Patchwork Burp Cloths

I am submitting this post to Tea Rose Home's Wednesday Link Party.

I finally put something up for sale in my etsy store! I am selling these two lovely patchwork burp cloths that can be personalized with baby's initial. Check it out: KinleyBethDesigns. I worked on some more last night, and as soon as the sun comes out, I'm going to go take pictures so that I can post more!

Upon ordering, customers just tell me the baby's initial and I sew it in!

For Sale

I have finally decided on something to put in my etsy store! Beautiful pieced personalized burp cloths. This is my prototype: Quick and easy to make, and they make excellent gifts for the mom-to-be! I can't wait to make more!

Today's Sewing

I've been sewing Kiki some skirts, but she doesn't really have shirts to match, so I made this top: It goes with her cherry skirt from a couple of posts ago. My friend Wendy showed me a cool trick. I had been googling "Letter Appliques" with no luck, so she told me to just go into Microsoft Word, turn the font size up to about 400, choose your font, put it in outline mode (so you don't waste ink), and print on a peice of paper for an applique template. Great idea!
We also went to JoAnn's yesterday and I let Finn pick out his "Mario Galaxy" fabric. I've decided to use it for his sleeping bag. I sewed a couple of strips on the top and bottom to make it longer:

And I leave you with a picture of a cute baby sleeping:

Finn's Quilt Finished

Here's Finn's finished quilt: I've had it done for nearly a week and I forgot to upload photos of the finished product. For the back, I used the fabric that Finn picked out, and, naturally, this is the side that he prefers. I only had 3 yards, so I had to get creative and sew borders on the side:

What I've Been Up To

Pinwheels! Okay, really I only have these two finished. But I love the fabric and I am making them for a super cool new project: napsacks! I thought about keeping this a secret until I finished it, but a) my fabric budget is shot for the time being, so it will probably be a couple of weeks until they are done, and b) nobody cares. Ha! We are going out of town at some point this summer and I thought the kids could sleep at their auntie's house in some handcrafted sleeping bags. I've got the pattern in my head, we will see how it comes out in real life!

The Cherry On Top

I love cherries. This skirt makes me think of a picnic. Once again, it's from the Polka Dot Chair tutorial. Very cute!
Here's my model, trying to figure out how to break my alarm clock:

I'm Beginning to Think of These Like My Children

You know how after you have a baby, you just can't stop staring at it? I've felt like that with everything I've made so far. The obsession just doesn't seem to be wearing off. In fact, it seems to be getting worse. I had a busy morning yesterday, felt not-so-great, and told myself to just take the day off from sewing. Yet I still had put together most of this bag by 9:00 pm. When I close my eyes at night it's like I'm flipping a Moda catalog open. I've begun dreaming of rulers and seam allowances. But I don't completely hate it.
I really should have written up a tutorial for this tote, but I was using a pattern from allpeoplequilt.com, so I thought it wouldn't be right. However, along the way, I changed a lot of things (5" squares instead of 3", quilted straps, pocket inside), that I might almost just call it my own.

This is by far my most well-finished project (aside from quilts) and I'm a pretty proud mama! I've been pondering over whether or not to start an etsy shop. I think I am a good candidate because I work really fast and I know I could keep an inventory stocked, but like I said, I can't bear to part with these things for now!

Vacation Time

I have submitted this post in Tea Rose Home's Link party. There is a tutorial on how to make these blocks HERE.

Scott took Finn out of town the last couple of days, so I decided that Kiki and I should have a little vacation too. We shopped, we played, watched cartoons, went to tea time, and, of course, SEWED! So excited that I finished Finn's blocks: Next up is a thin red border and then a thicker navy border and the top will be done!
Here's a couple of close-ups of the blocks:

Finn should be home in about an hour or two. I can't wait for him to see it!

Kiki Skirt

I had a little time on my hands today, so I made Kiki a skirt. It coordinates with one I made for myself (and my sewing apron--I had a lot of that fabric). I used a tutorial from Polka Dot Chair. I'm going to defend my choice of light pink rick rack by saying: it was all the store had. I think this would have a little more punch with hot pink, but I must fold up that thought and put it away on the perfectionist shelf.
I love putting two fabrics together to see how they coordinate! I may make more of these just to do fabric combos.

Finn's Quilt Block Tutorial

I feel like I haven't been able to work on Finn's quilt very much, what with making Mother's Day gifts and tending to children (who have been off and on kinda sick). But I wanted to share what I am making for Finn. His quilt is going to be twin-bed sized and I am making it using these blocks:What you will will need for one block is:

(1) 13 1/2" x 6 1/2" rectangle print fabric

(4) 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" squares of the same print

(2) 6 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangles of solid color fabric

(2) 2 1/2" x 13 1/2" rectangles of solid color fabric



Once again I assembled them in strips first. I pinned two 2 1/2" squares to one 13 1/2" strip, one at each end (make sure that the squares are going the same direction as the 13 1/2" x 6 1/2" large print rectangle).

Do the same for the bottom strip and squares.

Pin one 6 1/2" strip to each side of the large print block. After you sew make sure to press before and after opening. I pressed all seams toward the prints.Same for the large block. Press toward the print. You want to match up your corners next before you sew all the strips together (this is a picture of another block print--not sure how that got in here, but you get the idea):

Pin and sew:

And there you go! I probably put way too many pictures in here for something that is truely incredibly simple. Finished blocks are about 17" x 10". I'll post a new picture soon to show how they will be arranged.

Sweet Little Makeup Pouch Tutorial

I made this cute little makeup bag in about 30 mins. For real. Fill it up with some lipstick (it's got a pocket for that inside) and some cash and you are ready to go! Here's how I did it. You will need:

-(2) 10" x 10" squares of fabric. These were left over from my Hunky Dory layer cake for Kiki's quilt. One will be for the outside and one will be for lining.

-Ribbon for outside (optional)

-4" x 7"coordinating scrap fabric for inside pocket (optional)

Here's my 2 fabrics. I started working before I remembered to take the picture!

First you want to pin your ribbon in place on your outer fabric. I cut mine into 2 separate pieces and placed them. You could get really creative and zig-zag them around, but this one is for my mom, so I stayed pretty traditional. Make sure the ribbons will line up with each other once the fabric is folded in half. Sew them in place with a straight stitch in coordinating thread.

I folded it in half before sewing just to double check that they matched up with each other:

Next, take your scrap fabric for the pocket and press under a quarter of an inch on all sides, and do a quick straight stitch down each one.

Then pin it on your lining fabric and sew on three sides:

I used a chalk pencil to make a line about every inch and a half. This gives you some cute little pockets just the right size for lipsticks. Sew down each of these lines with a straight stitch.

Next, put your two fabrics together, right sides facing. Pin them along the sides and sew with a straight stitch (quarter of an inch seam allowance). Leave the top and bottom (where you will be putting the zipper) open:

Now you should have a nice little rube. Fold down a quarter of an inch on the top and bottom and press:

Close-up of the quarter of an inch fold:

Next, fold the bag in half, with the lining on the outside. Pin the sides.

Now sew down each side. This will leave you with an almost finished looking bag, but it will be inside out:

Now we are going to add the zipper. I have never worked with zippers before, but luckily it turned out okay. You might need to trim yours a bit to make it fit your bag, but generally a 7" zipper will work. Turn your bag right side out. Stick the fabric side of your zipper into the opening between the outer fabric and the lining. The fabric should still be turned down a quarter of an inch from before. You might need to unzip the zipper to give you more play. Use a straight topstich to sew it in place (sorry for the poor picture quality):

Stitch as much as you can without running into the zipper and breaking your needle (I did). You can always sew up the rest by hand later. Now do the same with the other side of the zipper:

I had quite a gap after sewing (below). But instead of risking another needle, I just stitched it closed by hand:And now you are done! It would be kind of cute to add some fabric flowers to it as well, depending on how dressy you want to get! I added that cute little fabric flower in the top photo at the last minute (I can never stop adding to things).The inside pocket:

Costume Party No. 2

Finn's still digging the costume making. He made one for me this morning and I thought I would share:That thing on my head? That's my Robin mask. And the green patch is my shirt, complete with orange "crest."
Finn really outdid himself on the costume he made for himself. It's a bat helicopter costume (so he says): I really hope we aren't allergic to the adhesive in this tape. Otherwise, we are all going to have red patches on our faces tomorrow!

I Heart the Postal Service

I've always loved getting the mail. I suppose this proves that I really am a "glass half full" type of gal (I wonder sometimes). Instead of worrying about what bills or notices I might receive, I always think of the possibility of the random refund checks, letters or (!) magazines I might be getting. Today, I got my new favorite type of mail--a bundle of fabrics!
Finn's personal pick for his quilt (for the backing): My fat-quarter picks (for the top):

Here he is, already naming the robots: