some new things for junebird

My week is already crazy with 4 children playing soccer. Games started yesterday and it's going to be a tough 6 weeks. I just have got to be more prepared for our games tonight. Last night I wasn't and had two fussy children, and lots of stares. And can I just say that it's not nice to stare at someone with a fussy little one. I think it's best to take pains to not even glance at crying, fussy children, it's just the most loving response to the mama trying to tend to them (unless you are accompanying that glance with a smile, or kind word of encouragement or understanding). So anyway, I've learned a small lesson in leaving in a hurry with no water (and no cash for the concession stand) on a hot afternoon. I mean, really, no water? What did I expect? :)

junebird!

I'm so happy to have my little shop opened! I hope you get a chance to look around. I still have about 5 more items to list today.

And to thank you for reading this little blog, and all the encouragement it gives me in making, I have a little giveaway.....fun!!

This bib and burp cloth set is decidedly "junebird," so it's perfect for an opening day giveaway. It's my favorite, especially the burp cloth (I wish I had a whole quilt just like it). They're made with some vintage sheet scraps I ordered from the modern marigold's etsy shop (a great shop by the way). Both the bib and burp cloth are so soft! Anyway, just leave some sort of comment to enter, and I'll draw the winner on Wednesday.

So I just thank you again for reading!! And I thank God for His provision and grace to me in all things.

that blanket I was talking about

Yea for finishing. I think it turned out just so sweet, which is the #1 requirement for a baby blanket.

Happy 4th!

Granmere's pillow

This is Granmere's (joseph's dear mama) mother's day gift. I was a little late getting it to her, but she loved it all the same. I just love making things for her, she always appreciates it so much. We visited this past weekend and she sent us home with squash, tomatoes, potatoes, etc, from her garden. The children love it there, on Tuesday morning I overheard T telling C, "why did mama make us leave Granmere's?" I just smiled.



My mother was the recipient of this. I already "showed it off" but didn't want to say who it was for til I finished Granmere's. It is always, always a joy making for others!


And I have a big list of makin' to do right now. I love it...teacher gifts, graduation, birthdays, baby gifts. My list is a tiny bit overwhelming, but I love, love sitting down (whenever I can!) and working on all these things. So I hope within this month I will knock out my list and have it all recorded here by the first of July...we shall see!

embroidery

I love embroidery. It is sweet and simple and easy. It adds so much to any project. This little pillow was such a simple thing. I think it belongs on a white shelf in this little girl's room, with some other sweet things to go along. I started this for a friend when she had her little one (Oct 2008) and have now finally finished it. It sat around for a while! This pattern is from a dress pattern I ordered from thehandmadedress.blogspot.com she has wonderful dresses. They are so cute, and not hard to sew. NO buttons or zippers, just elastic. And she has larger sizes (10- 12 years old) which is so hard to find. And the dresses are modest, also hard to find!

This little pattern is from the great little stitchette patterns made by Hillary Lang at weewonderfuls.typepad.com . You can order the seasonal stitchettes for about $15, and you get them via PDF. Each season has 4 embroidery patterns, so that is 12 patterns! She suggests doing a split stitch. That is my favorite stitch. If you don't know how, you can easily find out with a search.

You can do so many things with just the knowledge of a split stitch. Just trace a simple drawing onto some light colored fabric, or gingham, just whatever, with a pencil. You just get your pencil real sharp, tape down your drawing (or a name), tape your fabric over that, then lightly trace. I go over my drawing with a black marker to make it easier to see through the fabric. You could also tape it all to a window with the sun shining through, then trace it. Anyway, you just need a little hoop, needle, and thread and your off. Oh, and scissors!

I JUST realized how much I use the word "just"--blogging is an eye opener to my bad grammar, terrible spelling (I had to do a spell check for scissors!), and lack of interesting descriptive words, you know, adjectives! I only just discovered what an adverb really is when I taught it to my children a couple of years ago. How did I miss that?! Who am I?!

little brown bird

ok, here is a pic of my little teacher gifts. There is a little indention in the pic, I will have to make sure that that little birdie gets refluffed! I hope they will just love them. That they will convey just the right amount of appreciation for what they do everyday. The thing about crafting your gifts, you don't want them to look cheesy, you want them to be beautiful or just oh so cute. And I have put out some cheesy stuff, and am always afraid that my ideas are just not what I had envisioned, or I'm the only one who thinks it's cute! That is one of my reasons I am afraid of blogging... what if everybody thinks my stuff is no good! Oh well, whatever, like anybody really thinks that much about me and my craftiness!! So here is a pic of those teacher gifts, I made 8 of them (one for the principle too, of course). Now I just have to wrap them up...

a little mouse

This is my first finished project for the Christmas gift giving time. I found a great little vintage felt ornament kit at the thrift store a few months ago. It was so fun making this mousy little thing! And I am so excited about giving it to my friend. So here's to a merry Christmas beginning with the crafting... hope to make more gifts, and that they turn out just jolly!

a little bag

ok, here's a bag I made today for a bday present. I hope she likes it, I like how it turned out, only one imperfection...the pocket is a little too big. Well, there are actually many imperfections! Just that's the one that is bothering me, oh well.