Sewing and Sewing and Sewing

I have been sewing and sewing for Emily.  It is just too fun to watch a cutting of fabric go from puzzle pieces to a cute little dress or little outfit.  To me, it's just as enjoyable as watching a seedling grow into a beautiful plant and then bloom.  I've been super busy making things for her...and in doing so, I've found that I love fabric.  Unfortunately, I bought enough fabric for about 12 outfits when she was 3-4 months old that I wasn't able to use since now she cannot fit into anything that I can make out of just one yard of fabric.  I will figure out something to do with that fabric though...especially since tonight, I'm purchasing my first embroidery/sewing machine combo.  I cannot wait to do some embroidery things and maybe even start selling them.  I found some instructions on how to make self-binding blankets, so I have been making flannet receiving blankets as well.  What a cute idea to be able to do some monogramming or applique to the blankets I make. :)  I am SO EXCITED.  Anyway...here are some of the things I've made that I have not posted.  I just thoroughly enjoy doing this.  One day, Emily will be too old to want to wear anything homemade, and she'll probalby roll her eyes at a homemade gift (like all kids do eventually) so I'm putting the work in now while she doesn't know any better. :)

Here are the letters I painted for Emily's room.  They are supposed to be Zebra print.  Some letters look better than others (hey, they're free-hand), but they now hang above Emily's baby bed. :)

My favorite...the Emily Blanket.  I made the blanket and even made my own bias tape for the binding.  I paid a lady to do the monogramming, but soon will be able to do it myself. :)

I wanted to alleviate some of the pressure on my sister's back when she held Emily.  I made this sling after seeing a lady using one in the grocery store.  It is a little awkward getting the thick fabric in the rings well, but it was a nice gesture.  I think they used it twice. :)

The first outfit I made Emily.  Until she started crawling, the elastic was a little too tight around her legs.  Now she can wear it just fine.

I planned on making this around Easter, but ran out of time, so she can wear it during the summer when it gets HOT, HOT, HOT.

I absolutley LOVE this little outfit.  Once she has a chance to wear it, I'll determine if I need to increase the size and I'll make more.  Maybe camoflauge with pink trim. :)

I've had this fabric for a while and didn't really know what I was going to do with it. So...I made it into this simple little dress.

These are the first two self-binding blankets I made.  They take about 10 minutes to actually sew. What takes the longest time is ironing the fabric and then making sure it's cut into an exact square.  I LOVE doing these.  Now that I'll have my embroidery machine, I can make personalized receiving blankets.  How fun is that going to be! :)

 

This is Emily's Easter Dress.  It also has a hat with a brim and bow that I do not have a picture of, other than the one I took with her in it.  I wish I could post it, but since my sister still doesn't want pictures of Emily on the internet, you'll just have to imagine what it looked like. :)

I made several flowers to attach to headbands that included a clip on the back as well.  That way, now that she has enough hair, she can wear the flower without the headbands too.

7 Months Later...

Emily Kay arrived on July 29th. I am smitten by her.  My sister is adament about not posting her pictures anywhere, so I can't share, even though no one is following this blog. :)  I have made several things for Emily and need a 2nd job so I can continue to buy all the cute little clothes I find for her.  Before Emily arrived, baby stuff wouldn't even catch my attention in a store, but now, every CUTE thing jumps out at me and says "I'd look so cute on Emily" or "Emily would love to have me". :)  It's kind of addicting.  Here is her first Halloween costume.  She was a flower.  I bought the pants and top at Wal-Mart and dyed it Kelly Green.  I made the bonnet with yellow fabric and the petals with pink fabric, netting and pipe cleaners.  She was so cute in it.

Then for Christmas, I made a Christmas stocking and a Santa hat.  Angela and I placed Emily in the stocking, placed the Santa hat on her head and laid her on green fabric and took pictures.  I wish I could show them, but I want to stay true to my sis's wishes about no pictures on the internet.

Angela even used the pictures for Christmas cards.  One day, Emily is going to be so mad at us for 'dressing her up'. :)

My favorite item that I've made so far for her was her "Emily Blanket".  It was an easy blanket since I cheated and bought an already quilted fabric.  I sewed a cute ribbon around the sides of it and had her name embroidered on it.  Angela said it was too cute to use, but I wanted her to.  I'll have to post a picture later as I can't get to one at the moment.

I've been making Emily some clothes too, so I'll post those when I get a chance too.

Baby Shower Weekend

The What Will It Bee shower went off without a hitch.  Friday night, my boyfriend helped me unload the truck and dropped me off at the church around 8:30pm.  My aunt and cousin were already there getting things ready for the shower.  My mom called and said she'd help if needed.  We worked until 10:30pm.  At that time, I still had to finish the cake (it was a four layer cake) that my co-worker Amelia made for the shower.  Since we had to travel 2 hours with it from Austin to Weimar, I just told her I'd put the tiers together once at the church and I'd decorate it there.  Mom volunteered to stay with me while I put it together.  It didnt turn out exactly like I wanted, but it was cute nonetheless.

My sister seemed to really be happy with everything (whew...thank God...as I've been so worried about that for the past 2-3 months).  Out of the 130 guests invited, only 32 people were there, but most of the food we had out on the table was eaten.  We did however, have lots of cake and cake balls left over.

I made pink and blue cake balls, covered in yellow candy mold chocolate with chocolate drizzles.  Everything turned out so well and everyone seemed to have a wonderful time.  Angela got all sorts of neat things for the baby.

It couldnt have been better!  We played "What's in the dirty diaper", "What's in the baby food", Baby Jingles, Mommy To Bee Memory and "How many kisses come with the baby bottle".

The next day (Sunday) the ladies of the church threw Angela a shower.  Some pictures of that one are above (10 pictures).  She's received so many cute things already.  We're ready to find out What It Will Bee!

Busy planning the shower

The Invitation - ordered off Etsy and printed at HEB photo center. :)

Extra napkins in the pail on the right.  I'll have fresh sunflowers in the tall pail in the center.

These bees used a LOT of paper.

So, I made a few of these too, that didn't take quite so much paper.

I am happy that all 98 invitations (for 130 guests) went out in the mail this past week and I've already had some 'Regrets' calls.  I knew that would happen, but I am still planning on about 70+ people being there. I wrapped some plasticware (leftover from the bachelorette party - thank goodness) and placed them in a black tin pail.  I used a 'school bus yellow' napkin and a piece of black cloth ribbon.  I did 75.  I hope that is enough...if not, I have extras, they just wont be wrapped. I glued a yellow ribbon around the pail and glued a wooden bee to it. My co-worker was nice enough to let me borrow her Cricut machine. I researched and found a cartridge that cuts bees.  So, I bought it.  I sat down and cut out a bunch of bees.  I wish I had created the Cricut!!! :)  I have a few more items to purchase, but other than that...I've got everything ready. 

Each hostess will bring a food item for that day.  Hopefully, people will call or email me if they cannot make it...so I can make sure we have enough food.

I have been quite nervous that my sister wasn't going to be happy with the shower theme.  I contemplated not sending her an invitation and just give it to her the day of the shower, since the invitation says it all...BUT, I decided that too many people who she knows is getting an invitation and will put it up on their refrigerator and she'll end up seeing it somehow...so I sent her one.  She called today to say she received it and thought it was really cute.  Even her husband giggled at the...."What Will It Bee"!!  I am thrilled she liked the invitation.  Hopefully she'll like the rest of what is planned. :)

Baby Shower

17 of us are hostessing a Baby Shower for my sister.  I found this really cool What Will It Bee theme and since I haven't heard anything negative from the rest of the hostesses, I ran with the idea.  I thought it was going to be pretty cheap as I am doing a lot of stuff myself and I have things left over from the bachelorette party, but I guess it's a good thing I do.  I added things up yesterday and...well, lets say in order to invite and plan for over 75 people...it costs a little bit to plan.  Here are some cute bees I found at Michael's yesterday, along with yellow and black ribbon that I found on sale.

Sewing

Things I've made or am making.  I had to buy a walking foot, but it doesn't work on my Brother sewing machine, so now I don't know what I'm going to do. I guess get my old (larger) sewing machine out and have someone work on it to get it work again.  Then I'll be able to finish the quilts I'm making.