Cuddle Creature

Its winter and it is cold.  When it is cold first thing that comes to mind is cuddling. Cuddling with a loved one, cuddling under a blanket, or cuddling with that treasured teddy (or around here, monkey!)  As I started to research and get my juices going on what to do for January I figured out that whatever I chose to explore needed to be designed for sweet cuddling comforts.  Wanted it to be specially cuddly for a child.

While researching and looking through a book, I came across the project, turn a pillowcase into a little creature.  So I took a pillowcase and voila, Cuddle Creature with matching carrying bag/gift bag.  I chose this project to start of the year because it was a simple one, get my feet wet after a holiday break. 

Cute, Cuddly, Charming! 

Lessons learned:

-Pay attention to the material of the pillowcase/thickness of the fabric so the right thread is used.
-In the future, I would love to redo the Cuddle Creature with a pacifier or teether holder. Maybe do more personalizing to the idea of the creature. The ideas to make it different rather than just do the suggested ones came flooding after I had cut everything out, boo.  With the current baby boom around us, I am sure I'll have the opportunity to make another!
-Cross-stitching is great way to add character to anything!  Once you get the hang of it, its simple!
-In search of buttons!  Seems like around my neck of the woods it is hard to find buttons, specially a variety of them.  Choices are slim.  Realizing it is good to just collect some here and there, specially vintage, when I do come across any.

PS- My lil one LOVES the Cuddle Creature.  Not sure what it is about it.  She just holds it and giggles!  It is a hit! Fun and easy project to tackle, go for it!

Disney Dreamer

Growing up, what kid does not dream of being in the happiest place on earth?!?!   Boys dream of being a hero or a prince, little girls everywhere play dress up and dream of being the princess with a happily ever after.  There is something certainly magical about Disney.  Some of us continue into our adolescence and grown up years enjoying the magic Disney has created, Dream Big and Believe.  For my sister, one of her dreams was to be part of the Disney magic.  After years of trips to the parks and lots of Disney movies (her fave Beauty and the Beast)  she followed her dream and applied for an internship at Disney.  Tomorrow, January 10, she starts her new adventure, at Walt Disney World!  She will be part of the Disney magic for the next 4 months.  A true mousketeers at heart!  As a send off/Christmas gift only one thing seemed fitting.

Mouseketeers dream everything Disney, so why not send her to her dreams Disney style.

Sweet Dreams!

When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you

If your heart is in your dream
No request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do

Fate is kind
She brings to those who love
The sweet fulfillment of
Their secret longing

Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true

Comfy Cushions

Having a place to sit down and unwind after a long day is often a welcomed idea. That's why there are family chairs one wants to return to its comfy glory.  The project:  bringing a family rocking chair back to life.  My part: to create new cushions for the chair.  The challenges: fabric that was long lasting, required little maintenance (high traffic area) and that would stay true to the design of the chair.  After cushions were cut to fit and patterns made, the adventure began.  First timer on this style of cushion and covers I expected road blocks along the way.  I must say, the work went smoother than expected and the finished product, well, I could not have asked for a better finish! Deadline was met!

Hope the rocking chair is revitalized and gets 10 more years of use!

And yes, I would do it again!

Project Pillowcase 2011

In the spirit of setting goals for 2011, I wanted to find myself designing and in project mode more than just sporadically, whether for a client, or gifts or on a whim.  So I have come up with a personal challenge for 2011.  Introducing Project Pillowcase! Yes, you read right.  It might sound funny, but I believe in reusing daily items that go unused or in great finds and re-purposing them into something new.  Pillowcases is what I will be using to re-purpose and create new treasures!  I already have the calendar ready, which project for which month (projects will not be repeated!) I am posting this publicly, well, because it is a great way to push me to really do it and be held accountable.

Also, search those closets!  If you have any pillowcases that have not seen daylight in oh so many years, I can surely put them to work! Or join my challenge and give those pillowcases new life!

Here is to a great start to the New Year! ...and we are off!!!

Beach Bum

I love themed gifts!  I enjoy trying to figure out a person's interests and going with it.  This past Christmas, in the spirit of staying crafty, I set out to make a beach bag for my sister's Christmas gift themed Beach Bum!  I wanted the bag to have things inside that would be a reminder of a day at the beach (books, pictures, nail polish etc, you get the idea), but I had a budget to work with.  The need to get really crafty came into play.  From the bed to a bag, I found the perfect sheets that I was able to convert into a beach bag.  YES! Since the sheet set had a striped pattern accompanied by a solid denim print, really found it ideal.  Gotta love fun bright colors, summery and ready for the sun. 

Now, she will just have to wait for warmer weather to return!

Bag in a Bed!

Inside Lining