tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84370585174862529702024-03-13T21:30:17.545-05:00a million tiny little thingsErinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.comBlogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-53612289844314386302013-10-09T16:06:00.001-05:002013-10-09T16:06:57.326-05:00A New Place for Coffee (and other stuff)So excited about my recent build! We have a new coffee table. YAY! I've been dreaming of this one for awhile and finally built it while Jesse was out of town last Friday through Saturday. I wanted it to be a surprise for him and he didn't disappoint. He came home late Saturday night and immediately found me upstairs in bed to tell me how much he liked it. Good man. <br />
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The table plans came from Ana White. It's her <a href="http://ana-white.com/2010/12/plans/mom%E2%80%99s-lego-table" target="_blank">Lego Table</a> plan, which is a little different on her website versus in her book. I followed the plans from the book and modified the dimensions to fit in my living room. And to fit the wire baskets I bought for it!<br />
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I like how the wire baskets complement the design and I like how they add something different to the living room. I'm not sure yet what to put in them, but I'm sure inspiration will strike eventually.<br />
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When I was envisioning the table, I wasn't sure what color to paint or stain the table at first. I almost went with dark brown stain, but the vision started to feel a bit heavy for the living room. I don't know. Maybe because I knew it would sit between two dark brown couches. One day I thought of using the white/brown combo and that's when I started to get excited about building it.<br />
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The top compartments are designed to lift up/out to store ... well ... legos, of course. I like the way it looks and even like the handles on top even though we don't (yet) have the lego conundrum going on in this house. Again, I'm sure we'll find something to fill this space eventually.<br />
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I used more of the cedar that came out of our creepy sauna in the basement. I only have one more wall of boards in that space to pry out and use up. What will the next project be?!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-35117918818761698842013-08-25T19:38:00.001-05:002013-08-25T19:38:37.408-05:00Bristol Lounge Chairs & Love SeatI've been off learning a new hobby! I'm happy to finally share the results here. Introducing my new porch furniture (and porch, which is 75% complete) ...
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Yep! I taught myself how to build furniture. It's a hobby that's been on my wishlist for a little over a year and I think it was these very chairs that made me want to start. I found a really cool website called <a href="http://www.ana-white.com/">www.ana-white.com</a> and I immediately started dreaming of what I could do. She makes it look easy and doable. I caught her bug, bought a few tools and now I have furniture for my porch! Yippee!<br />
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I had to resize the <a href="http://ana-white.com/2012/02/plans/bristol-outdoor-lounge-chair" target="_blank">original plans</a> because they were written to fit cushions from Restoration Hardware. Lord knows I don't have the cash for that, so I resized the chairs to fit cushions purchased from Walmart. (See dimensions and cut lists at the bottom of the post)<br />
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I resized the loveseat and used Walmart cushions for the seat backs and a crib mattress for the seat.<br />
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I picked up fabric from JoAnn's (50% off end-of-season outdoor fabric. Wee!) and recovered the cushions so that it would all match nicely. Mom and Dad came into town last week (so fun!). Mom recovered the cushions for the loveseat. She did a perfect job, as always. I always realize I still have a lot to learn when I watch her sew.<br />
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My Dad is a fabulous woodworker. He gave me so many great tips about using my table saw and how to prevent splitting the wood. Loved spending time with him.<br />
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The chair design does not yield particularly sturdy chairs. Others had worried about it in the comments of the plans. And I experienced the cause for concern - after a couple of uses I had both a chair arm and a loveseat arm pop off the front. That's not good. Mom and Dad brainstormed with me and suggested some metal brackets to help hold things into place. We added "L" brackets to all of the arms.<br />
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We also added "mending braces" to the backs of all the back/seat joints. It seems to add a sufficient level of sturdiness. <br />
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I also added three more cleats to the seat of the love seat. It originally called for a cleat on both ends, but the boards really bowed in the middle. I added three 2x4s throughout to provide a total of five cleats for the seat.<br />
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I'm a bit wary still about the sturdiness of the chairs (as any chair builder is, I'm sure), but they look and feel great. Here's to hoping all of the concern is just in my head.<br />
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The old porch was such an eyesore! I hated it! While the parents were in town we tore down the screen and old railings. We still need to add the top of the railings and add some paint. <br />
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Nevertheless, I'm ecstatic about this new space. It's perfect for quiet mornings, evenings and dinnertime entertaining. It just might be my new favorite part of the house.<br />
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So, for those who may care, here are my revised cut lists:<br />
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<b>Bristol Lounge Chair using Walmart Cushions</b><br />
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Seat Cushion - 24" x 24" x 5.5"<br />
Back Cushion - 21" x 21"x 4.5"<br />
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Two 1x8 @ 21" (front and back of seat)<br />
Two 1x4 @ 9.25" (back legs)<br />
Two 1x4 @ 21" (front legs)<br />
Two 1x8 @ 24" (sides of seat)<br />
Four 1x3 @ 2" (leg attachments)<br />
Two 1x4 @ 26.5" (sides of back)<br />
Six 1x4 @ 21" (back slats) - .75" between slats<br />
Two 1x4 @ 28 1/8" (arms)<br />
Two 2x2 @ approx 24" (cleats)<br />
Six 1x4 @ 26.5" (seat slats) - .6" between slats<br />
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<b>Bristol Loveseat using Walmart Cushions and Crib Mattress</b><br />
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Seat Cushion - 27" x 52" x 5.5"<br />
Back Cushion - 21" x 21" x 4.5"<br />
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Two 1x8 @ 45" (front and back of seat)<br />
Two 1x4 @ 9.25" (back legs)<br />
Two 1x4 @ 21" (front legs)<br />
Two 1x8 @ 26.75" (sides of seat)<br />
Four 1x3 @ 2" (leg attachments)<br />
Two 1x4 @ 26.25" (sides of back)<br />
Six 1x4 @ 20.75" (back slats) - .5" between slats<br />
Two 1x4 @ 30 1/8" (arms)<br />
Two 2x2 @ approx 26.75" (side cleats)<br />
Three 2x4 @ approx 26.75" (middle cleats) <br />
Seven 1x4 @ approx 50.5" (seat slats) - .5" between slats<br />
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<br />Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-20847211916705792722013-02-14T09:00:00.000-06:002013-02-14T11:40:18.390-06:00Valentine Craft FailHappy Valentine's Day!<br />
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Over the weekend we tried a little valentine craft. I enjoy thinking up these little crafts for Jude. Hopefully someday he might spend longer than 5 minutes actually doing them, but nevertheless I get a kick out of it. <br />
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We sent valentines to our grandparents and great-grandmothers this year. My little craft idea was pretty simple - print hearts (4.25" x 5.5"), outline in white crayon, let Jude paint with watercolor and cut them out.<br />
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It was pretty successful for a toddler project. Well, minus the fact that he kept choosing black paint over and over again! How are you supposed to wish someone a Happy Valentine's Day with a black heart?! <br />
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Oh well. You can't micromanage the creative process, right?<br />
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After the watercolors we also tried some potato stamping.<br />
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As you can see I cut the heart stamp a little too short and fat. Unfortunately it looked more like a butt when you stamped it on the paper. Bummer.<br />
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Black hearts and butts. Welcome to valentine's day at the Tinks.<br />
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Jude smeared it all around anyway. Course, when you think about it, smearing red paint on cards is not exactly a great solution. Turns out smeared red paint looks like blood. (You would think I would have learned my lesson <a href="http://amilliontinylittlethings.blogspot.com/2012/02/happy-love-day.html" target="_blank">last year</a>?)<br />
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Wow, I am just now realizing in this very second, we reached a whole new low with this project - black hearts, butts AND blood. <br />
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Official Valentine FAIL.<br />
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Yes, we did actually send them. <br />
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Hmmm ... how do I redeem valentine's day after such a craft fail? Oh, I know, how 'bout an adorable picture of our 3 month old . . .<br />
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Yes, those are heart sweater tights. Phew ... valentine's day is saved by sweater tights. Thank God for little girls.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-24243802399826443612013-02-10T22:16:00.000-06:002013-02-10T22:16:03.572-06:00Clothespins and TwineWhile feeding Ellie sometime last week I came up with an easy idea for adding one more element to her room.<br />
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I had originally planned to hang the <a href="http://amilliontinylittlethings.blogspot.com/2012/08/nesting.html" target="_blank">poppies</a> here, but decided against it at the last minute because I didn't want to hang something so heavy above the changing table - made me a little nervous. So, this wall was left empty and it felt that way. <br />
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I already had the twine and clothespins on hand, so this project came together quickly and free! I printed out the letters of her name on half sheets of paper. Then put some nails in the wall (measured and leveled, of course), tied the string and added the clothespins. Easy peasy.<br />
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I like it!<br />
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<br />Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-91156974489991341292013-02-09T17:34:00.001-06:002013-02-09T17:34:05.702-06:00Twiggy StarburstI found this post in my queue and, although it's from Christmas, I thought I would post it. I have no shame. Hey, things move slowly around here with two littles in my midst and I'm not afraid to admit that!<br />
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Before Christmas I made this twig wreath and hung it in my dining room. Cost me nothing and I think it's quite fun.<br />
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I saw <a href="http://thepaintedhive.net/2010/08/starburst-twig-wreath/" target="_blank">this picture</a> through pinterest and thought it would be a fun project to tackle. I found the twigs while walking with the kids through the neighborhood. Took a couple of trips to the park to collect enough.<br />
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I felt rather sheepish being the crazy lady with the sticks in her stroller, but I try to convince myself that when I'm eliciting judgmental stares it's usually worth it. (The <a href="http://amilliontinylittlethings.blogspot.com/2012/08/john-deere-room-tour.html" target="_blank">chalkboard</a> for Jude's room is a perfect example.) Sometimes you just have to be the crazy lady, you know?<br />
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It came together rather easily with some cardboard, twine and lots of hot glue. The hardest part was cutting the twigs to the right length. Part of my problem, though, was not having the right kind of shears on hand. I made do with a handsaw. Is that one word or two? Hmm.<br />
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With a few scraps I created a couple twig stars too and stuck them in the the Christmas tree.<br />
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I think it looks good in the dining room right now because it fills the wall nicely. But, I'll probably move it to the eat-in area of my kitchen for the rest of the year. Merry Christmas! (errr . . . February?)Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-3043334652808924452012-12-22T23:26:00.001-06:002012-12-22T23:26:52.540-06:00A Little of This and a Little of ThatAhh! Here I am back at my computer with uploaded pictures and enough energy to write a little. Feels good. As of last week little miss is sleeping through the night! What?! I know. I know. I didn't think it was possible at 2 months either, but it's happening and I am a better person because of it! She's doing a solid 8-10 hours. Crazy!<br />
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She started smiling about two weeks ago. What a joy! There's nothing like that first smile that helps get you through the sleep depravity, screaming and poopy diapers.<br />
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Yesterday we were just talking about what a good baby she is. That was a mistake because today she gave us a run for our money. Wow. Lots of screaming around here. Hopefully we get back to "good baby" before we travel for Christmas. We'll see.<br />
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I've been fitting in a little bit of crafting/sewing here and there during the last month - mostly because it helps to keep my head on straight. It tends to be my little escape from the more responsible things in life (i.e. dishes and laundry)<br />
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Two weeks ago I designed Christmas cards/birth announcements. I sent them off to <a href="http://moxicopy.com/">moxicopy.com</a> to get color printed. The price was fantastic and the quality was just what I hoped for! I cut and folded them this week and finally got them sent on Thursday. Hopefully they will arrive to their destinations by Christmas.<br />
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We had a blizzard roll through on Wednesday night. So, we got a couple of days with Jesse home from work. Yay! With a little extra help with the kids I spent a bit of time putting Ellie's memory book together. My mother-in-law purchased a book from the same <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ednamae?ref=seller_info" target="_blank">etsy shop</a> where I purchased <a href="http://amilliontinylittlethings.blogspot.com/2010/07/memory-book-and-two-awkward-transitions.html" target="_blank">Jude's</a>. The books is a perfect combination of scrapbooking and journaling - not too much of either. I love writing down my thoughts about pregnancy, anticipation, arrival, etc. I look forward to the day when I get to read through them with the kids too.<br />
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Lastly, I have to share one of the coolest gifts ever! A gal from our church gave us this gift:<br />
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snowman accessories! How cute is that? It came in this adorable bag:<br />
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We tried to go outside today to put our new gift to use, but the snow was a little too dry. Plus Ellie was screaming, so the timing wasn't quite right. Hopefully we can use it soon!<br />
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I totally recommend this gift if you still need a creative idea for a family. The contents of the bag include a scarf, a hat (not pictured), two buttons for eyes, five buttons for a mouth, a carrot, a pipe and a heart. The buttons and the heart are attached to short dowels that can be poked into the snowman so they stay in place. I might be late to the party, but I have to say I've never seen this idea before. It's SO cute!<br />
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<br />Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-29270855601832631162012-10-23T15:06:00.004-05:002012-10-23T15:06:46.144-05:00She's Here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our sweet girl arrived on Thursday, October 18 t 8:32 a.m. She was 7 lbs 12 oz and 20.5 inches long. It took us about a half hour of staring at her to decide on her name - Ellie Ann. We chose Ellie just because we like the sound of it. We think it's perfect for her. We chose Ann because it's special to us on both sides of the family. Ann (with no "e") is Jesse's Grandma's first name and my twin sister Emily's middle name.<br />
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We arrived at the hospital at 6:00 a.m. to prep for c-section and we were in the operating room by 8:00 a.m. The anaesthesiologist was fabulous and kept my nausea to a minimum. I felt good (well ... as good as you can) and alert throughout the surgery.<br />
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At 8:32 a.m. the doctor pulled her out and we heard her cry for the first time. The beauty of that sound made me cry. She is such a blessing to us!<br />
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My recovery is going really well - even better than last time. I have my Mom in town for the next two weeks helping to keep some level of organization and normalcy to the household. She is so good at playing with Jude, cracking jokes, driving us around and keeping the laundry and the dishes going. It's really nice to have her here.<br />
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I took a few pictures of miss Ellie today. I'm definitely no photographer, but I enjoyed snapping pictures of a new little model. (Jude is probably enjoying the break too.)<br />
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Speaking of Jude . . . he is adjusting pretty well so far. He is mostly oblivious to Ellie's presence in our home. He has at least learned her name, which is a step in the right direction. At first, he was calling her "Bennett", which is Emily's new baby's name. Apparently all babies are named "Bennett". In a rare moment yesterday I did spy him make a brief stop near the swing where she was sleeping (while he thought no one else was looking) and gently pat her on the chest. Made my heart melt. <br />
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The rest of us can't stop snuggling her and kissing her. We're thoroughly enjoying our new little addition.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-11210200844689587692012-10-15T23:01:00.002-05:002012-10-15T23:01:45.179-05:00Room is ReadyToday I finally feel ready to show off little girl's room. There are probably little details here and there that I'll be adding, but it's as ready as it will ever be to hold and comfort a new little life.<br />
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This is the view from the door. The color scheme is coral, orange and yellow and the main fabric in the room is a dark coral linen. I'm kind of obsessed with this fabric. If I wasn't using yards of it for the crib skirt, glider and changing pad I would be draping myself with it and wearing it everyday. The depth of the color is fabulous. And, of course, you can't go wrong with linen.<br />
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The crib is a recent craigslist purchase - I really love the style.<br />
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We're borrowing the glider from our fabulous neighbors. I just need to recover those cushions. (Good thing Mom comes into town tomorrow!)<br />
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I made the crib skirt using <a href="http://theonewiththecupcakes.blogspot.com/2011/08/one-with-crib-skirt-tutorial.html" target="_blank">this</a> tutorial. The crib bumper is the <a href="http://amilliontinylittlethings.blogspot.com/2010/05/quiet-nursery.html" target="_blank">same one</a> I made for Jude (so classic - I knew I would love it just as much the second time around). The knitted blanket was a lucky garage sale find - it's so cozy and cute.<br />
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This is the view our little one will wake up to every morning. I think I should hang them over my own bed. They're so cheerful and happy. I purchased the Martha Stewart coral pom poms on sale at Hancock. Then, I made the yellow and orange in the same dimensions to match.<br />
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This is just a funny idea I had in my head around the same time I was spending time in my garage <a href="http://amilliontinylittlethings.blogspot.com/2012/08/nesting.html" target="_blank">painting poppies</a>. Essentially it's a combination of a 1x6, 5 beer bottles and some <a href="http://brownpaperpackagesep.blogspot.com/2011/08/pretty-paper-peonies.html" target="_blank">coffee filter flowers</a>. I like what it adds to the room - makes me smile.<br />
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We got lucky and got this lovely dresser on craigslist. It even came with a mirror that we'll be using to replace the one in the bathroom. Two birds with one stone - love that! I painted the dresser yellow and added the new hardware. <br />
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This is the same <a href="http://amilliontinylittlethings.blogspot.com/2010/05/mobile.html" target="_blank">mobile</a> I hung in Jude's room. I found some paint chips in my color scheme and changed the mobile to match the room. After I completed it I wasn't so sure about it - the ombre effect I was going for didn't turn out like the vision I had in my head. When Mom was in town, though, she convinced me to hang it, and she was totally right. Plus, the changing table is the perfect place for it.<br />
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The other side of the room houses a whole bunch of books and my favorite piece - the poppies painting. The painting is rather heavy so it makes the most sense to hang it over the bookshelf (rather than the crib or changing table). <br />
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On the bookshelf is a series of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childcraft" target="_blank">Childcraft</a> books given to us by Jesse's Grandma. They are fabulous! Not only are they beautiful they also have vintage-y cool stuff inside. They're kind of like encyclopedias for kids. I really love flipping through them. I hope little girl will find them fun to read someday too.<br />
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And the rest is just a hodge podge of pregnancy/parenting books, children's books and a tiny little "love" print I made last week.<br />
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We're so excited to welcome our new little girl. I can't wait to snuggle her, kiss her and tell her how beautiful she is. Only 3 more sleeps!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-22790198753167931452012-10-09T23:06:00.001-05:002012-10-09T23:06:55.763-05:00Super WhyI'm so excited to show off the Halloween costume I made for Jude recently. This year we were deciding between Cat in the Hat, Curious George and Super Why, which are all of his PBS favorites right now. Although, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Why!" target="_blank">Super Why</a> is the less commonly known of the three characters he truly is Jude's #1 favorite right now - he calls him "Tu-Wa Why" - so, we're going with it. Only parents of other preschoolers will know the character, but that's okay.<br />
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He makes a good superhero, doesn't he?<br />
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I'm proud to say I made this little outfit for $7.50. Pretty good for a Halloween costume, right? I started by printing out the logo and then traced the main shapes onto blue and white felt. I top-stitched them onto the front of the shirt and then added yellow stitching for the "star" effect.<br />
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I used my homemade <a href="http://amilliontinylittlethings.blogspot.com/2012/09/puppy-jammies.html" target="_blank">long sleeve tee</a> pattern for the top and the "everyday leggings" pattern from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Up-Sew-Liberated-Handmade/dp/1596681624/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348457444&sr=8-1&keywords=growing+up+sew+liberated" target="_blank">Growing Up Sew Liberated</a>. What I like about this costume is that minus the eye mask, cape and underwear it's really just a pair of pajamas that he can wear all winter long. <br />
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The eye mask is just two pieces of felt top-stitched together. He refuses to wear it so far - we'll see if he comes around by the time Halloween is here. I'm not banking on it.<br />
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Can you tell we've already got a lot of raking to do? This is only just the beginning. And, lucky Jesse, I'll be of zero help this year. Poor thing.<br />
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Jude's enjoying the leaves in the meantime. What a sweet, funny boy.<br />
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The cape is my modification of <a href="http://thelongthread.com/?p=98" target="_blank">this</a> tutorial. I don't really like the collar to the tutorial's cape, so I just made some binding out of the blue knit and sewed it to the top. Easy peasy.<br />
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The "underwear" didn't come out exactly as planned - it's a little poochy. But, I'm too lazy to go back and fix it. I tried to follow the guidelines of an online tutorial, but it didn't totally work out. Seems like the sizing is just off. Oh well. He's still rocking the superhero-ness of it all.<br />
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"Who’s got the power?<br />
The power to read.<br />
Who answers the call for friends in need?<br />
Super WHY!<br />
Super WHY!"<br />
He’s the guy, he’s Super WHY!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-72936186371209880362012-10-08T22:24:00.002-05:002012-10-08T22:24:55.727-05:00Birthday BackpacksI love this <a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/2009/03/finally-here-toddler-backpack-pattern/" target="_blank">pattern</a>! There is something about a toddler wearing a backpack that makes me smile. I've made three of them recently, but only photographed these two. (Lazy with the camera again!) The first one (no photo) I sent along to my darling little niece, Jane, who just turned three. I used a fabulous DwellStudio pink and green animal fabric in home decor weight and lined it with pink polka dots. Turned out so cute!<br />
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These two were sent to my little nephews, Thomas & Matthew, who just turned two and one. I used leftover gray linen from last year's <a href="http://amilliontinylittlethings.blogspot.com/2011/09/pintuck-obsession.html" target="_blank">bedding project</a>. I printed out the letters and then used the <a href="http://www.danamadeit.com/2008/07/tutorial-freezer-paper-stencil-makenna-loves-goldfish.html" target="_blank">freezer paper painting method</a> to add them to the backpacks. <br />
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I lined them with a steel blue gray and I'm loving the combo - so sleek and simple for little boys.<br />
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Happy birthday, kiddos! We love you so much and wish we could have celebrated in person with all three of you!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-75517309844165336892012-10-07T23:02:00.002-05:002012-10-07T23:02:45.164-05:00Christmas in OctoberThe amount of sewing going on around here is a little ridiculous. I'm pretty sure that the term "nesting" this time around really just means "excessive sewing with knits". Sure there have been bouts of sorting clothing, decorating her room and scrubbing hard water stains with a toothbrush, but I'm telling you the other 90% of nesting is done at the sewing machine. Here's one of the latest projects: matching Christmas pajamas.<br />
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If you've been around this blog for a little while you might be aware of my now three-year-old tradition of making pajamas for the kid (now kiddos . . . yay!) to wear on Christmas Eve. (<a href="http://amilliontinylittlethings.blogspot.com/2010/12/jammies-for-jude.html" target="_blank">year one</a>) (<a href="http://amilliontinylittlethings.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-pajamas.html" target="_blank">year two</a>) A couple of months ago I got illogically concerned (i.e. crazy pregnancy hormones that make you do and say semi-ridiculous things that seem perfectly normal at the time) that I might not feel up to making jammies once little girl was here, so I decided it made the most sense to make these in the middle of August. Seriously, pregnancy makes your brain weird.<br />
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I came across this totally cute striped knit at Goodwill. It's quite flimsy and delicate. I'm not sure how long these will hold up, but it's so classic and lovely I couldn't help it. There was just enough to whip up a newborn nightgown and some two-piece pajamas. I should have taken a closer picture of the nightgown because I added some tiny little gathers to the front center. (I'm so lazy with the camera sometimes . . . maybe if you click on the picture and squint your eyes you might be able to see it.) Anyway, it turned out really cute and girly - I love it!<br />
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Then there's the place where I had to sew up a hole in the top of the shirt because I hacked it while trimming the neck ribbing. Oops. Can you see where the second stripe is misaligned? Nice.<br />
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So, here's the belly at 36 weeks. We're getting close now!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-40778000792917631512012-09-29T08:34:00.000-05:002012-09-29T08:34:27.566-05:00Upcycled TeesI've been sewing almost exclusively with knits around here recently. I'm having way too much fun! This was the first of the knit projects I took on this summer.<br />
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I originally <a href="http://amilliontinylittlethings.blogspot.com/2009/08/rainy-sunday.html" target="_blank">painted</a> a small gray t-shirt back in the day. (Love that skyline!) It was too small over time, so I cut it up for Jude last summer and finally finished it a few months ago. The length was too short this year so I added a scrap white t-shirt hem to the bottom. <br />
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He wore it a lot this summer. I made up the pattern so my neckline and arm holes are a little wonky. Eh. Oh well.<br />
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Next up was a light blue, textured cotton t-shirt I picked up at a garage sale this summer. The color was just too fabulous to pass up! I turned it into a long sleeve tee (my own pattern) for fall/winter wearing. It's been perfect to pair with both summer shorts and fall khakis.<br />
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This is his new "cheese" face.<br />
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What a cute kid ... cankles and all.<br />
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Jesse just cleaned out his closet, so we've got several long sleeve tees in the queue too. Stay tuned.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-16264947488722076172012-09-23T22:38:00.000-05:002012-09-23T22:38:09.480-05:00Puppy JammiesI'm still here! I have plenty to write about, so I hope to get some blogging done this week. This week marks 36, which means we have only three weeks to go! (I'll be having a scheduled c-section at 39 weeks.) I'm getting bigger by the second. Note to self - I should take a belly photo soon.<br />
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I've been puttering away. The weekends have been lazy and perfect for a nesting pregnant lady. I feel guilty that I'm not out "doing" anything, and I have to keep reminding myself that I'm enjoying myself just as much by staying home and preparing this place for change.<br />
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The project list has varied from necessary nursery finishes to ridiculous projects that I'm wasting my time on but can't seem to help myself. This one falls into the latter category. <br />
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Remember the puppy print from <a href="http://amilliontinylittlethings.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-blessing-of-baby.html" target="_blank">Bennett's</a> gift? I had extra and couldn't help myself but make a pair of jammies.<br />
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I made up the t-shirt pattern based off a pair of jammies he currently has. I had to finagle the size of the neck opening a bit (i.e. finish it, hold it up, laugh at myself, cut it off and try again), but other than that it came together easily. The pajama bottoms come from Sew Liberated's "everyday leggings" pattern in her book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Up-Sew-Liberated-Handmade/dp/1596681624/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348457444&sr=8-1&keywords=growing+up+sew+liberated" target="_blank">Growing Up Sew Liberated</a>. I added cuffs to the bottom, which make them more pajama-y and less girly (I think). Jesse hasn't made any snide remarks, so I think I succeeded. <br />
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By the way, I'm totally getting better at sewing with knits. It's crazy
fun to have the stretchiness working to your advantage and not hanging
all loosey goosey. Amazing what a little practice can do!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-22376477180086636742012-08-29T11:00:00.000-05:002012-08-29T11:00:06.492-05:00John Deere Room TourAfter many months I finally have a toddler room to show off! Sometime last year Jesse mentioned he would like to do a John Deere inspired bedroom for Jude. That's what I get for marrying a corn-fed Iowa boy whose family has a long history working for John Deere. It's a good thing he's cute.<br />
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The John Deere theme scared me because all I could imagine were images like t<a href="http://www.roomzaar.com/rate-my-space/Boys-Rooms/Harleys-John-Deere-Room/detail.esi?oid=523461" target="_blank">his</a> and <a href="http://www.roomzaar.com/rate-my-space/Nurseries/John-Deere-Nursery/detail.esi?oid=476450" target="_blank">this</a>. Bless those people and their John Deere love. I just don't get it. So, I tried my best to stay true to the theme, but dial it down a bit.<br />
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I started by painting the room in gray stripes. Yes, they are the same gray stripes you're seeing everywhere these days. I like them. They're allowing me to have a kid-friendly look on the walls without overwhelming the room in yellow or green. <br />
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Adding the crates was fun. I think they add a nice rustic farm look while still being functional.<br />
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The lamp is from his <a href="http://amilliontinylittlethings.blogspot.com/2010/05/quiet-nursery.html" target="_blank">nursery</a> - I just painted it yellow. The globe was a $3 find at a garage sale this summer. I spray painted it's stand in oil-rubbed bronze. <br />
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The chalkboard is my favorite garage sale find ever. This baby was only $9 and I bought it about two blocks from my house. I made my sister-in-law carry it home with me. Poor thing. There's nothing like walking through your neighborhood trying to act normal while carrying a HUGE chalkboard. It was totally worth it. Someday I might sand and stain the stand. <br />
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Yes, we did get the green and yellow into the room, don't worry. I painted the letters on the wall. The light fixture was already conveniently in place, which made it a fabulous place to hi-light the logo on the wall. Jesse wanted to use the <a href="http://www.deere.com/wps/dcom/en_US/corporate/our_company/about_us/history/trademarks/trademarks.page" target="_blank">1950s logo</a>. So, I made up a process of printing out each letter, tracing them onto the wall and taping around them in order to get them on the wall. It was fairly time consuming, but worth it in the end.<br />
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I need to add some more Iowa or John Deere knick knacks to the second shelf and we'll likely switch out the dresser at some point. Slowly but surely.<br />
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We got his twin bed from Jesse's brother and his wife. They're donating it to us for the time being. It's a perfect toddler bed because it is so close to the ground.<br />
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I put together the bed skirt using the crib skirt pattern from Amy Butler's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Butlers-Little-Stitches-Ones/dp/0811861287/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1346208638&sr=8-2&keywords=little+stitches" target="_blank">Little Stitches</a>. It's just plain kelly green. Then, I used a sheet set to put together the comforter and sewed in a piece of the same kelly green that I used for the bed skirt. It's not quite done. I need to quilt it and bind it, but I hate that part so I might wait for Mom to come into town to motivate me to finish it.<br />
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I'll also add a pillow to the bed that has the John Deere logo on it. That will help bring the theme to this side of the room. <br />
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Oh, and lastly, here's the laundry hamper I picked up at TJ Maxx. I love it. Emily bought the same one for Bennett's room and after I saw hers I just knew that it would be perfect for Jude's room. Isn't it cute?<br />
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You know you're 30 when you get excited about the style of a laundry hamper. Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-19413759170029539952012-08-28T19:22:00.000-05:002012-08-28T19:22:29.186-05:00Crates for ToysI've been putting together Jude's toddler room and baby girl's room simultaneously. Jude's room was my last room (minus the basement) to decorate in the house. It has been in a very sad and plain state for the last year. Awhile ago Jesse told me he wanted to decorate it with a John Deere theme, which put the project on hold because it took me a long time to wrap my brain around that. Not being an Iowa native it's not quite as natural for me to put kelly green and bright yellow in the same room - in fact the idea made me twitch. However, after lots of chatting, compromising and painting it's finally finished (with only a couple of small details yet to be accomplished), so I'll show it off tomorrow.<br />
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In the meantime, I have to brag about my first legitimate woodworking project. Dad, this one's for you - you'll have to tell me what you think. I built four crates for his room - three to hold his toys and one for his books. <br />
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These three line the edge of his bed.<br />
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This one holds his books and acts as his nightstand.<br />
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Through the <a href="http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/" target="_blank">Shanty 2 Chic</a> website I found another one called <a href="http://ana-white.com/" target="_blank">Ana White</a>. She has a million free <a href="http://ana-white.com/2010/09/vintage-crate-carts.html" target="_blank">project plans</a> - plus she does a great job of telling beginners how to get started. After looking through her site I just couldn't help myself but get to the store, buy a few essential tools and start building.<br />
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I worked on the crates off and on over the last couple of weeks. I probably spent 12 hours total on them. They're not perfect. I certainly split the wood here and there and my handles look a little shabby, but I got better with each one I put together.<br />
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All in all I'm pleased with the result and even more pleased to have tried something new!<br />
<br />Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-41568011813673889572012-08-26T23:38:00.000-05:002012-08-26T23:38:00.671-05:00Nesting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm definitely nesting these days. It's so cliche, but it's funny how a pregnant woman just can't help herself at this stage. I took the picture above at 30 weeks. The little girl is moving around a lot, making my lower back sore by the end of the day and giving me insomnia between 4-6 am. All in all it's going well. Well, besides the fact that my hair looks like a mane. My word, I think my hair is using this picture to beg me for a haircut. It's working.<br />
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Anyway, I've been working on the kids' rooms during the last couple of weekends. For the nursery I feel inspired by poppies and the color combination coral, orange and yellow. I'm excited.<br />
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A couple of weeks ago I made this painting for her room.<br />
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I was inspired by a blog I found recently called <a href="http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/" target="_blank">Shanty 2 Chic</a>. These ladies use power tools like no one's business and build everything under the sun - at least it seems like it. I'm totally inspired and I couldn't help picking up the circular saw, hammer and electric sander to put this together.<br />
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Jesse was amused to find his 7 month pregnant wife in the garage with the circular saw. I was thoroughly enjoying myself. Don't worry . . . I watched a couple of you tube videos about how to use it and I read the manual from front to back before I picked it up. That's enough preparation to prevent me from cutting off any extremities, right?<br />
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Anyway, I found this picture in a google images search and thought it would be fun to recreate it. (I can't seem to find it again to link to the source.) <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GAriOhgLyfY/UDruQj8EYhI/AAAAAAAABhE/u8F5FYP4bfU/s1600/Poppies+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GAriOhgLyfY/UDruQj8EYhI/AAAAAAAABhE/u8F5FYP4bfU/s320/Poppies+copy.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
Then, I found <a href="http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/2011/10/reclaimed-wood-wall-art-and-the-new-silhoutte-cameo.html" target="_blank">this</a> wall hanging and decided I would build one similar to act as my canvas. So, I bought my supplies, cut the wood, pieced them together, painted them and then I was ready to draw and paint.<br />
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I used the "grid" technique that we learned in jr. high to draw the image large enough for my canvas. I had to add a couple more flowers to change it from a portrait to a landscape image. Once I was finished I taped it to the wood and traced over it. <br />
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The tracings made indentations in the wood so I could see where to apply my paint. I just used some cheap acrylics I had on hand to fill it in. I forgot how fun it was to paint. It's been so long since I've pulled out the paintbrushes to do anything beyond freezer paper painting.<br />
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Lastly, I sanded it down to distress the finish of the paint just a little. Then, I topped it off with a clear coat of varnish.<br />
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We'll hang it on the wall soon. I can't wait to see it all come together.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-81052841962430463892012-08-03T21:30:00.001-05:002012-08-03T21:30:27.103-05:00Another Baby BoyThere's another little cousin on his way in the next couple of weeks. Jesse's brother and his wife are expecting the arrival of their first sometime in August. We're very excited!<br />
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A month ago we threw a baby shower and I put together these simple gifts for the little nugget. My sister-in-law, Michelle, is using the outdoorsy/lodgy look for his nursery. Adorable. So, I did my best to come up with something that would fit the motif. We all know the outdoorsy look doesn't come very naturally to me (no pun intended), so this took some serious creative energy and a long-winded brainstorming session with Emily to come to fruition.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/2009/03/finally-here-toddler-backpack-pattern/" target="_blank">toddler backpack</a> is such a fun project. I used the freezer paper painting technique to put the moose on the front. Sometimes I wonder if I should have painted him white, but it's too late now.<br />
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I added some extra stitching just to spice things up a bit. And, used Made by Rae's latest backpack pattern addition to add lining.<br />
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This lining fabric is funny because Michelle actually gave me about a yard of it a couple of years ago after she made a blanket out of it for her husband. I was going to use it to make shorts for Jude, but never got around to it. This turned into the perfect opportunity to pull it out!<br />
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So, I made some shorts (used the <a href="http://www.danamadeit.com/2008/07/tutorial-kid-pants-with-a-flat-front.html" target="_blank">flat front pants tutorial</a> from MADE) for the little guy in a 12 months size hoping that he might be able to sport the backpack and the shorts in the same outfit. I should have made a shirt too. Can't you just see one with a moose on the front? Hmmm. First birthday gift maybe.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-86432733234406888812012-08-01T21:23:00.001-05:002012-08-01T21:23:30.631-05:00A Blessing of a BabyMy sister, Emily, and her husband just welcomed a sweet baby boy at the end of May. We got to visit them in the middle of June. What a fun trip. He sure is a blessing and we were so happy to meet him, love him, kiss him and hold him.<br />
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Sometime in April I put together a few things for him. Now, I finally get to show them off! First was a matching set of <a href="http://amilliontinylittlethings.blogspot.com/2012/01/urban-hoodie.html" target="_blank">urban hoodies</a>. I decided that Jude and Bennett needed matching sweatshirts (that's logical right?) so I sized them right to fit both of them when we see each other at Christmas. This one is Jude's. It's a size 2T.<br />
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This one is Bennett's. Sized 6 mos. I found the puppy knit at Joann's and had to have it. Jude loves the puppies and I think it's a perfect accent fabric. The gray was a jersey knit that I had on hand - in fact, it was a jersey sheet set I purchased at Target on sale awhile ago. I think the combo is perfect.<br />
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Jude wore his for about 10 minutes in Colorado. The heat has prevented any future wearings, but I'm sure it will still look great come fall. Gosh, I love this pattern. Looking at these pictures makes me want to make more!<br />
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Of course, I couldn't stop there. This is my twin sister's baby after all. So, <a href="http://amilliontinylittlethings.blogspot.com/2012/04/bibs-for-baby.html" target="_blank">as promised</a>, I made a few more bibs for Emily's collection. <br />
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I added this word to the plain blue one. I don't have an embroidery machine so I ended up printing out the word, cut out the letters and traced them onto the fabric. Then, I just stitched over the top of the lines. I went over each letter twice. Turned out cute I think. I might have to try it again sometime.<br />
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Finally, to round out the stash, I made a few snack bags to match the bibs. This addition to the gift was purely selfish because I made 8 total bags and kept 4 for myself. <br />
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I'm not sure when, but Jude reached this age where it was in my best interest to bring snacks with me everywhere we go. At some point I realized I was wasting plastic bags and thought it would be better to make some and wash them instead. <br />
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<a href="http://www.maubys.net/2011/11/ultimate-re-usable-snack-bag-machine.html" target="_blank">This</a> is the tutorial I found via Pinterest. I didn't use PUL fabric for the interior like it suggests. Mine are cotton inside and out and I think they work just fine.<br />
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Hopefully Emily and Bennett will find a use for them too.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-28456764917534398902012-07-14T21:59:00.000-05:002012-07-14T21:59:29.856-05:0024 Weeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This week is 24 weeks. I can feel her moving regularly and even Jesse has been able to feel her kick occasionally. I'm experiencing a wave of "very tired" which is requiring a daily nap, but other than that I'm feeling great. This is a fun stage.<br />
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Two weeks ago we spent a week in Colorado with Cory, Em and their new baby, Bennett! It was totally and completely blissful. I have a post coming with gifts made for Bennett. While we were there, Emily and I went garage sale-ing, where I picked up these cute little shirts/dresses.<br />
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I decided they needed diaper covers to complete the outfit, so these became the first project for little girl Tink. I already had the fabric on hand. (It's kind of embarrassing how much girly fabric is in my stash.) The blue is a linen-look that I couldn't pass up and the floral is a lovely print that I picked up on sale last year. You'll certainly be seeing these two again in different projects. In fact, the blue would be absolutely perfect as <a href="http://oliverands.com/digital/OLV-OS011SA.html" target="_blank">Oliver + S Sailboat Pants</a>. Just need to buy the pattern.<br />
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It was so stinkin' hot outside when I took these pictures that I neglected to change the settings on my camera. Oops. Sorry for blinding you.<br />
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<br />I used <a href="http://www.danamadeit.com/" target="_blank">MADE's</a> diaper cover <a href="http://www.danamadeit.com/2008/07/tutorial-the-perfect-diaper-cover.html" target="_blank">tutorial</a> which was very easy and satisfying.<br />
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I look forward to little girl Tink crawling around in these next summer. <br />
<br />Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-72880290701696864642012-07-04T21:19:00.000-05:002012-07-04T21:32:53.179-05:00Beachy ShortsMy sewing machine is humming away these days. I just haven't been motivated to write about my creations. I'll blame it on the heat! My goodness, I'm not sure how much longer I can stand these 100 degree days. What happened to summery 85? I miss it.<br />
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One of the projects on my list recently was white linen shorts for the little guy. We're attending Jesse's cousin's wedding next weekend and since Jesse is performing the ceremony I need a summery, dressy outfit for Jude for both the rehearsal dinner and the wedding. And, of course, cargo shorts just aren't going to cut it. I came up with the idea of white, linen shorts for his plaid top (given to him from his Aunt Marie for his birthday). I already had the linen on hand, so that made this project FREE! This little get-up was perfect for the 4th of July and will be perfect again for rehearsal dinner next weekend.<br />
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Plus, BONUS, there's a sew-along in blogland for shorts. Weee! So, I'll enter these bad boys into the <a href="http://www.smallfriendly.com/small-friendly/2012/07/shorts-on-the-line-kick-off.html" target="_blank">Shorts On The Line</a> group, which is fun. <br />
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I used the <a href="http://www.danamadeit.com/2008/07/tutorial-kid-pants-with-a-flat-front.html" target="_blank">kids pants with a flat front tutorial </a>from <a href="http://www.dana-made-it.com/" target="_blank">MADE</a>. Turned out lovely. I added front pockets, back pockets and belt loops. It's the first time I've done belt loops, but I think they totally make the shorts. What a fun (and totally impractical) detail for little boys.<br />
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The back pockets ended up a little high. I had trouble gauging that before the waistband was in place. Next time I'll shoot for an inch lower.<br />
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So, I think I nailed summery, dressy outfit number one. Now it's time to finish the tie for the wedding.<br />
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<br />Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-2298484861911795602012-06-11T10:50:00.000-05:002012-06-11T10:50:45.717-05:00My Very Own Sewing Space<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's true! For the very first time I have a place to sew. A place where I can leave my sewing machine out and unfinished projects lying around to my heart's content. I'm so happy! Here's a little tour of the room.<br />
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The desk above was a free piece from my brother-in-law and sister-in-law. It was in the basement of the house they recently bought. I gave it a distressed paint job and added hardware. I wish I had a before picture to show you. She went from less than desirable to being a real keeper. <br />
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My sister Emily gave me these canisters as a wedding present. I quickly realized they were too small to hold four, suger, etc. well, so now they have new life holding stray ribbons, zippers, velcro and extra thread.<br />
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My Mom has had one of these for as long as I remember. I feel like I've made it in life now that I have a place to put one. All that thread so neatly organized makes my heart happy.<br />
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I resurrected this shelf from our basement. It was a dingy old thing that came with the house. You can see a "before" picture below. I gave it the same distressed paint job that I did on the desk. Now, it holds my stacks of fabric, some art supplies and a few sewing books. <br />
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It was so inspiring to pull out this fabric from my bins. There are so many projects just ready to be made!<br />
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I finally get to display my sewing books too. I'm especially proud of the "Better Homes and Gardens" book copyright 1970. My sister, Marie, sent it to me a long time ago. Its pictures and content are so vintage-y cool. I'm glad it's out of a bin and finally sitting proudly on a shelf. <br />
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Don't mind the mess of cords. I'm still working to tame them. These are the benefits of living in an old house where outlets are few and far between. I'll do my best to not start a fire.<br />
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In the other corner is the office space. I replaced the hardware with the same that I put on the sewing desk. I think it gives the desks a cohesive feel even though they don't match.<br />
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My friend Sara did the artwork. I love it. We used it to decide the color scheme for the room. Doesn't it look fabulous? <br />
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These are Jude's books, which I was too lazy to pull out of the room before taking pictures. They're in here because we're currently redoing his room and don't have a spot in there for them yet.<br />
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My grandpa made a table and chairs set for us when we were little and I'm lucky enough to inherit it! I can't wait to pick them up. They will go right here under the window and provide a perfect place for Jude and I to work in the same room together.<br />
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This is a picture of the room from the doorway. The bookshelf is to the left. My sewing table in the far corner and the office desk just to the right. <br />
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So, here's the lovely BEFORE pictures of the room. I should have taken a picture of my stuff in this space previously too. It looked like a scene from the show Hoarders. Something about bins of fabric and art supplies piled high in a dingy and dark paneled room screamed hoarder. We kept the door shut as often as possible. <br />
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One Saturday in April Jesse took down all the paneling and took it to the dump. Underneath it was glue and old paint. I spent a few weeks with a scraper in hand just scraping away. Of course, I could only do it for 60 minutes or so at a time before I was worn out and had to nap. Ah pregnancy. Everything takes twice as long as it should. Eventually, I sanded, we primed and then painted. The whole process took about a month.<br />
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And, lastly, a "before" picture of the shelves. Too bad you can't see the dirt and cobwebs. It was not a pretty thing. Surprisingly a scrub brush and a paint job makes it look rather functional. Three cheers for free furniture! (Jesse wasn't so happy about lugging it from the basement to the third floor though.) God bless that man.<br />
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Oh, and yes, that is our basement. It still looks like that. We'll get to that project eventually. I'm going to work on having a baby first though.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-50345046981383517892012-06-08T15:23:00.000-05:002012-06-08T15:23:24.817-05:00It's a GIRL!Just yesterday we got to do the ultrasound of our little one. We were pleasantly surprised to find out it's a girl!<br />
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From the beginning of this pregnancy I've had an inkling that it was a girl. Which was funny because when I was pregnant with Jude I didn't have a feeling one way or the other. Early on I found myself more inclined to look at girly things or to plan a girly nursery. However, I was sure not to buy anything knowing I would jinx it if I did!<br />
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I'm excited, but a little anxious to have a girl. Will I know what to do with her? Will I know how to do her hair? We'll see. The good thing is they come out tiny and not opinionated, so that will help.<br />
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My belly button is popping out this time. I don't remember it happening last time although Jesse says it did. This little one seems to be much higher in my abdomen than Jude was. I wonder if that makes a difference. My sister-in-law said she always wanted her belly button to pop, but it never did. I can't say I have the same sentiment about it. I think it's kinda weird.<br />
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I bet you could guess that I've got a few things on the sewing list. I can't wait to get started! So far the list includes:<br />
1. <a href="http://oliverands.com/blog/2009/03/sailboat-pants-and-skirt.html">Oliver & S Sailor Pants</a><br />
2. <a href="http://www.sew-much-ado.com/2012/01/infant-peasant-dress-free-pattern-and.html">Peasant Dresses</a><br />
3. <a href="http://seekatesew.blogspot.com/2012/04/pleat-week-guest-craftiness-is-not.html">Pleated Skirt</a><br />
There will be more. That's all I was brave enough to pin before I knew her gender. The sewing machine will be humming soon!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-91441082109252103462012-06-03T16:00:00.000-05:002012-06-08T14:56:10.699-05:00Baby in the Hood CoatOkay, here's more pictures of the adorable coat Auntie Em sent for Jude's birthday. She totally surprised me, and my goodness, I LOVE IT!<br />
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Like I said before, it's the Baby in the Hood coat from Anna Maria Horner's book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Handmade-Beginnings-Sewing-Projects-Welcome/dp/B006ZEYUR4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338692587&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Handmade Beginnings</a>. I'm afraid I would purchase this book for this one pattern alone.<br />
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Emily used blue and white striped seersucker for the main fabric and a textured white cotton for the contrast. The combo is so classic and perfect.<br />
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She says she used the 18-24 mo size and then added 2 inches to the body and sleeves. My Jude is a skinny little thing, so her alterations are absolutely perfect. I think we'll get lucky even and where it two summers in a row!<br />
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<br />Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-15599514062041312522012-06-02T22:00:00.002-05:002012-06-08T14:55:19.202-05:00Dino PartyJude turned two about two weeks ago. I threw together this little birthday party for he and his cousin, Lincoln. His cousin was born almost exactly the year before. They love to play together and Lincoln was excited to celebrate his birthday party with Jude. Jude, on the other hand, doesn't know the difference.<br />
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In the last 6 months or so Jude started to give a good "ROAR" anytime he sees a dino or something similar. Uncle Cory originally taught him this skill and he hasn't given it up. I love it, so I decided to use it as our theme.<br />
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When I originally showed him these invitations he looked carefully, paused and let out a good "ROAR". It was so perfectly timed I wish I could have caught it on video. <br />
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I derived the front of the invitation from an etsy seller, but I can't seem to locate them again. It's simple and easy. I added the red and white stripes to the back to match a tablecloth I already had on hand.<br />
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Three balloons for Lincoln and two for Jude. I ran across these little dino sippy cups at <a href="http://menards.com/main/home.html" target="_blank">Menards</a> of all places. They worked perfectly with the theme so I couldn't resist!<br />
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The party hats and the cupcakes were ideas from <a href="http://wantsandwishesdesign.blogspot.com/2011/04/dinosaur-party-rawr-means-happy.html" target="_blank">this gal</a>. Her party was WAY cuter than mine. Great ideas over there. You can't really see Lincoln's hat very well, but it has spikes along the back. He really wanted to "smile" for me and wouldn't turn around completely for me to see his hat. Funny boy. Anyway, they turned out pretty cute.<br />
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I think the cupcakes were my favorite. I picked up the mini dinos at the dollar store and then just made cupcakes from box mix. It's funny how piping frosting on the top makes them look like I worked hours on them! I didn't.<br />
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The boys enjoyed themselves thoroughly. The party was a bit chaotic, but we had a good time. <br />
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Happy birthday to you, Mr. Jude. You make us SO happy!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437058517486252970.post-39011878894516981752012-05-25T16:57:00.000-05:002012-05-25T16:59:02.436-05:00Look Who's Two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>How old are you? </b>Two<b><br /></b><br />
<b>What did you get for your birthday? </b>A John Deere tractor, tractor flashlight, cool Puma outfit, handmade drawings from Marshall and Jane, a basketball hoop, a water table, a tricycle, a baseball tee, a lawn mower, a sleeping bag and a new coat.<b><br /></b><br />
<b>What is your favorite thing to do? </b>Play with Daddy's iPad. Read books.<b><br /></b><br />
<b>What is your favorite thing to eat? </b>Bananas, yogurt and pizza.<b><br /></b><br />
<b>What makes you happy? </b>Playing outside. Playing with your cousins. <b><br /></b><br />
<b>What makes you sad? </b>An episode of Sesame Street where a character gets a pie in the face. Every time you immediately burst into tears.<b><br /></b><br />
<b>What is your favorite show?</b> You don't have a specific favorite, but we watch Curious George, Super Why and Cat in the Hat a lot.<br />
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<b>What is your favorite song?</b> Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. You've been singing it over and over again for 6 months.<br />
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<b>What do you and mom do together?</b> Play outside. Color. Cook.<br />
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<b>What do you and dad do together?</b> Wrestle. Tickle. Eat goldfish crackers.<br />
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P.S. Auntie Em made that coat. It's the Baby in the Hood Coat from <a href="http://www.annamariahorner.com/productbooks.html" target="_blank">Anna Maria Horner's Handmade Beginnings</a>. It's killing me how cute it is. More pictures to come. Also, pictures of the birthday party coming soon too.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571973663828988405noreply@blogger.com2