Big girl(s) bed

 Ella has one of those Convertible Cribs. She used it as a toddler bed for a long time, and now it was time to upgrade to the full size. Our plan is for the the girls to share a room, so while a full size bed might seem like much for a 3 year old, its just right for a 3 year old and a 16 month old. Thea has been sleeping with us since she was born, so I have no concerns about her sleeping in a big bed. I did want to keep the bed low to the ground though, easier for Thea to climb in, and less of a fall if she does fall out.

So the plan was to use the slats from Ikea in lieu of a boxspring. The one problem is that our bed doesn't have a center rail to rest the slats on. I asked them at Ikea about it, and the guy said that it wouldn't be a problem, that the slats attach. Um, no, they don't. Off to Home Depot to see how I can make this work.

I pre-measured the bed before I left, specifically the length of the bed and the height of the side cleats from the floor (77" and 8" respectively).

I ended up with a 2x8 and six 8x8 steel brackets. They cut the 2x8 to just inside the mark of 77" (my request, just to make sure it fits inside the bed and not scratch it) for me, and after grabbing some 1 1/4" wood screws, home we went.

When I first stood the 2x8 in the center, I checked it against the cleats - perfectly flush. Unfortunately the brackets stood above the 2x8 by a 1/4". I had a moment of "AAAH!", and then I placed the slats on top to see, and low and behold, the slats are 1/4" thick, so the brackets become flush. Yay!

So I preceded to screw the brackets on, lining them up with the slats laying down in the picture. With the brackets, the 2x8 is free standing (and strong!) and I didn't have to attach anything to the bed (which keeps it functional as a crib or toddler bed if need be down the line).

Here is is with the slats on. It works! Phew!

And their bed all read to go!*



*Bed is Rockland, Cottage Bed, JC Penny's. Sheets are Ladybugs from Target. Quilt is made by my Grandma.

Shirt before and after

A favorite knit shirt of mine, that sadly doesn't fit anymore.


After: A new dress for Ella. I did a lettuce edge with red thread on the sleeves and the bottom.

The Rainbow Retro Romper

I fell in love with the Retro Rainbow Romper as soon as I saw it. http://sewingin-nomansland.blogspot.com/search/label/Little%20Girls%20tutorial

The only thing is, I wanted it capri length instead of shorts. I added a button closure to the cuff of the legs so she could get them off and on. Also, I had to completely draft the pattern because there wasn't an option in Ella's size. This was great practice for me and learning how to "make it work".

The Party Dress

For Miss Ella I made the Party Dress. http://www.u-createcrafts.com/2010/11/creative-guest-party-dress-by-cottage.html

I loved this pattern, and since I am still a novice sewer, it taught me a lot about basic construction.

Faux Chenille Stroller Blanket

We recently purchased a double stroller, and even though there are fun colors coming out soon, we needed the stroller now. So, we bought a plain black one. Combining my need to brighten it up and the girls need to have a blanket that didn't fall down under the wheels, I made a faux chenille stroller blanket.

I used this tutorial for guidance...
http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/tutorial-faux-chenille-blanket.html

And then just winged it with making a ruffle edge, and then added ribbon ties to keep the blanket in place on the stroller.


One side is corduroy and the other is 4 layers of flannel

I made this one for Ella, and I have enough to make one for Thea. But, just one blanket covers the whole thing. Well, I guess that means with 2, they will be all snuggled in. :)

I tied the ribbon through the straps harness.

One side tied, the other untied.

The dog always tries to get in the picture too. :)

When I make the second one, I will show how I did the ruffle binding

A new seat

Ella loves her stroller that Santa brought her a year ago. She loved it to pieces, literally. I have been putting off making her a new one for one reason or another (mostly procrastination), instead letting her poor dollies balance precariously on the half hanging seat.

Finally, she has a new seat. I made the pattern from the old pieces. The back is from a recycled sheet and the seat is from a fabric strap. It took me an hour, with kidlets awake, so in real time - thats nothing! Looks great, and her dollies are safe!

Crafty Chistmas Pt. 3

Ella's big gift from Santa this year was a play kitchen. I found these 2 night stands on Craigslist for $10.


And this hutch from a garage sale for free. I have had this hutch for too many years then I care to admit, just waiting for me to turn it into something.


My neighbor helped me repair the trim on the bottom of the hutch, and I tossed the one door. He also helped me do all the cutting (since I lack any real tools).

Here is the set...

And here it is all staged for Christmas morning. There are pots and pans, wrapped, and cooking utensils in her stocking.

Up close of the hutch.

Up close of the sink. I had the sink set off center so I can get a little dish drying rack for the side.

The faucet is an upside down J, and the bowl is a mixing bowl.

Up close of the stove/oven.

The knobs are little wooden disks that I painted white and then drew on the dial parts with a sharpie. The burners are wood circles that I painted. I sealed them all with Triple Thick Paste. I love that stuff.

The oven door opened. The hinges I bought for the door wouldn't fit so I did a quick fix for Christmas and stapled a strip of fabric in there. I don't think there is a hinge option that will work with the shape of the nightstand and door, so I am going to use some leather and nails for a hinge. I am also adding some chain to the door to help keep it from dropping all the way down, and line the inside with silver. If I can find something to become an oven rack, I will add one as well.

Ella is in love with it, and today she told all the moms at Luke's soccer game that it was her favorite gift!

Quiet Book

Last Christmas I made Ella and the boys a quiet book. I need to do more pages for them now, but here is what I did get done. :)

Ella opening her book Christmas morning and playing with it

The dolls have clothes to dress them. Ella likes putting the clothes on and then taking them off to find the belly button.

Each shirt has the first initial of the kiddo the book was for.

The first page of the book. Obviously, the boys had their names, not Ella's. ;)

The "E" could be buttoned on her name.

The clothes for the doll can also be hung on the clothesline or stored in teh basket. This basket was wonky, so that one became Ella's.

Ella's doll.
To make the doll, I used a gingerbread man cookie cutter and traced.

It's difficult to tell, but there is a little french knot in the middle for a belly button.

Her doll dressed.

And the last page is a lace up shoe.

Tutorial/inspiration found here...

http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/2009/06/finished-quiet-book.html

Several of her pages are ones that I will follow to add to the books.