Every Little Girl Needs a Pair of Sandals

Drum roll please...the package was sent and safely arrived!  Yay for me!  It truly is something to celebrate when I get something sent in the mail...so aweful to say.  Will just have to add that to my list of resolutions - make it to the post office ON TIME.  Another thing to add...remember birthdays!  I'll leave that topic for a whole other post!  But lets just say I'm a bad Aunt.

So, onto the next project.  What does every little girl need in their summer collection??? Sandals of course!  These little sandals came from a pattern sold HERE.  So easy peasy (and of course super addicting) to make.  Many endless possibilities on how to dress these little guys up.  By the way, these were included in earlier said package and I hear they fit!  Yay!  Can't wait to see pictures of them on her little feet.  Will definitely have to start making the next size up so that she can enjoy them all summer.  I'm also curious how these would look on little boys..hmmmmm...well not in butterflies or zebra stripes of course!!

As I learned with making the shoes, it is best to plan ahead and make sure that the fabric pattern matches on both shoes - like how I put butterflies on the sole of the sandals??  Thought that turned out pretty cute!  Don't worry, I'm not patting myself on the back quite yet! 

Now I promise I am working on other things other than shoes (although these little guys will come back I'm sure!).  I have so many patterns and ideas in my file that its going to take me awhile to get through them I'm sure.  But next up is a pleated zipper pouch - another little victory...I put in a zipper!

Enjoy.

The 'oh-so-precious-I-can't-stop-making-them' - Baby SHOES!

This is bad, I can't even wait 24 hours to post about the shoes!  Did I say I'm addicted to shoes?  But lets just say it again, I'm addicted to SHOES!  I blame my grandmother for the trait as she had hundreds of pairs stockpiled for every imaginable situation.  But I say that with great pride because who wouldn't want to inherit such an incredible blessing?!  I haven't quite reached the same level as her (yet!) but each time I move it is quite a joke as to what the ratio of shoes boxes is to total boxes moved.  But lets not dwell on my collection, lets get the next generation of little girls started on filling their shoe boxes!

Aren't they just adorable!  This little pair of beauts were the first pair (on the left).   They have a few flaws as I weaved my way through the instructions (yes Ma I read the instructions!).  I have a habit of not reading instructions and just jump right into a project, which is probably why none of my recipes turn out the same the second time around!  But in any event I did read the instruction on these and although I had to take a few stitches out and start over a few times (oh and my ribbon ties never caught), they didn't turn out all that bad.  But are they wearable??  Will just have to wait and see!

Now for some important information.  The pattern for these super cute shoes came from HERE.  Oh how I love Etsy!  For a person that doesn't like to read instructions, but is also an on again off again type of sewer these instructions were perfect.  It had plenty of pictures (oh how I love pictures!) and just enough detail to get the point across, but not belabor the point.  Definitely a recommended pattern to add to your collection - just be warned they are addicting!

These are just the start.  However, before I get too addicted to making a 0-3 month size shoe, I think it might be a good idea to let the girl try them on!  Especially since she was born with her daddy's big feet!  So, onto packaging them up and sending them onward (unfortunately I'm the Aunt that lives 1,000 miles away, so I'll have to spoil her from afar). 

Onto the next project...oh what will it be?  Oh, I know what every little girl needs in this warmer weather...

Enjoy!

A Niece is born and the projects begin - Lil Sis and Big Sis shirts

I haven't quite figured out why I have this urge to get my sewing machine out when a child is born; for any other gift giving event I don't waste any time in getting myself to the closest mall and shop! But whatever gets me motivated to be creative I'll take it!  This time my little neice has arrived (yay!).  However, in true "Phillips" tradition I have somehow managed to wait until she is almost 2 months old before getting the projects finished and sent off in the mail.  Even knowing that I was running behind schedule I, obviously not thinking, started making 0-3 month little shoes (I'm a true shoe addict so its only natural for me to share the blessing :) ).  So here's to hoping that they will fit her!

Before I get to the adorable stockpile of shoes that are about to be put in the mail (yes I know I probably should have worried about putting them in the mail before posting - but I just couldn't wait to share.)  The first project up was to make little shirts for the new little sisters.  I have to admit I did start out at the local chain stores and of course the mall to try and find "lil sis" and "big sis" shirts.  However, low and behold I came up short.  I was a little shocked, but this gave me an opportunity to get a little creative and bring the sewing machine and the rest of the arsenal out of hiding and onto the dining table. 

These turned out really cute and can't wait to see them on the girls.  I did purchase the tank tops as I'm a little rusty at the sewing machine and the machine is still working on clearning away the dust!  But both me and the machine are working on getting up to par to hopefully tackle more complex projects.  For now, me and some HeatnBond are really good friends. I gathered up some material, printed out some block letters from Word and got started.  After tracing and cutting out the letters I simply layed out the sayings as I pleased and followed the package instructions to apply to the shirts.  Easy! 

Just the saying alone was a little boring, but I didn't want too much more. So along came the simple flower motif.  I simply stacked some odd shaped circles of fabric on top of one another and sewed them in place in kind of a pizza slice sort of way.  So, here you have it.  I unfortunately didn't come up with this idea myself, however I can't for the life of me remember where I saw it.  So if you have seen this before please let me know where so I can give credit where credit is due. 


Plenty more projects still floating around in my head to get accomplished and so little time.  But one step at a time...which reminds me, I'll show off the shoes in the next post (they are sooo cute and I can't stop making them!).   

Enjoy!

Energized

As a newly wed (yay!) I have been trapped in a neutral position of trying to put a definition on ME.  Having so far been unsuccessful I have been (I'm sure) driving my hubby nuts with all my new ventures.  It all started off innocently enough with cooking.  We have currently lived together for approximately 6 months and as my hub can attest, we have rarely had the same meal twice!  Luckily for me I have an awesome hubby who is brave enough to try all my new concoctions.  The thing is, when I do make a dish a second time it is hardly ever the same!  Oh my, I've really got to work on that!  Adding to the bliss of new recipes is our new-found vegetarianism.  Challenging I have to say, but I'll be sharing some of my fave recipes along the way (maybe if I have them in writing I'll be able to make it taste the same the second time around!).

Another venture has been photography.  Absolutely in love with catching the awkward pose or off moment.  My poor fur kids have of course taken the brunt of the flash exposure!  They have almost become numb to the intrusion of the lens staring at them while they play or sleep.  I'm still working on this one, but am enjoying the many complexities that come with taking that perfect shot.  So many things to capture and so little time (expecially when my focus keeps changing)!

And the latest...craft blogs.  I know this one is just making the hubby's head shake!  So much for the business suit professional that he thought he married.  Out came the sewing machine and stacks of fabric that now line the dining table.  I'm off and energized with so many sewing projects floating around in my mind.  Oh I can't make them stop!  I have been so inspired by the many blogs out there with people who share my passion for creating.  Have I found me???  Probably not, but it sure is fun in any event!

I have been addicted to Etsy for quite awhile - all the possibilities.  I am so impressed with the craftiness of and passion that people have for creating, well, just about anything.  Most impressive is their commitment and affectation to show (and sell) the world their works of art!  (Sell?? Now theres that business side of me!)So my new resolution, so to speak, is to share my works of art (yay!).  I have been so inspired by the craftiness of others that I want to share with you both the inspiration and my interpretation of it.  I'm so excited, are you?

K. I'm now energized so off to the sewing machine to start a new project.  What is it going to be today...