halloween bag tutorial

I wanted to share this tutorial for making a halloween candy bag for a toddler. My daughter is dressing up as a princess so I made a princess bag but it could be adapted to any costume. It only takes 20-30 minutes to make.

1. Start with 3 pieces of pre-cut felt

2. Cut out a shape that represents something from the costume (i.e., a crown)

3. Cut out any accent shapes

4. Sew accent shapes onto the main shape using a small, straight stitch

5. Pin and sew larger shape onto one piece of the larger felt using a small, straight stitch

6. Cut two strips out of the felt you used to make your shape

7. Pin and sew one strip to each of the two larger felt pieces for handles. I used a small, straight stitch and sewed in a square

8. Pin both larger pieces together with the handles facing in and the shape facing out. Sew along the edge leaving a 1/4" seam allowance using a large zigzag stitch

Now your toddler will have a candy bag they can easily handle and that doesn't fit too much candy.

Here is the chocolate chip cookie purse that I made for my friend's daughter. She is going to be Cookie Monster for Halloween but decided she needed a purse to go with her costume. It was so fun to make. I used light and dark brown felt and lined it with scraps I had of an Amy Butler fabric. A must-have Halloween accessory!

cozy

It's a gray day here so I did a little search for things with the word cozy. Cuddle up...

1. Padded iPhone case: YK Bags

2. Key cozies: Betty Sonics

3. Raincloud scarflette: All in Stitches

4. Baby pod: Pea in a Pod

5. Tissue holder: Hana Purse

6. Cross strap baby booties: Nahvrianna

back on the wagon

So I missed a few days, six to be exact, of blogtoberfest. Oops. A perfect storm of crazy deadlines at work and a teething baby drove me to it. But I'm back. Maybe I'll make up for it by going into November with a daily post. We'll see.

I discovered the HOW Magazine design blog which provided some needed inspiration:

{Calligraphy by Lisa Ridgely}

Check out Pen and Ink Journal featuring the amazing calligraphy of Maryland artist Lisa Ridgely. She even hand writes her blog entries.

I'm really enjoying Poppy Talk, a blog featuring emerging designers.

{Fabric by Repeat Studio}

Through Poppy Talk I found Repeat Studio and their amazing fabric.

{Gift tag by The Petite Press}

And The Petite Press filled with beautiful paper products.

I'm working on a tutorial for cute halloween candy bags and making a cookie purse for my friend's daughter. She is going to be Cookie Monster for Halloween and really wants a purse to go with her costume. Too cute!

we have a winner

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway. The winner is #4: Allyson Adeney! She will receive a custom birthday invitation. Stay tuned for more blogtoberfest giveaways.

i'd like to introduce you...

{Blue Lotus Water by Renée de Montaigne}

{Tuscan Sky by Renée de Montaigne}

{Remains by Renée de Montaigne}

to my friend Renée. She is an amazing graphic designer and artist. Check her out here.

just a quick post

I'm loving these signs from Funkifolkart. They make me wish I could get married all over again.

My giveaway is still open until Wednesday, 10/14 at midnight eastern time. Thanks to everyone who has already participated. And thank you for all the lovely thoughts about my shop. I will be steadily adding more items so please check back regularly.

Happy Tuesday.

giveaway!

I'm putting the finishing touches on my shop and will be open for business later today! In celebration I am offering a giveaway of a custom designed holiday photo card, invitation, or baby announcement. Just leave a comment on this post telling me which type you would be interested in by Wednesday, October 14 and I will pick one winner at random.

a perfect day

I have been so busy since returning to work that I have missed the long days of summer where I spent lots of time with my children and took on a million projects. Today was a reminder of those blissful days. I started the morning by making a knotted cap for my 3 year old (and one for her doll) out of red jersey knit fabric. I whipped it up in about 30 minutes. A perfect project for a Saturday morning.

After flu shots, a family trip to target (where I spent way too much), and a quick swing by JoAnn's Fabric, my daughter and I made chocolate cupcakes with pink frosting. Yum. I've already had two and I'm thinking about having another...

happy friday!

{photo by Kirin Notebook}

Go on over to Kirin Notebook and check out the tutorial for making these amazing hidden zipper pillows. While you are there, check out Ink & Spindle, an Australian boutique yardage screen printing studio where Lara of Kirin Notebook is a co-owner. The fabrics are gorgeous.

In other news, I am on track for opening my shop on Monday. I will be posting a giveaway and a discount code on Monday at 10 a.m. (est). Make sure to check back then.

orange crush

1. Pumpkin collection clippies by Monkey Mae

2. Birdie sling bag by Joom

3. Cotton jersey scarf by Pretty Penny

4. Curly cowl by Ayca Hoser

5. Baby sling by Worthy Baby

6. Felted wool bowl by The Fuzzy Monkey

free patterns!

Thanks to Marta of Marta Writes for introducing me to this amazing site, patternwall.com. You can download any of their patterns for FREE!!! Just think of the possibilities.

dead letter design office

{Book covers by K. Glyder}

What a brilliant idea, K. Glyder of Shelved Books showcases her book cover designs, both the ones that made it to print and the options that were not selected. It is so nice to see her creative process and to hear about how decisions were made. It makes me want to dig out designs that I loved but clients didn't choose...

shop update

I am finally getting my Etsy shop up and running. It will be open for business one week from today, Monday, October 12th. The shop will feature baby announcements, party invitations, wedding invitations, holiday photo cards, logo and banner/avatar design. I will also have a few handmade sewing projects and custom car seat covers available for order.

To celebrate the opening I will be having some discounts for blog readers and giveaways so be sure to check back in the coming days!

blogtoberfest

I just joined blogtoberfest and committed to posting every day in October. Yikes!

Now that I am back to work with two little ones at home, life has been a little crazy. I wish I could stay home but it just isn't an option right now. Between pumping and all the logistics for getting ready every day, my head is spinning.

Last Tuesday we got the girls together and rushed to my parent's house (my parents and in-laws generously split child care for us — we are so blessed). When we got there I realized we had forgotten our diapers. We use cloth so it wasn't as simple as having extra pampers at Grandma's. After a quick and frantic discussion over who could meet who where with the diapers, it was decided my husband could meet them at library school and drop them off. With the girls all set my husband rushed to drop me at the train and head back home to get ready for work. I finally got on the train, about 20 minutes late and tried to relax. I bent down to get my book out of my laptop bag and realized I didn't have my laptop bag. It was in the back seat of our car that was on it's way home! My wonderful husband turned around after my desperate phone call and met me at the station. The crazy thing is that I remembered to bring ice cream and all the toppings that were left over from our sundae party for my colleagues but totally forgot my laptop. Needless to say, I ended up getting to work 45 minutes late and feeling like I had already worked an entire day.

Remind me to tell you about Wednesday, when I forgot my pumping bottles and pumped into a styrofoam cup instead! The adventure continues...