Wet Bags

I've been checking projects and errands off of my "To-Do-Before-Going-Back-to-Work" list like crazy.  One of those things was to make wet bags for K's dirty diapers at daycare.  These bags are made from polyurethane laminate, or PUL, and are great for anything that gets wet or dirty, gym clothes, bathing suits, diapers, etc.  When I saw this on a recent shopping trip, I knew I had to make some wet bags for the girls!  From one yard (at 14.99/yd), I made 5 wet bags bags:

Cut fabric to 36"x 12"

Sew over 1/4 inch along each of the long sides

Fold over the top 1/4 inch, then 3/4 inches and sew with a 1/8" seam allowance to create casing

Sew sides together using 1/8" seam allowance, leaving casing open

Thread 30" of ribbon through the casing and tie knot

That's it!  Really quick and easy for some really useful and versatile bags.  I have to admit, I've never been so excited to put a dirty diaper in something I just made!

Dinner Napkin Pillows

First, I'd just like to thank everyone who has been checking up on us and praying for us.  K is feeling much better and we're getting back to normal around here.  Since K took a solid nap today, I figured I'd share what I did with naptime (I'll just shower later, haha!).

I've been wanting to bring in more color to my living room recently.  Over and over, you hear that pillows are the best way to update a space on a budget.  Even so, I don't think that $100+ for new pillows is very budget friendly.  So, when I saw these dinner napkins on clearance at Target, I was thrilled!

So, for less than $6, I was able to make four pillow cases!  I love this color green and I'm a huge fan of the lattice/scroll prints I've been seeing a lot of lately.  There's plenty of tutorials out there, I'm sure, to use dinner napkins to make pillow cases.  Here's how I did it:

First, my least favorite step, was to iron each napkin.  Then, with wrong sides together, I sewed around three sides and about two or three inches in on the fourth side.

Next, I sewed some Velcro into the opening on the fourth side.  Having little ones around, I want to be able to remove these covers and wash them if necessary.

Finally, I stuffed my couch pillows in, closed the Velcro and that was it!  In less than an hour, I have a newly updated living room!

Here are some before and after pictures:

 Looks so much more fun and cheery right? 

These new pillows pull together the green curtains and the green from the Pack 'N Play.  haha!

Even Druha likes the new pillows. :)

BTW, I gave in a while back and signed up for Twitter.  I'm completely hooked now!  Follow me: @melissawhayes

Panic button!

Ok, ok, I know.  My posts have been a bit fewer these days.  Between my sister actually requesting more blog updates and the new tab screen on Internet Explorer saying that blogger has been "less active", I've received the message, loud and clear!

The thing is, I've actually spent a great deal of time writing lately, my thesis that is!  I am aspiring to graduate this December, defending my thesis on December 2nd.  That's the plan and what I've been working towards ever since I found out my boss was leaving the university and I had better get my act in gear.  All along, I've been thinking "December, I have time.  December, I have time..."  Last week, B said to me, "Are you going to be able to finish in two months?"  Two months, who was he kidding, I had until December!  Except that it was the end of September and I'm defending on the second day of December, so really, yeah, two months.

(Here's where I go into a spiral of panic!)

I've been working on the same three experiments/goals since July with limited success.  I've finally finished my first author paper manuscript and got that off my to do list, now my actual thesis is looming in front of me (all while trying to finish those same three experiments).  ARRRGGGHHH!

So, I apologize if I haven't updated more, but between being nauseous (and throwing up in the morning), researching, reading and writing for my thesis, and trying to get these last darn experiments to work when everything in the world of research that can go wrong will, I just haven't been able to do many blog updates.  (Seriously, between cell contamination, my incubator breaking, and my supplies being back ordered, what else can go wrong?  No.  Wait.  I'd rather not find out, thank-you-very-much.)

I have found some time to do some crafting.  I'll try to write some updates about those very soon.  Here are some hints, courtesy of pinterest (are you following me there yet?  check it out! http://pinterest.com/melissa_w_hayes)

Source: makingmemorieswithyourkids.blogspot.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Source: kikicreates.blogspot.com via Melissa on Pinterest

I'm also doing some custom dresses for a friend for their annual family photo shoot.  The material just came in this weekend and is waiting to be washed.  Their two adorable girls will be wearing pillowcase dresses in these fabrics:

So that's the update.  I'm about to get waist deep in the exciting details of the "inflammasome".  If you're interested, maybe I'll write a post about what I actually research.  Since you're probably not interested, I'll write some updates about my craft projects very soon.  Pinky swear!

Free Dress Patterns/Tutorials

I mentioned last month in my Tuesday Ten round up, that I was working on party dresses for the girls.  Well, I finished Miss T's dress this week and thought I would share.  This dress was made possible by the lovely, talented Lindsay Wilkes at The Cottage Home.  I absolutely love how it came out!  The skirt is full and twirly.  The sash is satiny sweet.  Miss T seemed comfortable in it too!  It made me think that this dress pattern could be used for a number of occasions: flower girl, birthday party, holidays.  I can see it in all sorts of fabrics too, cottons, satin, taffeta, jersey knit.  Maybe, just maybe, this dress will make an appearance in my shop.  Hmmm.  For now, here are pics of T.  I need to get to work on K's!

I love, love, LOVE that there are so many free dress patterns and tutorials out there for everything from cutesy pie baby girl dresses to gorgeous sophisticated women's dresses (as well as shirts, skirts, you name it!). I'm so inspired to try and make something for myself. However, I am reminded of that summer when my roommates and I thought it would be super easy to make ourselves skirts (it's just a tube of fabric, right? oh, so wrong.). That was a glorious FAIL! I think for now, I'll stick to girl's clothes and maybe some boys stuff too.
Although, some lovely ladies have gone to a great deal of work to compile lists of free patterns and tutorials for a gal just like myself, looking for a challenge.  The extensive compilation at Think Liz is just amazing!  And then there's the lists that Luvinthemommyhood have put together, even a collection of maternity DIYs!  iCandy is running a series called "fun in the sun dress" where a new tutorial is posted everyday!  Everythingetsy.com has a post of 101 Sewing Tutorials for Summer.  I can't forget about Prudent Baby.  My lovely sister attracted my attention to this blog and I will love her forever for it!  They have a couple of posts, "25 Free Dress Tutorials for Baby and Toddler", and "25 of the Cutest and Coolest Free Tutorials for Boys Clothing".

Now, if only I could find the time to try out the bazillions of patterns and ideas swimming around my head right now!

Ruffle Bottom Romper

The Mr. got away with some friends for some much needed man time.

Poor guy, with me and Miss T, he's surrounded by pink all. the. time!

Anyways, since I don't know how to just sit and relax, I made good use of my time and tried out a new pattern that I recently purchased from Ms. Lizard King.  Have I mentioned how much I LOVE her patterns!!

This one was a bit of a challenge for me, but sooo worth the extra work!  Check it out:

So cute, right?  I mean how cute is this ruffle bum?

Can you just imagine how cute this would look on an adorable, blond haired, blued eyed, nearly 14 month old?  Well, you don't have to wonder anymore!

So, what do you think?  Isn't this just the cutest?

I'm thinking about offering these on my etsy shop.  Now, for a name...

Ruffle Bottom Romper

Ruffle Bum Sun Suit

Ruffly CUTENESS!

OK, so I'm not the best with names, can ya help a girl out?

What I've been up to and a giveaway announcement!

Things in bloggy world have been a little quiet lately.

We've had lots of visitors...

Miss T turned one and subsequently started cruising and crawling...

I've been sewing...

Here are some of the things I've made recently...

 

(top right: The Georgia Dress - made for my new favorite local photographer, Kliiq, for his daughters to wear on Easter; top left: Ribbon Pillowcase Dress - made for Miss Ts BFF, Miss H for her 1st birthday; Bottom right: Ribbon Pillowcase Dress - made for FUN! Size 18-24months, available in my shop; Bottom left: Made one for Miss T for her Easter dress, love the Cherry blossom print! Made another for one of my BFFs back home, well for her adorable daughter anyway, Miss A!)

In addition, I recently finished my first custom bedding order.  A crib skirt and bumper for Miss A's soon to be born brother - pictures coming soon (I hope!).  I was so excited to finish this project and send it out that I didn't even take any pictures of it!  I should get some soon all set up in his nursery.

I'm also working on another custom order for my other BFF back home for her two daughters.  Pictures to come soon.

I've said it before, I'll say it again, my favorite dress patterns come from the lovely and talented Little Lizard King.  A mom and entrepreneur, she is about to hit a huge milestone for what she once thought was a small operation.  She is about to hit her 10,000 sale!  She is such an inspiration to people like me.  I just had my first official etsy transaction.  1!  Woohoo!  To celebrate this huge milestone (my one, her 10,000!), Ms. King with the help of some sponsors is announcing a huge prize giveaway.  The details can be found here.  If you love sewing (or would love to buy a pattern for me to try out, hint, hint), check out her shop, her patterns and her giveaway!