MiaMoo Designs Boutique Coming Soon!

I have decided to pass on the Etsy shop for now, and create a MiaMoo Designs Boutique Blog instead where I will post the things I'm selling with prices.  I'd like to see how that goes first-plus its free :)  I've linked it to my sidebar-but I don't have anything for sale just yet, and haven't really designed a header yet.  It's a work in progress, but I think it will be easier for my readers and anyone interested in my designs to see what is for sale in an organized way with prices, etc.  I can't tell you how many times I've had people see Mia or Hayden wearing something I've made and ask if I have a website so they can see what I have to choose from.  Even though I post all my designs on this blog, its not really in a format that is easy for someone that is looking to buy a particular item.  I'm just curious, if I were to make up some dresses/skirts to post for sale, what sizes would any of you be interested in?  Tiny baby? Toddler? 5T?  I was thinking of making some items that are good for baby shower gifts such as nursing covers, burp cloth sets, diaper caddies, dresses, appliqued onesies, along with my hair accessories for all ages. What do you think? If there is anything you've seen that you would like me to make again and post, please let me know. As for now, its all kind of a guessing game! I have paypal now, so I can just email you an invoice :)

Secret Santa Gifts and Stocking Stuffers

I had so much fun this year making all these gifts!  I am debating if I should start an etsy shop in 2011. What do you think? Those of you with etsy shops, has it been worth it?  It seems like I've heard they charge per post, per sale, and a portion goes to pay pal as well. How does one make money then?  I finally got pay pal set up, so if there is anything you see on this blog that you like, I can send you a pay pal invoice.  I just bought these mustard and brown flowers in California and just love them. I have more!  I also just stocked up on Amy Butler fabric today at a local fabric store :) It was all on sale for $5 a yard plus 10% off my ENTIRE order! I can't wait to use it.  Anyway, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the whole etsy thing! Thanks :)

Merry Christmas!!!

This afternoon we spent quite a bit of time outside riding my longboard together.  I went to school in Hawaii and didn't have a car, so I used to ride this skateboard to school.  Lately I've been riding it along side of Mia while she rides her bike.  Today Hayden wanted to join in on the fun, so Luvah took some pictures to capture some fun memories.  I love Mia's face in this shot! Do you like my nerdy Christmas socks?  LOL, I didn't mean for them to show, but it's Christmas Eve so I guess Christmas socks are in order :)

A Quick Personalized Stocking and Centerpiece for Under $5

Remember I said I wasn't sure what I was going to do about Luvah's stocking this year?  I decided just to buy him a cheap one at The Dollar Tree and iron on some velour letters I got from WalMart last year.  So cheap and pretty good for a guy's stocking, right?

Alissa from 33 Shades of Green had a great idea for centerpieces.  I think she used fresh cranberries for hers, but I have these red berries in my back yard so I used those.  Mine isn't quite as pretty as hers, but it will do.  I bought the glass container at The Dollar tree and the gold floating candles at Micheals.  The floating candles were $3.99 but you get a bunch.  Considering I spent about $5 total for both these Christmas projects they look pretty good wouldn't you say? :)

So Glad I added the Tulle Tutu!

I went to JoAnn's yesterday and bought the tulle I needed to finish Mia's stocking. I LOVE the way it turned out! It was cute without the tulle, but having a little tutu on top really adds A LOT :)  Now I just need to get going on Hayden's stocking. I'll post that one when I'm done.  Also, I just realized the Mr. doesn't have a stocking. I thought it was at his mom's house, but he reminded me that it got lost a couple years back.  I'm debating if I should make him one or just get one at the Dollar Store this year and make one for him next year. Time is running out and I just received a couple orders I need to finish this week. Wish me luck in getting it all done!

A Few Things I've Been Working On

This year things are pretty tight for us, so I've been working really hard on making Christmas presents for loved ones.  At night I feel like my sewing room has turned into Santa's workshop. However, I'm sure Santa's workshop isn't has cluttered as mine!  For those of you not familiar with Trey & Lucy's blog, she gives a great tutorial on how to make these rosettes.   She even updated with a video tutorial :)

I made this pretty little purple number for my Mia. I think Hayden and I will share it with her, but I'll at least wrap it up for her to open on Christmas.  This is a new design I came up with incorporating silk flowers with Dupioni Silk rosettes. I just love the combo!

Yesterday Mia had her Christmas party at preschool, so I hand stamped these little goodie bags and filled them with Christmas pencils and candy.  I was planning on making sugar cookies and decorating them with candy cane sprinkles, but realized after the girls went to be the night before that I was out of butter so I had to quickly go to plan B. Luckily I had some fun stuff laying around!  I'll make the cookies later :)

Ballerina Slipper Christmas Stocking

This year like I mentioned in a previous post I wanted to make my girls' Christmas stockings.  I've wanted to make a ballerina slipper stocking for a few years now, but haven't been able to find a pattern.  Luckily last month when I was telling my sister inlaw Christy that I wanted to make them for my girls she said that she made ballerina slipper stockings for her girls last year!  She was kind enough to let me trace her stockings.  She drew up the pattern herself. I know super talented right? I changed a few things to make it my own so I wouldn't be a TOTAL copy cat and I'm really happy with the way it turned out.  I still need to find some purple tulle to put along the top of the stocking, but at the moment Mia has the stomach flu and I just haven't had the time. It may have to wait till next year.  I still need to finish Hayden's. I'm doing hers in light pink.  Purple is Mia's favorite color so she was thrilled.  I used swarovski crystals on the toe to glam it up a bit and in the center of the criss crossed ribbon going up the leg.  I hand embroidered the slipper onto the stocking, used my sewing machine to sew the stocking together, and glue gunned the ribbon on. Super easy and fun too!

I've been out of town!

I was in California all last week-sorry I didn't give you any warning!  Our trip started off REALLY hellish!  Our alternator went out in Blythe AKA the middle of nowhere.  Luckily I have a handy hub who was able to put a new one in himself once we got towed to an auto parts store. Our trip home was even more hellish. I came down with the stomach flu in the car. Can you believe it?  Luckily I had a barf bag-I know TMI, so gross!  As if throwing up in the car wasn't bad enough, Hayden screamed the last two hours of the trip.  Needless to say, it's good to be home!  We did however have some fun while we were in California :) We saw Tangled with my mom and sister inlaw Ashley. It was SOOO cute!  My friend Kristy took our pictures-it was such a treat to be on the other end of the lens!  I love the one she got of me with my two girlies.  I took the ones of Hayden (I just couldn't help myself).  I restocked on all my flowers for flower clips, so if you're looking for great stocking stuffers just let me know and I can mail them out next day.  This raspberry one Hayden is wearing is one of my favorites.  I have some pre-made flower clips I made for a holiday boutique I couldn't attend due to my car troubles.  I'll have to take pics and post them.  I also have a few burp cloth sets ready to be mailed off as well.  Let me know if anything is of interest to you :)

Baby Legs and Red Tutu for Christmas

I made Hayden some baby legs with Santa on them. For those of you who would like to make some for yourself, just go buy some grown up Christmas socks and cut off the toe and heal. Next you will fold the wrong side of the food together to form a little cuff or hem.  Lastly you put the long part of the sock through the cuff so the raw edges line up. Make sense? (sorry I didn't take pictures) Once you sew them together, you fold the cuff down.  If you need help just leave me a comment and I can maybe explain a little more clearly.

I made this tutu for Hayden last Valentine's day and it still fits :) She is so curious about this present. Too bad it's for her big sister!

A Fun Way to Recycle Baby Formula Containers for the Holidays

I made this cute little cookie canister for my sweet neighbors that live next door. I have so many empty baby formula containers, and thought I would recycle them and put them to good use. Cute huh?  All I did was measure how tall the canister is and measured how much paper I would need to fit around it and cut it out of some scrap paper I used on my "Joy" sign (post below).  Next I used Mod Podge to "glue" the paper onto the canister. You want to make sure not to put too much or it will start to bubble.  Once that dries you put one coat of Mod Podge on top of your paper to seal it all. So easy and so cute!

Our neighbors helped me with my girls last month while my husband was on rotations, so Mia has really fallen in love with them and was so excited to bake them some cookies.  Don't mind my VERY RETRO kitchen ;-)  My friend Amy made and sent Mia this cute Christmas apron made from dish towels. Isn't it just darling?

I LOVE snicker doodles!  I made a batch to put in the little canister for my neighbors and made a batch for us. I bought this Christmas platter at WalMart. I couldn't pass it up since I'm starting over with all our Christmas stuff.