Monogrammed shortalls

Part of the reason I decided to take a little "break" from customer orders is so I can finish up quite a few sewing projects for my own children. These cute little shortalls are made from a Martha Pullen pattern using fabric I ordered from Chez Ami. I found the glass buttons at JoAnns (love that they look like marbles!) and the font is "Garton" from Jolson Designs. (a GREAT font for little boys!) I am so pleased with how they turned out! This is our last summer for shortalls and johnjohns so I plan on putting them on my boys every chance I can get!

Appliques! Not just for Kids T Shirts!!

This was such a fun project!! I love when I can "upcycle" an item that I already have on hand and it suits my needs PERFECTLY!! I will wait and post the "finished" project picture tomorrow, but here is a sneak peek for now!

Pop Tarts, Patio Cushions and Potty Training

What do these 3 things have in common? They pretty much sum up the past 2 days around here. The patio cushions are tedious work, but I have learned a valuable lesson with them: A new seam-ripper can change your life!! I am a "Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do or Do without" kind of girl (thanks, Granny!) but this most certainly does NOT apply to a seam ripper. In fact, when JoAnns or Hancocks has their next notions sale I may just buy 10 of those little handy things!
I have also discovered that PopTarts, although not a part of this nutrition-filled breakfast, are indeed a great summertime snack! Plain, toasted, topped with ice cream or cut into fun shapes with cookie cutters...these babies are my new afternoon go-to!
The Potty Training is just not fun. For them or for me. But we will press on. Because I am tired of buying Huggies. And because they just turned three. It is time. Ugh.
On a brighter note, I am discovering that applique is not just for kids clothing anymore. Fun project in the works...stay tuned!!

Mom needs a break

I will be taking a little embroidery break...the kiddos are out of school and we have more pressing issues to deal with. Like Potty Training. I had to remove my Bissell Spot Bot from its resting place up on the highest shelf because I have had to clean the playroom carpet no less than 6 times. The old method of rewarding with stickers and candy is clearly not working, so its time to crack down on these two. I also purchased an old wrought iron patio set at an estate sale (I would so much rather have something old than something new) and I am in the process of recovering the cushions. All 10 of them. Good times, I know. My new best friend is my seam ripper...

All this to say, I won't be taking any new orders till mid July. If you need a Birthday Boy/Girl shirt done please feel free to send me an email and I will do my best to accomodate you!! I know my fellow "multiple moms" love having the matching birthday shirts for our little ones!

Thanks for understanding! Kerri

Beach Cover-Ups

This is a birthday gift for my niece!
I have seen these pillowcase dress-type coverups on a few Etsy sites and thought I would try my hand at one. I didn't use a pattern but sort of used one of my boys to get a few measurements. Basic pillowcase dresses are extremely easy to make, especially if you use an actual pillowcase to make it with...but in this case I had a basic white towel on hand so I improvised. I used red bias tape around the arms to coordinate with the red polkadot grosgrain ribbon.

The little jellyfish is from Planet Applique.

Gigantic Chalkboard!!

Or, "What Do You Do With A Bare Wall That You Can't Hang Anything On Because Your Kids Keep Knocking It All Off."

This huge bare wall in our remodeled kitchen just really needed something. Problem is, this is a really high traffic area going between the breakfast table and the kid's backback station, so everything that got hung there just wound up in a broken heap in the floor.

Bring in the chalkboard paint. I just taped off the area I wanted and started painting. Five coats total, but this stuff dries so quickly that it took no time all! Then we measured off what I had painted and scrounged around our scraps of trim left over from the remodel to find four strips that were long enough. Hubs mitered the corners, I primed and painted them, distressed them, painted some more and we nailed them to the wall! Probably my favorite part of this room!

When it's "Not Quite Right"

We've all gotten them...the monogrammed gift that just isn't right. Names mispelled, monograms not right, or just something that we just wish was different. It's not like you can "regift" it (oh come on, you know you've done it) so what do you do? Sometimes the stitches can be picked out (a very tedious task that sometimes leaves fabric flaws) but quite often the stitches need to stay. (Like in laminated fabrics or insulated items...because of the high stitch count, certain designs will actually act to perforate the fabric, so if you remove them a chunk of your embroidered item literally just falls apart.)

So what do you do?


A Patch! You have heard me sing the praises of a patch on several occasions and I am singing that same song this time. I stitched the patch onto water soluble stabilizer (2 layers) then washed away the remaining stabilizer, pressed the patch and sewed it directly to the cooler. I think I may do a few more like this just because I love how cute it turned out!

Have a great day!