Re-design

I've been reading other blogs and getting tips on how to add things to my blog. So things might look a little different now. I'd love your feedback if you like or don't like the changes.

New Item on Etsy and Cute Fabric

I'm listing a new item on Etsy this week and you get a sneak peek! Here it is:
These are crocheted baby bibs with a snap on the neck so it's easy to get on & off for parents. Made with 100% cotton yarn so just throw them in the wash after meal time. More colors are coming soon!

Here is the adorable jungle animals baby blanket I've been working on.
There's more where that came from! This is the cute fabric I found:

These will be adorably cute unisex and girls' blankets soon! Can you tell I like brown & pink together? Check back for an update on how these blankets are coming along.

Almost Earth Day and Easter

Wow! Since tomorrow is Earth Day, also Good Friday, I've been mostly vegetarian for a year now. I made a promise to myself last year on Earth Day that I wouldn't eat red meat or anything with 4 legs (this includes but isn't limited to: beef, pork, lamb, venison, etc). I also try to limit my intake of chicken and turkey to once a day. I made this decision for my health and I feel so much better because of it. I would go full vegetarian, but I'm afraid I wouldn't get enough protein. Earth Day also means FREE coffee at Starbucks tomorrow if you bring in your own travel mug. :)

Easter is this Sunday, and it's one of my favorite holidays. As a Christian, I love how this holiday reminds me every year what I believe in and why. I also love how in my church we sing the "Hallelujah Chorus" every year. Such a blessing and moment of awe and praise to our Father!

My project and goal is to finish a dress that I started two summers ago while in Utah, with my cousin, so I can wear it on Easter. I found the cute fabric at a yard sale, and took it along so we could make matching dresses. We started it but got busy going hiking and other stuff, and never finished it while we were together. She showed me her finished dress last summer at our family reunion. Mine has been thrown haphazardly in my closet since I came home two summers ago. Last week I pulled it out, and I'm determined to finish it. The bodice needs to be taken in (YAY!), the skirt shortened (typical since I'm only 5'1"), and put the zipper in. I'm alos thinking of top stitching some ribbon on the bodice, but that can wait if I don't have time before Sunday. So here I go!

Laundry Detergent

This week has been frustrating. On Wednesday I started breaking out in hives from an allergic reaction to the laundry detergent I had been using. I came to this conclusion first because I had similar symptoms around Christmas last year, and second because it was only in areas where my clothes touch not on my face or hands. The last time it happened it was due to the fragrance/dye in the soap, and a simple switch to free & clear kinds did the trick for awhile. This time I was a little frustrated because I've been using free & clear since then. So I tried a different brand, but it didn't get any better. I started using Benadryl lotion as well, but it would go away for a bit and come back again. I'm assuming that over the last year or so my skin has become sensitive to the chemicals in the soap. I looked in the store for organic, and found that it costs about $8 for a 24-32 load bottle. Being a poor college student I can't afford that. Then I went looking online for homemade recipes. Some were for liquid and others were for powder, but all used the same 3 simple ingredients. The recipe I chose is as follows:

Homemade Powder Laundry Detergent
1 bar of soap (I used Target brand Sensitive Skin)
1/2 cup Borax (I found it at Target)
1/2 cup Washing Soda (I found it at Ace Hardware)
Grate the soap with the fine grate into a bowl. Add the Borax and Washing Soda and mix well. Store in an air tight container. Use 1 Tbls for regular load, 2 Tbls for large or extra dirty load.

After a quick Google search where to buy borax and washing soda I headed to the store. I found all 3 items with no trouble. Right away I found an old bowl, fine cheese grater, measuring cup, and a storage container. I got to work grating the soap (which is the most work you do for this), added the other 2 ingredients, mixed it together, and started a load of wash. By this time I was desperate for clothing that wouldn't make me itchy! As of today it's only been 2 days of wearing clothes washed with my homemade laundry detergent, but the hives are going away. :) All that remains is light pink outlines where the spots used to be, but with Benadryl they're fading. I hope this never happens again. Although, I'm thankful that I could figure it out on my own, and not have to pay a doctor to try figure it out for me.

Happy Spring!

I haven't posted in awhile because I've been busy working on new items for my Etsy shop.

Like flannel blankets and tag blankies such as these:
A couple weeks ago I ordered a pack of 10 free business cards from moo.com as a trial. Today they came in the mail! Sorry, for the bad cell phone pics.

Here's the front & back of my business cards:

Happy New Year!

For 2011, I have added new items to my shop on Etsy. I'm in the process of adding more in the next few days. Go check it out and let your friends know, too.

I just read an amazing blog that has cut out my work for me for the next few weeks. I'm working on improving my business. If you have an Etsy shop and would like some pointers here is the link: http://bottomline.outright.com/self-employment/22-new-years-resolutions-youll-want-to-make/ To promote my products and get more followers I may start offering give aways. So, check back often to win something!

It feels like 2011 has some amazing things in store for A Rainy Day Designs!

Wow! It's been awhile since my last post.

My latest project is working on various Christmas presents for family and friends. I can't tell you what the projects are just in case one of them reads this. i'll take pictures and post them after the gifts have been given.

Other projects that I'm working on are mitered corner baby blankets and schlep bags to sell on my Etsy site. You can find my store here: http://arainydaydesigns.etsy.com I'll post pictures when I'm done with them.