Another hat for my little boy

This is more of a night-cap style hat, which my hubby thought was a bit silly :) But I thought it looked so cute on Rystin! :)

All these super cute professional pics are credited to my
dear photography friend: Phyllis R.
She needs a blog so I can link you up and show you her
other great work...don't you think!?

Thanks for stopping!

Here's another hat I made for Rystin. 
This one is from one of my old sweatshirts so it is thicker and warmer.  Unfortunately, I am good at making hats a bit small, so he wasn't able to wear it real long and I didn't get any pictures of him in it :(  Anyone need a newborn size hat with an "R" initial!? ;)
I'm going to have to do better at getting pics of my boys in the hats I make them so I can post them for you!
Thanks for stopping!

Since a bit before Rystin was born, I have developed another addiction...

HATS!!
I've made quite a few for Rystin, as well as one for Skyler.
I use old clothes and recycle them into these fun hats!
I'll do posts for each hat, so look for more coming in the future.

Thanks for stopping by!

Before Rystin was born I started this project...AND finished it!
(round of applause for self)
 I had learned the basics of crochet about a year before, but hadn't done too much with it.  I decided to do a blanket in the colors I wanted to do the boys' bedroom in (tho at that time I didn't know I was having boy)

The blanket took a VERY long time!
I discovered I really enjoy crocheting though, and would probably do it again if I had something to do it for specifically.
This one is about 48" square.
The bedroom that Skyler has been using since I did the Penguin Nursery when he was in the smaller room.  I moved him to a bigger room and put my office in his old one, but still used all the penguin decor in his room once I moved him.  I did that room without buying anything, and would like to re-do the room him and Rystin share now.  Rystin still sleeps in our room but his clothes and crib are in the same room as Skyler's.

This is what the room looks like now.  Skyler's bed already has a comforter that matches (even tho it's for a full size bed) so I won't have to worry about that.  The crib set that he used (still does at nap time) is yellow, though, and is quite beat up.  I'd like to attempt making an orange one for Rystin...or at least a dust ruffle.
The top part of the walls is already the right blue so the biggest change for the room would be to paint over the girly purple that's in there and make it a manly grey.  Then I have something in mind in orange to divide the colors.  I did the blanket to go in the crib and match the rest of the room.
I love orange lately, and combined with blue and grey it's so boyish and fun!
So this will probably be slow to come together, and will be more of a project to finish later, but the next step in my mind is to paint.  I'll keep you posted on the progress!

Also remember that today is the LAST day to sign up for the GIVEAWAY!!
Go make sure you have your entry(s) completed! There are so many ways you can sign up for multiple entries so go check it out!
Thanks for stopping by!

I don't know if you're like me, but I think matchy-matchy is fun! Especially when it comes to baby accessories such as blankets, bags, burp cloths, and such!  Check out the Limited Specialty page and you'll see what I mean!
So I had a lot of fun making a set for myself after my little man was born!! No, it's not real boyish...but he doesn't have to wear it either! I decided to do more neutral colors, but with a femine touch for me.  I have the diaper bag, a Sort-n-Stash Pocket set, a burp cloth, and a nursing cover all coordinating. Ok... you might think it's too much...but I think it's fun! :)

It felt like I had searched forever for 'the perfect bag' to use for a diaper bag (ok, maybe it was...8 months. Or something.) But I guess I must be picky because I just couldn't find one out there that quite fit what I was looking for.  My requirements:
-Lots of pockets!
-Big enough for stuff for two kiddos
-Cute (!)
-Not too cheesy (I don't like the 'diaper bag' style like the ones you can get from the hospital)
-and most importantly... CHEAP!!
yup. i'm picky.

So the story goes...
One day I was browsing online and different bags (most of them QUITE expensive I might add) and feeling rather discouraged.  OK, maybe I'm making a bigger deal of this than it should be...or than it really was.  Anyways, I decided bag it (no pun intended!), I can just do it myself, the way I want it! And so... I did.
The end.

I took a few ideas from purses and diaper bags I'd seen that I like and mashed them all together.
Then I sketched out a pattern and grabbed some fabric from my stash.
(Yes... I had everything I needed on hand already!  Did I mention I was going the cheap route!?)

The bag is reversible, so the pockets work both ways.  Right now I like the yellow side the best.  The big flower accent was a lot of fun to design... I may use the idea in some future products.  I also like ruffles...so I did a few ruffles and such on the other side over the 3 pockets.  Next to the flower is another pocket with stitching designs and beaded embellishments.  The beads are already coming off tho :(

I got the idea for the handle from here. I thought the braided handle thing was a cool idea.  The bunchy fabric that connects it to the bag itself reminds me of those scrunchies my mom used to wrap around my ponytail about 9 times back in the '90's! :)

The other side is a damask print of black and white. I did lots of pockets on this side since I thought that it would be on the inside most of the time. The yellow pockets are supposed to help tie the yellow from the handles in.  Not sure it worked quite that way though. ;)

And the other side...

I had been quite overwhelmed with the idea of making my own diaper bag (hence, the frantic search for 'forever')  I discovered it really wasn't that hard.  I have done bags before, but nothing quite this complicated, and for sure not without some kind of pattern to follow!  So now that I know how much easier it was than I had thought, maybe I'll try it again someday. Or try other things using the 'mashing' technique and putting my own touch on other ideas.  I'm sure you could do it too, if you know anything at all about sewing! :) 

Thanks for stopping by! May God bless your day!

So we've been out of power since about 5am.
When I said we were going to do a no spending month...I wasn't planning on going THAT extreme! :)
Hoping it comes on soon cuz I'm living on batteries now.
Wanted to share an awesome baby gift we recently got!

Isn't it ADORABLE?!
I can say that cuz my dear Mother made it for her littlest grandbaby, Rystin.
I think she did an awesome job picking fabrics and colors!

The backside is all this fabric...so fun!

There's a closer picture of the detail and the rag edges.  Didn't she do great?! 
Maybe she'd even make you one if you put in an order. :)

So I'm finally posting another project!
I've made a couple of these so far, and am in the middle of another right now.
They are so much fun to make, but somewhat time consuming as well.
They make awesome gifts and are so versitile and customizable!
I may be adding some to my shop in the near future so check back often! :)

I love the 'spring-iness' of this fabric!!

Isn't the texure amazing!?  The colors just peek through the main fabric to add a little depth and fullness.

Makes a great phot prop!

My friend Katie's little Pauline poses for a photo



I made another quilt specially for my friend Eunika's baby girl.
Little Jade deserved a special blanket just for her that was warm enough for the chilly midwest where they live.
I had finished it before my little Rystin was born and I was tempted to save it for myself in case I had a girl.  Guess I don't have to wish I did now! :)

Please pray for the little princess, Jade, as she is currently in the hospital recoverying from a serious case of bacterial meningitis. The Lord has bless them so much already as she seems to be improving greatly after the scare they had last week. Please spary for healing for Jade and for the family.
Love you, Jade!

Aren't these blankets fun!?
 The possibilities are andless and I'm anxious to keep making them.
 The one I'm working on now has a unique twist to it so check back soon to see the details.  Interested in one for a child you know?  Contact me and I will take custom orders! Thanks for checking up on us at Whispers of Joy

When decorating for Christmas this year, I turned to quite a few different blogs for ideas this holiday season.  At one of those, I picked up this idea.  Sorry, but I don't remember which one so I can't credit the creator. 
I love using frames in creative ways, and thought this was such a neat way to display a nativity-type scene in my home, as I haven't had anything in the past.  It IS the true meaning of Christmas, and the most important part to remember!

For this project, I followed a fairly simple process.  I think I had it comleted in less than a couple hours.  I found some silhouette images online, printed them, and cut them out.  The cutting was most time consuming!!  I then took the glass and backing out of various sized black frames that I had around the house.  I then hung them on the wall with a tack and some Christmasy ribbon, just looping the ribbon around the top of the frame.  Using double sided tape, I placed the images directly on the wall inside each frame! See... simple!  You could use this idea with so many things!  

For unto you was born this day,
a SAVIOUR,
which is Christ the Lord!

Sorry about the goofy lighting and picture quality.  I did have the time/patience today to mess with my camera settings or edit them before posting.

Wishing you all a VERY Merry Christmas from
Whispers of Joy!
God bless you and yours

Ever had one of those projects that you start...
then get frustrated with...
put aside...
and forget about until you're housecleaning ages later?!

Yup... me too! 
Ran into the quilt that I started two years ago when I was pregnant for Sky.  I've been saying that I should finish it before this baby comes.  I guess I just needed to actually SEE it to get myself more motivated!  (Also thanks to a friend of mine who insisted that I HAD to!)  :]

It was a first time sewing project for me...at least on my own and on my own machine!  So between learning the machine, working with frustrating fabrics, and trying to figure out HOW 'quilting' works exactly was a long process (two years I guess!).  It's more of a blanket than a quilt, but it has the quilted squares for the front panel.  If I were to start over today I'd probably do it differently, and it's definitely not perfect, but it's done...and in time for Baby #2!!!  :)

Here's a few photos of the finished product

The blue and white stripe is a soft fuzzy fabric on the back.  Was hoping to have more extra of it to make some regular simple 'blankies' but not sure I was that lucky!