Nursing Cover Tutorial

photo courtesy of the Bebe Au Lait website

I wanted to share this super easy tutorial I found online for making your own nursing cover.  This project took a total of 45 minutes to complete!   I made one last week for a friend who is having a baby and I'm planning on making myself one too.  Of course, I forgot to take a picture of it before the baby shower, but the finished product looks just like the "Hooter Hiders" they sell in upscale boutiques.  

**FYI - The tutorial calls for 1/2 yard of Corset Boning, which I was able to find at Hancock Fabrics for 99 cents a yard.

Betting on a Boy

No, not really! :)  You would just think that is what we are having if you were to see the nursery right now.  

Everybody else seems to think this sweet little baby is going to be a boy, but I don't have any strong feelings either way.  At first, I strongly felt it was a boy, but now that I'm working on the nursery, I feel more like it is a girl (but maybe that is just because the nursery is BLUE!)  With Anna Cate we were both pretty convinced that she was a girl, so this next one will truly be a surprise either way.

I decided to just use a soft whitish blue paint "Sweet Slumber" that we had left over from painting a bathroom in our old house.  It matched the rocker and is very soft and soothing. Then, I found a  cute polka dotted sheet set at TJ Maxx for $30.  After MUCH deliberation, I decided that no, it doesn't look too "boyish" and the polka dots could work if this baby is a girl.  Right, right?? (At least this is what I'm telling myself!)   

I made a crib bumper slipcover for Anna Cate's old bumper from the flat sheet and Will's mom found the Pottery Barn curtains for me at the outlet on sale for $2.50!!!  

The dust ruffle is just a pair of curtain panels (blue & white stripe) that I made for AC's nursery that match the rocker.  I put them up this weekend because I ran out of time to sew something before a shower that I had at our house on Saturday and this at least helped to give it a more finished look.  However, I'm a perfectionist and it bothers me that the blues don't perfectly match! 

I've decided if the baby is a girl, I'll hang the letters of her name over the crib with white ribbon.  Maybe all of the bows will give it more of a girly look. :)  If it is a boy, I have several cute ideas (involving elephants, giraffes, and lions) for artwork that will hang over the crib.  

The room is FAR from being ready, but at least I'm making progress.

Fancy Washing Gloves

Several years ago, I made some fun gloves for the girls in my Bible Study.  It was a group of newly married ladies and our teacher was encouraging us to find joy in our work at home (washing dishes, folding laundry, dusting, etc.)  I made a pair for each girl so they could have a little more fun while standing over those dirty dishes at the kitchen sink! :)

I had totally forgotten about them until one of my friends who was in the Bible study requested several pair for some wedding gift baskets she was putting together.  The first ones I made had sequins dangling from the ribbon, but she requested some fabric flowers instead and they turned out SO CUTE!  I wanted to share this idea because it would make a darling gift (birthday, Mother's Day, wedding, shower, etc) for almost any lady!  You just sew the ribbon around the base of the glove and then make two fabric flowers to attach to each one.  

* I used the white Mr. Clean brand gloves that are lined with a soft flannel.  They hold up much longer than the regular yellow kind and the soft inside makes them feel more plush! I can usually find them in Wal-Mart.

**You may experience some trouble sewing the ribbon to the glove with a sewing machine.  I had to try several times to get the machine to stitch the ribbon without tearing the glove.  You may choose to hand-stitch the ribbon instead.  

"Ruthie"

I wanted to share this special doll because she is truly one of a kind and has such a sweet story behind her creation. 

 Her name is "Ruthie" and she is a very special present for Gracie, who's 3rd birthday is later this month.  Gracie's mom, Heather, contacted me about making her because her own mother passed away 3 years ago while Heather was pregnant with Gracie.  She wanted her daughter  to have a special keepsake of her grandmother so she mailed me some of her mom's old clothes to use to make a doll.   Gracie requested that she have black eyes, light pink lips, and a pink bow.  She also wanted her to be named "Ruthie."  She turned out so precious that it was hard for me to let her go!  I hope Gracie will love her for years to come. 

Shades From Mini Blinds

Just thought I'd share this tutorial that I found on a decorating blog, Little Green Notebook, that teaches you how to turn ordinary mini blinds into beautiful & functional shades.  No sewing involved!!  I can not wait to try this out for our kitchen! 

 For months I've been thinking about what to use as window treatments.  I don't like blinds, nor do I like traditional curtains, but this just may be exactly what we need.  Thank goodness I haven't thrown out the blinds I took down in AC's room and the nursery.  I have all of the materials... if I could only find the time!  

  

Amazing Frugal Makeover

This makeover was just too amazing and inspiring not to share!! One of my favorite blogs to check everyday is Resolved 2 Worship.  This amazing mom of 6 (soon to be 7!) is so creative and inspiring that she never ceases to impress me with all of her energy and just her overall outlook on life.  

Her family recently had to move into a rental home and they were unable to find a landlord who would rent to a family with that many small children.  Their only option was to make their home in a commercial building.  Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she has beautifully TRANSFORMED the building into a lovely home for her family only using the resources she has available.  And I thought I was a frugal decorator!!  You have to check out her blog for yourself to see the results she has achieved just using what she already had and combining it with "side of the road" finds.   

Just a few of the "before" and "after" shots"

KITCHEN BEFORE:   

KITCHEN AFTER:

MASTER BEDROOM BEFORE:

MASTER BEDROOM AFTER:

Sweet Sarah Kate

I have a mini baby shower this evening for one of the girls in our Bunco group.  She is having her first baby, Sarah Kate, in April so we are throwing her a surprise shower tonight - fun fun fun!

How adorable did this little onsie and burp set turn out?!? I just love it and wish I was going to be the one opening it tonight. :)  This is what I really miss since we always wait to find out what we are having... all of the cute boy or girl gifts.  I'll just have to enjoy making the cute stuff for others until I know what we are having. 

Not that I'm complaining because it is all worth the wait in the end.  I can think of no greater rush than being in the delivery room and hearing the doctor announce, "Congratulations!  It's a ...!"  Ohhhh I get goosebumps thinking we get to do it all over again in just a few months!