Double Decker Bus

I've been making lots of new products lately given the weather (Tropical Storm Beryl).  Really pleased with this shot.  I used removable wall decals that I purchased through Gilt (love it!) for the London background, plus a little Photoshop.  Good idea for a promotional postcard?  What do you think??  Please feel free to leave your comments!

Gift Idea for Father's Day

If you're anything like me, it can be hard to come up with an original idea every year for Father's Day.  Thinking back on what we use to give my dad, it always seemed to be a pair of pajamas, yet he always seemed to wear the "old pair" every night.  When he passed away, he had multiple pairs of new pajamas still sitting on the shelf in his closet.  My husband always seems to give his dad a new golf shirt for almost every gift giving occasion.  I'm sure he has a hundred.

Well, a few years ago I decided to put together a collection of photos of the kids, from birth to present day.  It took quite a few edits and effort to follow my narrowly defined theme:  only pictures of the kids during "family" activities.  No school pictures, pictures of friends, etc.  I wanted to be able to give my husband a gift of "just family".  I sorted through 10 years of pictures on the computer and ended up with a nice, concise book for Father's Day.  I made it small (about 8x8), so that it would be easy to take with him when he travels.  He still looks at it frequently, as do I and the kids.  Here are a few samples from our book:

Book Cover

Title Page

Random pages of Kindness

I thought I'd post this well in advance of Father's Day (which is June 17th this year)  so that it would give a few weeks to "make" your photo book.  There are several online publishing companies that can provide this service, including Blurb, Shutterfly, Lulu, mypublisher, etc.  I believe you can even buy packages at Target.  I personally used Blurb and was very happy with my results.  Each company should be able to give you a lead time on when you should receive your finished product.  It truly is a unique, wonderful gift that will be cherished for a lifetime.  Enjoy making your own memories!

Roll Call

 

Here's a line up of a few selected favorite toys that I would be delighted to receive if I had a new infant.  Some of them are chosen for their "cuteness" factor, others for entertainment and others yet, for their healthy composition.  Any of these toys would make great baby shower gifts.  I like to create a theme for my baby gifts (e.g. color themes, animals, wood, etc.)  and any of these toys could be your catalyst, or inspiration.  So, without further delay, let me introduce my favorites:

1.  BlaBla toys.  Comes in so many cute shapes and animals.  Knit in Peru with all natural fibers, these toys are wonderfully soft and oh so cuddly.
2.  JellyCat plush.  From small to extra large, these plush toys are extraordinary!  Super soft and always looking for a hug, pick from bunnies, teddy bears, giraffes, etc.  They even have a line called JellyKittens designed for 6 months to 4 years old--perfect for babies!
3.  Ugly Dolls.  Plush "unique and different" dolls, in all shapes, sizes and my favorite, color!
4.  anne-claire petit bunny rattle.  Hand crocheted by women in Asia, these adorable toys are well-made and beyond cute!
5.  Sophie la girafe, by Vulli.  One of the most popular baby teething toys on the market, it's made from 100% natural rubber and food paint.  It also has a squeaker!  Lots of moms (and dads) say it's their baby's favorite toy.
6.  Maileg - brother and sister bunnies.  I love this company's line of toys.  Super cute, adorable clothing and accessories, they look like old fashioned toys.  Really appealing and long play life!
7.  Plan Toys-  waving goodbye at the end of the line with it's movable arms and legs, Plan Toys promote gross and fine motor skills and are made from rubberwood.

I hope my "roll call" of favorite toys will spur some new ideas when it comes to that next baby gift!

Sweet as Apple Pie

I wanted to post a few pictures of my cut little model wearing the dress and sweater that I had posted in the last month.  While I think they look cute on the hanger, nothing can beat having a sweet little girl wearing your creations!  She was a trooper! 

Cream and Sugar, Please!

I wanted to make a "go-with-everything" sweater for the summer; something that would be light and airy, yet also work for play or a dressier occasion.  I typically make cardigans with a full row of buttons, but if your child is anything like yours truly, she will likely only use the top button or two.  Which is why I decided to just go with two on this sweet cream and sugar sweater.  It has full length sleeves, and  a slightly cropped length, nice for fuller dresses.  The color is just off-white, like a bridal white, or coffee cream, if you will, and 100% cotton.  It looks really nice with the Apple Tree dress from my prior post and is also a 2T!