Flora Tunic

Introducing the Flora Tunic, by Minnie Millery

The Big Bow Accessory Holder: Bunny Love

As promised, I've added another hair accessory holder to my etsy shop.

The Big Bow Hair Accessory Holder

Vera's hair accessories have a new home...

I wanted something that could hold her hair clips as well as head wraps, so I added a loop with a velcro closure at the bottom. It can easily hold a dozen or more clips as well as several head bands or head wraps.

Want one? Lucky you! The Big Bow Accessory Holder is now available in my etsy shop. I am slowly but surely adding different designs and colors so check back soon for more options.

Vera's First Birthday Party

Vera turned one year old last week and we celebrated with family and friends at our home. I chose flowers for the theme and a turquoise, peach, and gold color scheme.

I made tissue paper tassels and hung them over the table along with a paper star I picked up on clearance at my local craft store

Vera's monthly photos were displayed inside the panes of two old windows and decorated with felt flowers.

I made felt flower hair clips for the kids and a bee finger puppet for Vera's only "boy friend" at the party (poor guy was way outnumbered).

I also made my first fondant covered cake using this cake recipe and homemade marshmallow fondant. It's pretty tricky to get the fondant to look smooth and I ended up with quite a few imperfections. I hide most of the flaws with a few strategically placed flowers and think it turned out pretty cute. I also made cupcakes and decorated them with fondant flowers.

I couldn't find a large package of gold polka dot balloons anywhere so I cut circles out of label paper (using my circle cutter) and stuck them onto the balloons.

Vera's #1 corsage...I didn't get any close-up photos of her actually wearing it.

Time for cake!

The best part of the party...

We adapted these plans for the Deluxe Kid Wash and made Vera her very own walk through sprinkler out of PVC pipe! We also had a sprinkle mat out. Both were a big hit with the kids.

Vera's great grandparents (far right) traveled all the way from Kansas to celebrate with her!

Baby Liberty

Happy Independence Day!

Reversible Baby Sun Hat

Earlier this month I shared a baby sun hat tutorial and pattern and promised to share a follow-up if I made a reversible hat.

This is super easy to do if you have a sewing machine with a button hole stitch and foot. First, follow all the steps from the original tutorial.

Next, you need to add a button hole on each side of the brim. Measure 3/8" away from the base of the crown and make a mark. (You want the button holes to be perpendicular to the seams in the brim.) Choose a button that will make a button hole slightly longer than the width of the chin straps. Sew the button holes and cut out the fabric inside.

When you want to reverse the hat simply pull the chin straps through the button holes.

Reversible Crib Rail Cover Tutorial

I wish I had thought of this sooner...

before Vera's six little teeth made this happen:

Better late than never I suppose.

Below are step-by-step instructions for making your own reversible, padded, machine washable crib rail cover. 

Materials

2 yards 1/2" wide twill tape or ribbon
Two 52 1/4" x 9" pieces of coordinating fabric
Two 51 1/4" x 8" pieces of batting or fusible fleece
Thread
Sewing machine
Button hole foot for sewing machine
Scissors or rotary cutter
Tape measure
Fabric marking pen
Pins
Safety pins
Iron
Fabric turner

Instructions

My crib rail measures 51 3/4" across so I wanted the finished cover size to be 51 1/4" x 8". Measure your crib rail and adjust the measurements as needed.

Cut out two 52 1/4" x 9" pieces of fabric. (I pieced together one of the sides from two different fabrics because I didn't have a piece of fabric long enough.) Also cut out two 51 1/4" x 8" pieces of batting or fusible fleece.

Cut 6 lengths of twill tape, each 12" long. Fold the ends over 1/4" and press. Fold over another 1/4" and press. Stitch along the edge.

Right side facing up, make 6 marks along the long edge of one of the pieces of fabric. Make the first mark 4 1/2" in from the short edge and space the remaining marks 8 1/2" apart. (You may need to adjust the spacing depending on your crib).

Fold the twill tape in half and pin to the right side of your fabric at each mark.

Using safety pins, pin the batting to the wrong side of the other fabric panel, from the right side of the fabric. ie the clasp should be on the right side of the fabric so you can remove the safety pins when you turn the cover right side out. Make sure it is positioned so there is about 1/2" of fabric hanging over on each edge. This will keep the seams from being too bulky. If you're using fusible fleece, press one piece of fleece to the wrong side of each piece of fabric.

Place the two panels right sides together and pin. The batting should be on the outside.

Sew around all four edges, 1/2" in, leaving a 4" opening in the side with the twill tape for turning. Clip the corners, turn right side out, remove the safety pins, and press.

Close the opening with a slip stitch and topstitch 1/4" in from the edges.

Fold the cover in half lengthwise and make a mark on the side opposite the twill tape. This is where your button holes will go.

You will be making two button holes for each piece of twill tape. You want the holes spaced about 1/4" in from the topstitch and 1/4" apart.

Attach the button hole foot to your sewing machine. Select a button hole stitch and button that will give you a button hole slightly longer than the width of the twill tape. Sew the button holes.

Now you're ready to attach it to your crib! Wrap the cover around the crib rail, pull the twill tape through the button holes, and tie a knot. The knots should be on the outside of the crib.

Here's how it will look from the inside:

Now crib and baby are protected!