2012 Photography Challenge

I'll be trying something new this year! Actually, I'll be trying many new things this year, but I'm referring particularly to a photography challenge called the 313 Project 2012 - where you take a picture every day of the year, minus Sundays. That adds up to 313 days and consequently 313 pictures! You can read more about it here at the blog of our friends who are hosting it: 4 His Glory-The 313 Project 2012.
I won't be able to post my picture every day, but I'll be trying my best to take one every day and share them all in one big post at the end of the week.

May you all have a Blessed New Year!

Tutorial Tuesday: Plush Angry Birds

This Christmas, I decided to make many of my gifts. Not knowing what to do for my brother who has everything, I spent some time thinking about it before I came up with this brilliant idea, based on a tutorial I'd read on a craft blog I follow several months prior: Angry Birds! I made him the red angry bird and the pig, weighted with a beanbag in the bottom so they could be paperweights.

I used the Angry Birds Plushies tutorial from Obsessively Stitching and loved the way it turned out. After making the red angry bird, I had the concept down and made the pig without its tutorial. But if sewing doesn't come so intuitively to you, the tutorials are very well written and easy to follow, with pictures for each step. I haven't made any of the other birds, but I'm sure they'd turn out very well. I really didn't make any diversions from the tutorial except adding the black tail to the bird and not adding a crown or helmet to the pig.

 Here's red angry bird, looking so very angry!

And the pig, looking a little boggly-eyed.

I think this was my funnest gift I've ever made, and even funnier his reaction when he opened it!

If you ever do try this tutorial, and if you'd like to share, I'd love to see how your angry birds come out!

Some Doll Clothes

I've been having fun sewing up some doll dresses for the Shoppe lately! Here are some pictures of the four currently finished:

Summer Tiered Jumper

Red, White, and Blue Summer Jumper

Green Velvet Medieval Gown

Red Silk Medieval Gown

"The Quilt" - Part 1

I'm starting my first quilt. For a number of reasons, I haven't been able to get into quilting before, but I've been motivated to start it since I have all the parts, acquired from a neighbor's yard sale last year for a song. It hasn't been named yet, so I'm calling it "The Quilt" until I find a name for it.

I'm having a hard time deciding how to start it, but I started by seam-ripping the three partly done pillow shams. There are enough pre-cut squares for the fourth. Putting them all together, it will make a nice sized lap quilt.

The quilt is a hunting/forest/lodge in the woods theme with four different fabrics for the front, shown in the above picture, and one lighter beige for the back.

This will be the last post here with pictures for a few weeks because my camera is currently back where it came from receiving some servicing under the warranty. In the meantime, I'll be blogging over at our family blog, catching up on all the traveling, family reunions, and other fun things that have been going on in our life these past few months!

Aedan Chase

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to do a photo shoot with a handsome 2-week-old little man, Aedan Chase. He was so easy, and so far, the most cooperative of all my babies - he slept! And when he was awake, he was happy.

I love this face - he just woke up and was not so sure about all this.

Aedan means 'Little Fire' - it looks like this little man will be a valiant warrior on fire for Christ when he grows up. :)

Calling all Crocheters - Round the Second

Thank you to all of you blog readers who volunteered last time to test my first batch of crochet patterns! Your help was very timely and much appreciated. Those four patterns are now for sale in Tiny Tiptoes Boutique and have been selling to happy customers!

I'm excited to announce that it's time for round 2 of pattern testing! I have two more beginner crochet patterns ready to roll:

Newborn Frog Hat Photo Prop

Comes in sizes Newborn-3 Months and 3-6 Months. You will need to have a basic knowledge of Sc, Hdc, and Sl St to complete this pattern.

Newborn Giraffe Hat Photo Prop

Comes in sizes Newborn-3 Months and 3-6 Months. You will need to have a basic knowledge of Sc, Hdc, and Sl St to complete this pattern. Bow is not included. :)

Same as last time, if you would like to crochet either of these patterns, leave me a comment here with your email address (comments with email addresses will not be published), or email me at tinytiptoesboutiqueATgmailDOTcom with your choice of pattern(s), and I'll email you the PDF copy. I would like to have your comments/suggestions on the pattern back within two weeks, but I am more than happy to allow for other things coming up. :) At the end, I'll send you a final, completed copy of the pattern as a 'thank you' for testing! Looking forward to hearing from you!

My First Blog Award

I received my first blog award recently from my friend Emmaline! You can see the original post here at her blog. Thank you Emma! And now, I get to share 5 new blogs I admire. That might be hard to pick just five!

The goal of the award is to spotlight up and coming bloggers who currently have less than 200 followers. The rules of the award are:
1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.
5. And most of all - have fun! 
  
1. Anna-Rebekah Portraits My friend Anna-Rebekah is a wonderful photographer and has a gift for portraits, and as I've just gotten my new dSLR camera, I've learned so much from her.


2. The Lady's Resource Blog Miss Virginia writes a fascinating blog on historical costuming and shares so many inspirational crafting links and tutorials.

3. Little Love's Designs Blog As a shameless confession, I love browsing fellow crafters/Etsy sellers websites and blogs for inspiration, and Mandy's of Little Love's Designs is one of my favorites!

4. End of the Matter My friend Shiloh writes a delightfully amusing blog on their family, her crafting, and her cute little siblings!

5. Gabrielle's Atelier A friend of mine, met through a sewing forum, writes a lovely blog on her etsy shop, crafts, and beautiful photography.