Baby Boys and Robots

Is it just me or does it seem like there are a ton of babies being born during this time of year?  It seems like all our friends have been having babies left and right......as a matter a fact our good friends Patrick and Anita just had a new baby today.......baby Lucy!

As I've mentioned before, I've been busy getting my inventory ready for a show next week, but I have managed to find some time to whip up a few baby gifts here and there (and I have a couple more to do this weekend).  My friend Shannon just had her second baby boy so I thought I'd make her a little something special for her new little bundle........baby Kevin.

I made Shannon's baby boy, Kevin, this little robot gift set.  A custom appliqued organic cotton onesie and two cotton chenille burp cloths.

I love David Walker's "Robots" fabric - isn't it just so cute?  I'm not all that versed in boys, seeing as though I have two girlies, but I'm used to seeing cars, sports and dinosaurs for boys.  I think the robots are unique.  I used the applique techniques from this "Sew Basics" post for the onesie.

I used three fabrics for the applique.  The light blue for the border, the robots for the main fabric and the red for the "K" (for "Kevin").  I applied the applique with fusible interfacing and I used a medium sized zig-zag stitch around the edge to prevent any fraying. 

Do you want me to tell you a little secret?  I used embroidery thread instead of my regular thread for the applique and it turned out awesome!  I don't have a fancy sewing machine so I never thought of embroidery thread to even be an option for me, but this worked like a dream.

To go along with the "Robot" onesie I made a couple burp cloths.  And since I was making burp cloths, I decided to make a bunch for my show this next week.

These came together rather quickly because I used my serger.  I'm typically not a huge fan of a serged edge, but I think it works for boy things.

I used a wide variety of fabrics from David Walker's "Robots" collection.  I love how these can be put together as burp cloth sets.  I don't think I will be listing these in my etsy shop, but they will be great for shows and make wonderful gifts!

For the backing I used a super-soft cream chenille.  Chenille is definitely my favorite fabric for baby - so soft and cuddly but really durable as well.

Thanks for letting me share! 

  Do you know lots of people having babies during this time of year?  

What kinds of fun baby gifts are you making? 

New Sponsor and Giveaway - Elizabeth Victoria Fine Stationary

I'm so excited to announce the newest sponsor of The Cottage Home - Elizabeth Victoria Fine Stationary.  Elizabeth Victoria is giving away a gift certificate to their shop to one lucky The Cottage Home blog reader.

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{ The Dining Room }

finally...

I'm getting closer to a finished dining room.

A larger table is all I need to make this room complete.

I'm loving my new "Chandelier"

{more on that later ~ thanks Sue Whitney}

I can't wait to use this room over the holidays with all the candles lit.

linky up to Funky Junk Interiors

inspiration

i’m completely inspired by this new atlanta home that was featured in this month’s atlanta homes & lifestyles magazine.  the mix of rustic and classic styles is very intriguing.  it keeps me wanting to see more and more.  the website doesn’t have near as many photos as the actual print magazine has so pick it up if you see one in a store.  it’s absolutely stunning in print.

this kitchen is to die for…everything from the urban electric co. lighting to the limed wood backsplash.

the entire home is design at it’s best.

LiveJournal Tags: atlanta homes and lifestyles,atlanta home,urban electric co.

{ The Challenge }

it's a biggie ~ 

I plan to paint all the doors in my house BLACK 

by Halloween, can it be done?

(okay, so that's not really 28 days from now, but it sounds better than 28 doors in 33 days, right?)

it's a house of doors, they're everywhere!

So, I'm off, some are white, some peach, some with door knobs, some with glass.

wish me luck!

Embroidered Reusable Snack Bag Tutorial

I have been wanting to make some reusable snack bags for my girls for about six months now.  Today I finally took the initiative and got some made (it's about time, right?).  I made these today partly out of necessity (we are out of plastic sandwich bags) and partly because we are taking a road trip down to Tennessee next week for me to do a show for "The Cottage Mama" and I just thought they would be great for the car ride.

There are about a gazillion tutorials on the internet for these reusable bags (there are some really great ideas out there).  But as it is with most things for me, I didn't find exactly what I was looking for.......so I made up my own version and now I'm happy to be able to share it with you.........

Supplies:
1 piece exterior fabric (8" x 13")
1 piece unbleached interior fabric (8" x 13") - I used Osnaburg cotton
Velcro (7")
Fabric scraps for embroidery
Water soluble fabric pen
Embroidery floss, needle and hoop
Sewing machine
Scissors
Thread
Iron

The embroidery on these snack bags is what I think makes them fun and unique.  You can use whatever words you like - I used "yummy", "delish", "snack" and "goodies". Take your water soluble pen and write your word onto your fabric (again, I used Osnaburg Cotton).  Embroider over the wording.  Take a damp cloth and remove any of the blue pen that still shows through.

Cut words into rectangle shape.

Take your interior fabric piece and pin velcro in place.  Pin 1/2" from the end and both sides.  I used osnaburg cotton for my interior fabric because I wanted to make sure that I used something that would be unbleached, natural and food-safe.  You can use muslin as well.  I just love the feel of osnaburg (and it's very inexpensive too).

Stitch your velcro in place on both sides.  Stitch as close the edge of the velcro as possible.

Fold your lining (interior) fabric in half (right-sides together).  Stitch down the right and left side, but leave a small opening on one side (see picture below) - 1/2" seam allowance.

I left a small opening on one of the sides - you will need this little opening later to turn things right side out.

Apply fusible interfacing to all of your embroidered words (according to package directions).  Make your words as big or as small as you like.  Mine were all a little different, but I like it this way because it has a more handmade feel.  Iron each word to the exterior fabric.

Use a zig-zag stitch around the exterior of each word rectangle.  You can use a straight stitch if you prefer, but just be aware that you will have some fraying on the edges (but some people like that look).

Fold exterior fabric in half (right sides together) and stitch down the right and left side - 1/2" seam allowance.  Clip corners.  Turn right side out.

Once turned right side out press with an iron.

Turn exterior fabric inside out again.  Place interior fabric inside exterior fabric with velcro facing the right side of the exterior fabric.

Line up the raw edges and pin in place.

Stitch interior and exterior fabrics together by stitching around the top of the snack bag - 1/2" seam allowance.

Now this is why we needed that little opening.  Pull exterior fabric through the opening to turn the whole snack bag right side out.

To close the opening in the lining, stitch down the side of the interior lining.  I stitched the other side too just to make them both the same.

Add top-stitching around the top of the snack bag in coordinating thread.

And there you have it - snack bags for the little ones in your life.  Or just for you (my husband said he even liked them!).

I think it would be fun to embroider kids names on the bags or other fun words that having meaning to your family.

I couldn't decide between "goodies" or "munchies" but Savannah said she liked "goodies" better.

You can adjust the measurements of this tutorial and make these bags as big or as small as you like.

These snack bags came together really quickly by doing them assembly line style.  So I recommend doing it that way if you plan on making these.

 Perfect for dry snack foods like Cheerios!

Cottage Mama's Note:  These snack bags are completely washable, but are not waterproof.  I know oil cloth is a very tempting fabric to use for these bags, but please avoid using that product as it is not considered food-safe.