~A Little Orange and Black~

Orange and black.  You're suspecting that this has something to do with Halloween or Fall, right?  Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you.  It has nothing to do with either but rather something much more important and fun...school colors and school pride!

This is my granddaughter, Monkey, with her Mama and other grandma, JuJu.  They live in Nebraska and are big Cornhusker fans...I mean really BIG!!  Monkey got to celebrate her 7th birthday by going to her first college football game.  But they are also Oklahoma State Cowboy fans because her daddy and his side of the family (that's us!) are diehard, bleed orange and black Cowboy fans.  And, to top it off, her Poppa (Mr. Bill) played some college football there!  Anyway, her Mama asked me to make her something orange and black (school colors) so that she could show off her Cowboy pride.

She showed me an outfit from a retail place and asked if I could make something like it.  Do you know there are no peasant type dress patterns for little girls?  Seriously.  I thought they were "in" this year.  Anyway, I had to combine two patterns to come up with this dress.

A nice wide, black and white polka dot sash really stands out against the orange chevron print.

I finsished the edges of the sash and ruffle trim with my serger.  I think the two rows of ruffles are so cute.  Adds a bit of flounce, don't you think?

Jane, Monkey's mama, also asked if I would make a hairbow.  This is my first attempt.  I've never made big girl hairbows before.  Can you believe it?  I've got three granddaughters!!  Anyway, I layered together two pieces of the chevron fabric with interfacing to give it some stiffness, cut into several strips and trimmed the edges with my pinking shears.

A covered button made with OSU logo fabric finishes it off.  It was fun to make but I have to admit that it was rather hard on my hands.  I suffer from arthritis in my thumb joints :/   Bummer!

It's done and they went in the mail yesterday.  I just hope it fits!  Though I used the recommended measurement on the pattern, I have a feeling the neck opening may be a bit too large.  Thankfully, we are going up there for a visit in about ten days so I can make some adjustments, if necessary, when I'm up there.  Can't wait to see her display her Cowboy pride!    I had so much fun making this outfit and hairbow that I've got one in the makes for Tater Tot, the 5-year-old granddaughter.



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GO POKES!!

 

p.s.  Referring to the arthritic pain in my thumbs....I wear Handeze arthritic gloves (if I remember to put them on!) when sewing, use BioFreeze around the joints and have my hands worked on by the chiropractor and massage therapist when necessary but the ol' thumbs still give me issues.  If you suffer from this affliction, what do you do to help overcome the problem?

 

 

Until next time.....

~Pink, White and Soft Lace~

First of all, I have to apologize for the quality of most of these pictures.  They were taken over several days and, wouldn't you know it?  It was cloudy on all those days.  Plus, I made the mistake of letting my 10-year-old grandson take pictures with my camera and I think he messed with the settings. He took the first picture shown below ;)

 

This is Tater Tot, grandchild number four.  She had a birthday earlier this summer and turned five years of age.   Five!?!?!  Goodness.  Anyway, she was in desperate need of some new bedding for her sage, pink and white bedroom.  Not too frilly, nothing bold.  Very simple.  Much like the Pottery Barn style of bedding.

While fabric searching,  I came across this most adorable fabric at JoAnn's and just couldn't pass it up.  It was just so darned cute and I knew that it would make an adorable pillow.  But, there was just one itsy, bitsy little problem.  See all those pink and white flowers?  They are very flimsily attached to that ribbon tape and flap wildly in the breeze.  Plus, the fabric backing is a very sheer fabric.  I could just see Tater Tot (or ornery little brothers!) trying to pull those babies off.  So I backed the fabric with some white cotton and secured each and every flower with some fabric glue.  Yes, each and every one!!

After that, I made this little pillow for her.  I think it turned out so cute!  Next, it was time to for the quilt cover.  I was going to do some simple quilting but Mama wanted a duvet and it had to be white.  Tater Tot's current bedspread is white and she took very good care of it but the thing just wasn't made very well and was falling apart.

 

I came across this white, quilted-look white fabric that looks very shabby chic.  Perfect!!  And then this pink and white  cotton fabric in  a simple floral pattern to use for the backing.  The flowers are shaped almost exactly like the flowers in the pillow.  Scored again!!  Of course, every little girl needs some frill and I found a simple eyelet  lace to dress up the bedding some.  Forgot to include it in this picture though :/

 

First, I made the pillow using the pink floral for the front and back.  I created an envelope opening on the front but it's hidden underneath the lace.  I also added some Velcro under the lace trim for a way to keep the pillow closed.

 

The white fabric used for the duvet was tricky.  The fabric was only 54" wide, so I had to piece together one large middle panel with a narrow panel on either side but it was extremely difficult to get it lined up straight because the pattern design wasn't even!!  I think I had to take it apart three times before I was finally satisfied wtih it.  Grrr....

 

Look closely.  It almost looks like a mini chenille pattern, doesn't it?  This fabric was more lightweight than I would have liked, so I lined it with some cotton fabric for more durability.  And then did some straight line machine quilting lengthwise about four inches apart.  The front of the duvet just looked too drab so I created a flap with the floral cotton that I used for the back.  I attached a Velcro strip all the way across the top and added a variety of pink buttons since I didn't have enough of one particular design. (did the same thing on the pillow).

 

 

 Oh, before attaching the backing, I added the embroidered lace around three sides.  I found some large pink flower-shaped buttons on Etsy to use around the duvet.  Looking back,  I should have ordered more to use across the top of the duvet and for the pillow but I like the way it turned out.

 

Tater Tot knew I was making this for her but she didn't know when it was gong to be completed.  Truth told, it was about six weeks after the big "5" celebration.  She was at her other grandma's house when I took it over and we put it on the bed as a surprise.  You can kind of see the pink checked curtains on the window.  I made those for her when she was born. :)  Her bedroom walls are a pretty sage green.  Mama was supposed to take a picture of Tater Tot on her new bedding but I got tired of waiting for her.  LOL

 

Tater Tot told me she loves her new bedding.

 

 

 Until next time ~

~Creating Family Heirlooms Baby Style~

Awhile back, I gave you a sneak peak of some projects I was working on for our newest grandbaby who was born about a month ago. They involved some cotton fabrics, yarn, decorator fabric, corduroy and denim.  With the upcoming birth of each of my youngest daughter's children, she has asked me to make curtains, bedding, diaper bags and carrier covers.

I wish I had some pictures to show you the adorable things I made for big sister, Tater Tot, but I couldn't find any and her things have been stored away.  But I do have pictures of what I made for Bubba.

 

Brittney decided to reuse the carrier cover and baby bedding that I had made.  The fabric is a cowboy print from Waverly and then I used a lightweight denim, corduroy and coordinating cotton fabrics.  By the way, their Daddy made the crib when Tater Tot was born.  He's quite the carpenter, isn't he?  I also made the bedroom curtains using the Waverly fabric but forgot to take pics of them.

This is the diaper bag I made for Bubba but it is getting rather ragged.  Brittney wanted Little Bubba to have some things he could call his own and asked me to make some new ones just for him.  How could I resist a daughter who is so big on handmade items that may become heirlooms for her babies?

Thankfully, I had plenty of leftover fabric stored away to make a new one.   It's taken me a while, with a few interruptions along the way, so I just got it finished yesterday!!  I know, I know.  Tsk, tsk.  But I can say that I had the other items completed in time for her shower.  More about those in a minute.

 

Here's the new and improved diaper bag for Little Bubba!  This time I quilted the fabric for better stability and sprayed all the pieces with fabric protector with hopes to keep it cleaner.  When she washed the first one...only once...it faded rather quickly.

A changing pad made of the denim and cotton fabric.  The back pocket of the diaper bag is made with the corduroy.

The inside lining made with a western print fabric and you couldn't ask for sturdier pockets with the denim.

I think it turned out so cute if I do say so myself.  I must say that it's a bit more of a challenge turning and sewing through several layers of the heavier decorator fabric but it is more durable. So we don't have to be so concerned about it tearing or fraying in the heavier use areas.

 

  One of the other baby projects involved this yarn in colors of denim and wheat.  For each of my grandbabies, I've crocheted a baby afghan in colors that coordinated with their room colors.  Wouldn't you know, I forgot to take pictures!  At least I think I did.  When I went to search for them to add to this post, I couldn't find any.  Huh.

 

And the biggest project involved all these beautiful western prints.  The Waverly print was way too heavy for a quilt and I was ecstatic when I found this dark red cowboy print that coordinated perfectly.

I made lots and lots of Granny Squares while trying to make sure that no two were alike.

 Isn't it amazing how the look of the pattern changes when rearranging the layout of light and dark fabrics?

Though machine quilting is so much quicker, I 've always preferred hand quilting.  It adds such character and knowing that each stitch was put in by hand just adds that something special.  Which do you prefer?

 

There was a finished quilt on display in a fabric store not too far from where I live but, unfortunately, she didn't have any more of the backing fabric available.  Lots of cowboys and bucking horses.  I wanted that fabric!!  I was able to find some online and ordered loads of it.  If you look above, you can see that I also used it to line the diaper bag.

Here's the finished quilt.  I love how it turned out.  Tomorrow I'll take the fnished diaper bag to Brittney and then she'll have ALL the new family heirlooms...baby style...in hand.  Though her babies may not know now of the work and love that Mammer (me) put into creating these things for them, I hope that they will cherish them when they are grown and start families of their own.  They may not have alot of monetary value, but handmade family heirlooms are the most special.  Don't you think?

 

I pray that your day is filled with all the joy, beauty and color that the Fall season brings~

 

~Wee Little Bubba~

Last Friday, my youngest daughter went in to the hospital to give birth to our newest grandchild.  Big sister and brother were staying with us and they were absolutely giddy knowing that baby brother would be joining their family very soon.  Late in the evening, we were able to take them to see Little Bubba.

 It was so fun to watch their expressions as they entered Mama's room and wondering what was going through their minds when seeing little brother for the first time.  Of course, he wasn't anything close to what they were expecting. :)  Probably more like shock and awe at such a tiny little bundle.

 Here he is!!  All 8 pounds and 2 ounces at 20 inches long.  Believe it or not, he is the smallest of their brood.  I'm sure Mama was glad!  Want to get a closer look?

 Isn't he beautiful?  He came out looking so perfect.  He looks alot like his big brother when he was born but there's alot more dark hair underneath that little cap.

 Big sister couldn't wait to touch his soft skin and I know she was SO anxious to hold him as we didn't have to ask her twice about that.

 Even though little brother wasn't quite what he was expecting, Bubba was ready to hold him and to love on him as well.  He is only three years old and is just as loving and doting as big sister...but maybe not for as long.

 This is Poppa, my Mr. Bill.  She can't take her eyes off of him, can she?  Little Bubba...not Poppa. :)

Big sister is the most loving and doting child I have ever seen.  She was that way with her first brother and she will be even more so with this one now that she is older.  The next day, when I brought the kids to the hospital, I had to go buy some groceries.  Mama said that big sister held him for the longest time.  She's only four years old!!  She is going to be such a big helper as Mama has her hands full.

I had taken pictures of them giving kisses to Little Bubba but they didn't turn out very well.  Darn!!  But I'm sure that I'll be able to get one or two taken in the days ahead.

My heart is overflowing with thankfulness at God's care and protection in the life of this little one.  Words cannot adequately express the joy I feel in my heart.  Little Bubba is a very good baby right now adjusting to his new surroundings and Mama is slowly regaining her strength.  I think I'll check with her to see if I need to bring over a meal tonight.  And I might even have to cuddle and snuggle with our newest grandchild...if sister and brother will let me. ;)