End of Year Favors

Here's a quick post for you today.  I just made my son's class some end of the year treats.  Aren't they cute???  I found the free template for the front here (www.anythingbutperfect.com) but added the back myself.   

Because it takes a bit of doing to get the template with the poem ready for printing, I thought I'd pass it on to you.  Just copy and paste it into word.  I had it sized at 6 1/2 inches long so it would cover the top of a snack size ziploc bag. 

Here's wishing you that end of the school year bliss!

Tiny Stitches

I thought I'd share with you some of what I've been working on lately. But honestly, it's more of a confession. I've had big plans for the shop all of which have been set aside during sports season. Little league has taken over my life. We are now done with the regular season and into the playoffs. Lord help me. Here are some of the little things I've done during those hours in the stands cheering on my son.

I started out with big plans for this one and then changed my mind completely.

I saw a little song book over at Charla Anne's blog. Now, I'm definitely making one for my girls and this is the start. Here's where I got the pattern for this one.

I have no idea what I'm going to use this for...

... but it was a beautiful pattern from doe-c-doe and fun to stitch. Here's the pattern. My favorite...

Can you tell I've got plans for this one? It's the beginning of a little pocket. I'll show you more when I'm done with it. The pattern is from needlecrafter.com but for some reason I can't find the right link, so I'll point you to my pinterest page where I've got the pattern.

Lots of little tiny stitches.

Here's wishing you a fun game of 7-year-old baseball.

Fabric Paper Dolls

The quilts have taken over lately, so it's been nice to do something that didn't require any sewing at all. My daughters and I did a great project together recently. Do you remember playing with paper dolls as a kid? I did when I was little and loved them. But they always tore or the little pieces got lost.

Recently, we got a paper doll set from Belle and Boo. (You can also find them on etsy here.) I'm a big fan of Belle and Boo. Their stuff is the sweetest. I didn't want the dolls to get ruined, so we decided to make, well, not sure how to say it... a fabric paper doll flannel velcro board. Maybe it's better to show you...



It works beautifully! It's become part of our routine to get Belle dressed for the day and dressed for bed. You've seen all the "quiet books" right? Well let's just call this a "quiet board".

You could do the same project with any set of paper dolls. I've seen them everywhere from Walmart to Books-A-Million. If you'd like to make one too, here's what to do:

1. First, I scanned the paper dolls on my little printer, saved the scans, and then printed them out again using printable fabric. Belle and Boo have some extra outfits available for free download on their blog. I saved and printed those too. (I adjusted the sizes first and did a test print to make sure everything fit together well.) You can find printable fabric at most craft stores. I got mine from Hobby Lobby. I used this kind...



***If you feel like this is too much for you, you can also order fabric with paper dolls printed on it already. There are several, but you can find one called Aunt Lindy's paper dolls by searching for it on Etsy.

2. Then I used Heat N' Bond to fuse the back of the fabric to flannel so that the doll and clothes now had a flannel back. Then just cut them out.

3. To make the board, I actually had an empty frame laying around (modeled by one of my little helpers). I took a piece of foam board, cut it to fit the frame, wrapped the flannel around the foam board and taped it in the back using some very fancy (not!) packing tape, and then put it in the frame. Then we had this...







4. You can be done at this point if you choose. The flannel sticks really well, but we found that the clothes didn't hang on the doll as securely as we liked, so I put a little square of velcro (the soft side) onto the front of the doll, onto her belly, using Liquid Stitch. Then I attached little squares of velcro (the rough side) to the back of each outfit.



Once dry, the velcro is on for life and will not come off even when put together and pulled apart a million times. The clothes still stick to the board because they have flannel backs and just a little piece of velcro. They stick to the doll with the velcro. It works like a charm.

5. The last thing we did was add a little clothesline for the outfits. The board got too crowded with all the clothes, so this cute clothesline was needed. Aren't those mini clothespins adorable? (We also got them from Hobby Lobby in the unfinished wood section.)



The girls have been at it non-stop for a couple weeks and everything still looks new. So I'm going to say that was a job well done.



Here's wishing you a project that your kids will love!

Amina’s Quilt

I’ve been busting to share this with you all. I promised I’d show you the baby quilt I made for my friend and the time has come. I had to sit on it for a while because the baby’s name was under wraps. I’m happy to report that the precious, beautiful, tiny little angel arrived yesterday healthy and happy in her parents arms. A sweet, sweet baby girl named…. Amina. I’m in love with her and her name. It’s so beautiful.

When I saw NanaCompany make a quilt similar to this I knew I would make one too. (Thank you Amy at NanaCompany for the idea.) Here’s my version before I finished some hand quilting on it…





After the hand quilting...



The back, nice and wrinkled just out of the dryer...





My friend is not a big fan of flowers, but she let me sneak a few on the front and on the edges...





Before it could get shipped off, my little ones had to add their hugs and kisses to it for the new baby.



Here's wishing you the miracle of a new baby somewhere in your life.

A Wonderful Gift

When I was little, it seemed that my mother and her friends were always doing something together. Wallpapering each other's houses, shopping, crafting, trading recipes and more shopping. Laughing loudly together. If my mom was upset, it was a friend on the phone who made her feel better. I didn't realize, until I had children of my own how important those friends must have been to her.

I've spent a good bit of time lately making something for a close friend who is about to have a baby any moment now. Her third little girl. I was there when her first was born and now have four of my own. So maybe I'm just feeling a little sentimental but I've been so touched this week by the friends in my life, old and new. Especially, the friendships I share with other moms.

Yesterday, I recieved a gift in the mail from a very sweet friend (aren't things that come in the mail the best?). A gift that could only come from another quilter...



I was so touched by her generosity. Those beautiful fabrics!




It was a gift from one mom to another for some projects I plan to do for my girls.




(Thank you!)

I will share pictures soon of the gift I'm sending off to my friend for her new baby.

Here's wishing you a wonderful surprise in the mail.

It's Hoppin' Around Here

I don't know about you, but it seems we just catch our breath and a new wave of events and busy-ness comes in. Spring is here and Easter is on its way. I love spring! (Have I said that already?)

This little bunny came hopping along just in time for spring and Easter. I was inspired by a little bunny I saw and had this idea. It turned out really sweet. My kids will looooove feeling the soft ears.



I've added this sweet one to the shop (link on the sidebar).

Here's wishing you a sweet visitor.

The Scoop

There are lots of new updates on The Sweet Blossom Shop. Here's the scoop.

First, there is a sale going on! Who doesn't love a sale? Spring is my favorite time of year and for me, the spring mood hits on March 1st. To celebrate, everything is 25% off.

Next, the blog is closing down (not this one, the shop's blog) and all updates haved moved over to facebook. You can find it here.

Two new arrivals have also brightened up the shop just in time for spring. Please meet Annie and Rosie.

Annie...



Rosie...



You can see more of her details in this picture...



I love working with the new 100% wool felt. It is sooo soft and will last for a very long time and that makes all the difference to me.

There are more photos and details on facebook and in the shop. (You can click the link on the sidebar to go to The Sweet Blossom Shop on Etsy.)

But the real scoop is that I'm working on some new products that I'm excited about and will hopefully be rolling out soon. I'll keep you posted!

Here's wishing you a sweet start to spring!