wait, you sew?

I tend to get a few baffled looks when I tell people I sew. It's not exactly a popular craft with today's generation, but it should be! I think being able to sew is a great talent! It's one of those basic life skills that everyone should know how to do. But that's just me.

I started sewing maybe about 5 years ago. It didn't take me long to get completely hooked. Now I have a fabric stash that fills up an entire 6 drawer dresser. Oops. I definitely go on binges where I want to sew all day, every day, and then I get distracted and I don't sew again for months.

We had family beach pictures taken while in Hilton Head last month and of course I got it into my head that the kids NEEDED matching outfits. I know, I know. I'm completely crazy…especially since I gave myself approximately one week to complete the task. Ha! It was so worth it though. They turned out adorable.

Quinn had a blue seersucker jon-jon with his monogram

Eric had blue seersucker shorts paired with a monogrammed white polo

Ashley had a blue seersucker dress with white rose trim and her monogram on the bottom skirt

We haven't gotten all of the pictures back yet, but this is the teaser Erica posted and look at that cuteness!

Bubs is fast approaching the "too old for smocking" age (wahhhh) so I've been shifting his wardrobe to appliqué tees with matching shorts. He has about 6 different sets right now and I have no plans to stop.

The apple set is the latest in his collection. We are going to the apple festival in Hendersonville tomorrow, so he needed an appropriate outfit. I'm wishing I would have added a leaf next to the stem now that I'm looking at it.

I had sent the hubs out to get me some plain white tshirts and some white lining material and he sent me this picture from the store, ha. He embraces my sewing craziness as long as I make some things that he likes too. This will be the next set I make for Quinn, camo shorts with a big camo tiger paw on a white tee!

I'm mildly obsessed with appliqué for myself too. I had designed this whale for a set for Quinn, but thought it would be cute for me. Then I posted it on Facebook and friends wanted it too. It has spiraled into me making several designs and selling them on my Facebook page, Southern Sass Sweetie. (shameless plug)

My friend Jess is taking her son to Disney this fall and requested mama-son coordinating shirts. They turned out pretty adorable. Quinn is having a Mickey Mouse birthday party this year, so I just might need to make us some coordinating shirts too.

Of course this has been my biggest seller. Purple, orange, tiger paw, polka dots, and a monogram = all my favorite things! It's been really fun to see the girls who ordered them post pictures on FB and tag me in them. It makes my heart happy to see others enjoying my creations. (If you're reading this and got a shirt from me, tag me in a pic!)

You know how they say exercising releases endorphins and endorphins make you happy (and happy people just don't shoot their husbands…name that movie), well sewing does that for me. I'll admit it. I am so proud when someone compliments me on something and I get to say, "I made it!"


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big boy bed

When we were at the beach this past month, we came to the realization that Quinn was too big for his pack n play. The poor thing couldn't stretch out in it and after waking up from a nap crying, we decided to give a big bed a go. The condo we were staying in happened to have a toddler railing, so we set it up and he did wonderfully. Once we were back home, bubs immediately asked for a big boy bed in his room, ha! It wasn't exactly part of the plan, but we already had furniture for him stored at hubs' parents' house so we went and picked it up. 

While the furniture is in great condition, it wasn't exactly what I envisioned for the big boy room, so bubs had to wait a couple more weeks while I painted the bed. I told him Friday morning it was all ready and he would get to sleep in his big boy bed that night. He was pumped!

He was so excited I could not get him to sit still and smile for a picture. He wanted to check it all out and make sure all of his friends were accounted for.

And of course there had to be some wrestling with daddy to really start off the big boy status. Lots of giggles.

His new quilt came in the mail Saturday evening, so it was washed and added to the bed Sunday morning. He loves his anchor sheets and new blankie, as he calls it. He did so well sleeping in it too! I was worried he would get out of bed on his own about a million times, but he didn't. Not even once! He did so well each night and each nap. I'm very proud of my big boy.

The hubs was finally able to prime our bathroom on Saturday, so Quinn and I headed to the park. It was operation wear him out so he would take a good nap. I'd say we were quite successful.

He loves being able to go down the slides all by himself. He kept shouting, "watch mama!" and it made my day. He also shared his chalk with another little boy (after a bit of coaxing haha).

I was embroidering some shirts when little man woke up and of course he wanted to see what I was doing. It didn't last long though. He sat in my lap for about two minutes and then promptly raced off to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I could hear him singing the theme song down the hallway. Adorable.

I've started making different appliqué designs and selling the shirts through my Facebook page. So far it's been a lot of fun. The only problem is that I pretty much want to make one of each for myself too ha.

This morning I went to get Quinn ready for daycare and he was still out cold. He had wriggled himself underneath his new quilt and he looked so precious. The hidden bonus to the big boy bed would have to be that he looks so tiny in that big bed. He still looks like my little angel baby.

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our vintage circus nursery

Here it is y'all, our big nursery reveal! I'm so excited to finally be posting pictures of the final product. Lots of love went into the room and not just from me, but from the hubs too. He put some serious sweat and effort into this room and I couldn't be prouder of the outcome. 

So enough gushing and onto the pictures!

As y'all know our theme is vintage circus. The hubs had the idea to turn the crib into a circus wagon. My wonderful mother helped turn that idea into a reality. She painstakingly painted each piece and hand-crafted the wheels.

Another idea from the hubs was to paint the ceiling to look like you're in the inside of a circus tent. Taping off the ceiling to paint was...fun, ha!

Here's a closer look at the bedding my mother-in-law helped me sew. She made the bumpers and even thought to add the red piping around the top. I added the embroidered circus tents on the head and foot pieces.

The giraffe is also from my mother-in-law. He makes soothing sounds and velcros to the crib so he stays out of Q's way.

Here's a close up of the embroidery.

I just adore the way the entire crib turned out.

We weren't planning on having a separate changing table, but my mom surprised us. She found one and painted it to match our room colors. I purchased the canvas totes at Bed Bath and Beyond to help keep everything organized.

The circus posters were purchased from a store on ebay.

The rocking chair is extra special to both of us. It was the hubs' godmother's and I can't wait to spend our future nights rocking Q to sleep in it.

I sewed the custom fit pads for the chair. It was by far my most challenging sewing project, but totally worth it. The side table was another gift from my mom.

The circus wall paper boarder was another ebay purchase and another idea from the hubs. 

The vintage circus toys came from the hubs' parents. They are just the perfect touch.

There are two little wicker rockers in his nursery, also gifts from my mother. 

Hope y'all enjoyed the tour! If you have any questions on any of the items or details, let me know! There are still some things missing in the pictures, but that's because they have his name on them ha!

I'm almost ready...

These days I've been in project overdrive! The reality of how fast Q's due date is approaching I believe has finally sunk in ha! While most of the projects can't be revealed just yet (they have his name on them!), there was one that I just finished that I can't wait to show off. 

I finished Q's coming home outfit! I made him an orange corduroy romper embroidered with a tiger paw and his name. I covered his name with a piece of newspaper so I could show yall the outfit. I'm so so happy with how it turned out especially since I didn't have a pattern. That's right, I made this one completely on my own! 

The shoulder straps have simple white buttons and the bottom has snaps for easy diaper changing. I plan on pairing it with just a simple long sleeve onesie and white socks. Our little tiger will look adorable!

bump & baby update: 34 weeks

Wow y'all, I'm at 34 weeks. I got an email today saying if Q was to arrive early he'd be just fine. While I don't want him to pop out quite this early, we're (semi) ready. He has clothes to wear, a place to sleep, and this past Sunday we purchased his car seat to take him home in.

This morning at work I was surprised with a baby shower. Everyone contributed towards a Walmart giftcard which is greatly appreciated. I'm sure it'll get used before he's even a week old haha. We also received some more adorable clothes, blankets, and lovies.

Another lovely thing about work...my boss is letting me work from home in the afternoons. I honestly thought I would make it to the end no problem. Boy was I wrong. The achy-ness and tiredness have just slapped me across the face all of sudden. I guess the weight of this little bundle of joy is finally wearing on my body. It helps to be able to prop my legs up on the couch and lean against lots of pillows. I'm so very thankful work allowed this.

I took tomorrow off so the hubs and I are headed to Clemson early. Tomorrow his mom and I are sewing the crib bedding. I'm so excited that this will finally be finished. I've been putting it off for too long.

Saturday we're going to the Clemson homecoming game. Hopefully my one and only game will be a victory so the Tigers will be 6 and 0! We'll see...go Tigers!

I heart lists

I'm a list maker, always have been and always will be. I love making lists because it helps me stay organized, keeps me from forgetting things, and feels so gratifying when I can cross things off.

Source: inbetweenlaundry.blogspot.com via Abby on Pinterest

While I love a written list on actual paper, sometimes that's just not practical for me. I hate when lists get crumpled or torn from being carried around for long periods of time. That's where the lovely app on my phone, ColorNote, comes in. It's a pretty simple app that lets you create lists and notes. My favorite part is when you complete a task on your list is crosses it off instead of just removing the item. Brilliant.

Currently the longest list in my phone is my project list. It's a little ridiculous. Let's take a look:

• 2010 scrapbook album (currently in June/July)
• 2011 scrapbook album (obviously haven't even started)
• sew master bathroom curtain (I was hoping to have enough fabric left over from covering the headboard, but sadly I didn't so the window is still bare)
• monogram guest bathroom towels
• paint Christmas village (that's been on my project list for the past two Christmases)
• sew Clemson bubble for Q
• sew protective cover for our Coca-Cola table (it's currently on the back porch covered in a tarp)
• sew craft room curtains
• sew crib bedding
• embroidered my dad's carhart jacket with his company logo (have to do this before it gets cold out)
• refinish dining room chairs
• sew dresses (I have fabric and patterns for about 4 or 5)
• finish sewing fleece vest (I had almost finished it for last fall then needed a different zipper and...well it's still sitting there)
• sew jackets (again I have fabric and patterns for 2 different jackets)
• hem curtain for linen closet (I was about to do this the other weekend until I realized my spring rod wasn't the right size)
• recover couch (we've had the fabric for over a year)
• sew rocking chair cushions
• paint wooden SCALES letters
• sew skirts (have fabric and patterns for 2 or 3)
• embroider T on burp clothes
• finish sewing truck seats (technically this is the hubs project, but I'm sure I'll end up helping him complete it)

Some of the items won't be done anytime soon, like all of the clothing I want to make, but others I would love to accomplish before Q gets here. Any guesses on how much I'll get done?

weekend of projects

This past weekend the hubs and I worked on our long to-do list. He spent his time working on the nursery and I'm so happy that it's almost finished. He's been working so hard! Here's what he has to do:

rip out carpet

tear down sheet-rock

rewire electrical

scrape popcorn off ceiling

put up new sheet-rock

mud and sand

prime

paint cream base coat on walls and ceiling

paint red circus tent stripes on ceiling

install new ceiling fan

install wood flooring

paint trim/crown molding/baseboards

install trim/crown molding/baseboards

caulk

put up wall paper border

I won’t lie; I was a bit worried it would all get done in time. I really had prepared myself for Q to be sleeping in a pack & play in our room for a little while. The hubs has done an awesome job and I’m so proud of him. The nursery definitely makes my heart happy. Now I need to get going on my list!

sew curtains

sew crib bedding

sew rocking chair pads

find vintage circus posters to frame {I think I found them!}

paint his name or some sort of circus scene on a canvas

move all baby items into the nursery

Currently there are baby items scattered throughout the entire house. I’m very ready to get everything in Q’s room and organized.

baby junk in the dining room

in the living room

and in the guest room!

I've been taking pictures of the nursery progress and plan to do a huge reveal post when it's all complete. Until then this is the only sneak peak I can offer.

nursery curtains

I got on a curtain kick this weekend and decided to make the topper for the guest room. I've probably had the fabric for 6 months now ha! I also recovered the vanity stool with the same fabric to make it match.

While it was a very productive weekend, there's still plenty left on our lists!