news flash!

Breaking News: slipper gripper shrinks!

Okay, so maybe this is only news to me. I always prewash my fabrics but it never occurred to me to prewash my slipper gripper...guess I should read up on these things before jumping in, huh? 

These place mats before...

The same place mats out of the wash...

(not even dried in the dryer...just a cold delicate wash and laid out flat to dry!)

Ack.

The good thing is that my kids won't care (or even notice) the tiniest bit and the place mats still catch messes just fine. But, it's still a little disappointing to spend time on a project and then feel like you made a rookie mistake. Oh well. At least now you know to prewash your slipper gripper - don't forget!

Pin It

flickr fun!

I am the first to admit that many blogging skills elude me. Flickr is one of them.
I'm just now loading up some of my favorite shots from the blog to my photostream.
Even better, some of you are loading your photos onto the Handmade Mommy flickr group so that I can see the super cute things you make! 

Like these 15 Minute Jammy Pants made by courtiepie!
(she also has a really cute etsy shop petit lyons)

And this adorable baby boy quilt using the Your First Quilt tutorial, made by Emma.



Can you believe this is her first quilt??



And check out this precious duvet made with my quilt top/duvet tutorials made by Rockie.

I love showing off what you guys make and this is a fun way to do it! So if you've made something using one of my tutorials or something that was inspired by the little blog, feel free to add it to the flickr group. I love seeing them!

Pin It

Quick Kids' Place Mats

This is a quick little project that I've been wanting to do for a long time. During naptime today, I finally got around to it! And I got to use my slipper gripper so my place mats stay put and hopefully catch more of the mess. I've been dying to use this stuff since I found it at my local fabric store. What is slipper gripper, you ask? It looks like this and comes in 15" yardage on the bolt. Oh the many many projects I have in mind...

{Make sure to prewash your slipper gripper! To see why, check this out.}

For each place mat, cut a piece of slipper gripper measuring 13 1/2" long and cut a piece of fabric measuring 13 1/2" x 15" for the top of your place mat. You could also piece together a 13 1/2" x 15" top, like I did. There are 4 cuts shown because I made 2 place mats. 

**disclaimer: My written directions are the smart way to do it...follow the seam allowances given, not pictured. I realized the error of my ways and now you don't need to conduct your own trial & error.**

Place your slipper gripper right sides together with your top piece and stitch together around the perimeter using a 1/2" seam allowance. Leave a 3-4" gap for turning.

 I read somewhere a long time ago that running off the corners, rather than lifting your foot and turning, makes for a stronger corner. It seems to work so I always do it this way.

Clip corners, turn right side out, and push out your corners. Now press on the fabric side. I did this on high with steam and the gripper bumps didn't melt. Just don't linger in one place - move quick.

Topstitch all the way around, using a 1/4" seam allowance. To keep the grippers from getting stuck on your needle plate, lay a piece of tissue paper under the placemat, like so. When you're done, just tear the tissue paper away. Don't worry about pulling every bit off because it will all come off in the wash (I do cold/delicate and lay flat to dry).

And that's it!

Go grab some snacks!

fabrics: Michael Miller Bots N Rockets

Pin It

there's a review coming...

I don't know about you, but I've read blogs with product reviews and thought, "Hey, I would love to try out stuff and then write about it. How can I get in on this?" 

Well, I'm in on it now. Shocking.

The nice folks over at CSN stores (you know, the website that has absolutely everything from Corelle to cribs to compressors) recently contacted me about a product review and I jumped at the chance. So, in the not too distant future, I'll have some new fun stuff to chat about...which will go with the makeover of our master bedroom (including a duvet set I'm making....)! 

I'll keep you posted and hope you're having a great week!

Pin It

new adventures

 My sister is leaving for grad school halfway across the country in a couple weeks. And while I am so very very proud of her, I'm also very very sad. We've been spoiled to have her close by and my boys love her to pieces. But this will be a great adventure for her and it is where her heart longs to be.

But saying "Goodbye" and "I love you" are not enough. My machine and I have our own ways of saying "We'll miss you"...of course. And this time, it was embellished towels, courtesy of good old Martha Stewart. If you'll turn to page 131 in your trusty Encyclopedia, you'll find the how-to for these...

They're not difficult and I was really happy with the finished set.

She loved them and they will travel with her even though we can't. It makes me really happy that a part of us will be with her, as part of her everyday life, a little reminder that we're counting down to Christmas when she comes home again.

{Oh, and I'm sure my husband really appreciates the fact that I got around to cleaning our bathroom...so I could take photos for the blog.}

Pin It

Flashback Friday Guest Post

Abby over at Sew Much Ado recently asked me if I'd like to post for her Flashback Friday series and I jumped at the chance. She has some great posts in the series, funny, sweet, nostalgic, all worth checking out.

Head on over to read my guest post about this quilt...

Pin It

Bean Bags!

Inspired by Cheryl's post here (which was first inspired by these), I went bean bag crazy.

First, I made a set for each of my boys as Christmas gifts.

What? You haven't started Christmas gifts yet?

Their names are spelled out on the reverse sides...but I keep their little lives under wraps so you'll just have to use your imagination.

Then, I made a set for a friend's daughter's birthday.

I don't know if this happens to you  but sometimes I get in a Boy-Color-Rut and I just looooove having an excuse to make things in pink. 

Seriously, all that pink is irresistible.

Pin It

Never enough...

Sometimes, there is never enough time to spend with dear friends. Like the friends who came visiting from Portland (oh, beautiful Portland, you are always so far away...). We got almost a week with them and their 3 kids packed into our little house, filling it with chaos, fun, and an extra helping of love. We've been friends since college, my girlfriend and I were roommates and in each others' weddings, we've celebrated the births of babies, the joy and sorrow of moves, the mystery of getting older and feeling younger.

We made and ate a lot of food, and drank a lot of wine...
lots and lots of bbq, hand cranked ice cream, homemade snow cones, and bruschetta (our bastardized version of it anyway) using homegrown basil and cherry tomatoes picked from the yard...mmmm...

We went to the beach on a perfect day.

Took on some massive waves.

Created the Mommy Blanket (read: almost sand-free zone that we kept deflecting kids off of)
to chat and drink Diet Cokes on.

(yah, I'm the very pale one who's all covered up...
always avoiding the sun here in sunny Southern California)

And even celebrated my son's fourth birthday Pirate Style.

I knew they'd have to leave, but it's always so darn sad.
Me standing on the driveway watching them drive away, tears in my eyes, leaning into my husband, just wishing I could have a little more.
Already counting down to next time and so very grateful to have good friends.

Pin It

Just Peachy

I love when my kids beg for stuff like fresh peaches in the grocery store.

I couldn't even get a picture without a little hand grabbing for one.

And they beg to eat them before their lunch is even made.

How can I deny them beautiful fresh peaches eaten right over the sink?

That's all I've got. We've been having lots of fun and I'll post on it next week. 

But have a great weekend and enjoy the weather (and peaches, maybe)!

Pin It

Swing Swing

Inevitably, I have our camera swinging from my wrist when we're out and about. Then I don't have to dig in the bag past the wipes, diapers, sippies, and snack wrappers when the-most-adorable-moment-my-kids-have-ever-had happens (come to think of it, those happen a lot around here...). While I love my little camera, the strap it hangs from is nothing to write home about. 

But yesterday I stumbled upon this wonderful camera wrist strap tutorial from a pretty cool life (a blog written by a pretty cool girl, by the way, but you probably knew that forever ago, unlike me). Talk about nearly instant gratification! Of course, I had to whip one up right away and I am in love.

And then you reach the conundrum...how to photograph a camera strap on the only camera in the house? It hits you: a mirror. Of course!

But then you realize that the messy bed in the background isn't quite what you were going for...

Ah, this is better, in the entryway, opposite the kids' artwork wall.

The tutorial is great; easy & well written. The only thing I changed was doing 2 rows of stitching across the end instead of one. I'm just paranoid that my shoddy sewing will result in a camera falling because I didn't catch all the cording.

And if one is good, a bushel is better. 

Right?

I'm seeing stocking stuffers here. What do you think?

At least now my little point-and-shoot looks just a little cooler when it's swinging from my wrist. 

And someday (in the far far off future) when I get the DSLR of my dreams, I'm sure I'll make a strap for that, too.

Pin It