The Craft Sale

Last year my sister and I were talking about how it would be kind of fun to put a table in at a craft sale. The more we talked about it, the more excited we got about it. So much so that we actually decided to do it. And then for the next 6 months we did more talking about it then sewing. The lists we made were very impressive! I think the biggest problem was that we didn't know where to start. We didn't know what people would be looking for, or even if they would like our stuff. But as the day drew closer we stopped worrying about it and got to work, otherwise our table would have been pretty empty!

For the most part, we stuck with what we knew - baby blankets! My sister made other baby related items such as car seat covers, toy giraffes, and receiving blankets. I made a couple of simple card table playhouses, fleece throws and bags. We also made bath salts (they were a big hit!), sugar scrub and recipe-in-a-jar mixes.

On Pintrest I saw a picture of a strawberry purse, and it didn't look too complicated, so I drew up a pattern, and made a few.

I had the purple fish fleece throw that I made a while back, and I made another one in blue. I also made a couple more ladybugs. I love these throws! I recently came across a few more fleece throw patterns and I hinted to my husband that perhaps they would make a good Christmas present!

I really wanted to make some card table playhouses because I think they are so great. My kids love the one in our basement. As a matter of fact I tried to take it down the other day to clean up the basement and my almost 2 year old daughter wouldn't let me! I wouldn't have had time to make actual houses like I did before, so I was glad when someone (maybe my husband?) came up with the idea of using camo fabric and making forts. I happened across some pink camouflage, and then got some regular green/brown camouflage. It was definitely my husbands idea - I remember now!

I also made some hobo lunch sacks, of course! The pattern is by Gingercake and it was used with permission. My mom told me that my littlest sister wanted one for her birthday, so she got to pick her's first.

And here are the other ones - sorry about the awful picture! I was in a rush!

And some tote bags. These are so handy!

I also sold the three baby blankets I made in the spring.

It sure didn't seem like I had much stuff, but when put together with my sister's stuff then tables sure filled up fast!

The craft sale was a month ago, and it was Thursday to Saturday. We discovered 3 days was a little long for a small city. (Especially when you are sitting beside the arcade games with the repetitive music!) They first day was the busiest, the next 2 were quite a bit slower. Overall we did really well, considering we had no idea what we were doing! Some things that we were sure would sell didn't, and other things that we were positive wouldn't sell did, so I guess you never know. You just have to wait for the right person to come by. We were very happy with how our crafts went over. It definitely was a confidence builder. We received so many nice comments - one lady actually said our sewing skills were "magnificent"! I wouldn't go that far, but we did have nice stuff! And a little different from the rest of the tables, which I think helped draw people in.


Would we do it again? Probably, but if we did I think we would try to find a one day sale, perhaps in a busier center and see if that would make a difference. And start preparing a little sooner!

A Playhouse For The Birthday Girl!

I wanted to make my daughter a card table playhouse for her birthday. I though it would be the perfect gift - it can be taken down and put away, if need be, and it can be enjoyed for years by everyone. I made one once before so I knew what I was getting myself into! This time, fortunately, I gave myself a little more time and had more ideas of how to decorated it. Once again, I only used fabric from my stash.


The outside walls:

The inside walls:


The pot on the stove and the oven are pockets so she can cook, and the fridge has two pockets, as well, that open to the side.

There is a pocket in the chair for her dolls to sit in.

The boys wanted to contribute some art work, so I gave them some fabric crayons and they coloured some very nice pictures. The top on is a "maze" so I framed it, the other I made into a toy box.

The dresser drawers are pockets and the bed has a pocket too!

All sewn together:

Raggedy Ann is taking a nap!

And sitting in the arm chair.

It was a lot of sewing, but I got it done *just* in time for her birthday. She's not the only one who enjoys it though, her brothers are in and out of there all the time too!

It will be so much fun to take outside too! I'm very much looking forward to spring!

The Card Table Playhouse

Last summer I came across a picture of a card table playhouse on Pintrest.

Such an adorable idea for a little girl! I immediately decided I simply had to make one for my little niece. I thought if I started it now I could easily get it done by Christmas, and I would only use the scrap and extra fabric I had on hand. That part made my husband very happy! So I asked my brother and sister-in-law if they had a little table that would work for such a project. I think they were a little confused as to what I wanted, and I decided that they didn't have a table. So I put the idea on hold until I could figure out a solution to the no table problem.

Until 3 weeks before Christmas. So very typical of me! Still didn't have a table, still determined to make it, still looking for ideas. I had come across another idea which used tension rods in the hallway to hold up a playhouse but I liked the card table idea better. So I called up my mom and it turns out they had a card table they never use! Problem solved!

Then I googled card house playhouses. I didn't realize they could be so detailed! They have an inside and a outside! That is when I realized I should have started back in August like I had planned. With only a couple weeks to get it done I knew I had to make it fairly simple or I'd never get it done in time for Christmas. My husband was working evenings so after the kids went to bed I got to work. I finished it Christmas Eve morning!

Christmas was at my house, so the plan was for my parents to bring the table but unfortunately they didn't have room for it. We had to set the playhouse up on some chairs for my niece :)



I was promised pictures so I could see what it looked like set up, and I just got them today!

The outside - the mail box opens,



every girl needs a flower garden,



and an apple tree!



and being a farm girl I knew she would want her own sheep!



The inside - pockets to hide her treasures,





a cozy fireplace with a family portrait,



and a teddy bear of course!



My niece loves it!









It turned out so well I'll have to make another one! There are so many different ideas, and I still have lots of fabric to use up!

Our Summer Projects

We had quite the list of project to complete this summer, and thanks to two of my brothers, the major ones can now be cross off! It started out with building bunk beds for our boys. I thought I had a good picture but I don't, so you will just have to believe me when I say they are amazing! My bro drew up plans and within 24 hours - minus the staining - they were done! Complete with stairs at the end. The boys love them.

Then in preparation for what became Project #3 we had to tear down our old shed and build another one in a different location. Believe it or not, it was the shingling that took the most time - because my brothers left that up to us! It took us a couple weeks to get at it; they would have had it done in 10 minutes!

Moving on to Project #3 - a play structure for the boys. A ship. Quite ambitious, I agree, but it was made possible by my brothers who were more then willing to help build it. Barely even a challenge for them since they started building forts as soon as they were old enough to swing a hammer. Their forts consisted of multiple rooms, sky-walks, underground tunnels and trap doors. No lack of imagination there!! We started building the ship a few weeks ago, and put the last coat of stain on last week. Just need to add glass for the port holes and my brothers want to add a trap door. It turned out great! My boys love it! We got the pattern from Creative Homeowers - Ultimate Guide to Kid's Play Structures and Tree Houses.