Sunday School and Mother's Day

I love my little Sunday School Class.  I co-teach Pre-K 4 and K5 with Kate Howard.  Last week, Kate was out of town.  She was attending her daughter's graduation from Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, GA .  When Kate is out of town, my son-in-law Ryan comes in the class to help me.  When all are present, we have 6 little boys and two girls.  Three of our students were celebrating birthday's last week.  Becky Lankford  and Isaac Clarke turned 6.  Asher McGuire turned 5, and my son-in-law turned 31.  We always have a snack time but with all of those birthday's it had to be something special so I baked a cake.
Just look at those sweet faces!  Asher wasn't able to be there because his father, our associate pastor, needed to be taken to the airport where he left for a three week missions trip to Uganda!  We had two more missing for other reasons. 

My son-in-law helped me pass out the cake.  My daughter and the baby and 2 1/2 year old grandson joined in on the party as did my husband.  After Sunday School, my 4 1.2 year old granddaughter joined us also.

My parents church, Grace Baptist,   has an annual Mother/Daughter banquet.  My daughter was 3 weeks old when I attended the first time.  In fact, it may have been the first one.  Now she's 30 with three children of her own.  Where does the time go?

Taylor and Morgan looked beautiful in their gorgeously girly dresses.  My nephews wife, April joined us also. 

 Isn't she a beautiful little angel?  She's 7 weeks old.

 I love the look of love in Taylor's eyes.

I love watching my mom hold Morgan.  What a joy to have these pictures!  Mom is 91.  She will probably not get to see Taylor or Morgan as grown women but they will always have these pictures to know how much she loved them!

I have never really had a Mother's Day given to me.  I've always cooked for others and had a few times when we went out to dinner.  I was treated to a really nice Mother's Day yesterday.  My son-in-law cooked an entire dinner for us.  Lauren and I didn't have to life a finger!  Now that is a real treat!!  After dinner, we went to Mom and Dad's house.  We gave her a beautiful red Knock-Out Rose.  My son has never been the best for remembering Mother's Day.  What a wonderful surprise when he showed up at Mom & Dad's with a gift for me!  He lives across the field from them.  He not only gave me a gift and great card, but he gave one to Mom and to Lauren.  Lauren's was such a wonderful card, she cried! Seeing love between siblings does a mother's heart good! After a short visit with Adam we drove Mom & Dad to Salisbury to Cold Stone Creamery and bought them an ice cream treat.  They each got the Germanchokolatekake in the Love It Size.  I knew they were going to be amazed at how filling it would be and they were.  Those cups don't look nearly so big when they are empty!  I got the Mud Pie Mojo in the Like It size and had plenty!  Andy made his own creation with Sweet Cream, brownies, M&M's, and Reese's cups.  I definitely had to make sure I got in all of my walking when I got home, but even though I reached my goal, I had still gone over by almost 200 calories today.  Oh well, it was worth it! 

Custom Blankets

I have a girlfriend who makes blankets and then picks out designs for me to embroider on them.  We work together to make a blanket especially for the little baby that she has in mind.  Each one is carefully designed to match the baby's gender and personality of the family.

This first blanket was designed for a long awaited grandchild.

  This one was for her first born grandchild.

This little boy's daddy is hoping his son will like baseball as much as he does.

I love this little design.  It covers four of the major sports and the star glows in the dark.

For the son of a farmer.

For a precious little girl.

I use large thermal blankets.  They are excellent for swaddling.  I made one using the above design but did it in blue for a little boy.  I then made a coordinating beanie and burp cloth. The thermal blanket and the set can be ordered from my Etsy shop.  Just click on the photos to go to my shop or click on "Nan's Nappies" under the preview selections from my shop.  If you want different designs, just ask.  Any of the designs on other items will work on a blanket also.

 

Thermal Knit Baby Swaddling Blanket

 

Infant Gift Set

Blankets also make great wedding gifts.  One customer gave me a really nice fleece blanket she found at Ikea and asked me to embroider it for her to give as a wedding gift.

Old Houses and Sibling Shirts

When you live in an old house, you just never know what is going to need repairing next.  In 2005 we took up the carpet in our living room and discovered that we had beautiful oak floors.  We had them refinished and they are so pretty.  If money had been no object, we would have had the same carpet removed from our dining room, staircase and upstairs hallway.  But we decided we would save the rest of the carpet for another day.  In the meantime, we had total remodeling done in out upstairs bathroom and kitchen.  The remodels have been wonderful and greatly enjoyed but we didn't choose to do them at this time.  A major leak in the main drain pipe was the cause of the remodeling.

 Now, 7 years later, we are finally going to have our dining room floor refinished.  The carpet has been way past due to be removed.  First of all, the carpet was OLD!  I've lived here 27 years and it was here when I moved in.  Second, we had a little dog who developed liver disease.  If you've ever dealt with that in an animal you know that toxins gradually build up in the pet, causing them to become senile.  Our little dog started urinating in the dining room .  We never had a problem with him before this.  I have shampooed that part of the carpet to death.  I used products specifically designed to kill pet odors. Even so, I kept smelling old carpet padding and it drove me crazy.  To top it off, our little Yorkie, who we've had for 15 months, recently discovered that spot in the carpet and HE had urinated there a couple of times.  We're not even sure when he did as we watch him pretty closely and he's rarely alone.  I guess it doesn't take him long.  This was the straw that broke this camels back.  I told my husband the carpet HAD to come up even if we couldn't refinish the floor right now.

Last week, he ripped up the carpet only to discover do-it-yourself vinyl floor tiles stuck to the hardwood!  The previous owners had started to pry the tile up in one corner,  We  suspect they discovered how time consuming and difficult it was to do that, stopped and put down wall to wall carpet. Monday morning the refinishing will begin.  It will be SO good to have a long awaited update done.  I'll have to post some before and after photos when the refinishing is done.

This past weekend I went to a baby shower.  The mom to be has a little boy and is now going to have a little girl.  I love making matching/coordinating shirts and onesies for siblings.  This mom has chosen crib bedding that has a theme of pink and brown butterflies.  They haven't shared the name they will give the baby so I couldn't use the babies name.  I put a pink and brown butterfly applique' on the baby sister shirt.  I didn't think a little boy should have a butterfly so I put a pink and brown car on his.

 

Personalized Matching Sibling Onesie and t-shirt

A few weeks ago, I made a set for two brothers.  The customer chose applique' frogs.

 

Matching Onesie and T-Shirt for Siblings

I just love these little shirts and think they are a great way to make the older sibling feel special also.

Birthday Applique'

I am absolutely in love with applique' designs.  They can change SO much just by changing the materials in them.  Designs by JuJu is one of my favorite designers.  I now own 27 of their sets!!!  One of their sets is called Birthday Wishes.  The set has nine designs for the numbers 1 through 9.  They are perfect for onesies or t-shirts for the birthday boy or girl.  They can be done in the colors of your choice and a name can be added above or below.

Aren't they sweet? 

Beanies!!!!!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/94290967/personalized-embroidered-beanie-with

 Personalized beanies have become very popular recently,  I love to make them.  Seeing the babies wearing them gives me great joy.  Each cap can fit the personality of the baby and their family. 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/78377205/personalized-infant-beanie-cap

http://www.etsy.com/listing/94290418/personalized-beanie-with-embroidered

http://www.etsy.com/listing/78377205/personalized-infant-beanie-cap

http://www.etsy.com/listing/94289365/personalized-embroidered-beanie-with

 

 

 

 This is one of my favorites.  The little girl was baby #8 in her family and her parents lovingly call her their little Cupcake .

http://www.etsy.com/listing/91251180/beanie-cap-with-cupcakes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/78377205/personalized-infant-beanie-cap

Dinosaurs

My favorite items to embroider are ones for my grandchildren.  I know the photo is a little grainy.  It was taken in low light with a cell phone. But I like it because it is my little grandson wearing an onesie with a triceratops applique'.  The design comes from Designs by JuJu Dino Crossing Applique' set.  http://www.designsbyjuju.com/designsets.aspx?pscat=63  

His older sister likes him wearing this top because Triceratops are her favorite dinosaurs! 

Personalized Embroidered BaaBaa Sheep Burp Cloth

I received an order for two BaaBaa Sheep Burp Cloths this week.  The customer requested that the trim be in pink.  She then shared with me that the crib bedding was from Pottery Barn Kids Sweet Lambie collection. http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/sweet-lambie-nursery-bedding/?pkey=bunisex-nursery-bedding

The Sweet Lambie bedding is all browns, tan and off white.  The original BaaBaa Lamb pattern is black and white with the BaaBaa in blue.  She also ordered names on each burp cloth.  I sat down with my Bernina Editor Plus software and looked at the thread I have in stock ( around 75 colors) and designed some burp cloths with which I am really pleased.  I hope the customer likes them too.  They were just shipped yesterday so I hope she gives me some feedback.

  Here are pictures of them.  What do you think?

Burp Cloths

I began hand painting burp cloths 30 years ago when my son was an infant. Over the years my designs got more detailed. Every time I gave them as gifts they were well received. I have some mothers who have told me that they still have their babies burp cloths from years ago.

Recently, my husband gave me a Bernina Artista 630 and I have discovered the world of Machine Embroidery. (ME) I love it. I love all of the colors of threads and all of the many designs from which to choose. I also love the software that enables me to customize my burp cloths.

The moon and stars burp cloth , above, has some yellow glow-in-the-dark thread. Once the lights go off, it glows!

Below, you can see a sample of other burp cloths I've made. All are embroidered on Gerber pre-fold diapers for excellent absorption.  I also use high quality Isocord thread which will not bleed or fade.  These burp cloths can be tossed into the washing machine without any worries.

Please check these and others out at my new Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/nansnappies