Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Another Quick Christmas Project and the Winner of the Briar Hat!

Hello Everyone! I hope you all are having a great week! So, I have been in project mode lately and after finishing up the pillows got to work on the burlap stockings, which I have pictures of posted below. First, though, I want to say thanks for all your sweet comments and e-mails about the pillows. They seriously were incredibly easy to do and I think only took me about an hour or so. I LOVE blogs that give tutorials. In fact, I am addicted to them - haha! If I had any clue as to what I was doing I would do tutorials for when I do easy projects like that. We have been asked before about that and the reason I haven't done them isn't because I don't want to. I love sharing ideas. I get so inspired by so many of you out there and love how so many of you so willingly show how you created things and share your sources -  it is one of my favorite things about discovering "blogland" - and certainly never would mind showing you how we did something. However, I normally am just "winging it" and making do as I go so I am not sure I would be very good at doing a tutorial. As my family can attest, whenever I am trying to explain something to them or they are trying to explain a project to me we often just end up exasperatedly saying "I will just SHOW you next time I see you" seeing how describing a project is not one of our areas of expertise! I do plan on making a few more of them and if I do I will try to take pictures as I go and maybe attempt to do a tutorial, but only if I can make it make sense and not sound completely stupid! For those who wondered what font it was - it really was just my handwriting - I didn't look at anything and just swirled as I went. I think you could get a stencil at Michael's or some other craft store, though and easily get the same effect and it would probably look a lot neater!

Monday night before I got to work on my Dear Lillie sewing I decided to make some new stockings. I wanted to make a new one for the baby and figured why not make some new ones for all of us. I had gotten some burlap for $3.99  a yard and a few buttons to play around with. I used an old stocking to trace out on the burlap and then cut out five sets of stockings. (I messed up on the first one so figured I would use that for an extra one and cut out four more). As soon as I started sewing Lillie woke up - arghhh! Poor thing has been sick a bunch lately. She had strep throat a couple of weeks ago and was finally better from that and came down with a horrible cold which has made sleeping impossible for her. Anyway, she was so stuffed and we couldn't get her to calm down and breathe so we just let her come downstairs for a bit. She, of course, wanted to "help". That is her new favorite phrase, "Help please, Mommy?" So, Lillie actually helped sew these. I let her press the "button", as she called it, on the sewing machine and away we went. After she helped sew the burlap together we put her back to bed and made the ruffles. I had a lot of Etsy work to do that night, though and picked up after that and then finished up last night by attaching the ruffles and buttons and then Lillie helped this afternoon when we put them on the mantle so we could take a few photos. She seemed very excited that she had helped make them! Once I put them up for real in a couple of weeks I will take some pictures where you can see the whole mantel. It definitely was another quick and easy project and I think it took me about two hours total to do the five stockings. But here they are for now:

I am a bit unsure about the bow. I think I like it but can't decide. I made two of these.

 And this one is a bit simpler. I made two of these as well. I am thinking about adding a little vintage lace to the bottom but again am not sure. I figure I have a couple of weeks to decide before I put them up for real.

Close-up of the first one. I intentionally did not hem the ruffles. I love the frayed look especially with something ruffley. I think it keeps it from looking to "frou-frou"...okay I have no idea how to spell that! Is it "fru-fru", "frou-frou"....? I guess it is probably a made-up word anyway! Oh well!

And here they all are! I can't believe we are going to be a family of four! (I am hoping someday we will be a family of seven or eight - haha - Jon hates when I say that but I really would love to have 5 or 6 kids......someday, not any time soon!)

And here is the extra one that I messed up when I was cutting. In the end I think it ended up being my favorite, though!



And now for the winner of the Briar Hat:

 

Congratulations and thanks so everyone who entered!
 We will be hosting another giveaway soon so be sure to check back!

Also, we are just one sale away from 1000 sales on Etsy!
(As many of you who have Etsy shops know, that is actually not an accurate number as it doesn't count when people buy in quantities or custom orders that have multiple items in one listing, so we actually hit that mark several months ago, but it is still exciting to see that number up there!) Whoever that person is will get an extra little gift with their order!

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week. William and Mary has their first basketball game on Friday against UVA so we will be headed up to Charlottesville for the game. We are so excited. Go Tribe!


48 comments:

  1. Is the extra stocking your way of telling us you're having twins?

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  2. Haha - your a funny one, Jas! Oh and by the way - the sharpie bleeds into the fabric and dries so if you happen to come visit during the holidays the backs of your shirts will indeed be safe!

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  3. yes! i now know what to do with my burlap! off to rip apart an old, ugly stocking!!!1

    i too love blogland and its tutorials!!!!

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  4. ~**~Love the stockings!! And congrats to the lucky winner!Hugs,Rachel~*~*

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  5. Love those-they are perfect for your decor!

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  6. Ok, Your home or that living room is Amazing. Oh my goodness. and those pis of the girls... and oh those burlap stockings, im so trying it..

    LOVE it All.Glad to be a new follower..

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  7. I LOVE the stockings! Definitely leave the bows :) Great job!

    ~Kiri

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  8. Just discovered your blog this week and O M G! First let me say you have the most beautiful daughter and second you have talent coming out of every pore. I love, love, love these stockings and might try my hand at making ours this year. I've been using stockings I got a couple of years ago from Ballards and they are pretty but I love the texture of these combined with the ruffle and bow.

    Hugs!
    Judy

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  9. also just found your blog. and i love it. everything about it. and i will for sure be copying you with the burlap stockings.

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  10. I think I need to look for some burlap! these are beautiful. I vote for the bow!

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  11. Beautiful!! They turned out great!! I wish I had time for sewing and crafting...I miss it! For now I will just enjoy seeing the great things everyone else makes on my fave blogs! Maybe one day I'll have the time and space to pick my crafting materials up again! Thanks for sharing your cute projects!

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  12. The stockings are beautiful, and so sweet Lillie helped you "make" them. Love her!! Cannot wait to see what you create next. xoxo

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  13. do you sell these? they are gorgeous!

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  14. visiting from tatertots & jello ~ LOVE the stockings!!

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  15. visiting from t and J blog. Love the stockings. your pics are gorgeous, gorgeous kids.

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  16. I just came across your site from Tatertots and Jello and I LOVE this! I will be following you from now on; I just love everything!

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  17. Those stockings are gorgeous!

    (I'm here from Tatertots & Jello)

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  18. Sorry if this is posting twice (or three times...)! My browser and/or internet is acting up.
    Came from TT&J as well, and I must say that I love your photos, I love your stockings, and I love LOVE love the photo of your girl in the hat pushing the buggy/stroller/thing. Seriously, I am a little overwhelmed with how sophisticated and well-done your whole life appears in the couple of posts that I've seen. My husband and I will be hanging stockings for the first time this year now that we have a little one. He banned the stockings that I had growing up, and I've been looking for alternatives. The burlap with a bit of femininity is so sweet.

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  19. burlap stockings - brilliant! love them.

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  20. I made burlap stockings last year, but mine aren't nearly as cute as yours! Might need to unpick them and add the ruffles! Love it. I'm a new follower, I want to win some of your stuff from Tatertots and Jello! Please oh please! -Kelsee

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  21. These are gorgeous! I'm so impressed with what you get done during naps. I'm curious what kind of camera and lenses you use? Your pictures (esp. the outdoor shots of Lillie) are really gorgeous.

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  22. I love those stockings! So adorable! The ruffles are so cute.

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  23. I just became a follower, I don't know why I didn't do it before since I love your etsy shop! I am visiting from tatortots and Jello! I love your blog and I love the tutu I just bought from you! I am going to order some shirts next! Keep bring the adorable craft and goodies, I love it!

    xoxox
    Kelli @
    loveoursimplelife.blogspot.com

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  24. It is all so fabulous I can’t say that enough!! Love the shirts, the house and the children!

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  25. I love your stuff, not gonna lie!
    Heidi @ http://everydayfamilies.blogspot.com/

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  26. these stockings are absolutely gorgeous! I love them! :)

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  27. OMG - I LOVE the stockings, they are just beautiful!

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  28. visiting from tatertots and jello.....but now may be a new follower!!! :) Clever ideas!!!

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  29. Saw you over at Tatertots and Jello. I gotta tell ya, I LOVE your stuff!!!

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  30. VIsiting from Tatertots and Jello, but after looking at this post, I'm going to be a new follower! :)

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  31. LOVE ALL YOUR STUFF!!
    VISITING FROM TT&J.

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  32. Burlap sure is hot right now, huh? Very cute stockings!

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  33. seriously adorable stockings. i love that "mess-up" with the buttons!

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  34. Hopping over from tatortots and jello. I love how all the stockings look hanging together. At first I thought I preferred the button ones, but when they are all together they look amazing!

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  35. Absolutely adorable stockings! I love them!

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  36. Love the stockings!The burlap looks so cute.

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  37. Crystalbrew@fuse.netNovember 11, 2010 at 8:16 PM

    Hi! Coming over from Tatertots nd Jello giveaway. I have been here many tmes and I love love everything here. I want you to decorate my home and make my wardrobe. My favorites are the adeline dress, vintage crown tee and fairyland little girl silhouette. PICK ME!

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  38. You have a very chic style. I love it! I'm over here from Tatertots and jello.

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  39. I came over from Tatertots and Jello! Looking forward to reading more of your blog!

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  40. Stopping by through TT& J, very cute stuff.

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  41. you are so talented. thank you so much for sharing your talent :)

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  42. I love the ruffle/bow stocking!

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  43. I love them! Both of them! I am working on my own burlap stockings for Christmas, since its my favorite fabric to work with! Thanks for sharing!

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  44. Saw you over at Tatertots & Jello...love your blog! I'm going to make our stockings this year too...thanks for the great ideas ~ just became a follower!

    Kaitlyn @ The Birds Nest
    http://nestdecorator.blogspot.com

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  45. I also saw you on Tatertots and Jello, and I loved your shop! Those stockings are lovely! I wish I wasn't so allergic to burlap, lol. It makes me wheeze and itch just looking at it, but it sure does make some beautiful things :)

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  46. I really love the stockings. Do you sell your stuff? I am not talented so there is no way I can replicate them. Let me know how much it would cost for 5 stockings two girls, three boys, if you sell. Thanks.
    Elena- anelemarta@yahoo.com

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    1. Thanks so much, Elena! We do sell them. You can find the quilted ones here: http://www.dearlillie.com/product/quilted-burlap-stocking and the ruffled ones here: http://www.dearlillie.com/product/ruffled-burlap-stocking. They sell out pretty quickly but we will be continuing to restock them through Christmas as they are sewn and ready to go. If you would like us to send you an e-mail when they are back in stock just let us know.

      Have a blessed week!

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