Showering Aleksander

Lucas's boss and his wife are expecting a precious baby boy in November. Apparently the Quality Engineering Department is doing pretty good! Haha!

We were able to celebrate at a beautiful couples' shower for Baby Aleksander this weekend. (It was so wonderful it even made up for the fact that we missed the second half of the Bama game. Roll Tide! #2 in the nation!)

Since I have felt so crafty lately, I really wanted to make something special for such a special boy. I love Homemade by Jill and I had been dieing to try out some appliqued onesies like she made for her baby boy. This was the perfect occasion! I think I'll definitely be making some for Lily Ann very soon!

"A" for Aleksander

A dapper neck-tie
(P.S. I made one for Landon, too, because this one was just too cute!)

A German Shepherd (they have a few)and a Canadian Maple Leaf (his daddy is Canadian)

All rolled up to make a pretty little package!

These are so easy to make!

• Just find a shape or pattern online that you'd like to use and scale it to the size you want it.
  
• Print it out (card stock works best).
  
• Iron some WonderUnder to the fabric of your choice.
  
• Then, trace your shape and cut out the fabric.
  
• Peel off your wonder under and iron in place.
  
• I added a zig-zag stitch around each shape to give it a little something extra.

We also bought them a big box of diapers. Instead of just wrapping them up, I decided to make yet another diaper cake (and gift bag the left overs). I knew we were transporting this one so I made it a little smaller and more manageable (wrapped in shrink wrap), but I loved the way it turned out! I used their nursery colors so it would fit right in.

We can't wait to meet you, Baby Aleksander!

Sewing - Take 2

So, my first sewing project involved a gender neutral outfit for our little baby boy or girl. I am so excited to craft some more now that we know we have a little girl on the way! My mom has been sewing up a storm! Here are a few pics of her projects she has emailed to me:


Aren't they adorable?!? And she has done soooo much more. Believe me. She is going crazy. Anyway, I'll take some pictures of the other projects she has completed and show you next week.

So as not to be overshadowed by my crafty, overachieving mother (who I am very thankful to for passing down those traits to me), I have been sewing some myself! My first girly sewing project was a big hit, but Lily Ann has to learn how to share. So we made this first outfit for a good friend of mine who now lives in Nebraska and is expecting a little girl in only a few weeks! She will probably receive it in the mail today or tomorrow, but I don't think she reads my blog so I think I'm safe. If not: Hey, Carrie! Surprise!

(Camera wouldn't focus for some reason - "Specially Hand Made by Ashley")

But don't worry, I bought double the material so that Lily Ann can have one, too!! I can't wait to show you more of what we've been making for Lily Ann and some of the oh, so cute outfits we've already bought for her. Can you say 'ruffle butts'?

I Am 'Sew' Cool

(obviously not true judging by the fact that I actually used that as the title for this post)

I think I'm really getting into this sewing thing. I'm just on my first project but I feel an addiction coming on. I just need to find some place with cheaper fabric to support my addiction. Hancocks can be quite expensive!

So I set to work last night to finish off these cute little baby overalls. See, here I am cutting out thread after I forgot to put the presser foot down for about the hundredth time. I'm going to get it. Really. Mom suggested I put a sign on the machine that says "Put the Presser Foot Down!" Haha!


But I got it! Hopefully all those little things will become habit eventually.


But it helps to have someone there showing you the ropes...


Nooooo. Not Rafa. Haha! My Mom! Thank, Mom, for teaching me your skills. One day I'll get it! Haha!

And so we have a nearly complete pair of overalls!!


I say nearly b/c we still have to sew in the snaps on the crotch.... so don't look to closely!


Aren't they just the cutest thing? After we find out boy or girl, we might embellish a little more. Meaning if it is a girl it has got to have some bows and/or lace. Haha!


And while I had the camera out, I thought I'd snag a picture of Rafa and his new 'do. Don't make fun of him too much. It was our first time to try our hand at grooming! And it is hot! He likes the short hair for the summer!


::::And Answers to the Questions I Received on Sewing::::

I am by no means knowledgeable about sewing yet but a few of you asked some questions and I'll answer what I know.

• I have a Brother sewing machine (think it's this one). It is just basic but it is lightweight and has whatever I should need. I even sewed button holes with it on my very first day of sewing. Super easy!!
• Yes, my parents got me a cute little monogrammed bag to hold my machine and also a matching bag to hold all my supplies. But since I plan on using it a lot now, we have a home for it that is out of the way in our living room.
• I haven't looked for any video tutorials, but you know there are video tutorials for everything out there. I am sure there are some good ones for sewing! I have Mom to teach me, so not sure if this is really easy or I have a good teacher (or both), but it seems like something you could definitely teach yourself.
• Threading the needle - Mom taught me to cut the thread before trying to thread it into the needle - gives you a sharper point on the thread. Try it!!
  

Fun-Filled Weekend

.... with no photos. I need to do better job about this whole picture taking thing.

My Mom came over Saturday and gave me my first sewing lesson!! We went to the fabric store and found several patterns and some material to work with. I picked out some gender neutral corduroy to make these cute little overalls and a jacket. Then, I got scared to mess up the corduroy on my first attempt at sewing so we bought some cotton fabric for the first go around.

Let me just tell you - I love sewing! It is so much fun!! We got everything finished except for the snaps between the legs (for easy diaper changing) and the little leg bands at the bottom to finish it up. But the top of the little overalls are so cute with a pocket and buttons! I'm so proud.

We were planning on finishing up Sunday morning - when I was going to take a pic - but realized we needed snap tape and no one around here has it. So we'll probably have to order it online or sew in little snaps individually. When we finish it up I'll definitely get a picture.

Just for kicks, here is a photo of me opening up my birthday present from my parents...

(Thanks, Mom and Dad!)

Later Saturday night we met up with some of Lucas's old college friends who were visiting from out of town. We ate some delicious Mexican (my favorite) and then visited a little longer at a patio bar (so no smoke for the baby). We stayed out til almost 1:00 a.m. I couldn't believe I made it! Needless to say, I slept in Sunday morning.

On Sunday we decided to experiment with dog grooming since Rafa's groomers didn't have an opening for 3 weeks. Poor thing needed a hair cut! So off to PetSmart to buy all the tools and then we gave it our best shot. I'm not sure how successful we were but at least he is feeling better now I would imagine. I'll get a shot of our work on here soon. Definitely don't want to forget this. Haha!