What can I say...

I have not posted for quite sometime and am not sure if too many people are even looking at this blog... sure wish I had the time to put a counter on this site to see if it actually gets any hits... that might inspire me to update it more often.

Anyhow, I've been busy having a baby (March 1st) and business has picked up tremendously, which leaves little time to jot down my thoughts or provide updates on projects. The easiest way is to just keep an eye on my photo album, since I am a little better about posting pictures, than journaling on a blog. I've got a few photo albums out there for various things:

Here's a lot of the items that I've made:
http://picasaweb.google.com/heidimagin/HaleyBugDesigns

Here is my fabric stash:
http://picasaweb.google.com/heidimagin/HaleyBugDesignsSwatches

Who knows when I'll get back to this blog to update it again. If you are reading this and want to let me know you have vistited, why not leave me a quick note/comment to let me know, ok?

Lollipops and Lizards

Yikes! I've been a slacker! I've been working on some projects, but just haven't been posting everything out here. I joined a launch group that specializes in accessories for boys and girls. We have our first launch coming up on March 1st and its theme is Lizards and Lollipops. Since I needed to make a gift for one of Haley's classmates, I made it around this theme so I would also be able to take photos of it and post in my shop.

Bib Sets Galore!

This week I've been working on a ton of orders for bibs and burp cloths. I also had an order for a matching tote bag to one of the sets and ventured into something new that I will probably begin to carry in my shop, a baby headband with bow. Don't you just love a fully coordinated baby w/ accessories!

Go Diego Go!

I just completed a bunch of T-Shirt dresses for an Etsy buyer. I just LOVE how the Go Diego Go dress turned out. At first I thought it was a little odd to have a dress made of Go Diego Go fabric, but the color of the T-shirt w/ the applique tied everything together and it looks great! I'm sure it will look even cuter when worn, as opposed to hanging on a hanger.

Pirate Wench Dress

I just wanted to goof around with the black 'test' T-shirt that I had made for Haley for Gasparilla. Haley received lots of compliments on her 'Pirate' dress she wore for Gasparilla.

New inventory item - Dora Dress

I had a customer that ordered a Dora Dress w/ white shirt and then later changed her mind that she wanted the white shirt w/ long sleeves. I had this dress pretty much done and now am happy that it worked out this way. I probably will keep this dress, rather than try to sell it. This will allow me to start establishing an inventory of work samples that I can take with me to craft shows or even home shows that I hope to start doing someday.

Applique attempt failed

I've got a number of orders/dresses that I have to get completed. I tried working on one today and my machine bound up the applique and left me with a mess beyond repair. I'll have to write the shirt off and see if I can find a replacment to offer my customer... ugh. Not a good night, so I decided to change gears and work on an embroidery project for a custom shirt order. Thankfully, the shirt came out beautiful and has lifted my spirits after feeling like such a failure with my earlier applique attempts. Here's a photo of the shirt, with a front and back embroidery design.

Black Toile Monogram Tote

I managed to squeeze this little creation in between some of my other Etsy sale creations. It's a rather large tote (bigger than I prefer to carry), but I think it will grow on me. I put three inside pockets on the bag and also used magnetic snap closures w/ a ribbon tie. I think I'll be listing this bag out on Etsy within the next few days to see if I get any interest in it.

Etsy Baby Shower Update

I received another gift today as part of the Etsy Baby Shower, from Green Thumb Designs. These are an adorable pair of baby slippers!

Scooby Doo!!

I'm finally wrapping up the multi item order that I received this week. Here is the 2nd set made with Scooby Doo fabric.

Dora Dress Set

Here's one of the sets that I've been working on for a recent sale on Etsy. I completed the Dora T-Shirt Dress and matching Bucket Bag last night. I like to add a small bonus/thank you gift to large orders that I receive, so I have also included a little matching hairbow to go with this set. I am now beginning to work on the second set, which will be a T-Shirt dress made with this adorable Scooby Doo flower print that I found, with a matching bucket bag and hair bow also. Fun! Fun! Fun!

Sooo Many Projects

I've got so many projects half started-- or is that half completed? ...either way, I hope to get things under control soon -- I made a multi-item sale on Etsy this week, so have been working hard at getting that completed. I wanted to make it a priority to send thank you notes out for the Etsy Baby Shower for which I opened gifts today. Here is a photo of the Thank You card I made and that I will send out to each of these ladies. It's not as fancy as the one's I received from Lea's Letters, but I wanted to send something personally made by me, since each of them specially selected and made their gift for the baby.

Etsy Baby Shower Update

Wow! I opened the gifts that I had received from my fellow EtsyKids ladies and how awesome they all were! Everything was handmade, so it really makes the gifts extra special. I know it is hard to give a baby gift if you don't know if it is a boy or a girl that you are giving to, but I couldn't be more thrilled with everything I got.

Here are the crafty ladies' shop names and what they gave. Please be sure to visit thier Etsy Shops!

The green flannel bibs, burp cloth and changing pad came from GotchaCovered.

The hand embroidered Pillowcase Dress (for Big Sister Haley), Ribbon trim Lovie, and embroidered burp cloth "Will smile for food" came from Two Sisters Designs.

The handmade thank you notes came from Lea's Letters.

A huge thank you goes out to all these ladies. I'll be crafting my own thank you cards that will be sent to each of them and will post a photo out here as soon as I get them finished!

(sorry for the formatting on the photos... I haven't quite mastered the blog site editing software!)

Pirate Bucket Bag

I've been wanting to make a more purse-like tote bag for a long time and this is my first attempt. I figured I would keep with the Gasparilla theme, so I have matching T-shirts available to go with it. I'm pretty pleased with the way this bag came out. I modified a couple of things from the pattern and I think the next one I will put a ribbon closure on the top, since this has no closure.

I'm going to take some additional pictures of this and measurements, so I can list it out on my Etsy shop tonight -- that's if I can part with it!

Etsy Baby Shower

I responded to an Etsy forum post to contribute an item from my shop for a baby shower event that is for people having babies in the Etsy Artesian community. I am also expecting on March 1st, so I get to have double the fun by both contributing a gift for someone and I also will be receiving gifts from some of the Etsy community who volunteered to be part of the event. I made a bib and burpcloth set for the mommy-to-be that I was given the name for. I also sent her a set of personalized thank you cards. I was really pleased with how both of them came out and I hope she will be also!

There are 5 people that received my name for sending a baby gift to, so it is exciting to see them as they arrive in the mail. The rules are that I must wait for all gift to arrive and then take pictures of them, wrapped and more pictures as I open them. So far I have received gifts from three people and I am looking forward to the remaining gifts so I can see what these crafty women have made. It is unbelievable the talented people that are out there on Etsy! Here is a photo of the gifts 'so far'. :-)