Going to be an Auntie! Thoughts on What I Will Do When It’s My Turn…

In a few months or so I get to look forward to being an auntie (again!). The last time I wasn’t quite an adult and couldn’t appreciate it to it’s fullest until my niece was about 3 or 4 and we could hang out and have conversations. But talk about babies has got me thinking. What will happen if, and when I have kids? There are so many things to think about. What will I feed it, store bought or home made food? What will the baby’s room look like? I’m big on colors and their affect on people psychologically, and would want to paint a baby room in a color that was pleasant, and stimulated the brain… Here’s some of my ideas.

Good thing I have a Magic Bullet Blender.

I saw this book today at Williams Sonoma and it got me thinking about cooking my own baby food. Probably cheaper than the jar stuff. Plus I can get creative…

Adorable.

I love this baby room. The colors of the walls are soft and soothing, like a spa. It makes you want to relax. The rug is soft and cozy, and there are places to read to baby, keep books, and the curtains have a fun pattern. Perfect!

I love paint.

Since I love to think that colors and surroundings play a big role in our moods, brain function, and motivation, I love this set by Martha Stewart. I love 1, 5, 9, and 13. Very serene, and yet uplifting. And 7 packs a punch of color that’s just cute.

Clean Shopping.

Baby crafts will be made, and often. I’ll have 9 months, right? And this will be one of them. There are enough germs in the world, thank you! What about diapers? I have no idea about the issue of fabric ones. I will have some research to do.

Modern Baby Glam.

This baby room is totally chic and glam. It has a chandelier and mirror dresser… I’m sure a little fashion editor grew up here. I wish I had a little room like this when I was younger. May have made me feel more at home as a kid.

Adorable baby bag.

I know I will want to use my sewing skills for so many things. If you are given a skill that you long to do regularly, why not use it, right? Especially if it saves you money. This diaper bag from craftster.org is chic, and functional. I have a few baby projects on my pinterest board. They are meant for my new little niece, but I know I will use them for myself one day.

Oh, those sweet sounds...

Of COURSE this kid is going to listen to good music. Music that shaped me as a person, and music that’s just good. I hated a lot of what I listened to when I was growing up, and can’t stand it to this day. But I love music, and hope to have a kid that does too. 1. Joni Mitchell, Blue. 2. Billie Holiday. 3. Beatles, Rubber Soul. 4. Belle and Sebastian, Write about Love. 5. Ani Difranco, Out of Range. 6. Weezer, Blue Album.

Just a few...

This list could go on and on and on. I’m a huge movie buff. But I would hope that my child would watch intelligent shows and movies, and not brain numbing shows about idiot girls that are famous for no reason, wear more makeup than RuPaul, and speak the way some people text. 1. Casablanca. 2. Star Wars. 3. Ratatouille. 4. The Nightmare before Christmas 5. Doctor Who. 6. Amelie.

Smart books for smart kids.

Here’s a few books that would be great for a kid/early teen to get into. 1. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman. 2. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. 3. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling. 4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. 5. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. (and all other Neil Gaiman books like Coraline and Stardust.) 6. His Dark Materials (aka, The Golden Compass) by Phillip Pullman. Not listed is Grimm’s Fairy Tales and Hans Christian Anderson’s children’s tales, R.L. Stine books, (I loved the Goosebumps and Fear Street collection.) I didn’t list the Bible. I’m not religious, but believe all children should be well informed about the Bible so they can make their own choices.

Of course all I could really dream of here is a happy, and healthy baby. But i’ve learned from the mistakes of my parents, those around me, and have adapted a few skills that I would love to pass on.

Happy baby dreaming!

Things to Do With Fabric Scraps

If you and anything like me, and love to sew and craft, and a fabric hoarder/ scrap keeper, you have piles of little pieces of fabric lying around and don’t know what to do with them. I work at a design studio that is constantly having discontinued fabric pieces that are little squares, and I love to come up with things to do with them, but sometimes, my creativity is at a loss. Thanks to my new favorite resource Pinterest, I can help myself, and you! There are so many good ideas out there with the tutorials, it’s like being spoiled by the internet, in a good way.

You can create these coffee cup cozy covers. Save a tree, and save some money!

There isn’t a DIY tutorial, but you can check these bunnies out on Harabu House. If you have extra felt lying around, you can create a simple little stuffed bunny. Write a little note to those you love, and stitch it inside the bunny, and send it to a loved one with your secret message.

How about this awesome Shower Curtain? This one was made with fabric scraps and a surger. You can use a simple sewing machine if you aren’t lucky enough to own a surger.

This is a cute little Clutch that wouldn’t use much fabric, and you can mix and match.

Do you know someone having a baby? I do! (I’m going to be an auntie!) You can make so many baby crafts… bibs, blankets, stuffed animals, rags, little pants… The list is endless, and baby supplies are always needed.

I just made a similar Anthropologie knock off clutch using this tutorial. I broke 5 needles in the process, but I used all fabric scraps I acquired and it turned out great! Pics to come.

These cute little boxes by Betty Joy are simple to make, and are great for many things!

How about these little Owl Rice Warmers from Just Another Hangup, you can just throw in the microwave, and soothe a sore muscle? Adorable, and a great Holiday gift!

This is a great place to stash your keys, note pad, and IPod for when you are running out the door.

I like the idea of having somewhere to put my planner, book, some business cards, a pen, and staying super organized. This tutorial by The Cottage Home can show you how to make this little organizer.

All you need is a little zipper and you can make this little pouch for your credit card, driver’s license, and keys.

Now that you have some ideas, get going! Make a ton of little crafts, and set them aside for birthday presents, Holiday gifts, and Hostess gifts. Happy Sewing!