Digital Collages: Baby A*

One of my favorite things to do when you can't choose just one picture - choose several and make a collage. It can be rather simple with PSE8, especially with the templates they provide. I didn't use a template on these. They were custom for a friend of mine. It's just so fun to play with photos!

Valentine's Gifts

I ordered the dress pattern to fit the doll I made. I figured, why make things harder than I have to? So, it's not my original design. But I love how easy it was and how it turned out! And with some left over fabric I made Audrey a matching shirt. I absolutely adore this fabric. I seem to have a thing for this style of fabric and I usually like the fabrics done by this same designer, Heidi Grace (available at Joann's). I think it's cute that they match. Audrey hasn't shown much interest. My version has shoes, which is my original design and the bows in her hair were not in the original pattern. All in all a lovely way to celebrate a holiday devoted to love. At least she'll be able to look back and remember that I made her a doll for Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Decor

Easy home-made Valentine's Day decor!
Who doesn't love to be loved? I have few decorations for this holiday, and I felt no desire to rifle through boxes to locate them. So, I spent a pleasant afternoon making "candy hearts" with Audrey. I traced, cut out and wrote little somethings on them, and Audrey colored them front and back. Then we put tape on the back and put them all around the house. There is no door in my house that isn't covered with hearts. It is a great kid-friendly way to decorate and to make them feel a part of it. Also, it adapts easily for any holiday.

Getting around to it

I bought the pattern for these dolls a while ago on etsy. I think they are so cute! Well, the pattern has been nagging me to do something with it and I finally did. I bought more fabric than I needed, though, so I decided to make a second one and post it on my shop. I love how they turned out! The one with darker hair is going to be Audrey's Valentine's gift this year. She's not much of a doll kid, but she usually likes things that I make for her. I also ordered a pattern for a dress for the doll. It's so nice when I can spend more time on the project and less time on making it up for a change.

I love that she's a pirate!

That was actually in the pattern, I swear.

Zipper Pouch #2

The desire to use my new purse was greater than the desire to just improve on my earlier designs. So, I just jumped right in. Here it is.

I tried to find something to match the color as much as I could. The purse is done with an Amy Butler fabric, and therefore has difficult colors to match. I really got lucky when I ran into this courderoy.

The pouch measures approximately 5 x 7" and I added the piping detail since it was for myself. I don't know what it is, but I just love how finished piping makes something look. Not that I really know the correct way to do piping, but I couldn't resist.

Now if you see me out with my new purse, you'll know what little pouch I have hiding inside.

Zipper Pouch #1

To be truly honest, it's not my first zipper pouch ever. It is, however, the first sewing project of this year and my first attempt at this style. I designed it after I something I saw on etsy.com. I got an adorable new purse for Christmas from a site called DSCHICBOUTIQUE but it only had one zipper pocket and I needed a little more storage for those occasional items. So, I gave it a try, and it was super easy - only took an hour. But it is also not completely successful.

Measures approx. 12"x5"
Not lined
Imperfect top stitching
And I assumed I had more crap to put in it, so it's too big for my purpose.

Back to the drawing pad.

Portraits

My living room wall got a make-over. Close-up
I fianlly found an arrangement the I love!

Isn't it great when you get a set of portraits that you adore?

Especially when they include you.

I am planning on adding to the arrangement, since my wall looks so bare.

But that is yet to come.