Zwei Baby

2008-11-09T21:06:00.001-05:00

Just a reminder that we've moved!! You can now find the Zwei Baby Blog....here.

Be sure and bookmark us at the new web address :)

2008-10-27T09:18:00.000-04:00

All this week in the Etsy Shop!!

We are moving!!

2008-10-20T10:01:00.003-04:00

It's so long overdue but the time is finally here....Zwei Baby (the blog) is moving! I've been meaning to do this for awhile now but just haven't had the time to get things set up at the new web address.

I'll be keeping this post at the top as a reminder over the next few days. In the meantime I'm going to be running a couple of contests for the "Grand Opening" on the other site as well as getting together a fun new tutorial to kick things off with!

Can't wait to see you there!!

**Preview**

For those of you kind enough to read about Zwei Baby at this address I thought I would give you a heads up about one of the contests! I'm going to have a contest (prize will be something Zwei Baby related (a new item though..not something in the current line) that simply ask readers to sign up to follow the blog. Doing so earns an entry into the contest. CLICK ON OVER from this entry to the new blog and sign up to get triple the entries (that's right you get entered THREE times)!!

Pardon the dust....

2008-10-15T23:33:00.001-04:00

But there's a few exciting things going on behind the scenes here! Things may look a little caddywumpuss for a bit......

More Scrap Packs

2008-10-07T13:14:00.004-04:00

**Edited....Scrap Packs are SOLD OUT

Two new scrap packs are in the shop today!

Bib Style

2008-09-25T21:51:00.006-04:00

I've added a new style of bib to the shop and would love to hear your opinions! The original Everyday Bib can still be found in the shop and uses binding around the bib with ties at the neck. The new style of Everyday Bib uses a snap at the side of the neck.
So...what's your opinion? What works easiest in your everyday life? I'd love to hear!

Miss Priss & Co.

2008-09-24T13:22:00.003-04:00

A super cute assortment of Zwei Baby goodies are on thier way to Miss Priss & Co.!

Miss Priss & Co.
http://www.missprissstyle.com/

Martha, Martha, Martha

2008-09-21T17:00:00.003-04:00

Did you know that Martha is jumping on board the blog train? Really, she is! You can find her blog here.

Fabric Previews

2008-09-17T15:45:00.004-04:00

Can you believe it's time to start geting ready for the Holiday season? Me either!!!
One fun part of this time of year for me is picking out and ordering lots and lots of adorable Fall and Holiday fabrics!
I'll be making and listing new items in the Etsy Shop as these fabrics come in :)

Scrap Packs

2008-09-15T12:10:00.003-04:00

**Edited**

Scrap Bags are sold out

I've added 4 bags of fabric scraps to the shop today! Each bag is a one gallon size Ziploc bag crammed full of fabric scraps.....perfect for hair bows, clips, scrapbooking, fabric flowers etc.

Get yours today....

5/10/15/20 SALE

2008-09-05T17:24:00.004-04:00

There's a really big sale going on in the Etsy Shop! Over 30 items have been reduced to either $5, $10, $15 or $20. That's more than 50% off on some items!!
If your looking for a gift or will need one soon, now is the time to stock up!!

The sale will last all weekend and items are ready to ship!

New Product Shots

2008-09-05T15:18:00.003-04:00

Click, Click, Click! I've been taking lots of new product shots lately and thought I'd share a few! There are still more to come and eventually all the Etsy Shop pictures will be updated too!
Speaking of the Etsy shop.....have you noticed the lack of new listing lately? I am happy to have been super busy with orders outside of Etsy but am sad that the shop is looking so neglected. I should be adding new items soon.

Finalists Announced

2008-08-25T20:23:00.008-04:00

You may remember a few posts back when I mentioned that Etsy was hosting a Handmade Kids Contest. Well, the time has come and the finalists in each of the 7 categories (Art, Accessories, Toys, Clothing, Home Decor, Eco-Friendly and Furniture) have been announced. Each category has 40 finalist and from these finalist one winner will be chosen by a fantastic panel of experts...

Mark Frauenfelder
Category: Toys
Website: http://www.boingboing.net/
About: Mark Frauenfelder is the editor-in-chief of MAKE magazine and the founder of the blog, boingboing.net.

Amanda Kingloff
Category: Accessories
Website: http://www.parents.com/, http://www.goodyblog.com/
About: Amanda is the lifestyle editor for Parents Magazine.

Kelly Alfieri
Category: Clothing
Website: http://www.cookiemag.com/
About: Kelly Alfieri is the editor of Cookiemag.com and lives in New York City with her husband and 2 year old twin children.

Jodi Levine
Category: Art
Website: http://www.marthastewart.com/
About: Jodi Levine is the Kids Editorial Director at Martha Stewart Living and the mom of two little boys.

Holly Becker
Category: Home Decor
Website: http://www.decor8blog.com/
About: Holly Becker is the founder and editor of decor8.blogspot.com as well as a regular contributer to Real Simple and Domino.

Bonnie Alter
Category: Eco-Friendly
Website: http://www.treehugger.com/
About: Bonnie Alter writes for treehugger.com, on design, fashion, gardens and culture, from a British perspective.

Carrie McBride
Category: Furniture
Website: http://www.ohdeedoh.com/
About: Carrie is an editor at Ohdeedoh.com a website dedicated to the intersection of home, children and design. She is also a mother to 6-week-old, Miles.

The winner in each category will win a $200 Etsy Shopping Spree! While I am very excited about such a great prize, I am even more excited about having these talented judges roaming the halls of Etsy!

AND....I am also very excited to announce that my Pink Peony Play Dot has been chosen as a finalist in the Accessories category!

But wait...that's not the only great prize news! In addition to the contest winners there's a chance for you to win too. Just make your way here and vote for your favorites. You could win one of fourteen $350 Etsy shopping sprees. What a perfect way to get a head start on your holiday shopping. So...go ahead...VOTE!!

2008-08-21T15:54:00.002-04:00

Thank you to Elisa for including the Zwei Baby Quick Trip Organizer in the Baby Edition of her Cool Finds! For more fun baby suggestions click here!

Jewelry Anyone?

2008-08-18T14:40:00.003-04:00

Looking for some great new jewelry? How about an awesome giveaway?
Here's your chance.....just take a peek at Carrie's awesome new Etsy shop here, pick out your favorite and leave a comment on her blog here. Don't forget to leave your email address so she can contact you if your the lucky winner!

Free Shipping Sale ....

2008-08-16T08:08:00.005-04:00

With over 30 shop items shipping for free your sure to find something you'll love! Stop by and take a look! You can choose to checkout one of two ways:
1. Pay for your purchase and have your shipping refunded to you.
2. Add items to your cart and request an adjusted invoice before you pay.

Happy Shopping!

New Online Retailers

2008-08-12T22:52:00.006-04:00

A fresh new assortment of Zwei Baby goodies are soon to be on their way to these fabulous new locations:

N-Style Moms
http://www.nstylemom.com/

Rambles

http://www.rambles.com/

Giveaways Galore

2008-08-11T12:44:00.004-04:00

If you missed out on the last giveaway...don't worry! Stop by Wendy's blog.... Babies Gotta Have It and enter for your chance to win a great Quick Trip Organizer.

A very big thank you to Wendy for hosting the giveaway!!

Let's hear it for the boys!!

2008-08-09T21:44:00.004-04:00

I am so excited about these new and fabulously adorable prints for boys!! They are new from Michael Miller and I am waiting patiently for them to be here. Oh what a glorious mail day that's going to be!!

Keep an eye on the shop for new items in these fabrics and more...coming soon!

A Zwei Baby Giveaway

2008-08-05T00:24:00.004-04:00

Interested in scooping up a little Zwei Baby loot? Thanks to the fabulous Amanda at Alayna's Closet you can enter to win your choice of a Pink Disco or Blue Disco Quick Trip Organizer!

Stop by her blog and leave a comment to be entered. The contest ends Friday night so don't wait!

A little Loopdiloop love....

2008-07-22T23:26:00.005-04:00

My sweet little Bedbugs were the recipients of a much appreciated mention over at Loopdiloops! ~~Thank you Dani!!!
You may recognize the Loopdiloops name from a previous post here! Be sure and check out her blog and Etsy shop too for fabulous baby carriers and more.

The contests are coming, the contests are coming...

2008-07-15T19:50:00.002-04:00

They officially start at one minute past midnight tonight so read up on all the details here and join in the fun!

Beach Babes ... Etsy Style

2008-07-15T19:46:00.004-04:00

Hop on over and take a peek at some adorable beach inspired children's items...Etsy style!
You can find the article here as well as some great pictures of awesome items for sale.

Today's Etsy Finds

2008-07-15T10:44:00.003-04:00

This sweet little lion pillow is featured in today's Etsy finds! Check out the full article here for more info on these adorable goodies.

Creepy Crochet : Fuzzy Alien Goodness

2008-07-14T17:45:00.003-04:00

Looking for a fun crafty project to do with your kids? Be sure and check out the Fuzzy Alien How-To over at Etsy! You can find the details here.

Baby Must-Haves

2008-07-14T14:57:00.003-04:00

A very big thank you to Wendy over at Babies Gotta Have It for including my Play Dots in her Baby Must-Haves list! Keep an eye on Wendy's blog.... she'll be hosting a Zwei Baby Quick Trip Organizer giveaway sometime August. More details to come....

Babywear by LemonCadet

2008-07-14T13:58:00.004-04:00

Lemon Cadet is featured in today's Etsy Finds! You can view the article here, and be sure to check out her adorable items here.

Today

2008-07-14T10:06:00.003-04:00

Handmade Kids' begins today! You'll find this banner on the top of the main Etsy page....follow it along to a great assortment of goodies for kids.

Handmade Kids on Etsy

2008-07-09T23:29:00.006-04:00

photo provided by loopdiloops

Beginning July 14th and continuing to August 4th, Etsy will be shining the spotlight on great gifts, gear, ideas and more for the Handmade Kid! This is such an exciting event for the very large contingent of children's sellers on Etsy. In addition to highlighting what is sure to be some of the most adorable, useful and all around fabulous baby and toddler items you've ever seen...there will be contests, articles and lots of fun how-to's as well.

I'll be back posting with updates of what's coming next so stay tuned and be sure to keep an eye out for all the fun Handmade Kids stuff!

Bed Bugs

2008-07-03T21:29:00.006-04:00

A perfect gift for boys and girls from toddler to tween. Patchwork fabric assortments make each bug an original. Bugs have two pockets on the back for holding a toothbrush and toothpaste on overnight excursions.
Stuffed plush and completely kid friendly....

These little ladies will be in the shop tonight with more to follow including some adorable pirate themed bugs for the little men in your life!

Sneak Peak

2008-06-30T10:19:00.001-04:00

Sshhhh....it's a suprise! Something new is coming.....

Eeek...a new book!!

2008-06-26T13:46:00.004-04:00

The gloriously talented Amy Butler has yet another book coming out and I am sooo excited!
A follow up to her In Stitches book, Little Stitches for Little Ones, looks to be as fabulous as any thing else Amy puts her stamp on and I can not wait to get a copy!
You can get more info here in her webstore.

One Little Eater....

2008-06-26T08:32:00.003-04:00

Makes a splash! A big thank you to Katie of Katie Carolina Designs for featuring my Pool Stripe Little Eater in her super fun summery treasury!

You can also view the treasury here!

Did you know....

2008-06-16T09:06:00.003-04:00

about Etsy Finds? I didn't....but now I'm hooked! Sign up to recieve cool emails from the Etsy crew about fabulous finds, news and more.
You can sign up or learn more here!

Pardon Our Dust

2008-06-11T22:04:00.004-04:00

Changes are underway! Color changes, banner changes and more are being made in the shop and now the blog to match. I would love your opinions on the color combinations, how the blog reads with the new colors and anything else you might like to let me know.

Anyone Hungry?

2008-06-05T15:43:00.002-04:00

New Little Eaters are in the shop today! Adorable round goodness for your little eater. These pint sized placemats are perfect for new eaters who just need a clean place to snack and are a great on the go eating accessory for your next dinner out with your toddler too!
You can find a fun selection of patterns here.

New Shop Items

2008-06-03T15:50:00.004-04:00

Several new Lap Pads and a gorgeous new Minky Blanket are new in the shop today!
Get them while you can ...they won't last long.

It's Time Again!

2008-06-02T17:50:00.002-04:00

The Sale section of the shop is stocked up and it's time for a FREE SHIPPING sale!!

Anything you see in the Sale section can be yours, all yours, and it won't cost you a dime to have it shipped :)

Sale is for this week only and ends at midnight on 06/06/08 so get shopping!

Back to business...

2008-06-02T11:35:00.004-04:00

There's been a lot of playing around here lately but now it's time to get back on track! I've added a fresh new crop of Quick Trip Organizers to the shoppe today....you can see them here!

Summer Days

2008-06-01T16:40:00.004-04:00

Just another great day at the ballpark...... a minor league game again which is SO family friendly! The boys had a great time watching the action, eating a hotdog and peanuts of course. They both had the opportunity between innings to run across the field with a group of other kids (all older and WAY ahead of the boys) and daddy of course!

Daddy's Day

2008-05-31T14:40:00.005-04:00

We have a new tradition beginning in our family! Last year for my husband's birthday we all went to a minor league baseball game to watch the Brewer's Single A Advanced affiliate (the Brewers are his favorite MLB team) and had a fantastic time.

So...this year when asked what he wanted for his birthday he thought we should go to another baseball game. And so begins our little tradition....

The boys just love going to baseball games and everything that goes with them...popcorn, peanuts, mascots as long as they aren't too close! I took a picture of Josh and the boys with Jeremy Jeffress, the Brewers 2006 first round draft choice and then we got a seat to watch him warm up (man does he throw fast, 100 mph).

We stayed for nearly the entire game and had a great time singing Cowboy Mouth songs with the boys on the way home!

Overall a very enjoyable birthday for Dad and the rest of the gang!

Long weekends...

2008-05-31T14:09:00.005-04:00

What a great Memorial Day weekend we had! We spent the long weekend at the Reunion Resort just a short drive from our own house with our Grandma, Pops, Aunt Katie and Uncle Nate. The boys had a fantastic time swimming in the pool every morning and playing on the patio in the afternoon. The hills on the golf course made for a perfect place to roll and catch with our gloves and tennis balls!

**Sorry Pops and Daddy...my picture program almost cropped you out of the picture!

Hop On Over

2008-05-19T23:46:00.005-04:00

I'm very excited to announce that a sweet assortment of Zwei Baby goodies will be available at Hopscotch Boutique, a fabulous children's shop located in Ivanhoe Village. Be sure to stop in...

Hopscotch Boutique

1620 North Orange Avenue

Orlando, FL 32804

407-898-5000

Don't mind me....

2008-05-12T02:18:00.004-04:00

Just working on a button....

Free Shipping All Week

2008-04-29T21:51:00.002-04:00

If you love getting packages in the mail but hate paying the shipping then now is your time to shop! All items in both shops, Zwei Baby and J2 Designs, are shipping free all this week!
Free Shipping ends on Friday though so don't wait too long!

New and Improved

2008-04-22T16:25:00.010-04:00

Diaper Bag Organizers are back! Formerly know as the Busy Baby Diaper Bag Organizer these little numbers have been reworked and polished up to make for any even better way to keep your diaper change essentials at hand!

This new version takes your changing mat and wraps up all the necessities inside! Sized to carry like a clutch it quickly unfolds to reveal a pocket for holding your diapers and wipes as well as enough room to lay baby down on a comfy padded changing mat too! A super strong snap keeps it all wrapped up.

Organizers in an assortment of fabrics are available in the Etsy Shop and lots of more fun fabrics are on the way!

Playoffs Game 1

2008-04-22T10:20:00.005-04:00

Sunday was a big day for our little family! The Orlando Magic played their first playoff game at home and I took the boys! It was their first basketball game and was a big hit. In a break from the norm...Jacob was completely mesmerized by the action, enjoying his popcorn and watching Stuff (the mascot). Jackson, who I think was just a little tired, was not crazy about the pyrotechnics at the opening of the game and really didn't appreciate all the noise! Both the boys thought it was great to see daddy at his work and loved walking around the concourse watching all the action!
I see many, many, many more games in our future!

Grab N Go Tissue Packs

2008-04-16T09:12:00.003-04:00

Love that tissue cozy but hate searching for it at the bottom of your purse?
Me too....so now I don't have too! These adorable tissue holders have a velcro strap that attaches to just about anywhere you can think of. Keep it on the strap of your diaper bag, gym bag, purse...attach it to your stroller, gear shift and the list goes on and on.
Limited amounts are available in the shoppe today and more will be listed over the next few days!

Etsy Gift Guides

2008-04-14T19:04:00.005-04:00

**Edited - It's sold!**
If your not aware of the Gift Guides, it's a great collection of items picked by the Etsy Staff and put into nice sections for easy shopping!
This Sherbert Crib Quilt was just recently added to the Baby section! Best of all it's on Sale this week! If you love the fabric it's also currently available as a Play Dot too.

One bus, one monkey and a fire truck.....

2008-04-14T11:05:00.003-04:00

OK...so I don't actually have a picture of the bus but it certainly deserves it's place in the title as a five minute bus ride from one parking lot to another can be a great source of excitement for three year olds!
We had a great family weekend which started with a visit to the WMFE (our local PBS station) Open House on Saturday! They had advertised that a great assortment of celebrities would be there including Curious George, Word Girl, Clifford the Big Red Dog and Maya and Miguel!
The boys were very excited to see Curious George and even gave him hugs and high five's!
Now, for those of you who don't know... that's saying a lot for two little boys who appreciate large stuffed moving animals/people/characters more from afar and less from up close!
After pictures we stopped for a little bit of crafting and made some adorable Family Tree's (I'll post the pictures asap) and then made a quick stop by the fire truck before we left.

A good time was had by all.....

New Dots....

2008-04-11T21:45:00.004-04:00

These two little lovelies are available in the shop today! The Alexander Henry Asian print is a beautiful choice for little girls and what little boy wouldn't love a fun Pirate place to sit, lay, play!

Looking for a fun new baby gift? Pick something original...pick a Play Dot.

The Kitchen Sink....

2008-04-11T17:55:00.003-04:00

A great mix of just about everything....this patchwork blanket is so adorable! She's been listed and is available in the shop. Sized at 26 x 20 this little blanket is ready for just about anything. Perfect in the stroller, car seat and great for nap time.

Scene One....Take Two

2008-04-09T19:26:00.005-04:00

Here's my new little adventure! It's by no means a replacement for my beloved Zwei Baby but simply a fun, new addition. I've just finished getting the blog set up as well as the new
Etsy Shoppe. I'm starting out listing the Scrabble Pendants and will slowly be adding Key Rings, Magnet Sets, Zipper Pulls and some beautiful glass pieces as well.

A MAGICal Day!!

2008-04-01T20:40:00.005-04:00

On Sunday I took the boys to visit daddy at an event and we had the opportunity to take a tour of the Orlando Magic team plane! Really cool..huh? The boys certainly thought so and were unbelievably excited to actually be seeing a plane up close. They had a chance to meet the pilot and look around the cockpit (Jacob was very impressed with all the buttons and immediately wanted to know if there were cartoons on the little tv (a screen of some sort). They each took turns sitting in the different players seats and talking with the stewardess.

We also had the opportunity to take a look at one very large helicopter owned by the Magic's team owner! It was so big and blue. The boys were completely amazed!

A quick hotdog and chips afterwards and we were back on the road so daddy could get back to work. It was a GREAT day for all of us!!

Catching up...

2008-04-01T20:24:00.004-04:00

I've been meaning to post these pictures for some time but well...you know...times flies!

We had such a great time this year for Easter. They boys participated in quite a few egg hunts and enjoyed each one equally. They received several boxes in the mail full of goodies from great-grandmothers, great-aunts, uncles and other equally loved family members! In the Easter box from their Mimi and Papa they got the most adorable Easter baskets (handmade and filled with goodies of course) and they instantly feel in love with them. We used them for every egg hunt!

**on another note..these were the last pictures taken before Jackson got his cast off. He's all healed up and still running strong!

Wanna Play?

2008-03-28T15:23:00.003-04:00

Here's how it works....I'm participating in a Pay It Forward with Sugarbug ! She will be making and sending a box of handmade goodies to the first three of us who responded to her post about participating and in return I will be doing the same!
So...if your interested in participating....and yes that means you promise to feature this Pay-It-Forward on your own blog and keep it going....just be one of the first three people to leave a comment! Oh..and be sure to leave your blog address so I can try and get a sense of what kind of fun things I should send.
I'm not sure what lovely goodies I'll be creating (that's half the fun) and I won't promise to have them in the mail next week (I do have kids you know) but I do promise that they'll be fun and they will be mailed in a reasonable time frame!

Interested?

Wrap this up....

2008-03-20T09:19:00.004-04:00

We all know that our babies are happiest when we keep them close! Well, you don't have to be decked out in fabric from head to toe to keep them wrapped up and comfy. These wraps are so adorable and look so comfortable mom and baby! Check out their website for lots of pictures and wearing information AND be sure to visit the blog for a great giveaway!

Be sure to check out the testimonials page for lots of great opinions from other mommies:

("Oh my... I always have my Sleepy Wrap on! Right now Jozko is sleeping on me. They really love it, I don't understand how they can be all scrunched up in here, while I walk around with them, clean up and they sleep like an angels, but if I put them in their crib, they cry.")
-Michaela O., mother of twin boys Jozko and Tomas, Bratislava, Slovakia (March 8th, 2008 -Email

Well....of course I'll be partial to any and all comments from twin mommies who are still able to "wear" their babies!

Color Swatches

2008-03-13T09:45:00.003-04:00

Zwei Baby Fabric Choices

For someone with a true, ok...more like compulsive, love of fabrics it has really been difficult to narrow down the choices!

Color Choices (listed from left to right, top to bottom)
Spring
Spring Stripe
Dandy Dot
Cabana
Lollipop
Cotton
Dandy Damask
Cotton Dot
Ahoy
Grass
Grass Stripe

A girl can only be expected to hold back her fabric addition for so long, so ..... occasionally you'll find items in the shop in new fabrics that will be limited in production!

Ohh, that's neat...so what do you do with it?

2008-03-12T15:50:00.006-04:00

Interesting question! Now that the Play Dots are making the rounds and there's quite a few available in the shop...I'm getting that question ALOT!

So here's my answer:

Well...if you have new little ones they are great for:

changing mat
blanket
pretty background for "just one more picture"
tummy time
a comfy place to lay on hardwood floors
burp cloth
nursing cover
fashionable spot to lay/sit at playgroup

And as they get a little older:
Mommy and Me Class
Baby Yoga
Tablecloth (for a picnic, restaurant or anywhere else you don't want food to "touch" the table!
Provides a clean spot to sit down ..... anywhere!
....still a nice blanket
drop cloth for messy eaters

so you see... there really isn't a simple answer! It's fun to come up with new ways to use it.
Do you have your Play Dot yet?

Sneak Peek....

2008-03-12T08:37:00.005-04:00

Thank you again to everyone who left a comment about the new Zwei Diaper Bag design! I've been a little obsessed over it since the contest and after lots (and lots) of sorting through comments, sketching and sewing, it's almost ready!
The pictures here are from the first sample bag (I really love the green, may have to keep it for myself) and while there are still some tweaks to be made, I'm really happy with it.
I love the the solid cotton twill for the outside (makes it a little more hubby friendly) and will probably use this khaki along with chocolate brown and grey for exterior color choices.
I also like using the little bits of pattern on the outside to "hint" at what you'll find for the lining!
There are lots of pockets, a key fob, elastic bottle/sippy holder as well as an additional elastic holder for a rolled changing pad that will be available seperately!
The back of the bag has a large pocket for holding a magazine, coloring books, etc!

Now, I just need to make the final changes and get them sewn! I hope to have a few in the shop
in the coming weeks!

New in the shop....

2008-03-10T08:52:00.005-04:00

NEW Sherbert Play Dots are now available!

This pattern is so fresh and perfect for spring. It is backed with a coordinating stripe of red, pink and orange. I'll be adding matching Crib Quilts, Bibs and Burpee Bundles this week. You can find them here!

There's a new tag in town....

2008-03-07T15:08:00.004-05:00

and I just think they are adorable! Since the shop has recently undergone a name and design change, I've had to start ordering new tags, labels, business cards etc. I've done lots of looking, trying to find just the right person to order from and a couple of weeks ago I came across Max & Bella, an adorable shop I found on Etsy. I placed a small order for a few hangtags, hoping that I would love them! Well...they arrived today and I am so happy. I'll be back in her shop soon for lots more!
If you're on the prowl for really cool tags, stickers and so much more be sure to stop by her shop!

Hungry Hippos

2008-03-07T10:35:00.004-05:00

Who doesn't love a hungry hippo? Perfect for spring in bright, cheery colors these hippos are packaged and ready to ship! You can find them in the Etsy Shop!

They'll be available soon in a pretty red/pink combo too!

And the winner is..........

2008-03-03T10:13:00.011-05:00

It's drawing day for the new Zwei Diaper Bag winner so... here we go....

Mixing and stirring........

and the winner is: Brandon & April!!

Congratulations Brandon & April, you've won a new Zwei Baby Diaper Bag! (insert lots of applause here) Please email me at zwei_baby@yahoo.com so we can discuss the details of your bag!

A big, big thank you to everyone who left a comment about the new Zwei Diaper Bag! I am working diligently to put together the details of the bag and hope to be offering them in the Etsy Shop within the month!

***disclaimer*** Just in case you noticed that the hand in the picture doesn't much look like the hand of a three year old...both of my boys have been sick all weekend and weren't really up for the pressure of drawing a winner today! A mother's work is never done!!

And the broken foot goes to......

2008-02-29T10:10:00.004-05:00

Jackson! Sorry for the cheesy intro but I feel like our first broken anything deserves an Oscar worthy title. We have definately fit in the "drama" category around here lately! Yesterday was a whirlwind day that ended with a remarkably happy, blue casted 3-year old. He was such a trooper getting the cast on and has been so good over the last few days considering he has been walking around on a broken foot (he's such a tough guy)!

Jacob, the ever helpful "big" brother, has been doing a lot of supervising so far!

Giveaway Update

2008-02-26T16:49:00.005-05:00

Just a reminder that the last day to leave a comment and be entered in the Zwei Diaper Bag giveaway is FRIDAY!! After the deadline I'll be throwing the names in a hat and letting my boys pick out a name.

You can find the original post here.

Thank you to everyone who's been so kind as to leave a comment to date! I appreciate all the feedback and am already pouring over all the suggestions.

I would love some extra comments on how you feel about bag closures! Do you like a messenger style flap, prefer a zipper or snap, maybe a cute ribbon to tie?

I'm still listening!

Free Shipping Sale

2008-02-25T14:28:00.004-05:00

FREE SHIPPING SALE!!

All sale priced items (not including samples) ship for free! Take a look and grab what you'd like...free shipping will last until the end of the month! You can find sale items here....

Black and White Goodness

2008-02-19T09:04:00.003-05:00

These pretty little goodies are NEW and available in the Etsy store. The black and white damask as well as the polka dots are two of the new Zwei Baby fabrics!

More new fabrics are coming soon.....

and a video to boot....

2008-02-18T23:58:00.006-05:00

Aaaahhh....Florida

2008-02-18T23:42:00.004-05:00

in February!! It will only be a few short months before I'm complaining about the heat so in this moment I am ever so grateful for this beautiful Florida in February weather!

Happy Valentines Day

2008-02-13T15:28:00.002-05:00

Suggestions please!

2008-02-12T08:52:00.001-05:00

Calling all mommies....

The Brooks Diaper Bag is getting an overhaul and I'd love some input from you! Tell me what the diaper bag of your dreams would include......extra pockets, more bottle holders, easy open tops? I want to make the new Zwei Diaper Bag the best thing out there so.......I'm listening!

**Leave a comment between now and the end of February to be entered into the Zwei Baby contest! One lucky person will win their very own Zwei Baby Diaper Bag!

Coming Soon....

2008-02-11T17:24:00.001-05:00

Wow.....it has really been awhile since I've been here! It's all in the name of change though...

So many things have been going on and so many changes are still coming.

I am very excited to announce that TwinMommy Productions will be recieving a name change.

It's still in the works but very soon there will be a new name, new website and bunches of fun new baby gear!

I've posted a few pictures of new items. The fabrics will be changing soon and I'm really excited about simplifying things.

Zwei Baby will be all about fun and functional baby gear in really great happy fabrics!

I'm currently listing items from the TwinMommy line in my Etsy Shop and there are also a few sneak peaks of some Zwei Baby items as well!

Good Thing

2007-12-06T14:34:00.002-05:00

Isn't she lovely?! I'm not sure what it is but there is just something about this Ragamuffin Quilt that I LOVE! Maybe it's the orange colors (my current favorite)! I'll be adding it to the Etsy store soon.

Yahoo....Schmahoo

2007-12-06T14:30:00.001-05:00

I've been having such a horrible time with my TwinMommy website and I apologize to anyone who has been trying to view the site! It's been over a month now that the site has been unavailable and it's driving me crazy!
I'm REALLY considering dropping it all together and just sticking with my Etsy site. Anyone else done this? I would LOVE some feedback!

OK...that's my rant for the day!

Attention all Crafters.....

2007-11-13T14:32:00.001-05:00

Hear ye, Hear ye....
Sew Mama Sew's November Handmade Holidays are underway!
If your the crafty type and your looking for some GREAT handmade gift ideas then be sure to check this out. Sew Mama Sew has put together an entire month's worth of great hand crafted gift ideas. You can view the site for a breakdown of daily tutorials...just click the link above!

Be sure and check out the Placemat Tutorials for today! The first one is mine....yeah!!
Thanks Sew Mama Sew for including me in your fantastic holiday promotion.

New Shopping Cart Cover

2007-11-13T14:09:00.001-05:00

Updating the Busy Baby Shopping Cart Cover design is a project I have been working on for a little while now. I really wanted to find a way to make the cover more portable and much simpler to use. First on my list was to find a way to eliminate the need for a separate carrying bag for the cover. Now I know that there are a lot of covers out there that just roll into themselves and fit into an attached bag but I just felt like a little tweaking was in order!
So...after some trial and error I finally decided that my favorite solution was to have the cover roll up ( keeping the inside clean) and securing it with elastic straps. This allows you to use the seat belt (now included with the cover) as a carrying handle.
I like this version for several reasons:
*The included seat belt can be washed to keep it clean instead of using the one in the cart.
*The cover rolls into itself so the inside part that baby sits on stays clean.
*The elastic straps make it really simple and really quick to roll it up and secure.

So far the response has been really great! I think this design will be around for quite awhile.

Lions and Dinosaurs Oh My.....

2007-11-13T13:34:00.002-05:00

Forgive me while I back track a bit on the way to getting caught up!

What a great Halloween we had this year. This was the first year the boys really had opinions about what they wanted to be! Once I knew they were sure they wanted to be a lion and dinosaur we headed off to the fabric store to get our supplies (It can be a little challenging to come up with Florida weather friendly costumes!!). It took a couple of afternoons and a lot of help from the boys and poof....costumes. They really enjoyed getting dressed up and had such a good time trick-or-treating with Brandon and Bryce.

I can't wait to see what they will want to be next year!

Catch up time....

2007-11-13T13:23:00.001-05:00

I'm back.....

I wish I had some especially exciting news or reason for why it's been so long since my last post but instead I simply have a very long list of little things that seemed to all come at once! Funny how life works that way.

There have been lots of changes going on around here. Changes with business and changes with the kids, moving to a new house, and the list goes on and on!

I'm not even sure where to start so I'll just dive in and sort things out later....

2007-10-18T14:25:00.000-04:00

So I found this little video today on one of the blogs I love to read and it was hysterical so I thought I would share! Normally I don't click to watch videos because my blog reading time is usually very slim but today I thought why not. There is of course a million other things I should have been doing, like making patterns for the boys Halloween costumes (coming soon!) but I'm so glad I got this good laugh in today!

Enjoy.....

Patchwork Placemat Tutorial

2007-10-08T14:41:00.001-04:00

I know I've mentioned before that I hoped to include a tutorial or two along the way and while that may have been quite awhile ago.....here's tutorial #1!

This is my first tutorial so hopefully it will be easy to follow! I'm always open to comments and suggestions! I would like to do more of these so any feedback to improve them as I go would be much appreciated!
I am so in love with all things patchwork right now so I figured this Placemat Tutorial would be appropriate! So let's get started.....

SUPPLIES:

*Fabric for front of placemat (I used linen here)

*Fabric for back of placemat (I used a chocolate brown quilter's cotton)

*4-5 coordinating fabrics for the patchwork piece

*Fabric for the lining (I used a cotton fleece for a softer more flexible placemat)

CUTTING:

*Cut 1 piece of your front fabric measuring 19" x 8" and one measuring 19" x 2"

*Cut 1 piece of your back fabric measuring 19" x 14"

*Cut 1 piece of your lining fabric measuring 19" x 14"

*Cut 17 pieces from your coordinating fabrics each measuring 4" x 2"

PIECING:

Determine your desired pattern for your patchwork. Take your first two pieces and place them right sides together. Pin and sew down one long side with 1/4 to 1/2 inch seam allowance. **Please note...the less seam allowance you use will result in a little more trimming of the edges when you piece your patchwork to the main pieces.** Thanks Lisa for bringing that to my attention!!

Remove the pin, lay the two fabrics open and press the seam on the back to one side. Flip it over and press again. Continue this with each patchwork piece until you have them all together in one long piece.

With right sides together lay your 19" x 8" piece of front fabric on top of the patchwork piece matching up the top edge of your patchwork piece with the bottom edge of the 19" x 8" piece. Stitch the long edge together with a 1/4 inch seam. Repeat this process with the bottom edge of your patchwork piece lined up right sides together with the top edge of the 19" x 2" piece. After both sides are attached use your iron to press the seam edges on the back as well as pressing down the front.

Your almost finished!!

Pin the 19" x 14" piece of lining to the wrong side of your completed placemat front. Match up and pin (right sides together) the 19" x 14" piece of backing fabric with the completed placemat front. **Once you've done this you should see your backing fabric on one side and the lining fabric on the other with the placemat front sandwiched in between.**

Leaving an approx. 4 inch opening stitch all the way around the placemat with a 1/2 inch seam.
Trim the corners and pull your fabrics right side out through the opening! Press the entire placemat with your iron, fold in the fabric at your opening and sew a finishing stitch all the way around the placemat. I like to sew a second stitch about a 1/2 inch in around the entire placemat as well.

That's it! These are great for the holidays, everyday, hostess or housewarming gifts, etc....

Coming Soon.....to an Etsy near you!

2007-10-08T14:11:00.002-04:00

There are a few items I've had available on the regular TwinMommy website for awhile now that I am very happy to be getting ready to offer on the Etsy site as well!

The adorable pants pictured above are the Baby Bunz! They are super comfy Carter's wide leg baby pants in soft white cotton with an adorable patch of fabric added to the backside in a perfect location for showing off baby's best asset! These are great for boys and girls alike and make for a really cute boy/girl twins gift when paired with the little girls Ruffler Onesie!

The Brooks Diaper Bag has been a very popular pick for some time now so it only makes sense to offer it on the Etsy site as well! Made with mommies of multiple children in mind...this bag features four smaller pockets across the front (perfect for bottles, sippy's and a water bottle for mom) and a large pocket across the back with lots of room for crayons, books, etc! Inside the bag are four more pockets for diapers, wipes, cell phone etc and a key fob for attaching you car keys. The closure can be done with a matching grosgrain ribbon or magnetic snaps!

Best of all, this bag is quilted for stability with a hard bottom insert that can be removed and the entire bag can be WASHED!

Farewell to a much loved Paci!

2007-10-08T13:50:00.001-04:00

I love this picture so I thought I would include it in our salute to the much loved pacifier! This is my sister-in-law with Jackson on a recent Disney trip. It is one of the last pictures we have of Jackson and his paci!
It's just been over a week since we lost the last pacifier and so far so good! Josh and I promised ourselves we wouldn't buy anymore and when the last one went.....that would be it! So shortly before bedtime we noticed we had misplaced the paci and of course we panicked. After looking everywhere we decided to send him to bed with the "scissor paci" as he calls it (I cut the tip off of it) and it only took a moment for that particular paci to come flying back at my head and the screams for his regular paci to start. Fortunately he was really tired so it only took a short period of crying for him to give up!
Nap time the next day was a different story but after another two days he just quit asking altogether!
We have been pleasantly surprised at how well and how quickly he has adjusted to not having it!

Two Treasuries!

2007-09-24T09:12:00.002-04:00

Wow...am I excited! After a quick peek at the treasury on Etsy this morning I noticed that I am featured in TWO treasuries!! Thanks ladies for including me. The first treasury includes my Kiwi Dreams Gift Set and the second includes my Meadow Flowers Mini Quilt.
What a great way to start the day!
Now it's off to the eye doctor but I'll have more posts later today!

Oh....and a very BIG CONGRATULATIONS to George and Laura on the birth of their baby boy! We are so happy for you!

A boy and his paci....

2007-09-19T15:56:00.001-04:00

and his blanket too! When the boys were just babies we spent what now seems like a ridiculous amount of time trying to "help" them learn to keep their paci's in their mouths. I never imagined that process would bring us to this point.
Proving to us in yet another way that they are very different....Jacob isn't now nor has he really ever been attached to a "lovie" of any sort. Jackson, on the other hand, has many loves in his life....including the two that he brought into the car on our trip to the Science Center! I noticed the blanket coming with him and that's OK by me but it wasn't until we stopped at a red light and I turned to take a picture for a post about our trip that day that I noticed he had snuck out the paci as well. (Side Note: I couldn't help but be bothered by the word "snuck" so I did a little research and would like to clarify that the correct word to use would be "sneaked" as the past tense for sneak.....aren't you proud mom!)
So here we are at almost 3 and because he's not allowed to have it unless it's nap time or bed time, I just can't figure out how he got it (considering I keep it in a kitchen cabinet...makes me wonder if he's got a secret stash) or how he managed to get it in his pocket, get into the car and get it out of his pocket without me noticing!
Of course once I turned to take the picture and HE saw that I saw the paci...he knew he was busted and threw it on the floor.
I think he just likes to carry it around...after all, you never know when you may need a little "lovie"!

What I need....

2007-09-19T00:34:00.000-04:00

I'm really sorry Nate if your seeing this...just look away quickly and the sting won't last as long!
This clutter is the reason I need this!
I found these great Car Litter Bags by Allyson Hill on Etsy and think they are such a great idea. Of course being a crafty girl I figured I would just make my own version...but who's got time for that!
So now the time has come...I'm ordering one this week! The hard part will be choosing a fabric! The car will be so tidy and I know of at least two Larson men who will be so happy!

You Can Call Me Al!

2007-09-19T00:23:00.000-04:00

Frankly, I'm more than a little disappointed in myself and shocked just a bit that here we are, three games into the college football season and THIS is my FIRST Alabama post! Shame, Shame, Shame.
OK...now we can move on!
In the Roll Tide spirit (that's the University of Alabama for those of you who (gasp) may not know) I decided this was the perfect time of year to add a sweet little elephant to the collection! Sadly, the above pictured elephant has been replaced (ssshhh...she doesn't know yet). I'll have pictures of the improved version up soon.
Meanwhile, this little Pinafore dress is just adorable with the elephant attached and now I have to find a sweet little girl who needs a great new dress to help cheer on her team!

GO BAMA!!

Custom Orders....Round Two!

2007-09-19T00:12:00.000-04:00

These sweet little ladies are part of the second installment of a really fun custom order! Matched with a pretty floral and grassy green they have been lots of fun to put together and I think they turned out adorable! I'm not sure what they'll be filled with or where they may find themselves but I have no doubt that these ladies will bring a real sense of fun to any location! They'll be leaving this week ..... so long ladies, it's been a pleasure!

Praise to the Toddler Nap

2007-09-12T21:52:00.000-04:00

I'll say it now and I'm sure it will be repeated many times as the months go on...... WHAT am I going to do when the kids stop napping?

I can't help but ask myself this everytime I'm at the sewing machine feeling really productive while the kids are napping. I'm sure that using nap time for sewing will be replaced with sewing while their at preschool and there is no reason to panic but...I just can't help but think about it everytime!

So today while I was being productive I finished up an order of Monogrammed Hooded Towels. They came out just adorable. There is just something fun about monogrammed items!

I also found the time to sew together a couple of quilt fronts! I've had the squares ready for what seems like a lifetime and I have just been dying to get these together. Now I just have to add the batting and backing, quilt them together and viola!

Oh..one last thing..I couldn't help but put together another Ruffler too! I love the way the Green Tea fabric looks for the flower. Lucky little girls!

Monkeying Around

2007-09-12T21:39:00.000-04:00

The boys and I headed out of the house this past weekend to give daddy a little quiet football time and somehow we ended up at Monkey Joe's AGAIN!

The boys always love it and get more adventurous each time (yikes)! That is until "Monkey Joe" makes his appearance and then it's straight to mommy yelling "mommy carry" (yes...both of them) and screaming at Monkey Joe to "go to bed".

Playing of course promptly resumes once the monkey has made his exit!

I love looking at these pictures of them playing and seeing the determination in their faces...everything is serious business for a 2 1/2 year old...even playing!

Featured

2007-09-07T23:48:00.000-04:00

I'm up way past my bedtime tonight and just had to make a quick stop by my Etsy shop before sleepy time and look what I found!!!
It's my first Etsy treasury feature!! This treasury was put together by a customer from a few months ago and I am so excited that she picked my blanket! You can view the entire treasury here:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=8373
Whoo Hoo....now off to bed! Happy weekend everyone....

Ice Cream Sprinkles

2007-08-31T18:01:00.001-04:00

Isn't she lovely......?

I honestly thought I would just sort through my fabric today! You know....color coordinate, cut down scraps into quilt pieces, etc...and then I found this ice cream fabric. I loved it the first time I used and think I may love it even more this time! Needless to say, I didn't complete the intended task after getting sidetracked with this little project. I haven't sewn down the button yet. I'm still deciding if I like it or not but with or without it I think this is just adorable.

I know everyone else if unveiling thier fall fabrics right now (It is after all nearly September) but when you live in the land of the perpetual flip-flop like I do it's ice cream sprinkles nearly all year long!!

There is a good reason God decided to give me two boys and not girls......I would NEVER get anything done. I would spend all my time making "girly" things.

I hope to have a couple just like this listed on the Ready To Ship page and my Etsy Store soon!

Care Package

2007-08-29T13:09:00.000-04:00

Well...I haven't gone away to camp but isn't a package from your mom always a care package! These adorable liners came in the mail today (thanks mom!) and I LOVE them. I definately see baking in the near future! Included as well was an adorable dinosaur shaped sandwich cutter for the boys. Dinosaurs are big in our house these days so I'm sure the cutter will be a winner.

Thanks again mom.....you know how much I love to get a package in the mail!!

Love the liners? You can find them here.....

http://beryls.safeshopper.com/278/10823.htm?936

http://beryls.safeshopper.com/278/10578.htm?936

Ragamuffins

2007-08-29T11:35:00.001-04:00

Ragamuffins are coming! I am super excited about these new quilts! Rag Quilts have been around for ages but adding great new modern fabrics really brings them back with style! This quilt is Lovey sized at 17" x 17" and is for a special friend with an adorable new baby boy! I can't wait to give it to her!! I like this size because it's great for covering up a newborn but transitions well into a perfectly sized lovey for baby and toddler! Best of all...this thing loves being washed and dried and gets better and better each time! What could be more carefree?

I'm still contemplating sizes etc so they won't be listed at Etsy or on the website until I've worked that out! Tenatively I'm thinking about having a Lovey size, traditional blanket size and Crib size. We'll see.........

Mentionables....

2007-08-26T22:52:00.001-04:00

Just wanted to make a quick post to say thank you to Sew, Mama, Sew! for adding a directory of shop's to thier blog! I am so happy to be included!

Anyone else out there with a fabric obsession....Sew, Mama, Sew! is a great place to fuel the fire...

Custom Creations

2007-08-23T23:31:00.001-04:00

I thought I would share a few pics of a custom order from my Etsy site that I'm working on! I love getting custom orders....it's so much fun to get a glimpse into someone else's vision!

This order is for Nursery Storage Cubbies....three of them...in a gorgeous Heather Bailey floral with a coordinating jelly bean pattern and matching solid green. I took a few pics of the work in progress and one of the finished project too! One down....two to go!

I can see them in my mind filled with little diapers, wipes, blankets and all the other millions of baby needs!

Thank you Beena....I hope I'll get a pic of them in action!

Loose ends....

2007-08-23T13:42:00.001-04:00

These Burpee Bundles and Everyday Bibs have been begging to be tied up with thier tags for selling and now it's finally done! I'll have them listed on the Ready To Ship page asap and some others will be listed at my Etsy shop too!

The Green Girlfriend dress is so adorable that I have to order more of this fabric! I have visions of using it for Burpee Bundles, Everyday Bibs, Rufflers, Baby Bunz and more, more, more!

All Work and No Play

2007-08-21T22:50:00.001-04:00

I did all the vacation clean-up I could stand today and was really itching to get my hands on the sewing machine...so that's what I did! The kids took a great nap and I had a lot of fun making a few things. I love the way the Rufflers look all packaged up with ribbon and a tag! They really make a mommy want to have a little girl.

Speaking of something to make you wish for a little girl....I LOVE these pinafore dresses!

I had the fabric cut already so they were just screaming to be sewn! It's really fun playing with the fabric combinations since they are reversible.

More sewing tomorrow....can't wait!

Vacation...Sweet Vacation!

2007-08-21T22:04:00.001-04:00

We're back! What a fun vacation. It was a super busy week but we all had a great time! The kids did so great and I think they would rather live in a hotel than thier own house. Jacob loved sleeping in the "big" bed and Jackson was right at home in his usual spot on the floor! I'm beginning to wonder if he'll ever sleep in a bed again! It was really special to watch them meeting thier Gigi (that's great-grandma) for the first time and they settled in like they have been there all thier lives. We meet a whole host of relatives and friends, played ball in the yard, toured the Kohler showroom, walked in the gardens at the hotel/resort, went to a Brewers game in Milwaukee, etc, etc......

The best part (one that I am paying for now by being on a strict rice and steamed veggies diet) was the food! We ate and we ate and we ate!

Now, of course, there is laundry to get caught up on, routines to settle back into, LOTS of sewing to finish and more! A small price to pay for a great vacation!!

Two More Things...

2007-08-11T15:39:00.001-04:00

First thing...

For those of you who don't know....I LOVE getting fun things in the mail! So...today was my lucky day. Look at the gorgeous remnant bundles that came today! I ordered them from Scrappy Chics ( http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5249528 ) and they are everything I expected and more! Thank you ladies! I can already envision the gorgeous quilts that will be coming from these! I'll post one when it's finished and you'll be able to find them in my Etsy shop as well as my regular website too.

Second thing...

We're gearing up around here for a big trip up north to visit Gigi and Aunt Jodi! Grandma and Pops are coming too and we are planning on having some big fun.....look out Manitowoc Zoo, here we come!

In preperation for the trip I've been talking to the boys all week about going on the plane. They have only flown once and of course were much smaller then so they don't remember. Josh got them these adorable miniature planes to play with at the airport (always good to have something new) and we are just hoping to not have any major meltdowns. It will be fruit snacks and coloring books the whole way if necessary!