MY Beach Bag

Since we are leaving for camping next week Saturday, I thought I better finish the beach bag that I wanted to use for the kids stuff at the beach. A couple weeks ago I ordered Michael Miller Laminated Fabric to use so I could wash all the messes off the bag easily. I finished it tonight, using the same pattern as I have been for the other bags. I keep using the same one because it is easy and I don't have to read the directions any more. I used the polka dot fabric on the inside, also laminiated, with some pockets for little stuff. When I recieve my order from Crafter's Vision, I will add a clip that I can snap my keys onto so I don't lose them in the sand!

Memorial Day

Yesterday we swam in Grandma Pols' pool for the first time this year. Tressa LOVED it and did not want to get out! My parents are moving in a month and so we have to enjoy the pool as much as we can in the new few weeks. Michael at first did not even want to go in becuase it was "too deep". He eventually got used to it and was swimming with his life jacket just fine. About an hour later he told John he wanted to try it without his jacket. So we took it off and he refused all help and stepped right into the water. He immediately sank and John had to pull him up, he caught his breath and said, "nope, can't do it yet!" I have no idea what possessed him to think he could all of a sudden swim but it was funny anyway.

EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival!

The question? What are my summer plans? Well... we just sold out house so moving I guess is in the future. The fun stuff? CAMPING. We are going to Ludington in a couple weeks and then to Holland in July. It is going to be a little tougher this year with Tressa but I am sure the boys will absolutely love it!

EtsyBlogger!!

I just was accepted into the etsybloggers team!! This month's featured etsy blogger is Create a Thought . She had a super cute shop. I especially love the magnets and the upcycled notebooks! She also has a blog with tons of pictures of all of her creations. You can also check out etsybloggers here .

Grad Open House Today!

I made these from Kristen Nicole as a "thank you". She was the one who ordered the 23 towels as class graduation gifts.

This is for my cousin Amanda who graduates this year. We are leaving on vacation so we are missing her open house. I have wrapped and packed and plan to mail it to her Monday.

Abby is also graduating from 9th grade and is just beginning driver's ed, so what a more perfect gift than a key fob! Lydia's matches her beach tote that I made yesterday.

Remember Jayme who is getting married and ordered towels for her bridesmaids? I used the leftover Michael Miller Dandy Damask with blue/green webbing and am sending these to her as a "thank you". There is enough to give then with the towels or just to keep!

Today is Kiley's open house and I recieved my cotton webbing from MamaSheCrazy just in time! I ordered a bunch of colors and plan to make key fobs for customers that place large orders and to give as gifts. They are the perfect size to use up all of you fabric remnants. I also ordered printed and striped webbing from Crafters Vision yesterday to make some belts for my daughter, who is taking after the boys in the skinny department!

Graduation Gift

Another project was checked off of my list today!! I finished Lydia's Graduation gift. She is graduating from Covenant in a couple of weeks and I decided to make her a beach bag and personalized towel. I used the same pattern that I made my mom's with and added a couple pockets inside as well as a key fob and clip. Hopefully this will be something she can use this summer and the bag could always transition this fall into a tote for school things as she will be attending Booker (Cosmetology). This is only one of the grads in our family. We also have Abby from Hope, Kiley and Jordan from Covenant as well, and my cousin Amanda from Zeeland HS. Congrats all of the Graduates of the Class of 2009!!

Bridesmaid Favors

A little while ago, I recieved a request from JaymeLynn to make custom towels for her bridesmaids for her July 4 Wedding. We decided on Michael Miller's "Dandy Damask" which Pink Panda Fabrics actually had in stock, YEAH!! ok, so it was hard to find but the towels turned out beautifully! Congrats to Jayme and her soon to be husband, I hope everthing goes smoothly and the girls love their towels. You can see each individual towel close-up on Flickr.

Light Purple Isabella with Pink and Purple Flowered Ribbon, definitely girl! The Curlz font is very popular for the girl, that's for sure!

This lime green towel I did for an order from the craft show, the bright flowered ribbon on the lime green turned out great. Thanks Sara

I added a hood to this beach towel for a son of a Michigan who lives out west. I never tire of Maize and Blue!

Also a craft show order, a grandma requested a "Red Wings Fan" Towel for a grandchild to be born in July to super Red Wings Fan parents. I was not able to find fabric but I did find these logos from an online collectible distributer. (I don't have a TV so I pay little to no attention to sports but from the mumblings of my husband, apparentely the Wings are doing well?!?)

One of my favorites again, I love chocolate brown (so do a lot of people, it rivals pink for a top seller). I works for either girl or boy. This one is especially cute becuase I know my boys would love it. What little boy doesn't like basketball (or "hoop ball" as my boys call it!)

Thought I would give a sampleing of some of the towels that I have finished in the last week or two. Only a few times have I ever done the same looking towel, everyone always comes up with a new design, and they are always cute! Talking of cute (ok, maybe I am a little biased but...) Rochelle posted Tressa's pictures and they are amazing. She did a wonderful job, maybe she will let me post a couple some time!

O Canada!

Baby Amy was born at 3:30 am THIS morning and her towel was already ordered, just needed a name! This is also my first order from CANADA! O, and the flowers in the background? My husband brought them home for me yesterday, very thoughtful of him. (yes, I still have no car)!

There is a VERY SPECIAL Little Girl Out There!!!

I just finished these five towels, and yes you see correctly, all for Sophia! Her mom picked some of my favorite combinations and I had a hard time packing them up and sending them away! I have been envisioning the "Little Cupcake" towel since I bought the ribbon months ago and I finally had an excuse to make it! Enjoy Gigi and Sophia!

FINISSSHHHHEEEEDDD!!!!!

I recieved an order from a school teacher and her daughter to personalize 23 towels for the Graduates of 2009. I am finally finished, it took some time to fit them in between all of my other orders but it was worth it! I am happy with how they turned out and hopefully I get to see some pictures of the kids when they get them! Thanks Kristin Nicole!

Off Subject / Random Musings?!?!?

Well, I am on my mom's computer because I am at her house. I guess I should explain. I am at her house becuase our house is for sale and we have people there this morning. I am still at her house becuase I have no car, my husband's broke down and now he uses the van, SOOO I am pretty much at the mercy of others. I haven't done a blog post in quite a while and since I am just sitting here I thought I should. I don't like to just write without a picture so I looked in my mom's picture folder on her computer to see what she had. Mostly there are just pictures of houses becuase she is a realtor too, but I came across this beautiful picture, probably off of someones back porch. Thought I would share it, I wish I had a view like this, so peaceful and full of serenity. I could definitly use that some days, especially today when an inspector showed up at my door at 7:45, when I thought it was tomorrow. Serenity now, serenity now!

Tulip Time

Twenty-five years ago my mom found this dutch costume at a garage sale! Well, I wore it back then and this week, Tressa wore it. We didn't make it to the acutal Tulip Time or parade so we took some pictures with the neighbor's tulips and another neighbors cool red chair.

Here are some hooded towels custom made for a grandma for her grandkids in Montana! I met her at the craft show I did last week, she definitely is not your "grandma" next door. She was in charge of the show and was everywhere at once. Great Job Diane, and I hope your grandkids love their towels.

My Precious Baby Girl!

tressa
Originally uploaded by beckydevries

Picnik helped me do these wonderful colors. Only thing I can't get rid of? The children's place tag!!!

Our Boys

boys
Originally uploaded by beckydevries

I took this picture when we were on vacation to Traverse City and we stopped along the bay at a small park for the kids to play for a little while. I love how blue the water and sky are.

Mother's Day Tote....Finally!

Yesterday I finally got around to making this tote/beachbag for my mom for Mother's Day. I picked up the fabric at Fields's Fabrics and spent the extra to get the nice Wavery heavyweight fabric. For the first time EVER, I used interfacing!!!! It actually went pretty good and I am happy with the result. Loved the patterns and plan to use it again. I liked how the bottom of the bag comes together without having the have a bottom panel, if that makes any sense!?!? Anyway, hope my mom loves it, they are going to camping to Myrtle Beach this summer, she will look very "cool". P.S. Even helped out with the garage sale yesterday and made $60 in about four hours. Awesome!!

New Labels from BellaMental

I ordered some new labels from BellaMental. I have ordered my usual labels from her before and decided to go with smaller ones. I really love how these look and it also gives a direct link to my shop. I am currently working on a set of 23 towels for graduation gift from a teacher so the labels are already quite in use!

Craft & Vendor Expo

Here are some pics of my booth. A lot of work for a couple of hours. Hopefully will make a few more sales on etsy from local people I met!

Craft Sale Day!!!

The day is finally here and I am actually ready. Hopefully if goes well and it is worth my time and effort over the past couple of weeks. I am planning on taking a picture of my booth so I will post it later. I am excited to see Amber (whimseyco) and Heidi (colormecute) there as well.

Moms in Texas!

I love referral business, so when I got a message from a mom in Texas that her sister-in-law already bought some towels and now she wanted to get some, I was really excited. I am very glad when customers like my work enough to recommend it to someone else. Here are the towels I did just recently, they are hitting the post office ToDaY!

Monogrammed Beach Towels

I found nice towels at Target that matched my boys' bathing suits. I monogrammed them in dark blue and I think they are pretty cute!

Back from Vacation!!!

The boys had a wonderful time and it was very relaxing for mom too! We spent a lot of time in the water park and also went shopping and to a park by the lake. They slept in the "wolf den" which is their own little cubby with bunk beds. Everynight they have story time in the lobby with talking animals. Outside there was a pasture full of bison. The second day they were moving to a different field and we got up real close. Downstairs by the waterpark there was a super good icecream shop with (of course) cotton candy icecream with sprinkles! I would definitely take them back again. Matthew went on all of the slides, even the adult size ones. He is scared of NOTHING! Michael mostly just shot hoops in the "quiet" pool. Well, back to work again today. I have a huge pile of ironing plus tons of sewing to get done before the craft show on Tuesday.