Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Fall Stripes

Sometimes I can't sleep. Trying to figure out how to reorganize everything, thinking about where all of these random bits of stuff and junk we have should go, wondering about what would be the best fit keeps my brain buzzing at night. The other night, my mind was playing this mental Tetris game - Olympian style, and I was up all night. So, to take my mind off organizing, I decided to crochet while watching some show I had never heard of on Netflix. This is the creation that came out of my insomnia.


I like it! In my stash o'yarn I had this orange color. I am not usually a big fan of orange. I can handle it in small doses. I think the brown and the ecru really help mute the orange a little bit and make it not overwhelming. I think it looks just right for fall.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Muy Saucy

At the moment, cooking is impossible. My kitchen has been swallowed by the contents of our closet stashes of junk while we slowly sort it out into piles of keep, sell, and donate. For dinner last night, I sent Hubbie to Del Taco to pick up some tasty Amexican cuisine. Our order included 6 taco items. This is how much salsa Del Taco sent him home with.


We counted it up & the grand total is 45 packets. 45!!!! For 6 tacos! That is mucho salsa.

 Thanks for some food storage, Del Taco.

Monday, September 26, 2011


I am working on organizing my house. Again. We just have too much stuff and too little space. So we've pulled everything out of our hiding places to sort through it. We're deciding which stuff to keep, which stuff to sell, and which stuff to throw away.

My house looks like a tornado went through it...and not the cleaning kind! That kind of weather will have to wait to come until this mess has cleared out. My sewing desk is currently burried under two sewing machines, 10 pairs of pants that need to be hemmed, Modge Podge, knitting needles, a sheet, and some other stuff I can't identify. My craft table is somewhere beneath a mountain of boxes, old printers, a sleeping bag and gift wrapping stuff. Even my kitchen table has been consumed! 

I should totally take a picture. You'd be amazed at my mad organizing skills after having seen this mess and the wonderfully organized home it will be.

Where's my camera?

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Petit Lambie is Having a Sweet Sale!

I am putting several items in my Etsy shop on sale. Items on sale have been marked down 20%-40%.


Urban Outfitters Inspird Tuxedo Ruffle Baby Duvet - Sale! $65


Nightcap Hat - Sale! $12.00. Buy the set including diaper cover for $20


Newsboy Hat - Sale! $12.00

Remember: I am able, willing, and happy to create a custom order for you. See something you like, but want it in a different color? No problem! Just send me an email to find out how to get a creation made and reserved for you.

All prices are a marked, and do not include shipping and handling charges. Visit my sweet little Etsy for further details.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

An Old Desk and Mackinac Island

Have you ever been to the Mackinac Island Grand Hotel? I haven't been there, yet. Mackinac Island is one of several locations on my dream vacation list. I have heard that life on the island is simple and peaceful and that visiting the island is like going back in time. I have seen pictures of Mackinac Island, and the Grand Hotel. It has this wonderfully long and lovely porch.

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And the porch has a painted ceiling. Look at that beautiful greenish blue color. I just love it! That color has inspired me to attempt my first furniture makeover.

I found this little desk through our local classified ads for $10. It is the perfect size for a sewing desk, and it had some drawers for storing sewing stuff. Sweet!


The color? Not so sweet. Ug, in fact. So I went shopping for some paint to give this desk a facelift. Valspar makes a color that matches the porch ceiling of the Mackinac Island Grand Hotel. It is part of the National Trust Historic Paint Colors line and is called Hotel Mackinac Blue (#5007-9). Perfect!

Here is what my desk looks like now.


Ahhhh. Much much better! I love love love it. Replacing the handles made a big difference & really helped bring this peice out of being lost in the 70's and turned it into something contemporary. They were on sale for 99 cents, wohoo! I'm glad I have a ton of this color leftover. I have big plans for giving my entire craft corner a makeover. I have to acquire all of the necessary furnishings first, and do a little bit of rearranging (which means I get to do more furniture facelifts for S&J's room), and then I can get to creating my crafty space. I think my first attempt at refinishing went pretty well. It definately got me hooked and excited to do more!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

First Baby Photo Shoot

A friend of mine recently had a baby boy. I make cute little hats for baby boys. And I have a camera. So I asked if she wanted some pictures of her little guy. Of course, she said yes. duh! I was a little nervous about taking pictures for someone else, but only a little. I have tons of practice taking pictures of babies. Well, one baby. My Jaden. And he hasn't been this little for a while. But still, I have a TON of pictures of him. Anyhow, here are my favorites from the photo shoot.

Newsboy Hat With Buttons by Petit Lambie

Newsboy Hat With Buttons by Petit Lambie






I have posted these on some professional photography sites and have been given a thumbs up on them, which is pretty exciting. My friend just loves them, which makes me pretty happy.

Monday, September 19, 2011

TUTU Cute!

For the most part of last week, I was seriously obsessed with making tutus.

Are they not precious? I think these have got to be the most favorite thing I have ever created. EVER.

I made this one for fall babies

And when I say I was obsessed with making them, I mean it. Maybe consumed would be a better description. I just had to figure out how to get an idea to materialize into a reality. I have wanted to make baby tutus for quite some time now. A while ago, I learned to make a no-sew tutu. They are quick to make, easy to customize for specific tastes and occassions, and super popular. But I don't like them. The process of making a no-sew tutu involves cutting over 100 yards of tulle strips, then tying the strips around an elastic waistband. This method creates a very thick waistband and leaves the tulle exposed, which feels bulky and itchy. I suppose it would be fine if an infant were dressed in the tutu over a onesie, but that just wasn't my vision. Besides, it looks messy, and the knots often come undone. I just wasn't satisfied with the no-sew method of making a tutu and wanted to come up with a unique way to make one that was lasting, beautiful, elegant, and comfortable. So I began thinking and experimenting.

I haven't slept much over the last few weeks. My mind kept designing and editing my tutu concept. Once I thought I had it down, I created one, which led to more editing, designing, and insomnia. I finally came up with a method I was happy with and made a couple, just in time to see how they work on a wiggly baby instead of in my head. 

We went to Idaho to visit S & some other family over the weekend. I dressed my niece up in my creations and did a photoshoot. I am happy with the way my Petit Lambie tutus look! 

This one reminds me of a tiny little ballerina.

Lovely little embellishment

Tutus by Petit Lambie are made with 8-10 hand gathered layers of soft tulle hand sewn to a wide satin sash and embellished with a hand sewn rosette. The rosette is a removeable brooch that can be placed anywhere on the tutu, or on a headband for a completly customizable outfit ( this was an after thought, and I didn't get the most desireable elastic for a headband before I headed out of town to visit my little model. Headbands will totally match the tutus from henceforth and forever!)  There are no scratchy edges around the waist, as the band is finished inside and out.

Here are some cute pictures of my niece wearing Petit Lambie Tutus.



I have mad tutu making talent....not so gifted in the photoshop department. Oh well. You get the idea. The headband will match the tulle.

Gave up on the photoshop editing of the headband, lol!


Tiny dancer a la second

Tutus are now available in my Etsy shop!
Petit Lambie has a Facebook Page. Go "like" us! (pretty please)

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Lovin Me Some Minky

It was love at first touch, me and minky. I was at a quiltig shop in Orem, looking for inspiration for J's first baby blanket. The moment I laid my fingertips on it I fell for the incredible softness & wished I could just cuddle with it all night long. I could just imagine snuggling a sweet baby in softness and being in love with both my little lamb and the blanket. So I made lots of minky blankets.






I know, 4 is not equivalent to tons and bunches, or even lots. But I have plans to make more. Oh do I ever. And to take better pictures of them. My particular favorites are the pink damask and the dinosaur ones. The prints are flannel and the backs are minky - extra specially cuddly! Another one of the best things about minky blankets is that they are warm and lightweight without being bulky. Perfect for keeping little ones cozy this fall and winter.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

The Cutest Little Things

I finally learned how to crochet some cute little booties! These are baby Mary Janes. I think they are adorable with the little button at the end of the strap.


They are also the first pair I ever made. I wanted to document how well this experiment turned out for me. Usually my first attempts are pretty miserable. Like my first attempt at steaming an artichoke. I set the stove on fire. The second time I tried to steam an artichoke, I melted the pot on the stove. I haven't tried that experiment again. But I did make some more booties in a more girly color. Mary Janes are more of a girl shoe. And pink is a more girly color than brown. These came out even better than the first pair.



Love them! I think these little things are possibly the cutest thing I have ever crocheted.  

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Family Pictures

I make crocheted photoprops. Sometimes I trade my creations for services. Renee over at LaRee Photography and I made an exchange. Here are some of my crochet creations she's used.




We had her take our family photos this summer. She does a great job with family pictures and she is very reasonably priced. You should go check out her blog! And then have a look at the pictures she did for us. I am happy with the way they turned out.













Friday, September 9, 2011

Sneak Peek

I am currently obsessed with two things. The first is reading waaaaay too many blogs. The second is completing my current project. Here is what my sewing desk looks like at the moment.



Any guesses as to what I'm making?




Thursday, September 8, 2011

Baby Burpie Tutorial (Posh Burpies!)

My babies spit up. A lot. Both S & J were born with acid reflux. Each went through several outfits daily. Not to mention burp cloths! We had an entire section of the diaper bag reserved for burpies, and I made sure never to leave the house without a minimum of three!

I've decided that being a mom doesn't mean you have to be frumpy. This means that burp cloths don't have to be drab. This is a tutorial on how you can make fabulous, stylish, functional burpies for your baby.



Here's what you need to make super cute burpies:
Fabulous Fabric
Matching chenille fabric
Basic sewing stuff (self healing cutting mat, large quilting ruler, rotary cutter, matching thread, a sewing maching, some pins, and scissors)


I used Michael Miller's flannel Dandy Damask in Cotton Candy and a Michael Miller flannel dot also in Cotton Candy, and white chenille for the back. I order my chenille from fabric.com. It usually comes in 58" wide yards.

~ You can make these using fat quarters, or you can cut the fronts and backs out of larger amounts of fabric. The bonus of fat quarters? No measuring or cutting! sweet. ~

Here's how you make them:

Cut out a rectangle 14" wide by 20" long of your fabulous fabric & another one the same size out of your chenille.

Here are some cutting diagrams. I drew them in Paint. Since I am not a drawing kind of artist, they are probably way off scale, but they will give you an idea of how you can get the most burpies out of a yard of fabric.


Once you have your fronts and backs cut out, pin the two rectangles right sides together & sew around the edges using a 1/2" seam allowance. Make sure to leave an opening to turn it right side out.

Turn your burpie right side out. Fold up the edges of the hole & sew the opening shut.

Top stitch around the entire burpie 1/4" in from the edge. Top stitch again 1/2" in from the edge. Your two rows of topstitching will be 1/4" apart. Topstitching twice gives the burpie a nice finish and improves the durability.

Voila! You've done it!



Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Summer Vacation 2011

We spent a week on the road, drive drive driving to pretty amazing places.

We went to Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. The cliff dwellings are awesome.

We visited Four Corners National Monument while we were in the neighborhood. Spencer and I always spread our arms out front to back when we cross the Utah/Idaho border so we can be in two places at once. Here he is in four places at once.


Hubbie got a little creative with his four corners posing.


Then we were off to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. If you haven't ever been there, go! And spend more than just a couple of hours there. This place is awesome. It is just amazing to me that there could be a place so deep on earth - that doesn't even reach the middle of the earth. It goes down for ever - you can't even see the bottom of it unless you hike down - and it stretches on for as far as you can see. It was kind of a hazy day, so visibility was a little limited. I wish I had been able to stay there longer, until the evening came and the clouds went away. That would have been a better picture.



We went to a cave that someone had purchased and turned into a dance hall, which someone else purchased and turned into a museum. It was more wierd than museum. But, it was a naturally cool escape from the late August heat of the desert.


The last stop before we headed home was Cedar City, UT. There is a Shakespeare Festival there every year. 2011 is the 50th anniversary of the festival. We went to see Midsummer Night's Dream. It was by far the funniest production I have ever seen. I laughed even harder than I do at Comedy Sports Club. Seriously. Until I cried. Good times.

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And finally after all that fun, we headed to our sweet little home. 

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Newsboy Hat - Girlified!

Crocheted newsboy hats are so cute! I used this one I made during a photoshoot of my friend's adorable new baby boy.



And then I thought that my nieces might want one to keep them cozy during the fall and winter season. So I girlified the newsboy hat.




Isn't that flower so much fun? I love how gigantic it is! I wish my little nieces were closer - I can't wait to see it on them.


Part of me thinks that maybe I want one to keep warm during the crazy cold weather we get here. Remember those flower ear warmer things from last year? I did make a few, but the top of my head got cold. I would love a flowered beanie to stay cozy during the bitter cold of Utah. I just might make myself one.