Baby Bear

I decided to start a tradition for Cooper and I. Each time we become an Aunt and Uncle, the little one's birthday present will be a stuffed animal from us. Even though my husband didn't cut the fabric, sew and stuff the bear, he had just as much of hand in it with his ideas and amazing sounding board when I wanted to scream. This is my first bear and lets just say I learned a lot along the way! First off there is such a thing as embroidery thread and I can see why the patterned called for it! I started with a thin thread for the eyes. After spending 2 hours on the eyes (one hour per eye) I was about the throw the thing across the room! I then re-read the directions and began to wonder what this embroidery thread was that they talked about. After I found out and used the new tread, I can only laugh at my stupidity! Not to say the free hand stitching the eyes, nose and mouth there easy, but less time consuming that's for sure! I learned to read and understand the directions and pattern better after 'messing' up yet again. I forgot to leave an opening in the back just as the directions called for, so I was left to leave it on the side of the bear under the arm. Well I can see why they wanted it on the back, the fabric stretched too much under the arm and I was afraid it would tear. That is where Cooper came up with the great idea of the 'patch'. I then stitched by hand a little tag with the baby's name (Tristan), his birth date and 'Love, Aunt Lindz & Uncle Coop'. Turned out great! The bear is now sitting in Tristan's crib in AZ. It is a little bigger than him though so he will have to grow into the bear!



-LindzRay

'Knock off wood'

If you know me you know I am all about ways to save money. I thrive on when I can find a similar look for less, or make something for cheaper. One of my latest crafts was inspired from a visit to VonMaur. I thought these tulip wood 'pictures' would look great in the vision I have for my new sewing room. Only down fall is they were on sale for $48 a piece! I thought 3 of them would look great, but I was not about to buy them.

This is where my craftiness and savings came in. The break out of mine are below:

Wood: FREE - Found 3 boards and 3 blocks of wood in our garage
Paper for Tulip: FREE - I used to be obsessed with scrapbooking, I still had a good stash
Twine: FREE - I used twine that came around a rug we got from World Market.
Paint: $6 - $2 per small sample container from Lowe's sale section.

So as you can see mine are not exactly the same, I guess I didn't get the shape of the flower the same, and completely forgot about the tan rectangle, but I guess that is what makes mine unique. Total dollars saved $138! Now if I would just hang them on the wall!

-LindzRay

Sew the Story Begins

I never knew how to sew. I didn't even own my own machine..or a needle and thread for that matter. Until I found out I was going to be an Aunt for the first time. I always wanted to make and create for my little ones, just as my mom did when I was very little, so I thought no better time to start then now! I had to delay the creation on a blog, as like most things I tend to do, were all gifts and I did not want to spoil the surprise. Here are a few pictures of my first attempts at sewing. I must say many thanks to my friend Katie and sister-in-law Alecia as they helped guide me through my learning process. Baby Riley now has a beautiful new homemade quilt from Aunt Lindz hanging in his nursery that eagerly awaits him, 4 cute new onesies, including a cute little tie outfit that he might have to sport during his first Thanksgiving dinner with the Rileys, a tag blankie to play with and of course a crab and turtle bib to catch his spills! Thanks to the Babe, I know have many new creative ideas for all the little ones to come!

                  

 

 

I can now say I completed my first quilt. It took me much longer than I expected. It was a lot of hours at home after work and coaching at the lake from Grandma P. It is done. I took on a big first quilt as I outlined each animal and leaf as shown above. I love it though. Expecially the yarn I added to the palm trees!

 

I bought these onesies from Target, found some cute animal shapes (and a tie) online, printed them, and cut the fabric as such, ironed on with fusible web and top stitched them on. Turned out better than I thought! They are one of a kind, Giraffe (with brown and white stripes), Blue striped tie (on brown), Blue Elephant (on white and brown elephant), and blue and brown star guitar (on star onesie). I hope baby Riley enjoys the one of a kind designs straight out of our home! 

 

 

Crab and Turtle Bibs. Found on a pattern site, slightly modified, and made from the ring of a mixing bowl. Hey whatever works, right?

Tag Blankie. Brown and Blue - to match the couples wedding colors of course! (no just happened to work that way!)

Well as you can see I am slightly hooked on sewing. I now have a list of projects that await me when I find the time from my life of being a wife and mommy to my puppy Kona Bear. The current list contains: Cushions for our new Dinning Room (Maybe even a table runner for our amazing blue table!), surprise gift for Baby Riley's arrival (more to come), and Christmas gifts for the Riley/Sharp girls.

Stay tuned, as I hope to blog my creations, my life and all the things I love in between. 

-LindzRay