Pay It Forward Handmade Swap February 2013

Here are the "rules" (as taken from Aquamareen's blog).
1. I will create a crafty gift for each of the first three people who comment to this post. This is a surprise, and will arrive to you anytime within the next 365 days.

2. In signing up for Pay it Forward, you are committing yourself to the project...someone pays it forward to you, so you pay it forward to others! Just post this, or something similar so others can get involved. Basically you will create your own post where you create gifts for 3 people as well.

3. You need to have an active blog of your own...{or some way to post up your PIF info like a flickr, pinterest, or Facebook account. Basically you'll need a place to announce your own PIF and to post some pics of the process.}

4. After commenting on this post, post something similar on your blog...so you can spread the pay it forward love. I will email you asking for your mailing address {and the online address where you are posting your PIF info} so I can get your crafty treat in the mail. Please make sure your email address is visible on your profile or leave it in the comment.

Niece Leyna's Nursery Curtains

I just love Michael Miller's Pink Giraffe Love fabric. I lined the curtains with an orange batik fabric to make them thicker. The top of the curtain was a 6 inch wide strip that I finished at each end to put on a curtain rod.  Aren't they beautiful?

Sweet Pouch Swap zippered pouch

I am participating in a great little zippered pouch swap from Sew Delicious http://www.sewdelicious.com.au/2013/01/sweet-pouch-swap-sign-up.html

I am going to fill this with a selection of sweet treats and mailing it off to a special lady in the next week.

Cloak for drama group

 I was able to make a great black cloak from 2 rectangles where one was gathered to match up with the hood.  I used the tutorial found at http://diyfashion.about.com/od/costumes/ss/Make_a_Cape.htm

Michael Miller Pink Giraffe Love Fuzzy Wuzzy Blanket with Minkee

Oh, I am already in love with the Michael Miller Pink Giraffe Love fabric my sister picked out.  We bought up the last two bolts we could find on etsy a few weeks ago. Yesterday, my sister Theresa picked out some hot pink minkee fabric to put as the backing on the blanket for the baby girl she is expecting. We took all there was on the bolt so I could make a blanket that would be useful for several years, not just for a baby. It is a nice lap blanket size. 

I had a blanket my mom made for me as a child that I called my "fuzzy wuzzy". I slept with it all the way through college and a couple of years into my first job before I bought a larger fleece blanket.  I think this blanket I made for my niece will have the same appeal. It is so fuzzy and soft to the touch.

Princess room decorations in the making

My sister and I went shopping yesterday for fabric to create items to decorate my niece's room.  My niece is expected to arrive in April 2013.

One item I am going to create is a Princess Canopy Turret and I want to make some fabric origami butterflies to decorate the outside.  There is a great tutorial at this blog http://babysewingpattern.com/tutorial/fabric-origami-butterfly-hair-clip-tutorial/ but the page won't let me pin it to pinterest. I can't wait to create the Princess Canopy Turret, curtains, blanket, burp cloths, and sheets.

New Dress, Vintage Simplicity Pattern 7383

I designed this dress to have a bit higher neckline.  I really like how it turned out. It is based on this pattern I bought almost a year ago: Simplicity 7383

This is how it turned out for me. My only upgrade next time will be the neck binding. What they had was much to tiny to act as a facing, but not quite wide enough to be used like bias tape, even though it was cut on the bias. I have some turquoise and brown material which I will be making into a dress like this next.

Christmas decorations from my Christmas ornament swap

These are the ornaments I received for Craft Goodies ornament exchange. Which one is yours? Do you have a blog I can link to?

Ornament 1: Snowman on a Lid from DeAnn Appelhans

Ornament 2: Crocheted Stocking from Amy at http://sittingatourkitchentable.blogspot.com/

Ornament 3: Burlap covered Ball

Ornament 4: Manger in Scrabble Tiles

Ornament 5: Button covered Ball

Ornament 6: Gingerbread House

Ornament 7: Bottle Top "Let It Snow" ornament

Ornament 8: A glass snowman that fell from my hands and shattered into a million pieces :( from Rhiannon Padgett at lindyhopsandclaypots.blogspot.com

Trade-a-holics Christmas Secret Santa Exchange Gift

So this year I participated with a group of ladies on etsy who all like to swap and trade the things they make. I made a set of potholders for this years secret Santa swap. It was my first attempt at quilting and it went well.

Handmade circle skirt and peasant shirt

Today is a Sadie Hawkins Hoe Down for the high school students at Battle Creek Academy.  I made a handmade circle skirt using the tutorial found at Circle Skirt Tutorial .  I made the peasant shirt by cutting apart an old shirt and adding a bit longer sleeves and neck line. I really like the new outfit I made.  I think it fits for fall events well!

Now off to the hoe down as a chaperone!

I have linked up this project with http://imtopsyturvy.com/pinterest-challenge-13/

Little Dress for Mia Amore

Last weekend I made this cute little dress for a little girl's baby shower. Check it out at

http://instagram.com/p/P7Ce97pdSs/