pictures to see a bigger pic)

Christmas Gifts

2008-01-22T16:48:00.000-05:00

I wanted to make my sister Jessica an apron for Christmas. She likes to cook and I found the coolest fabric ever... Michael Miller Blue and Brown Toile Eiffel Towers. Very cool. Unfortunately, the apron thing just didn't work out. I cut the fabric upside down, so I had to ditch the idea. Luckily, I am creative enough to come up with an equally useful gift for Jess.... four place mats with four matching microfiber dishtowels. Here's the pictures she sent m, since I forgot to take them myself before Christmas.

Tomorrow night's stocking

2008-01-15T17:54:00.000-05:00

I love making things, but I am so glad to be done! I procrastinated, as is par for the course with me, but then I got really sick last night.... as in, if Nathan didn't work third shift and I wouldn't have had to wake Ivy, I would have went to the hospital sick. Feeling better today and finally got all my crafting done and posted to Wonderful World. Here's pictures to tide you over.

I am in love with making bottle caps. Here's some Valentine-ish ones. Next batch I make is going to be all retro designs. I'm psyched for that one.

Red Hearts Rainbow Dots

Pink Paisley Pink Hearts

I also made some hair accessories for the upcoming holiday. It's so funny to think that this is where it all began and it's the thing that I really make the least. All of the bows and headbands I have made lately have been for custom or wholesale orders. I just don't do it for fun any more. I've moved on, but that doesn't mean that I don't enjoy making bows or that I won't continue doing it and coming up with new things.

Pink and White Woven Headband - I love how you can make so many different effects with just four ribbons. This is the stripes.

Valentine's Heart Clippie - adorable! Ivy wore this one all afternoon, and that's saying something!

I've done a lot of sewing recently as gifts, but neglected to take pictures. Hopefully I can sneak some the next time I see the recipients. I made a pouch sling and bibs for Lisa's baby shower and placemats and kitchen towels for Jessica for Christmas.

Ivy's Christmas Dress

2007-12-06T03:38:00.000-05:00

This weekend we are going to see the Christmas play in Brecksville and to the American Legion Kids Christmas party. Soooo, of course, I had to make Ivy's dress before the festivities. It's 3:30am and I just finished. It has soooo many things wrong..... The lining in the skirt is between the netting and the outside, so the netting is against her skin. It looks nothing like the pattern.... the bodice I originally made got sewed together wrong, so I improvised. The bottom hem is all wonky. But it's a princess dress, just like Ivy wanted and I love it anyway! I want to get a big flower to put on the sash over the knot. What do you think? The sash looks a little funny in real life, but REALLY funny in these pics, I just noticed.

Ivy's Turkey Day Dress

2007-11-19T21:05:00.000-05:00

I am not really happy with this pattern. I am getting confident enough in sewing, though, that I feel like if I did this dress again, I could tweak it so I like it more. What I don't like is how it hangs so straight.... I thought each layer would be more gathered. It looks a little like a potato sack to me, but Ivy loves it. In fact, she still has it on. :)

First crocheting project

2007-11-19T21:01:00.000-05:00

I am soo proud of this hat. It is nowhere near perfect, but I just adore it. There are ears, but they are hard to see. The hat is cotton, but the ears and nose are merino wool. I am planning on making more of the actual hat (without the ears and facial features) to perfect the pattern. I don't know though.... now that I know the basic stitches, all I want to do is start new projects!!

Butterfly outfit

2007-10-18T01:02:00.000-04:00

Ivy's latest. Wide leg butterfly pants and a matching appliqued tee. Made the pants last week sometime, but finally got to the tee last night. I wanted her to wear it for story time today, so I had to go with a short sleeved top since it was in the 70s today! Mr. Eric complimented her on the pants. :)

(Yes, she still sits in her high chair. It's easier to contain her that way!!)

2007-10-18T00:58:00.000-04:00

I made this outfit for the Breast Cancer Awareness stocking that we had Tuesday at Wonderful World. Everything people listed was pink, so I tried to come up with something that could be for a little boy. This cowboy lounge set was inspired by the country song (thus, the cowboy motif) Tough by Craig Morgan. you can see the lyrics here. It makes me cry every time I hear it. There are still items available for sale and a portion of all proceeds are being donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Next twirl skirt

2007-10-17T14:58:00.000-04:00

This is the next twirl skirt I am working on. I have all the strips for the top skirt sewn together, but nothing else yet. Aren't these fabrics beautiful together?

Go Browns!

2007-10-13T09:37:00.000-04:00

This is the second twirly skirt/shirt combo that I finished for Ivy. It's a little too blue in my opinion, but that was the only football fabric I could find at JoAnn's. It has little helmets and goalposts and jerseys on it.... very cute.

Halloween Twirly Skirt and Shirt

2007-10-12T17:44:00.000-04:00

Here are a couple pictures of Ivy in her Halloween outfit/costume. Super cute out fit by day..... add a cape, broom and hat and it's a witch costume for trick or treating at night! Ta da!

This outfit is how I broke my old machine, I think. It's only three layers of cotton, but since they are all gathered, I think the old gal just had a hard time chugging through. Bad news for her, great news for me. I made a second twirl skirt and the difference in sewing is unbelievable. I know there is a learning curve, so the experience with the first helped somewhat, but I credit my quantum a great deal too. I should finish the second outfit tonight and have pics up soon!

I also bought a pattern for pants.... those are next in the project line.

Here I am!

2007-10-12T17:28:00.000-04:00

How fantastic! Another blog for me to not update!

I started this blog in hopes to have a spot to share all of my creative endeavors with.... well, whoever wants to see them. For anyone who doesn't know, I own a business called The Little Stinker Store where I retail mainly baby items. I also have hair bows and accessories there that I make myself. That's where it started.... but I get side tracked and make other things as well, so now they can have a little home on the internet as well.

Monday I bought a used Singer Quantum 7360 (that number may be totally off, I'm too lazy to go check if I'm right) and now I am sewing my heart out. That's what the majority of my projects will most likely be for awhile.