I made this Gratitude wrap based on Amanda Soule’s instructions as a thank you gift for my dear friend Stephanie who helped organize a lot of our wedding for us. She is an excellent event coordinator and does this for the benefit of local nonprofits; we were so lucky to have her expertise to make our wedding day perfect. I was lucky to have my mom’s help in the final binding – she seems to finish the handstitching at lightening speeds!

The inside fabric is from this etsy shop and called Love in Paris – which I bought knowing I was going to make something for Stephanie (she lived in and met her husband in Paris). The outside and accents are all from my mom’s stash, and I think came from JoAnn’s. I hope Stephanie is able to use it – possibly in her future event planning? Thanks again, Steph, for all your help that day and always! xoxo

Thank you, Aunt Tracy!

I’d smile if I knew how. I’ll look tough in my cute dress instead!

ps. Do you like my bow?

My niece joined us a month ago, and I wanted to make something special for her. Can you believe this little dress is the first piece of clothing I think I have ever made? I was very happy with the pattern – super easy and well written! You might recognize the fabrics – it’s nice to have such pretty things in the stash! I have more fabric and more babes to make dresses for!

Maybe we can convince Carrie to post a photo of the sweet babe modeling her new dress?

My mom and my grandma are incredible influences on my life in many ways – especially my crafty, sewing, creative life. Happy Mother’s Day!

For May’s Sandbox Press crafting article, I decided to do a slightly more complicated project. I liked the idea of it and wanted to make one so it worked out well. Here is Ollie:

While spring-cleaning, I found it to be a wonderful feeling to pack up all of the winter accessories and stick them in the basement until next winter, but always have a rogue single glove. Ollie the Octopus  is a fun project that will use that single glove and get your mind set on the summer and beach days ahead!

Supplies you will need:

A glove – the inexpensive cotton kind, in any color or design, rice or any dry bean, a needle and thread, a pom-pom, buttons, glue, and a small piece of felt.

Directions:

1. Tuck the thumb inside the glove and use a needle and thread to sew it closed across the base:

2. Have your child fill the glove with dry rice to the cuff line. Be prepared for a mess – but enjoy the fun your child has doing it:

3. Tuck the cuff of the glove inside and stitch all along the cuff’s edge. Pull the thread tightly to close the top. Knot and trim the thread. You can also shape the base of the octopus by pinching the sides together and sewing a few stitches to round it out.

4. To make the suckers on the tentacles of the octopus, attach buttons to the underside of each of the four fingers. If you have a young child, be sure to sew each one on tightly. For older children, you can glue the buttons on – hot glue guns work best for a secure hold. If you are concerned about buttons for your small child, small circles cut from felt or fabric can be sewed on to resemble the octopus’ suckers.

5. Attach two buttons for eyes and glue or sew the pom-pom to the top of the octopus’ head. Use felt to create a smile and glue it on as well.

Be creative with a nose, hat, earrings or other accessories you can add to your octopus! Hopefully your octopus will you get your family excited for summer adventures to come!