Making and making and making…

November 27, 2014 by Summer

I’ve been crafting so much lately that it’s getting harder and harder to keep up with documenting it in this space. I’ve been feeling a lot better these days and I think it’s showing through my art and crafts. I know when I feel low, I tend to not want to do anything creative, but lately, I’ve been doing all sorts of crafty things and it’s certainly uplifting.

I put the word out on Facebook and through friends and family, and have been inundated with custom peg doll orders (which I’m enjoying immensely).

I’ve also been working on stocking my etsy shop with some wintry kindness elves (although it seems I can’t make these little guys fast enough).

I put together a couple little softies for some new babies. This little guy is for a wonderful new mama and her little one who has taken incredible family photographs of us every year since Ellie was born. She’s taking our portraits this week and I finally get to meet her little one (I made the softie a little fabric camera too).

I had my mom make this adorable baby quilt to match the hedgehog softie I made for another friend’s baby. I think the whole thing turned out quite darling and even though, I haven’t gotten to give it to her yet (I’m hoping she’s not reading this right now), I had to share it!
After

This is Cindy. I’ve been trying my best to research how to make Waldorf dolls. I think Santa might just bring Ellie her very own (professionally made) Waldorf doll, but in the meantime, I’ve been piecing this doll together. Her arms and body came out a bit wonky, but what fun she was to make. I even made her overalls out of an old pair of shorts I used to wear. I’m going to keep trying because I’m beginning to really fall in love with these dolls. (I had a slight doll obsession as a child and it already looks like Ellie may be following in my footsteps), so I don’t think she will be upset if more dolls (mama made or otherwise) make their way into this house.

And the biggest crafting completion… Jeff’s quilt! I think I may have talked about this before. But this quilt was a long time coming. I had made Jeff a quilt a long time ago for his birthday, but it has been slowly falling apart and he’s mentioned several times that he’s love another one. Well, we stumbled upon this math and science fabric one day and he loved it so much, I decided I’d finally make him his new blanket. I took me quite awhile to finish, but I did it. And it turned out wonderfully. He loves it. Loves the length, and it’s better made than the last one (I’ve since improved with my sewing skills). It’s his big, early Christmas gift this year. And I’m thrilled to be done with it!

So there you have it. I’ve been crafting away any chance I get. Ellie naps. I craft. Ellie is playing with Gramma and Grandpa, I craft. Ellie is at the park with Dada, I craft. Ellie sleeps, I stay up way too late and craft. I’m back in business and it feels good.

Finished projects and Works In Progress

September 2, 2014 by Summer

I feel like I have so many projects in the works right now. So many ideas and so little time. This last month though, I sent off an Autumn inspired quilt to a friend in Seattle…

Check out the wild pumpkin magically growing from the stump!

I sent off a Where The Wild Things Are Inspired Mat to Alaska.

And I finished a hockey playmat, complete with Kings hockey players for my best friend’s little boy.

I’m working on another farm mat for a friend and then on to some bigger projects, like Jeff’s new quilt (he picked all the fabrics out this weekend).

I also did a little mini swap with a local Mama friend of mine. Ellie is very much into the Boo Hoo Bird and Grumpy Bird books lately. My Mama friend made a set of Grumpy Bird felt characters for her son that turned out so adorable and amazing. I knew I wouldn’t be able to replicate what she did. So we bartered for goods. She made Ellie some incredible felt characters and I made her son a family of peg dolls.

It just so happened to be his birthday too so I made him a little satchel of story stones as well. Which I can’t help but share, because I’m so excited how well they came out. He had a camping birthday party and so I thought making him a set of camping story stones would be perfect. I will be making Ellie a set of story stones to be sure!

Here they are with drawstring bag and with a sealant on top of the watercolor.

We love our Boo Hoo bird and Grumpy bird felt characters!! I hope her son liked his stones and peg family!

Around Here

July 24, 2014 by Summer

I’ve been working on lots of custom orders these past weeks. It’s such a neat feeling of making these sales, packaging them up and shipping them out. I’m learning a lot about the small business. I’m learning a lot about how to finish my art, printing art and packaging art. And I’m hoping that people out there are happy with my creations. I struggle with that aspect of it. It’s one thing to give a handmade gift but another to sell a handmade gift. I put my heart and soul into these little creative things I make and I’m hoping people will love them.

A little glimpse of my craft room. Finished projects being wrapped up and other projects just being started.

I’m working on some blogger swap gifts as well. I enjoyed this one so much, I had to do it again!
I got inspired one morning after finding this perfect little shelf for Ellie’s table and while Ellie napped, I went to work on watercolor summer time banner. Each letter of SUMMER represented by something Ellie has been interested in this summer (S-sunshine, U-ukulele, M-mushroom, M-moon, E-ear of corn, R-rainbow). I’ve caught her pointing out each letter and talking about what she sees numerous times in the past couple days. I think she likes it.

And getting ready for Ellie’s party with little wooden creatures for center pieces of course and some inspiration from a beautiful notecard Ellie picked out at our local art gallery.