SO I had posted the "Ergula" SSC I made as well as the ring slings- but as of September 30, 2014, there are new regulations on the selling of SSC and RS. Regulations which I am not able to meet at this time due to a hefty investment needed to get licensed to do so.... I Apologize web friends. I can however made accessories to sell and since I know how to make cupped hoods if you are in need of a larger, cupped type hood for your carrier, please message me! I will post pics soon!
We have all experienced the annoying phenomenon of the toddler who suddenly had their bones turn to jelly... or the screaming exploding transformation from toddler angel to pint sized banshee demon. I was going to be flying to California from the east coast by myself with a 10 month old and a toddler to be able to attend my cousin's wedding (I really love my cousin to even contemplate this scary situation). But I was terrified of the countless possibilities of where my toddler would decide to not be so cooperative... when we were running from gate to gate during layovers? when we were attempting to board? when we are taking the train to the next concourse? The million thoughts of how we could get separated or how I would juggle the baby in the Ergo, carry on bags and still drag the toddler along prompted me to beg the husband to purchase me a particular soft structured carrier so I could wear them tandem- he said no. My stubborn, and resilient self, decided "Fine, I will make one then" and thus was born the Ergula! I love my Ergo but it's not big enough for my toddler so I mixed different styles together to get my perfect carrier. Unfortunately I did have enough time to do my rough draft and a final version... but my rough is still really awesome! I also made it with an Ergo like hood- one of my favorite parts of my current carrier! Made with weight tested buckles and webbing, duck canvas and high quality cotton, it carried my 33lbs 3 year old in comfort and fashion! When I finish my final draft version, I will post it!
"Hey Desz, I have a hammock we aren't using... can that be made into a ring sling?" Why, yes, sweet friend, it can! And this material is already weight tested, so paired with those awesome rings from Slingrings, this is one heavy duty ring sling! Perfect for the mom of a toddler who needs a quick up for store runs and such! Tough and pretty- my kind of carrier!
...and another momma gets put on the web! bwahahaha
So my little squish is unable to survive if I am not breathing in her face, constantly having skin to skin contact with her, or even not looking at her... It's the only reasonable explanation I have for why she would react as though she were imploding from the inside when I put her down and am not paying any attention to her. That's a real condition right? Well anyway, this proved swimming with her and a toddler difficult and probably dangerous.... now enter from stage left, the Water Ring Sling! Made from high quality athletic mesh and weight tested sling rings, I had my solution and was able to make one for my friend whose son suffers from the same imploding disorder as well!
Again, sorry friend, with great gifts... blah blah blah! At least I'm in my swim suit too with ya!
So we all know you are not supposed to put anything thicker than your child's clothes between them and the car seat straps and that wearing a coat while in a car seat is a big NO- NO... but what are you supposed to do then in the cold winter? Well, if you are me, you make them a car seat blanket instead! This blanket is made of fleece, and gets wrapped around baby after they have been strapped in! SO they are safe and warm!
(Please excuse the pictures, I had pictures of little squish in it last winter but they aren't very clear so I took some just now- and it's currently about 70* outside right now. So I am not a weird woman who will make a warm car seat blanket for her daughter but dress her in a sleeveless top- I'm the weird woman who will have her rowdy, sweaty, 10-month old sit in a warm car seat with blanket to take pictures for her website!)
So I was one of those mommas who got that free car seat cover from that awesome company who we will not name... and I loved it. It was cute, it was girly, and it was PURPLE! But... when it rained and got the cover wet, it essentially became a sopping blanket on my baby girl- and in the fall/winter here in the south, rain was pretty much every day. SO I made a rainproof car seat cover to use on those high precipitation days! (I made mine blue because with most of our baby stuff, we try for gender neutral as much as possible for the off chance we go crazy and decide to have a third baby... hahahahahahaha... but just in case. )
I recently was at a loss as to what to give my son's friend for his 3rd birthday... toys? as a fellow mother of a three year old boy, there is already too many toys in my house and I will not aid in another mom being buried under a mountain of yet another action figure or race car! Clothes? Touchy because all kids are different in sizes but mothers are also varied in their tastes for what their children are allowed to wear... Books? have no idea what they already have... SO I thought, why not something to keep for on the go that can be creative, educational, and still fun?! Thus the Art Case-- I made it with his current favorite cartoon character, then loaded it up with crayons (since he was turning three... I would use colored pencils or markers for an older child), paper, and a coloring book. All these fit in a kid brief case that can be taken on the road, home, doctor's offices... places that need a kid to be quiet and busy-- that is if coloring/writing is something they would do! My little man is still not into being artistic to his mother's dismay... at least where it's appropriate. He is more than willing to color on the walls.... sigh
I love bags! yes, I am female and loving bags seems to be a key description for my gender, but I really love tote bags! I have one for almost all occasions- and even for the thing(s) they will be carrying! I made a huge one with stiff sides to use as a carry-on bag for our family trip to Maui, I made one for just going to the park, and I have made tote bags for me and my friends to carry our knitting/crocheting/looming gear! They have tongue-in-cheek slogans but are also reversible-- since we live in the South and not many hold our sense of humor in high regard!
I have a soft spot for babies, and quilts, and quilts for babies! They are time consuming and are one of the biggest groan producers for my husband (because it means he will be a single parent of two for the time I am making them) but they are something that I find to be the nearest to my heart in terms of gifts for my friends' babies. I have played around with lots of different styles and patterns to try and match the baby or their parent's personalities so they are not traditional "wagon wheels", or "jelly roll" design patterns -- which is what I find the most fun actually! Now if only my friends would stop having babies so I can make my own daughter one!
One of these mommas I am talking about opening her specially made quilt... sorry friends but with great gifts come un-authorized publicized pictures (just kidding, internet, they gave me permission to post their pictures! lol)
This is how my addiction grew to uncontrollable proportions- my friends were having babies and instead of buy them everything and I ended up making them baby gifts instead! These Ellies were made for two friends, each having a girl, that I also paired with a baby quilt (I will post later the quilts I have made for my friends' kids). Looking at these pics, I have realized my own little girl never got an Ellie from her own mother or even her own quilt! eep... excuse me while I go whip one up now! #mommyfail #noonetellher
This was one of my first projects after moving to our new house because little man's room was all the way upstairs and well, it was sometimes a hassle to bring him up there for nap twice a day (you know, when we were at that blessed time when he took two naps a day! oh those days, how I miss them... ) Anyway, I saw something like this and like all my projects said, "I could make that!" Well it was pretty easy and still gets used to this day! It has an attached blanket and pillow/head rest. My husband has even used it during the "bad back" months of sleep training little man to stay in his room! (Side note, the remains of the grey fabric I used on this is now what little man uses as his "nite nite" blanket and has brought everywhere!!! Just ignore the painstakingly made beautiful knitted baby blanket I made you and take the left overs from your nap mat... thanks buddy)