LACE BOWS

I just finished a new pair of shoes - tan + lace.

NEW SHOES

I have some new shoes to share!

 spring polka dots

 Classic gingham

 A new felt sandal

and some little crochet slippers.

NEW AUBREY'S CLOSET ITEMS

 I made this sweet, soft little sweater vest - it's approx. 24 months.

 and another pair of these felt/crochet shoes

FIRST PATTERN NOW AVAILABLE!

I took me a long time, but it's finally done and now available for sell in my etsy shop!

Goldie Locks & the Three Bears

3 LITTLE PIGS

Well, one anyways. I ran out of muslin so I could only make one of the three little pigs. I also need to get some more patterned frabric for the other two pigs clothing - so they aren't all the same.

I've also started making pattern pieces and instructions for all the dolls I'm going to make - which will be for sale in my etsy shop.

MR. FOX

I'm so excited for this latest project. I wanted to make these dolls, but making them look like my sketches was frustrating me until I got an idea. I painted this fox dolls on watercolor paper using the pattern pieces that I made then I scanned them onto the computer. Then to print them onto fabric I cut the fabric to the size of a piece of paper (8.5x11) as well as a piece of freezer paper (paper one side, wax the other). Then I ironed the freezer paper (wax down) onto the fabric and ran it through my printer. I think you have to make sure that your ink in your printer will work (or just try it).

You can buy bubble jet set and rinse for your fabric to use before and after printing to set the ink sets and you can wash it - I have yet to try it but will in the future.

 His trousers, suspenders, scarf and bowtie are all removable. 

He even has a little handkerchief!

I think in the future I'll make the image darker before printing, it's a little light here.

You can order one here on my etsy site.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Hope you've had a sweet day!

 

These are definitely not the cutest cookies I've ever made, but after the crafty day I had yesterday, I didn't feel like doing much when I made them last night!

 I've been working on Aubrey's room (once again). It seems like I've revamped it a couple times in the past year or two but moving has been a good excuse to change things up. 

It's nice to be able to remove some of the excess items from her room as they were photography props - and put them out in the garage. I'm slowly trying to create a less cluttered space, but being small it's really hard. Here's my sad attempt at a cushion for the bench - it will have to be redone when I can get an appropriate cushion!

 I had a little too much fun at the fabric store! I made the two patterned pillow cases and this kite one out of felt scraps.

 This one is my favorite. I found this adorable embroidery pattern here and it only took me an evening to do. I'm a big fan of quick projects!

 I also made 3 hot air balloons to hang from her ceiling. They are all done but I haven't figured out a great way to hang them yet. I found these really pretty lanterns at the thrift shop, and just added scraps of fabric left over from the pillows, ribbon, string and little felt baskets.

More photos to come when they are hanging!

Next project is to paint her bed. I've picked an ocean blue. I really wanted to paint her dresser too but it's easier to take the bed headboard/foot board out of the house than the dresser so I compromised with just painting the handles. I wanted to get knew handles as well, but this is a much more economical choice. I painted the handles green and they are drying as we speak - I hope they look good!
UPDATE: I just put the handles on the dresser and I love it:

It's a terrible photo, but I'm too lazy to take my camera out again!

 

Lastly - I made one more pair of felt shoes. I'm loving the bright colors, they are just in time for spring!

T-STRAP SHOES

I got a new pattern this week (not my own - you can buy it here).

I also made some labels for the inside of the shoes. I couldn't believe how easy it was!

I used this tutorial for printing onto fabric using freezer paper.

BABY MOCCASINS

I'm so happy with how these have turned out. I went on a fabric search trying to find something that was not only the right color but the right durability. When you use regular craft felt for a fringe, when cut into little pieces, it become very week and can pull off so easily. I didn't want little hands pulling at the fringe and ending up with a handful! Of course there is the option of using leather or suede but its expensive and I wanted to keep it affordable. Faux leather or vinyl isn't soft enough. I tried some fleece but they were a little too soft and not as cute. Finally I bought some 30% wool felt, but it pulled too easily as well. I was discouraged as I thought I wasn't going to be able to solve this problem. Then I had an idea - spray starch! I starched just the fringe to make it stronger and it worked! They didn't pull off and they laid flat - perfect!

IT'S BEEN BUSY

I feel like we've gotten a lot accomplished in the last week or two. There's always so many things to do and forms to fill out when you move! We finally got our California driver's license - I haven't taken a written test since I was 17! There's also the fun of getting new car plates and insurance as well as a smog test. It's all done though.

I just got my business license for photography so I'm excited to get started.

I converted our garage completely into a studio and it's all set up and ready to go.

I've never had a dedicated space to hang up all my hats and props. I've always had all my stuff tucked away and in all different rooms, so that when I needed them I would forget what I had - I'm hoping that will no longer be the case!

 

There's a local kids boutique just down the road from us that is now selling my felt shoes, so that's exciting! She requested some Valentine's shoes to display in her window - I don't think she was expecting me to drop of 7 pairs! She now has 11 pairs of my shoes in her store!

I just started making some patterns for boys (and girls) moccasins and I think they are adorable!

I just have to pic some colors and make some for real!

I have a little bit of leather scraps I might make a few out of. I might just have to buy some suede too.

NEW SHOES

I made some new shoes to sell with some felt I've found and collected over that last couple months. I hope to find a little shop close by to sell them in, but in the meantime I'm selling them for $20 each.

BONNET + SHOES

I couldn't fall asleep last night because I was designing more felt shoes in my head! This morning I woke up (early) and made these:

These are all hand-stitched.

A couple days ago I made my first bonnet from this pattern.

 A vintage inspired design.

I like it with the hair clip on it best.

THE DAY THAT WOULD NEVER END!

It seems as though the days that have so much planned in them, are the ones that go on forever!
Yesterday Aubrey and I went to a park, did some shopping, I made a lot of crafts and then finished up at the beach because it was so nice out. We then had to pick Jared up from work, which of course he was late (he never finishes on time) and had to wait outside in the car for him for almost an hour - fun times with a 3.5 year old!

 She likes to sit on our bench by our TV and pretend she's driving in a car. Here she is driving daddy & baby bear to the restaurant. If you ask her where mommy bear is - she says "shopping". She says the big one is daddy bear because he doesn't have any eye lashes - only girls have eye lashes!

 Racing teddy down the slide yesterday.

At the beach she actually took off her shoes and socks and walked on the rocks and sand - quite amazing! It hurt a lot, but she just walked slowly and said "easy, easy, easy".

The crafts I made:

 I made up this pattern for a bonnet from a photo I saw and think it will be great for newborn photos!

 I also made this hair clip that can just clip on the hat if I want to add more. I like having the option of simple still.

 Here it is as just a clip.

 I made a couple more peonies flowers, this time a brown clip.

 and a brown headband.

I came up with this summer sandal. I really like this one - it's a peep toe and sling back heel. I couldn't decide what color bow so I just did one of each for a sample.