some recent work

i have mentioned before how much i love making all my custom orders, but i think that baby gifts must be my very favourite. there is something pretty special about making a one-of-a-kind item for a brand new little babe, and i feel very honoured whenever someone chooses my shop for these important first gifts. i always imagine the babies loving their cuddly blankets or squishy blocks for many years to come, becoming a well-loved part of their young lives.

i haven't made many blocks this past year, as i haven't had them in my shop for some time*. but every now and again, i get a request from a past customer or from a friend, and it is really fun to whip up a set of cloth blocks! these were made for a friend to take to a baby shower earlier this month.

custom smidgey blankets are always a customer favourite. i love the watery blues + greens in phoebe sue's blanket, with a hit of girlie pink for good measure.

tobie's blanket was commissioned for a very special visit with a miracle baby. the sun + clouds were the perfect choice! i hope she has many snuggly seasons wrapped in her special blanket.

* look for my custom cloth blocks to return to the shop in early 2012!

summer smidgey blankets

i've been a bit busy lately, between sewing + summer + vacation + life, and haven't had the chance to catch up on posting my work. here are a few blankets that i've made this summer so far. i've mentioned it before, but i just love working on my custom smidgey blankets. each one is different from the last, fun colours, applique images, sweet names. all ready to be sent off to a special tiny person whom i hope will love and cherish it for many years to come.

addison's sunny lion and beckett's cute little owl were special requests made by my customers. both were asked to be in a specific style, and i think they turned out quite nicely. i have had the pleasure of working with some pretty amazing customers, who have fun nursery colour palettes and themes to work with. i feel lucky to have such great people coming my way!

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on to a little shop news. please excuse me for chatting a bit about the holidays {yup, here we are in mid-august, and i'm thinking about the c-word} but i have to be thinking ahead!

I'm going to be taking a break from custom orders for all of september and october while i prepare for my holiday craft shows. I will have to focus solely on amassing stock {mainly for the One of a Kind Show mid-december} so unfortunately something's got to give! I'll keep my shop open with a good selection of ready-made items, so there will be lots to choose from in the meantime. In november, i will be taking a small number of custom requests for holiday gifts, but there will be limited availability. I know it's early to be thinking this way, but if you've got a smidgey blanket or a set of custom fabric buckets or stockings in mind for holiday gifts, it might be a good idea to let me know as soon as possible so that i can reserve a space!

custom goodies

while i was away a couple weeks ago, i got a slew of custom orders flooding my inbox. funny how these things come in droves when i finally take a vacation! not complaining, but i sure had a busy week last week, as the first three all needed to get out by friday morning. i thought i'd share them with you here.

i'm loving making these new custom smidgey blankets, and they seem to be quite a hit. i'm so glad that people love them as much as i do!

i rounded out the week with a set of blocks for one baby izzie. this order came from a lovely local couple, who were themselves gifted a set of blocks when their little guy was born last winter, and who now wanted to share them with a friend. my favourite kind of word of mouth, and a huge compliment, too.

i've got three more custom orders to finish up this week, and then i'm on to some linen goodies and a good dose of halloween buckets. phew!

[i'm not sure whether you can tell here, but i've ever-so-slightly adjusted the placement of the ribbons on my blocks. i'm not sure that i'm through fiddling with them. in fact, they may disappear altogether, i'm just not sure yet. this tiny adjustment may seem insignificant, but it means a whole lot. more on that later on.]

cozy up blankets

i've been making a fair number of custom personalized smidgey blankets of late. i love helping my customers choose the colour schemes + style for their special blanket. i am sure that any baby would love to be snuggled up in a stylish, modern, fun blankie with their name or initials on it.

don't you think?

i've decided to offer a specific listing in my shop for custom smidgey blankets. it makes things a little easier for me, and hopefully more clear for those wanting that personalized option.

i'm offering three different styles for now. first, there is a double stripe of patchwork with the name underneath, as in the top photo. second, the curved patchwork path with the name beside, as in the second photo. third, a single stripe of patchwork [a 'sky', if you will] with an applique image and the baby's name, as in charlie's blanket from my previous post. the images i'll offer for the third option will be flowers, a tree, a kite, or a hot air balloon.

i feel like this gives my customers a good number of options. they can choose up to three colours for the scheme, and i'll select a group of fabrics that will be sure to please. when they receive the blanket, they will have a one-of-a-kind, gorgeous heirloom blanket for their own baby, or as a gift to a special little one.

[no, these blankets are not for the same baby - i guess there are at least two new baby girls named lily in vancouver this spring!]

for a new baby

a wonderful friend commissioned me to make this gift set for her soon-to-be-born niece, charlie. i love the chosen colour scheme, modern + sweet in shades of grey, aqua and hot pink. perfect for a stylish baby, no?

i hope darling baby charlie enjoys many cuddles wrapped in her cozy smidgey blanket.

baby gift sets

this past weekend, i went to a great baby shower for an old friend [i've known her for 20 years!]. it was alot of fun, many of my school friends were there, and it was great to catch up. for my gift, i made a little collection of goodies to welcome wee baby emerson to the world.

i've been thinking about adding a gift set to the shop for some time, so it was really fun to put it together and see how it takes shape. this set is made up of a fabric bucket, a single cloth block, and a onesie, all monogrammed with 'e'. i loved using these particular fabrics, i knew they'd fit in really well with the nursery scheme, modern + sweet, grey + pink + brown.

i am hoping to have the first set listed in the shop later this week. i'll start with the 'stone birds' set, and follow up with a boy version, and a gender neutral version as well. i'm thinking i'll offer monogrammed or not, for those who don't name their baby beforehand ;) what do you think?

a couple of commissions

i finished up these two commissions over a week ago, but life has been a little crazy around here so i haven't had the chance to post them until now. i really love making custom cloth blocks. i like the process of working with someone, offering them a couple fabric groupings to choose from, and bringing that to life. applique a baby's name or initials to top it off, and they make for a pretty sweet little gift.

lucy's blocks were commissioned by a friend for her sister, who had her third baby just a couple of weeks ago. since lucy has two older brothers, pink was definitely a must in this scheme, and i think the other colours flow pretty well. i was excited to incorporate my latest acquisition, the bird print in pale blue from michelle engel bencsko's dogwood collection. you can catch a tiny glimpse of it in the top picture. whimsical + pretty +  just right. 

another new baby girl will be receiving these cloth blocks in the mail quite soon. given the direction of 'girlish but not pink', i chose a combination of turquoise, green, yellow, and pale aqua. i felt that the yellow added some necessary pop to the more subdued palette, and i am really happy with how they turned out. upon request, her initials, f-h-r-s, were appliqued to the fronts of the blocks. 

i had a lovely phone call earlier this week from lucy's mom, telling me how much she loves her baby girl's blocks. i am so thrilled, it's really nice to hear from someone who's received one of my items as a gift. makes me feel like i'm on the right track, you know? i hope to get to make many more sets of these babies in the future...

cuddle blankets

great for the stroller, nap time, or a special cuddle! these blankets will be available as a custom order item. a rainbow of colour options, with patchwork + applique + monograms. let me know the colours or theme you're working with, and i'll put together a couple options for you to choose from. cuddle blankets can be made with either fuzzy minky or soft cotton backing. they make a perfect shower gift, and are great for bringing the baby home from the hospital in style!

cloth blocks

soft cloth blocks are a great choice for new babies. my little girl loves hers! squishing, tossing, grabbing ribbons, they make a fun and vibrant toy. these blocks come as a set of three [i can do more by request], some sets all one size, some a variety. appliqued with 'abc' or baby's initials, they work on display in the nursery or tossed in the toybox. cloth blocks will be available as both ready-made and custom items. i love putting these together, getting inspired by fabulous fabrics and colour ideas!

block city

here are the soft blocks, put together from my stack of fabrics from thursday. i finished them friday night. they came together nicely, and i'm quite happy with how they turned out. my fabric stash has leaned towards more girlie prints since d was born last year. i can't help it, pink  + orange are just so fantastic together! anyhow, with that in mind, i had fun picking out these gender neutral fabrics to make blocks for one wee baby who will enter the world an day now. and of course, a couple extra sets for my shop. soon.

i really like making these blocks personalized with the baby's initials, but i think the abc theme is nice, too. i'm all about applique these days, so the blocks don't leave my sewing machine unadorned. what do you think? more pics are on my flickr.

green :: blue :: yellow

sometimes it seems as though i'm taking two steps forwards and two steps back [and no, i'm not trying to channel paula abdul. blech.] i've been working really well, getting lots done, and then i'll overdo it one night and i find myself struggling for a couple days with fatigue, finding myself too tired to accomplish anything. i need to find some middle ground.

luckily, this stack of fresh fabrics is making me happy. i am sewing a set of soft blocks as a gift for some friends, their baby shower is this saturday. i figured i may as well make a few extra sets for the shop while i'm at it. 

i feel like i am making some progress. i do have several items to stock my shop [which i plan to open may 1st]. they are just ever-so-slightly unfinished, as i haven't printed my sew-in product tags just yet [on my list!]. the tags are nearly done, so i can finally wrap up these projects and get them out of my head. this will help to reduce my mental clutter. phew.

i did finish a couple commissions last week. first, a patchwork cuddle blanket requested as a gift for a new baby. i delivered it today, and it was instantly well-loved. second, a wee chef set that a friend wanted for her son. he turned four last week and loves to help out in the kitchen. it, too, was very happily received.  i am so lucky to have such supportive friends + family who are with me all the way as i venture out with my new business. thankyou!

baby shower

another baby gift complete. we had jen's baby shower yesterday, and the mama-to-be was glowing! here are some pictures of the completed gift i made. i think it was very well-received.

[oh, and the bunting was a big hit!]

the list goes on

thinking ahead to my baby girl's first birthday. i have a doll cradle that my poppa made for me when i was little, and i'd like to spruce it up for her. then i'll add a wee mattress + doll quilt. and of course, a handmade doll. 

image via wee wonderfuls shop

i think these dolls fit the bill. can't wait! 

now i just have to chip away at all the things on my list that need to be done before june comes.

a little more aqua + orange

the beginnings of a baby gift for my friend jen's baby-to-be. i love making bibs for new babes. i usually like to monogram them, but as we haven't met this babe yet, i went for an aquarium theme to match the nursery instead. the baby shower is coming up, and i made a little bunting banner for decoration. 

i couldn't resist adding a little fishy to the bum. aren't baby bums the cutest? i am almost finished the coordinating stroller blanket. i'll take some more [better!] pics when i'm finished.

bunting

i finally had the chance to make a flag banner this past weekend. i've been seeing them all over the web, and was just waiting for an appropriate reason to whip one up. i'm co-hosting a baby shower in a couple weeks, so i decided i would make one for decoration, and the lovely mama-to-be can take it home with her as a little treat. 

the new baby's nursery will be aquarium-themed, so i figured that heather ross' mendocino collection was the way to go. [have i mentioned how much i love heather ross' fabric designs?] i also included some of three sisters' simplicity dots + pinstripes, and lecien's micro-polka dots. i think that the aqua with little hits of orange is so fresh and sweet looking. this was a fun and quick project, and i think it'll look great at the shower. 

there are more images on my flickr.

block love

one of my oldest friends welcomed her second baby, a girl, on christmas eve. i finally had the chance to finish her baby gift yesterday, a set of soft blocks. i enjoy making these, they are a fun project and [i think] a nice gift. babies seem to love them, and they're pretty to look at!

here is my pile of fabric waiting to be cut. i just love the way fabrics look all stacked up and ready to be used. so fresh and pressed and pretty. that erin mcmorris bird print in the ivory colourway is probably one of my favourite fabrics ever. swoon worthy.

i had fun mixing up lots of different fabrics for these blocks. i do like pairing prints from within one collection, but for me, the fun part is finding pieces from different collections + designers, and coming up with my own combinations. with all the amazing fabrics out there, it's always a pleasure.

opposite sides of the blocks. lots of little ribbons to touch + inspect. i think it's so cute how wee babies are drawn to ribbons and tags.

you can see more pics on my flickr. 

i've talked about it before, but i want to start working on some of these to go in my shop, which i hope to have up and running this spring. i'll keep you posted.

beginnings

wow, i have to say i'm a little slow on the uptake here. i've been wanting to start this blog for awhile now, and i think i'm finally ready.

i've been super busy trying to get my little business [smidgebox] started, and this blog is part of the plan. i wanted to have somewhere to share my thoughts, inspirations, and endeavors, whether they be new products or gifts i've made, new designs i'm toying with, or stuff that i like that i want to talk about!

i guess i'll start with this.

this is a set of soft blocks i made for my baby girl for christmas this past year. i'm pretty happy with how they turned out, and she really loves them! i have a wee bit of a love of fabrics [or an addiction, depends who you ask] so i had fun choosing some of my favourites from my stash to use for each block.

i am in the process of making a few more sets of these for upcoming baby gifts. i also think these will be a great product for smidgebox. i'll probably end up paring the design down a bit, and maybe offering them in sets of three to begin with. eventually i'd love to accept custom orders, spelling out names or initials, or using specific themes to match a nursery. we'll see where these end up...

i look forward to popping in here a few times a week to share my thoughts. hope you enjoy!