Make It: DIY Sewn Felt Cloud Mobile

If you follow our Facebook page, you will know by now that I am expecting a baby girl in August. As I gear up for everything new ahead, I am trying to find ways where I can create something handmade or buy handmade to decorate our nursery. Today I want to share a short DIY that I worked on a couple of weeks ago for a felt cloud baby mobile. 

I spent a couple of days searching for ideas on Pinterest, and I landed on this DIY post for how to make a cloud mobile on Apartment Therapy. I decided to make a couple of modifications, but all in all, I am happy with how it turned out. I won't spend time walking through a tutorial here since you can find the tutorial in the link above but I will share a couple of highlights on how I modified the design slightly.

First of all, I did not hand-stitch the felt. I busted out my sewing machine and switched to a small zigzag stitch. I do not have the patience or talent to sew well by hand, and I knew the machine would be much faster and easier for me to control.

Second, I opted for stars in lieu of raindrops, since I had yellow scrap felt already on hand. I searched for a quick rounded start template, printed it out, and traced it onto the felt. I used metallic gold thread for the zigzag seams on the stars which gives them a bit of sparkle. I also added a peach moon shape so that I could incorporate some peach in the mobile. 

Last, I used an embroidery hoop to hang the plush items. I painted it in a light peach to match the nursery's color scheme and used clear fishing line to tie everything together. It took me a couple of nights to get everything sewn up and hanging just right. I stuffed these with small bits of polyfill and cotton balls. I am now in search of a hanger to place the mobile, which will be much easier than trying to hang it using another method from our ceiling. I'm excited to have this handmade mobile in our baby's nursery, and I'm equally glad to have been able to flex some of my sewing skills to create it!

I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek in my nursery and found some new inspiration for sewing for a new baby in your life. Enjoy the rest of your week!

Erica

Springtime Purple...and Cats!

What do purple, cats, and burlap have in common you may ask? Well, they are all included in two of our latest burlap zipper bag designs! This past week, I was busy sewing up two new large burlap cosmetic bags. I must have had purple on the mind because both of these fun new zipper bags feature a pop of this color mixed in with the warm tan tones of the upcycled coffee bean sack burlap and faux leather. I'm loving the way these new bags turned out, and they are examples of exactly what I strive for with all of the Lina and Vi designs - simplicity on the outside and fun on the inside!

While both of these burlap zipper bags feature the same buttery faux leather bottoms and bold black printed burlap, they each are lined with unique fabric. I decided to take a risk (those are good to take every now and then, right?!) and opted to use a kitty cat printed purple fabric from Cotton+Steel's collection for the first bag. These cats are so much fun with their little white faces scattered about the fabric. And this burlap zipper bag is purrr-fect (I had to ;-)) for cat lovers!







The second larger burlap zipper case is lined with a tan, white, and purple wave abstract pattern that I have used in past designs and is my go-to for lining burlap bags. This fabric is thicker, like a twill, and it has a nice, soft hand that is a great contrast against the rough text of burlap.  Both of these new designs are available in our Etsy shop and ready to ship! They are completely handmade in Plymouth, Michigan using upcycled coffee burlap sacks.

We're having another busy weekend around here, but we are making progress with our garden, our nursery, and sewing! Tomorrow is mother's day here in the U.S, and I hope that every mother is able to enjoy her special day with her family and friends.

Thank you for your continued support!
Erica

USDA Organic Burlap Zipper Large Pouch

Where is the time going? I spent the first few days of May on a short babymoon to west Michigan, where my husband and I stayed at a local B&B in Saugatuck. Although the weather was a bit cold and rainy, we hopped in the car and drove the coast of Lake Michigan to visit the downtown area of Holland and the beautiful, large beach in Grand Haven. It was much needed rest and relaxation - a few days away from work, email, traffic, our pup, and the daily rush. We enjoyed some amazing food in downtown Douglas and fantastic shops in Saugatuck, as well as gourmet breakfasts. If you need a B&B recommendation in Saugatuck, I have one for you!

With a baby on the way, it feels like we are busier than ever. My mind is constantly running with projects and to-do's, and although the progress feels slow, I think we are right on track. I'm still feeling good, and everyone is healthy, which is most important.  On that topic, I recently completed a new DIY for our nursery that I plan to share in the next couple of days. This one involved my sewing machine, some felt, and a bit of fishing line, so if you have a baby on the way or need a gift, stay tuned for my upcoming DIY post.

Last week, I wrapped up a brand new burlap zipper pouch that is now available for purchase on Etsy and ready to ship. I decided to focus on sewing a larger zipper pouch, as these are so versatile and can be used for a variety of things. Please welcome the USDA Organic burlap zipper pouch featuring Cotton+Steel red and gold striped cotton fabric! This zipper pouch has a buttery soft faux leather bottom that sharpens the bag's style and provides a structured balance against the fuzzy burlap panels. The USDA Organic original print is big and bold, perfect for anyone looking to make a statement with this eclectic accessory. You can find this bag in our Etsy shop here.

If you saw our recent Facebook post, the local Plymouth Farmer's market opens this weekend, tomorrow Saturday May 6th from 7:30 - 12:30. Although we will not be participating tomorrow, I encourage you to stop by to see the local artisans and shop everything from plants to coffee, to baked goods. I'll be joining the crew one upcoming Saturday when the weather is a bit warmer, so stay tuned to our Facebook page for the dates.

I hope you have a great weekend!
Erica