Catch up time! Still sewing every day...

Catching up! Lots of catching up to do with my posting. One reason I've been waiting to post pictures is that I've been working on a lot of gifts lately. Nierman baby, Bursuker baby, McFarland baby, Penn baby, Howell baby, Arch-Andorsky baby, Ouk baby, and on and on. Seriously. Lots of babies. Which makes me super super happy! Now that they're out, here are some photos.
The Noa Nierman Mermaids:
This taggie has sewn tags instead of the normal ribbon. This is a very special baby, so it was definitely worth the effort! The mermaids are from the very talented Heather Ross, and the fabric is a super soft tight-woven cotton. There's flannel inside for some stability and weight, and the reverse it a sparkley linen, which makes me giddy.
And a bib to go along with the taggie. You'd almost miss it if you didn't look closely; I am super happy with Noa's little name stamped in the wave.

Bibs for Fischer Green Howell (what an amazing name!!)
Twins.
Baby Eve's nature taggie.

Some dolly friends.
And here's my neeeeeew fabric stash!!!!!!!!!

Sweet Satisfying Uniformity

I made two bibs for Margot and thought, why stop there? Aside from the one Mom knitted her, and a few we received as gifts, Margot's been wearing Nash's yucky stained boy bibs. There isn't a good reason I can think of that I shouldn't take a few days and make her some sweet little bibs and use some of the cool buttons I've collected. So here are 6 new ones.There really is something so satisfying about having a stacks of something in the same shape and size. I'm up to 9, and have 3 more before I'm done. Hope everyone's having a great weekend.

New books, new projects!

Happy Monday! I've been having sooo much fun reading my new books by amazing designers. Simple Sewing for Baby by Lotta Jansdotter, Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross and Alabama Stitch Book by Natalie Chanin. They are inspiring, have projects that are practical and not horribly time consuming, and I am learning some new techniques. I can't remember the last time I bought books with patterns and projects with such good instructions. I am so happy with them!
So far I have made one dress from Ross's book and a bib using a pattern from Jansdotter's book. Here's Margot's dress, the Smocked Sundress from a Heather Ross patter. (Thanks to Mom for buying this awesome fabric from G Street Fabrics in Bethesda! FLOWER POWER!) I've never done smocking before, and am amazed at how easy it was. This instructions said to measure an inch below the knee and hem it there, but as I was trying it on Margot for width I knew I wanted to keep it long and flowing for my little flower child. Started it yesterday, finished it today. Maybe only two hours or so to make!

And here is the design by Lotta Jansdotter for a bib. I wanted to do something a little different what she instructed, but I liked the shape she provided. She had one piece of fabric hemmed with a pocket. I like a poofier look so I used some fusible fleece between two pieces, and skipped the pocket. (Who wants to go fishing old food out of a pocket?)
This is also fabric Mom picked up for us at G Street! The reverse side of this bib coordinates and it really just as pretty as the front. Oh, also, I think it's a little huge. I think I'll trim the pattern down a little.

I am really in love with this house button.

I was also inspired by Lotta to do some printing this weekend. I used easycarve blocks and went to work Sunday morning. But Sunday afternoon this is what I had:
Ray likes it. That makes me happy.

Crawfish

This weekend was our 4th annual crawfish boil, and I had lots of things to prepare for it. I was upset and delighted at the same time that I was unable to find any cool invitations to a crawfish boil online. What? So, of course, I made some. I do love to silkscreen.

Then there was Margot's outfit to consider. I thought a good Southern Girl (which she unquestionably is, though she was born in St. Louis) would wear her finest seersucker. So here's what Margot wore:


Then there were the bibs, since friends from Nashville said they would only come if they could wear matching lobster bibs. So not only did they have the matching bibs, they had matching monogrammed bibs.


What's next on my list? Hmmm I think I'll finish a few little projects. It's sew rewarding to sew the last two buttons or last seam on a project that's been sitting for weeks or longer! Sometimes I save those up so I can feel productive :)