It's a Special Day...

for a baby who's growing every day!
(yeah, I'm not a poet...)

Lucca loves to play with her hands and slap her thigh (everything must be really funny!)
She loves to eat puppies, and hug dollies.
She loves tummy time, most of the time.
She laughs, smiles, and drools all over the place.
She loves to look in her little mirror and study that little face that looks back at her.


She is getting stronger every day, and more full of smiles.
I love her to pieces, and can't believe it's been 4 months!

Mommy-made baby toys

We have no shortage of baby toys.  Raina was the first grandchild on both sides, and has been spoiled pretty well by all grand-people, aunties, honorary aunties, and relatives from distant corners of the earth.  So Lucca doesn't really *need* much of anything.  Still, I wanted her to have some special things that were just for her.  So I got together a few patterns, in my head and on paper, and made her a few softie friends of her own!

Mr Turtle 

(I believe you've already met...)

The Jovial Giraffe

(from Lotta Jansdotter's book)

Squishy Bunny

(adapted from this tutorial)

The Happy Sun

 

Every one of these was fun and easy to make :)  The giraffe was made from a scrap of fabric from an old tshirt I've been trying my hardest to NOT part with for years.  Yearsandyearsandyears.  An embarassing amount of years.  For the tags, I used pieces of ribbon that I end up with at the end of a roll - too short for a hairbow or for a tag on a blanket... but still long enough that I can't throw it away.  (Are you noticing a trend?  I swear I'm not a hoarder!!)  The original directions say you can add a bell or crinkles, but I didn't have any within arms reach, and on the night I made it I wasn't in the mood to get up out of my chair I guess :).

Squishy bunny is also made from a recycled piece of clothing!  This one, though, I'm not emotionally attached to!  It's from a baby cardigan we got in a bag of hand-me-downs.  Cute bright rainbowy fabric, so soft... but the piece of clothing wasn't really my style so I tossed it in the "do something with this" pile!  I mostly like this pattern.  Next time, though, I'd keep the ears as part of the big pattern, and not add them on separately.  They're just a little too floppy for my liking.  Also, bunny's face.  It creeps me out a little.  I'm a novice at embroidery, and embroidering on jersey is tricky.  It's cute enough, though.  And not totally creepy, right?  I added the heart on, too... I wanted to decorate a little, and I also wanted to use more of the pretty fabric!  I like the stripes runny the opposite way of the body, and I like the look of the stitching around it, too.  I almost machine sewed it on, but I like the handpieced look of it this way.  I have a few baby showers coming up, and I'm thinking of making more of these from recycled sweaters.  

The sun taggie is my favorite.  It can attach with links to a stroller or carseat, or to a playmat.  His face came out cute, and I got to reuse an outgrown sleeper! 

 I tried not to OVERstuff any of these to keep them cuddly and squishy!  Next time around, I'll be trying out adding bells and crinkles, and using different textures of fabric.  

In the end, though, no toy is as good as playtime with big sister!  :)

Lotta Jansdotter's Baby Snuggler

Let's just start things off with a snuggly baby picture...

I take millions of pictures of my kids.  Maybe not millions, but seriously, a lot.  Maybe millions.  This picture is a little older now, somehow this baby is three months old now!  Since she still fits into this project, though, and I just put the finishing touch on today (yeah, i know...) it's totally still relevant. 

Look at this one... she's so embarassed that it took me so long to finish this project!

So, the project.  Let's get down to business.  This is Lotta Jansdotter's baby snuggler.  This pattern is available for free online, but I got it from the book.  I'll be reviewing this and 2 other baby sewing books in an upcoming post, so that's all I'll say about that for now.  :)  Here are some places you can find the pattern on the good ole interwebs:
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/05/craft_pattern_podcast_snuggler.html
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=393690.0
http://www.onecraftyplace.com/2009/05/18/baby-snuggler-pattern/

I've probably said it before, but I am generally not a pattern follower.  I look at the pattern, then wing it.  Even simple patterns.  But this one I gave my all.  I followed the pattern start to finish, even darts.  It was absolutely worth it!  I am so happy with the way this turned out!  I was nervous about all the pieces matching up, and then matching front to back on top of that... but everything worked out perfectly!

The pictures don't do it justice.  People say that all the time, but it's true.  The inner fabric is pink minky dot - SO soft and cozy.  I'm current;y in love with minky.  I'm looking for an excuse to buy the bright purple minky (aside from another blanket, which we don't REALLY need around here... but I can't resist for much longer!)  If you have any ideas, send them on over!  The outer fabric is from the home decor fabric section at JoAnn Fabric.  I wanted something a little sturdier and more durable than lightweight cotton.  I figure this will get washed often, and I want it to hold up.  But I also wanted the pattern to be bright and fun.  I think I got in all my wants!

The little heart is from a scrap of pin jersey I had from another project.  It's not in the pattern (okay, so I guess I added something after all!), but I thought it added a cute touch.

Also not in the pattern (man, I totally lied about following that thing to the letter, didn't I?!  At least it was ading things, not leaving them out!)  is topstitching.  I topstitched all the way around, because I like the way it looks.  It looked fine before, but the topstitching really adds to the finished look in my opinion.

What I hadn't finished until today was the velcro closure.  Easy peasy, I just needed to buy some pink velcro.  I finally found some today at Walmart, stitched it on in 5 minutes, and now it is totally comlete!  Now it stays closed to kep baby girl warm and snuggly!  When she was little little this wasn't a big deal since she didn't move all that much.  The flaps stayed closed like they were supposed to!  But since she's wiggling a lot more now, she punches the flaps open all the time.  Funny, but not effective at keeping her warm!  I took no pictures of the velcro itself, but here is what it looks like staying closed :)

 

This is a really fun pattern.  I will definitely make more to give as gifts!  The size is roomy for newborns, and big enough that my 3 month old still has some room to grow in it.  I think it will get her through the winter no problem.

This is one of those things I'll be really sad to see her outgrow.  Fortunately, we have plenty of baby dolls in this house that will appreciate a handmade sleeping bag!

The Super Incredible Big Sister

So, i may have an over thinking problem.  It's usually not actually a problem, except when it causes me to lose sleep maybe.  Back when we were preparing for Lucca's birth, the overthinking part of me kept wondering how Raina was going to handle becoming a big sister.  She seemed excited, she seemed happy, she seemed prepared.  But still, she was 2.5.  How ready could she be?  So we (okay, I) decided that when Raina came to see her new baby sister for the first time in the hospital, there should be a present waiting for her.  A big sister gift, from the baby to Raina, super special and only for her.  I pondered a lot of gifts.  I did more research than was really healthy.  And then (thank you, Pinterest!), I found this book.

EXACTLY what I had been searching for.  Raina opened up her book and loved it right away.  It may have helped that it was wrapped in Dora paper, but who that's another story.  I cried, because I do that.  It is a beautiful book, and I swear I'm not being paid to say this!  :)  Raina loved her big sis book, and the special medal (or "award necklace" as it's known arounf here!)

 I am in no way affiliated with this company, but if you're looking for a special gift for a big brother or sister to be, I can't recommend tis book enough.  It's something I can see her treasuring for years to come.  Full disclosure... I still cry every time I read it, but I'm the type that cries at tissue commercials, so you might be okay :)

Here's the link to the site, if you're interested... 

http://www.iseeme.com/super-incredible-big-sister-personalized-childrens-book.html

Anyone else give a special gift to an older sibling when a new baby came along?  Some people seem to think it's customary these days, but quite a few people here in our family were surprised by the idea.
Oh, and in case you were wondering, Raina has taken to her new role amazingly... she really is a super incredible big sister!!

Rainbow taggie

Wrapped up all pretty like...

I heart taggie blankets.  And ribbon.  And rainbows.  And minky dot fabric. 

Can you see where I'm going with this?

I have, uh, a pretty solid supply of ribbon.  But with my Etsy shop in a low selling season (www.rainasunshine.etsy.com), I've been looking for some new ways to use all the pretties.  They look lonely just sitting around under my craft table waiting and wishing to be wrapped around a dowel and stuck in the oven!  Answer:  taggies!  All kids love taggies.  Something about the silky ribbon, and the rubbing, and ... I'm yawning already.  It's not just kids :).

So, I thought I'd make my own taggie - pretty simple, and a beautiful result!

Minky fabric, with ribbons pinned in place for sewing

This is one yard of white minky dot, which I could cuddle in for the better part of an afternoon.  I cut ribbons in lengths of approxamately 2.5 inches, folded them in half, and pinned them facing in on the right side.  A matching one yard piece of minky gor sandwiched on top, and I sewed it up until I had about a four inch opening left.  I turned it right side out, closed the opening, then topstitched all the way around - this gives the ribbon some extra stability and also gives the whole blanket a nice finished look.

I loves it.

Some ribbon and topstitching detail

Now, in an effort to be completely honest... I'm not showing you my entire finished blanket here :).  In the center of the front, I appliqued the name of my new baby girl, who is due next week.  (Or tonight.  I'll take tonight.)  It looks beautiful if I do say so myself.  And I do.  I printed letters off the interwebs, traced them onto scraps of fabric in various colors (leftover from fat quarters used in the bonnets), and ironed them on with fusible interfacing.  For lengevity, I also handstitched around them.  BUT... you'll have to wait to see that part.  Sorry :)   Really, I'm dying to tell.  But it's the only surprise we've kept with both girls, and we're so close now...  I can't give in!

I've done a few more taggie projects lately...  more on those later...  and hopefully an update soon with the little lady lounging on her personalized taggie!

In my fuzzy bonnet...

So.  It seems that when I start making something new, I make it to death.  Not necessarily a bad thing, just a trend I'm noticing.  Hairbows?  Yeah, we've got a few.  Now my workspace (um, kitchen table) is covered in fleece and pins and flanel in pretty little girly prints.  I figured I'm expecting a girl, and they're cute, so if I'm making one...  why not make 15 more? 

I was browsing the interwebs one day (thanks, Pinterest!) and found a super-cute baby bonnet tutorial on Prudent Baby, a blog I am completely addicted to.  I started looking into other bonnet utorials, and I was hooked.  I am a huge fan of hats on babies, but the ones I like always cost eleventy billion dollars and are sold at specialty boutiques that don't appreciate visits from a harried mom and her spirited toddler :).  SO, as always, I thought "I CAN MAKE THAT!"  (My husband's least favorite phrase by now, for realz.)  I played around with all the tutorials, gave my seam ripper a good workout, stabbed my fingers with pins a lot, tweaked, played... and ended up with, in my opinion, the most awesomely adorable and cozy reversible baby bonnets in three lovely little sizes! 

                                                       (showcasing the reversible-ness)

My first tries (and actually, one of my top fave bonnets) were made from cotton fat quarters, but since it is getting chilly here, it seemed like a good idea to try out some fabrics that would keep little heads toasty warm in the upcoming months.  I ended up making flannel/fleece bonnets in newborn and 3 month sizes, and cotton ones in a 6-ish month size.

And can I just say - I am in LOVE with these bonnets.  I donated some to my church craft fair to raise money for the Susan G. Komen foundation, and they were (to say the least) well received.  It helps that about 8 women in my church have young babies or are expecting, but seriously - the requests to make a sweet hat for all the little ladies at church were more than I expected!  Also, Raina has requested a purple hat that is "just for Meow.  No baby."  Stat.  I love that little girl! 

                                Meow, modeling a rainbow version while he waits on his purple one.

A few things about the bonnets...
1.  Each one has a piece of elastic sewn inside the two layers so that it fits better across the back of the baby's head.  Without the elastic (which was a huge headache at first!  There is NO good way to do this step, but it really is worth it) there is a funny gap at the back of the neck unless it is made to fit each individual baby. 
2.  I used ribbon for the ties.  Long pieces of ribbon.  In no way would this pass any child safety standards.  I know that.  But I also know that I'm not going to put my baby to bed in a bonnet, and I know that I keep a close watch over babes in my care.  Babies should not be left unattended with long pieces of string.
3.  Two pieces of fleece sounds cute and cozy, but in my experience it is bulky and hard to work with, especially in the tiny sizes.
4.  Fat quarters are perfect for this project.  They give you about enough fabric for 2 bonnets, or one and a ruffle if you are haphazard with your pattern placement, like I am sometimes :)  You get lots of variety without a big pricetag, and you wont get as tired of the fabric as if you had bought a yard off the bolt.  Or maybe that's just me.

I think that's it.

                             A few of the cozy reversibles...  my faves, and a holiday version!

So basically, I adapted this pattern:  http://www.prudentbaby.com/2010/01/fleece-bonnet.html
This is the pattern from prudent baby.  (Also shown on their blog in cotton in another post).  This is what is, in my research, a 6-ish month.  I scaled it down a few times to make tinier versions, leaving the length of the pattern pieces intact, but tracing in about .5 inches on the sides/top.  It was trial and error.  I'm really not a pattern maker or follower.  I made the ruffle strip longer and wider, 'cause I love me a good ruffle.  After one successful attempt at their binding and elastic method, and a few frustrating ones that left me with what I considered to be under-par results, I changed the last few steps to be as follows:
1.  After making the inside layer and outside layer, and ruffling the ruffle... I made a sandwich.  No, not PB&J!  Two layers, right sides facing, with the ruffle facing in and sandwiched neatly in the middle, and two pieces of ribbon pinned in at the bottom edges right next to the ruffle (which were inside the layers when it was sewn).  I pinned the crap out of it and sewed all the way around, leaving just enough space to turn the whole thing right side out. 
2.  Once it was right side out, I inserted a piece of elastic about half the length of the back piece and sewed it into place with some barely noticeable tiny stitches.
3.  To finish the opening, I folded the edges in and slip-stitched it closed.  No visible stitches anywhere on the outside.

(I am pretty terrible at explaining my steps.  If you have questions, feel free to ask!)

Ta-da!  Bonnets!  Lots of them.  Seriously, lots.  My baby is going to have one on at all times.

Two of the cotton versions - I loved mixing and matching the patterns for these!  Seriously, fat quarters give you so many options!

 

Side view, on a wine galss.  I love the way the elastic gathers at the back!

Side view of my first (and maybe favorite), on a worm model.  That butterfly fabric.  I want it everywhere.

Embellished with felt "buttons," sewed on securely!

More details of my fave.