DIY Car Seat Canopy

I made a thing!

Pretty pumped that I accomplished this project in 1 sitting. That's a big deal for me, since my son (6 months old) obviously takes precedence over crafting - even when it's for him - and I never finish projects in 1 sitting anymore... if I finish them at all.

I needed a car seat canopy to shield Killian from the winter wind and snow of Michigan. Here are the Pinterest pins I used as inspiration/reference:

Turned up corners: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/85075880435585354/
Elastic at the top: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/129830401729913142/
Fat quarters for the straps: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/152559506099930912/

I had planned to add elastic but once I put the canopy on the car seat, I found I didn't need it. I had also considered using fat quarters or extra fabric to make the straps, but ended up going with (really cute) ribbon instead.

For this project, I used whatever I had on hand; this included:

• 2 pieces of coordinating clearance flannel, about 1 yard each (36"x 41" with the raw edges)
• 1 roll of clearance ribbon with Linus from the Peanuts gang on it :)
• hot glue gun for some finishing touches
• basic dual-duty thread

All in all, I'm figuring this cost me about $13 to make, and these canopies can run much higher, so I'd say with the added bonus of the feeling of accomplishment, it's a great deal!

Here are my 2 pieces of coordinating fabric and my handwritten notes... Since I don't have a dining table or work table, and my desk has a bunch of work stuff on it, I had to improvise a work space on our spare couch.

Just a few options I jotted down from the pins I liked.

My process was... 

1. Pin fabrics back to back and sew around the perimeter, leaving a 6" opening on one side.
2. Pull the fabric through the opening to turn right side out, and sew up the opening.
3. To make ribbon ties: Cut two 50" lengths of ribbon, and with each one, fold it in half with the pattern facing out, run a stitch down the length of the ribbon and turn in the ends and sew those in.
4. Lay canopy over the car seat with the handle up to find where the ribbon ties should go; I marked the spots with pencil because I'd be sewing the ribbon over the marks and covering them up.
5. Sew the center of each ribbon strand down over the marks on the canopy; I sewed a 2" rectangle and went over it 2-3 times for durability.
6. Fold each corner up - I measured 6" from tip to the fold straight down, and 9" from the tip to the fold in each corner of the triangle to make sure all of them were the same size - pin, and run a 2" stitch line back & forth a couple times to secure it, about 1-1 1/2" from the point of the triangle.
7. At the top of each corner triangle, hot glue a strip of ribbon to cover stitches. Cut corners of ribbon to be flush with triangle edges, and seal edges carefully & smoothly with hot glue. (There is probably a better way to do this, but I was at the end of my ribbon and didn't have a enough to turn the ribbon under and sew it, so I gently glued it. it's doesn't look too shabby.)

Ribbon close-up

All done!

All done!

Turned up corner with ribbon accent

Top view so you can see where the ribbons hit on the handle

Flipped back to see baby

Flipped back to see baby

As always, it's not perfect, but it's from my hands and from my heart. Cheers to making cool stuff with my hands, and keeping my baby bear warm!

Emily

All Work and No Play...

Okie dokie, it's been a while so I know I have some catching up to do. Honestly, it's pretty hard to blog when I'm trying to balance working full time (and sometimes feeling like I'm never off the clock), being a mommy and keeping my house in some semblance of order... My husband helps, but it still can be so difficult to sit down and write for a bit! I'm tempted to start bringing my laptop in the bathroom with me... ;)

I have tomorrow off for MLK Jr. day so hopefully I'll be able to grab a few minutes and catch up on some posts then. This weekend I've had a lot going on, on top of the normal stuff - by choice, a Harry Potter marathon with my girlfriends yesterday (more on this later), and my son being a bit under the weather after his 6 month checkup + shots and a runny nose. I feel so bad for my little pumpkin when he doesn't feel well!

Mostly right now, I just wish I had some time to blog a bit here, crochet something there, pound out a few pieces of jewelry one night, etc... My hands aren't restless but sending emails, washing dishes and folding tiny laundry aren't the most creative or stimulating activities. I am always trying to keep the work-life balance, and lately I feel like I can't keep a life balance outside of work - all work and no play makes Emmy a dull girl.

I think part of why I don't blog much is because  feel like my posts have to be long with lots of photos and stuff to be interesting.... I'm trying to get away from that mentality and write I need and want to, regardless of the subject matter (within reason of course) and how much I want to say. I know I don't have many followers, so I don't think many people would mind some short posts, and besides, my blog is supposed to be for me, right?

So, I'm going to try and blog a bit more frequently and with less judgement on my writing. It's one of my favorite creative outlets, so I owe it to myself to keep it up. :)

Happy Sunday!

Welcome, Killian Markus Karlichek!

My son Killian is now almost 7 weeks old - wow! That escalated quickly. So, since I'm heading back to work in a week and a half, I should probably share about his birth. :) I had a doctor's appointment Wednesday July 9, and my blood pressure had been rising a bit for a few weeks, so I was sent to the hospital for non-stress testing. I passed the tests, but was advised to stop working and take it easy. I worked from home Thursday and Friday to finish out the week, and when I went to my follow-up appointment on Friday July 11 in the late afternoon, I was sent to the hospital to be induced. My blood pressure was still up, and I had several symptoms that were warnings for the doctors (blurred/glittered vision, headaches, hot/cold flashes, lots of general pain and discomfort). I was admitted to the Harris Birthing Center at Huron Valley Sinai Hospital in Commerce, MI around 5pm on Friday July 11, and was induced using Cervidil to ripen my cervix and Pitocin to induce labor. I wasn't dilating much - went from 1 cm to 2 cm between 4pm Friday July 11 and around 3pm Saturday July 12), but once I started dilating, things happened quickly! I went from 2 cm to 9 cm in under 2 hours, and after only 45 minutes of pushing (using some pointers about breathing and engaging your ab muscles from this Oh Baby! Fitness video), our son was born!

Killian Markus Karlichek

Born 7/12/14 at 6:02pm (his father's birthday)

8 pounds 1 ounce

20.75 inches long

My team during labor and delivery: 

My mom Marybeth, my husband Mark, and two of my best friends, 

Rachel Hachigian and Lauren Westerby

Admitted to the Harris Birthing Center and ready to meet our son!

Big belly

He's here! He came out and they put him on my chest, and once I wrapped my arms around him, he calmed down immediately and snuggled up to his mommy.

Grandma holding Killian's hand right after he was born

Mark didn't want to leave my side while they were cleaning him up, but once they were done, he went over and held his son's hand for the first time.

Beautiful baby boy!

Back in Mommy's arms after being cleaned up :)

Proud parents!

Happy family!

Killian Markus Karlichek

A little tired, but so, so happy. 

Sweet pea

Daddy & Killian

Now that we've eaten, we're feeling much more awake!

Little punkin butt

We were both so calm when he was in my arms.

Tuckered out!

Swaddled up to hang out with Daddy.

Made it through the first night!

Our visitors: 

Grandma Sims (my mom)

Grandma Karlichek (Mark's mom)

Grandmas! 

Stephanie

Miranda

Rachel

Maddy

Also Gary & Pat Hachigian, Lauren, Kevin, Jeff & Spencer Lederhouse, and Grandpa Karlichek! Bummed I missed out on some photos with these folks.

Ready to go home!

Batman onesie (with cape) from Rachel, Puma Ferrari shoes, and hat made with love by Mommy

Our nurse was so sweet and she took these photos for us.

In the car! He is wrapped in the blanket I came home from the hospital in. :)

Home safe & sound, napping in his crib while Daddy adores him.

I have hundreds of photos, so stay tuned for more cuteness.

Emily

New 'Do: My DIY Bettie Bangs

Cut me some Bettie bangs the other day! Here is how I did it:

Top row L-R:

1. Before - side swept medium length bangs, from my side part.

2. I set a comb on my head and balanced it, and where it started to rise off my head, I used a rat tail comb to define what hair I'd use for bangs. I went from that spot in a half circle around to my temples on each side. Then, I used a headband and some snap clips to keep unwanted hair out of the way.

3. I sprayed the bangs hair and combed it forward.

Bottom row L-R:

4. I started in the middle and cut my bangs just to the top of my eyebrows, and contined across to my temples, with a slight incline for the U shape as I neared my hairline.

5. I blew my bangs dry and touched up the line... It honestly isn't perfect, but when styled, no one will ever know!

6. I used my straightener to flip the ends under, and voila! Bettie bangs :)

Here are a couple photos of my hair totally styled with them:

I'm loving them so far! And I left them a little longer and with a less dramatic U shape so I can pull them back or curl them into a different face frame if I want.