Mommy's Sous Chef

I love this apron and it was again not at all my idea! My good friend likes to cook and is very good at it and asked me to make an apron for her son that said "Mommy's Sous Chef" on it. I loved the idea and told her when I was up and running with my new machine I would get on it. So here it is! I gave it to her before his birthday and baby number two arrived so I hope it helped him feel special.

This was the first item I embroidered using my new program that allows me to do multi lined text. It was so fun to try and man it was so much easier than I thought it would be. I think I will need to make a girly version soon for the second baby. Hers might need a bow. :)

G.I. Sam

 I made this bib as a gift for a friend. Her husband is in the military and I thought it would be fun to use some camouflage fabric to make this initial. Camo is not my favorite on my little boys (I want them to stay sweet babies forever and camo makes me think of mature boys/men) but I thought it would be fun to do on this bib. I love that the pattern is sort of subtle when you cut just a letter from it.

I embroidered it with a neutral camel color and love how it plays off the camo fabric. I actually really really liked the way it turned out and might just have to make this a separate listing on Etsy because I think it is so cute. Perfect for all of those military families out there that have little baby boys.

One More Set...

 I thought that I was finished showing you embroidered handkerchiefs but I was wrong. I found these in my picture file and realized this was the one set that I forgot to add to this post. Opps! Sorry to bore you again with pictures of white cloth and colored letters but I just want to be fair to all of my little projects. They all deserve a spot on the blog,  plus sometimes I actually use my own blog to remember the projects I have done and reference them to clients.

This is still from back in the standard font days when I only had two fonts to choose from and only certain sizes and no spacing options. Now that I have new software for my machine I am excited to have a lot more options for monograms, fonts, and sizes. I need to make another sample block of embroidery fonts. Anything you want to see?

Putting Your Mark On It

I have always loved monograms and other ways to personalize items. I remember having a whole box of Lillian Vernon personalized pencils when I was younger and I loved them. I also loved having my name on everything, backpacks, mugs, headbands, and even sweatshirts. I think this trend is never going to go out of style because who doesn't love to see their name in lights.

I had an order for a set of burp cloths with initials embroidered near the bottom. I loved this idea and I love how they turned out. I did a much more simple single initial on burp cloths back here and I really like them with the fabric better than just the letter and plain burp cloth, it adds an extra punch. I really hope someone wants to have more fun with this and maybe go with a name, or even a fancy monogram. I finally have a software that allows me to create a monogram and not just three letters the same size (like above).

Does this mean I need to start testing this out on my own family and friends? I think it might...or maybe this is a good future giveaway item. humm..

Little Louis Bib

This is still one of my favorite items for a new baby. A personalized item that can be worn from as an infant and until toddlerhood. I think I could probably still get this around my two year old's neck but I am not sure he would like me doing it. ;)

This bib was made for a friend to give her friend (whom I also know) and I was so excited to hear she had her baby boy and that his name was Louis! Love traditional names and this is for sure a traditional name. I have only known one other Louis and he actually went by Louis not Lou or Louie. I wonder what they are calling this Louis. I love that traditional names are making a come back but no matter what the name, these bibs are cute.

I used this fabric for one of her onesies and she wanted me to use some more of it for this bib (I might only have enough for one letter left). I love how it looks like a corduroy but it is soft not so ridged like a corduroy. The name is done with brown thread across the letter.

I hope to be working on a few bibs this week!

Grandparents Hankies

Here is the followup to the Handkerchief post from a few weeks ago. I had two different orders for grandparents handkerchiefs. This first order was for two Handkerchiefs for a grandma. She wanted one in red and one in blue. I like how they turned out. the font is so pretty and feminine. Simple and personalized and special at the same time.

This same client wanted to order four more Handkerchiefs, this time for the men in the family. She requested to move the placement, size and font and I love how they turned out. Again such a simple font and the size is perfect, not too small that you can't read and see the words but not too big that you can not fold them again.

She picked red and blue again and I just love that one of the grandpa's is called Poppy. How fun is that and I can only imagine what a character a guy called Poppy is.

Did you notice that I like to make up stories and wonder about all of the clients and projects I work on?! I just think so much about the people I do work for and am creating so many personal items so it is hard for me to not think about the people who will own these items.

I think this is the last in the set of Handkerchiefs that I worked on. I would love to personalize more in the new year. We will see.

Something for Noses and Tears

I had several orders early in the spring for personalized handkerchiefs. They are all a bit different but so classic and pretty at the same time.

The first order was for a woman's husband...I think it was for their wedding anniversary, cotton. What a great gift for that special man in your life.

This second order was also for a husband and this time it was the present that he got "from the baby" when they had their newest addition. Each person in their family gets a gift from the baby when they are born. How cool is that tradition?! So cool that mom and dad get gifts and not just the other kids in the family.

This final set was for family of this client. I love the idea of the soft grey on white. Doesn't stand out too much and looks very classic and clean.

These were a big hit for a while on Etsy not only for men but women as well. I can't wait create more and show you an order I did for grandparents. Cute idea. I might have to actually make a set for my husband, if I was sure that he would use them.

Embroidery for Stockings

We are only a few weeks away from Christmas and I actually have a Christmas related project. Earlier in the summer I embroidered these six stockings for a client. We went with a smaller font because we had to fit a name between two stars on one of the blue stockings. I used the same font size for the rest of the stockings so that was the determining stocking. I used a few different colored threads, the dark blue stockings have white, the two stockings that have an aqua blue on them I used aqua and for the final two stockings I used a navy blue. The stocking colors were taken from that sweet blue and white nativity on the mantel.

 

 

Here is a closer shot of the embroidery, looking back I wish I could have made the names bigger but I think they are happy.


Then this client told a friend that I had done her stockings so I embroidered this family's stockings a month ago. She wanted the names large across the top of the stockings and we played with the font a bit until we got what she wanted. She was thinking of doing green on the red and red on the green but white thread looks much better. Stands out and unifies them.

These stockings had two layers and I had a hard time getting them to not pucker when I was sewing. I started and stopped a ton of times but couldn't get it to not pucker. I have a great machine that was expensive but it isn't as great as those really expensive machines.

One day I would love to have a fireplace and mantel to hang our stockings from, we don't have anything like that now so we have to hang them from the tv cabinet. HA I guess we could play the fireplace vhs that they used to have so that it looks like the tv is a fireplace. I also have not purchased stockings for my two kiddos and my husband uses an old stocking that we had left over at work. I need to figure out what to get. I love my crochet stocking from when I was a kid but I don't know who I would have do it. I could get more stockings like my husband but they are expensive! I do know that I want them all to match so maybe I can make my own. All I know for sure is that it will not be happening by Christmas. ;) Good thing they are too young to know any better.

Boy Bibs

The last time I showed you some girly bibs and today I am back with some boy bibs. There were quite a few boys born this year and even a baby boy needs some color and style while he is eating or drooling. 

This first bib was for a baby that was a friend's new nephew and now the two cousins both have personalized bibs. :) How fun. I just love it when kids can match, especially for pictures.

This bib was sent out of town to a family friend's new little man. I have yet to see him besides pictures but I know (based on his parents) that he is going to be a heart breaker and will look great in his new bib.

Last but not least we have this little Louis bib. This client came over and picked out this green fabric. It almost looks like corduroy but it is a bit softer. This is only the second thing I have made with fabric like that and I actually like the way the solid texture looks with the embroidered letter. Simple and classic.

It seems as if I had a rush on bibs for a bit and now I am onto onesies. ;) Maybe they go in cycles. I love making these and I love how long babies can wear them vs the onesies that they grow out of. The next thing I might try doing something different, Holiday bibs or vinyl patterns...I just need more time in they day, but don't we all!

Floral Bibs

I had an order for two girl bibs and came up with these fabric/thread combos, gotta love a little pink for a girl. I never get tired of making these bibs, They are so sweet for that new little baby in your life.

The Rose bib I tried to pick part of a fabric that had a rose-like flower on it and then matched the thread to the fabric. The name gets a bit more lost that I would have liked it to and maybe I should have tried a contrasting color but in person it is much easier to see.

The Vivienne bib is made from my all time favorite fabric but I tried to cut from more of the pink parts of the fabric and the pink letters worked out well on this one since there was that cream void space at the bottom. I love that name, something you don't often see.

This is going to be a hot week and I hope to do some sewing and a lot of sleeping. How is it that being hot makes me so tired.

Large Taggie Blanket

A friend of mine had her second baby and wanted to make a blanket for her second child like one she got as a gift for her first child. So she asked me to help her. I think it turned out okay but I am really had on myself and hate how the embroidey turned out.

I love the color of minky fabric she picked out and she asked for navy, white, navy, and green ribbon and I really had fun picking those out from my ribbon stash. It was all going so well until I started to emboirder the name. My machine didn't let me space between names so I had to try to line them up which is SO hard. Then the fabric is so stretchy that it kept puckering. After several tries this is what came out.

Not my best but as good as I could do it at the time. NOW I finally bought the program I needed so I can do spaces and monograms. I have yet to use it but can not wait to see what I can do.

This is the largest taggie blanket that I have made to date but I have a ton of sets ready to sew and I hope to get some made before materinty leave, only 3 more months!

Christmas Baby Bloomers

This baby was born a bit before Christmas but it was her first Christmas and she got these cute pair of bloomers from her Aunt. I am not sure if you can tell but the name on the bloomers is done in green as Emma's mom likes green. I think the green with the lace on the leg holes looks very Irish.

These bloomer posts are not the most exciting but they are a sweet little baby item and I can not wait to see a pair of these on a baby's bottom!

Violette or Violet?

Everyday I learn more about how to be a better business woman and that taking time and asking a million questions is always better than just guessing. I had this order for a friend who wanted to give as a gift a blankie and bib to a friend who just had a baby girl named Violet. She wanted something purple and cute and we found just the right things for her. The only thing I forgot to ask was how were they spelling the baby's name. I for some reason thought it would be cute and french and have more letters in it and be Violette not the normal Violet.

So off I went to make the blankie and bib and they looked pretty good. When I got a text saying that she got them but that the name was wrong my heart sank! GRR What was I thinking?! Of course it was spelled Violet!!! Only I would spell it another way and then use google to make sure that that way of spelling it was used somewhere (and it was). Just because it is on the internet does not mean it is true. So I learned my lesson and made another set.

Here is a closer shot of the other bib and blanket. You can not see it well in this picture but the blanket has small purple flowers on the flannel side. They are so cute and sweet. I even went to a boutique sale and no one mentioned that I had the name spelled wrong on the bib. I am sure they all figured that that was the way it was spelled.

Here is the correct set with the correct name, taken with my cell phone camera in the new fluorescent basement lighting. Not the best color rendition but you can now see those cute purple flowers. This time I used white around the V instead of the purple to let the name pop out a bit more.

I also did not realize that she wanted a V on the blanket so I added that to the blanket as well. All is well that ends well but I feel so badly that they had to wait for me to make my corrections when I should have done it correctly in the first place. You know sometimes we all make mistakes and I wanted to show you my mistakes. I hope to make not as many of these in the future. UGH :)

Now if anyone knows a Violette I have a cute bib for them! :) I also have one of these blankies (with no initial) for sale on Etsy if you would like one of these for your little cutie.

A Bib for Baby Julia

I happen to love this baby girl's name. ;) A friend from high school recently had a baby and named her Julia and I couldn't help but love it! I was working with this fabric below and thought it would be cute to use for her bib.

I actually have a feeling that this baby is going to be more of a purple baby but hey you know it is always fun to have pink in your life as a little girl. Something cute to tell everyone that she is a girl (everyone thought I was a boy as a baby) and to help keep all of those clothes free of slobber and spit-up.

I love making this little bibs and hope that there are more to make in 2012.

Embroidered Handkerchief

I am not sure how many men still carry handkerchiefs but I know one who would appreciate it and I can not wait to give this to him as a birthday present. I am sure there are still young men who would like a personalized handkerchief but it seems like older men are the ones who carry them most often. Let's start a new trend! :)

This handkerchief is 100% linen and I just used a straight embroidery font for his initials. Red is his favorite color and I love how bold the letters look on the white. I think it would look so pretty in silver, white, or even grey thread; something subtle for those who do not want to attract attention. I really like the small detail around the outside with the small holes, makes it dressy without being over the top.

I hope to have this posted on Etsy as a custom item in the next few weeks. I am so excited that it is Christmas week and I am feeling a little overwhelmed with all there is to do. I will not be sewing between Christmas and January 7th (baby bee's birthday). I might be posting on the blog but it might not be as frequently. I will be back in full force in 2012 and cannot wait to see what next year holds. See you later this week...or next year.

Christmas Bib

It seems as if having a baby has inspired me a bit this year with some of the baby items I have been making. I also have great friends that share ideas with me too. Thank you to all of you! I wanted to make a First Christmas bib for baby bee and it was a bit of a progression but I like what I ended up with.

This is version 1: Christmas fabric cut into a 1 and then embroidered st and Christmas around it. After making it I really didn't like how the word was distorted too much over the 1 so I did a second one with the word Christmas below the one.

Here is a cute picture of my little one modeling the bib so you have an idea of the size. Sorry that is about as much of a picture of bee as you are going to get on here. ;)

This is version 2: I like that the word Christmas is not as obscured as it was on the first one. Much easier to read.

Version 3: This is the same idea with just a different fabric. This might be better for those in the crowd that would rather have a more modern feel to Christmas. I also had someone who asked for a 1st Hanukkah bib. Great idea! I might just have to search out some fabric that I like and make one up.

These bibs have been posted on Etsy already I am placing orders through Dec 13h for Christmas or if you are desperate shoot me an email and I might try to squeeze you in. I am trying so hard to get things finished and move my sewing area to the basement so we can finally get our Advent items out and get ready for Christmas.

Holy Family?

Ok not really. I just thought it was too cute that I made two bibs for a Mary and a Joseph, just in time for Christmas. I really am starting to love these personalized bibs and they make me so happy each time that I make one. I really hope they catch on for new babies.

One of my friends had baby #2 named Joseph. I was already working with this fabric and thought it would be great for a girl or boy so I decided to use it. I also saw that a friend "my muse" used a lower case j and I wanted to give that a try. I like how it turned out but maybe I should have used the lower case j in the name as well.

Baby Mary is the sweetest thing and I have gotten to spend several visits with her and she is such a cutie. I used again this fabric and instead of pulling out the red or orange I decided to pull out the sweet ice blue that is in the fabric. I really wish it was a bit bolder of a combination but I think it is okay and I also wonder if the name was in script font if that would have looked better. There is always next time.

I had a great weekend with a lot of exciting things coming down the pike that I can not wait to tell you about and LOTS of work done on the basement. I am so excited to be near the finish line with that.

Bloomers

Yes the title is so original, but I just can not think of anything original today. I embroidered this set of bloomers as a gift for a new baby. This was done in the same colors as the "Poppy" bloomers from here. I like this thread color, it is pink with some coral in it making it not as bubble gum pink as you see for most baby girl items. It has some punch to it and stands out against the white bottom.

I am realizing how different my laptop screen is from my desktop screen. When loading this on my laptop the color looked fine but now as I go to post this on my desktop (without the original file) I realize how discolored the image is. I hope that you just get the idea of what these look like and look back to the "Poppy" post for a better idea of color.

I have posted these bloomers on Etsy and would be happy to work with you to create a custom item. I can do a name like shown above, an initial embroidered, an initial appliqued in fabric, or even a shape like a heart or shamrock or something like that. Please email or convo me on Etsy so we can talk about what I can create for your little girl.

Baby Gift Set Part II

I showed you the first part of this gift set HERE and I have finished the set and sent them along to the happy momma. She is pleased with how the set turned out and I wanted to show you the final pieces. When making these onesies I had some problems with the screen printing and I thought you might like to see a screw up!

I first put the letters on the onesies and then screen printed the word months. Well it was hard to see the shirt through the inked screen so some of the placement was not how I would like it and some of the letters are faint and there is ink outside of the lettering. You might not be able to see that from this picture but they are not up to my perfectionist standards. Would anyone like to buy a "seconds" set of three onesies? I will have them on my etsy site asap.

So here we have the final set ready to go. This time I think I screen printed the words and then applied the numbers after I was sure they were how I wanted them to be. I am really happy with how they turned out and hope to sell more of these sets in the future. This first year gift set includes one initial with name onesie, a 3,6, and 9 month onesie and a one year onesie with a name on it. This set is $40.00 which is a discount of $5.00 from what it would be for each onesie individually.

I wanted to show you the onesie up close. The material on an onesie is really hard to embroider on so I have started putting fabric on the back to help stabilize it. I am still not totally happy with it but I think it is cute. I could always screen print the name on the onesie as well.

Anyone need a set of onesies. These could be really great for photographing your baby the first year, I can always add more onesies or take some out of the set. I hope to have this set available on etsy as soon as I have time to get it on there.

L Is For...

Lincoln! This cute oneise is for a baby due next month. A classmate of mine from collage saw one of my previous onesies on facebook and asked if I would make one for her to give as a gift- of course! I used the argyle fabric that she requested and embroidered the name on top of the appliqued letter.

Nothing you haven't seen me do before but I had to show it off on the blog. Every baby item is different just as every baby is different. This little boy will be cute in his little onesie and can you imagine a little sweater over this onesie to keep baby warm during those chilly October days? CUTE.

I am off to get my "to do" sewing items together. It is so helpful to have everything organized and ready to go when I have time to sit down and cut, sew, or iron. Everything takes me longer to do these days and it is so helpful if I have everything together. Sadly some of those projects might sit in the "to cut" box for a long longer than I would like. Paying customers come first and my fun items take a back seat to money! (Even if sometimes that money just goes to feed my fabric addiction).