I really had my day cut out for me...

~Well, actually my day was spent cutting~

I made a point of doing something other than watching the obligatory DVR'd shows I usually watch on my day off, and decided to do something productive instead. To that end I decided to make a FEW burpies for the store.
I eventually ended up spending my day today making 36 Burpies

I began at 8:30 am and finished at 2:30 pm working non stop. It was worth every minute...believe me.
You see I only have to do this today, not tomorrow, not the next day, just today! This job is a tedious, messy job, of which, I have done for over 150 burpies during the life of our business.
In making the burpies I must relinquish my entire dining area, kitchen, carpet, clothing and my own head of hair to the fluff that exploded out of each burpie.

You see, when you cut the terry cloth it releases little bits of white snow-like pieces that cling to anything in their path.

Here I am with a lap full

And here is Ella lying amongst some of the scraps


Here they are sewn wrong side out

And right side out

And finally here they are finished and tied and ready for the sales!

All in all a lovely, productive, fantastic day!

~Thanks for reading~

A tutorial: my thumbless mittens for winter babes

I came up with this for our Holiday Craft Fairs

Here is the tutorial:

Begin with a cut out pattern of the size mitten you would like.
Lay over a double layer of fleece of your liking


Cut out two double layer sets


Cut out a piece of 1/4 in elastic roughly as long as the flat edges of your two cut pieces lying side by side plus 2 inches


Lay one piece flat on the table wrong side up, take the elastic and lie it about 1/2 in. inside the flat edge (so you can fold over the edge to fully cover the elastic)


Fold the edge over the elastic (this will be on the inside of the mitten)


Sew along the folded edge, making sure NOT to sew into the elastic!!!


When you get almost to the end of the first half of the mitten, take the second half and fold around the elastic. as you did previously, while it is still in the sewing machine. Continue sewing in one continuous stitch.


It should look like this when done


Then fold the two together with RIGHT sides together


Gather the fabric and pull the elastic until desired tension and stretch is reached


With fabric still gathered, place under presser foot of sewing machine and begin sewing around the perimeter of the mitten


When you get to the end of the stitching the perimeter (almost to the wrist end opposite where you started) pull the fabric away from the area you need to finish stitching.


Hold in place and stitch to the end of the mitten wrist


Clip the excess elastic and threads


Here is the finished wrong side out view


And the finished product


Now as they say: lather, rinse and REPEAT for the second mitten

Hope their are some toasty warm baby hands happening after this tutorial!


OOOOHHHHHHHH...I also added these clasps to the vests~

LOVE!!!!!

A new pattern and some cute winter vests!

Sorry for the lapse between posts, Jay had the camera and big laptop in Atlantic City

Today, inspired by Julia's newest pants designs, I was feeling crafty and decided to try something new. I grabbed my pen and paper, and MY BRAIN, and got to it! We definitely needed some winter merchandise for the shop and the crafts fair this November... summer dresses I am sure will NOT be flying off of the shelves~LOL

I decided on some cutie patootie vests to design. I have never made a vest and do not own a vest besides a zip up fleece one, but thought it would be something fun ~

Here are the patterns I designed, flaws and all: I think they will fit a 3-4 year old girl


Here are the first three in their almost finished state
( I just have to buy and apply the clasps on the outside)

The inside lapel of the vest is also the fabric I used for the outer back fabric


Thoughts???