Embellishments

I'm learning that the fun is in the details! Here is a little addition that I added to my son's bedding. It was a fun and quick detail to a pillow case that only took one afternoon. And since I'm having to sit quite a bit with this pregnancy, it was another reason to finally do it.

 My son's initials are B. D. and his room has been decorated in elephants, that is the reason for the pillow case embellishment choice. 

If you're wondering, no I didn't make the quilt. My Grandma is a seasoned quilter and I would not even try to come close to her talent. She made this quilt as her baby gift  to B.

B, enjoying his new and improved pillow case.

The Nanny That Knits

Burp Cloths Perfected

So I think I've perfected my burp cloths. After having a child you learn what works and what doesn't and while I love fabric embellishments on burp cloths, putting a panel on the length of the entire cloth was too much. It seemed to not be soft enough for baby's face or just got in the way of wiping. So here is my solution, embellishment only on one end, you can then hang it over your shoulder (cute side out) while having a soft surface for your little one, win win!

And here is what they look like.

This one is my favorite!

Fun boy colors.

This one has ribbon on the full length, but because they're so skinny I don't think it will be a problem like a full fabric panel would be. Plus, I LOVE this green giraffe print!!

I am trying to be self-prophetic and praying the 'Happy Baby' slogan comes true :)

If you want to see what the first round of burp cloths looked like, click here.

The Nanny That Knits 

Giraffe Baby Mobile

I have finally started making things for our new addition, coming in April. Last weekend I went fabric shopping with my Mom & Grandma and we picked out all the fabric to make the bedding, so now I have what I need to start my other side projects and here is where I started.

His nursery theme will be giraffe's and the colors will be yellow & gray with turquoise as an accent. I was going to do a step by step instructional on how to make this, but there are A LOT of steps. Not that it took that long to make, but posting pictures and instructions would get a bit lengthy and I just don't feel like doing it :) Although, if you would like more instructions or helpful tid-bits please feel free to email me at thenannythatknits@gmail.com with any questions. And as always, if you make one yourself, I would LOVE to see a picture!

First I got some giraffe silhouette's off of the internet, trying to find different poses, which proved harder than I thought. I found 5 total and cut them out on felt. Then I hand stitched them to squares of fabric.

Next, I cut the squared edges off to fit each individual felt shape.

Before sewing the back and front together, I made sure and put a ribbon in the seam to allow for hanging.

I then filled it full of batting.

And hand-stitched it together.

Here they are all finished and ready to be hung.

Then, it was time to sew the ribbons to the hoop.

I made sure they were the same length of ribbon and sewn the same length from the hoop, for continuity.

The finished product!! 

I can't wait until it's hung over his crib!

The Nanny That Knits

Holiday Card Holder

This post is either one of two things, 4 weeks too late or 11 months early, I'll let you decide which...

I was inspired by some fun Pinterest ideas (if you want to follow my pinterest boards, simply click here. And if you don't know what www.pinterest.com is I highly recommend you check it out!) and came up with my own idea for a holiday card holder. I don't have any 'in process' pictures, major blog foul, but all you need are these items; a raw picture frame, 5 strips of ribbon, a glue gun, clothes pins, extra ribbon & buttons ( I made sure my ribbons & buttons color coordinated in holiday colors).

Here is the end result.

And here is the end result when you realize that you need a bigger frame to hold all the holiday cards you got in the mail.

Maybe next year I'll figure out another holiday card holder that will hold more holiday cards. But then again, maybe I won't.... :)

The Nanny That Knits

Burp Cloths

I love giving the simple gift of an embellished burp cloth! It add flare to the real reason you have a burp cloth on your shoulder, the impending spit up. Here are a few I've made up over the last year, I'm sure there will be many more to come.

A fun pack of burp cloths!

Fun boy prints

I love gender neutral!!

Happy creating!

The Nanny That Knits

Table Runner

There are 3 reasons I like making my own things for decoration.

1. I enjoy making things (I'm weird, I know).

2. I usually have more than 1/2 of what I need to make it already (ex. yarn, thread, buttons, a solid colored fabric for accent). Which is turn makes decorating very inexpensive. All I need is some new & trendy color something and voila.

3. You get to make exactly what you want. I can see something in a store somewhere, wish there were 1-3 things different about it, and go home and make it with those 1-3 changes. 

And the table runner I finished making today encompasses all of my reasons that I like making decorations. Here is the finished product.

And here with table necessities.

Now all I need to do is finish making the wall hanging that will go over the table & the dining room is decorated for now.... we'll see how long that takes me :)

The Nanny That Knits (and apparently also sews)

Thank You Joann's Employee!

I was at Joann's the other day (shocker I know) chatting with the employee cutting my fabric. We were discussing what I was making and she gave me the idea of using the extra fabric as a background for a shadow box. Little did she know, I had a shadow box at home that hasn't been used for quite some time and I was starting to get frustrated not having a purpose for it (all items in the house need a purpose or most likely they will get tossed. Unless they hold some sentimental value or are a keepsake, which then means they will get put on a shelf for display or in a 'memory'-type box. And yes, I have categories for our things we own, otherwise I could become a hoarder, something my organized & all together uncluttered personality can not handle). So here I am, standing at the Joann's cutting counter saying a big thank you to the employee who has solved my shadow box dilema.

Here is her idea & my craftiness at work.

I don't like how my camera is not capturing the color of the fabric well. Here is a shot with the box open, still not capturing the color well though.

The Joann's employee also solved a second dilema of mine, finding a home for a dried rose I had saved from the first bouquet my husband gave me, a treasured keepsake.  I can't believe it has lasted this long; 3 moves (one across the country), multiple 'homes' I have given it (ie. this shadow box before, the bulletin board, etc.) and a box at one point. Now it can be displayed instead of living in the aforementioned 'memory box'.

And ultimately it's home is a corner in our bedroom. A loving memory of our, in two days, 4 years of marriage & 1 1/2 years of dating & engagement before that. These home decorations are the best!

Thank you Joann's employee!

Sincerely,
The Nanny That Knits