On a roll.

Today is the last day of the "stash contest" on Diaper Swappers.  The theme behind it was that all the participats got points for using up yardages of fabric, but lost points for fabric they bought during the game.  Well, since I keep Sunday's for family sewing, I had to bust my butt to get some sewing done yesterday.  So, I managed to finish four newborn diapers, a pocket diaper for Justin, and a pajama top for James.  Today I'm going to finish a pair of jeans for James.  I got them cut yesterday, but stopped working on them so that I could work on some Air Force diapers.  I got the Air Force diapers cut, and embroidered, and the studs through one of them, but finishing them will have to wait until tomorrow now.

I also have a little girls fleece jacket that I need to finish up, so I'll likely sew the buttons on that today, and call that done.  I have another jacket that I want to do.  It will be a nice burgundy woven suede, with a matching lining. 

I will also be embroidering a shirt tomorrow for a trade that I'm doing.  I have one more shirt left that I can embroider, so I might pick a diaper for that to go with.

In Army life, Jake was supposed to get the list this weekend, of the options we have for our next duty station.  It is 9 in the morning and still no list.  He meets with his branch manager tomorrw.  So, I guess we'll see what our options are tomorrow, and then text back and forth about what we want, and what we want to avoid.

This is the day that never ends. . .

I started off this morning waking up three time, by the third time, it was a reasonable hour, and I decided to stay up.  So today, I got 4 newborn diapers cut, outers, inners, and soakers.  I also got them all snapped and label.  Now, to just sew them together.  I think tomorrow I will go to JoAnns to get the notions I'm need to finish up some unfinished projects.  I can feel a headach comming on, so I'm thinking there is some rainy weather on it's way.  I plan to perservere though, as I really want to get stuff done. 

In the really awesome news, my manequins arrived yesterday.  They look very cool, so I can't wait to put some clothing on them and take pictures.  In the meatime, here are the pictures from a custom order I did this week.

Diaper covers and ideas.

Today's big project was finishing up a custom Navy diaper cover.  I think it turned out rather nice.  I cut most of it out yesterday, and marked the snaps.  Today, I cut the pul, put the snaps and label on, and sewed it up.  I'm very excited to get it off to it's new owner.  In the meantime, I've also been working on making some ACU soft soled shoes for Justin.  I figure it they wear well on him, then I'll open them up for sale.  In the meantime, there is also a coat that I've been wanting to make for a while, and I'm going to try to get to work on today.  Instead of being for me, though, it will be for someones little girl.  I'm making it out of a woven suede cloth, and I think it will be darling.

. . . and the action shot.

I finally got some action shots last night of Justin in his new diaper.  He either wants right up in the camera, or to playfully run away from it, so it is kind of hard to get a good shot, but these are the two pictures that I snapped that didn't come out blurry.  I also shipping off two packages today.  One was an ACU diaper cover to a mama here in Kansas.  I'm thinking she is right near Ft. Riley based off the mailing address.  The other package was to a Canadian mama.

Today I'm working on a custom Navy diaper cover, and then I want to try making some ACU soft soled shoes, to add to my collection.  We'll see how that goes, and of course, I'll past pics here as I finish them.

Here it is!

I got the pictures of the diaper I made for Justin loaded up this morning, so here it is.  I'll probably get the other one done later this week, when my new order of snaps arrive.  Today, I'm working on a custom order of an ACU OS pocket diaper (what my remaining snaps are going to be used on) for my first Etsy customer.  I'm also going to try to bust out my serger today and do some work with that so that more of my items can be serged.  I'm thinking about hooping a newborn shirt, and seeing about embroidered something on it, but haven't quite settled on what yet.  In the meantime, here is the picture of the diaper you have been waiting for.  I will add action shots later.

Shhhh, it's a surprise.

Well, I finished the custom outfit I was making yesterday, but because it is a surprise for the intended recipient from my customer, I've decided I will hold off on posting a picture until after she receives it.  However, I did get to do some family sewing today/tonight, and finished a pocket diaper for Justin.  I plan to wash it tonight (already got some pictures of it) and then post some action shots of it tomorrow.  I'm going to try to load the pictures and update tonight so that you can see the cool idea for the embroidery that my husband had. 

Now, on tomorrow's agenda, I have my first custom order from Etsy, and will be making that OS ACU diaper cover.  I'm very excited about it, and will post a picture as soon as it is done.

Busy Day.

Well, today started with me waking up at 7:52 a.m. with no assistance from my kids, or alarm clock.  That hasn't happened in a long time.  So, I got the kids breakfast, and began working on postings for the Creative Mamas stocking.  After breakfast, and then lunch (time flies when you are on the computer), I started working on the diapers, diaper cover, and dress.  The dress is now complete except for buttons and button holes, and the diapers and diaper cover are embroidered. 

Plans for tomorrow, finish the dress, diaper cover, and diapers, and start on a jacket I've been wanting to make.  I also plan to mop my kitchen floor (completely unrelated, but I've been meaning  to do it for a bit now.  So as to not leave you hanging, this is the picture of the diaper cover I completed yesterday.

On an ACU rampage.

Today, I got three ACU outers done for the diapers I'm doing for my son cut, as well as the waterproof layers.  I also got the custom diaper cover cut, snapped, and sewn.  I'll put a picture of that up tomorrow.  I also embroidered the ACU sling back dress I'm doing for a custom order.  Tomorrow, I plan to finish up the diapers, and the diaper cover to go with the dress, and the dress.

On the homefront, my husband had an early day from class and was nice enough to pick up groceries on the way home.  We had enough left overs from this weeks meal that I didn't have took dinner.  A nice rest for me.  Well, now it is off to bed for an early morning of making more Army goodies.

There is a newborn pink giraffe in the room.

Out of the many things I wanted to get done today, I finished a newborn  pink giraffe diaper.  I put a nice burgundy suede cloth on the inside, and it is just so squishy and nice.  I have a few more things I want to finish and post today, but I think for now, this should satisify on the fun stuff I'm doing.  Now, off to make some embroidered ACU pocket diapers for my son, and a dress, shirt, and diaper cover out of ACU for the friend of a friend of mine who is having a baby.  I'll be sure to share all the HOOAH! goodness as soon as it is done.

One custom down . . .

Today I finished a custom shirt for a mama who's brother is in the Marines and is getting promoted.  I did a bib for her last week, and she decided that her older son should get in on the fun.  The shirt is a size 5 rabbit skins with an applique of the woodland maripat fabric embroidered to match the bib I did.  The shirt is appliqued, and then I went back and stitched around the edges to ensure a good hold.  I think it turned out rather nice, and should match the bib for the younger brother rather well.

Because they are just so cute!

I just stocked a custom spot for a dress on my Etsy store. It is an ACU dress that I made and stocked in my store on Bitty Fluff. I've decided to open up a custom slot on Etsy. The custom spot is for any of the servcies fabrics that I have.

I also plan to list the ACU Mei Tai that I talked about in a previous post, and open that up for customs on Etsy.

This weeks big deal though, is I'm going to make Justin and ACU one-size daiper with embroidery. It should turn out super cute, and I think it will be nice to have a little Hooah on him. I made him a diaper cover in the past, and some one-size diapers, but none in the ACU fabric. I think this should be a nice addition to his collection of one-size diapers. The best part is the embroidery, but your going to have to wait until it's done to find out what that's going to be.

On the 7th Day he rested

Well, it's Sunday morning, which in our family means church, and family time, Today after church, we are going to JoAnns so that I can see about some buttons for my jacket, and then we are going to come home and clean up the rest of the Christmas decorations. Then, maybe if there is time, I'll sew a pair of jeans for James. He's in bad need of them, as he's grown out of all his previous pairs. I picked up the denim a while ago, so that will be nice to get done.

I started working on a newborn diaper last night, and had the outer, and hidden layer cut, and two of the six snaps put on. Then Jake decided it was time for him to go to bed, and well, it's no fun being up late by yourself, so I called it a night.

On the agenda for tomorrow. . . go to the RE's office and see if I've ovulated, if so, we're going to try for baby J #3. We're also waiting to find out where the next possible PCS locations are, and that list should be e-mailed to Jake within the next two weeks. Then, at the end of February, we will find out where we are headed. I'm hopeful that it will be someplace nice. The last place I kind of liked, and miss at times, and Leavenworth has it's perks as well, so only time shall tell.

It's Done!!!

Okay, I just finally got the ACU Mei Tai done, and I'm very excited about it. I made a few adjustments compared to the last one I made. So, it now curves inward at the bottom, has thicker padding at the shoulder, thicker padding (but not as thick as at the shoulders) on the waist straps, and includes a pocket. I made the pocket so that it is sewn at the top, sides, and bottom, but the sides have the angeled access on either side. I also made the pocket pucker out more, to give better access. I will get pictures of it tomorrow, and plan to list it on my congo for sale, and also as an example for customs on my Etsy. Be sure to check back so that you can see what it looks like.

As promised, here is a picture or two of the Mei Tai:

On the agenda for today.

Well, my husband Jake is exercising (no real required PT when you are at CGSG) and the boys are in their room playing, so I think it is time to bust into making the ACU Mei Tai that I've been wanting to do. I made one for myself not to long ago, and had been thinking about making another since I'd been getting requests. Last night I cut out the outer portion (the camo part) but I still need to cut out the hidden and inner parts as well as the straps and padding. I was thinking about embroidering it, but since I don't know what the potential new owner might want on it, I'm holding off.

I am, however thinking about putting a pocket on it. After all, that could come in very handy. I'm just trying to figure out what kind of pocket right now. Hmmm. We shall see.

After the Mei Tai, I'm thinking about making up some diapers. I have two stockings this week, one on Bitty Fluff, and the other on Creative Mamas. So, I need to work up some newborn diapers, and I'm thinking if I get the MT done in time, that can be stocked at Creative Mamas. I'll probably open a custom slot for one on the Etsy store.

In the meantime, I'll be enjoying family time tomorrow, and then Monday, back to work, well for me that is. Jake is off for MLK Jr. Day. You got to love the holidays you get with the Army. So, a four day work week ahead for him. I think he has another one next week for Presidents Day? If I remember correctly, that falls around Valentine's Day. We'll see what crafty things I come up with for that.

And it's complete. . . well mostly

I finally got it sewn together, now I'm just looking for the perfect fasteners. I was going to use metal snaps, but I'm thinking either purple polyresin snaps, or maybe some wooden toggle or metal latch type fasteners. The jacket turned out rather nice, and I'm thinking it will look even better when I put on another 10 lbs or so. Might even fit me up to 2nd trimester in pregnancy, assuming I'm ever pregnant while wearing it. Overall, it is perfect and nice and warm. Another great thing about it, is that it has pockets on either side, so that I hae some where to stash my keys while dropping my oldest off at school or picking him up. Very convenient.

My new fleece jacket.

Well, for the last two days I've been working on something I have been wanting to make for over a year now. Back when we were in Clarksville, I got a pattern, and the three yards of fleece needed to make a fleece coat for myself. Well, I laid out the fabric Wednesday night, and cut out the pattern pieces, and the last two days, while juggling everything else, I managed to get it mostly sewn. I'm just now finishing it up, and am really excited about it. As soon as it is done, I will post a picture, and as with everything else I make, it will be an option for a custom order. Check back soon to see the finished product.

Projects in the making.

My Etsy store is up and running and now has several items in it. In the meantime, I've just finished up one, and am working on two custom orders. The first is a dress that I did for a mama who's husband is coming home from deployment soon. She wanted a nice dress for her daughter, and the result turned out rather lovely. I also worked on a bib this week for a family who will be going to the promotion ceremony of a marine. That marine is the lady's brother, and she wanted something Oorah for the occassion. I'll also be working on an appliqued shirt for the older sibling to the one wearing the bib.

In about a week I will be working on a diaper cover for a mama in Canada, but I'll keep the rest of the details hush hush, as it is a surprise for her husband.

I'll stop back in later with more details on the goings on, but for now, I'm keeping busy making things for my wonderful customers. Be sure to stop by either of my shops or my facebook page, and fan me.

My Etsy store is up and running

For those who follow me or shop my store, I just opened up my etsy store. It is www.craftsbychristina.etsy.com. I have two items stocked there right now, but plan on stocking some more items this week. I'm also a guest on The Chain Gang this month, and have two items there. I plan on getting three custom orders done and in the mail this week, as well as stocking an ACU dress on the etsy store. Since I have some ABU fabric, I'm thinking it might be time to make a cute dress with it, and maybe a newborn set.

We are also trying to get pregnant with our third child, so that is inspiring some newborn diapers, as well as some cute one-size diapers. I just got some pink giraffe cotton fabric in, so I plan on washing that up and making some adorable girly diapers out of that. Be sure to check into either of my stores, as I'm going to be stocking some great stuff soon.

Getting the new year off to a great start!

Well, we haven't just started a new year, but a new decade. In this new year, I plan to debut some new products, as well as open an Etsy store. I will be stocking in my store on HC this Friday, and plan to start stocking on the Etsy store soon. I'm going to be expanding the items that I do in military fabric. In the works right now is a woodland maripat bag/purse, and an ACU Mai Tei.

I've been tweaking my waterproof doll pattern, and will be selling those soon as well. Valentine's Day is also very near, so I'm going to be listing some items to get ready for that as well.

I have about 4.5 months left here in Leavenworth, and then we will be on the move again, and I will open up my waiting list for those that want to order, so that I can get started on your orders as soon as we are finished moving, and done with whatever vacation we take.