Tuesday, August 25, 2009

New Baby Bootie Naming Contest

I am in the process of making a new baby bootie pattern.

Come join me on Facebook and post your idea for a name for this new bootie.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lil-Baby-Thangs/66454923297

Every name you submit will be voted on and the winning name will be used on the pattern.

Enter as many names as you'd like.

The person who submits the winning name will receive "The First, Official Pattern", with autograph and a custom handmade pair of booties.


Pictured are booties made from Minky.
I made these for my grand-babies when they were born. They are twins, 1 boy and 1 girl, so I made a pink pair and a blue pair.
It will be a few weeks until the pattern is completed and ready for sale.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Baby and Children's Shoe Size Chart


There are no "standard" sizing charts for baby's or children's footwear, at least in the US.

It seems that every company has their own and lengths can vary up to 1 inch per size.

You wouldn't believe how many hours I have spent researching this. I have collected about 100 charts. Some are close, but most vary quite a bit.

Out of necessity, I too have created my own size chart.

This chart will help you with my bootie patterns and for any custom baby booties you have me make for you.

Even though I included an "Approximate Age" column, you as well as I know, babies are not born the same weight and length, with the same size feet. They also grow at different rates.

The most accurate way to determine what size you need is by measuring and comparing the length of your baby's or child's feet to the finished length of the bootie and allow for wiggle room and growth.

Both of these measurements are included on this chart.

All of my bootie patterns follow this chart, except the Airplane Bootie has it's own...for now.

Clicking on the chart should take you to a larger picture. If it does not and you'd like the full page version of it, or if you have any questions, please contact me.


Friday, August 21, 2009

SALE, BABY MONKEYS AND BANANAS on Pink, Cotton Baby Rib Knit Fabric - by the Yard

This fabric is regularly $8.50 per yard and is on Sale for $6.50 per yard.
It is 100% cotton 1x1 baby rib knit.

It has cute Brown Baby Monkeys with White, Orange and Pink details, Yellow Bananas and Blue Stars on a Pink background.

The Monkeys measure 5/8" X 3/4". (1 3/4cm X 2 cm)
Click on the picture or the title to go to my Etsy Shop for more information.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Baby Bootie Patterns and Fabric on ArtFire

I opened a store front on ArtFire. It is a great place for artisans to promote their "Crafts".
I carry my baby bootie sewing patterns here and some "Hard to Find" cotton knit fabric.


ArtFire - Buy Handmade - Sell Handmade

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Why I have been absent from my Blog

Instead of jumping right back in with my normal information on sewing baby bootie patterns and hard to find cotton knit fabric...I thought I'd up date you on my crazy (for lack of a better term) life over the past month.

First, just prior to that, I thought I'd change the format on the blog and make it nicer. Well that didn't work and I made a mess of it. I messed up the background and the posts. I still haven't been able to fix most of it and some posts are missing. So I am leaving it alone for now.

OK, now about my absense...

My son Henry, who is 19, will be starting college the end of August at the University of Montana (UM) in Missoula, about 140 miles from here. I took him to orientation, which was scheduled to last for 3 days. We left early in the morning of the first day and got there in time to find where we were supposed to be before it started.

Everything went well and it was about 10 pm when we got to my friend's house to spend the night. We planned to stay there 4 nights before coming home.

We got up in the morning, had breakfast and headed back to the UM. You can't get a cell signal at my friend's house, so I was going to check my phone as soon as we got to the UM.

There was road construction along the way and we were delayed, so we were late when we arrived. I dropped Henry off and went to find a parking space. I kept thinking I needed to check my phone, but once I got parked I spaced it until I got into my class, late. Then my phone started vibrating. I waited about 15 minuted until the class was over and hurried out to check my messages.

There was a panicked, incoherent message from my husband Jerry, I couldn't comprehend. He handed the phone off to our 12 year old son Leif, who told me the paramedics were there and working on our 16 year old son Harrison, who had had a seizure and they were taking him to the hospital. The message was from 7:30 am. Then the next message said they were in the hospital and they might have to keep him there for a few days.

OK, by this time I am a wreak. I am shaking, crying and totally panicking, but manage to call Jerry. It is 9:30 am. Jerry said the Dr. had just left and Harrison was responding, but had memory loss and that they were going to release him to go home in about an hour anyway. I have got to get home.

Now Jerry hadn't told anyone that he is legally blind and can't drive. They put Harrison in a wheel chair for Jerry to wheel him out...they assume to his car.

So Jerry just kept a pushing the wheel chair all the way home, 3/4 of a mile, uphill.

In the meantime...I am trying to figure out what to do. Henry is in his class, which was separate from the parent classes and I don't know where he is. So I call my son Peter (21) who lives there and wake him up because he worked late. I ask him how fast he can get up and dressed and meet me, take over for me and tell Henry what happened, when he finds him and take care of him until I can come back to get him.

Twenty minutes later Peter was there. I handed him my schedule, lunch ticket and parking permit, moved my car so he could take my spot, hugged and kissed him, told him I loved him, thanked him and left.

I was home in an hour and a half, about half an hour after Jerry and Harrison.

We are still going the rounds with Dr's. So far no one knows anything. We have more appointments ahead. Harrison has regained almost all of his memory, but only knows what he has been told about what happened. He only remembers waking up in the hospital. There have been a couple odd things going on with him, that have made him realize that there is really a problem.

I have him on a short leash (figuratively). I am afraid to let him out of my sight in case something else happens. I told him if I had my way, he'd wear a life jacket to take a bath. I make sure someone is with him at all times. It was Leif who realized something was wrong in the first place and went and woke up Jerry.

The consensus of opinion is; that because Harrison is an avid skateboarder, he probably smacked his head a few too many times, which may have caused his seizure. The CAT scan and tox screen were both negative and the EEG "normal", so we really know nothing. We continue to hang in limbo with Harrison, who is being a good sport about not skateboarding and me being over protective.

And...FYI...I have 6 boys, aged 12 - 30 and 2 girls, 32 and 34.
The picture is of Harrison a week later telling me "I'm OK Mom".

I hope you are having a great summer or winter...depending where you are.

Carolyn

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Fabric of the Day, Helena Montana

For Today's Featured Fabric, I have several "Hard to find" 100% Cotton Knit cuts, in various lengths. They are also at reduced prices.
PURPLE PUPPY DOGS and Hot Pink Flowers, 100% Cotton Baby Rib Knit Fabric - 1.1/8 yards


HOT PINK HIPPOS, 100% Cotton Interlock knit fabric, 1 yard 2 inches


LIZARDS and FROGS Cotton Rib Knit Fabric, 1.1/2 yards


All of these are great fabrics and will make really cute baby booties from any of my patterns.

This link will take you to my Etsy Shop section for these fabrics and more.
Clicking on each picture above, will take you to the detail page of each one and show more pictures, including the size of print with a ruler.

While you are in my Etsy Shop looking at this fabric, check out all my other goodies.

For Free Shipping, write BLOG in the comments during check-out or "convo" me,

Don't Pay yet. I'll send you a revised invoice to pay me from.


Saturday, June 6, 2009

Hello Hello and Dubli

DUBLI on HelloHello.Net

Hello Hello ...

At DUBLI, you'll discover something new every day. Tell your friends, colleagues and family and invite them now!

Registration is, of course, free of charge and commitments.

For the first $8 credit purchase made by EACH new member, we would like to thank you with free bids worth $3.50.

INVITE as many as you like.
Invite friends via the TELL A FRIEND link you will find in your back office after you have registered.

IF you have NOT registered for free yet, use the Link here:
http://us.dubli.com/tus46218


Let´s have a FUN Weekend !!

Eric Mortensen, Lars "Thunderstorm", Founders - HelloHello.Net
And Carolyn West

PS: If you are NOT a member of http://www.hellohello.net/ Yet, here is the Link
It´s Free: http://www.hellohello.net/signup.php?ref=hhcarolyn