New favorite diaper bag!

My sister requested a new diaper bag for her birthday (yes, clear back in May.) I did get it done for her birthday, I am only behind in my blogging!

My thanks to her for all of her feedback and suggestions on how to make my products better--more useful, more efficient, more durable, more accessible. So I was really glad when we planned out specifically what she wanted in this bag, and I was even more excited when it turned out so incredibly well! I will definitely be using this bag style more frequently. For now it gets the name "Square Shoulder bag"

I LOVE the fabric that she chose, and the fun coordinating binding really adds to the overall look. This is similar in style to the boxy 3-in-1 bag, but has only a shoulder strap (as opposed to the optional backpack straps and stroller straps)

Here are the gusseted pockets again, outside...

...and in.

And an elasticized pocket on the side panel for mom's water bottle, etc.

Also, she is currently (though she hopes for only a short while more) diapering two children, so she wanted a diaper clutch that would keep two sizes of diapers, plus wipes. I think we still have some adjustments to make on this one, but will definitely be adding it to the product line. "Double Diaper Duty"

Nursing cover

I have always wanted to make a nursing cover, but never got around to one! So I was really excited when someone requested a matching nursing pillow cover and nursing cover.

Features:
One-hand adjustable neck strap
Corner pocket for storage
Extra large for full coverage
Boning in neckline so you can maintain eye contact with baby

Bags for bio-feedback

Two of my customers work in the area of bio-feeback therapy--I am not sure my terminology is correct, but you get the general idea. Basically it requires a laptop, a netbook, a meter box, and lots and lots of cords, both for the computer equipment and for hooking up everything to their clients. So they asked for very specific items, of very specific sizes in order to fit in the rolling bag that lugs around their 40+ pounds of equipment--and of course MandiMoo Designs was happy to oblige! I love a new challenge and custom orders! The first is a laptop bag with a pocket on the front to house a $500 thumb drive. Definitely not something you want to misplace!

Next a coordinating netbook pouch

And finally, what I have dubbed a "cord card". A way to organize all of those cords in one place, complete with velcro loops to strap them in securely and keep them from tangling.

This one is for the cows

Or at least for the cowboy! I had a new request recently to make a laptop bag with the cattle brand of the customer. Just goes to show that MandiMoo Designs can cover just about any taste in fabric and design! Note the new style of pockets I am putting in my bags! The gusset pocket style allows for more expansion, which means more storage and easier to stash your stuff!

Teacher for a day!

I have been teaching sewing lessons to two bright, beautiful, talented girls for several months now. I love being able to pass on my love for sewing with these girls and showing them that sewing can be fun and useful! Recently, I was invited to be a guest speaker at a sewing class for junior high students. I had a blast, and hope they did, too! They are learning the basics of sewing, and learning about repurposing. One of the projects they were getting ready to do when I was there was a t-shirt tote. The snack bags, "eco"uture bags, t-shirt dresses, jean blankets, and other projects I have made were a good fit for what they were studying. Plus they got to see that something you love can be turned into a business, too! Here are a few pics of the fun morning I spent with them (they have all signed media release forms and I have their teacher's permission to post these here).

Car seat covers

Multi-use blanket--can be taken off the carseat and used as a receiving blanket. Generously sized to lay on the floor, throw over as a nursing cover, use in a stroller, etc. Flip up the bottom or flip down the top to peek at baby. This one has a warm, plushy fabric interior for a winter baby

This one is two layers of cotton for a summer baby.

This particular cover is made with licensed fabric on the inside, as I am giving it as a gift to go with this football onesie!

Happy May Day!

Does anyone else feel the time flying so quickly by? Where did April go? For us, March and April included (kind of working somewhat backwards here): Birthdays for the two kiddos Easter with my parents and siblings, including birthday celebrations for the two aforementioned kiddos Birthday celebration for mother-in-law Kindergarten Open House....gasp! Can Little Man really be old enough for kindergarten??? Lots of time and discussion about kindergarten and schools and applications, enrollment forms, etc. etc. etc. Ripping up grass and planting a garden Enclosing said garden in chicken wire fence so the naughty bunnies won't nibble my plants! Tearing out bushes in front of the house Painting the house A quick RAINY spring break trip that included the awesome Strategic Air and Space Museum and the Omaha Children's Museum. I would definitely recommend both of these! And of course the wonderful hospitality of my brother and sis-in-law. Tea party celebrating my grandma's 85th birthday party, complete with trying on (and stories of) hats she has worn throughout the years. A beautiful party for a beautiful woman! And of course the everyday that is my life of running after kiddos, playing lots of baseball and soccer, grocery shopping, etc. LOVED April, love this life...but certainly neglected this blog! So here goes. To start with, some pictures of St. Patrick's Day and the kids homemade shirts. (We can't have a holiday without a special shirt!)

"Sham ROCK" featuring a guitar with a shamrock shaped body! Little Man's is a baseball style shirt that I made from cutting apart two other shirts. Found this great tutorial at a new favorite site Make It and Love It. Embroidered letters in some awesome rocker font I digitized. Baby girl's was a too-large shirt that I sized down, ruffled the sleeve and bottom hems and appliqued the shamrock guitar embroidery. The coordinating skirt was also made from an old t-shirt. And look at that handsome man in uniform. That is my dear hubby in his Honor Guard suit. Love my man in uniform! Lots of rainy days during spring break

One of my favorite photos in the last few weeks! A few projects, including this boxy backpack (3-in-1 backpack, shoulder bag and stroller bag) combo of bag, diaper clutch and changing pad. Love the color combo!

Window seat and matching pillows, all with self-piping

Pizza birthday cake...what else would a 5-year old boy request? Crust is chocolate chip cookie. Sauce is melted white chocolate combined with a few chocolate chips and red food coloring. The authentic burnt areas are because I attempted to broil the pizza in an effort to melt the shaved almond bark "cheese". Sugar fruit slices for the tomatoes and green peppers, and tootsie rolls heated, flattened and poked through the middle with a straw for the olives!

Custom birthday shirts. Another baseball style with appliqued 5 (love this style of shirt!--and so easy)

Appliqued ribbon cupcake with two candles!

Have several more projects sitting around, plus I have started up sewing lessons again with my two favorite students, so will try to post more soon!