Tasting the Rainbow

When I eat Skittles I always get hyped up.

My mother-in-law would say I'm "like a rat on acid".

Skittles do this to me. 

I hate the orange ones.

I'm eating them now as I type.  
Not the orange ones, of course.
I just make an orange pile and give them to the boys.
Aren't I the sweetest mom?

I've just ripped the top off of my 5th mini-pack and there's no turning back people.  

 I could choose now to share with you a story of how Heather, my best friend in junior high, and I can make a complete set of false fingernails with a package of Skittles.  This was our sleepover ritual. 

But, I won't go into detail as rat-like as I am typing this post, we would never get to the fun of what I'm here to share with you.

I AM GOING TO BE AN AUNT AGAIN!

I know I've already told you all about this here.

BUT, I CAN'T WAIT!

I think it's one of the things I love most about designing.  I am able to share my God given talent with the ones I love so very much. 

And, it's time to get the ball rolling for my niece's diaper bag!

I thought it would be fun to post this bag design process and make it a bit interactive so that you are able to see just how a design session works.

1st

• I always see what I can learn about my client.
• I ask them questions and find out about their personality.  
• I ask about their favorite colors.
• I ask what necessities are required for their bag design.

Kim, my niece-to-be's mama:

• She is very organized and timely.
• She knows what she likes when she sees it.
• She is sentimental and loves traditions.
• She is patient.
• For colors, she loves blues and pinks.
• She decorates with khaki and earth tones in her home.
• For a bag necessity, she enjoys several compartments for storage.
• She definitely would like a name embroidery.

2nd

I ask specifically what types of fabric hues and color schemes a client would like to see.

Kim, my niece-to-be's mama:

"I don't know.  I don't want the bag to look like pink and purple GIRL everywhere.  I like softer colors, but I want to do something different and maybe brighter than the nursery colors. I am more into pinks than purples."

3rd

After taking all of this information into account, I send fabric collections to the client to peruse and see what speaks to them if you will.

Below are the collections I have for Kim.  She's my niece-to-be's mama if you didn't know that already.

And, this is where I want you to be all cyber-spacey & interactive and VOTE!  The votes are anonymous and take nothing more than a click of your mouse.  So, which of the fabric collections above do you like most?

Vote here:

And, since you did such a superfly job on that click-n-vote, I need one more from you and I promise I won't ever eat Skittles and blog at the same time.

You see, I asked for a little bag help here in this post just last week, and well, readers' mouses must've been on strike.  I only received 7 votes on which bag Kim should carry.  I had 124 visits by readers on that specific post. In the words of my step father-in-law, Larry, "that don't add up".

So, I thought I'd try once more only this time I would add visuals aids {cause who doesn't love a good visual aid?} and informational links to help you out with your decision making.

Like before, I am only showcasing k.Mac's top 5 diaper bag designs based solely on past purchased quantities and then I am including the newest Antebellum design.

First up, the Antebellum.  It is k.Mac's newest diaper bag and does not even have a place on my website yet.  Go here to read all about the details for more information.

Next up is the Miss Merry Mac Pack.  Go here to read all about it.

Then we have our ever famous Classic Tote.  Go here for information.

Then there's k.Mac's sweet Ruby.  Here is where you can read all about it.

And, the Regency!  Here's where to go to read all about her bells & whistles.

Last, but not least, is k.Mac's Hipster.  Details here.

Now let's do this vote thing one more time for good measure, shall we?  You're visually full and your informationally equipped:

How fun was that?  You virtually designed, bought a k.Mac bag AND didn't pay a thing!

Thanks for the votes.  I'll do an update post to let you know the results as well as what bag and fabric collection Kim, my niece-to-be's mama, selects.

 Overdosing on Tasting the rainbow, 

.mac :)

A New Arrival

There is so much joy in new.

The anticipation, the wait, the wondering, the planning & preparing are all like one big pep rally for the arrival of freshness in something never seen or experienced before.

A little client of mine, along with her mama and daddy, are completely engulfed with joy of the newness they experienced this past November.

Miss Cameron became a big sister.  

And, well, she had to have one of k.Mac's Pretty Petite bags to help with all of the toting & doting that was to happen upon the arrival of her new little brother.

Meet Wesley and k.Mac's newest diaper bag design, The Antebellum.

The design session for this custom design order will forever hold a special place in my heart.  It was the last appointment in my studio at our home before we moved.

And, these clients are so precious.

I love nothing more than being intricately involved and hands-on when it comes to a client's custom design.  Both grandmothers of this client came along with the Cameron & Wesley's mama to help her design and select.

i.so.heart.this.

I was honored to make Cameron's diaper bag when she was born as well, so being asked to make Mr. Wesley's bag sent me over the moon.

And, the Antebellum is becoming so very popular for a choice in diaper bag designs.  It has no official page on my website but just from my test prototype sample bag out & about in the public eye, I have made 4 of these diaper bags for clients.

Let me tell you a little about it.

It has a side grommeted design in your choice of bow or sash format.  On each side, the bag comes equipped with 2 fabric pieced pockets.

I utilize silver round rings for the one-strap design for added texture and depth aesthetically.

Inside the bag, you will find 6 interior pockets for all of baby's must haves.  Not only are these pockets pieced and sufficiently reinforced, but they also make a great space for a personal embroidery message just to mama and babe.

The Antebellum boasts a zipper closure for added security for baby's necessities.

And, how great is a full length back zippered pocket?  This has been a feature clients speak so highly of with this new diaper bag design.

Peek-a-boo coordinating fabric corners are a detailed touch of couture within this design.  Upon the creation and sketching of this design, I wanted this bag to have ample space for name boasting.  I enjoy the way the grommeted sides edge out a polished look with coordinating silver hardware from the bag's silver o-rings.

This design session was so preciously fun.  The grandmas were oozing with joy for the anticipation of Mr. Wesley.  They showered their daughter/daughter-in-law with happy smiles and excitement as she worked to pick out just the right fabric collection and bag design. I loved that they opted to include Miss Cameron with a Mommy & Me matching Pretty Petite bag as well.

Miss Cameron and her mama were all set thanks to grandmothers' lovin.  With handmade k.Mac cuteness over their shoulders, they were ready for their new arrival.

And wouldn't you know it?

 NEW is in the air.

I'm going to be an aunt AGAIN!

My brother and sister-in-law Kim along with Miss Mollye are going to be a family of FOUR!

Don't you just adore their Halloween party costumes?

              

I CANNOT wait to make for Mollye's LITTLE SISTER and Mollye too! k.Mac's {mollyemade} is going to be an absolute blast this coming year I have no doubt.

I am honored to be making my sweet niece's nursery bedding.  I cannot wait to share with you the fabric collection Kim has chosen for the sweetheart's room.  This must be another post entirely.

And, well, we need your help!  

What k.Mac diaper bag should Kim carry?

I am using k.Mac's top 4 diaper bag designs in this poll along with the newest Antebellum design.  Go here to check out all of these diaper bags and more in greater detail.

I have no doubt that later on we will need your help on a fabric collection for this diaper bag too.  There are SO MANY to choose from.  Go here for a just a smidgeon of a peek at what Kim has at her fingertips.

Yes, new is good.  

new designs

new nieces

new clients

and a new address

k.Mac is happy!

.mac :)

aLl hAlLoWs' eVe EVE

Man, it's getting spooky around here.

I have jumped and screamed really loudly not once, but twice today.

Bring it, baby!

I thought we would do a little Halloween costume parade here at k.Mac headquarters as somewhat of a pep rally for the BIG 10.31.

1st up...

Eli Garrett in his 1st costume. He was almost 7 months old and what sweet little lion he did make. Believe it or not, this costume is store bought. It is a Tom Arma. These were the years prior to me teaching myself how to sew and beginning k.Mac.

2nd up....

A cowboy. I put the ensemble together and made Eli's vest that said "Sherrif Cobble". I really wanted my kids to be exactly what they wanted to be each and every year. Eli couldn't really say his 1st year, but I worked that boy to death this 2nd year to have him make his very own choice! We even practiced knocking on doors and saying "Trick or Treat" and "Thank you" at the end.

Perhaps the last costume I wore as I child made me this way.

{I have searched the world over for a visual for this only to realize that the only copy of this picture is hanging in my Mom-mommie and Dad-daddy's bedroom.}

My last year of trick-or-treating my mom MADE me be a bag of jelly beans.

5th grade

I.AM.DEAD.SERIOUS.

Not cool, I know.

A bag of jelly beans???

5th grade?

Geez.

What a way to go out, huh?

Well, I think I may have made up for it Eli's 2nd Halloween.

Yep, I think I found peace with my bag o' beans if you will.

By this time, you see, I had begun the beginnings of teaching myself to sew. And well, let's just say I got crafty.

Anybody see Casey face in this picture?!

That's right! I was 6 months pregnant with Casey on Eli's 2nd Halloween. And well, I just had to be a belly dancer. A belly dancer who actually won a Halloween costume contest at that! I like to say Casey helped nudge me into the win column.

How's that for a bag o'beans?

Closure feels good.

Onward to Eli's 3rd Halloween and Casey's 1st

{on the outside of my womb}...

Eli got to pick for the both of them. Eli's was a cinch to make. He specified that he wanted a green collar for his cow bell. Of course, wish granted. I struggled with what to do for Casey. I opted to make a headress that would do nothing short of SCREAM CHICKEN for this sweet nugget of mine. I used a soft felt for the cap and then went to town with a couple of boas and hot glue. Yep, I think my mission of chicken screaming was accomplished. I did think it was strange, however, how Eli decided with such quickness that he was going to be a cow and Casey was going to be a chicken. I mean he was only 2 1/2.

Then one morning in play time on the floor I look over and see this:

Voila. A cow and a chicken.

Observant fellow that Eli is.

Eli's 4th Halloween and Casey's 2nd Halloween...

A green train and a football.

Kenny took the train and I took the football.

We each completely winged it on patterns. Me with my sewing machine and Kenny with his carboard, we worked it out.

Eli aDoReD his costume. It actually had a wood frame on the inside complete with an adjustable safety strap.

Casey was only a 1 1/2 here. He cracked me up not wanting to put his hands outside of the football through the arm holes. Each time I would try to get him to put his arm through, he would shake his head and say "No bootball, mama! No bootball, mama!" The boy was clear in letting me know footballs don't have arms! I had to carry around his candy bucket all for the sake of real.

Which leaves us to this year...

Batman and The Tin Man.

Eli began wanting to be a lobster and then thought lobsters weren't scary enough. Then he decided he would be a bat. Yes, bats were lots scarier than lobsters.

Until...

He eyed a Toys-R-Us catalog and saw a picture of a Batman costume. He has never even seen a Batman cartoon, but came running to me to say, "Look, mom! A bat and a man. I have to be this!"

And so he will be. I have the belt and mask left to make.

And Casey's looks oh.so.fine in his mommy-made silver lamay jumpsuit awaiting the addition of his daddy's craftiness with silver spray paint and carboard. Funnel hat...we are on the look out for a silver one. I have some back up ideas should one not turn up tomorrow on our hunt.

Never fear.

Let's take the time to state here that Casey's intial request for his costume this year was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz not the Tinman.

Kenny quickly made clear to Casey that boys don't be Dorothy.

Casey is infatuated with Dorothy. Her voice, her sparkly shoes. We got ourselves a celebrity crush, there's no denying it.

The boys think Kenny would make a super vampire or dracula and I couldn't agree more. We will see if that Coach Cobble decides to play dress up with us or not.

And me?

Well, as much as I want to be a purple sequined belly dancer AGAIN this year, I can't. Belly dancers only look cute when they have pregnant bellies.

So, I am going to be a witch!

This was my all-time favorite costume to wear on Halloween. A close 2nd was a gypsy, but the black hat always did it for me!

My costume has yet to be made.

This witch better shake her broomstick and get on it or all she will have on for Halloween is that black hat!

Now THAT is scary!

.mac-a-boo :)

Bun in the Oven

I love being pregnant. Love it, I say. The kicks, the knotty elbows poking out, the protruding belly button, the plump expansion of the chestal area...seriously, I love it all.

Matter of fact, I would dare say, I feel the prettiest when elastic pants adorn my waistline.

Above is a photo taken of our family the day before Casey McGill was born. Eli seems to like seat Mama made just for him, huh?

Me? A bun in the oven? Hmmmm.

And the darling accessories that go along with that bump are just the best. The gifts I loved most were the ones handmade and personalized. I received handmade gifts from distant co-workers who were expert knitters, church friends who took their first stab at sewing fabric to a burp cloth, and great little taggies and bibs from high end baby boutiques with each of my boys' names dabbled across the front. I adored these gifts. I remember peering down at their name and running my fingers across the stitches made just for them all while rubbing my belly in total day dream mode about the sweet guy inside.


Handmade and unique has always been the gush of my heart. Perhaps this is was the reason k.Mac became a reality for me. Because it seems I'm not the only one sweet on handmade and personalized baby gifts.

{shown above k.Mac's large Regency with coordinating changing pad}


Who knew that tiny faint purple line paired with it's neighbor would work such magic in my life? Eli was planned on on the docket complete with X's on the calendar. And on the 1st try, this baby boy decided we were his mama and daddy. Casey was God's planning. Not intentionally trying and with prevention in the works, Casey face made us his.
And they both have been more wonderful than we ever could have imagined. Completely and totally, they have confiscated our lives with utter joy, hard work, laughter, and a HUGE learning curve time and again.
And I wonder what our life would be like if we had just one more.
Could our hearts hold a spot for another tiny Cobble?



Would I have enough compartments to carry the responsibility of raising 3 little ones into amazing young men and perhaps a young woman?


Could I find time for the single me with 6 little hands {not just 4} that all want their mama most?
Could I keep my total package together?
Nah, there's no way.
But this sweet client of mine can!
She received a k.Mac design session as a baby gift.
And what a fabulous job she did selecting her fabric collection and bag design.
Thanks for the photo shoot, Ashley!
Congratulations on Broderick Nathaniel!
Oh well, I guess 4 little hands are enough to keep me busy. This baby train is currently in the roundhouse, remember?
I leave you with the words of this song cause that's where we're at in this house!
Happy babying to all!
.mac :)

It's All Good.

It wasn't meant for me to have a girl. It just wasn't written in the stars so they say. I am okay with that. Matter of fact, I knew with both Eli and Casey that they were boys before we even had the ultrasound to confirm these facts.

People ask me, "How did you know?"

Well, every mom reports back unique quirks about their pregnancies. Some tell tales of their uncontrollable cravings of milkshakes on demand to chilli every night before bed. Some tell of little-to-no-patience mood swings, hair growth, hair loss, complexion dissasters and so on...

Me. I felt aggression. That's right. Agression. I dreamed of hostile car chases, shooting guns, and beating people up. Those dreams. Those wickedly intense dreams led me to only one conclusion: testosterone had laid down his welcome mat and hung a no vacancy sign in my womb.

That's how I knew I was having boys.

It's weird. Most women are infatuated with the concept of having a little girl. I know many that have these feelings. I don't think they are weird at all. I just think it is weird that I never possessed these urges.

I mean I am the girly girl. Accessories, details, feelings, sharing, celebrations, talking...these words are synonomous with the name Meghan.

But boys I have. I like it this way. You see, I'm what I like to call the versatile girly girl. Perhaps this could be seen as bit of a brag. Hmmmmm. Maybe. But nonetheless, I love to be outside, fish, camp, play in the dirt, pick up frogs and spiders, throw ball, build stuff, and I even have a pretty dang good car engine rendition if I do say so myself.

So it's all good. Eli and Casey are perfect for me. I will be the best darn Mother of the Groom you could ever ask for and I am already praying that my daughter-in-laws won't completely loathe me so that I can actually get to see my boys and potential grandchildren during the holiday seasons. All Mothers of The Grooms out there, can I get an amen?

Plus, having boys means all the extra frilly things you know like fun jewelry, cute shoes, and trendy jeans get to come home with me. In Mama's size instead of the 4T version. I hear a lot of my friends that have little girls say that they spend a fortune on the unbelievably sweet and cute little girl clothes and accessories out there. Even one of my mother of a girl friends reports that her little girl has at least 30 pairs of shoes.

Eli and Casey own 3 pair a piece: Crocs, sneakers, and church shoes.

Yeah, I'm okay with the cheaply died pin corsage carnation at the wedding in lieu of the ornate pearl encrusted wristlet the MOTB will be wearing. It's all good.

Cause if I did have girls, you might just catch my little Divas in something like this:

(minus the entire choice of college endorsements here...you know it would be orange and white no matter what UCLA has to say about it.)

And at Christmas, they would probably have a huge frappin' bow in their hair pulled to the side (of course after they slept on pink sponge rollers the night before) spreading their happiest Christmas cheer in something like this:


I want pants like these. Check that. I will have pants like these:

Please disregard the low rent pictures here as I think I forgot what little knowledge I do have about cameras, lighting, and oh the button selection: FLASH ON.

I made these for a little girl in Casey's Sunday School class. They share the same birthday. She is a doll baby, and I think Casey would make her a great husband. Plus, we really like her parents so I might end up with a wristlet corsage after all if the above works out. I won't hold my breath on the pearl encrusted part though.

It was a wonderful experience making these outfits for her. True therapy for me I tell you. I did not use a pattern, but just kind of made it up as I went. The ideas were limitless and very addictive. I could make bundles of these!! I have already come up with at least 3 more versions of this simple design concept.

tiered ruffles, matching fabric flower hair bow, peiced dress with scalloped collar, OH, and...

See what I mean. There's a reason God gave me 2 little boys.
I am so glad he did.
But to appease my uber-feminine tendancies...thank goodness for Lily at church and my nieces!!

:-) .mac