A Lotta Fun :)

Hello everyone! I'm back (in more ways than one :) Syd and I had a fun time last week spending some much needed QT with family and friends in NJ/PA/NYC, and luckily had a safe and uneventful journey. Syd became a little cranky about 4 hours into the drive, but that's completely understandable (considering I felt the same way too!). We returned Sun eve. and I woke up Monday with a pretty bad cold. It's hit hard this week, but I'm starting to feel like myself again :) Nothing like a good cold to make you appreciate your health! We've also had some more internet problems, but we think they are at last resolved - our modem and router seemed to not be in favor of eachother... why can't things just get along as they are supposed to?

Anyways, on to the good stuff! As I revealed in my last post, we are pregnant again! We've known since 2/1, but decided this time to keep it to ourselves for a bit. I'm 10 weeks along now and things are going well, as far as I can tell. Nausea is not as much an issue this time as fatigue (and a little crankiness, as my hubby will attest to), but that all comes with the territory. After being through this all recently, I'm finding that I'm not nervous at all about this pregnancy, and find comfort in knowing generally what to expect. Every baby is different and we can't wait to meet him/her!

I mentioned last time as well that I'd post some pics. Here ya go!

This first one is special - as mom explains, this candle is the candle that my brother, myself, our niece Jordan, and now Sydney used to celebrate the Big #1 - I am amazed that it hasn't broken in 30+ years! (and of course I love that it's a monkey!)



March is a month of birthday's for our family - my mom, sister-in-law, and niece! Sydney's due date was March 4th.... luckily she came early and can celebrate in February with Nana and Grandpa :)

Here's a pic of a toddler tote that I made for Jordan - I had picked up 2 lavender tutus in Target months ago and planned to make this for her for Christmas (Jordan takes dance lessons and I thought it'd be a fun bag for her). I'm glad that I waited b/c Sue (sis-in-law) scored some great yardage of this older Amy Butler print that is perfect for this bag! Jordan's comment? "Look Grandma! My bag has a skirt!" Too cute :)



For Mom and Sue, I made some aprons and matching fabric headbands (apron pattern is from Amy Butler's In Stitches). Mom loves daisy's and blue, so she received this one:



Sue is more into earth tones, so I made this one for her:




Both are made with fabrics from Amy Butler's new line: LOTUS. *Gorgeous!*

As for other odds and ends, I finally received my pre-ordered LOTTA JANSDOTTER book! There's a lotta (hee, hee - couldn't resist that one!) practical and fun projects in this book - she's a Swede, I'm a Swede (well, half Swede), and I love her stuff - modern and practical. Here's some favorite pics:


Hat:


Cool tote (I'm not so fond of the pocket for the paper - looks neat, but I personally don't carry a paper with me these days):


Reversible apron! (definitely on the TO DO list):


I also received some fun goodies while I was away - some new cloth diapers and BABY LEGS from Erin at Diaper Daisy, and the cutest onesie from Jen of BeeBeeMod (thanks JEN!!!!!).Just when I thought those onesies couldn't get any cuter!! I was hoping to dress Sydney up in her new duds (the pink things in the pic are the BABY LEGS), but it's cold and rainy here today :( Maybe tomorrow!




Here's a pic of the goodie that DEB sent - thank you again!!!



Oh! I almost forgot! Check out this yarn by Bernat - it makes stripes as you knit it! This little guy is a keyhole toddler scarf for a friend in NYC - I love how it's working up - I bought the yarn b/c I liked the different blues. Who knew?!



Hmmm.... on "New Product" news, my order of patterns from HOODIE'S COLLECTION is on it's way and should arrive next week. YIPPEE!!!! Amy Butler also has some new patterns that she will be releasing this spring - what do you guys think?









Hope you all have a great week! PS: Thanks for all of the well-wishes and congrats! We're excited!!! : ) Kris

I'm outta here!

Hello everyone! My internet has been down for a few days (URGH!!!!!) and now I'm headed to see family for a few days - I'll post some project pics when I return. Just wanted to mention a few things: Deb: thanks so much for the gorgeous piece! I love it! (I'll post a picture when I come back). I was the lucky winner of Deb's blog gift surprise a few weeks back - luck has been on my side!

When I return I'll finish working with Lisa on my new website - here's a sneak peak at the new logo she designed. She's great to work with!



Lastly, guess what?! Hee hee :) Should be a fun fall!



Have a great week everyone!
(PS: I'm offering free shipping on all of my fabric in my EBAY store - I'll process orders when I return). I'm outta here!

~ Kris

PS....

I still haven't thought of something free to give away, but I can offer free shipping thru the end of the week on any purchase in my EBAY store. Mention the code MONKEY1 at checkout (in message to seller box) and I'll deduct the shipping cost from your invoice (US shipping only). I just received another full box of fabric that I'll hopefully list tonight! ~ Kris

One of those weeks...

Last week was "one of those weeks".... luckily it had a happy ending though! After getting through a flooded basement and other asundry *fun* things, I was greatly looking forward to a weekend get-away with my hubby and Sydney (we didn't go too far - just about an hour away; Frank does some weekend work at local hospitals and Syd and I try to join him whenever we can). On the way out of town on Fri I made my daily trip to the Post Office and received the sweetest surprise! Anja, a customer/online buddy from Germany, sent me 2 Japanese Crafting books! She has an online store that offers a large variety of these books, in addition to other info. about quilting. She ordered some Amy Butler fabric from me a bit ago and somehow we get into a conversation about the Japanese books. I can't wait to tackle some of these projects! The Christmas project book is actually a magazine called HANDMADE and there isn't an ISBN#. The other book's ISBN # is 4-529-04206-5. Check out some of the goodies!









While away this weekend I finally had the chance to read the recent edition of CRAFT magazine. I've read glowing reviews of this magazine so of course I had to try it out! If you haven't had a chance to read it, I highly recommend it - borrow it from a friend, or use your 40% off coupon at Joanne's. There are a ton of completely different projects, and some great articles about crafting and the new generation of "hip" crafters. They also have a section of funky handmade goodies, like this gem:


Are you stumped? It's a knitted human brain!!!! I *love* this! It's part of the Museum of Scientifically Accurate Fabric Brain Art ("an online museum that exhibits textile artwork inspired by neuroscience research, dissection, and neuro-economics").

Another great find is an article on Lisa Howdin of Fitz Patterns. She makes her own patterns and offers them online in PDF format for quick and easy download. There are even free patterns! I think you'll like this site Stacy! I'm a huge lover of skirts in the spring and summer - might have to try this A-line wrap skirt pattern (free!):



As for personal sewing projects, I've been working diligently on a curtain project for a friend, and have some wholesale orders that I'm working on. Last week I finished up this custom bag for an EBAY customer - I love making these bags b/c (1) the fabrics are gorgeous, and (2) they are fun!





Ah, one more thing! I haven't mentioned the redo of our upstairs bedroom in a while. Progress is slow, but my husband is doing an awesome job! Check out the BEFORE and NOW pics:

BEFORE: (we had already removed the window molding and wall shelf)




NOW: (needs some window and floor trim)



Have a great week everyone! I posted 17 new Amy Butler LOTUS prints last week in my EBAY store - they are absolutely gorgeous!

I'm so giddy!

As you all know, I love the mailman :) Most days he brings me lots of fun goodies, other days he brings me bills. It's not his fault that those slip in, so I forgive him and still anticipate his arrival most days. This week has been a fun one - Sydney's First Valentine's Day (she actually got some of those cute little Valentine's Day cards like we used to get when we were kids!), her almost 1 year birthday (next Thursday!! Friends and family have been sending her cards and gifts early), and then my favorite: a little goodie package that I won on Portobellapixie's blog a few weeks back. I was intrigued to see what these little button magnets would look like - they are soooooo cute! I think I just might have to make some of my own! In addition to the magnets, Sandi threw in 4 barrettes for Sydney. Check out the elephant one - makes me smile from ear-to-ear. Thank you Sandi!!!!!










I'm thinking as well of having a little give-away, but I need to think of something fun to give away! Stay tuned!

One *big* problem that I have is that I love to make girly accessories. My friends with boys always get the short end, but heck, I can't make them flower belts and headbands! I recently received some adorable ~1" wide ribbon and couldn't resist making this for my friend Michelle's daughter, Anna: (I have the matching 1 7/8" ribbon too for a matching mommy/big sister belt!)



I'm thinking that I need to look into making some cute belts of some sort for boys. Maybe with some whales and lobsters and the such. Until I do that, I've always got the tote :) Just finished this one up yesterday for Gina's son, Jack. He LOOOOOOOOVES Spidey, so when I saw this fabric I hopped on it. I actually have a fondness for Spidey myself, so working on this bag was especially fun. Black bags are always hard to photograph, but the jist of the bag is that is is made of black canvas with nylon webbing for straps. There are 2 outside pockets, one with Spidey machine stitched on, and the other with Spidey doing his Spidey thing. The inside has 4 large pockets and a magnetic snap closure. Gina, Jack, my husband and I all agree that this is our favorite toddler tote yet. GO SPIDEY!







Have a great weekend everyone! ~ Kris

A foot in the door...

My hard work last week has paid off! I *did* successfully manage to send an email to the folks at Hobbyra Hobbyre and we have begun a dialog re: carrying some of their pattern books and materials. I was also pleasantly surprised yesterday by a package from another Japanese fabric company - they sent huge swatches of some ADORABLE fabrics (cotton/linen). Check these out! (the elephants, sheep and ladybugs are my favorites:)

















And in case you didn't notice, there are 2 more places now that you can buy/see Monkey Foot Goodies! I met Tish from OFF THE HANGER on Monday (it's a local shop that sells some cool accessories and great used clothes!) and dropped off 19 belts to consign. I'm also working with Erin from the DIAPER DAISY to start carrying some cloth diaper accessories in her store. This is all so fun!!

In the process of making all of those belts I decided to try and come up with a better belt layout for my pictures. I'm working with Lisa of Bella Fiore Couture to revamp my website so I'd like some snazzier pictures to put up when the new site launches. Which style do you prefer (I love feedback!)?

STYLE A:



Style B:



I'm off to shovel some snow (we are getting TWO FEET of snow today..... YIKES!), and package up a bag for a lovely EBAY customer, Samantha. I love making these bags - they take a long time, but are worth it!

HELLO! and THANK YOU!

Just a quick note to say HELLO and THANK YOU to you all for your great messages lately - unfortunately Blogger doesn't show me your email addresses when you leave comments, so I can't respond back directly. If anyone knows how I can get this feature enabled, please do let me know.

I received a fantastic link from ANDREKABU this morning re: an adorable wrap dress pattern for Sydney. I have heard mention of ONION patterns, and I think I"ll be trying them! This one looks like it's for ages 2-8, so I think I may have to wait a bit...






This one (from www.shoponion.com - THANKS Stacy!) is a cute option though for now (ages 6-18 months):


I love this swirl skirt too :) Might just have to make one for Jordan, my niece - Sydney can't even walk yet... Wouldn't this be gorgeous with Heather Bailey's Freshcut?! My stock of Freshcut should be here in a few weeks! Yippee!

Found it! Kind of....

I've been spending a small chunk of the morning trying to navigate a lovely Japanese crafting co. website: Hobbyra Hobbyre and I'm feeling quite ignorant re: my poor Japanese language skills. True, I have no reason to need to know Japanese... except now, when I am trying to figure out how to send these people an email and buy some of their products. I found that Google has a pretty good translation website (gotta love the internet), and I think I managed to send an email written in Japanese. I'm still open to any help that anyone out there has to offer!

In my extensive search of their site I came across lots of fun project books, and, the wrap/kimono dress pattern that I have been looking for for Syd! The best part is that it looks like there is a long sleeve and a short sleeve version. Love it :) And it looks like *maybe* the instructions are in English. Hmmm...



I did finally place an order for some of the fun Japanese prints that I've been hinting on. They should arrive within 2 months - just in time for spring! Here's a sneak peak at a few:
















Here's one last thing (from my sis-in-law Sue) that I wanted to share:

If you have extra yarn from things, you can make it into
7" x 9" squares and send it to this address and they
will make them into afghans for homeless people,
nursing homes,veterans' centers, even victims of
Hurricane Katrina or other disasters.

Warm Up America!
Craft Yarn Council of America
2500 Lowell Rd
Gastonia, NC 28054

I HEART the Mailman

I really do :) Some days he just really seems to know when I need some goodies to lift my mood. Last week was a little rough - things breaking, things not getting done by the time I wanted to... you know how it goes... Then Friday came and hubby came in with the loot from the mailbox!

1) Books from Amazon.com (mind you, I ordered these FOREVER ago, but didn't realize that they were scheduled to be sent with the two fantastic books that I preordered - one by Amy Karol of ANGRY CHICKEN , and the other by fab designer Lotta Jansdotter). I figured out the glitch and they were in the mail to me within 2 days. These were worth the wait though: Denyse Schmidt Quilts and DIY: Design it Yourself. I am always in awe of the creativity of fellow crafters and want to know "how'd they do that" re: blog set-ups, etc. The DIY book helps figure it all out - I still need to do an in-depth read, but so far it looks great! The Denise Schmidt book I've been wanting to get for a while, as I have seen it mentioned in numerous blogs - there are definitely some fantastic projects in there, like this apron - love it!






2) Next came the most adorable cards I've ever laid eyes on! They are from Paper Stories, and I found them through www.designspongeshop.com. I love that all of the $ that I paid goes directly to support a scholarship for designers.


3) My last little goodie is a quirky one - a new hose for my beloved Dyson. This one of the things that broke recently (a day before my sewing machine) and I've felt a tad lost without it :( We have 2 dogs and a cat at home, so fur management seems like a part time job sometimes. I know that some people don't believe in the hype around these things, but as an animal owner I SWEAR that this is the best vacuum that I have *ever* used. We found a good deal on ours in Costco a couple of years ago and snatched it right up!

The mailman should be good to me this week as well :) My sewing machine should be returning from it's vacation in MD today, and any day I should be receiving the fantastically cheery set of magnets that I won through Portabellopixie's site last week. Her work is amazing! I can't wait until Sydney stops growing for just a bit so I can splurge on an outfit for her. Check it out!

As for projects, I finished up my niece's Valentine's Day pouch last night and actually kind of like it! I tried my hand at a crocheted flower as a little adornment... definitely need to practice some more. I finally had the opportunity to use this adorable cherry willow fabric that I bought from fabric.com months ago - it's perfect as the lining and now I'm inspired to make a cute spring outfit for Sydney with the rest of it :) Have a great week everyone!