A Funky New Pattern

I know we all love the Sock Monkey, but what is the Sock Monkey without all his sock friends?

Meet the Funky Bunch... Hippo, Giraffe, Elephant and Pig.

Even, Sock Monkey is included in the Pattern!  Available now on my Etsy store.

Team Gift Idea

With Paige in Cheerleading now, it is so much fun creating little gifts for her team and friends.  Their first home football game is tomorrow, so I decided to make the girls matching Tiger Waterbottles. 

The water bottles came from Wal-mart and I just used four different colored paint pens to decorate with pom poms {strategically placed over the brand of the bottle} tiger prints, their name, and Go Tigers!

Even her Coach will recieve a matching water bottle... just a little bigger.

GO TIGERS!

A few of my favorite things...

Lately, I have been drawn to products with typography on them.  Here are a few of the items I have found that I {heart}!

Numeric Canisters by Sapota

Vintage Ruber Stamps by Cavallini & Co

Numbered Bowls by Wisteria

Deep Dish Alphabet Plate by Sugarbooger

Metal Index Numbers by 7Gypsies

Typewriter Key Necklace by Buster and boo

 What great excuses to have some really cool accessories in my house and at the same time for them to help the kiddos learn their alphabet and numbers.

1st Day of School and a 25 yr old Dress

Paige started school for the very first time Monday... she is in KINDERGARTEN! I cannot believe it!

She is such a big girl now.  She is so excited about going to school and she loves her new teacher, Mrs. Parker.

 After school, I made her a special treat to celebrate her first big day!  CUPCAKES!

 Or, as Matthew calls them.. "Puccakes".  Matthew is doing well without having his sister as a playmate all day, however he is very excited when it is time to go pick Paige up from school.

Okay... now, I have to tell this story.  This beautiful dress that Paige wore on her first day of school was made by my very talented mother.  It is a BRAND NEW 25 year old dress.  How can that be??? This was the dress that I was suppose to wear on my first day of Kindergarten 25 years ago. You see... my mom started making this dress before I started school in 1985.  She did all the hand smocking and added all the teenie tiny pearls at every cross-section and then stopped.  You all know how this story goes... You start a project... set it down.. forget about it... and then 20 years later when your daughter has a baby girl... she remembers THE dress. 

{5 years ago - Paige is born}
Me: "Mom... you remember that dress you were going to make for my first day of Kindergarten?"
Mom: "Y-E-S?"
Me: "Well... you think you can finish it for Paige for her 1st day of Kindergarten."
Mom: "I think so... I have 5 years to get it finished."

{2 months before Paige starts school}
Me: "Mom... you have 2 months to get that dress done... Paige really wants to wear it on her first day of school." {Yes, I know I pulled the granddaughter card.}

{August 22, 2010 - The Sunday night before the 1st day of School}
Me: "Well... Paige starts school in the morning."
Mom: "I know! She is such a big girl!"
Me: "Did you get the dress done?"
Mom: "CRAP!"
Me: "It's okay... she can wear it to her first day of Sunday School."

{August 23, 2010 - 6:20am - 1st day of School}
Knock at the door... my dad is standing at our front door with THE dress FINISHED!  WOO HOO!
My mom stayed up till about midnight the night before and finished the dress that I was to wear on my first day of Kindergarten so my daughter could wear it on her first day of Kindergarten.  I was sooo excited.  IT is BEAUTIFUL!  I love it and so does Paige.  She wanted to wear it to bed Monday night. 

 Thanks Granny!  You're the best!

New Pattern! Quilted Nap Sack

This is probably one of my favorite designs I have done. 

These two new designs are very classic and work great for both boys and girls. 

I have made this concept in so many different variations... I just can't help myself. :)

So, go and get your copy today on my etsy site!!!

Enjoy!

speechless.

So much has gone in the past couple weeks, I don't know exactly how to title this post except that I am just speechless.  We had a wonderful visit from my grandmother and cousins from Nebraska.  The kids learned how to make sock monkeys which was so much fun! I wish they lived closer so the kids could do more things together.

Paige is starting school this coming Monday and am so excited for her and she is super excited that she finally gets to go to school!  YEAH!

She is going to be a Cheerleader this year too which is kind of exciting as well.  She keeps telling me that she is so esited {translation: excited} to be a Cheerleading!  She had her very first cheerleading practice yesterday and loved it!

Matthew won't know what to do with his sister not there to play with him all day. 
He has been going through rounds of testing to see why he continues to get hives and just found out that he may have Chronic Autoimmune Urticaria {an autoimmune disease that causes his antibodies to attack his skin and cause hives.}

So. Exciting things are going on, but then again I am speechless with my little man.  I just don't know what to think about this.. I am thankful we are finding out what is going on with him, but at the same time wish he did not have to go through all this. 

NEW! Lunch Bags Pattern

I am so excited about my latest pattern... Lunch Bags!  Now for sale on my Etsy site.

The Lunch Sack is a great replacement to the traditional brown bag. It features a ribbon closure and vinyl coated fabric for the lining for easy cleaning. I love the versitility of this bag as you can use it in place of a gift bag or gift wrap and the recipient received two gifts in one!

 The Lunch Box is superb for the kids lunch. It features a zipper closure and vinyl coated lining for easy cleanup.

It works great with the plastic lunch containers for easy food separation.  Also great for baby bottles, snacks, toys, and more!

Flat Emelie and Matt GIVEAWAY!

Go check out Pat Sloan's blog and enter my Flat Emelie and Matt Kit Giveaway!

While you are there, be sure to listen to the July 19, 2010 Radio Show and learn a little about the Moda website and Moda Bake Shop.

Listen up!

UPDATE: If you missed the show... be sure to listen the recorded version... now available on Pat Sloans's Creative Talk Radio show.
http://toginet.com/shows/creativetalkradio

Today is the day, at 4:30pm EST to be exact, I will be on the Pat Sloan Creative Talk radio show, Show 23! 

I am very excited to be chatting with her {maybe a little nervous too}.  Anyway... be sure to listen!

Ways to listen...
LIVE at 4:30 PM EST or Recorded Show at http://toginet.com/shows/creativetalkradio/
iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/creative-talk-radio/id351680489

Miss Print's Giveaway

You don't want to miss these fabulous giveaways going on over at Miss Print's blog!  The talented Kaye Prince is celebrating her Two-Year Blogiversary... HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY!

I will be sending one lucky winner my first pattern, Rags to Ruffles. AND the fabric to make it.  One charm pack and mini honey bun from the Aviary collection by 3 Sisters for Moda.

So, go now and leave a comment with Miss Print on the July 17th post! 

Pat Sloan's Creative Talk Radio

Mark your calendars and listen to the Pat Sloan's Creative Talk Radio on Monday, July 19, 2010 at 4:30pm EST

WHY?

I have been invited to talk about the Moda Bake Shop!

Plus you don't want to miss out on my giveaway that will be hosted on Pat Sloan's blog.

If you miss the Live show, you can download the recorded show here.  She is also on iTunes so you can subscribe and listen anytime you want.

Be sure to tune in and listen!  It's going to be great!

First of many... by Paige.

Writing her name for the first time....

 Sewing her first plastic canvas...

 Weaving her first pot holder...

What's next?  A quilt maybe?

My First Pattern!

I have created my very first pattern and it is for sale now on Etsy!  A Ruffled Tank and Raggy Flip Flops and Hair Bow... Rags to Ruffles.

For an added bonus, here is my free tutorial for some scrappy flip flops and hair bows. 

Supply List:

1 Moda Honey Bun
1 Pair of plain colored flip flops
2 Hair Rubber bands
Scissors
Tape Measure


Instructions:

Step One:
Cut 52 strips measuring 1 ½” x 6”. 32 for flip flops and 20 for hair rubber bands.

Step Two:
Tie a double knot around the top part of the flip flop… Repeat this so you have 8 ties on each side.
Please note: depending on the size of your shoes, you may need more or less strips.

Step Three:
Repeat these same steps for the hair bows except tie the knots on a hair rubber band. You will need about 10 strips for each rubber band. Scrunch them all to one side of the rubber band, this will allow you to tie off the hair and keep all the tied strips at the top of the hair.

Step Four:
Create matching shoes and Hair bows for every outfit!

Free tutorial is also included as a bonus project in the pattern.

Stay tuned for more to come!