Football girls combo

Appliquéd shirt and football leg warmers (or arm warmers at our house!) perfect for football season!

Princess dress!

I had another request for a princess dress...this one for the princess who swims under the sea. When it comes to dress up clothes, I like mine to meet a few requirements:

A) easy to put on by child

B) washable...for those days that one MUST go grocery shopping dressed as a princess!

C) be able to fit for a long time...who wants to/can afford to buy a new princess dress each year...for each princess?

So for this dress, I kept it basic. I actually found a knit clearance dress at my local big box store.  I love the elasticized fabric at the top, as it stretches to make for easy on/off, as well as grows with the child. So I cut up the knit dress to meet my needs, added an inner skirt to make it have the right look, and made a poofy slip that can be worn under any and all princess dresses, because all princesses need a little poof!

Multipurpose pouches

Hello! Finally back from the blur the last two months with a newborn have been! Making time to get to my sewing room--or more accurately, my mom's sewing room--to work on some projects!

These pouches are sized for an e-reader, but would be great for cosmetics, personal items, etc. the front embroidery design coordinates with the interior lining. These are quilted on the front, padded, and have a zipper opening.  

These specific pouches are going into gift bags for state officers coming to town for a philanthropic educational organization, but wouldn't they be great for bridesmaids gifts?

I worked with my mom on these.  It was fun to have two machines going (these are made entirely in an embroidery hoop--short version, I lay fabric down and push a button) and spending time with Mom and visiting...in between feedings, diaper changes, settling arguments, fixing and cleaning up after meals, naps, laundry, etc.! We always love our time at the farm!

Diaper stacker

Space is at a premium to say the least in our kids' room. The two older ones are insisting that baby share their room...which makes bedtime easier but was a bit of a challenge to find a spot for everything! Fortunately we have a play room for toys, and hubby is Andy in the workshop and built some platform beds and underbed storage. There were still a few things that needed a home, such as easy access to the cloth dipes. I used to store them under the bed, but knew that wasn't an ideal solution. So I set out a few weeks ago to design and make my own diaper stacer that met the following requirements:
1) contemporary design. No cross stitch on a clothes hanger!
2) place for all the things I need...diapers, wipes, extra inserts, changing pads, and wipes, as well as pockets for liners, cream, etc.
3) ideally a spot for some extras...disposable wipes for hubby to use as well as other messes, maybe a spare onesie or two, etc.
4) hang on the side of the crib, virtually the only spot left in this room!

So the reason this took multiple weeks...
1) I had other projects that needed taken care of
2) I had fail after fail after fail, so I would take a few days off, brainstorm, dig up different supplies, and try again.

I am pretty happy with the end product! Other than the front flaps that can pull to the side, the entire stacker is reinforced with ultra firm interfacing. The "shelves" are also made from this material but required a middle support to keep it from sagging and dumping the contents. The top required 1/4" plywood (thanks again, hubby!) and some webbing straps to support the whole heavy load. This could easily be used for baby clothes, disposable dipes, etc.

Favorite nursery bedding

Bring on spring! These vibrant colors make it feel like spring around here, even though they are forecasting temperatures in the 30s this week! Set includes bumper pads (green chevron with blue ties on the exterior, plush blue minky on the inside, and a pop of bright orange piping to trim the top edge), crib skirt (green chevron, blue trim and grey geometric squares), pillows in blue, green and orange, a changing pad cover (not shown, but grey geometric squares with blue minky down the middle where baby will lay), and a lag bunting, whichever perhaps my favoritE piece! This would be fun on the wall, over baby's crib, or across a window seat area.

This set will be traveling to a friend from my high school days all the way in San Antonio. Some of the extra fabric will be made into floor cushions for the reading nook at the home of another high school classmate, and will still have some extra of the green chevron and grey squares if anyone wants anything!

I also like to package it up nicely to protect it during shipping and so it looks professional when customers open their box from MandiMoo Designs!

Party decorations!

My sister coordinated a table decorating contest and dinner fundraiser for her church this past weekend. Since we were going and chances were the only children that would be in attendance would be my two and her two, I decided to help her out by decorating the kids table. The theme? How did you guess? Yes, Dr. Seuss...Cat in the Hat, to be exact!

Thing 1 and Thing 2 plates, complete with blue spiky napkin hair, fish in the fish bowl (complete with blue water!), shrink a dink fish, nose and whiskers courtesy of my kids, and a balancing act centerpiece. Simple, quick, and definitely loved by the kids! We had fun, kept the kids from breaking someone else's heirloom china, and helped raise funds for a great cause. We had to have a place for votes, too...so notice the cat in the hat hand!

Auction items to Pennsylvania!

My mom was here at the end of the end of the week last week, so was enjoying her company instead of blogging! So here are the items that were sent to Pennsylvania for the NPO auction.

The wire framed tote is amazing. It can hold pretty much anything you need it to! I use ours for the pool and groceries. I can fit in 2 life jackets, 3 towels, dry change of clothes for 3, water bottles, snacks, and an outer pocket for keys and cell phone. The best part is this one is laminated cotton on the outside, so pretty waterproof, and the ecouture lining on the inside makes it also waterproof, so you will be safe from splashes! My mom uses her tote like this to contain all of her other bags that she travels with. I find the structure of it great for holding books and binders, boxes of snacks, activities for kiddos in the car...the list goes on!

The sand toy bag is a lifesaver in my book. Take it to the park or beach, have fun in the sand, put toys back in bag, shake out all of the sand, and you have one happy mama with a sand free car (or at least the toys won't be to blame. Please don't try this with your children, husband, or dog).

Funny thing, I had a local woman call late last week for a last minute baby shower...the gifts will also be going to another mom in Louisiana. It really is national week around here!

Absolutely my most favorite bag ever!

MandiMoo is going national this week! This set is shipping to Louisiana as we speak, hopeful it arrives for a baby shower this weekend! Check in tomorrow for a project being shipped to Pennsylvania for an annual auction of a not-for-profit agency. On my "to sew" list of projects include items to be sent to Texas, Nebraska and Missouri, plus of course a growing list for people right here in God's country!

This set is by far my most favorite combination EVER. And since I covet most of the items my customers order (you, friends, have GREAT tastes in fabrics!), that is saying a lot!

This set includes a diaper bag, diaper clutch (experimenting with a more structured, sleek style...and must say I love it! Even thinking about doing a similar technique on a diaper bag for a sleeker look--let me know what you think!) and changing pad, along with a laminated pocket bib (both requirements in my book of baby stuff) and onesie. And of course since it was going to Louisiana, I had to do a fleur de lis! The mom-to-be is a horticulturist, and this fabric has been in my stash for a long time because I love it so much and wanted to find the perfect project for it...I think I found the perfect project! Enjoy!

Pillows and owls

This week, FAB Finishes here in MHK is revealing a new children's room with products from multiple consignors, MandiMoo included! The toddler and twin beds will each feature a set of these pillows. I loved working with the fun, bold prints and experimenting with the owls! I have already had requests for more of these (Zoey was heartbroken when I told her these weren't for her) and some in burlap for a grown up version. Run out today to FAB Finishes (well, you actually better wait until Thursday when she is open 11-6) and grab these before someone else does!

Tea towels

Happy birthday, Dr. Seuss!

As you may have realized from our Seuss-inspired play room and our Cat in the Hat themed bake sale treats, we have a deep love for the master of imagination and his literary works. I hope to someday own the entire collection. Until then, thank you Dr. Seuss for the inspiration in so many ways!
We celebrated the day with brinner (breakfast at dinner) of Seuss type biscuits ( a Cat, a sock, a truffula tree, a fish and a foot...see the corresponding books minus the Lorax reference). "Ham" which was really a sausage at the request of the kids, and of course green scrambled eggs! We drank milk in cat in the hat cups (clear cups and red electrical tape) and had barbaloot fruit salad. We read Dr. Seuss books throughout the day-a favorite is "Oh Say Can You Say" a book of tongue twisters sure to get us laughing!
Thank you, Dr. Seuss for your literary contributions to the world!

Baby Batman!

What to do when a long-time friend is expecting her first baby? Make her lots of fun gifts, of course! Oh, and did I mention her last name is Batman? Let the fun begin!
***please note that I am can not SELL licensed goods such as Batman. However, I have made several generic superhero items that are met with equal delight!***

First up, the superhero set--onesie with attached cape, burp cloth, and wet bag for stashing cloth diapers when on the go. (Wet bags also do double duty as a place to put wet or dirty clothes, wet swimwear, etc)

Also, soft, thin, breathable swaddle blankets have been a popular baby item. I know lots of moms love them, and as I prepare for my own summer baby, these are on my list. However, I love vibrant colors for babies, and purchased swaddle blankets mainly come in pastels. What to do? Dye your own! I will be making more of these soon!

Home for the vintage brocade

Finished the cushions with the vintage brocade and delivered them over the weekend. Can I just say that it makes a finished product look so much better when it is in its intended home?! The cushions were so so when in my craft room, but put the on their chairs? Wow! I love this job! Thanks, Sara, for trusting me with your treasured fabric.