Handmade baby shower gifts

I picked up this adorable owl and apple tree flannel fabric at Joann's a few weeks ago. It's perfectly sweet and so soft...I couldn't wait to make something with it!! One of the supervisors in Darrell's department is having a baby next month, so it was a great opportunity for me to try out some projects I've been wanting to try.

I love using cloth diapers as burp cloths, but mine are just so ugly. There's nothing cute about them at all. But these owls certainly turned an ordinary burp cloth into something adorable rather quickly, don't you think?! (And I love the tip I found on one of the sewing blogs I read about tying gifts with the selvage I cut off the fabric!! So cute!!)

I also wanted to make a coordinating baby blanket, using this tutorial. The flannel receiving blankets you get at the store are WAY too small, as all new mothers quickly find out. There's nothing small about this one...it will do the job quite well!! I used a little over a yard of solid ivory colored flannel to make a square, and folded over the edges twice, then stitched down, mitering the corners and zig-zag stitching over the corners. Then I used fusible webbing to iron-on 3 different sized circles of the owl fabric, and then I used a decorative stitch around the edges of the circles to ensure they stay securely on the blanket. It turned out so cute, and is really soft and cozy. I almost want to keep it for my babies, but I suppose I will give it away...I can always make another one for the girls!!

There is one last part of her gift that's not finished yet. It doesn't actually coordinate with the others, though, so that's why I decided to go ahead and post these pics. I will be sure to post pics when the last part is finished, though.

As with the crayon roll, I'd be happy to make up more of these if anyone is interested in placing an order. I haven't decided on prices, so just email me and we can discuss details!! :)