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!

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!

Simply genius!

My customers are genius! Some of my best, and most favorite, projects come from ideas and requests from customers!

This request is for a waterproof nursing pillow cover to go under a decorative cover. Made of PUL, the waterproof fabric used in cloth diapers, this cover will protect the pillow from spit-up, leaks, etc. Take off the decorative cover, then wipe or wash the waterproof cover. The actual pillow won't need washed nearly as often and can retain its shape and fluffiness for longer! I will definitely be adding this to my list of items I make often!

Cute custom sleeping gown!

I made this for my cousin and her sweet baby girl for a long-distance baby shower. It would make a great gift for a new mom and baby in the hospital!

Nursing cover

LOVE this fabric (I think I say that about 99% of the projects I do for others...people have such great tastes!) Made this for a friend. Note the adjustable neck strap, the boning in the neck to allow mom to peek in at baby, and the terry cloth pocket in the lower corner to stash a burp cloth or wipe a mouth! These nursing covers are a great size for laying on the ground for baby to roll around or to throw over a car seat to keep out germs, weather, etc.

Pumpkin Patch 2012

These pics were taken about 1/2 way through the day on the first day, so already a lot of stuff picked over! I am still in awe about Pumpkin Patch and what an amazing weekend it was...the weather was perfect, the sales were great, the friends and family helping me out made the days so much better...all the vendors I spoke with agreed it was an exceptional weekend!

The displays were an added bonus this year. I borrowed them from my in-laws who own a mercantile. Meant for DVDs, they were great for showcasing the 120+ reusable sandwich bags (which sold out) as well as the embroidered onesies and infant beanies. The taller displays in the back were perfect for tablet/e-reader clutches and the children's hats.

Thanks to all who came out and helped, shopped, and enjoyed the weekend!

Black and white giraffe diaper bag

Love the color combo on this one! Needed it to be gender neutral, so went with a yellow changing pad--and it really popped!

Farm blanket for the senses

I made a blanket like this for my son several years ago. As a displaced farm girl, I felt like he should learn about the farm at an early age! The best thing about this farm though is that his clothes didn't get dirty!

Actually the best thing is the many textures on this blanket. The one pictured, along with the soft tractors, are ideal for my nephew who is turning one this week. The softness of the fabrics, the rows to resemble corn or freshly planted wheat, the slight terraces, and even a farm pond that is silky to the touch! Happy birthday, T! And sis, hopefully this Labor Day is much easier but equally as joyful as last years'!

Another crib quilt

Love, love the fabric used for this crib quilt. Just one piece of fabric on the front and one on the back, but quilted together so technically a quilt! There were also valances that went with this, the same fabric as on the back (the fabric with more white space). Now that I think of it, the purple in this fabric would match the walls in the kids room...hmmmm, an update may be in order!

4th of...August?

Better late than never.

I saw these adorable socks at Hobby Lobby and just HAD to buy them for a dear friend who had recently had a baby girl. And of COURSE I couldn't just give her the socks, so I put together this cute little patriotic outfit just in time for Independence Day.

Boppy cover

More custom nursery/baby items!

This one is another boppy cover. Love the ribbon pull on the zipper!

Receiving blanket/onesie combo

MandiMoo receiving blankets are the perfect size at approximately 45" x 36". Large enough for swaddling your newborn, small enough for baby to carry around, and still plenty of room to throw over a napping two and 1/2 year-old little guy!

Receiving blankets can be either single or double. Singles are typically one piece of flannel with a finished edge. Doubles are two layers of fabric--either two layers of flannel back to back or one flannel and one cotton layer, back to back with a cute coordinating rick-rack edge.

The coordinating onesies shown here are appliqued or reverse appliqued (the first close-up is reverse appliqued--the fish print is sewn to the inside of the onesie and then the onesie is cut so you can see the fish print).

All appliques have an iron-on interfacing inside to prevent the stitching from scratching or rubbing baby's delicate skin!

As always, I can find fabric to suit just about any taste!