It Makes Me Happy!

As a crafter I often fall into the pitfall of running out of time to make all the projects I have on my list.

Occasionally a gift or two gets put to the side and I (gasp!) buy a gift from the store.

Last year when my niece got married I made a quilt for her and her husband.  I also made small lap quilts for my two new great nieces!

Unfortunately, I didn’t quite complete the detail work on one of the quilts.  I took it home with me to finish up and ship back.

Fast forward 3 months and my parents came to visit.  I intended to send the quilt back with them but we had just moved and I couldn’t find the box.

So when we visited over the holidays I had to make sure that I hand delivered the precious cargo.

She was so thrilled!  She just kept hugging the quilt and from what her mommy tells me will not sleep with any other blanket.

And that is why I make handmade gifts.  The look on their faces make me happy!

Her baby brother got one of my sock monkeys too, but we couldn’t quite catch him hugging it on camera.

Sock Owls

My newest obsession has become Sock Owls.

These are the cutest little things and so easy to work up.

If you want to try your hand at making one up check out this tutorial.  Directions and pictures are fantastic.

If you aren’t confident in your skills with a needle then you can always check out our Facebook page and order one!

Not Your Everyday Princess

Warning!!!! Today’s post is heavy with cuteness overload in the form of pictures.  Proceed at your own risk!

When I was a little girl I was a lot like other little girls.  I loved to play dress up and I pretended to be a princess.  But my friends would always tell me that I had to be the prince instead because I acted more like a boy.

Okay, I guess I may have been a bit of tomboy when it came to playtime.  But I still loved to dress up!

Growing up in the 80s I don’t remember princesses being so pink and glittery. Maybe they were but I don’t remember it.  I remember princesses like Leia in Star Wars who fought alongside the boys. She will always have a special place in my heart.

When I saw this tutorial from Stuff Susie Made for a Princess Leia Blankie, I knew I had to make it.

I have 3 girls of my own and I hope that I have always taught them that if they want to be princesses then that is fine.  But be a princess who is try to yourself.

The youngest is a little old for a blankie but she has claimed this project as her own.  She says its her new dolly.

She loves to hijack my photo shoots.

And it does my crafter’s heart good to see my work loved and appreciated.

Check out the tutorial for that special Princess lover in your life if you’d like.

Most of all keep on crafting!

Inspiration

I'm in the process of designing several projects at once.  Normally this would be an overload of the senses especially as I am finishing up my last semester of a graduate program.

So how do I get myself into such a creative blitz.   

I think it's a combination of having a new baby to create for as well as the dangerous website known as Google.  Especially image search.

I love owls.  There is just something that appeals to me about them.  I was googling images looking for possible prints to frame for the nursery when I found these images.

The colors in this one just reminded me of a quilt.  My brain went straight from there to possible patterns. 

The eyes on this one are just too cute for words.   Hmmmm possible plush toy for baby.

There are lots of owls being created in my craft space right now.  Be on the look out for the finished projects here and in our Etsy shop.

What about you?  What inspires you to create?  Is it an image, a written pattern, or something as abstract as a color?

Sock Monkeys

Ever since the addition of our new bundle of joy the Daddy of our household has been going monkey crazy.  Little Bit is Daddy's little monkey so he has been finding monkey toys and clothes every single time we go shopping.

Here she is playing with her monkey pull toy attached to her car seat.  (Notice the monkey on her little sweater.) I've also been scoping out the monkey fabrics at all my LQS's.  I might as well jump on the bandwagon, right?

Then last week I was browsing around on Pinterest and I stumbled upon lots and lots of awesome pictures of sock monkeys.  I was bit by the bug.  After playing with several different patterns and altering them to my own liking this was my result.

Meet the newest additions to our family: Cheetah, Skittles, and Pinkie

They really like the tree in our front yard.  I think they are missing home.

Now you too can give a home to a homesick sock monkey.  Trees not a requirement.

Check out our Facebook page for details on purchasing or email me.

You can also find us over on Pinterest.

Happy Crafting!