This is a page I made for a quiet book 2 years ago. Since then, it has held up pretty good, until last month when my toddler started to rip the leather cords I used to hold the beads. It occurred to me that perhaps this issue could have been averted had I used a different material, so here is my updated version.

Two years ago, I made a quiet book for my daughter and the pages were my first posts to this website. Since then the quiet book has actually stood the test of the toddler. However, there are a couple of things I would do differently if I were to make the book again. Over the next little while I plan to update those previous posts. To see the other pages as well as a list of tips, visit my Quiet Book page.

Last year, I used an old sheet to make a doily rug for my daughter's room. In an effort to use up the left over fabric as well as some yarn that isn't too soft, I started making these little containers. The inspiration for this project came from a "recipe" for a crochet rug using t-shirts. Today's post shares the technique, but doesn't necessarily provide a pattern.

It is no secret, I love to bake. I also love spending time with my family so it only makes sense to combine the two. My daughter is still a little too young to do too much, but I will usually pull up a chair and let her dump the cups of ingredients into a bowl. In my fury of sewing over the last month I felt it necessary to make a lovely little apron for her. It turned out a bit big, but that is better than too small.

Part one of this fun little project was all about drafting a pattern. In part two, you will get to see everything come together, which is always exciting!

I'm not entirely sure what came over me about a month ago, but I became obsessed with making little kiss clasp purses. I have made about 20 tiny key chain, change purses and I have 9 larger metal frame purses in the works right now. Drafting up patterns for these is a cinch and sewing them up is even easier, so I just can't help myself, I keep making more!

The idea of drafting a pattern used to terrify me. I always thought of pattern making as something that only professionals could do. Then, a little over a year and a half ago, I was looking to turn a men's dress shirt into a baby dress and stumbled upon The Metro Dress by Shwin & Shwin. Their website is chock full of wonderful patterns as well as instructions on various sewing techniques and even how to draft your own sewing patterns. I thought back to The Metro Dress last month when I saved one of my husband's dress shirts from the good will pile. Below is the upcycled version of said shirt. 

As I have mentioned before, my crafting desires come in ebbs and flows. Generally I will knit/crochet like crazy for a couple months then I will sew like crazy for a couple months, then go back to knit/crochet. When I am in full knit/crochet mode, I like to take my projects with me, however, I haven't had a great bag to do this. Usually I end up using a large purse to carry everything and my hooks/needles get lost among diapers, snacks and other basic purse worthy items. I thought of this large tote to solve this problem months ago, but didn't get around to making it until now. Below is the tutorial.

Nothing is more essential for a child's room than storage and it is always helpful to find an adorable solution. I was on Pinterest a few weeks ago and stumbled upon the perfect tutorial by Make It and Love It. I used a basic gray duck cloth because that is what I had around, but how cute would this be in a bright pattern?! Anyway, today is a shout out to the tutorial for this lovely little bin.

Today's post is a shout out to a wonderful pattern and tutorial by Sewing in No Mans Land. I found this lovely little dress on Pinterest a few months ago and knew it had to happen. Below is my version in which I used fabric remnants.