H.A.L.L.O.W.E.E.N. Spells Halloween!

I find that inspiration comes in the most unlikely places.  The pure mention of Halloween sends me into a tizzy.  It might just be my favorite holiday, next to Christmas that is.  Walking though the grocery store this week made me start thinking about ghouls, ghosts, fun, and childhood. 

This year Max will be one and we will have our first Trick or Treat in the new neighborhood.  Last year I made Max his very first costume, this Pumpkin Costume.  Let's just say it was way too big for my 2 month old son.  Well it fits just fine now, with the addition of a new, bigger, hat, click here for original post Max's First Halloween. Well, yesterday I made a new hat and then I just kept on going.  I had some leftover white fleece from a project about a year ago.  I just so happened to be channeling my ghoulish self.  So much that I made this new Ghost Costume.

Keeping with the the theme of Halloween.  Last week I started making a few new items. Those cute Monsters from the last blog, well I was making toys and I just kept on going.  Let's just say they were a huge hit with Max, who is teething like a banshee these days.  He was rotating between chewing, shaking(they are rattles), and kicking them.  When I took them away to photograph them he was not too happy about it.  They were soon returned with a new trick or treat bag to hold them all together.  I have a feeling these are going to go everywhere with us over the next 2 months. 

Well, I guess if we are working backwards today I should end with this item.  Last week's orders wiped me out of certain lantern colors, so I had to order more.  So I took a chance and ordered Black.  Not a usual choice for me, but I think it looks amazing in this Halloween Inspired Balloon Mobile.  All items listed in this blog post are available at my ETSY shop.  Click any link to start shopping.

Have I mentioned I love Halloween?  See you soon! Pleasant Nightmares....

Busy, Busy, Busy

The ball is still rolling... and rolling... and rolling...

I was lucky enough to have two more custom orders this week!  The first one was a lot of fun, designing a mobile set for a 1st grade class.  I worked with the teacher to create this one of a kind set.  She redesigned her room this year using a new theme, Dots on Turquoise, I was inspired by this new source and I love the idea that smiling faces will see this mobile everyday.  I hope it brings some imagination and whimsy to their day. 

While working on this design I had to rework my Paper Lantern Mobile.  She requested an odd set of lanterns on each mobile and she really liked the birch mount that I use.  I started working on a few new ideas and then I had the brainstorm.  The new Mini Paper Lantern Mobile has the same charm and ease as the original, just a new outlook.

My second order was a custom gift set for a new baby girl.  The woman who ordered mentioned this was for a "grandma party".  Apparently a woman at her office became a grandmother and everyone threw her a party for the essentials every grandma needs at their house.   I'd never heard of this before, how fun.  She picked out the polka dot fabric from my stock and said she wanted a blanket, burp cloth and wrist rattle.  It's fun to mix and match new fabrics.  Her coworker had a granddaughter, but the client wanted to keep thing gender neutral in case of more grandchildren.  I love using blues for girls designs, I find as long as I keep the pattern organic and free flowing it looks feminine and tough at the same time.

 

Then it was time for a little fun.  Felt Monster Toy Set   I've been thinking about these monsters for a long time.  Ever since I made my first toy, a large stuffed octopus.  Dot came next, then a few rattles and such.  This project has been in my head for as long as I have wanted to make items for kids.  I decided Max should have a Monster Mash birthday party this year.  He's turning one, he's my monster, and who knows if I'll ever get to pick another theme again.  So I'm running with it.  We will be celebrating next weekend, pictures of all of the festivities to come soon, well pictures of all the goodies anyway.  Thanks for stopping in. 

 

Check back soon. Halloween may be coming early to janiegirlcrafts.

What a day!

Some people may be aware that I was recently offered a part time job out of the house.  This morning I decided not to take this job and work from home instead.

I came to my decision last night and decided to sleep on it one more night and respond this morning.  As I was about to respond to the offer I received an order for a Custom Paper Lantern Balloon Mobile.

I jumped up and down with excitement, the order needed to be filled and mailed today.  A rush job.  Before starting I sent a response to my would be boss, in which he replied, "Bummer".  Then seconds later I received a second order Custom Lighted Paper Lantern Mobile.

It was like I had been sent an invisible letter saying, "If you respond to 7 people within the next 24 hours fortune will smile upon you."

Fortune smiled upon me today and I wanted to share with you.  Speaking of sharing here are my two new items.

Oh yeah, I was supposed to have something on my needles to share today.  Well, that's something that is still on my list.  My life almost changed this week; well I guess it kind of did.  I made the decision to stay at home with Max, and make my dreams.  I hope you like them.

Where did last week go?

Before I knew it, today was Tuesday.  I try to post a new blog every Friday, looks like I missed last week.  Things have been busy around here.  We have an offer on our house and an offer in on the next.  If everything keeps moving it looks like we will be moving September 16th!  

Here's the short of it:

Last week consisted of house hunting, inspections, cooking, cleaning, packing, playing with Max, and spending summer time with my currently at home husband.

And I made a quilt!

Etsy Link for Custom Quilt Order

A friend and former student of my husband's placed and order with me last week.  There is a new addition to her family and she and her father decided to order a personalized infant quilt.

 

Apparently they really enjoyed two blankets I made for my son, Max. We worked together and came up with their special blanket. I really like it! If it looks a little familiar that is probably because some of the fabric was used in my first quilt ever! 

I still have the handmade quilt my paternal grandmother made for me. Sadly I have already packed it, so I am unable to share it at the moment. Almost 30 years later, I still love it. Once we get into the new house I will unpack and find it all over again.  Since I had never made a quilt before I used my grandmothers quilt as a guide, that and some useful Internet sites. I must also say proudly that I used my maternal grandmother's sewing machine to make Max's quilt.  I still have the machine too, I still use it for special projects or going thru a tough pair of denim. 

The other blanket which inspired my friend was the simple knit blanket I made for Max after he was born, free pattern.  We used the vibrancy and pallet of this blanket combined with the pattern of the first.  Overall I was very happy with this project and I really enjoyed making a quilt again.

Now, on to Knitting...  All of the windows in the house are open, the rain has stopped and I sense the leaves about to change.  September is almost here... Hat Weather!

Check back at the end of the week to see what ends up on my needles!

Hooray for New Ideas!

Paper Lantern Balloon Mobiles

Today I worked on a new mobile design.  I really like it.  I've been thinking about this design for awhile now.  I made something similar when I was first working with lanterns about two years ago.  Mobiles like this one are available for custom order through my store.  Click on the link listed above the picture for this listing.  Or shop my store for more items from janiegirlcrafts.  My husband is off for the next 3 weeks.  So besides packing, I should have some time to start a few new projects before the big move.  Check back next week to see what I come up with.

New Lantern Colors Available!

Since I have had over 2200 hits on my Lighted Paper Lantern Mobiles in the past week I was inspired to add a few new colors!

janiegirlcrafts now features 16 colors!

White
Chocolate Brown

Ivory

Grey

Violet

Plum

Yellow

Orange
Pink
Pale Pink
Chartreuse
Grass Green

Spring Green

Teal

Turquoise

Robin Egg

This weekend was quite wonderful.  For those people who don't know my house has been on the market for the past few months.  This weekend we excepted an offer.  We plan to move during September.  I will keep everyone posted in case the shop closes for that time.

I also had a few custom item orders to fill this weekend.  A lovely Chartreuse and Chocolate Brown Light Paper Lantern and a Little Boy Gift Set.

While I was busy working on all of the new lantern colors I was inspired to make a few new mobiles to go with the Baby Bird Sets I have on my ETSY Page.

Check them out!

Baby Bird Essential Set

Robin Egg and Turquoise Mobile

Check back later for more exciting news and new listings!