Making Over Maggie's Room

I have had SO much fun putting my sweet girl's room together. And now, more than a year after her arrival, I'm finally ready to share a few pics of her space with you. If you can believe it, the room still isn't complete. I have one final element to embroider, frame and hang, but it's pretty close.

Before we get to the pretty, let's take a look at the way it once was.

It started as a beige guest room. Beige walls. Beige carpets. Beige energy. Not what I wanted for baby girl.

I knew color was in order, so I started by selecting a color  scheme. This was BY FAR the hardest part of the whole process for me. So many amazing colors to choose from. I finally landed on gray, yellow, teal, light pink, and deep pink. 

Room Colors

Once my colors were finally decided, I went to the paint store and selected paint swatches in those hues, which I then punched (in the shape of a bird for kicks and giggles) and added to a jump ring, which I carried with me so I could make sure I was color-matching correctly.

Punched paint swatches to carry with me as I shopped for room goodies.

I also put together a few swatch-type samples in my Smashbook, including a lovely shot of a room Maggie Holmes created in her home, which exactly matched the colors I was seeking!

A page from my pregnancy Smash Book.

Above all else, I knew I wanted to take out the old carpet. It was bland, and it had doggie peep on it, which definitely wasn't going to work for my little love. After much research and trips to many flooring stores, it was determined a vinyl "wood" was best for dogs who peed. So we went with that and my AMAZING Pop and hubby went to work installing it. We got enough for our entire upstairs. But the rest of the house will have to wait for more funds to come in.

Pop and Cor worked like crazy to get the flooring in before baby arrived.

I had pinned a cool idea for DIY wainscoting, so Cory and I got to work on that by making trips to the hardware store for lumber and paint.

First, we measured the wall and marked where the boards would go.

Cory marking where the boards would go for the faux wainscoting.

Naturally, Biff came out to help!

Biff steps up to lend a hand.

We then taped off at about 2/3 of the way up the wall to indicate where the white paint would end and the gray would begin.

The wall is taped at the 2/3 mark, with the bottom 2/3's to be white and the top 1/3 to be gray.

Time for paint. Cory channeled his inner Bob Ross (he's a big fan) and painted a happy little tree.

Just a happy little tree to get things started.

Wanting to mark this room as Maggie's, I started by painting her name across the wall. (That's an M.)

M for Maggie!

When the paint was dry, we removed the tape and grabbed the lumber so Cory could begin installing the wainscoting, only to find out I had mis measured on the center tape line and all of our white paint was too high. D'oh! We had to repaint. Not fun. :(

Take it from me--measure twice, paint once!

Several coats and a second paint job later (because I mis-measured), the walls were finally ready.

At last, the room was ready for the faux wainscoting. Cory added the lumber, and he and Pop added the additional white paint to create the effect.

On go the boards, the ledging along the top, and an additional layer of white paint.

Pop stopped in often to help. Together, he and Cory transformed the room from pooper to super!

Wow! This is really starting to look like a room.

Once the base of the room was ready, we went to work on filling it with all things baby. It started with much reading on Consumer Reports. We finally landed on a Pottery Barn Kids crib that ranked well and fit with the look we were going for. Cory put it together in no time.

The first thing we brought in after the foundation of the room was complete was Maggie's crib. It originally had a net bumper, which is supposed to help with SIDS prevention.

For the bedding, I looked and looked and looked. There were so many I loved. Sadly, I had it in my head that I had to have everything by the time she arrived, and she was due in a couple of weeks at this point, so I went with one I liked that I could get in time instead of the one on Etsy that I really wanted. Lessoned learned for next time, I suppose. I like the bedding, which is from Carousel Designs, but it's too short for the length of the mattress, which has always bugged me.

Love the chevron print and the soft, cozy inside lining of the bumper.

Pretty bedding, but what you can't see is that it cuts off about 6" before the edge of the mattress. Probably a mistake on my part with the ordering.

Fortunately for me, I received a few lovely handmade quilts as gifts, and they actually fit the crib. This one was made by our talented family friend, Edna.

Handmade details like this quilt are the best!

And this one was made by my awesome quilting cousin, Cynthia!

Another handmade quilt. And, my cousin even made a big one for me, which matches this one. LOVE!

Another area where I researched and researched was rugs. So many amazing options! I finally landed on this cutie from Pottery Barn Teen. Alas, when I opened it upon its arrival, it had grease (I think) stains on it, which I've never fully gotten out. Not sure what that was about, but I still love the pattern. But I may not order a rug there again.

Love the look of this rug; I only wish I would have come without the stains.

Naturally, the pups thought this meant a new bed for them.

Jack (Biff) trying out the rug.

Not wanting to be left out, Kisses also gives the rug a go. In fact, this is often where you can still find him. He likes to stay close to Mags!

Furtniture. Another area that required a great deal of research and shopping. I wanted something that would look lovely, stand the test of time, and fit within my budget. I must have been to every furniture shop in town. Multiple times. I found myself returning to Ashley Furniture over and over again over the course of several months. It was a bit out of my price range, but I knew I would regret it if I didn't take the plunge. So I... gulp ... bought it on credit with zero interest for 12 months, and I'm pleased to say I managed to get it paid off in time. Hooray!

The changing table is actually a media center, but I'm so tall (5'11") that it was just the right height for the changing table.

Love this media stand turned changing table.

I found gray baskets at Jo-Ann that fit just right in the slots where the DVD player and/or gaming system would normally go. I keep diapers in three of the baskets and basic supplies (lotion, diaper cream, brush, etc.) in the fourth basket. This has worked out SO well for us.

The baskets are so helpful and right at arm's reach.

Each of the three drawers are perfect for holding other basic supplies. The bottom drawer contains parenting books, bath supplies, pacifiers (that she never used), etc. The middle drawer holds basic medical and cleansing stuff (extra shampoo, medicine, thermometer, etc.). The top drawer holds additional daily used supplies (wipes, Q-tips, her medicine, extra Diaper Genie cartridges, etc.).

I keep the drawers organized with different bins, baskets and tubs.

I found the cutest little glass butter dish at Target (similar to this) that I use to hold Q-tips.

This glass butter dish is just the ticket when it comes to keeping the Q-tips clean and accessible.

The lamp is one of the very first things I bought for the room after I finally decided on a color scheme. It's also from Target. And the little pink drawer unit is an antique that my cousin Teri found at a flea market in LA. She spray painted it pink and sent it to me for her room. It now holds Maggie's smaller hair accessories.

Thanks to my cousin for this lovely set of bitty drawers, which she painted pink.

This piece is what made me fall in love with this set. I simply couldn't get enough of the shallow, pull-out drawers. As soon as I saw them the first time, I knew her bitty shoes, socks and other accessories were meant to go in them, and it has worked like a gem.

Oh, these little drawers! They're my favorite. They're why I couldn't let this piece go. As soon as I saw them, I knew they were meant to hold bitty shoes, socks, and hats!

See what I mean? Just right!

I keep clothes in the drawers on the left side, including pajamas, onesies, pants, and t-shirts. And I store bibs, burp cloths, extra crib bedding, blankets, and other linens in the shelves above the shallow pull-out drawers.

And all of the drawers in this piece are so nice to have.

Next item on my list of musts was a rocking chair. Cory and I had one, but it was in desperate need of a makeover. Paula, an amazingly talented friend of mine, offered to create new covers for the chair, which was no easy task. So we stripped the cushions off it, bought some fabric using the awesome 40% off coupon at Jo-Ann, and sent it her way.

Plain faux leather cushions once sat atop this chair frame, but they were in desperate need of a makeover.

I love, love, love the way the chair turned out. Paula is a miracle worker. You can find her awesomeness in her Etsy shop. Yum!

Paula to the rescue with this a-freaking-mazing updo. The pockets look a little off, but that's because that's where I now keep the story books I read to Mags at night, so they get much use.

Bitty baby in a big chair!

Paula also made the pillows that sit on the chair. Isn't she awesome? I use this chair every. single. day. It's our favorite place to sit and read stories. Speaking of stories, Maggie can't get enough of Bubbles, Bubbles, which was a Dollar Spot score at Target. She has so many fab books, but this is her go-to. Gotta love a deal!

Maggie's FAVORITE book.

You may have noticed the awesome clock above the rocking chair. That is another one of the handmade gifts that fills Maggie's nursery with such love. The incredible Holly Jones, a dear friend of mine, made it and gave it to me at my shower. She sells cut-outs in numerous styles and finishes, including wonderful wood designs. You should check her cute Say Hello Shop when you have a minute!

Love this lovely clock my friend Holly made for Miss Mags.

Before I get to all of the sugar on top (aka the decorations), I'll talk windows. This was hands down the most difficult thing to find for this space. In fact, it's still not complete. I'm waiting for a good deal on plantation shutters. If you hear of one, please let me know. Until then, I've at least finally found the curtains I adore. The sheer, lattice-print lining and the darker drapes are both from Z Gallerie. I searched high and low, and finally knew these were the ones when I stumbled upon them.

At last, the long journey to new window treatments was over. Z Gallerie to the rescue with this perfect pair.

Here's a backlit shot so you can see the pattern better.

Isn't the pattern on the sheer liner cool?

The tie-backs are from Pottery Barn Kids. Love the big bulb on the end!

Take off, knob! This is just the tie-back this window needed!

That's it for the big stuff. Now, on to the finishing touches. I feel the star of this show are my frames that sit atop the little ledge shelf created by the faux wainscoting.

Love the frame-lined wall. The large prints and photos make such a statement.

The 12x12 frames are from IKEA. I filled them with photos, like this one taken by the talented Maggie Holmes...

This darling photo was taken by Maggie Holmes.

 ...and the ones visible in this image (on either side of the the "hello" printable), which were taken by another talented photo friend of mine, Elisha Snow.

The adorable image in this frame was taken by Elisha Snow.

I use the Epson Artisan 1430 printer to print my 12x12 images, and it rocks my socks. Best ever!

An incredible printer for adding 12x12 images to any space!

I filled one of the IKEA frames with a piece of scrapbook paper that I dressed up using the Fiskars flag punch and a few embellishments.

Scrapbook paper is sometimes the perfect piece of artwork.

Tiny details are just enough.

And I filled one of them with the sweet "hello" printable, which I purchased from this Etsy shop.

This "Hello" print was one of the very first things I bought for Maggie's room. I adore it.

On the opposite wall sits the BasicGrey frames spelling Maggie. For more on these, including a tutorial on putting them together, see this post.

Let's play the name game with these fabric-filled frames.

From there, I mixed in smaller fames, like this one, which houses the info on Maggie's incredible arrival. I used paper from Pink Paislee and stickers from BasicGrey. I also painted a paper mache M from Jo-Ann and lined it with washi as part of my Washi Workshop for Studio Calico.

A few of the things I made for Maggie's space. The washi-covered M was part of my Washi Workshop for Studio Calico. So fun!

For this frame, I glued scrapbook paper to the photo mat that came with the frame to complement the space.

Framed photo taken by Elisha Snow.

And on this one, I simply lined the mat with washi tape for a quick makeover.

Framed photo by Elisha Snow.

I wrapped a second, larger paper mache M with yarn.

Yarn-wrapped M, which was also featured in the Scrapbooking for Babies & Toddlers special issue by Creating Keepsakes magazine.

Using fat quarters of fabric, I cut triangles with my pinking sheers and strung them up on a strand of pom pom yarn. I made a second banner using lace as the topper in place of the pom yarn to mix up the look a bit.

A little banner bidnaz makes any room happier.

I lined her light switch plate with washi, which was quick and made a big impact. Loved the outcome so much that I later added washi-covered plates to many of the rooms in our home.

Washi-covered light switch plate cover. So simple. So great.

For Mags many hair bows, I use a necklace holder and cute plastic basket (purchased at Target's Dollar Spot).

Hair bows, don't cha knows?

And I keep her toys in a set of barrels I received from the fine folks at BasicGrey.

BasicGrey barrels, just right for holding Mags' toys.

The closet isn't much to look at (beyond all of the darling outfits it contains), but I do like the little clothes dividers that I received as a shower gift.

Cool closet dividers.

And while this isn't anything decorative, my video monitor that my best friend Kirston and her mom gave me is one of the very best parts of this space. I HIGHLY recommend a video monitor to any new mom.

Love this video baby monitor. It allows me to be a peeping tom and look in on wonderful moments like this.

Also on my list of recommendations is a Diaper Genie. This little guy keeps the stank out, which is all right by me!

Not the cutest, but a definite necessity.

Finally, the part of the nursery I love the most, besides the little lady living here, is this mirror, which once belonged to my dear Grandma Margaret. Maggie was named after her, making this addition all the more special and heartfelt.

This brilliant mirror once belonged to my incredible grandma. I love having it in Maggie's room now. Seems like the perfect spot.

I think that about does it. Thanks for taking this looong room tour with me. I have a few final touches that are still coming together. As soon as they're ready, I'll be sure to share. In the meantime, you can check out a Studio 5 segment I did on Maggie's space here.

Cheers!

A peek inside.

Onesie... twosie... threesie...

Monthly onsies... a project I've had in mind since before my dear Mags arrived. I thought they'd be a cute way to track her growth during her first year. Alas, I didn't complete them until month two of her sweet life, which means onesie one is out of the picture. But, better late than never, I suppose.

Here's the plan: I'll sit her in her cute rocker wearing the onesie that coincides with her current month of age and snap a picture. Lambie will join her to help illustrate her growth. 

How the onesies came together:

Step 1: Purchase onesies for months 1 (or two, in my case) through 12, wash them, and iron them.

Step 2: Select fabric for your numbers and iron fusible webbing (stiffener) to the back of each piece. This is a two-sided iron-on material that will allow you to die-cut your numbers and iron them to the onesies. I used Ultrahold Heat-n-Bond by Therm O Web.  

Step 3: Use a die-cutting machine to cut your numbers. I used the Fabrique by Making Memories. Note: If you don't have a die-cutting machine, you can use stencils to trace numbers and cut them out, or you can simply freehand cut them out. It's up to you!

I cut four of each number so I can make extra sets to give as gifts. 

Step 4: Iron the numbers on the onesies. 

Step 5: Take your photos onesie... errr, once a month. ;) 

Since I was a slacker and missed month one, I'm starting with month 2. (How can my baby girl be two months old already?)

You'd think the photo taking would be the easy part. Yeah, not so much. Here are just a few of the MANY outtakes. 

When ever there's a camera out, Jack has to make an appearance.

Reese (dog speak for "cheese")

Going...

Going...

Gone!

Whew! This picture-taking business is hard work.

Cheers!

BTW, I'm thinking about selling these onesie sets. If you're interested in purchasing a set, please e-mail me at M2E2G at aol.com. I'm happy to use colors that work for your needs, and I can do sets for boys, girls, or I can keep 'em gender neutral. Just let me know. :)

The Name Game: Nursery Decor

Foolish me. I thought maternity would leave me with all this free time to create. Umm... not so much. I've pretty much spent every free minute of this happy time holding my sweet girl. BUT, I have managed to squeeze in a few crafts, including decor for Miss Maggie's room.

As soon as I saw these frames and letters from BasicGrey, I knew I had to have them for Mag's nursery. I filled them with fabric—the same fabric I used on the banners I made for her special space.

If you like this look, you can create it in a few simple steps:

1. Select your frames, letters and fabric. Iron the fabric.
2. I used spray adhesive to attach the letter negatives to the fabric.
3. Smooth out any air bubbles. (BTW, is it me or does my hand look VERY freaky in this photo? It bugs. Like Penguin's flipper or something. Yuck!)
4. I backed my fabric with white cardstock to make the fabric pop more than it would if I had just framed it without a backing.
5. Frame the fabric-backed letter.

You'll have to excuse the reflection. Shooting glass with a cell phone doesn't make for the best shot.

These letters are actually two projects in one, as you can use the negative shape (above), as well as the positive shape (the letter you punch out), which is what I did for the M.

Here's a closer look at each letter. I adore the splash of color this adds to Maggie's room. And she seems to dig it... well, as much as a two-month-old can dig wall art. :)

More baby crafts to come soon. Until then, I hope this one brings a smile to your face. Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers!

So many nursery options, so little time

Help. I’m in need of a little color coaching. I’m having the hardest time selecting a color combo for our nursery. There are so many pretty options. Here are a few that I’m considering:


Note: All color palette images courtesy of Design Seeds and Photo Card Boutique.

Turquoise, Gray & Yellow (with the possibility of a splash of Taupe) 

This has topped my list for a while, but I can’t help but wonder if I’d be missing out by not using any pink. I am, after all, very much a pink lady.

Here's a pretty example I found on Pinterest. Image courtesy of Oleana Boutique.

Pink & Gray

Another color combo I’m awfully fond of, but I do worry that it’s somewhat limiting. 

Here's a pretty example I found on Pinterest, courtesy of Spearmint Baby.

Pink, Gray, & Taupe

This one is slightly different than the one above. The pink has more red in it, and it has some taupe thrown in. 

This pretty example is more of a soft pink and taupe, but I like it. (Image courtesy of Benjamin Moore.)

Orange, Pinks, Yellow, & Gray

This one is kind of a combo of the above with a little orange thrown in. 

Here's a happy example of a similar color scheme, a la Project Nursery.

Orange, Tangerine, Taupe, & Pinks

This option seems warn and happy, but I think it could be hard to find elements in all of these colors. 

Orange, Pinks, Turquoise, & Taupe

This one is vibrant. Too vibrant? Perhaps. 

Turquoises, Brown, Pinks, & Yellow

A softer palette. Not sure if I love it, but there's something inviting about these colors. 

Cream, Pinks, & Brown

This one feels a bit overdone, but there is something soothing about this combo. 

Another beautiful Project Nursery example.

Do you see why I'm having such a difficult time? There are so many beautiful combos out there. Sheesh! Any thoughts on the subject? Here are a few facts to consider:

* The floor will be a dark-ish wood
* The furniture will be white (or antique white)
* The walls are currently taupe, but that can change. However, I'd rather not paint if it works out.
* We hope to add wainscoting to the walls

Bedding Question
Also, do you know where I can buy baby bedding in colors beyond pink/brown and pink/green?It seems like these are the only ones I see when I'm out and about. I was surprised there hasn't been more to choose from. Any shopping suggestions?

Any color coaching you can offer will be greatly appreciated. I can't guarantee I'll go with any of these, but this is a start, I suppose. Thanks, in advance, for your help.

Cheers!

Baby Fashion Show

Why wait for Fashion Week or the next season of Project Runway for your fashion-show fix? I’ve got your front-row seat to the cutest show in town. Well, I’m admittedly a bit bias, but I think you’ll enjoy these little numbers. They're a few of the baby things I’ve purchased since finding out I’m having a girl.  

Now, I know it may seem odd to photograph clothes, but I’m a scrapbooker, and that’s what we do. We photograph life’s details so that we can transform them into documented memories. Or at least into happy blog posts. 

With that, dim the lights. This cat walk is about to get ultra cute! 

Outfit #1: The Bear Hat

Well, this isn't exactly an "outfit," but it is one of my favorites. You see, I call Cory "Bear," and this little girl is our baby bear, so a baby bear hat is perfection. What is it about ears on hats that makes 'em so cute? Plus, the fuzz around the mouth is so soft. 

Outfit Info Size: 18-36 mo. Purchased at: Naartjie

Outfit #2: Corduroy Overalls 

This outfit is tied for "favorite." I wish the photo did it justice. That you could reach out and touch it. It's so soft. And it reminds me of an outfit my mom bought for me when I was young, so there's that sentimental attachment that means so much. 

Outfit Info Size: 6-12 mo. Purchased at: Janie and Jack

Outfit #3: Tiny Summer Suit

This sweet summer ensemble is extra special because it came from a friend. She went out and purchased it (and several other darling things) for me the day she heard I was having a girl. Isn't that nice? It's going to be just right come fireworks time!

Outfit Info Size: 0-3 Months Purchased at: Gymboree

Outfit #4: Birdie Jumper

I love a good bargain, and this was part of a fun Tuesday's Treasure promotion that the store has, where a couple of surprise full-price items get marked down 40% every Tuesday, for that day only. Yeah, I pretty much have a standing appointment with that shop every Tues. for the next few years. :)

Outfit Info Size: 3-6 mo. Purchased at: Naartjie

Outfit #5: Patchwork Pink Ensemble

This was the second Tuesday's Treasure purchase I made. I adore how the shirt is made up of a patchwork of different prints. And the ruffles on the pants are so sweet!

Outfit Info Size: 3-6 mo. Purchased at: Naartjie

Outfit #6: Tea Time Onesie

I found this on my first trip to Baby Gap, and what a find! The little tea cup is appliquéd fabric, and the design has a soft watercolor look to it. 

Outfit Info Size: 12-18 mo. Purchased at: Baby Gap

Outfit #7: Bunny Bidnaz

This one had me at the striped pants and tulle trim. Then I saw the matching shoes with the button eyes and it was all over. 

Outfit Info Size: 3-6 mo. Purchased at: Naartjie

Outfit #8: Sweater Suit

You may recognize this darling ensemble from an earlier post. As that post describes, it holds a very special place in my heart, and I can't wait to take a picture of my babe in it someday so that I can scrapbook that story. 

Outfit Info Size: 3-6 mo. Purchased at: Emporium at Thanksgiving Point

If you think these are cute now, just wait until you see how they look with a baby in them. I can’t wait. When those days finally come, I’ll be sure to take some photographic evidence to share. ;) In the meantime, thanks for humoring me with this post. I know it’s a bit silly to post about baby clothes, but these sweet ensemebles make me smile, and I hope at least one of them managed to do the same for you. 

Cheers!

New Year, BIG News!

See that? It's our baby (taken at 14 weeks)! Isn't he/she cute? :)

Cory and I are beyond thrilled to announce that we’re expecting a baby! If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you know that we lost a baby in 2010, so we remain cautiously optimistic at this point, but we are getting more excited and less afraid as things progress. In fact, I bought my first little baby thing this week - a cute sweater outfit. Up until now, I've been too afraid to take that step, but I finally did, and it felt good. We deeply appreciate any warm thoughts you have to send our way during this scary/exciting time.

Whenever I share this happiness with someone, I get similar questions, so I thought I’d answer a few of those for you now. 

* How far along are you? I’m currently 18 weeks. For those of you who don’t speak ‘pregnancy’ (I’m still learning the language myself), this is 4.5 months, or about half way. Everything is measured in weeks because that’s how quickly things change and progress. It’s pretty amazing! And scary! 

Not the best pic (a phone photo), but this is me @ 18 weeks. There's a bit of a bump taking shape.

* What are you having? We find out the gender on Wednesday, and yes, I’m definitely finding out. I admire those who can sit on such a surprise for a full nine months, but I’m absolutely not in that “team green” club. 

* How are you feeling? Much better these days. The first trimester was rough, to say the least. I lost 18 pounds. Of course, I had weight to lose, so that was okay, but I felt pretty ick most of the time. I’m now able to eat and actually enjoy it again, and I have a bit more energy, which is great! I’m currently off of my narcolepsy medicine, which, combined with pregnancy fatigue, has taken its toll on my energy, but it hasn’t been as hard as I feared. 

Due to some autoimmune fun on my part, I’m considered “high risk.” Because of this, I’m blessed with not one, but two fabulous doctors, and they take very good care of me. More than that, Cory has been PHENOMENAL. He’s always taken great care of me, but he’s gone above and beyond with nothing but a sweet and loving attitude (even when my own attitude isn’t always described in such a favorable way). I’m very loved and very grateful for that love!

Yeah... this is pretty much how I look in all of my fall/winter photos this year--sick but happy. This kind of sick is okay because of what it means, and I did my very best to keep a positive attitude for that reason, even on the worst days.

* Do you have names picked out? We’re still working on this one. We don’t really see eye to eye on most names, especially where a little boy is concerned. I like Eli. Cor’s ho-hum on that one. He likes Archie (he says he’s kidding, but I know part of him really does like it). And while that name is admittedly growing on me, I don’t see it making the final cut. So, the jury is currently out on this one. 

?

* Is my family excited? Absolutely! My mom keeps referring to the babe as “Little Peggy” (her name), and my pop has started in with the “Little Gerald” (his name). LOL My sister-in-law asks me almost daily if I know the gender, because she can’t wait to start shopping for bitty shoes. Yes, the fam is definitely on board with this baby bidnaz. 

* What about your car? As much as I ADORE my cute Ford Mustang, it’s not exactly a mom car. It looks like I’m going to have to find Sally a new home. If you know of anyone looking for a much loved 05 Mustang with low milage and an AWESOME stereo, please let me know. I want her going to a good home. 

I love this car! This pic was taken at the Bonneville Salt Flats in April. Sally is now looking for a good home. Let me know if you have any leads. Thanks!

For those of you interested, I’ll do my best to keep my blog updated as thing progress. I’ll definitely share the gender news when we have it to share. 

I’ll close with a sincere thank-you to you for your support throughout our baby journey, in 2010 and now. It warms our hearts. 

Cheers! 

Handmade Bibs from Oilcloth and Laminated Cotton

Is it rib night yet? Because, boy do I have the bib for you! Make that three bibs. Bibs I made using laminated cotton and oilcloth. I’m super excited about this particular project, because it’s my first sewing project made from a pattern. Everything I’ve sewn up to this point, I’ve sort of made up. This time, however, I had a fun design to follow.

My cute new friend, Kirsten, who works at Material Girls Quilts in South Jordan, UT, designed this pattern. I saw it and immediately thought of another friend of mine, who was about to have a baby. Of course, that was months ago. Her beautiful babe is six months old now, but I suppose they still wear bibs at that age. Heck, I still wear a bib. ;)

Anyhoo, here’s the bib I made for little miss Claire. I hope she likes it. 

I had so much fun making it, that I decided to make a couple of others. Maybe I’ll use them on my own sweets someday. Or, if not, it’s always good to have a few handmade gifts on hand. 

Which one do you like the best? I prefer Claire’s, but most people have said they like the black and white one.

Want to make your own bib? Here’s how:

Step 1: Fold your laminated (or oilcloth) fabric in half and trace fabric on back of one half. 

Step 2: Cut out shape. 

Step 3: Repeat with cotton fabric, which will be used as back of bib. 

Step 4: Pin cut pieces together around edges and sew together using a zigzag stitch. 

Step 5: Tear cotton fabric into strips, pin those strips around bib (like hem tape), and sew hem to bib using a straight stitch. 

Note: Make sure you stitch an elastic to the top of the bib. This will act as your closure.

Step 6: Create a medallion flower, adding a large button to the center. This is what your closure will wrap around to keep the bib on. Note: For instructions on creating a medallion flower, click here.

Had lots of fun making my first pattern project. Who knows, maybe I’ll get up the courage to try it again sometime soon.

Cheers!