I can’t resist making Modern Folksy Bunny Sewing Kits!  It’s something I look forward to every spring.  My youngest, Marion, loves the Peter Rabbit stories.  My others were only moderately interested but she loves them.  Something about being naughty I think!  Although she is interested in the stories about Peter, Benjamin, (and that very naughty Squirel Nutkin), she likes how the very sweet Flopsy Mopsy and Cottontail look.  She always wants me to stop and admire their pretty pink shawls and sweet innocent faces.  So, this year I decided to change up the modern Folksy Bunny and give it a new look inspired by those sweet sisters of the more famous Peter Rabbit.   I changed the regular Modern Folksy Bunny Pattern quite a bit to create this version.  First, I changed the shape of the head by moving the dart to the center.  Then I made both ears face forward and created this sweet little face.  There is something so special about embroidering little faces and it really takes your handmade projects to the next level.  From a simple afternoon project to a family heirloom in my opinion!  In the altered pattern you get with this kit,  I provide lots of instruction (including links to very helpful video tutorials) to insure that you are successful at the embroidery.  No need to feel intimidated if you have never done embroidery before.  It is easier than you think and you will probably find that you love it. The shawl is also a new creation and it adds a special touch for sure.  My girl loves playing and dressing her bunny with the shawl!  I think I will make her a few more so she can change it up.  It is a quick and easy sew with the pattern pieces included in the kit.   It took a lot of trails to get this shawl just right, but it was worth it since the fit is so nice 🙂 Although I originally wanted to use linen, I decided to use this lovely Robert Kaufman Essex Linen Blend instead and I think it’s a better choice.  The essex blend gives the pretty look of linen (and is part linen!) but is much easier to sew with.  The pink shawl fabric is Art Gallery fabric and has that wonderful “art gallery feel.”  The fabric is smooth and easy to sew with, and has a lovely bright pink color and delicate white pattern.    The kit not only includes the fabrics, you will also receive yarn for the tail, interfacing for the ears,  and the embroidery floss for the bunny face.  Visit my shop to get your Modern Folksy Bunny Spring 2017 Kit...

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Another adorable pattern that is part of the Sew Fab Bundle is this Doll, Carrier & Blankie from Patchwork Posse.  This pattern called out to me and said “Gingercake must sew this!”  and I loved it. I used some Get Together fabric by David Walker for the baby body and AnnKelle fabrics for the handles, blanket and carrier.  It was really easy to add the pom poms and I think it made a really cute addition! Little Miss Marion loves it too.  She immediately picked up the baby and said “nigh nigh baby” and cuddled it to her shoulder.  She is a baby doll lover already.  Her oldest sister was the same way- all about the baby dolls.  Her other sister is more into things like her new robot (but that is a whole other story!). Marion immediatley took the blanket off and pushed it back on and held the baby and then put the baby back in the carrier again.  And round and round like all 18 month olds, right?  I had to gently sneak it away from her though because this baby was actually a gift to a super sweet 1 year old cousin.  I will happily make my baby another one though! My favorite part of making this was sewing that sweet face.  The sew fab sale is still going strong!  Check out my original blog post with the info on all the patterns and don’t forget to enter the giveaway at the bottom of the...

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My boy is five today.  He loves the Pittsburgh Pirates and this has turned into a lot of pretend pirate play.  He makes sure that I know that his pirates are the NICE kind.  His first present this morning was a pirate costume from my mom.  Very cute and nice quality! He had preschool this morning and I sent in this snack idea.  The kids loved it and the teachers were happy it was semi healthy!  Thank you Pinterest! His big gift from Travis and me was this Playmobil Pirate Ship.  It is totally awesome- although a bit of a bear to assemble.  Playmobil always comes together nicely but there is usually a point where I feel overwhelmed and have to work through feeling annoyed- especially when your birthday boy is looking over your shoulder the whole time with cute commentary. Happy Birthday to my sweet boy who I am often accused of showing preference and extra affection.  This accusation usually comes from my husband as he witnesses the excess of luvin.  I would never say he is my favorite but a mother feels a lot of special love for her only boy- especially a boy this sweet and funny.   The sisters are about to come home from school and tonight we are having his favorite dinner of pancakes, bacon & cantalope.  Finally grandparents are coming over for pirate decorated chocolate cake (bought from the store!) and ice cream. I think I am done with elaborate birthday celebrations.  They do not make me happy and I can tell the kids sense my dread of birthday party preperations and it diminishes their fun.  Do you love the big party prep?  Or feel guilty if you don't do it?  The girls are more into having friends over and a theme, etc.  than Cal so we will see if I give into pressure when their birthdays come around in a few...

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True to my plan from last week, I did a little more crafting with Cal today.  I have discovered that boy crafting is much less complicated than girl crafting- at least in my house!  Cal wants to keep it simple and I am liking that.  A LOT. We decided to do more with his popsicle sticks.  Anne was using this book last night so it was out on the table.  I bought is awhile back on a whim since I always loved these types of books as a kid.  Remember them?  They give you step by step instructions to make all these funny faces. As an adult I look at this book and see the genius of Ed Emberley.  It is awesome.   Cal chose his favorite faces and I drew them (it was so fun!) and he cut them out and glued them to popsicle sticks.  Then we made a theater out of a box (the box is about 12" x 18") and made curtains in fabric that he chose- "BOY fabric only mommy."  I used a long knitting needle as my curtain rod. No decorating the theater with glitter, no elaborate dresses to go with the faces, and no complicated story lines for the performance.  This is boy crafting at it's best, friends.   Here is his play…     Fox, crocodile and robber are the bad guys.  Foorball man, band leader, cowboy, alien and policeman are the good guys.  At the beginning, Cal is saying "Hey!  We're gonna rob a bank!"  Then "Not so fast little robbers!"  Nice bed head on my boy, huh?   I liked hearing your craft ideas last week!  Working my way toward something valentine 🙂  What's your favorite valentine...

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  Congratulations Cate!  She may have been the only person to choose Max.  There was a lot of Lola love out there!  She said Now for your Tuesday morning vintage fun!  Hmm, maybe that should be my thing?  Tuesday Morning Vintage fun?  I probably can't make that commitment.  Too many Tuesdays! I found Dapper Dan at a yard sale about a year and 1/2 ago.  It was not a great sale (i.e. too much new stuff) but then back in a corner, with a bunch of boring plastic toys, there he was!  I brought him home to the kids and they played with him for a day or 2 and then up on the shelf he sat.  We had a toy clean out over the weekend and they agreed that he could go.  Boo Hoo!  I put him in my vintage shop since he is barely played with an someone might love all this vintage Playskool cuteness in such good condition,...

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