new at 52nd & Barkley {lovie blankets}

Great things continue to happen in the Etsy shop. I know I've said it before and I'll continue to say it again, but the ideas of my friends/customers are always fantastic! Recently I made a custom gift set which included two lovie blankets for twin girls. I loved how they turned out and then not even a week after they were sent, a great supporter/friend/customer (she wears many hats) asked that I make one for her little guy too! I am so loving all the ideas and I love that I can bring them to life.  I think the blankie holds a special place in my heart because I kept mine for so very long. (I still check on it when I go home to my mom and dad's house. Yes, I know I'm 33.75 years old, but c'mon, blankies are special! Mine was made by some ladies in my hometown and given to my mom as a baby shower gift, so I thoroughly understand the meaning behind creating something special and thus creating amazing memories.) I'm getting a bit deep here, sorry about that.  Anywho, let's talk about stegosauruses. Yep, totally a normal transition in my book...

These lovies range in size from about 18 inches square to about 24 inches square...depending on the blanket, so they are great for little ones to snuggle with and carry with them (are you thinking of Linus from Charlie Brown right now too?) So these lovie blankets are smaller than my normal size blankets which usually measure around 36 - 42 inches square.

{jump to 52nd & Barkley to check out the entire shop}

new at 52nd & Barkley!

I have to give a huge shout out to Kerri for suggesting that I start making these drool pads for the shop.  I had such a great time making them. I'm not really sure why because I've used a lot of these fabrics in different ways but I think the "good things come in small packages" idea springs to mind.   That, and I'm a sucker for a good tool so getting to use the snap pliers was right up my alley.

These drool pads fit any baby carrier like an Ergo or Baby Bjorn with straps up to 4 inches wide.  Just snap the drool pads on, let the baby snuggle the minky side or the cotton side, or one of each - drool, nap or play with the ribbon loops.  Speaking of ribbon loops, it's like having 14 extra arms to entertain baby! (ok, maybe not 14, rather 6.) Just attach a ring with their favorite toy.  Sweet! 

Another added benefit (other than growing more limbs) is that you don't have to wash your carrier every time they've been drooling all over it. Just unsnap the drool pads, toss in the wash and line dry and 

Jump on over to my shop to check out the {drool pads}.

Can I also just mention that there are amazing people that shop on Etsy?  Occasionally I'll get a customer that's looking for something specific that I don't have in my shop yet.  Their ideas are wonderful, and sometimes so incredibly simple {like making gift packs out of two separate items I have already listed in the shop}.  Which is why some of the drool pad sets are now being sold with pacifier clips - for a matching baby accessory set. How fun is that?!?  

So I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the suggestions -- and keep them coming! Just like I told this customer, not being a mama myself, I need to rely on the ideas of new moms to help keep making relevant baby items for 52nd & Barkley.  I really and truly appreciate it.  

take me out to the ball game

I'm a big fan of baseball.  The Giant's calendar is downloaded onto my phone for the season already.  It give me an alarm 10 minutes before the game starts.  Last year, I'm pretty sure I watched nearly all 162 games.  Yep, I'm an addict.  It's just good TV to have on while you are being productive, making dinner, sewing, etc. Plus there aren't a lot of commercials.  I hate commercials.  Take the Olympics on prime time for example, it was basically 4+ hours of Chevy and Coke commercials with a few triple toe loops or slaloms and then back to more ads.  I wasn't a fan to the point where I didn't watch too much of the Olympics.

I digress.  This post has nothing to do with the Giants or the Olympics, I just needed to get onto my soap box for a bit.

My friend asked for a custom baby gift for her new nephew with a baseball theme.  I wasn't sure what I'd find that wasn't team specific in the fabric department but I'm so happy with how it turned out. I'm definitely going to be making more for the shop like this.  I know I say this all the time, but this might be my most favorite thing I've made yet.  I mean really, how perfect is this for a spring baby?  So cute, I just had to share.

I'm in the process of getting quite a few new things uploaded into the shop.  Check it out!

[52nd & Barkley]

etsy finds

Clearly, I'm a fan of Etsy.  You know, that shop that I have?  Yep, it's almost a year old! I can't believe it! Mainly I can't believe it took me so long to actually take the plunge and open it.  I was scared that no one would actually buy anything I made, my oh my was I wrong.  The love I have felt from friends, family and strangers alike every time someone buys something is overwhelming.  

Today I wanted to share the love and point out a few awesome shops I have found recently on Etsy.  Seriously, there's something for everyone and the creative juices that flow are amazing and inspiring.  

Sweet Peony Press has awesome prints.  As you know, I love to seasonally decorate with flat pieces (in our constant effort to not burst from the seams of our teeny tiny apartment). So pieces like this St. Patrick's Day print are right up my alley.  There's a huge variety in her shop and they are all very unique and very cool. 

Critter Bling

Um...you know we have a dog right?  Yep, yep, may have mentioned her once, twice or maybe 12 million times.   How cute is this dog tag?  Adorbs!

Zen threads has awesome shirts with very unique designs. I've ordered items for both Mike and I and neither one of us has ever been disappointed. Their quality is great and they have a huge selection of tank tops, tees, hoodies, etc.  I'm a big fan.

52nd & Barkley: new arrivals

First of all, I just want to say Thank you!  2013 was such a wonderful year.  Sure there were rough times - like I thought Bangkok swallowed up my husband and I'd never see him again (as it turns out it was just the Chinese government not allowing him to check his Google email -- once he got to Bangkok, he was just fine.) But there were so many incredible heart warming moments.  I seriously cannot believe how much love I have felt from my customers at the Etsy shop.  It took me a really long time to get the gumption to actually open the shop because I thought that no one would buy anything.  I mean, sure, people have liked the gifts I have made them, but those are my friends and I don't think that they would lie to my face.  (Or at least I hope they wouldn't!) But for both friends and strangers across the globe to buy things from my shop has been so incredible to me.  I thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I wish I had more time to commit to sewing and crafts, but little by little I will keep plugging away to get more items in the shop.  There are a few new items in the works, but I'm always open to hearing new ideas -- seriously, let me know.  My sisters (none of whom have babies anymore) have requested non-baby items, so I'm working on more hostess type gifts, pet toys and house related items, like cloth napkins, placemats, holiday decor, headbands - to name a few. Until then, here's a few blankets that I just put in the shop.  

This blanket is not yet in the shop. It will be part of a baby girl gift set.  I'll be stocking it shortly (everything is made, I just haven't taken photos of the pacifier clips that match the set.

what's new at 52nd & Barkley

There seems to be an inverse correlation between my absence on the blog and my frequency of sitting in front of the sewing machine.  The good news is that I've branched out into new and exciting things over at the shop, which in turn typically causes joy and jubilee when someone buys something which then typical gives us an excuse to open a bottle of wine, and then blog about it (win - win, if I remember to take notes about the wine so that I can blog about it. The only trouble is that we keep opening the same bottle of Castello di Amorosa Cab, which would mean that the blog goes from hardly any activity to just plain boring talking about the same wine.  I'll try to get to some happy medium for you.)  Until then, here's the latest at 52nd & Barkley...

We now have new accessories for adults! These jersey knit infinity scarves are awesome.  I finally broke down and made one for myself because I liked the look of them so much.  They are great for dressing up or down, wearing year round to keep you warm, whether the air conditioning is blasting down on you all day long in the summer, or staying cozy warm in the chilly months of the year. 

Head on over to the shop to check out the infinity scarves here. 

I've also found that I love making baby blankets.  I love mixing fabrics, patterns and colors to make very cool (in my mind) blankies.  I was over the moon excited when a customer (a stranger! - don't get me wrong, I love when people that I know personally buy my stuff, but there is something so exciting about a stranger finding my shop and making a purchase) gave me feedback that her son loves the blanket so much it has become his favorite blankie.  Having a special blankie of my own from birth until I left for college, I know this is a big deal.  I was thrilled. 

check out all the blankets at the shop here.

Up next at 52nd & Barkley: Currently I'm working on some very special birthday hats and prototyping some bling'd out hair bows, after that I also plan to start making placemats, table runners and cloth napkins.  If you have any other ideas of things that you would like to see in the shop for young or old, please let me know. I'm all ears.  

oh, hi!

Seriously, where did September go?  My apologies for losing my way to the blog. Luckily, I'm here now, and hopeful that October will have more action than September. It is our golden wedding anniversary this coming weekend, so I am sure that will prompt a good bottle of wine, some seafood and a trip down memory lane and some blog-worthy documenting. But until then, here's a review of September, in picture form.

Mike went to bed early one night, Barkley wanted to join him. She started playing the springy door stop like a guitar until I came over to check on her.  And then I had to tear her away to ensure that she didn't wake up Mike. However, I'm pretty sure nothing can wake up that man, so really, I am not sure why I told her to stop.

The Twins were in town - sadly, we didn't recognize a single person on the team. I think it's official, we can't quite call ourselves Twins fans.  We can however call ourselves fans of Star Wars night. You wouldn't believe the amount of people  - young and old - that came dressed in their favorite Star Wars character.  The game was boring, but the people watching was stupendous.

I started selling women's accessories on 52nd & Barkley! First up on my new adventure, jersey knit infinity scarves. They have been a huge hit...and I might have wanted to keep all of them for myself they are just. so. cozy!

Quick trip to Napa over Labor Day weekend turned into a seriously awesome wine frig restocking. 39 bottles came home with us. Sadly for you (not us) we brought home 2 cases of the Castello di Amorosa Cab, which means the wine blogging might be a little dead, but fear not, we are enjoying it immensely. Especially on favorite TV night of the week, Sunday night on HBO did not disappoint in September, our two favorite shows (Newsroom and Boardwalk Empire) were on back to back. Yahoo!

Weekend golfing with Mike. Some of the world's worst golf I have ever played, but besides giving up after 14 holes, we had a great time hanging out together and getting sun burned. {opps}

We've got a turkey hunter in the family. Do you see 3 turkeys without-a-care-in-the-world to the top right of Barkley?  Fast forward about 20 seconds after I took this picture, Barkley and I ran like crazy fools and spooked these turkeys into the hills. I know, I know, that might not have been the nicest thing to three turkeys, but man, you should have seen Barkers, she was loving it! And I have to admit, so was  I. {simple pleasures} 

where did you go, July?

Hi there.  I promise I haven't forgotten how to log into my blog, it's just that this little old Etsy shop has taken off a lot more ferociously than I would have ever imagined! In the very best way possible, the Etsy shop has made me busy.  Busy, elated, happy, perplexed about what type of fabric combination works out best...you know the typically stresses of day to day life - only they are all about fabric...so maybe not all that typical.  At any rate, I haven't forgotten about you dear, blog.

Anywho, I thought I better share my 4th of July pictures before the 4th of August. You know how much fun that holiday* is - totally picture worthy.

*august 4th is National Chocolate chip day. Betcha didn't know that one, did you?

I confess. I didn't either. So let's get back to July 4th...

Piedmont parade - the cutest little town enveloped completely by Oakland.  This float was a traveling basketball court.

Piedmont has a Westie contingent in the parade...we were asked by every other westie owner to walk in the parade, but we hadn't exactly planned on walking (I need to teach Barkley how to wave first) so we just watched all the cute westies take in all the excitement.

And because I know how often I get on the blog these days...here's a few more July pictures for you.  

{new 52nd & Barkley items}

{fog rolling in for the afternoon over the Golden Gate} 

{Angel Island Marina -- this might be heaven} 

{A's vs. Red Sox. Great seats, didn't really care who won -- I'm a Giants girl through and through}

{this is my "holy crap, I'm 33" face. My birthday involved a hair cut, good wine (to be blogged about later), fantastic meal.  My hair stylist gave me straight hair for my birthday -- love it!}