Hey Baby (bibs)!

I have played around with baby bibs in the past, but now I've stepped it up a notch and am having a blast!

Flannel comes in so many whimsical and adorable designs ~ they lead my imagination in all sorts of directions!  I've added chenille for the backing to add not only to the functionality (it's thicker and more absorbent), but adds to the texture and the all over design and fashion.

And to set them truly aside from the thousands of baby bibs out there, I always applique something on the front.  That's why I love the flannel designs so much ~ they inspire my appliques.


The crowning touch (almost literally) ~ I have discovered how easy it is to use pearl snaps and they add a touch of class to the bibs.  I had a real lesson when it came to the snaps...  I bought an expensive ($26) tool to attach the snaps.  After a very frustrating experience ~ they wouldn't attach and I ruined several snaps ~ I logged onto Pinterest (my new Google for all things crafty!).  It didn't take long to find a couple of awesome (and easy to understand) tutorials on how to attach snaps.  The real treat?  I found links to a fabric website (I thought I knew them all but I'd never seen this one) with super cheap pearl snaps (in colors no less!) and a little metal tool to attach the snaps.  It cost $2.50, all I needed to add was a hammer!  Easy peasy attaching.  And I've only hit my thumb once with the hammer.  (wink)  Needless to say, I returned the $26 "tool."

So here's hoping my customers will like my new products as much as I do. :) You can find some in my Etsy shop ~ with more to come!

It's All About Chenille...

I have a love/hate relationship with chenille.

I love how soft it is. I love how just about any animal I make with chenille turns out to make me smile a little broader than any other. I love how chenille evokes memories for just about everyone. Memories of snuggling under chenille bedspreads at Grandma's house (or in my case my own house growing up!); or memories of a childhood toy. I love how the soft pastels make me think of the innocence of little babes.

So what's to hate (or strongly dislike) you might ask? Chenille is very messy to work with. It sheds like crazy. When I am making something with chenille I have tiny bits of "lint" everywhere - on the floor, on my work table, on my black pants (I inevitably wear black pants on chenille days), in my hair, up my nose (making me sneeze continually), on my cat (which doesn't seem to bother her) ~~ you get the picture.

But it is a small price to pay for the happiness and smiles a little chenille bunny or lamb brings.

You can see these critters (with more to come - I'm off to the fabric store today!) in my shop freckles & friends

Have a wonderful weekend ~ we are a couple of days closer to Spring! :)

Sweet as Sugar

Sometimes the things you least expect turn out to be the happiest.

While doing an early Spring Cleaning of my fabric closet I came across pink chenille fabric that I had cut out for a bunny. And for whatever reason, I had only part of the bunny. I looked thru my newly organized (by color) fabrics I discovered I was out of pink chenille, but I did have white. Since my Mom always taught me to be frugal and make the most of whatever I had, I decided to make a multi-colored bunny and see how it would turn out.

The finished product, little Sugar, made me smile. Big. And I haven't stopped smiling yet. :)

You can find Sugar and other Easter critters in my shop freckles & friends Thanks for taking a peek and have a terrific Thursday!

Valentine's Day is Just Around the Corner!

Valentine's Day is less than a month away! Rebecca is in the shop just waiting to be adopted. She's just a little bear - 9" tall sitting down and would make a great Valentine for your favorite Valentine!

Stay tuned to the shop for more Valentines joining her!

Miles

Another little guy now residing with the Ladies of Cedar Place. Miles was so popular one of the Ladies placed an "emergency" order for his twin to be delivered this week. They're just too cute. The Ladies I mean. :)

She Was Worth It.

I've always said I really dislike working with chenille because it is so messy ~ it sheds so there is lint everywhere when working with it. (I'd post a pic of the floor of my studio, but it's embarrassing!) Lint in my eyes. Lint in my nose - a lot of sneezing ensues. Lint all over my black knit pants. I know. Don't wear black knit pants when working with pink chenille. Duh.

So I had sworn off chenille until I got two special requests for chenille dogs. A sale is a sale, so I although I left them till the very end of the large order, I forged ahead ~ lint and all. A baby blue chenille dog came to life and then came this little sweet pink one. Too much cuteness. I can't stand it. She's in her gift bag here, waiting to be shipped off.

Once I surrendered to the lint and just ignored it, well, it wasn't so painful after all. Next on tap ~ I'm going to make a chenille puppy (or bunny) for myself! I realized the other day I don't have any of my own animals and these chenille ones just call to me!

Too

Much

Cuteness. :)