Pattern/Product Review - Babyville Boutique Cloth Diapers Made Easy

 When this bundle of goodies arrived that Babyville Boutique sent me to use for one of my FAMILY projects this month, I was soooooo excited! I mean just look at all that cuteness!!!!

We use cloth diapers, and our Lil' Guy was ready for some new ones! I have sewn cloth diapers for years....it was actually kind of what started this whole Hopeful Threads thing if you haven't heard....but this was my first time using Babyville Boutique brand patterns & materials. 

 The book they offer, Cloth Diapers Made Easy, is true to it's title! It is packed with 60 pages of step-by-step instructions, full color photos and sewing tips and techniques throughout! 

Everything you could possibly need to get started with cloth diaper sewing! 

Also included are full scale patterns for 4 different diaper sizes.

There are multiple diaper types and variations, each that include a detailed supplies list to make prep even easier. 

And the fabric prints!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!

Each one I started to sew was my favorite! :) They are all so cute! And this is a GREAT quality PUL (Polyester Urethane Laminate) that feels very durable and sews beautifully! 

(PUL is the waterproof fabric used in cloth diaper sewing)

 The Robot & Cowbaby prints are some of the newest boy prints available. 

How are you suppose to be able to pick a favorite???

 I made a turned and top-stitched version of pocket diapers for these. 

The image below shows the "pocket" opening in the back. This is where the absorbent insert(s) are placed, between the inner and outer layers. I chose to use a microfleece for the inside of my diapers, but there are a variety of other options shared in the Cloth Diapers Made Easy book as well.

I think I finally settled on this one as my favorite. Isn't is sweet? 

I love green, and am kind of partial to frogs and turtles anyway. But my! So cute!!!!

 And the cuteness doesn't stop with the fabric....nope! There are coordinating appliques, sew-on labels,   buttons, EZ Adjust tape, FOE trims (fold-over elastic) and even engraved snaps! 

 I made the size Medium for my Lil' Man. The weight range in the book says 18-28lbs., and the smallest setting fits my 18lb. Sweetie perfectly! He'll be able to wear these for a good long while too. 

Eeeeek! Look at those squishy thighs in that sweet diaper! :)

 Babyville Boutique also very generously sent along some of their gender neutral fabrics for me to sew some extra diapers for donation. These adorable diapers will be going to an organization that helps provide cloth diapers to families needing a little extra help getting started, The Rebecca Foundation's Cloth Diaper Closet. This organization is growing and hopes to be able to provide for more and more families. You can read more here. 

 I know I'm a label addict, but don't you love the sweet labels and polka-dot trim????

I had this mushroom FOE in my stash that worked perfectly on the red too. 

 These pictures show the hook & loop closure and pocket opening for this alternate diaper style.

"Who's Cute?" the little owl on the label asks.....the baby wearing this diaper is my answer!

 I had a great time sewing these and look forward to making more in the future.

A warm THANKS to Babyville Boutique for providing these adorable products for my project. You can learn more about Babyville Boutique products on their website here and their facebook page here. 

FAMILY Guest Post - Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs

I've asked some of my favorite people to share something special about their FAMILY this month, and our first guest post comes from Melissa at Sew BitterSweet Designs. 

Hi Everyone! I'm Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs. I would like to thank Kristy for having me here today. I would love to say that I have some sewing or even quilting to share with you today, but I don't. I am working on a quilt for my cousin and a pillow for Anne (my 3 yr old) but no finishes.

When Kristy first approached me about a month honoring family, one of the first things I thought of is all the cooking I do for my family. I pour my heart and soul into my cooking for them. It makes my heart sing when someone goes back for seconds or requests a specific item. The number one all time favorite in my house is homemade cinnamon rolls, which makes sense as it was (and still is) the number one favorite that my mom used to cook too.

Homemade bread truly is a labor of love and this is no different!

This recipe is adapted from Betty Croker's Christmas Cookbook - (c) 1982

Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients: 

2 packages active dry yeast 

1 egg 1/2 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees) 

6.5 to 7.5 cups all purpose flour 

2 cups lukewarm milk 

1/4 cup margarine or butter (scalded then cooled) (softened)

1/3 cup sugar 

1/2 cup sugar 

1/3 cup vegetable oil or shortening 

1 tbsp plus 

1 tsp ground cinnamon 

3 tsp baking powder 

2 tsp salt 

My recommendations - my mom has been baking these since I was a baby - We use King Arthur Bread Flour and find that it makes the world of difference in making the perfect cinnamon roll. We also use unsalted butter where it calls for butter or margarine and shortening where it calls for vegetable oil or shortening. 

To scald your milk, microwave it in short increments until a film forms. Let cool to lukewarm. (do this first! Do not dissolve yeast until you have cooled your milk.) 

Instructions: Dissolve yeast in warm water in large bowl (I use my kitchen aid mixer). Stir in milk, 1/3 cup sugar, the oil, baking powder, salt, egg and 3 cups of the flour. Beat until smooth, Stir in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle. 

Turn dough onto well-floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes. Place in greased bowl; then turn the dough over so that both sides of dough are greased. Cover and let rise in a warm place until double original size (approx 1.5 hrs). Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched. 

Punch dough down and divide in half. Roll 1 half in rectangle 12x10 inches. Spread with half the butter. Mix 1/2 cup sugar and the cinnamon; sprinkle half the mixture over rectangle. Roll up beginning on the 12" side. Pinch edges to seal the dough and stretch to make even. 

Cut into 1" slices, place slightly apart in a greased baking pan (I use cake pans). Warp tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Repeat with the other half of the dough. Refrigerate for at least 12 hours but no longer than 48. 

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Remove foil from pans. Bake until golden brown - 30 to 35 minutes. Frost with powered sugar frosting while warm. Makes approximately 24 rolls.

Powdered Sugar Frosting

Mix 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tbsp milk and 1/2 tsp vanilla until smooth. (I always double this!). I hope you enjoy making these and eating them with your family. We love them best on a lazy Sunday morning while watching one of our favorite cartoon movies. In fact, while we were eating them last Sunday we watched Shrek 2 together. Great way to make some fun lasting memories. 

 If you have time, I would love it if you stopped by my blog and looked around!
 

I don't know about you, but I'm ready to head to the kitchen and try these out! They look AMAZING!!!! Thank you Melissa for sharing this special family treat with us. :)

Official Announcement - The FLUFF Project....our ongoing effort to GIVE BACK to children in Foster Care

I'm very excited to share this OFFICIAL news with you!!!

During our April Project Finale and the delivery of nearly 400 stuffed toys for children in Foster Care last month, I decided that sewing and donating stuffed friends for this cause would become the first ONGOING project at Hopeful Threads. The response both of those participating and the caregivers that received the toys to be given out to the children was overwhelming to say the least! So very touching! Our family is excited to see where this will go! The outreach will be known as "The FLUFF Project".

I've created the above badge that you can find on "The FLUFF Project" page at the top of the blog. I would LOVE to have you add this badge to your blogs and websites and help me get the word out that this will indeed continue! 

I have already heard from several others in the Hopeful Threads community that they too have hopes of developing such an outreach within their own local communities, and provide these cheerful and hope-filled gifts to children in Foster Care near them as well. Nothing could please me more than to see this grow and grow and have an impact across the US Foster Care System! I would be delighted to share the progress of any such efforts too, so please share with us as you do this.

Remember, I have created a board on Pinterest FULL of all kinds of plushie and soft toy patterns, tutorials and inspiration to help you as you create. You can find that here, and I will be adding to it continually. 

Additionally, I have a swarm of plushie ideas stirring about in my head that I hope to create and share over time, in support of "The FLUFF Project". 

The first will be Whaley & Starla that I created in April during our original project, and I plan to have them ready to share very soon!

EVERY STITCH MATTERS!

Every single thing you do, whether sewing, spreading the word, starting your own local efforts, purchasing a toy for donation, adding the "FLUFF" badge to your blog/website.....ALL of it matters! All of it leads to ONE MORE child that will receive a stuffed friend to comfort and encourage them during a difficult time. 

Thank you so very much! For being such a HUGE part of bringing this about, for being such a HUGE blessing to me and those who receive your donations, and for helping to make this continued effort an ongoing success! I already have a box beginning to fill and can't wait for it to be full and ready to deliver! I know this is going to be great!

Book Review - Sewing The Seasons by Sandi Henderson

 This FAMILY project was actually created month's ago during the testing phase for this lovely book. Now that the book is available for purchase I can share with you. 

Sewing the Seasons is the newest book by well known pattern and fabric designer, Sandi Henderson. The book is packed with 23 projects to keep you sewing year round!  I've always loved creating from Sandi's inspiration and this book is no different. There's something for everyone in this book.....clothing, accessories, home decor....you name it!

I was privileged to test the Ice Cream Sundress pictured here. It's a sweet, simple sundress that my Lil' Miss is so happy to finally have OFF the mannequin in mommy's sewing room and hanging in her closet! :)

Here's my version....

 This sweet dress offers a shirred bodice which creates a darling ruffle with the rolled hem edge. 

 The narrow straps tie neatly, and stay in place, through a button hole on the back. I love the look...and they stay in place....did I mention that? We've all had those sundresses that the straps are constantly sliding off the shoulders....NOT this one! 

 The hem is finished with double ruffles, also with a rolled hem. 

The next project on my list from this book is that darling kite you see in one of the pics above. My daughter has decided it would be perfect as a decoration for her room that we HOPE to get re-painted and decorated this summer. We did her older sister's last summer and it was lots of fun! :)

You can read more about Sandi's work and find LOADS of inspiration on her website here.

My gratitude to Wiley Publishing for the opportunity to once again assist with the testing of this book, and to Sandi Henderson for her continued creative inspiration. 

Ladybug Bend GIVEAWAY!!!! 5-pack PDF patterns for 2 WINNERS!

So excited for you all today!!!! 

You have the chance to be 1 of 2 WINNERS of your 5 favorite Ladybug Bend PDF patterns!

Visit her shop, check out all the sweet and stylish designs and then enter below!

Simply follow the Rafflecopter prompts below to ENTER!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway open to all eligible. Winners announced & emailed 6/11/13 and must respond within 48 hours to claim their prize.

Thank you Ladybug Bend for your wonderful patterns and your generosity sponsoring this giveaway!
Good Luck to all!

Pattern Review - Weighted Vest by Ladybug Bend

The first FAMILY project I have to share with you this month is one I was very excited to make! It's the Weighted Vest from Ladybug Bend. I've been wanting make one of these little sensory vests for my youngest daughter for awhile, so when I found this adorable pattern I couldn't wait to get started!

My Lil' Miss LOVES, LOVES, LOVES Tinkerbell, so there was no doubt about what fabric I would use! I want her to love this vest since it is designed to help her learn to transition and calm herself more easily. And so far, she is crazy about it! :)

The attention to detail in this pattern is impeccable! Taya, the designer behind Ladybug Bend, is also a COTA - Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, as well as, a mother of a child with Autism. She has poured her expertise and compassion as a therapist and a parent into this pattern, and it is clearly evident. 

The inside of the vest includes individual pockets for the weight pillows that securely velcro closed. She includes detailed instructions about what best to use to assemble each cushion, even including a weight table and shopping info so you will know exactly what you need. It made it so easy!
Plus, I LOVE that the weights are removable to make for easier and quicker washing/drying....and important feature for a kid's item for sure! :)

 I made the girl's version which includes a ruffle trim along the bottom as well as on the outer pockets. I used a pre-made eyelet for the outer pockets, but complete step-by-step instructions are included for how to make and add the ruffle using fabric. 

I included snap closures for mine, but you can also do buttons or leave the vest without a closure option. 

To say she LOVED it is a true understatement!

She wore it the rest of the evening, even putting it back on when she got her jammies on AND wore it to bed....I had to sneak in and take it off of her once she was asleep. She asked for it again first thing the next morning. :)

Ladybug Bend generously provided this pattern for me to use and share with you for our Monthly Project. You can read more about it and purchase it for your own sewing in her shop here. 

Weighted Vest Sewing Pattern by Ladybug Bend

SUMMARY
Sewing Experience: Confident Beginner with basic sewing skills.
Size Range: 12M - 12Y
Special Techniques: Follow directions...that's it, they are very well written!
Pattern Format: PDF
Materials Used: Cotton woven prints, trim, velcro, batting, weights as recommended in pattern.
Personal Notes: I will definitely be sewing this one again! There were several suggestions in the pattern that I want to pay closer attention to next time.....if you notice, my front ruffle turns in at the ends, it isn't suppose to and she cautions about this, and instructs on how to prevent it. Same with the velcro used on the inside pockets.....simple adjustments can be made to make for a smoother finish when not acting in haste as I was. ;) Another tip she gives & I recommend following, size up 1 size if you want the vest to button with the weights in. Ours fits perfectly without the weights, but with the weights in, we have to leave the bottom 2 buttons open. I will make the next size up next time.
GREAT, GREAT pattern! I love that someone has taken the time to make a quality pattern like this that can be fun for the child to wear while at the same time serving the purpose it was designed for.
Way to go Ladybug Bend!

June 2013 - Monthly Project Announcement

As I'm sitting here writing this post to share with you all in the a.m. storms are again raging through many parts of the United States. Families are loosing many, many material things, some everything, but even worse, some are loosing their loved ones. It gives a whole different meaning and perspective to the project I was planning to share with you for June. 

Since the first year, each summer, one monthly project has been set aside to specifically sew for our families. It's often too easy to push their requests and needs further down the list of priorities, and so I like to set aside a specific month to pour our love and stitching into our families. 

This year, I want to take it a step farther. 

It wont' require much extra effort on our parts, but I can already imagine the impact it can have.

Here's the challenge....as you begin to plan and sew for your families, pick at least ONE project that you can double. In most cases it's not much harder to make 2 of something when you are already in the process. Whether you are making a new dress for your daughter, an apron for your aunt or a new tablet cover for the "e" reader in your home, make 2. Then, find a way to donate the extra item. 

SIMPLE AS THAT.

It's not hard to find a need, even close to home, if you pause for a second to look.

The "Sewing to Rebuild" project is also scheduled to collect donations through June 21, so that's a GREAT option if you are looking for one. 

Whatever you make, wherever you decide to donate, just find a way to give back....in honor of the incredible gift of FAMILY!

When you do, share photos of your creations....the ones for your family members and the ones for donation. I've created this June 2013 Flickr Album just for this month's project. Your photos can help inspire ideas and opportunities for others throughout the month!

I can't wait to see all the beautiful things you all make!!!

I've got a lot on my list and up my sleeve, so I can't wait to start sharing!

Remember....EVERY STITCH MATTERS! 

Every single one. 

Somewhere, someone will receive the handmade gift you have created and will be touched, encouraged and maybe even comforted by your efforts.