db By Design: Shop Update

Erasable Activity Books

Have you seen these before???

        

They are fully equipped with erasable pages, two washable markers, an eraser, a pocket in the bag to hold markers and eraser, velcro closure to keep it all together, cute fabric so your always playing in style.

There two options of replacing the Hangman Page with a lined page. If you would prefer a lined page, just let me know! :)

These also work well with washable crayons (I've only tried the Crayola brand of both crayons and markers). These can also be fully hand washed (lay flat to dry). And the eraser can be popped in the washing machine.

I have a few, 9 to be exact, that I am about half way finished with. I decided to go ahead and add them to my shop if anyone would like to snatch them up! They won't take too long to finish up and mail out, but please allow up to 2 weeks at the most.

Here are the fabric choices that I have available right now:

                 

(the second picture from the top, with the red and white squares, flowers, owl, etc. will have a back pocket as in the last activity book picture with the crayons)

You can find them in my shop here.

Once these are gone, I'll make some more. Last time I took custom orders from the beginning and let people choose their own fabric, so I'll probably do that again. I'll let you know.

I also have a few mug rugs if you haven't seen them yet, as well as some more bags on the way! :)

Thanks for stopping by! :)

These activity books are 100% my creation. Do not copy or reproduce any part of these in any way. Thanks!

Made It: Sometimes "someday" is closer than you think, plus a quick DIY thimble

I have been on a role. I posted some projects last week of some things I want to make someday. Well, I've already made two of them, plus another project I've been wanting to do for a while now.


First project checked off:
Stuffed Animal Net: I found the tutorial over at A Lemon Squeezy Home and it looked so easy I whipped one right up! And it really was easy. I didn't have the color of bias tape that I wanted to use, so I made my own with scraps of fabric I had lying around. It kind of made it a little... not as perfect, plus I think I stretched the fabric a little more than I ought to have while sewing it, but it looks good and I love having it! My boys seem to like it too! :)

Next project:
A needle book. I keep losing my embroidery needles in my pin cushion, and thus have been wanting one of these for a long time. My MIL gave me this cute book for Christmas,  Sew, So Cute!  and it had a pattern for one of these in it. I didn't make it quite as cute or ornamental as in the book, but using the basic instructions, came up with my own design. Super quick = a wonderful project! I put two layers of felt in it, which I think is silly now that I'm done since I can only find two of my needles. But I know I have more needles somewhere... Maybe one day I'll find them and get them put away in their new home. :)

 

And finally:
Hunter hasn't been napping as often lately and the other day was super bored so we decided to make these awesome Monster Pillows (found at Ruffles and Stuff). I let him use the scissors a little bit, and pick out the colors, but mostly he just wanted to play with the paper. I still need to sew it closed, and just printing the features out at normal size is too small, so I need to go back and enlarge them so they are more proportionate, but otherwise it's a super quick and fun project and I think the boys will have a lot of fun with it! Even though they're small. :)

On the note of the needle book, I wanted to share a quick project that I made up and LOVE! It is my new favorite Thimble! That's right, super easy and super lame, but let me tell you, it is way better, and way more comfortable, than those awful metal thimbles that don't fit on your fingers.

 Ugly, but sometimes beauty doesn't matter. The lady at the quilt store told me once that wool actually helps to add moisture back into your skin, unlike cotton. So the first step, get a scrap of wool. :) For protection I used some thick vinyl or fake leather or something. I don't even know exactly what it is. Anyway get two scraps of something thick that a needle won't go through. I sewed two layers together just for added protection. I folded that wool and figured out where I needed my pads to be and sewed them onto the wool. Then with the wool folded in half, sew the sides wide enough apart that your finger will fit in it.  And voila! You now have a ghetto an awesome, and comfortable new thimble! :)


Wow! It's so nice to get things done and out of the way. :) Now I'm working on finishing items for my shop that I started ages ago but never got around to finishing. I love tackling this big pile of unfinished business. ;) Of course that means that Mabel's quilt is on hold, but after burning myself with the iron, I don't feel like ironing right now, so I don't mind. :)

Jacks also wanted to say hi! :)

Links:

Stuffed Animal Net: http://alemonsqueezyhome.blogspot.com/2011/02/stuffed-animal-net-tutorial.html

Monster Pillow: http://www.rufflesandstuff.com/2011/02/celebrating-boys_28.html

db By Design: Camera Pocket Pattern Giveaway

I've been working on a pattern of my Camera Pocket to add to my Etsy Shop. Besides the very few patterns I have done on my blog, I really don't have much experience with making patterns that are comprehensible by anyone but myself. (I make my own patterns all the time, but who know if they make any sense. lol)

I have taken a LOT of pictures, and have gone through the pattern multiple times and I think it's finished.

Before I start selling it, I want to make sure that it is not something that people are going to purchase and just end up being frustrated with. How to do that???

Giveaway is now closed. A Giveaway!! :)

Yup, I am going to give away TWO FREE patterns for TWO Awesome people to test out. 

Before I tell you how to enter, I want to make sure that you know that I am requiring specific feedback from you. That means you're actually going to have to try it. (And please do so sooner rather than later so I can make adjustments and get it added to my shop). If you don't want to give any feedback, please don't enter this one. ;) sorry. 

Here's how to enter:

First, follow my blog. If you are not a follower, I'll pick someone else.

Then leave 1 COMMENT with your name and a way to contact you, 

PLUS in the same comment, let me know what your favorite thing to take pictures of is.
(if you don't want to leave your email in the comments, you can email it to me at dbByDesign@gmail.com - but still leave a comment here and let me know.) :)

And that's it! :)

I will pick a winner in 1 week.

I will contact the winner to confirm an email address so I can send you a pdf pattern,

along with a short questionnaire.

Please try and get back to me (with the questions) within about a week or so.

Thanks!