Monogramming Fun

It's a Monogramming Monday and a Top Ten Tuesday all rolled into one; just think of it as a combo meal- supersized. You know I'm starting this monogramming business (site planned to launch May1) and things around here have been a bit crazier than usual. Seeing as how I still have another job, 2.75 children and one whole husband, something has got to give and it might be the blawg this week. But I still love you! Really I do! I'm trying to do it all, but failing miserably.

Can I make it up to you by showing you some of the fun designs and monograms I've done this week?
Thanks.
I hoped you might like that.

In no order whatsoever, here are my Top 10 Favorite Monogramming jobs this week:

1. Placemats for my friend Dana who I promised would not have her hands in the picture.


2. Cutest little tutu outfit you've ever seen.


This design originally had a flower in the center of the tutu, but the friend/ customer (HOLY COW! I HAVE THOSE!!) requested that I put her daughter's initial instead and I love it!


3. Alright. Hold your horses, Alabama people.
Yes- I found a vendor tonight and will have these in stock ASAP.
No- I don't LOVE doing them, but I can manage. :)


4. These next 2 shirts were for a sweet friend (and blog reader- special perks, you see?) who needed a little fun cross


and a little something girly for navy and I think this turned out just right!


5. This mom and friend is hysterical because the following was our conversation:

Her: I like it big.
I like it to pop.
I like it girly.
I want her name on it.

Me: What about font or color or size or applique or fabric or.....?

Her: Whatever you want that fits into the above categories.

How much fun is that? So I came up with this circle lollipop (that is supposed to have a ribbon bow on top of the lollipop stick and below the sucker portion that I couldn't get in time but WILL get) for all of the above!
And she loved it!


6. I love this pillow sham.
I love the little Wilson-esque model behind it more, but the sham sure did make me happy.


7. We took this as a birthday present to a swimming party yesterday.
It's a swim coverup. Get it?
Themes are A#1 in my book.


8. These bloomers are for Ollie's girlfriend. I sent them home with her via backpacks before I monogrammed it to make sure it was the right size.
Her mom and I got so tickled at the "scandal" of  her "leaving her bloomers at our house"!
Oh my. I think we'll leave that joke for college.


9. The same friend from the Nate sham above requested 5 onesies for her niece-to-be. She wanted her name and initials on several, but gave me free license for a couple of them.
I loved this little birdie so much that I made two! I'm sure you'll never guess who the second one is for.


Her niece's name will be Eloise, but they are going to call her Lou. How cute is that?
So I made "Lou" as girly as it deserves to be!


10. Last but not least, a couple of tote bags. My friend called and mentioned that she loved this bag at Tar-jhay. So I picked it up for her and gave it a fun twist! (H is for her last name; I promise it's not for me, but I would love it!)


And this giraffe tote is for my mother-in-law. Talk about pressure! She said, "just something fun and cute". I hope this hits the mark.


So you can see I've been a little busy bee this week. And hoping to stay that busy!

What do you think I should add to the store?
Anything that you can think of that I haven't shown or mentioned already? (I DO have a lot more things, but I'd love your ideas.)
Do you have a favorite item this week?

Thanks so much for your input and patience with me as I make this addition to our lives. Not the baby; I've forgotten about that poor 3rd child- the business, of course. 

This post is linked to my friend Amanda's Top Ten Tuesday at OhAmanda.
 

What's in a Name?

When naming children, you have to consider several important things: spelling (will they have to spell their name their whole lives?), initials (Jason went to school with a girl whose name was similar to Anna Suzanne Smith- rough upper elementary years...) and whether or not it rhymes with any potty or mild curse words (let's just say my maiden name rhymed with a lovely bodily function, okay? Not that you can change that, but it did come up in the "banana fana fo" whatever song).

Naming children is especially tough. For us, we have used family names to get in as many wills as possible because we like for their names to have roots. And we like to recycle. Just consider it a green name.

Another tradition we have is that we keep the name a surprise until the child is born: thus the reason you may have seen my mother leaving snide remarks about our new baby-to-be's name in the comments section. She hates this. HATES it as much as not sending a thank you note- OR MORE. Maybe as much as not wearing a slip to church, but I'm not sure exactly where it is on her spectrum of things that irk her.

The reason we do this is because people like to comment before a child is born on their name as if it's still up for discussion when it most likely is not. Or else they say something like, "Sadie? That's our dog's name! I love it!" and then you have to go back to the drawing board. So, we figure that no one can say anything bad about a baby they are holding and it's fun to have at least ONE surprise.

Another naming issue was coming up with a business name. How in the world do you do that?
We tossed around The Other Mama Monogramming but it sounds like Charlie Brown's teacher has a studder when you say it out loud. I'll wait. Go ahead.

So, after much discussion, the name of the business is: Mint Julep Monograms.
You like? Kinda Southern, kinda sassy, makes me thirsty... you know, the important things.
(Please keep in mind I already own the domain, things are printed with this and it's not changing. Kind of like you're holding my business baby in your hands, so please don't tell me your dog is named this.)

I'm having so much fun with my big honkin' machine and all the fun fabric! Here are a few projects I did this weekend (minus a few t-shirts that I forgot to take pictures of before I gave to a friend yesterday, but I will be showing up at her house with my camera because I'm pushy like that. And  minus the hat that I'm currently wearing, thus making it impossible to take a picture of it; I'm sure it will be in some pics soon.):

A cute little girls bag for church (crumbled up goldfish on the bottom not included)
BTW, I have a few of these in stock if you're interested.


A fun pirate T-shirt for a friend whose 4 year old wanted a "Pirate skull and cross bones t-shirt" and whose mommy didn't want something with fiery flames and the devil on it. I think this is a good compromise! I love it and O-man will be sporting one very soon, too!


This weekend I also went to a baby shower for a sweet little boy who will be here any day! And I was so excited to give my first "homemade" gifts!
Isn't this argyle, fun? I can put cute girly fabrics in there, too!


I love a brown bib because it doesn't show all the crud that actually gets on a bib!
I have them in pink and blue trim, as well.


And then I had to make a little something for me, right? These kitchen towels are great and I already washed and dried them all so you wouldn't get a cute towel with something on it that looked like a raisin after you washed it. I've had that happen several times and it's not what you would call cute.


So that's my weekend in review. I might consider a Monogramming Monday update on a semi-regular basis if you are interested. If not, just tell me that's your dog's name and I'll get the hint.

How was your weekend? Any fun spring projects?
 

A One Legged Man

Y'all. I'm busier than a one legged man in a butt kicking contest.

You know I mentioned starting a monogramming business. Well I am. And I'm SO (I'm going to resist the urge to write "sew") excited about it. But there is so much to learn!

I'm trying to grasp monogramming fonts, applique, product vendors, designing a website, new software terminology, learning how to operate my big, honkin' machine (that I love so much I want to marry) and which products to carry.

Here are some of the items that I already have in stock or will have in stock ASAP:

Gifts for you, your friends or tweens (overnight duffle bag)

Awesome Mother's Day gifts or Suck up to Your Kid's Teacher ideas:

Cute totes and hooded baby towels:

Lots and lots of adorable and thick baby bibs, burp cloths and general baby accessories (like diaper covers and boxers for boys):

Really soft and sturdy beach/ pool towels in stripes and cute patterns

I'm also going to have a big selection of great graduation gifts (towel wraps, laundry bags, garment bags, etc). Oh- and kitchen and linen towels, too! There is so much out there it's really hard to control oneself.

Here are the big questions:
What would you like to purchase in a monogramming store?
What are your favorite gifts to give and receive?
What is something that you are always looking for but can't ever find?
Do you think I'm crazy for starting an online business when I'm about to have my 3rd child? WAIT... don't answer that one.
I even had my first order this week! A friend needed some towels monogrammed as gifts and I was happy to oblige. She was brave enough to be my first customer, but they turned out pretty good if I do say so!

I'm also doing all kinds of applique and testing out different stores. I want to have lots of cute children's options- since I have some (sometimes cute) children myself, you know, and  happen to know that there are A LOT of cheesy things out there. Here is a T-shirt in action tonight for Henry to wear to school. It has a cool guitar and his name.

So, if you are in Huntsville and want something monogrammed, let me know! I should have the website up and running by May 1st, but for now will take local orders (or others if you really see something up there that you can't live without or something similar). I can't wait to show y'all the website, do giveaways and really get going.

For now, though, it's back to the butt kicking contest of getting started. I'll keep you updated on the score!