Fresh Start 2012

I cannot believe I haven't posted here in over a year! I am a terrible blogger. I promise I've made things over the past 12 months! And my Etsy shop is still up and running!

This is how I've been spending my evenings lately. My daughter's about to turn THREE!

I encouraged her to have a rainbow party because who doesn't need a bit of color in the middle of a Wisconsin winter? Obviously I didn't know we'd barely get a dusting of snow so far this winter or that it would be 40+ degrees just a few days before her birthday! Oh well, we're still excited about the theme. And I had fun making a rainbow birthday banner for her (after realizing I have no idea where the banner from last year is! Just like the shoemakers kids who have no shoes of their own.)

The bottom left hand picture is the items for the goodie bags: ribbon wands, bean bags (filled with split peas), homemade crayons, and a rainbow coloring sheet (I'll post a link to this coloring sheet once I find it!).

Most of my ideas came from Pinterest. I'm addicted! And so glad I finally had an excuse to do some of the many projects I've pinned since joining. And Millie was able to help me with a lot of the projects, which she loved: "Oh, my friends are going to love these! My friends are going to be so proud of me!" Love her!

Hello, 2011!

Happy New Year!

As some of you know, I took a break from Etsy for a few weeks in order to spend time with my family. Along with Christmas and New Year's, I also celebrated my daughter's second birthday (!), and my husband and I celebrated our 5-year wedding anniversary. The winter months are definitely very busy in our household!



But underduck is now back - and there are even more items in my shop! Have you checked them out, yet?



My little girl is really starting to enjoy playing pretend, and she loves helping her dad and I in the kitchen, so I couldn't wait to make her a little apron. And since she's just starting to learn her numbers, I decided to make some fun (and yummy-looking!) cookies to make counting fun! (The cookies are great for tea parties as well. And the aprons double as capes!) I'll also be adding doll aprons to the shop within the next month, and would be happy to make matching aprons for your little one and their favorite friend!

New Listing - Reusable Autumn Thanksgiving Banner

Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday!



Jordan's birthday banner really put me in the mood for autumn, and I had been meaning to make some holiday banners to sell in the shop, so here they are!

Reusable Autumn Thanksgiving Banners! I've listed two of them - you'll be purchasing the one pictured in that listing.

I hope to create some winter and Christmas banners over the next month and may also add some non-banner items as well. Be sure to keep watching the shop for new additions!

Shout Out! - The Red Pistachio

I've wanted a toddler-sized blanket for Milena ever since she was born! I love all the wonderful, handmade quilts and afghans she's received as gifts over the past two years, but I felt she needed something smaller - easier to take with her when we went out of town.

The baby blankets found at The Red Pistachio were exactly what I was looking for! The fabrics they use are all so wonderful, it was difficult to chose just one, but I finally decided on the Chenille and Flannel Baby Blanket in the Butterfly Garden theme. Such bright, happy fabrics! Months later, we still love it! It's just warm enough for chilly nights, and oh so perfect for middle-of-the-day cuddles.

The Red Pistachio also sells burp cloths, bibs, and washcloths. The baby gift sets are perfect for baby showers! And I think the Touch and Feel blankets are a must-have for all little ones.

Playing Catch Up

I can't believe it's been over four months since I last posted! Life got pretty busy this summer, and I took a bit of a break from my Etsy store (apart from a banner here or there), but I'm back now!

And I owe you pictures of the banners I made from the wonderful fabrics I last posted about! Unfortunately, I didn't think to take a picture of the wedding banner before giving it to my friends (but I've e-mailed them with a request!). However, here's a shot of the banner used to celebrate my niece's and dad's birthdays:



Last month underduck received a wonderful review on the small fry after I helped little Jordan celebrate his first birthday with fall-themed banners (you may notice I used the same fabrics I used in the birthday banner above - amazing what a change in felt color can do).



Jordan's banners really put me in the mood for fall and inspired me to purchase more of the same fabric to create some festive "Happy Thanksgiving" banners (watch the store for them later this week!).

New fabrics!

This past week I received two packages of beautiful fabrics in the mail! I'll be using the fabrics to make two banners as gifts - a special "Happy Birthday" banner for my niece, who will be turning 4 (!) next month; and a wedding banner for my friends who are having their reception in a few weeks.

For the birthday girl, I chose this fun collection of fabrics from the Just Dreamy collection by My Minds Eye for Riley Blake. Isn't it just perfect for a little girl's birthday party? And yet it's something that her two older sisters could hang up for their parties as well. (I actually love these fabrics so much, I'm going to use them to make a new birthday banner for our family!).

And I have to give a little Shout Out! to the shop from which I purchased these fabrics, Ladybug Quilt Shop because this fabric shipped mere hours after I purchased it! I will definitely be purchasing from this seller again!

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The wedding banner fabrics are from the Sandi Henderson "Meadowsweet" collection. I love them because they're a little formal while still being pretty and fun! And I love these two colors together!

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Now I just need to find the right color felt for both of these projects (something I tend to forget about while searching for the right fabrics!) and then get to work. I love making banners as gifts! I'll be sure to post pictures once the banners are done.

Shout Out! - Brookish

I happened upon this Mr. Darcy Proposal Mug a few weeks back and nearly fell off my chair. That Mr. Darcy's a charmer even on a mug! *swoon*

Although I don't own that mug (not yet, anyway!), I am in possession of another lovely mug from Brookish. My sister gifted me this mug last year (and purchased another for herself), and it's one of my favorite mugs to use. For me, the quotation is a celebration of stay-at-home motherhood!

Looking for a gift for an Austen fan? Or are you yourself a lover of Jane? Then you must check out the mugs & shirts & dishtowels & more at brookish.etsy.com!