Tutorials for beginner seamstressses

This is a quick and easy tutorial with LOTS of instructions and steps which may be too informative for people who already know how to sew but if you are just beginning, this is perfect. A ribbon "taggie" blanket is perfect for those of you with a huge ribbon stash as well. Start making them for baby gifts!
Melissa Sews

The Prudent Baby has an excellent tutorial (actually, multiple tutorials) for a simple baby blanket. It is a great project for a beginner and so rewarding to have made your own adorable blankie! One hint: she mentions making your own bias tape for the binding of the blanket (and includes a tutorial link to do it) but if you really don't want to make your own bias tape you can buy it already made at your local sewing store - make sure you get the double fold bias tape. When you make your own bias tape it can be made with any fabric so you have a variety of colors and patterns to choose from which personalizes the blanket. Store bought bias tape isn't nearly as pretty (mostly solid colors) but is easy and quick when you are first starting out.
The Prudent Baby

Another always popular item that is fun to make for beginners and is fun for your kids as well is a crayon roll! The Pleated Poppy has an excellent tutorial that is full of pictures and super easy to follow.
The Pleated Poppy

Craft Fair!

I'm almost ready for the craft fair this weekend. I have a bunch of items - gobs of bibs and burp cloths, blankies (from swaddling size to mini ribbon blankies), tote bags and fun new purses and items to go into those purses - address books, photo brag books and mini wallets, oh my! After Saturday I plan on putting more items into my Etsy and 1000 Markets shop but bear with me, it might take awhile. :) Here is your sneak peek at all my craft fair items!

Photo brag books and address books, all in a fun crate that my neighbor painted for Hannah - she is going to do the craft fair with me selling a bunch of adorable hand painted crates like this one - I can't wait!

The blankie is done! The blankie is done!

I finished it! Okay, well the order of events is...I taught myself a new crochet stitch (the mesh stitch, which results in a trellis pattern), I crocheted like crazy, I got carpal tunnel in my pinkie, I crocheted some more, and more, after 4 days the blanket finally was a decent size for a baby so I ended my stitch and decided to add tassel fringe to finish it up. And you know what? I like it! It turned out really cute and ended up being about 22" by 28". I used 2 yarns at once so it is a heavier blanket and the effect looks great. I think it is the perfect sized blanket to lay over a little one while they are sleeping. I'm working on a new blanket for my son, who has been in love with crocheted blankets since he was an infant and I have some of the same yarn in lavender so I'll try a lavender and white one after that and make it a little larger than the green one, and who knows, maybe I'll use a different stitch.

A Guest Appearance...

My mom is making a guest appearance in my Etsy shop! She is talented and creative enough to have her own Etsy store but right now she is working full time at her doggie food job and she sews in her free time to de-stress and try to downsize her fabric stash. She sent me 2 receiving blankets with matching burp cloths and 2 sets of matching burp cloths - all are adorable and I want to keep all of them for myself! But alas, I told her I would list them and as of today, there is 1 receiving blanket/burp cloth combo in pink and 1 burp cloth set in greens and yellows for sale in my shop. The other 2 will be listed this week. Well, maybe...I can't seem to let myself part with this awesome and crazy turquoise, orange, green, pink, red, happy flower set but I'll post a picture here so you can see how cool it is and maybe covet it for yourself. My mom "claims" to have another one of these blankets cut out but I can't be sure it is an exact replica. You know how these crafty types are, never want to make the same thing twice. :) Anyways - here are a few pictures of the new items and make sure you stop by my shop to check out not only the cool pieces that my mom has made but the new things that I have been listing. Isn't now a good as time as any to start thinking about Christmas or about all those pregnant and new mommies that you know that you need to get gifts for? Hope you enjoy looking at everything and check back often!

The flower set I just don't want to give up:

The pink blankie/burp cloth set - they are GORGEOUS:

The raw edge green and yellow burp cloth set: