Baby Bucket List Reviews

As you know, I've been working on various items that we needed for our Ember.  I thought it would be fun to do reviews of my own products!  So today, I'm going to begin with one of my bigger projects, the Custom Moses Basket.

But first...some baby eye candy :)

They say the camera adds 10lbs...she does look bigger than in real life!  The strange thing is that in person she's petite: fine featured.  There's chub in her cheeks, but her face is so little overall. 

Regardless, so sweet.  Love this little thing with all of my being.

These photos aren't all that great but they illustrate my findings that this Moses Basket works great!!  We've used it daily since we got home from the hospital on Monday and it's wonderful!  The beauty of this particular basket is that it is sturdy!  The base is solid wood and the leather straps are screwed into the basket frame.  If you recall, I ordered it with my measurements and gave the foam matt as a template for the base.  I then designed the liner myself with custom fabrics. 

She's small for it now so I figure we've got about 3 months of use out of it.  I use it during the day for her frequent naps, and just last night for the first time, I used it for her night sleeping.  For the first few days I usually sleep with my newborns.  Ember especially had swallowed a LOT of amniotic fluid which caused her to choke and gag a lot the first few days. 

THAT doesn't freak a mommy out at all, eh?  So, I kept her with me until this subsided.  Now she is doing very well sleeping in her own basket. 

I'm hoping to add these to my Vibrant Designs Baby shop come mid summer.  Another of the perks is that once baby has outgrown the basket as a bed, you can remove the liner and use it for baby storage, toy storage, etc.  So happy I went to the trouble to create this great basket!

Questions? Please ask! Next review? The gauze receiving blankets! 

Introducing...

If you don't follow me on facebook, then you don't know that we were ever so surprised to welcome our wee Ember Sophia into the world last night!!

As many of you know, I have trouble with pre-term labor so it was an amazing thing that I was able to get to 37 weeks!  While she was a great weight--she still has a couple of signs indicating that she was 3 weeks early.  She's very sleepy :) but we are working through that.

Ember Sophia

8:14pm

April 21, 2012

Stats:

7lbs 12.9oz

20" long

And a helmet full of coal black hair. 

My first time holding Ember :)

LOVE

4 hrs old

Sporting her first shabby rose headband :)

Meeting her big sisters and adopted grandma for the first time!  Our Brynna (the 4 year old) is absolutely enamored with her.  I'm afraid she expects to sit and hold her all day long...

and who could blame her?  This is a living, breathing baby...the same size as her own baby doll!  (except with more hair...that is actually soft) 

So tell me, are you all the types who like to read about birth stories?  Let me know if you do, and I'll work that up in the next couple weeks.

Also, if you haven't found out on Facebook already, the winner (YES, there was a winner) of the baby name contest is Nichole Hartwick!  She was the only one who guessed our Ember's first name correctly and she will win her choice of either a custom Buttercup Bag, a custom cloth diaper, or a Shades of Dawn Necklace.  Congratulations Nichole!

Marking things off the Bucket List: Diaper Bag!

I've actually been asked on Craftster and Facebook if I was done with my diaper yet! 

Crazy :)

And I am happy to say that it IS finally complete!  It honestly didn't take all that long, it was all the other custom items I had to complete first that slowed me down! 

This is not a toot my own horn thing: just an observation I have made since the last time I made a diaper bag for myself :) I've gotten better at it!  The diaper bag I made for our last daughter was an Amy Butler pattern: yeah.  If you're familiar with Amy Butler patterns... 'nuff said, right? 

AB patterns are extremely detailed (good) but sometimes the way things are described are difficult to grasp, especially without good photos to show me!  So, I remember that diaper bag taking me 3-4 days to complete.  Let's say that in the day I finished this diaper bag, I also finished 3 wristlets and the matching changing matt!  That included interfacing all the fabric too.  Sewing time is probably 3-4 hrs on this bag.  I'll bet you'd rather just scroll on down and see the photos?

Here ya go:

I got the pattern for this bag here.  If you recall I had been debating about going the route of yet another AB pattern: the Cosmo Bag, or using my own design the Mod Diaper Bag. 

So, basically since things seem to be progressing so quickly with the baby, I decided the Cosmo Bag should wait a while. (maybe I'll make it as a travel bag for MYSELF!!)  And I really wanted something different than my design because well, I see it all the time!  So, when i found this pattern for a weekender bag I was hooked. 

The closure comes from the Cosmo Bag: a large fabric covered button and I used the directions for the Cosmo Bag Button Loop for the uh...button loop. :) The pattern calls for a magnetic snap which is fine, but you lose some of the use and size in a bag when a snap is placed on the inside of a bag.  Using some sort of tab closure affords more bag space.  Also, I adore the look of the matching fabric button!

Once again, the pattern called for only 2 pockets on the inside.  I decided to add the same 2 pockets on the other side of the bag as well as...

a cell phone pocket

and a zipper pocket for all my essentials.

Then of course a few accessories:

A binky/paci bag that closes with regular snaps: my nemesis.

A wet bag...(my design and demensions: tute to come if anyone is interested) for when we (I) finally get the rest of the cloth diapers complete!

A changing matt: demensions are 16"x23" completed.  It's backed in soft brown terry cloth.

And that's it!  I am quite happy with how it turned out.  What do you think?  Will this become a shop favorite?  Lucky me, the person who designed the pattern says you can make bags to sell from it so it just might show up in my shop! 

Um, that is...in a few months!

Wedding Wristlets: a custom order

5-6 weeks ago I had a customer on etsy ask me if I could do a custom order of my wristlets in her fabric for her to give out at bridesmaids gifts.

YES! 

And I loved the fabric!!  Oddly enough, it's a type of fabric I've not yet used (especially on bags) so that was fun and different.  Here they are...

Remember my post on branding your home based handmade business the other day?  Here are my sew in business tags at work.  I changed my mind and decided they looked better in the lining...

What do you think?

a little closer...

and closer still...

I love the lining on these, although they frayed like crazy!  I'm still picking strings off my clothes. ;)

Some things to keep your eyes pealed for:

My diaper bag is done!!  I can't wait to show you guys!  It's neither of the two that I was picking from a couple months back.  You'll see how I took elements from both and yet it's still a completely different bag. 

Ever wonder how other etsy shop owners package their wares?  I do!!  So, later this week or early next, I'm going to show you how I have been packaging my bags. 

So, what are your plans for the weekend?

Baby Update...and a question?

If you follow me on Facebook, then you already know most of my baby updates.  I am currently 36 weeks and 3 days. 

Baby #1: born at 37 weeks after having spent week 31 through 36 1/2 on bedrest in the hospital. 

Baby #2: born at 36 weeks even: she spent 2 weeks in the NICU.  That ridiculous doctor refused to give me the steroid shots to help her lung developement! 

Baby #3: born at 39 weeks 5 days.  I wised up!  Found a new doctor who specialized in preterm labor.  I began taking progesterone shots at 16 weeks due to a shortened cervix. 

My most recent visit to the OB revealed that I have dilated 2 more centimeters since my visit last week making me 4cm and 70%.  It is quite possible that I could simply stay there for the next three weeks and then be induced (some people don't understand the "induction" here.  My doctor will allow this for me around 39 weeks because my cervix is overly ready for birth as is the REST of my body!)...and it is just as possible that I'll spontaneously deliver baby E in the next couple days. 

So if you can believe that with all of my preterm labor issues, I have yet to pack a bag!!!  I know, this is my fourth baby...should I not know this by now?  I pretty much do...but I thought I would ask what you found to be the most helpful while you were delivering a baby. 



Here is my list so far:

For me
-two sets of comfy pjs
-nursing bras
-nursing pads
-computer/charger
-cell phone/charger
-camera/batteries
-one set of clothes
-socks
-brush, blow dryer, flat iron, shampoo/conditioner
-toiletries
-lanolin
-pillow

Here's something I wished I had more of:

Nursing pajamas!  I have one set and it gets worn a LOT in those first weeks!  Of course, they are the HOTTEST things you have ever seen!  I'd like to find some that don't make me look like I'm still pregnant...and aren't gonna cost me the new baby I just had!  Know any regular chain stores that sell nursing pajamas?

Moving on...

For baby:
3-4 snap shirts
3-4 sleepers
blanket for drive home
going home outfit
carseat
headbands/bows
baby book

Have I missed something?  What would you add?  I could bring reading material but I think my computer will be enough to keep me occupied...not to mention holding, cuddling, and nursing a newborn! 


PS: I'LL BE BACK SOON WITH MY COMPLETED DIAPER BAG! 

Branding your Home Based Business

Branding...

Does that word scare anyone else out there??  Obviously I want people to one look and recognize my "brand" but is that really even possible to start right now?

Well, yes.

I recently had my blog redone by the very talented Courtney.  I LOVE it!  Love the colors, the graphics, the fonts...it all works well together.  So I decided it was time to "brand" my merchandise and use the graphics on my blog to do so. 

 

First up, sew on fabric labels.  Aren't these great?  I was just trying them out so I only ordered 100 of them and I've used two of them.  It's small: 1"x1" and it sews right onto the fabric.  I like the looks of them but I'm still out to lunch on how well they hold up.  I got mine from Sewnique Boutique on etsy.  The product is great and the price is even better but if you're needing something in a timely manner then this may not be the shop for you.  Believe me!!  I am not perfect with timing!  Especially right now when I'm in pain to just stand so I DO understand how things happen.  The shop announcements stated a turnaround time of 5-14 days.  My order arrived about 5 weeks after my purchase. 

My second item of business branding that I recently purchased is a custom stamp with my business logo.  This is for packaging purposes.  It can obviously be stamped on just about anything paper.  

This stamp is also a 1x1" stamp so I purchased 1 1/4"x1 1/4" in diameter stickers and stamp my logo onto them.  I've been recently packaging my bag products inside of celephane bags.  I use these stickers to close the bags and "brand" my package. 

My sew on labels at work

I'm pretty happy with my first foray into Home Based Business Branding.  What do you think?  Any tips on this subject?  Have you tried something different?  Please share!  I'm am always up for learning something different.

Newborn Felt Headbands

Remember the Baby Bucket List??  I DO!  I haven't been able to get much done with that because of catching up on custom orders.  (I have since closed my shop of all custom orders to ensure I could get them finished up in time!) But...

here is one item I can check off my list. 

Newborn Felt Headbands.  I already had one pom pom headband in ivory complete but wanted a couple more in girly colors :)  Here is a purple rose and pink rose...

and a yellow daisy (or something like it)

I like how they turned out.  Tutorials for both of these can be found over at Craftiness is not Optional.

Here

&

Here

All of my custom orders should be done within the next 3-4 days so then...

THEN

I will get started on the rest of my bucket list!  First up??

My DIAPER BAG!

Shades of Dawn Necklace--with a twist!

I'm sure most of you remember a while back when I posted a few necklaces that I call the Shades of Dawn necklace.  I was making them out of pearls and satin fabric which is a beautiful mix!!  A while back I made a cream rosette that was the perfect size for a Shades necklace but made of 100% cotton fabric.  I had actually been planning to do something else with it but when I found these green diamond beads in my stash I thought it might make a really pretty Shades necklace.  So,

here it is.

It hangs on a delicate silver tone chain.

What do you think? Do you have the perfect outfit for it?  (I don't, so it will go into my shop! lol)

I've got a busy week ahead of me wrapping up all my custom orders to I can hit my maternity leave early!  Which actually translates into--finish up my own sewing projects for baby before she arrives!  4 weeks and counting...I have an induction date set if she doesn't come on her own. 

OH yeah, 2 (ish) cm and 70% if you were wondering.  She has dropped and I am totally feeling it in my hips.  Ouch!!  Every step is painful and I hobble like an elderly lady (or so my husband says...but he tells the truth I'm afraid.)

Baby Headbands & Picmonkey

So, as most of you know...my favorite photo editing site is closing in T minus 11 days and

I AM NOT A HAPPY CAMPER!!!!

I've continued to use Picnik for my photo editing A. because it's still open and B. I'm hoping the whole problem might just go away!  Ha! 

Ok, so that's not gonna happen.  I don't remember who it was, but recently I saw on Facebook that one of the blogs I follow put out the question to their readers...what are you going to do once  Picnik is closed??  The overwhelming response (at least when I was reading) was Picmonkey.  So today I thought I would go try it out...

and

I

REALLY

like

it!

I'm not to love yet...but that may come as they add some other features (like say, collages??? anyone?)  One thing I've been meaning to post about are these cute shabby rose headbands I've been seeing over on Etsy.  I'm sure they've been around forever, but I've only been checking out newborn headbands for a couple months now...

Here's a basic one on Etsy:

For weeks...I kept wondering how are they making these flowers???  I purchased a headband off of GigisPetals because I wanted one for the new baby and also to see how they were put together!!  Then I asked the owner of Gigispetals who told me..."I think those flowers come on a strip of fabric already put together."

WHAAAA????

Then in my browsing of etsy one day I came across a shop that had just begun to carry the

shabby rose trim!!

And here is the connection between shabby rose headbands and Picmonkey: these are the first pictures I edited using Picmonkey!!  Tell me what you think...

I caved and bought some.  Here's what it looks like if you wondered.

I had already cut the trim into individual roses so just imagine this times about 5.  I purchased 1/4yd of 7 different colors: white, black, hot pink, light pink, yellow, teal, and purple. 

Here are a few simple single shabby rose headbands for the newest, baby E. 

Some on skinny elastic and some on fold over elastic.  BOTH are very soft and stretchy but the skinny is waaaaaay stretchier.  I found my big girls will wear the skinny elastic better as an fyi.

And here are a few headbands with two roses and a rhinestone button or pin.

I LOVE this one because of the center pin I used.  A couple years ago I stopped at a yard sale and bought a few wool sweaters.  When I got home, I found this broach pinned to one of them and it was broken.  I cut off all the broken doodads from the back and stashed it away...for a rainy day. :)

I made 5 of the 2 rose style headbands...all on skinny elastic. 

AND for really special occasions like...EASTER, I made 2 Trio Shabby Rose Headbands.  This first one is for my oldest daughter (4 years old).  Her Easter dress is light pink with white polka dots.  I love the center jewel here too!  I found this pack at Hobby Lobby for 3 for $2.  The rhinestone buttons on etsy go for $1 a piece...plus shipping.  These go with any color. Easy decision.

Care to take a guess what colors my second daughter's dress was?? 

So, in a nutshell, these things are super easy to make.  Cut apart the roses and trim off the tulle that it is attached to.  Choose your colors and coordinating felt.  Arrange the roses how you want them on the felt and glue in place.  Trim off the excess felt.  Cut a piece of felt to go over top of the existing piece that the flowers are glued to.  Choose the headband/barrette you'd like to use.  If it's elastic, cut your desired length then glue each end of the elastic to the back of the felt. (make sure it doesn't twist!)  Glue second piece of felt over top of the first piece, sandwiching in the elastic ends. 

If you prefer a barrette, simply glue it to the back of the first piece of felt.  You shouldn't need a second piece unless you want it. 

And that's pretty much it!

Have you tried these before?  What did you think?

AND WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT PICMONKEY??

Watch the Lamb

Happy Good Friday!!  This is a huge day for some people (myself included) because if today had not happened, then I would be looking at spending an eternity in Hell: a place I firmly believe exists.  But because Christ allowed Himself to die on the cross for me, I am not looking at eternity in Heaven!! 

I don't always feel like I am good with words.  I want so much to tell someone about how Jesus died on the cross for them...but I just don't feel like I am clearly expressing what I want to say to be understood...at least not like I hear others put it.  It seems that I always fall back on a song.  It's not that I like to play on the emotions of others but song writers are just so good at putting words together! 

2,000+ years ago, Christ took on your sins and died in your place. 

John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  But God sent not His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

I am not looking for nasty comments here.  However if you have any questions please feel free to ask me.  And as I said...I tend to look at songs to help me explain so feel free to listen and watch this.  Beware of some graphic parts. I would not allow children to watch this without your knowledge first of what is on it. 




Don't forget about my baby name contest going on right now!!  Go HERE to enter!!

Have you liked me on Facebook yet?  You'd better!  I've got a facebook only sale coming up on Monday!!  Times to be announced so be sure to tell your friends and invite anyone you'd like!  IF you invite someone (they have to tell me you did on my facebook page) AND they make a purchase, YOU will receive a 50% off coupon to my shop!!  Amazing, I know!  Your friend (who makes a purchase during the facebook only sale) will also receive a 25% off coupon to my shop...so everybody wins!  Check in soon!

Vacation Roundup

Around here, we are getting into vacation mode!!  I am so ready for warmth...and a break away to watch my littles have some fun in the sun.  And it (vacation) is fast approaching (among other things in our lives!)  We are a short two months away from vacation and I feel like I have got a ton to do.

So, that's not just a feeling. I really DO have a ton to do!!  I've been researching the internet lately for some inspiration and how to's on just about everything!  Here are some of the things I like...

First up: I plan to make some lap desks for each of my kids so I've been checking out some tutorials.

Here are a few I like but have yet to decide which I will choose:

Chalkboard Cookie Tray Lapdesk from Elle Belle Creative





DIY Lapdesk Tutorial from Pleased as Punch




Cookie Sheet lap desk from This Heart of Mine Blog  I like this one because the "pillow" is attached by velcro (removable) instead of hot glue.




Chez Beeper Bebe: Kids Travel Desk   I love this one for the pockets on the sides but I'm NOT a fan of the fabric on top.  Seems to me like there's got to be a better way to incorporate this idea with one of the previous ones.  Hmmm...




These next few are some games that I think would work well in the car: some for older kids and soem for younger ones. 

Having Fun at Home: Treasure Box Game




Magnet Travel Games by Ladybird Lane   Not all of these games would be appropriate for my kids, but I DO like the alphabet matching one.  This would be a good one for my 2 year old and possibly the 4 year old. 



In going with the magnetic theme from above, I really like this next one!!

And another from Elle Belle Creative are these GREAT magnetic paper dolls!!  I can't wait to try this out!




Skip to My Lou has this great string game
























Last spring I did a series on traveling with kids...specifically activities for the long road trip but there are a few other tips interspersed as well.  If you'd like to check that out, here ya go:

Touring Tuesday Travel Series

One of the things I made for last year's vacation was a travel tray made from a cookie sheet.  This worked great...but when we went to clean out the van this past Monday (after the winter of nastiness) I found that the cookie sheet portion had rusted really bad!!  Not something I really want my kiddoes playing from, so we pitched them.  In theory and in usage, the idea was great...but the materials don't hold up.  I would recomend possibly using a plastic tray or aluminum cookie sheet.  The lap desks I plan to make are similar in function but will not strap to the carseat like the travel tray did. 

Do YOU have any great ideas??  Would love for you to share a link in the comments if you know of a great activity or travel tip!