Mermaid Tail Towels for Dolls!

It's mermaid time!

My girlfriend sent me a fun request - her daughter already has a Happy Hapa mermaid towel that I made for her. She was wondering if I could make a matching mermaid towel for her daughter's American Girl doll. I've been meaning to do this for some time now....her request inspired me to finally do it!

Luckily I had enough fabric left from the original mermaid towel to make an identical, doll sized one:

I was tickled at the way it turned out! 

Coincidentally I have had a few request for the kid's size mermaid towels. I've made a mental note to keep an eye out for the perfect colored towels to make them. Recently I spotted these:

Oh yeah. I bought them. On my to-do list! :)

P.S. If you are looking for inspiring, fun, and creative handmade projects/gifts be sure to check out Katie's Nesting Spot every Thursday! Click on the button:

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway!

It's time for the "Sew, Mama, Sew!" giveaway!

I want to take a second and say "ALOOOOOHA!" and WELCOME to those stopping in for the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day! Best of luck to you and I hope you win some fabulous prizes! 

While I hope to be on the winning side of things (Fabric! Handmade items! Supplies!) I will also give away my most requested item - a mermaid towel!

Here is a sample:

The winner will receive one mermaid towel - the color will be a surprise!

You have several chances to win! Please leave a separate comment for each and be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you are the winner! I am happy to ship worldwide!

Here's how to win:

1) Simply leave a comment!

2) Become a follower of this blog (comment if you already are)

3) Become a Facebook Follower (Happy Hapa)

Giveaway runs through Wednesday, May 25th - midnight Hawaii time (that gives most everyone a little extra time to enter!) Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced here on this blog as well as via email....so please be sure to include your email address with your entry!

Good luck and thanks for stopping by!  

PS Can't wait? Want a mermaid towel now? I have one left in my Etsy shop! 

Time for the Ultimate Blog Party 2011!

It's that time of year again! Time for the 5 Minutes for Mom's Ultimate Blog Party! Enter to win some fabulous prizes (see the prize list here)! And for the first time I will also contribute a "Happy Hapa" creation for a door prize! What will it be? With it officially being SPRING and with summer right around the corner how about a....

 

A MeRmAiD tOwEl?!?

The color will be a surprise!

The party runs from April 1-8th! To find out how to win this and other fabulous prizes check out the 5 Minutes for Mom website!  

*Hope I win something this year!!!*

P.S. Thanks to Stephanie from A Pocket Full of Buttons for the reminder of the UBP 2011! Be sure to check her out as she is giving away something crazy cute as well! 

Sewing....

Time to catch up on some projects I've been working on!


I haven't had much inventory in my Etsy shop but I've been quite blessed that people have been messaging me asking for special request items. Everyone's been really nice with not putting any pressure on a time frame. Lot's of  "No rush! When you have time!"  so THANKS! That has worked perfectly with my schedule! 


M from N.C. asked for an adult sized reversible cupcake apron like the ones I made for Momo's birthday party:

Thanks M! I hope you enjoyed your trip to Hawaii! i am still keeping my eye out for the coffee you like so much!

I also made a Minnie Mouse costume/dress for Miss Peyton in Virginia:

I added some crinoline to the dress to give it some more oophm. :) Peyton totally rocked it....cast and all! Isn't she precious?

I also had a request from  E in Oregon for an Aloha print camera strap with lens pocket:

E - enjoy your trip to Hawaii! So glad that our lives have crossed paths! Wish we could meet up while you are here! :)

Fellow friend and blogger K from Michigan requested a camera strap cover but needed a skinnier one. The first time around I went a little too skinny. Hopefully this one will fit!

After posting pictures of the car seat organizer K requested one as well. This time I made a few modifications including adding a heavyweight stabilizer to strengthen the pockets; made my own bias tape, and I also added some little straps to the back for the option of inserting a dowel or curtain rod to keep the ends from flopping (thanks for the recommendation, Heidi!) I have to admit, it was a bit more work but the end product and the quality is much better! K - it's on the way!

Love the Heather Bailey fabrics. They totally POP!

 

Added straps to the back for the option of inserting a dowel/curtain rod.



Test Drive - didn't need the dowel after all!

(I am REALLY liking the way the organizer turned out and am considering making a smaller version to put our Wii controllers and remotes in....)



I've got some more special request items in the works - but this time, with Christmas coming up I have deadlines! A couple of mermaid towels, reversible crayon aprons, an adult apron (loving this one so far!) etc! I feel truly blessed to have been sought out, so thank you!

Back to the sewing machine.....

Been Busy.....

So very, very busy!

I had a couple of special request items come in via my Etsy shop:

Skulls Camera Strap for Steph

Check out Steph's post about the straps here. (Thanks for the shout out!)

A couple of mermaid towels:

As well as a nursing cover with matching burp cloths:

There are a couple of other things that I need to complete but they have been put on the back burner because last weekend we MOVED! Not far from our old place but it has been just as hectic nonetheless. The timing made things difficult as we had just renewed our lease at our old place not two weeks or so before. But my rockstar of a husband made things happen (and now I have to be nice to him for way too long.)

Check out the view from our front door. Talk about lush, green and rainforest like!

It really feels like home!

Now back to the unfun stuff. Unpacking....

Toddler/Preschool/Smaller/Shorter Mermaid Towels

Finally!

I just listed two of the smaller/shorter mermaid towels in my Etsy shop. The sad thing is they've  been done for WEEKS but I never got around to taking pictures and listing them. My apologies for the backdrop (GARAGE) as it is raining right now! Plus I have an injured foot (post for another day) so I had to take the picture where I could get the best light - which is still lacking. *Sigh*

I still have another one of the shorter towels about half way done. It's pink and teal. Pretty cute! It'll be listing in my shop soon (*keeping my fingers crossed*) 

While you can see the towels in my Etsy shop I'll show them here as well:

The last one is not available for sale but is very similar to the one that I have listed - the only difference is the trim. Isn't Gabby a beautiful little mermaid? 

Mermaid Towels & Ruffled Diaper Covers.....

I thought life was supposed to get simpler, less chaotic, and less stressful when summer vacation came around?!? Noooooo..... but that's okay. It's all good!

I've been busy...but a fun kind of busy. We've been hitting the beach a lot and loving every minute of it. I've also had a couple of purchases from my Etsy shop so that's exciting! I need to restock with some newer/different items. I have some ideas and will get working on it! Meanwhile I am grateful for the interest and the support! Thank you!

Speaking of Etsy I've been working on some mermaid towels....one was purchased before it was even put in the shop (THANK YOU my dear friend!!!) and here's another that I need to list:



I am currently working on a shorter version for our younger, smaller little mermaid-want-to-bes.

Also (not for the shop) I finished making a ruffled diaper cover for a friend that recently had a baby girl:

Excuse the wrinkle on the front!

Hopefully she'll send me an action shot so we can see the ruffles on her little toosh! :)

The diaper cover turned out pretty cute (and who doesn't love Hello Kitty?!?) I didn't have the patience to figure out the pattern on my own so I used the one on the You Can Make This website. You can find the pattern here. Good tutorial - lots of pictures and step by step instructions. The ruffles took an extra step (or two)....it was more than just gathering a few ruffles and sewing it directly onto the back of the diaper cover. However, I think the extra time it took was was well worth it. You can see the detailing of the ruffles here:

I would love to make a toddler version - shorts with a ruffle butt. Will keep you posted!

Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Winner!

Unfortunately the first number that was picked did not leave an email address and one could not be found within their Blogger profile so I had to pull another.......that entry did not have a color suggestion (per instructions).....finally on the third try a valid entry was chosen......and the winner is.......

#53 Eaton Party of Five

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Please check your email for instructions on how to claim your prize!

I'd like to thank everyone that took the time to enter and give me some feedback on color combinations! Look for some mermaid towels in my Etsy shop soon. You never know, you may find YOUR color suggestion there!

Thanks again!

Eaton Party of Five, please check your email for instructions on how to claim your prize!

Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day!

Today is the first day of Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day! YEAH!

This giveaway is being held ALL OVER bloggerland....with International hosts as well! There are over 250 bloggers giving away something handmade! Not only does it provide a fabulous opportunity to win something made with love but it's also a way to be introduced to same talented artists as well as inspirational blogs! This is exactly how I found some of my own favorites!

Of course I'm going to be entering a lot of the giveaways but I also decided (very last minute mind you) to participate as a hostess and give something away as well! What will the winner receive? Drum roll please.....

One lucky person will win a pink and green mermaid towel for that special mermaid-wannabe in their life!

Here is a sample of what it will look like:

But in these colors:


I don't have a picture of the finished product yet because it will be HOT off the sewing machine! Fabric is cut it just needs to be assembled!

Want to enter? Here are the rules. Read carefully please!

Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment telling me what two color combinations would be your favorite for a mermaid towel! Please be sure to include your email address if it is not easily found on your Blogger profile.

Once you have completed the mandatory entry you can earn more chances to win! Please leave a separate comment for each:

1) Become a follower of my blog. Already a follower? Just let me know!

2) Follow me on Twitter AND Tweet about this giveaway. You can Tweet once a day. Leave me a link to your Tweet! Here's some help....you can Tweet this:

Enter to win a mermaid towel via "Mama's a Mess!" http://mamasamess.blogspot.com/2010/05/sew-mama-sews-giveaway-day.html Contest ends 5/20

3) Earn FIVE extra entries by blogging about this giveaway! Post about it on your blog and link back to this thread. Let me know where to find it on your blog! Be sure to comment five extra times for five extra chances to win!

Contest is open to US & Canada residents only (sorry International friends!) One winner will be chosen via Random.org at midnight Eastern Standard Time on Thursday, May 20th. Winner will be announced here on this blog as well as be sent an email notification. Response is required within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected.

Thank you to Sew, Mama, Sew! for the opportunity to participate in this incredible blog party! Check out the grand list of giveaways here!

GOOD LUCK!

Mother's Day & Mermaid Towels

Happy Belated Mother's Day! Hope all the moms (and those that play the role of mom) had a wonderful day yesterday!

We spent Mother's Day at my favorite beach. It's a little out of the way but it's so worth it!


A little snacking, a lot of swimming and Kailani even tested out the mermaid towel that I made. She gave it two thumbs up! She wore it all over the beach and wrapped up in it to dry off. I've been considering making some to put in my Etsy shop but can you say, "TONS of bias tape/binding?" We'll see. I already have the towels to make more...like a pretty pink and green; blue and green; pink and purple, etc. but I just need some motivation (and time)!

I also (unknowingly) learned to appreciate photo editing a little more. Take a look at this picture that I took of the girls at the beach (pre-get-the-picture-now-because-once-they-get-in-the-water-they'll-never-get-out):

Here is what the original photo looked like:

Ahhhhhh.....beautiful white sand......crystal clear blue water.....and.... oh. Hello? Half-naked girl crawling on the beach in the background. I didn't even notice her until after I uploaded the picture to view it! I'm sure some people would appreciate the non-cropped photo but for this mama I'd prefer the bathing beauty OUT of my picture. Wow. (But I admit...it gave me a good laugh!)

Have a great week! And if you made anything recently link up with Skip to My Lou's "Made By You Mondays!":

And at "Everything Etsy - I Made It!"