Brag Book Video

New Blog Title Graphic! - Created by me! :)

This is going to be a short post.  I've recently decided it was necessary to create a better "Title" graphic for my blog.  What better graphic than me in my home workshop?  I've done a pretty good job recreating all the things I love most in my shop, including my blossoming sewing boxes and my brag books made from baby's clothing.  I've also included my faerie tree, which is really a hat rack that I hang my faeries from!  I've got my little toaster oven that I bake my polymer clay creations in.  Also, you’ll find the two tags I made recently: "Imagine" & "Believe."  These items will be my next listings on Etsy as soon as I figure out how to photograph them and catch their true adorableness! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Mardi

Blossoming Sewing Boxes

by Mardi - Fromhere2daydreams

I came up with this idea for a sewing box one day while digging through my old sewing box.  It’s always been a mess – and kind of boring.  One of the most important factors when I design something is that it should have a practical use. (My Faeries Excluded!!!)  The wallets I make – I actually use.  I love having my I.D. and Credit Cards so easily accessible - and I love that I have a place to put the tons of wallet size photos I get from my family.  I have two brothers and five sisters – so I have A LOT of family photos!

That in mind; this is also the way I was thinking when I came up with the Blossoming Sewing Box.  I wanted a sewing box that had compartments that I could put my sewing supplies in and access easily.  I also wanted my sewing box to be WIDE open…and not something that I have to dig through to find my thread and needles.  Finally, I wanted it to be a box I could proudly display anywhere in my house, and take on the go.  I also LOVE magnets, because I’ve never found a magnet I couldn’t put to good use.  Having magnets as part of my sewing box has made my crafting life a breeze and far from disorganized . I have lost so many stickpins and needles that I’m  sure  I’m responsible for creating a needle stack somewhere that should have a piece of hay in it.  With magnets on the sides of my sewing box – I just move my hand by the sewing box and the needle is pulled in and kept safe for me.  This sewing box is pure happiness for me, it looks like a flower and it holds its own weight in practicality.

My goal is to make two more of these for my Etsy shop and then to start custom making them for my shop customers.

Mardi

The Three Different Types of Multi Photo Wallets That I Make

Custom Made Wallets:

Most mothers have at least one or two outfits that they loved dressing their baby in above all the rest. After a few short weeks, her baby grows out of this really, really cute outfit, and what do we mothers do? Because we can’t bear to part with them, we store these little treasures away. Sometimes, throughout the years, we stumble across them, while cleaning out closets and garages.  Usually, the clothes are rarely seen again. It’s kind of sad really – that these favored little outfits that we love so dearly are only used for such a short period of time.

I offer an adorable and practical alternative to storing this treasure. With my custom-made wallets you can keep that outfit with you at all times, and store your baby’s photos in that same wallet as your child grows up. You’ll probably even keep a photo of your baby wearing the same outfit you choose to have the wallet made from. It’s a wonderful way to keep your precious baby close you, even as they grow up.

Wallets Made From Upcycled Clothing:

When not making custom orders, I'll purchase baby clothing at a thrift store.
I make a lot of my wallets out of baby clothing. I like to use really cute outfits with the cute decals, flowers, butterflies, frogs and monkeys. (etc.)

Wallets Made From Fabric Purchased At A Fabric Store:

I simply go down to the fabric store, purchase 2 contrasting fabrics (1/4 yard each) and make it.

You can see the Wallets I sell at my Etsy Shop, Fromhere2daydreams.

All my wallets are made with diligence and love. I enjoy doing this so much, that I’ve managed to neglect my other crafting projects.

However, I do plan to finish up on my current wallet projects – and switch my focus to the Blooming Flower Sewing Boxes!

One Adorable Wallet Finished

Here is the before and after results of the little leopard print sweater I posted the other day.  I've listed it on my Etsy Shop, Fromhere2Daydrams, today

The Clothing Inspirations Behind My Upcycled Wallets

Part 1

This blog will have to be in parts because I didn't take pictures of the clothes I used to make some of the wallets that I'm currently working on. To add to the problem; I haven't started making the wallets out of the clothing that I have taken pictures of.  Please do bear with me - you’ll see the before and after soon enough!

When coming up with an idea for one of my upcycled wallets, the first thing I do is get my hands on a really cute piece of clothing with small pockets, butterflies, frogs, monkeys or flowers on them.  Really, anything cute!

Here are a few examples: 

I could not resist this cute little children's onesies...I mean really - who doesn't love kisses?

I can't wait to see how this pretty, blue and glittered, butterfly print will turn out!

I'm going to make two wallets out of this adorable little sweater.

This is how a perfectly sized pocket fits on front of one of my wallets.

Come back soon to see the results!

 

The Inspiration Behind My Hand-Crafted Sewing Boxes

This next blog is Quoted from my Etsy Site!  I liked it a lot and wanted to put it here as my daily blog...hope you enjoy it!

"Creator's Words:

My Grandma Byrd loved to make things. She grew up during the Great Depression and she knew how important it was to make treasures out of scraps. She went yard selling every weekend to buy those scraps.

One of the things she picked up yard selling was some old baby dolls and Barbie Dolls. One day I complained to her that all the dolls were naked. She looked at me for a second; turned around and disappeared into her sewing room. She finally came back about 15 minutes later. In her hand she held an old, beat up, round tin with a Christmas design on it. She handed it to me and said, "Here, I hope to see some clothes on those dolls soon, young lady."

That was 30 some odd years ago, and I was all of seven-years-old. When I opened up the tin and discovered that my Grandma Byrd had put some needles, thread, some old stick pins, a thimble and some scraps of material inside, something inside me just lit up! It wasn't long, and with lots of guidance from Grandma Byrd, those dolls were fully clothed. Also, it wasn’t long that I replaced my sewing tin with my very own, handcrafted, sewing box.

As an adult of such wonderful childhood guidance, I believe that every child should have his/her very own sewing box. In the spirit of my Grandmother's influence, I've created this fun and practical child’s sewing box that anyone can appreciate. It is my sincere hope that this sewing box will bring the inspiration to your child that my first sewing box brought me."

You will find all my Hand-Crafted Creations here:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/BrightByrdCreations?ref=seller-platform-mcnav