Monday, September 10, 2012
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!
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Teacher gifts
Since school has started again, thought this would be an appropriate post. These were end-of-the-year teacher gifts for G's preschool teachers, but wouldn't these be fun anytime?
Thanks to Family Fun magazine for the inspiration. We made our own sugar cookie recipe that calls for jello powder to make them colored and flavorful. Cut out a flower shape, then cut a circle in the middle. Lay on a sheet of parchment paper on a cookie sheet, and tuck a lollipop/cake pop stick under the cookie so that it shows in the middle of the cut out flower. Place a hard, not gummy, lifesaver in the middle of the hole and bake. As it bakes, the lifesaver melts and fills the hole. Cool and you have a beautiful flower!
We then painted pots with chalkboard paint and wrote the teachers' names on them...they could also be used later to mark what is planted in each pot! We put baseball ribbon around the rim of the pot--with G, everything needs to be baseball. Filled the pot with dried beans, taped a packet of wildflower seeds to a stick to add to the bouquet, and there you have it--very cute, yummy teacher gift! We will be making these frequently I am sure!
Thanks to Family Fun magazine for the inspiration. We made our own sugar cookie recipe that calls for jello powder to make them colored and flavorful. Cut out a flower shape, then cut a circle in the middle. Lay on a sheet of parchment paper on a cookie sheet, and tuck a lollipop/cake pop stick under the cookie so that it shows in the middle of the cut out flower. Place a hard, not gummy, lifesaver in the middle of the hole and bake. As it bakes, the lifesaver melts and fills the hole. Cool and you have a beautiful flower!
We then painted pots with chalkboard paint and wrote the teachers' names on them...they could also be used later to mark what is planted in each pot! We put baseball ribbon around the rim of the pot--with G, everything needs to be baseball. Filled the pot with dried beans, taped a packet of wildflower seeds to a stick to add to the bouquet, and there you have it--very cute, yummy teacher gift! We will be making these frequently I am sure!
Monday, September 3, 2012
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'!
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'!
Friday, August 31, 2012
Toddler Fair coming soon
MandiMoo Designs will be at the Toddler Fair at the Manhattan Public Library September 12. See the flyer, and we will hope to see you there!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Weekend projects
We got RAIN here this weekend...and lots of it! Good thing I bought vinyl on one of my frequent trips to the fabric store. Why have an umbrella when you can hold a roll of vinyl over your head while ushering your two small children, each with their own full- sized umbrella, through pouring rain? Ha! Let's just say we were quite a sight!
So I bought vinyl because I couldn't find an over-the-door shoe organizer at my first stop and didn't want to play out the above scenario at too many other stops, so I decided to buy vinyl and make my own! Pretty quick, used up some fabric and bias tape I had around, and much heavier duty than a purchased one!
Previously we had used muffin tins and magnets in the bottom of plastic cups to organize the ridiculous numbers of pens, pencils, crayons, glue sticks, etc. The cups were always falling over, I worried about someone swallowing one too many magnets, etc. I had found this idea somewhere and decided to give it a whirl! I think we may have finally found a solution that works!
The other project was blackout curtains for the kiddos room. We have been doing bedtime about 7 to accommodate an early school day, so needed something s bit more sleep-friendly. Will probably end up with a second panel on each window, but we will see! Sorry if the pics aren't in order...my preview isn't working so I can't see what order they are in!
So I bought vinyl because I couldn't find an over-the-door shoe organizer at my first stop and didn't want to play out the above scenario at too many other stops, so I decided to buy vinyl and make my own! Pretty quick, used up some fabric and bias tape I had around, and much heavier duty than a purchased one!
Previously we had used muffin tins and magnets in the bottom of plastic cups to organize the ridiculous numbers of pens, pencils, crayons, glue sticks, etc. The cups were always falling over, I worried about someone swallowing one too many magnets, etc. I had found this idea somewhere and decided to give it a whirl! I think we may have finally found a solution that works!
The other project was blackout curtains for the kiddos room. We have been doing bedtime about 7 to accommodate an early school day, so needed something s bit more sleep-friendly. Will probably end up with a second panel on each window, but we will see! Sorry if the pics aren't in order...my preview isn't working so I can't see what order they are in!
Monday, August 27, 2012
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!
Monday, August 20, 2012
Updated nursery, personalized quilt
Do you remember the crib set I did for a dear friend of mine and her little girl, O?
Well, O is now a sweet almost 2 1/2 year old and was ready to move out of a crib and into a daybed. So I got the pleasure of updating her bedroom! They wanted to keep the same style but needed a quilt big enough for a daybed and a new bed skirt (which is in the same fabric as the crib skirt, so no pictures of it).
Fortunately we were able to find the same fabric--on clearance!--and then I was ready to go. From start to finish, this quilt was FUN! I considered sending it off to get it quilted, but then decided that I have a fabulous embroidery machine, why not hoop each square and quilt it myself? And that I did. And I couldn't have been more pleased with the way it turned out! What a precious keepsake!
The full quilt
I appliqued her name on the quilt as I had done on her crib quilt
A close-up of the quilting--I designed circles for the circle fabric and a stripe quilting stitch on the stripe fabric
And best of all...in each pink square I quilted her name! In my spare time (haha) I would LOVE to make one for each of my kids with their names embroidered in them!
Well, O is now a sweet almost 2 1/2 year old and was ready to move out of a crib and into a daybed. So I got the pleasure of updating her bedroom! They wanted to keep the same style but needed a quilt big enough for a daybed and a new bed skirt (which is in the same fabric as the crib skirt, so no pictures of it).
Fortunately we were able to find the same fabric--on clearance!--and then I was ready to go. From start to finish, this quilt was FUN! I considered sending it off to get it quilted, but then decided that I have a fabulous embroidery machine, why not hoop each square and quilt it myself? And that I did. And I couldn't have been more pleased with the way it turned out! What a precious keepsake!
The full quilt
I appliqued her name on the quilt as I had done on her crib quilt
A close-up of the quilting--I designed circles for the circle fabric and a stripe quilting stitch on the stripe fabric
And best of all...in each pink square I quilted her name! In my spare time (haha) I would LOVE to make one for each of my kids with their names embroidered in them!
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