guest blogging...

We leave tomorrow for our annual Atlanta thanksgiving trip and I won't have much access to the computer.  I will try to update from time to time with my phone but for the most part this space will be quiet.

If you really miss we that much :o) please check out Presser Foot where I will be the mini guest blogger for this week!  I made some cute little coasters that make for great gifts!  So check it out, I'll have 4 postings this week with instructions on how to make the coasters using this pattern.

xoxo

crissy

emerging from the haze

WOW.  Its been a rough week.  Monday, my dear NP comes down with a bug.  By Wednesday he is miserable and we know this is not the common cold.  Doctor confirms H1N1.  Yay.  Thursday morning, Little Big and I wake up feeling horrid.  Aches, high fevers, coughing, the works.  I don't need a doctor to confirm that yes, we are little piggies just like daddy.  Squishy complains of a tummy ache on Friday night, and by early morning Saturday his fever is a-raging.  Needless to say it was a fun weekend and I accomplished nothing.

I finally feel up to finishing a few things, but can't do much without feeling exhuasted.  Fortunately we are all on the mend.  Seems like night #3 is the worst, Squishy is experiencing this night, tonight.  I'm praying he will sleep through it peacefully.

Enough about the piggy flu.  How about a cute dress for a little girl who is turning ONE YEARS OLD, in a few short weeks!

(this was completed pre-piggy) 

Leopard ruffles...mmmm.

Black, crushed velvet.

Lovely.  Can't wait to see her in it!

the pig farm

We have been hit hard by H1N1, so I have taken a break from blogging/crafting while I try to take care of my sick family.  This is not a fun virus.  I haven't been this sick in a while.  Please don't go away, I will be back soon.  It's just hard to find time to update between all the body aches, fevers, chills, coughing and remembering when tylenol can be used again.  Icky icky.

xoxo

crissy

a few things on the agenda

I missed yesterday!  I crawled into bed super late (after finishing a very cute birthday dress for a certain little girl) and just as I was drifting off to sleep I realized I didn't blog!  I'll make up for it today, I promise!

Now on to the agenda...

Item #1

I am thinking of changing the name of my blog.  Since I plan to open an etsy shop in 2010 I would like the name of this blog and the shop to be the same.  I haven't totally decided, but it will have to include the name "crissybell" I mean that's been my trademark since I was a baby!  crissybell's creations?  crissybell handmade?  just plain old crissybell?  I don't know??  Do you have any suggestions?

Item #2

I am lucky enough to be able to use a wonderful serger.  It isn't "mine" but I get to keep it as long as I need it.  It's worked great so far and I love using it!  But I finally had a need for a different color thread.  Looking at a serger can be scary, all the thread going in so many different directions - yikes!  But last night I was feeling brave and tried the "knot method" and it worked.  You cut the thread at the top of the little "hanger" and remove the old color, put the new color in place and carefully knot the new color with the old, trimming any tails.  Repeat for all the other threads.  Next is the tricky part.  You need to carefully advance the thread, it will snap through the tension knobs easily and right before the needles you need to cut the knots (or they will get stuck and bad things will happen) and then with the fresh cut thread, use tweezers to thread through the needle!

It's actually really easy.

If I can do it, anyone can!

xoxo

crissy

why hello, monday.

This weekend was a blur, but so much fun!  I spent all of Saturday rushing around, baking, cooking and painting things for the shower on Sunday...

This is my nieces very first piggy bank.

She originally had weird googly eyes, but I didn't like them.

So I took them off and painted my own.

I also made these.

And of course this.

Baby showers are so much fun.

xoxo

crissy

short post

Its late and I am so very tired.  Another very long day preparing for the shower.  I baked, I cooked, I made nine million little, tasty wraps, I painted and I am beat.  What I DID NOT do was sew!  And that was wonderful.

Hopefully tomorrow I can squeeze in some pictures of my busy-ness.  For now here's a sneak peak at a cute baby shower project...

happy weekend!

xoxo

crissy

IT IS DONE!

Finally.  The crib set for my niece (due to arrive in January) is DONE.  I spent two weeks working on this set.  I am sure if I could just sit down and sew for hours that it wouldn't take quite as much time.  But I have children to chase so my sewing sessions are short and usually interrupted quite frequently.  All that aside though, I am so glad to have this finished.  I never understood why people would charge $300 for a handmade crib set.  Well, NOW I know why.  It is tedious, time consuming work with lots of yardage, lots of gathering and lots of backaches.  My sewing room was starting to feel like a sweatshop.  I don't have pictures of the dust ruffle yet, it got too dark before it was finished.  It's my favorite part though.  Here's the rest of the set, for your viewing pleasure.  :o)

The quilt

the hardest part...the bumpers

two crib sheets (so easy)

the cute bunny pattern my sister picked out, it's cream and light green

Hope you enjoyed a fun filled Friday the 13th.

Happy Saturday (in 5 minutes)

xoxo

crissy

PS I am painting a pig tomorrow, I'll post pics tomorrow night.