Avery's "Aviary" Birthday

I decided that I was not going to stress over Avery's first birthday party. We had some family and a couple of friends over to celebrate. Everything was PINK!

I stayed up the night before baking about forty cupcakes in chocolate fudge, vanilla, and strawberry flavors with buttercream frosting. Yum! 

Bird and owl cupcake toppers. I love these so much!

The owl is my favorite. 

Milk and pink lemonade for refreshments.

Fingerprint feathers. Each guest stamped and initialed their "feather." What a great keepsake! 

My birthday girl and me (trying unsuccessfully to duck out of the picture!)

I love them more than life! 

She texts. This was my first knotted tutu and I'll definitely be making more. Such a mindlessly fun thing to work on while watching T.V.

The rat pack. 

And now for the cupcake mashing/eating progression:

Tutorial: Little Swan Rosette Clip

 I have one of those big, clear plastic thingies with drawers that is filled with miscellaneous craft stuff. Patterns, shirts, lace, buttons, beads, fabric markers, ribbon (from my bow-making fail), elastic, etc. etc. etc. etc. literally bulging out of the drawers. I just can't throw craft stuff away or anything that maybe, just maybe, could be crafted into something else. I just can't.

Every once in a while I dig through this trove when I'm a feeling a little uninspired or bored or whatever. I found my giant box of alligator clips leftover from the aforementioned epic bow fail and a few other odds and ends and decided to make this little clippie. I call it the Little Swan Rosette. 

My craft drawer is now only a smidgen lighter and it will probably always be bulging at the seams. Well, that is until I get around to staging one of those fab craft room redo's that I see everywhere! In other words, never.

Avery is walking like a champ these days too. Soon there will be epic games of tag played in the loop around our bottom level. I can see it now and I can't wait! Now onto the tutorial!

Little Swan Rosette Clip

You will need:

(1x) 3" Felt Circle

(1x) 1" Felt circle

(1x) Alligator Clip

(4x) 3" Fabric Circle

(4x) 3" Tulle circles

(1x) Gem

(1x) 14" Piece lace trim

Thread

Sewing Machine or needle for hand-stitching

Hot glue gun

1. Notch your lace ribbon and pin it around the edge of your 3" felt circle. Sew and trim off any excess.

2. Fold two pieces of tulle and two pieces of your other fabric in quarters and trim the edges as pictured:

Still folded in quarters, pin them, alternating, around the base your circle. 

3. Sew them down at the points. 

4. Add another layer in the same manner but alternate but placing your main fabric on top of the tulle and tulle on top of the main fabric. 

4. Sew them down at the points. 

5. Glue the gem in the center. 

6. Stick your 1" felt piece in between the prongs of the alligator clip and glue it to one side.

7. Glue your clippie to the small piece of felt and be forever fabulous!

Or cute or whatever your thing is.

The Twelve Months of Avery

I'm a [Felt] Foodie

I remember looking at adorable felt food since Sawyer was a wee little baby. I don't know why it took me so long to attempt it.

Well actually, I do know why. It looks so intricate and time consuming and I don't have patience for that sort nonsense! Not to mention it involves sewing by hand which is not my forte. But one of Sawyer's favorite games lately has been "Restaurant" and how cute would it be for him to make me, his #1 customer, a delish faux ham sandwich?

Very cute indeed.

Even the baby can appreciate a good deli sandwich. She kept pretending to take little bites and chew it up before offering me a taste! Adorbs!

I'm coaxing him to smile and pretend he's taking a bite. He does not like this idea one bit.

Our little bistro also features ravioli...

...and sushi!

Sawyer is hard at work in the kitchen. Little strips of cut felt make perfect marinara!

Best buds enjoying a chat and some great [felt] eats! 

*By the way, I totally plan on posting tutorials/patterns for these so stay tuned!