New Embroidery Blanks

I opened my door last night to the FedEx man and a great big box of embroidery goodness! Market baskets (new designs...so cute!), Stephen Joseph backpacks, koozies (for cans and bottles), travel mugs and sippy cups! The twins have messed with my camera and for some reason it won't focus so well, but once I figure out how to undo whatever it is they have done I will post pictures. Can't wait for you to see! As always, thanks for stopping by to see these "works in progress" and let me know if you'd like to palce an order!

Superhero Cape!

Again, lots of sewing, no time for pictures of each thing. Now that school has started I feel as if the clock is chasing me during the daylight hours! I used to get alot of things done during naptime, but with four children in school and sports naptime is spent in front of the washer/dryer, dishwasher, sink or stove! I am SO thankful that during our remodel we left the original hookups for the W/D in the basement when we put a laundry upstairs...there are times I have both sets going at the same time!
Ok, onto the fun stuff...I found this awesome tutorial for a superhero cape! Since I am trying to "Think outside the Mall" for this Christmas, I thought my sweet nephew would love to have one of these. It was a super-easy project (pun intended) that I finished in less than a hour. Again, being a safety first kind of momma, I adore the use of hook and loop at the neck! (As the author of the tutorial said, think Edna on The Incredibles..."NO CAPE!") Head over here to see how you can make one for your little superhero!
www.pukingpastilles.com/?cat=5

There are also guidelines for a girl's cape, too! Gotta love it!

By the way, I cheated a bit on the applique...A very talented mom has started digitizing embroidery and applique designs, and she came up with this design that is pretty darn close to the diamond-shaped patch that the real Superman has on his cape. I just merged the "H" from a Chunky Alphabet font that I had!

To answer a few questions...

I have told many of you where I get most of my designs. Unfortunately, unless I have taken a picture of something I have stitched out I can't always send you a picture of the design. Microsoft Word can't "read" the stitches that embroidery software can show you, so the best way to shop for designs that you might want me to use for you is to look at the sites that I buy from the most frequently.
Embroidery Boutique
Bunnycup
Nobbie Neez Kids
Lynnie Pinnie
Sew Many Designs
Please know that this is by no means an all inclusive list...I have over 14,500 designs for you to choose from, but it at least gives you someplace to start! also, if you find something that you like, I can always purchase it as long as it comes in the format that I use and fits in my hoop. I also use Monogram Wizard Plus for most of my fonts, but I also have several others. Here are a few of the most requested:
Monogram Wizard Plus Fonts
Alpha Pak #1
Alpha Pak #7
Alpha Pak #12
Alpha Pak #15
Alpha Pak #16
Alpha Pak #17
I think that this is probably what most of us that do home based embroidery use most...it is funny when I talk to some of you that have the same hobby as I do...we all tend to migrate in the same direction when it comes to kid's things...fun and funky, not to formal or stuffy!
I hope this helps!

Baby Gifts

Some sweet gifts for a sweet new baby boy. The golf bag (one of my favorites from Embroidery Boutique) with name on a burp pad, a Nappy Sax (to hold a few diapers and travel sized wipes) and a monogrammed Stephen Joseph backback.
The Nappy Sax I sort of derived from a smaller version that I recieved as a baby gift when the twins were born. I used the same design but with a few modifications...first of all, I made it bigger so that it would hold more diapers. Second, I have made some with a lining of PUL so that it is waterproof. Sometimes, you just aren't in a place where you can throw a diaper in the trash, and this way you can contain it without soaking the entire diaperbag! I made training pants for my boys and had some PUL left over, so I thought it would make a perfect liner!
Looking forward to the weekend! Have a great day!

CRAZY!!

Sorry I haven't posted in a long while...things have been NUTS around here! Between school starting for all 4 of my children, Labor Day plans and a bathroom re-remodel (yes, I did say RE-REmodel. As in, for the SECOND time.) it has been a bit (ahem) shall we say, "hectic" around these parts! I have been working on lots of orders and projects, but I just haven't had time to take pictures. And let's face it, telling about them isn't any fun if you can't see the pictures! Lots more Stephen Joseph backpacks, fun team T-shirts and baby gifts have been under my machine these days!
The pink gingham is a fun new design from Bunnycup Embroidery called "Kids Alpha" applique. It is fun and funky and perfect for kids stuff! This was done on a plain white onesie, but I added some pink gingham ruffles around the leg openings! That way, she can wear it by itself or under a little dress when it gets cooler...all the "frills" of bloomers with the warmth of an undershirt! This was done as a gift for a sweet friend of mine who has twins about a month younger than mine and she had a gorgeous little girl the day before they turned 2! I saw her last week and she looks AMAZING and the sweet princess is so adorable! I also did a burp pad to match and have plans for a few other fun things as well.
As always, thanks for stopping by! I love getting your emails with suggestions and comments!
Coming soon: custom Trick-or-Treat bags! It's right around the corner you know!!

Little girl's apron

I have decided to try and get an early jump on Christmas gifts this year. I say that every year but this year I mean it. (Just like all of the years before :)...) Anyway, I have been working on a few things and I had to share this. My niece is at the perfect age to start playing "kitchen" and every chef needs a cute apron, right? I couldn't find a pattern that I really liked so I traced off my own (using my own toddler as a model. So far he doesn't mind trying things on for me, even girly stuff. I snapped his picture in it to have for later...I'm thinking it might be useful for bribery and blackmail in his teenage years.) I used a cupcake pattern that I already had, and tried to keep the design pretty simple since I knew I would be adding her name.
As usual, I reached the point where I ran into a snag. Most aprons have a set of ties for the neck and a tie that goes around the waist. I am a momma and although I love cute stuff, I am a safety-girl first and foremost. I don't like things that tie around a toddler's neck because of the strangulation hazard. The answer?
HOOK AND LOOP!


This idea was not my own, but rather that of another crafty blogger whose site name escapes me. I tried to go back and find it, but couldn't. I am a firm believer in giving credit where credit is due, and the credit for this idea does not go to me but to some other mom who has already figured it out!
I also added hook and loop to the wrap around piece of the waist so my sister in law won't have to keep tying and retying. There is nothing so frustrating to a toddler as having to tie something, much less something that ties behing their backs. She should be able to put this little apron on all by herself and get to the baking!

Cupcakes anyone?