shop update!

Sorry to have left this space neglected for so long! This summer it has seemed that there has been so many things to do and not enough time in the day to get them all done! I am happy to have FINALLY updated my website with current products--I'm not sure how many more weeks I'll be able to do the Artist Market before little baby makes her appearance, so I wanted to be sure to have my online shop ready to go. Plus having a new camera to take product photos makes the job a little more exciting too!

Here's a little peek at what is for sale at the moment...

xo CBB

save-the-date

This year is shaping up to be quite an eventful one--in addition to the excitement of having our little one on the the way-- we are also planning our wedding! Luckily it is not until June of next year, so I have time to be figuring out all the details. We have chosen our date and booked our venue (a BIG first step) so I went ahead and made save-the-dates!

I knew that I wanted them to fun and festive (like our summery wedding will be!) so I started out by picking out a fun palette of colors. I got this book and knew that I would be using some of my calligraphy skills. I wrote out save the date in calligraphy and then cleaned it up on the computer using Illustrator and printed them out to fit into little glassine envelopes along with some confetti. I made the confetti with a hole punch and it was somehow a little less fun than I remember it being as a child (let's just say my hand was not too happy about this step). I then made little seals to close the envelopes with using a much friendlier paper punch and little strips of decorative paper that I cut. Then I put the whole fun little package into bigger envelopes made from decorative paper. I got an envelope punch board for this task and I must say that it might be my new favorite tool! Then I printed out addresses (without names) onto vellum and got out my calligraphy pen once more to add names. I sent these handmade address labels through my Xyron sticker maker and stuck them on the envelopes with a stamp and sent them on their merry way. Although there were a number of steps to complete them--it was a really fun project--plus I spread it out over three days so that it stayed fun (and not drudgery!). It definitely helps that we are having a small wedding and I only had to craft 35 of them!

There will be many more fun wedding projects that I look forward to sharing on this blog! I'm gearing up to make paper flowers and of course there will be sewing my dress and a number of other fun things that I can't wait to get making!
xo CBB

handmade for baby: miniature wardrobe for...

little baby GIRL! I've been busy at my sewing machine ever since I found out that I'm having a baby girl. Which has, of course, inspired me to start sewing dresses!

I started by making an itty bitty baby dress (pattern from Made by Rae) I decided to make it out of some organic cotton jersey and I added a little placket to the front, complete with rick rack and tiny red buttons. I also made the skirt like a bubble skirt because my fabric was quite lightweight.

Next, I moved onto another Made by Rae pattern--the Geranium Dress! I also drafted a peter pan collar to add onto this soft corduroy number. Oh, and I couldn't resist adding little contrasting orange snaps to the back.

While on a roll with dressmaking, I drafted a pattern for a yellow knit dress with long sleeves. To add a little detail, I made a striped button placket in the front, also making it easier to get on/off.

All of this dressmaking made in sizes newborn-3 months, got me thinking about what to pair these outfits with. The result: Just Hatched Leggings with heart knee patches made out of a dreamy wool interlock. Then I remembered I had another pair of Monkey Leggings (from One-Yard Wonders) cut out, but not yet sewn together. I got right to stitching up them up! I stenciled the grey fabric with little white clouds, and decided on green for the bum gusset.

If all of this sewing wasn't quite enough, I moved onto two more little newborn sized projects: a sleeper with little strawberries and a polka dot dress! I found this free pattern for the sleeper and which then inspired me to draft the dress pattern. The strawberry knit fabric on the sleeper sleeves is my favorite (a Heather Ross design).

xo CBB
p.s. see more little works in progress on my instagram

more fun with paper

While I've had my paper crafting supplies out, I couldn't resist a few projects just for fun...

Tutorial for the bunnies here.

If only the weather would get on board with my springy crafting---it snowed here again last night. I'm so ready for it to be green!

xo CBB