PACountryCrafts

Farm Animals Quiet Book Page

2016-07-27T04:00:00.000-07:00

On our little farm, spring means lots of new baby animals. I wanted to reflect that in the spring quiet book, too. I came up with this little sunset farm scene and tried out some different applique techniques. I hand embroidered the fence and some details, then sewed on the barn.

The barn doors are held shut with a round button and a loop of narrow elastic. Inside the barn are some "animal pens" made of little pockets. Those store tiny animals that I cut from a fat quarter print fused to backing fabric. (I also used them to make memory cards in THIS book.)

I was going to make felt animals, but this was easier and faster. They are cute and she has fun with them.

The top of the barn has yellow ribbon "straw" and the roof is made of white grosgrain ribbon.

I was going to add even more details, like a mud pit for the pig, but I stopped myself because I wanted to finish the book.

I can't believe these are the first farm pages I have done!

You can see the rest of the spring quiet book pages by clicking on the image below:

Umbrella and Flowers Quiet Book Pages

2016-07-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

One of the first ideas I had for a spring themed quiet book page was to make an umbrella with sliding bead raindrops. That grew into the April showers bring May flowers pages.

I had some gray bias tape on hand, but I had to buy a big bag of clear beads just for the few that I needed.

I appliqued a yellow umbrella with the machine, but the handle is hand embroidered with a satin stitch.

Those little duck buttons were just so cute that I couldn't resist!

"April showers..." (wish I hadn't capitalized 'showers') was hand embroidered on a strip of aqua on the bottom. The tricky part was trying to match up "bring May flowers." It isn't perfect, but close enough.

Oh, and those little ladybug buttons were also irresistibly cute!

Under the buttons is a flowerpot appliqued with a machine blanket stitch. I wanted to do something different from the usual ric rac stem flowers I have made HERE and HERE and HERE.

One side of the flowers is from a Vintage Modern print...

...and the other is various scraps, including one from my great-grandmother's fabric and my daughter's first birthday outfit.

I like seeing all the little scraps of past projects in these quiet books.

You can see the rest of the pages for this quiet book as they are posted by clicking on the image below.

Spring Quiet Book ~ Cover

2016-07-25T08:41:00.001-07:00

Yes, I know it is July.

Better late than never.

So, since it is now summer and we are in a heat advisory this morning, I have been finally getting pictures of this quiet book ready to post while hiding in the AC. However, I realized that the spring book is much more detailed than the winter quiet book and resulted in a crazy amount of pictures. Rather than overload one big post, I am going to split it up and do two pages at a time over the next week or two. Today, you are just getting to see the outside.

The color scheme I chose for this book included aqua, pink, gray, yellow, spring green, red, navy, and white. I pulled out all of the scraps that I had with those colors and put them in a tote as I was working on this project. That way, I didn't rip apart my entire sewing area looking for a tiny scrap of fabric each time I wanted to sew something. It includes some designer Vintage Modern and Scrumptious by Bonnie & Camille as well as vintage fabrics and fabrics from Joann's and Walmart as well. As long as it matched, it went in the bag.

I tried some thread applique in this book. I originally planned on putting rain boots on the cover, but my daughter kept calling it the "birdie book" (you will see why later) so I put these cute little birds on the cover instead. (The yellow is from THIS dress and the pink from THIS apron.) I added some trim and buttons for more detail. I also added a velcro closure as that has been very handy with the winter quiet book.

The back cover is made of Vintage Modern fabrics leftover from THIS quilt and THIS diaper bag. I also added some cute trim between the last page and back cover. I think I might try do do a book with trims on every page edge sometime!

The binding is a navy and aqua quatrefoil that I applied like quilt binding, tucking the ends in.

When they are posted, I will put all of the posts on a separate page you can access by clicking on the image below:

Finish-A-Long Goals Q3

2016-07-14T07:10:00.002-07:00

Well, I got a big jump on finishing things last quarter... and then life happened. We got busy.

Now it is summer and soon it will be harvest time for the garden. So, things don't look like they are going to slow down anytime soon.

But, here is my list anyway. I don't know how much I can actually accomplish in the next three months, but I will try my best.

1. Spring Quiet Book- Yes, I am aware that it is now mid-July.

2. My Nephew's Baby Quilt- He just turned 2. I have to hurry because soon he won't be the baby anymore and I will have another quilt to make.

3. Doll Bedding- Actually, this is a good one to do this summer while she is home from school. I actually forgot about it until I started this post.

4. Doll Dresses- These won't take that long. I just need to find the time and motivation to actually do it!

5. Drawstring Bags - Again. Not hard. Just need to set aside the time to finish them.

6. Easter Dresses- Yes, I am aware it is now mid-July. I have just one more to go!

7. Scrappy Quilts- I made a lot of progress and then it got pushed aside.

9. More Scrap Quilts- I found more buried in my sewing table. I even finished sewing the tops and basted!

10. And Even More Scrap Quilts- I started these sooooo long ago.

11.Peasant Dresses- I am unsure if we are making these to send overseas this year, but I can always finish them for next year!

11. Hannah's Quilt- I wanted to baste it, but found out my backing isn't big enough. Now I have to figure something else out. Ugh.

So, that is my embarrassing list. I hope I can find time to finish a few of them. I really don't like the guilt that accompanies my uncompleted projects. I am so thankful for the Finish-A-Long hosts for giving me the extra motivation!

Ombre Dyed July 4th Skirts

2016-07-06T13:54:00.000-07:00

I haven't been sewing lately, but I have had this idea in my head for awhile to make ombre dyed skirts for the girls and July 4th was as good of a reason as any to try it out. I had some knit in a tote that was given to me about 9 years ago (back when I was still scared of sewing with anything but quilting cotton). So, this project only cost me about $3 for the dye and only took a little bit of time.

I let the girls choose what they wanted. Two wanted maxi skirts and two wanted high-low circle skirts. The youngest got what was left over. The maxi skirts were constructed very similarly to THIS tutorial, but I made a waistband measuring their waist size by 6 1/2" (which is folded in half) instead of a fold over yoga waistband. The circle skirts were cut the same as THIS tutorial, but sewn to a waistband made the same way as the maxi skirts. The smallest skirt was just a gathered piece of what was left sewn to a waistband (which I made too big - poor girl was losing her skirt at the picnic!) Always make the waistband a little on the small side so that it stays up!

I timed myself on one of the skirts and it only took 15 minutes to make! I didn't hem them because I just wasn't that ambitious and it doesn't really matter.

So, we took some before pictures with them all in white. I liked them this way and hated to dye them!

Then, came the dyeing. It went OK and we found that a good way to increase the ombre effect instead of having a distinct line between the white and color was to water down some dye and pour it across the skirt. Then, we sprayed it upwards with the hose.

The circle skirts were made with a different piece of fabric than the other skirts, and did not take the dye well at all. We left them in the bucket for a really long time, but they were just not absorbing the color. They were such a thin fabric that the girls had to wear bike shorts underneath them.

These were both dipped in blue dye. When I washed the circle skirts, the remaining color came out and they are white again. Lesson learned. Check the fiber content or test it out.

The red turned more pink, which I expected. I never have much luck with red Rit dye.

Not my best work but, overall, they were still cute. The girls mostly liked them (except one who wanted her skirt off to play even though I told her it was fine to play in it and get it dirty.) The blue bike shorts under the one skirt gave it a cute cotton candy effect. :)

Honestly, I kind of want an ombre dyed maxi skirt for myself now!

Link Parties where I sometimes hang out...

Sew Can Do, Motivate Me Monday, Inspiration Monday, Take a Look Tuesday, Naptime Creations, The Gathering Spot, Carolyn's Homework, Your Whims Wednesday, ,Create It Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things, Wildly Original, Thriving on Thursday, Grace at Home, The 36th Party, Freedom Fridays, Simple and Sweet Fridays, Craft Frenzy Friday, and Threading Your Way

Create In Me a Clean Heart Floral Canvas

2016-06-14T04:05:00.000-07:00

I haven't fallen off of the face of the earth or anything. We are just in a busy season. This spring, we had girls on 2 softball teams and a soccer team, plus all of our regular work and farming stuff to do. It has been C R A Z Y!!!

So, as far as crafting goes, I am on a little bit of a painting kick. I got my sunroom all cleaned out and it is nice to hang around in there on sunny days- and the paint dries quickly! When I paint, I sneak away for a few minutes to put a coat on or do a few more details. I paint in little spurts and, unless I mess up, it is like a relaxing escape.

I am also focusing on decorating my own home right now! I have been in the process of changing my bathroom color scheme for a very long time. (Wow. I just thought about it and it has been about 3 years!) It used to be a hunter green color, but I couldn't find bath rugs or shower curtains to match. An older lady working at Boscov's told me that color was "out" so I figured I should change it up. I will try to do a full reveal when it is finished, but my towels are in a deep teal and dark plum color.

I used a 12" square canvas and painted on a portion of an appropriate verse:

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10

The floral design was inspired by french press mornings. She has a free printable weekly on her website HERE and a shop with beautiful prints for sale HERE.

My painting matches perfectly with my bathroom and I am happy with how it turned out. :)

Also, if you "like" my facebook page, I am showing some extra odds and ends that I have been doing there. For example, I first tried to make this canvas for the bathroom, but decided it didn't match as well as I wanted. Anyway, you can keep up with me a bit more over there.

And, I promise that I will have something other than a canvas to blog about soon!

Romans 12:12 Canvas Word Art

2016-05-27T05:41:00.000-07:00

Once a week or so, I write Bible memory verses on our dry erase board. A friend of mine suggested putting them on canvas, so I told her to choose a verse and I would make one for her to try it out.

This was my sketch on the dry erase board...

I rewrote it on paper and used carbon paper to trace over that and transfer it to the canvas. Then, I used a paint pen to write the letters, touching it up with black paint and a detail brush.

Then, we delivered it to her as soon as possible so that I would stop noticing and changing tiny details and the risk of my children destroying it would be eliminated.

Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.

Romans 12:12

I have a feeling I will be doing a few more of these. :)

Mothers Day Proverbs 31 Canvas Painting

2016-05-06T05:51:00.001-07:00

I have never painted on a canvas before! I don't know what I was waiting for.

This was a really fun project to do. I just painted on the words with paint pen and then added the flowers all around. I hope they don't look too much like a little kid painted them. I think they look OK from a distance anyway.

It was inspired by THIS free printable, if you want you own!

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Proverbs 31:28

Happy Mother's Day!

Pink Lemonade Bunting and Basket

2016-05-03T03:00:00.000-07:00

For my daughter's first birthday party in August 2014, I used a "pink lemonade" theme. I meant to make these pennant banners to decorate, but didn't get done in time. I did finish one for in her bedroom, but there were so many extra triangles left over! That became another unfinished project that I added to my Finish-A-Long goals (see HERE).

Well, now they are finished! I had enough to make one more bunting identical to the one I had already made- I think that will make her room more symmetrical and make me feel better- and I also made a second smaller one.

The smaller pennant banner went in a basket for someone special. She had requested pink and yellow accent colors.

I am still working on the rest of my Finish-A-Long goals for this quarter. I am doing all of the easiest ones first, but at least they are getting done!

Felt Taco Earbud Holder

2016-04-29T03:00:00.000-07:00

We recently sent my brother a Mexican themed care package because he was hungry for Mexican food. Of course, as soon as we assembled a package he went all healthy on us and probably won't eat any of it.

Just so you know, it took 5 lbs of animal crackers to be able to make a small dish of chocolate-covered-burros!

Anyway, at the last minute, I threw in something non-edible and just plain fun. it is a felt taco earbud holder. I found a you-tube video with directions HERE. I sewed on velcro instead of snaps, used hot glue instead of liquid glue, and punched holes of fun foam instead of plastic to make the eyes.

I don't expect him to actually use this, but it was a fun gag gift. That little taco face makes me smile anyway. :)

WIP Wednesday ~ Finishing

2016-04-27T13:47:00.004-07:00

I am really pushing to finish up projects that I have already started. With each one I complete, a little bit of the guilt I put on myself lifts.

I am over halfway done with the spring quiet book.

Funny story with that last one... my 4yo wanted me to use red beads for the seeds, but I switched them out for white. She asked me today what happened to the red seeds and I told her I wanted to use white. She asked,"Why?" and I told her (jokingly) that red seeds are usually treated and I wanted this to be an "organic" quiet book. Of course, she sighed loudly and said, "Mom, you are so picky!"

I also saw this stack of wood pumpkins in the garage and felt like painting. I am so early for fall! :) I do plan on doing a fall sale, similar to the Christmas sign sale that I had last November.

I also did a little painting on canvas- my first! It was a lot of fun and I definitely see more of these in my crafty future. I can't show the whole thing just yet, but here is a peek...

I am linking up with Silly Mama Quilts.

Charm Square Quilted Purse

2016-04-25T03:00:00.000-07:00

Another finish!!!

I won a charm pack of Summer Breeze II several years ago and I eventually made myself a charm square tote out of it. It isn't perfect, but I like it and it matches our school colors. I had enough charm squares left over to make another one, as long as I used a solid color on the bottom to make it stretch. I pieced the squares and then it sat on the shelf above my sewing table for the last three years. I am so glad to have this one done!

The outside is free motion quilted on batting, the lining is interfaced, and the straps and pockets are made with fusible fleece. It is a nice, sturdy bag.

You can see the difference between the bag being tied at the sides and left open.

The pockets inside are my favorite part! They are a bit of extra work, but so great for attempting to keep my purse organized. This one is for my sister, and I think she is going to love it!!!

You can see my list of Finish-A-Long goals for this quarter HERE.

Vintage Sheet Curtains and Sneak Peek at Playhouse Remodel

2016-04-21T03:00:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, I traded a chocolate cake with peanut butter icing for a playhouse. Now, the playhouse had been used as a chicken coop, so it was a bit of a fixer-upper. Last summer, my dad came over and ~~helped us~~ did almost everything to fix it up. I had the easy part- some painting, caulk, and now... the decorating.

I got this thrifted sheet a little while ago and it matches the playhouse PERFECTLY- both inside and outside! Really- the colors are spot on!

I turned it into curtains, which is one of the simplest things that you can sew. I procrastinate equally on the difficult and easy projects.

There are cute little yellow ribbon ties, too.

I still want to add something on the ends of the dowels so that they don't slip off the hooks so easily.
Or maybe I will get smaller hooks.
Or maybe I won't bother and just tell the girls to be careful and not bump them too much.
Yeah. Probably the last one.

So that gives a little peek at the inside of the playhouse. Here is a little peek at the outside so you can see the blue that matches the curtains.

When a few more details are done, I will do a full post on the playhouse makeover.

In the meantime, I am so happy to cross these curtains off of my list of Finish-A-Long goals, which you can see HERE.

Fleece Kittens

2016-04-19T02:51:00.000-07:00

I finished something!!! YAY!!!!!

Pretty sure that kitten is cheering for me here!

I am really on a roll lately! (Pats self on back.) To be fair, I am finishing up all of the things that were *this* close to being done. You can see my Finish-A-Long list HERE.

These fleece kittens were supposed to be party favors for my daughters second birthday party last August. There were too many kids coming and not enough time to finish the kittens. So, they sat around in various stages of production in this basket for the past 6 months.

They are done now, but I am not sure what I am going to do with them.

I adapted a free bunny pattern from ikatbag found HERE. Some of them came out a little wonky, but they are still cute.

And, we have real kittens that kinda' match them!:)

Yeah, those kittens are cuter. :)

Link Parties where I sometimes hang out...

Scrappy Squares Doll Quilt

2016-04-15T05:11:00.001-07:00

The other day, since I had a few minutes before an appointment, I pulled up Netflix to finish an episode of Fixer Upper and sat down to hand stitch the binding on this doll quilt. Spring sports are upon us, so with the rushing around all of the time, it was awesome to just sit down and relax for a little bit. AND I got another finish done from my Finish-A-Long goals (see HERE). Double win!

I don't know why I procrastinated for so long!

Anyway, I love this little scrappy patchwork quilt. I look at it and see bits and pieces of old projects I have made. From old quilts and my sister's apron...

...to my son's first bedroom curtains when he was only 2. Now he is 16. *sigh*

This was also my first attempt at free motion quilting. It isn't perfect, but it was good practice. I love how it got a great texture when I washed it!

Oh, and not sure if I ever showed this before, but my daughter and I made flannel nightgowns for her and her doll. (They often ask for PJs for their dolls.) This gives a size perspective. The quilt is only 24 inches.

I am really plugging away at these finishes, but I found even more unfinished projects in the process! I am trying to focus on one thing at a time so that I don't get overwhelmed. With practices and games 5 days a week, craft projects should be the last thing stressing me out! It does feel like a weight is lifted each time I finish a project, though. There are several more I completed that will be on the blog next week, so please come back to see them!

Mommy Pig and Piglets

2016-04-13T03:00:00.000-07:00

I am really serious about finishing up all of those projects that I blogged about!

Right away, I finished that big mommy pig. It just needed more stuffing, a small repair, and a nose. I bought the pattern about 5 or 6 years ago from ikatbag HERE.

Part of the reason that I procrastinated so long on this one was because I wasn't too thrilled about how it was turning out. When I started it, I wanted to do it right that minute. I was trying to make do with the fabrics I had instead of fleece, which the pattern called for. Frustrated, the project I was so anxious to start was unfinished for a very long time. About 6 months later, I found the pink fleece I had bought years ago when I bought the pattern. I would highly recommend using fleece instead of a woven.

Besides the cute, curly tail...

...this pig has some other fun features.

Yes, this mommy pig has a little zipper compartment that holds 6 piglets! I used scraps of quilting cottons to make the assorted piglets. One is even a runt. Now, these piglets were made about a year and a half ago, so they have been well loved and played with while waiting for their mommy. It was sad, really.

I was so glad to have this one finished, and glad to make a little girl and six piglets very happy.

This is the first finish I have checked off of my list of goals for the second quarter of the finish-a-long. You can see my goals for this quarter HERE if you want to feel better about your list of incomplete projects. :)

Link Parties where I sometimes hang out...

Egg Nest No-Bake Cookies

2016-04-11T03:30:00.000-07:00

Every now and then I find that one of my blog posts has disappeared. I probably accidentally deleted it at one point when I cleaned things up around here. "Cleaning" the blog is better than cleaning the house- it actually stays that way!

Anyway, the other day, I was on a crazy cooking spree with breakfast sandwiches, muffins, and cookies. Spring sports are starting up and with three of the girls on three different teams it is about to get a little crazy. (Ok... crazier.) I wanted to stock the freezer with lots of snacks and easy meals for later.

I made a bunch of no-bake cookies to freeze and, since I never got around to it before Easter, I did some as little nests with candy-coated chocolate eggs to eat now. My 4yo LOVED helping to put the eggs in them.

I once made these for a baby shower and added a pink and blue egg in each (which was perfect because, although we didn't know at the time, the twin babies were a boy and a girl!)

Of course, most of the time I just make regular no-bake cookies with this recipe.

Since I accidentally deleted the old post - I only discovered that because a friend was looking for it before Easter- here is that recipe again...

No-Bake Cookies

1 stick butter

1/2 cup milk

2 cups sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder (Special Dark is yummy, too!)

1/2 cup peanut butter

3 cups quick oats

Melt butter in a large pot on the stovetop. Add sugar, vanilla, milk, and cocoa. Cook on medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil for one minute while still stirring. Remove from stovetop. Mix in oatmeal and peanut butter. Use a cookie scoop to drop on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. If adding egg candies, cool slightly and gently press eggs into cookies. Refrigerate until cool and firm. These also freeze well- just remove from the cookie sheet and store in a plastic bag.

Link Parties where I sometimes hang out...

Finish-A-Long Goals Q2

2016-04-08T09:49:00.000-07:00

I am not holding back today.

I am a procrastinator. I start things and don't finish them. Then, I start other things and just keep piling on the unfinished projects. My sewing table is in my bedroom- some of those unfinished projects are the first things I see when I go to sleep and when I wake up. There are other stuffed in different areas of my house, too. I feel like a failure for not getting things done and I feel guilty and I feel like I just can't catch up.

So, this time, instead of setting easy goals for the second quarter of the Finish-A-Long, I am going all out! I am being real.

1. Hannah's baby quilt. She will be 3 in August. Maybe I can finish it before then? I am hand quilting it, so it will take awhile. I did get the perle cotton thread I needed.

2. A charm square tote bag. I started this 3 years ago. It has been on the bottom shelf of my sewing table since then. It is in plain sight, but I keep forgetting about it.

3. A doll quilt. I just need to hand stitch the binding on this quilt. I cut the squares about 5 years ago as a leaders and enders project. The top was quilted in February as my first practice at free motion quilting.

4. More doll quilts. They were ironed before the kids got to them. Maybe I will make them into one larger quilt instead.

5. Easter dresses. We are calling them "spring dresses" now. I hope I don't have to change it to "summer dresses." This just needs the lining tacked down, a zipper, and a hem.

6. Elsa dresses. I started these sometime in the last year or so, I think. 3 out of the 5 girls have Elsa dresses. I just need to finish the last two.

7. Chemistry quilt. Here is some fabric I bought to make a simple strip baby quilt for my nephew. He will be 2 this summer. I should probably finish that.

8. Doll bedding. My daughter got a doll bed for Christmas. It took the last one over a year to get her doll bedding finished. Let's hope I can beat that this time!

9. Doll dresses. The top two need hems. The bottom ones have hems but need finished tops.

10. Fleece kittens. I had a "kitten" theme for my daughter's second birthday back in August and wanted to make fleece kittens as favors. I didn't get enough finished. Maybe we can do kittens again for her 3rd birthday.

11. Pink and yellow buntings. I cut too many triangles for the bunting I started for her "pink lemonade" first birthday party. Still haven't finished these. I didn't finish the first one in time for her party, either, but it is hanging in her room.

12. Softball bag. Her sister isn't too happy to be sharing her 31 bag. We do have other bags. Anyway, I got this fabric picked out for her and looked at patterns so far.

13. Spring quiet book. I want to finish this before summer, too.

14. Drawstring bags. I started them for Days for Girls last summer.

15. Peasant dresses. To be fair, I got really sick and couldn't finish these.

16. Playhouse curtains. We traded a chocolate cake for a playhouse that had been used as a chicken coop about 5 or 6 years ago. Last fall, my dad helped us get it fixed up. There are a few more details that need to be finished. I got a vintage sheet for curtains that has the perfect colors!

17. Mommy pig. Last, but not least, I am working on a pig. It has been hiding in my car so my daughter doesn't see it. I even made a special trip for batting right after Easter. This one was started about a year and a half ago when I made the piglets. I bought the pattern (and fleece I ended up not using because I couldn't find it) about 5 or 6 years ago.

There are some more projects I didn't dig out to take pictures of. I am also limiting it to my sewing projects here.

This is really sad. But, I feel like I took a big first step in admitting I have a problem. :) Hello. My name is Lindsay and I am a procrastinator. I am also starting a Bible study with Proverbs 31 Ministries later this month on "The 5 Habits of a Woman Who Doesn't Quit."

I am linking up HERE!

Baby Clothes Memory Bear Pattern and Tutorial

2016-04-06T09:33:00.001-07:00

OK. I really can't take credit for this idea. A friend asked me to make a stuffed bear from the outfit her baby wore home from the hospital. She got the idea from Pinterest and it was a bad link so I can't source it.

So, I had to come up with my own bear pattern. I used as few pieces as possible, but some extra stitching gives it more shape and allows it to sit. It was based off of THIS one, but I changed it quite a bit.

I made one from one of our old onesies first, since I was terrified to cut into that precious baby outfit. I was glad that I practiced first, but I was happy with how both of them turned out! Here is hers:

And, because I felt like it, I took pictures of the process to make a tutorial to share! (They are a little dark, but it was winter.)

You will need:

~clothing item to upcycle (or fabric)

~lightweight, iron-on interfacing

~thread

~ribbon

~fiberfill

~sewing machine

~bear pattern (available HERE)

***I have had a few people ask about sizing. The finished bear measures about 8" high. These bears were made with a newborn outfit and a 9 month onesie.

Start out with the clothing item you wish to upcycle. Or, buy fabric. That works, too, but I haven't been doing much of that lately. (Pats self on back. Good girl!)

Then, you want to dismantle it. The best way to start is to snip out those side seams. I had to cut off the bottom cuffs to get to them, though.

Figure out how to fit the pattern on the available fabric. This may take some thought- also be mindful of directional prints. With this particular outfit, I cut the bottoms off just below the pocket and cut the arms off so that I could make do and use them as well. There wasn't enough fabric in just the main body part because it is so tiny! For the onesie, which was a 6-9 month size, the pattern pieces fit on the main body part. If you need to make the arms separately, just make them 1/2" longer on the pattern piece and cut it apart 1/4" from the body of the bear pattern.

Now, knit fabric likes to stretch. That is what makes it so comfy and easier to put on a squirmy baby. For this project, though, you want it to be non-stretchy. Interface the back of each piece with a lightweight, iron-on interfacing. It makes it much easier to work with and the final product stuffs better.

Then, cut our your pattern pieces. If you are able to fit the pattern on without making separate arms- good for you! It will be a little easier.

If you had to make do, like me, sew on the arms.

Use a 1/4" seam allowance throughout this project. Sew the front pieces together from the forehead to the bottom of the belly. Sew the back pieces together from the back of the head to the bottom of the bum, but leave an opening in the back. There are dots marked on the pattern pieces- just sew between those.

Note- I tweaked the pattern as I went, so yours will look a little different in shape than mine do here. Just follow the pattern if you don't want a pointy tail poking out or an oddly shaped head.

Now, you want to embroider the eyes on. You could use button eyes or other cute things, but I went with black embroidery floss and satin stitched the eyes. It is not a choking hazard this way, but this entire project is at your own risk/supervise your child. I am not responsible in any way. Legal disclaimer. All of those kids toy manufacturing regulations scare me.

Sew the front and back pieces together. You can clip the corners and curves, but I just went around the whole thing with pinking shears because it was easier.

Flip it right side out and sew the ears. Just stitch a straight line from the outside to the inside of the ear. Don't try to curve it- trust me and my excessive seam ripping. Sew a straight line. A shorter stitch length would be good, too.

Stuff the arms and legs. Use small amounts of fiberfill and stuff evenly. Sew lines on those as shown on the pattern piece. Again, this took a lot of tweaking and seam ripping on the first bear to get the shape just right, so follow the pattern!

Stuff the rest of the bear...

Stitch it closed by hand with a ladder stitch. Just google it if you don't know how. This isn't my best work, but it is usually invisible.

Final touches...

~Wrap some heavy thread around the neck tightly to pull it in and knot it well. Tuck the loose thread ends into the bear.

~Embroider a nose on the bear. It works better to do it at the end because you can shape it a little bit. I stitched a triangle and then satin stitched over that until I got the look I wanted.

~Add a bow... if you want. This one I added one on the ear- it is sewn down really well, so I don't think she will ever be able to pull that off. The other bear has a ribbon bow around the neck instead. I like that, too.

Then, because I just couldn't let that little pocket go, I made a tiny little blanket for the bear.

I was really low on fabric at this point, so I mixed in some other cotton scraps. The back is some scrap minky from a taggy blanket for last year's Operation Christmas Child shoebox. It has 1/8" seam allowances, so it was really finicky to make. No tutorial for this part... just pictures.

I love this idea and wish that I had done it before with my kids! I still have some items saved in storage, so I might try to do something like this when I become a grandmother one day. I miss babies, so the thought of being old enough to be a grandma doesn't even make me sad now.

Here is a pinnable image if you want to save it for later...

As always, this pattern may not be copied and sold. It is for your personal, non-commercial use.

I would LOVE to see pictures of anything you make with this, though! You can send them to me via facebook or e-mail them to pacountrycrafts at gmail dot com.

You can find more of my tutorials HERE!

Link Parties where I sometimes hang out...

Furreal Friends Monkey Diapers and Pillowcase Top

2016-04-01T09:26:00.001-07:00

My daughter got this adorable Furreal Friends monkey for Christmas. It really is super cute, even if the nose ripped in the first day or two. (She also got a dog two years ago and it broke in the first few days. If these things weren't so cute that she still loves them immensely I would stop buying them due to the poor quality). There was also another problem. The bottom holds the batteries and there is a furry flap to cover it, but there is nothing to keep that flap in place other than the cheap disposable, plastic diaper that it came with. Those tabs had ripped long ago and she kept taping it back together.

Well, just before Easter I was in a mood and didn't feel like sewing the Easter dresses. So, when all of the girls fell asleep early and the boys were out fishing on Good Friday night, I had some peace and quiet(ish) with my sewing machine. Sewing is my therapy. But I wanted to make something that was easy and could be completed in one sitting. I have too many unfinished projects.

I originally had a doll diaper pattern that I thought would work, but after I had made two of them, I tried them on the monkey only to find out they were too small. So, I started over and drafted my own pattern.

I even pulled out some of my "good" fabrics for this because I want to stop hoarding so much. The insides of the diapers are made of flannel remnants I got for super cheap at Joann's.

Then, while I was at it, I made a little pillowcase top to match one of the diapers. I didn't finish the inside seams or anything. It was just a quick project because I was just starting to get my sewing groove back.

I tucked these in her Easter basket and she loves them! Sometimes it is nice to do a quick and easy project like this.

WIP Wednesday ~ SPRING!

2016-03-30T11:00:00.002-07:00

I am so happy that spring is finally here! I needed some sunshine!!!

The flip-flopping spring teaser weather the past few weeks had been pretty disappointing. I was kind of in a mood and I ended up not finishing the girls' Easter dresses. I just didn't feel like it. I will finish them all eventually, but I am not stressing out about it. I have 3 1/2 done and need to do a lot of hand stitching at this point because I am a perfectionist.

I did some other sewing, just because I did feel like it. The spring quiet book is making some progress and I made some other toys for the kids that I will blog about eventually.

Other than that, I have been eating a lot of chocolate, doing some kids crafts, and enjoying the spring weather, when it is nice. We have two adorable, new calves and peeps are coming anytime now. Flowers are popping up, although mine are always a little late for some reason. Softball and soccer are starting up. There are a lot of new things going on here.

Linking up at Silly Mama Quilts.

Baked Omelet Roll and Freezer Breakfast Sandwich Hack

2016-03-24T08:34:00.001-07:00

I don't like mornings.
But, I do like breakfast!
It just takes me awhile to wake up enough to make breakfast.

One of my favorite easy breakfast dishes is baked omelet roll. It just looks fancy and the eggs are nice and fluffy since you mix everything in the blender. I have made it for brunch showers or MOPS meetings. You can add in spinach for a nice pop of color (and healthiness). Bacon or ham would be great, too. No one has to know that you put hardly any effort into it!

I also figured out that the baked eggs are perfect for breakfast sandwiches! Before, I would fry up my eggs on the stovetop and cut them up for sandwiches. It was a bit tedious. This is the way to go! It is healthier because they are baked, not fried. I can get eggs for 6-8 sandwiches from each batch.

Here is the super easy recipe:

Baked Omelet Roll
6 large eggs
1/2 cup flour
1 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Combine everything except the cheese in a blender or food processor. Blend well. Place parchment paper in 9 x 13 pan. Pour egg mixture into pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until eggs are set. Remove from oven and sprinkle cheese on top. Allow to cool until it isn't too warm to handle. Roll from one short end and tuck the other short end underneath. Slice and serve.

My original pancake freezer breakfast sandwiches can be found HERE. I also did English muffins last time because I got a great deal on them.

Link Parties where I sometimes hang out...

Mend Holes in Jeans 3 Different Ways

2016-03-22T03:17:00.000-07:00

My 7yo has been really hard on her jeans! I guess she is just at that age. I also catch her crawling around on the floor playing with her younger sisters a lot. Whatever the cause, she is wearing holes in the knees of all of her jeans! Some of them I just bought her a few months ago! Grrr! I did get her another pair, but I don't want to keep buying jeans because soon it will be "shorts weather" and surely by next school year she will jump up another size.

So, for now, I mended them. I am not usually that great at mending jeans. When we first got married I tried to mend my husband's jeans and the (ugly) patches fell off the first time he wore them. This time, I decided to try out a couple of different techniques and see what was easiest/cutest/holds up the best.

The first one is the prettiest! Yes, it took some time, but I like hand stitching, especially when it can be kind of random embroidery like this.

I found the basic directions HERE but used scraps from jeans I cut off into shorts a long time ago to make a denim patch to cover the back.

The second one I tried wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. The biggest pain was having to open up the outside seams of the jeans to get access to the knees with my sewing machine, then sew them shut again. I like that they maintain a worn look, but should not rip out further and her knees won't get cold. :)

I got the patching directions HERE. One of the patches shifted while I was stitching and got a little wonky- I used the wrong heat'n'bond at first- you need Ultra Hold!

The last one was super easy! I got some iron on patches in bright colors. I must have had a coupon or something. Anyway, I used one of the knobs from THIS dresser (my blog post was accidentally deleted but the pin is still there) to make a template. The patches are just easily ironed on. NO SEWING! It seems too good to be true, so we will see if it holds up. I really think it needs some rhinestone "seeds" on there, too! That would be really cute!

So, after one evening of sewing and/or ironing my daughter has three more wearable pairs of jeans. I will try to update later to let you know how each one holds up!

Link Parties where I sometimes hang out...

Easter Baskets 2016

2016-03-18T03:49:00.000-07:00

My shop isn't officially open, but I made some Easter baskets this year for new babies who wanted to match their older siblings. :)

I accidentally dyed my hand aqua with this one. Oops!

The camo baskets were dipped in natural walnut hull dye.

They are probably all a little too young to hunt eggs this year, but I am sure they will carry a few treats on Easter. I am glad that I am able to make something quality that will be an heirloom for these children and will last for a very long time!

WIP Wednesday ~ Getting Ready for Easter

2016-03-16T03:33:00.000-07:00

Besides one for my nephew, I finished up all of my Easter basket orders last week and it was a big relief to be done so early! I will share pics of all of those later this week.

We had a spell of nice weather, so I spent some time in the sunroom cutting out one of the girls' Easter dresses. I usually don't start them until a week before Easter, so this was highly unusual for me!

This is the start of the next page of the spring quiet book I am making. I actually finished the page since I took this picture, so I will keep showing the quiet book progress on my facebook page.

If you follow my facebook page, I shared this scary story the other day!

My biggest fear while sewing actually happened yesterday. I was trying to hem jeans and forgot to change from my old, dull, standard needle to a denim needle. That side seam was just too much. The needle shattered and a piece hit me in the eye! It scared me more than it hurt. We have an awesome eye doctor who saw me right away! He got everything checked out and flushed out just in case. The needle just left a scratch, didn't stick in the eye, and didn't hit the center, so I am very fortunate! When picking up my antibiotic drops I also got some new safety glasses and denim needles so that I could finish the hem.

I am very thankful that everything worked out OK! After hemming those jeans later, since I had a fresh denim needle in the machine, I did some mending on my daughter's jeans. They turned out great and I plan on blogging about them later, too.

I really need to get moving on those Easter dresses, but I also want to start a million other projects. It is hard to stay focused! 11 days to go! Would anyone like to take a guess at my "theme" this year?

Linking up at SillyMamaQuilts.