Baa, Baa, Black Sheep!

When I was in Steamboat for our annual ski vacation in February, I happened on a knitting shop that was closing (they're in Ski Time Square which is closing due to development). They had great deals on everything so I picked up a little hard-backed book with instructions for knitting various baby quilts.

So, I knitted this for Small Fry. I'm not a great knitter by any means, but with a pattern, I can hold my own. I just love how this turned out...maybe next winter (when I can stand dealing with thick yarns again), I'll knit him another one!

Finished!

Those deflated play balls I posted about the other day? They're finally done! Woo! (It's A LOT of stuffing).

Fruit & Veggies ribbon Play Ball
Sushi ribbon Play Ball

Now, I can move on to finishing up some binky bags, quilts, and of course starting to do something with that *oh so fun to look at* stack of sock monkey fabric!

Drool! I just like looking at this stack - it was hard to focus on the projects I needed to actually finish before playing with this selection of fabric!

Lots of Play Balls!

One of my favorite (but most tedious to make) items is the ribbon play ball. I tend to do them in batches, especially since none of the ball is a "quick-to-do" thing. It's all hand tracing, cutting, piecing the sides one at a time and then stuffing.

So, I've now got seven balls to stuff...thought they looked funny all deflated in my studio yesterday. Check for them soon - they'll be up by Tuesday! Fruit & Veggie and Sushi themes available!

Monkeys Everywhere!

I'm in a sock monkey kick right now. The retro little creatures are hot again and I'm totally taken by them! I even stumbled upon the fantastic Etsy seller, BrightsIdea, who is selling adorable authentic (and updated) sock monkeys. I can't wait to purchase a "baby safe" sock monkey!

Check out my chronology of products I've created along with ones that are currently available!

About a year or so ago, Moda fabrics came out with their first adorable sock monkey line, "5 Funky Monkeys" by Erin Michaels. I loved the line, the retro styling along with endless possibilities for baby items (and the line was available in flannel too!), led me to purchase many pieces from the line. Not long after 5 Funky Monkeys, Moda released "Monkey N round", which focused on the fun the mischievous monkeys have, along with incorporating more pastel colors. With these two lines, I created many projects...

Ah, a favorite, the first Minkee/Flannel Baby Blanket - and it went to a good friend who is now looking for a duplicate in case her little one loses the original.

A diaper-mini tote.
Holds a few diapers and wipes, ideal for quick trips and easy to toss in any bag.

Another diaper mini-tote. I created lots of these in many colors...they were a popular item. (And it's interesting noting how much my photography has improved since the early days).

The Sock Monkey ribbon play ball. The ball itself is my most popular item, so I love to create it in many themes. Sock Monkeys were very popular. And I'll soon be creating a new theme ball with the latest sock monkey fabric line.

Sock Monkey ribbon play ball - Version 2.0. I had to create more of these for some custom orders, and so the ribbon colors and fabrics were changed a little bit. I can't wait to use the Malibu Monkeys line for a new ball!

One of my favorite items, the Binky Bag. It holds about 3 pacifiers, and features a snap on one side of the strap. It makes the pacifiers easily accessible (since many of us can relate to the mad binky search when baby is crying). I made these in many colors too.

Another fun Minkee/Flannel blanket - I've been making lots of these as they are popular items. I tend to only make one or two in each style though and then move on.

Classic red monkeys.

Making a bib and burp cloth set. I love these since personally, I'm ALWAYS needing bibs and burp cloths for my spitty little one ;)

Pairing retro monkeys with another hot trend - pink and chocolate. This is one of my favorite items (I would have kept it if I'd had a girl!)

Again, using the beautiful pastel pieces from the "Monkey N round" line to create more blankets.

Another favorite blanket of mine - and this one is still available in my shop!

The piece that revived my sock monkey obsession. I wanted to make a fun onesie to coordinate with some pants I'd made for my little Small Fry. So, using my love of applique, I created this adorable design. It is quickly becoming a popular item in my shop - and is available now!

So naturally when I had the onesie, I wanted to create lots of coordinating pants.
All of the styles below are available in my shop (in 6-12 month size) and are available to be made in custom sizes too (from 0-3 months to 3T).

And last, but certainly NOT least - my favorite, a sock monkey theme "tummy time" quilt. It's just the right size for a baby to roll around on and then tuck into a diaper bag and tote along. And it is available in my shop ;)

So, the sock monkeys are in full swing in my studio...and I'll soon be creating lots of items with pieces from the new Malibu Monkeys line and adding in lots of other pieces from the other two lines. Enjoy!

It's ALL here (well, almost)

So, I just got the second of my three fabric shipments. I must say, it's ironic that the one shipment that isn't here yet is from a massive on-line only fabric company that is located about an hour from my house - and they haven't even shipped my product yet.

I'm BEYOND pleased with the fast shipment from the other two places I ordered from...Fat Quarter Shop and CatyLou Quilts (another Etsy shop - she was super fast with setting up my order, I got everything quickly and so nicely packaged - I will definitely be ordering from her again). Both shops were easy to work with and super fast.

I'm now headed up to the washing machine with about 30 yards of fabric so it can be washed and dried by the time both boys are in bed tonight. I'm currently working on two quilts from the "Baby's 2nd Step" line from Wilmington - and then it's time to use all of my new fabrics!!!

Waiting for the Mailman

I'm anxiously awaiting the mail truck (and UPS truck) today and tomorrow. I placed three huge fabric orders on Monday and I can't wait to start sewing with all the new fabric I'm getting. I re-ordered a lot of Sock Monkey fabric because I think it'll be great to make up some pants, and I need to back a super cute Sock Monkey tummy time quilt.

Also, I stumbled upon some cupcake fabric, and had to snatch it up. I've got a friend who is a cupcake fanatic, so every time I see cupcake fabric I think of her. That fabric is going to make a lot of cute baby gear.

Well, I'm off to sit by the window and hope that each car that turns into the neighborhood is the one that has my packages :)

My studio

I think we are all a little voyeuristic at times, and I especially love to see the spaces of fellow crafters...I like to know how people work. When we built our house in 2005, I picked this space specifically for my studio...the windows face south east, great light, and I'm on the main floor, just off the kitchen and can see my boys' playing in the family room. An IDEAL location.

I'm a "controlled chaos" quilter, sewer, and scrapbooker. I am by no means clean, but I'm organized and I know where everything is at all times. Buuuut, I am very visual, and I have to see my stuff to be inspired. So, when I'm working on something, I've got ALL my options laid out in front of me (or around me).

The other day, in the midst of completing three large custom orders, photographing new things to list, and sewing some new projects, I thought it would be a perfect time to photograph the controlled chaos in which I work. I didn't pick up or clean up for the photos - so if you think I'm messy, I am!

The doorway - I haven't painted this room because I like having the white walls for photography and I'm not skewed when choosing colors for projects. The cutting table is a beautiful Sylvia table that I got as a Christmas gift. It folds down and out of the way if I need more room - as it is in the photo, it's only halfway extended.
The chaos. The small bookshelf holds my finished projects that are currently for sale. The huge white shelf is mostly my fabric stash. Very little of it goes into projects for sale (either won't be used and just "collected", or I use it for personal projects). The fabric piles on the floor and under the cutting tables are actually all organized - and all projects and supplies for items that will be listed on Etsy.

A head-on picture of the stash...I love the shelf, it's a Metro shelving unit I got from the container store. Each shelf can hold up to 500 lbs, and since fabric can get so heavy (I've destroyed many bookshelves in my day), this shelving unit was worth the investment. (Oh yah, and for perspective, you can see the ceiling - it's 9' tall!)

Where the magic happens! I have used this desk for literally years, it used to be my student desk when I lived at home! It works so well for me, and someday I'll be able to get an official sewing table, but this is the best fit int he meantime. I have lots of storage behind the desk - hidden behind the sewing machine is a bookshelf that actually has all of my quilting and sewing books, and a few shelves of currently in progress projects.

My typical view. (Notice the tv with the Tivo - the best invention ever!) I got this Bernina 440 QE as the best Christmas gift ever from my mom and dad in 2007. I have put almost 400,000 stitches on it to date :) (You can tell in this photo I've been working on a Sushi Tag Ball - soon to be listed).

Another great set up. My ironing board used to be a typical ironing board with a "Big Board" on top. I bought this Elfa shelving and the Big Board actually drops right on top. It is the MOST efficient ironing space ever. In those drawers are all of my other hobbies. Stamps (Stampin' Up is ADDICITING!), knitting, scrapbook paper, embellishments, tools, digital printing items and accessories, and two drawers with gift bags, bows, ribbons, etc. (notice the gift wrap holder on the left hand side).