Back Home And Ready To Go....

Last week was wonderful. I got to relax quite a bit and only did a little work on projects. The majority of my "relaxing" time was spent waiting for meetings and briefings to start so we could get all my hubby's retirement information. But it was nice to escape reality for a few days; no cooking, cleaning, or responsibilities of any kind!

I have quite a bit planned for this week, including trying to get a bunch of pictures taken and ready for etsy, and posted if I can swing it. Plus finishing up some wedding items, get pictures of the two adorable little softies I made last week plus lots of cleaning, laundry and baking.

But before I go lose myself in all the grown-up responsibilities, I wanted to share a few pictures from the trip. They are from Pt Defiance in Tacoma, WA, and that is my happy place.

Taking a Vacation (but not really...)

So I am on the road this week, taking a working vacay with my hubby. It is mostly his work and my vacation, but I'm getting a little crafting done here and there. Even though our schedule is kind of wonky, I had to share this cute little bird that I made for my granddaughters.

You can't tell me that's not completely adorable and a lot less work than a real Easter chick. I made up two these little cuties, one in pink and one in yellow. I also made up ten little felt finger puppets for their egg hunt. This little guy took less than two hours (and can probably be a lot faster if you don't have two toddlers constantly needing your attention). 


If you want to try one of these little cuties, you can find a template and instructions HERE. The only change I made was to use small beads for the eyes, rather than stitching the eyes in.


Anyway, have fun this week - I know I am!

Taking a Wedding Break....

So for the last couple of weeks, I have taken a break from wedding items to focus on the gift I am making for my granddaughter's 4th birthday this month.


This little sweetheart has decided that she loves cooking. She is always coming to tell me that she is "making soup" or "making my lunch" which is just adorable. So after searching online, I came across the patterns of a particular young woman that were amazing. CrochetNPlay Designs makes patterns for all children, whether it is cooking items, food, a shaving kit or a hairstyling kit, there is definitely something for everyone.


Now, I will always be the first to say I am cheap. When you live on a budget, you have to be! So normally, I will not pay for patterns because I know I can either figure out or find a free pattern online. However, these patterns are not that expensive and (the part that makes it really worth it) the designer gives permission to sell the finished product. You can not resell any part of the pattern, but if you want to make ten pots and pans sets and sell them, she welcomes you to do it.


As a crafter, having that permission from the beginning can be a really good thing. It gives you an opportunity to earn your money back. Realistically, the patterns are not that difficult and can work up pretty fast. I know my granddaughter will love them!


Anyway, I've got to get back to work. Check out CrochetNPlay Designs and see if there is something there you can't live without!

Bridesmaid Bouquet

We are going to finish this week with the bridesmaids bouquet. My bride has a bit of an eclectic sense of style. She wanted to incorporate one of her favorite flowers, the daisy, in to the wedding some how but didn't want to have them fill her bouquet. So she opted have her bridesmaids carry them.

The bouquet is very simple and has her wedding colors. The pearl and ribbon accents just fill everything in. 

In the end, I think these will look lovely coming down the aisle. They will not take away from the bridal party while adding the fun splash of color that will perfectly compliment the outdoor wedding.

Hair Flowers With A Little Bling

So my bride was not sure if she wanted to wear a tiara or not. So I made this side tiara as a possible alternative for her. 


Two simple satin flowers with glass rhinestone accents that their centers. Cup chain rhinestones are wire wrapped to the metal headband, adding a little bit of glitz to a very simple hair accessory.

As you can see, the flowers are offset in such a way that the flowers can be worn on either side.

In the end, my bride decided to stick to just a veil. So, I have put this lovely bridal hair accessory in my etsy shop - just in case you want to make this little beauty all yours!

Bridal Jewelry

The bride did not want to go with the typical glitzy bridal jewelry. Given that her dress has a lovely lace overlay and beautiful beading, she wanted to keep the jewelry simple. She also wanted to add a splash of color, aside from the sash on her dress.


So I can up with this lovely and simple necklace which brings together one the wedding's primary colors (purple) and the accent color (silver) with the butterfly decor.

I used a simple white organza ribbon so the butterfly seems to float above her chest. There is a simple purple glass pearl and tiny white pearl drop at the end of the extension loops.

The drop at the clasp match the elegant drop earrings I made. These are so simple but will be a great accent to the simple, down hairstyle she is thinking about.

So as you can see, the bride will have some simple but very elegant and classy jewelry to accent her dress. I think the simplicity is a perfect match for her outdoor, summer wedding.

Butterfly Brides Maids...

March is National Craft Month and this month I have set some goals for my productivity for this month. I have a lot I want to get accomplished and I am hoping I can meet my goals with the limited time I have each day.


Anyway, I am going to start this month with the long promised pictures of custom order items for an upcoming wedding. I am going to start with the bridesmaids necklaces. The theme of the wedding is all "Two Hearts, One Love" with a healthy dose of butterflies used as accents. 


It took a lot of searching before I found these glass butterfly pendants.

I used satin and organza ribbon to lighten the necklace. That pendant is pretty solid, so I made sure to add a couple drops of super glue to the ends to help insure the ribbon will not come lose from the closures. 

The bride was very happy with how these turned out. So I am happy! Check back tomorrow for another piece from this custom wedding order...