Yarn Tied Quilt for Baby Brother {or longest WIP ever}

This quilt has to be one of my longest running projects. I fell in love with Lucy's Crab Shack by Sweetwater for Moda the moment I saw it. Growing up in San Diego, I  surfed. The fabric from Lucy's Crab Shack that has beach names on it immediately caught my attention. It's littered with the names of beaches I surfed throughout Southern California. It brings back happy memories of beautiful beaches, fun with friends, and amazing California Burritos. 

A while after Lucy's Crab Shake came out, I was wandering around my local fabric shop. I found a charm pack that was 40% off. Score! I bought binding and backing fabric and quickly set to work. It didn't take me long to make a simple square quilt top. That was like two years ago.

I looked at the ready to quilt top many times in the last two years. But it was too small for my little miss. I tucked it away for another day. I figured I'd finish it when one of my college roommates got pregnant. And then, much to our surprise, I found out I was expecting baby number 2.

A couple of weeks ago I finally finished up this sweet little quilt. I added some lime sashing on a whim. I'm glad I did! While it's not the biggest ever, I think it will be a perfect size for tummy time and baby cuddles.

I decided to yarn tie the quilt out of sheer laziness. But, I do really like the look. Check back soon for a tutorial. Yarn tying is quick and easy, when you know the right tricks!

Emma defiantly approved of this quilt. I made sure she knew it was baby brother's. When she asked to "try it out." How could I say no!

You might find me partying at:

Nap Time Creations, I Should be Mopping the Floor, Uncommon Designs, Tip Junkie, Living Well Spending Less, and Tatertots & Jello

Izzy Top {or for the love of liberty}

It's time to start beefing up Emma's spring wardrobe. I buy a good hunk of Emma's clothes at a glorious consignment sale. Even though she has more than enough, I love adding handmade pieces. Thankfully, Emma still thinks mama made are the best!

This fabric is to die for. It's voile from Liberty of London. Last year, my dad went on a retirement celebration trip touring China and Japan. I sent him a map of Tokyo's fabric district and requested a couple of meters. Boy oh boy did my dad come through! He brought me home three different meter cuts of Liberty of London as well as two other cute cottons. I've honesty been a bit scared to cut into them. With Emma growing like a weed (and therefore needing more than a yard for most patterns), I decided it was now or never.

The top was a free pattern. Oh how I love free patterns! The Izzy Top from Climbing the Willow comes in size 18m through 12. For free! It's a great pattern for those wanting to venture into kiddo clothes sewing. And for more advance sewers, its a super quick and wonderful looking sew!

I sewed up a 4t with 5t length. I almost always sew the next size up in length. Kiddo is tall. She always seems to grow up, not out of clothes. With the luscious Liberty, I want it to last as long as possible.

This top was my first time using my new KAM snap setter. While I'm still working out the kinks, I'm thrilled to reduce the number of button holes I have to sew. (I got my snap setter and snaps from Etsy.)

I think I'll make a Dessert Rose next! What's your favorite pattern these days?

A Nautical Geranium {or bad blogger}

I'm finally catching up on posting some past sewing projects. This post is like a year late. But, I'm finally getting around to showing off my first geranium. When I made it last summer and it was pretty roomy. I'm hoping to make it through most of this summer too. Emma is always growing up, not out of tops. I love tunics for that reason.

The anchor fabric is from Sarah Jane's Out to Sea. The whole line makes me swoon. I can't wait to see what her next line is!

I really stink with button wholes. Can't line them up to save my life. Anyone have any tricks?

 Here's a tip. A pretty obvious one at that. Don't take 30 minutes worth of pictures with a 3 year old. She'll get annoyed. Luckily her modeling fee (a cookie) perked her right up!

Annual Christmas Photoshoot {or little miss at 3}

I'm lucky beyond words that my best friend is a woman of many talents. She's an architect by day and a graphic designer/ photographer by night. You can check out just a few of the wonderful projects she's done for Emma on her blog.

After grad school, Liz was lucky enough to move back to San Diego. It means while I'm visiting my dad over Christmas I also get a good dose of friend time. Liz also always takes pictures of Emma for us. 

This year, we didn't have time for a more formal shoot. So between spending time with her little bro and dad, Emma and Liz disappeared to the back yard to take some wonderful pictures. I love each of these pictures. They totally capture my kiddo and all her quirks. 

All photos by Elizabeth Cavagnaro Photography.

Emma is so comfortable with her Auntie Liz. her personality just shines right through these pictures. Liz has an awesome way with little ones. She has been working with kiddos for as long as I've known her (which she'll point out is more than half our lives). 

If you're in the San Diego area and want pictures of your cuties, Liz is your gal. She's recently started photographing kiddos, families, and engagements professionally. You can find out more about her (and drool over more beautiful pictures) at Elizabeth Cavagnaro Photography,

Easter Basket Ideas for Preschoolers {no batteries required!}

As with most holidays, Easter tends to be one giant sugar laced event. I'm not a total scrooge. We enjoy the candy my daughter gets at our church's Easter Egg Hunt. But, I do try to keep candy out of her basket on Easter morning. 

I know many moms are looking for candy free Easter basket ideas. Here's some ideas for the preschoolers in your life.

First, run, don't walk to the Target Dollar Spot. I was able to pick up a silly putty filled, carrot shaped egg, a ton of stickers, some Frozen socks, and a jumping frog toy all for $1 each. They had cute jump ropes, a ton of super hero themed items, and bath finger paints as well. But go soon. I know from experience that if you wait till too close to Easter the Doll Spot will be picked over.

I'l also adding some Easter Egg shaped coupons to her basket. She'll get to stay up 15 minutes late, pick which restaurant we eat at one lunch, and watch Frozen (which she would do every day if I let her). All of these a free (we'll let her pick the restaurant on a day we would have been eating out anyway). I also think they'll make her day!

Does anyone want a printable?

Looking for some larger items for your little one's basket? All of these ideas are under $8. None of them require batteries. They are all great for sparking creativity or family play!

(Contains affiliate links.)

  Melissa & Doug Design Your Own Headbands 

  Chutes and Ladders

  Mr. Potato Head 

  

Melissa & Doug Lace and Trace Pets 

  

 Barrel of Monkeys Game

 Melissa & Doug Sticker Collection


Memory Game

  Play-Doh Fun Factory

What's your go-to Easter Basket idea?

You might find me partying at:

Nap Time Creations, I Should be Mopping the Floor, Uncommon Designs, Tip Junkie, Living Well Spending Less, and Tatertots & Jello

Scrap Busting Ruffled Headband Tutorial

I first shared this post at the Ribbon Retreat's Blog. I was provided the materials in exchange for a tutorial. Check out my disclosure page if you have more questions!

My three year old's hair is a mess. It's thin and mostly curly. She hates having it brushed and it knots in two seconds flat. I'm always looking for ways to tame the wild that is her hair. These ruffled headbands are just the ticket. Between the elastic and the two fabrics, the color combinations are limitless. They require so little fabric that these ruffled headbands make great scrap busters!

Grab some scraps, some elastic, and get set to make a bunch of these little cuties!

For one headband, you'll need:

12-18 inches of elastic, depending on the kiddo you're making it for

Two coordinating fabrics {scraps or fat quarters are perfect}

Rotary cutter/mat

Sewing machine {you could hand sew these too!}

Hot glue/gun

Start out by cutting your fabrics. I played around a bit and found I liked the bottom fabric to be 8 inches by 3 inches and the top fabric to be 7 inches by 2 inches. If you're making a headband for a newborn I'd have the bottom be more like 6 inches by 2.5 inches. Play around and see what sizing you like. I cut my fabric using my pinking sheer blade on my rotary cutter. I like the scalloped look and this should reducing fraying.

Center your top fabric on top of your bottom fabric, right sides up for both fabrics. Sew a ruffle stitch straight down the center of your top fabric. For ruffling fabric on my sewing machine, I set my stitch length as long as it will go and my tension as tight as it will go. Don't back stitch and leave extra thread and the beginning and end for fussing around with your ruffles. If you have a ruffle method that works better for you, go ahead and used that!

Spread the ruffles out evenly.

Now, cut your elastic to size. Here's a size chart from My Four Misters and their Sister. Cut the elastic about 1/2 inch longer than the chart suggests. You can always measure the head of your kiddo. For my big headed nearly three year old I cut 18 inches.

Line up the ends of your elastic with right sides of the elastic touching. Sew a zig zag or other stretch stitch multiple times for strength. Sew this stitch about 1/2 inch in.

Trim to the edge of you stitch. Flip right side out and you've got yourself a headband.

Find the top/middle of your headband {opposite of the place where you joined your headband}. You'll start attaching your ruffle slightly off centered. I used hot glue and stretched slightly as I went. I liked the idea of having a clean elastic without stitching.

If you'd prefer to sew you headband on, go for it. Just make sure you stretch the elastic as you sew.

Go make your self an army of these cute little ruffled headbands. They're perfect for taming the toddler hair mess! They also are just darn cute on itty bitties!

Nap Time Creations, I Should be Mopping the Floor, Uncommon Designs, Tip Junkie, Living Well Spending Less, and Tatertots & Jello