Day 14 - Tiny!

Today's prompt was to make something as small as possible. Can you guess what I made? A tiny monkey of course!
The pink socks shows the size socks I use to make the baby sock monkeys, the red monkey is a medium monkey.
What did I learn? Tiny is hard!

Day 12 and 13 - More Monkeys!

Yesterday made Dottie, (the red one on the left). She is the last of her kind, made for a customer. I just completed Ali, the baby pink striped monkey on the right.
I also did inventory of my monkeys and large sock supply. Let's just say I am very motivated to make more monkeys.

Day 11- the Other hand

"choose a medium you are used to working with and create something with your non-dominate hand"
That was today's prompt.
I chose making a tossle, something that is normally quick and easy for me. Thank god I didn't pick something any more complicated. Embroidering left handed is like having to think backwards. Not easy to say the least.

Days 9 and 10 Bodysuits and a Tutu

Yesterday was a day of filling orders, so I screen printed 10 baby bodysuits.

Today I consulted my 365 book and followed the prompt, "use water as your medium or inspiration today"

So I made a tutu. How does that relate to water? Well, the colors purple and blue inspired me to make a 'purple rain' tutu.

Enjoy!!

Day 7 and 8 monkeys and a cake

Day 7 the only thing I made was a cake. Hubby and I had a joint birthday party yesterday, so our family came over to celebrate with us.

Today is day 8. I an just finishing up the second monkey of the day. These took priority because they were customer orders.

Here's a few pics to enjoy.

Day 6 - Curtains!

We have lived in our home for a little over two and a half years. All that time I have had various bits of fabric and blankets covering the windows in our master bedroom. My procrastination was two fold. First, the cost, with 4 windows and a doorway ( between my studio and the bedroom) it was going to be expensive, even if I bought fabric and sewed them myself. Second, what to choose? Blinds, roman shades, curtains. What color, print, solid? And with cost being a factor I figured o had to live with whatever choice I made for a long time. When it comes to decor, I have a fear of commitment.

I finally decided to go very basic, anything would be better than the mismatch crap I had up for over 1 years. So I went an bought super cheap white flat sheets, basic curtain rods and cafe curtain clips. For all 4 windows and the doorway it cost me about $80. And the curtains go almost floor to ceiling. I took the sheets, cut them up the center length wise ( to make 2 panels for each window) and turned and sewed the cut edges for a finished look. I clipped the sheets up and then hot glued them to the rings to help them stay up. ( you can see what I mean in the pics).

So for my day 6 project I give you, finished curtains in my room.

Day 5 - scrappy collection

"what do you collect? Work with a collection of objects you have in your home...."
Well, I collect, sock monkeys, Cinderella, and fabric (though the last one is more like hoard than collect). It's bad people, I can't part with even the scrappiest of scraps. The colors, prints, textures, I just can't throw them out, so I save them. For what? Who knows... Most people would see my collection of bits and strips as trash. My dear mother in law has helped me clean my studio a few times and I am sure she thinks I am nuts when I insist on keeping all the random bits from the last project ( or 6) that I just worked on.

But I have found a fun, quick and easy use for those long, scraggaly bits, rosettes! Just roll and twist and hot glue to a scrap of felt or fleece. So technically I didn't sew or stitch today, but I did make something.

Only trouble is, now I have a collection of these!

Day 4 The Unplan

Today's prompt just didn't speak to me, or fit in my theme of sewing. (take a walk, make something with what you find and leave it). So instead I sketched some ideas for recovering my couch pillows. Because they are ugly, they came with the couch and seem like office waiting room print to me.

Not much more to say, so I'll show you my sketches, feel free to let me know which design you luke best or if they all miss the mark. Lol

Day 3 Sewing paper

Today's prompt was to make something with paper. The catch? Do so without scissors, glue or drawing. Add that to my theme of sewing and what do you get? If you're me, you get decorations for hubby's and my joint birthday party this coming weekend.
I used a Fiskars paper cutter and cut circles then sewed them together.

Day 2 Project 365 the Monkey

Today's prompt was to let my favorite animal inspire my project. Can you guess my favorite animal? If you can't, well, I can't help you.
So without further rambling, I give you Cole.

Day 1 of Project 365

I picked up this book, "365, create something every day" a few weeks ago and decided to start it today. It's my birthday. Part of the project is to share what you have made. In part to have others to cheer you on... So here goes.

The author chose skulls as his theme, I decided to choose sewing/ stitching.
Today's prompt was to make something that fits in your hand using only materials you have on hand.

I designed/ free hand made embroidered peacock inspired earrings.

Distracted

I get distracted alot. Today was one of those days. Thursday is park day with our local Meetup group- so after driving hubby into work we headed to the park. Logan and Finn are loving making new friends- as am I. Stereo typically one would think the moms in my new neighborhood would be stuff stuck up types- but that is SO not the case- infact, the women I have met so far are WAY more laid back and friendly than that of the last Meetup group we were a part of (and got kicked out of for being late). So with it being park day, and the 2nd day in a row thta I got less than 2 hours of un interrupted sleep- I was really unmotivated and highly distracted today. Did you know that the sun comes up at about 4:30AM? It does, and withno blinds and a bedroom that faces east, I have been waking up to it lately-not good when I am up working until 2 AM.

So I plan to go to bed sonner tonight and be more productive tomorrow- maybe even have more monkes to show you. Until then- enjoy this Sunrise picture.

More Monkeys!

No I don't mean the kind that inspired my name, the 3 monkeys I have running around the house are enough for me. (at least for now... ) I mean my new Sleepy Monkey Blanket. I am so in love with this fabric. The monkeys are in their pjs sleeping on the clouds. Could it get any cuter? I have already made up 3 blankets, and cut quilt squares (shh , I just started quilting and you will soon see some of that in my shop) - Now to decide, more blankets, or matching lounge pants? I would love to hear what you all think. Check it out and be on the look out for more that I have in the works.

Later- Mama

A new Product in Bloom

Ah finally, my new addiction has made it's way onto my website. i have been making tutus for awhile now, I sold a ton of them at shows last year, but I never get around to posting them online. I have lots of excuses, like.. I tend not to make more than one of same, I suck at taking pictures of them, etc. but I finally did it. Mostly because a house full of boys and my passion for pretty puffy tutu making just doesn't mix. I am being overrun by my tulle creations, and since I get looked at funny if I myself wear a tutu, and my hubby made me swear not to let the boys wear them.... I had only one choice, to sell them and let pretty pixies out in the world enjoy them. So below you will find a few in my Etsy shop- I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Striking a Balance....and shaking things up.

Why is it so hard to do? For me it seems I am always attempting a balancing act. Whether it be between the kids and hubby, dishes or down time, work and play... and as a business owner who works at home there really seems to be endless juggling around my house. Always feeling torn between work and family, marketing or making meals, promoting or play time, dishes or data entry, laundry or labor, cuddling or computing. Add to that being an artist and your really torn, because not only am I juggling work and family- I have to juggle work and creativity too- and when there are bills that need paying- creative time can get pushed to the back burner (you know the one, something boiled over a few weeks ago and instead of cleaning it you just avoid using it). That is where I find my self lately. I started this little business to satisfy my need to be creative (and make the occasional dress since I have 3 boys)- I have been fortunate enough to to well enough that hubby stopped calling it just a hobby and we now have come depend on my income as well. But lost in that is the creative outlet I started it for. I NEED to have creative time, about as much as I need the money- I can't explain it, but other artists will understand- life can have a way of getting blah without it. I am bored with myself and my shop. So I find myself needing to carve out that time, and get back to why I started this little company. I am not sure what I will be making- but be sure I have TONS of ideas- hopefully I will be posting them soon- if not, someone please scold me and push me toward the sewing machine.
Now off now to rinse the bleach out of my hair - just step one in getting creative again....

The monkey blogs!

I have jumped on the blogging bandwagon, and having polled all my cool friends, discovered this is the place to be.

I won't tell you about the ten diapers I changed today - or the runny noses I wiped - or how I chased after two of my little monkeys who were not well today...

I'll spare you those details and just show you some of the cool new designs I've been working on: baby tees with additude!

You know you want one! To see more of the fun ideas I come up with, just check out my Etsy shop, mamamonkey. I have another 70+ designs, with more added almost daily!