TAG Me....

( a play on "GAG me"....lol)

Oh, woe is the visual/tactile learner. The learner who needs to see and feel how things work, not just read great directions and a few tutorial pics. I promise it isn't the blog crafter's fault....it was mine!!! Just how I'm wired. What was blogged as a "naptime project", for me, took all day yesterday, AND taking it to my sister to get her help since I was going to her house to get my older daughter anyway lol. She showed me a simpler fold for my mine, while still making the craft safe for a baby, and easy enough for my medicated mind (I love how when I'm sick, and minus one kid, I sew instead of nap...HA!). It is sad how such a simple, straight line project took me ALL DAY, and many ripping of seams and re-stitching. Basically, I need to keep practicing, I don't sew enough, so I take FOREVER...something about the old adage - a stitch in time, saves nine. Yeah, I'm not even close to "nine." So yes, GAG me.

But, here I unveil my first (and NOT last!!) Baby Tag Blanket:

(and yes, if you look at other blogs, crafters use more minky fabric, patchwork patterns, combination of 2 or more textured fabrics together, etc. and get much lovelier outcomes lol) I hunted around and picked a pattern that had tags on 2 sides only, so the baby could also nuzzle the plain soft sides if they picked. You can add tags (ribbons) to all four sides as you wish! I also made it 18x18 so it was a good size for holding and carrying around.





















BUT, you know....this blankie turns into an AMAZING treasure when introduced to the precious, curly top baby girl who inspired its creation because of her love of tags......







Sunday's labor of love? Totally worth it for that face....
















Priceless.... :)













Thank you Mama's Doodles for the help and wonderful directions. You can tell from the comments they were easy to follow. I'm just extra special. I can't wait to keep practicing and get more expressive and creative with fabrics, textures, patterns, etc.

** Oh, big sister Lovely has now requested a tag blanket (just in pink she says, no "dots" - I need to see if she wants just pink ribbon - she loves the book Pinkalicious) after seeing her sister's this morning. And rightly so - I did not know how to sew when she was born, so I never did make her anything. I'll try and do that today or in the next few days....
*** NEW UPDATE - Lovely wants a BIG blanket, NO tags, a size I don't have - so I told her it could be a while, and I'd surprise her when I could. I may make her some doll bedding with the smaller cuts I have, and later on make her a big one when I can shop.

UPDATE: Ok, so on Thursday I finished two more projects. One I forgot to snag a picture of, but whatever - it really was not worth a picture lol. I recovered a thrift store baby bath support seat (looks like a mini bouncer) for my best friend's little girl using left over pink fleece from Val's tag blanket. She can use it as a baby doll bouncer should she choose (or she may look at it and laugh and use it for soccer practice). I also, after MUCH frustration with my SILLY sewing machine, pulled together a boyish tag blanket for her son. I think though, I'd LOVE to remake it sometime. The pattern on the fleece was such that it could get off centered, and plus, I had a bad moment and sewed the tags wrong and jammed my machine. Some tags went in wonky directions on the corners. I was very bummed at the outcome, but you know...still kinda liked the "rag tag" effect (HA!). So, I may make a go of it again. Babies need lots of tactile practice, correct? One can't have too many blankets! hehe! But, perfection wise...*sigh*. I want to give them perfection!! And to think, Michelle thinks I should open an online store.....she needs to go on tour with her wit. People would PAY for it!