Sew A Thing of Beauty

Skirt Week!

2010-06-08T16:01:00.000-07:00

I recently found out about Skirt Week which is being hosted by crafterhours. Since I hadn't made Sweet Pea a skirt yet, I decided to make something for her. The gears started turning immediately, and this is what I came up with: Little Bow Peep

There are buttons on the inside holding the straps in place. I made it this way so I'd have the option to remove them.

Surprise! The bow at the bottom can be tightened to reveal a cute little ruffle!

The buttons on the back were a last minute thing (In fact, it was just before the "photo shoot" and Sweet Pea was wearing it :)) I added the buttons so the straps could be even more versatile and convert into a sash around the waist.

Now, the trick will be trying to figure out how to blow this up into a version for ME! :)

Peace

2010-03-21T16:26:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been feeling a sense of balance and calm in my life. Things are moving steadily along at a manageable and enjoyable pace. Often in the last several years I have felt like one aspect of my duties is suffering - like the housework or responsibilities to the kids or making good dinners or checking in with dear friends or any number of things. It seemed I could only be good at one thing at a time while the others suffered. But lately I feel like hours I didn't know existed have opened up to me and things are just getting done! I can't explain it except that I spent a lot of time in thought and prayer about it, and things seem to have fallen into place. A little organization and prioritizing have gone a long way. I've even found time to enjoy guilt-free crafting and sewing. Awwww, sewing time just is that much more enjoyable when I don't have a nagging feeling that I really should be doing something else.

Or, that nagging feeling that I really should be finishing a custom order before I start any more projects :). So I tackled this one recently: (sorry about the lousy lighting in these pics - I took them first thing in the morning just before they were picked up.)

I was asked to make a few items for a little girl's room. I made a comforter out of some gorgeous butterfly fabric picked out by her mom. The original plan was to make a toddler-size comforter, but later Mom decided a twin-size would allow her to grow into it. I agreed, and set to work making some changes to the original design. I added a piece of mauve fabric to the middle, but I thought it was a touch boring. A few pintucks and an appliqued butterfly later, and it looked just right. I hope she likes it as much as I do!

The mom also asked if I could make a little pillow for her bed too. The lovely satin-like fabric she picked out inspired me to make something with gathers to show off the sheen. After some playing with the fabric, I decided on the pillow above. It's the first decorative pillow I've made, so it was a fun new project.

Next up is a little chair to match the comforter, but sadly I bought the wrong kind of Velcro (FYI, don't buy adhesive Velcro for sewing...gummed up needles are no fun...), so I have to wait until my next trip to the fabric store.

So....onto some more guilt-free sewing for Sweet Pea!

I've been eying some darling little fabric boots on Flikr. I bookmarked them months ago, but now that my daughter is walking, I think she's ready for a pair :). I made a muslin mock-up first, made some changes and then made this version out of some vintage fabric that was given to me. Gotta love a pair of (almost) free shoes!

The main part of the boot is a Robeez-style, but I added to the height to make them look like boots. There is elastic around the ankles and a Velcro strap around the upper part so they stay on nice a snug. Sweet Pea has been walking around in them for an hour now with no problems!

While I love this fabric and have decided to make her a little dress out of this same stuff, I'm not sure if I like it as a boot. I'm thinking it's kind of busy. My plan is to make another pair in brown or black, which will be much more versatile. What do you think?

Sewin' again!

2009-11-03T14:48:00.001-08:00

From bridal showers to weddings and fall cleaning to party hosting, the last few months have been fun, but busy. I'm definitely ready to get back into routine and squeeze in a little down time...namely sewing. Christmas is right around the corner, and I'm hoping to finish a couple aprons for gift-giving. They are actually almost finished, but now my serger decided to be cranky, so I think I need to bring it in for servicing. Blah. At least I was able to finish a custom order diaper bag, which didn't require any serging.

It was a custom order for a friend's sister. I hope she likes it! She seemed pretty flexible about the dimensions and details, so I kept it simple. It was fun sewing a diaper bag again. I haven't made one since before Sweet Pea was born, and that one was kind of complicated. Lots of measuring + mathematics = headache.

My goals for this month are to finish Peanut's quilt (remember that quilt I started MONTHS ago!), make a pinafore/apron for my niece, and finish a custom duvet cover. No, these things shouldn't take too long, but I tend to plug away at my sewing projects a little bit every couple days. So, it does take a little while. On top of that, I do like to sit down and relax with some knitting every few nights. My hands like to stay busy, so eventually everything will get finished :).

Wedding Fun!

2009-10-23T11:09:00.000-07:00

After weeks and months of preparation, my sister and her fiance got married last week. Congrats you two! While they honeymoon in a beautiful, sunny place, our little family is gradually getting things back to normal. I finally tackled a few custom sewing orders (sorry ladies...I appreciate you understanding the busy life of a young mama). I also decided to check in here and update y'all.

In late September I hosted a bridal shower for my sister. It was so much fun preparing and decorating for the party! I actually get a little giddy when I'm planning a party. I love thinking about all the little details from the menu to what candles I want to light. So fun!

A few months ago I discovered the website of Amy Atlas. Wow, she makes dessert tables look gorgeous! So, I got a some inspiration from her and set up a "Sweet Table" at the party. The theme was pink, brown, and cherry blossoms. It was fun planning a 'girlie' party.

I've seen cherry blossom cakes on Flickr, and I've always thought they were lovely. I was excited to use my sister's shower as an excuse to make one myself. My sister-in-law, a talented cake decorator, nicely allowed me to borrow her supplies and taught me how to make the blossoms. It was a fun project to tackle and I was so happy with how it turned out!

I also tackled chocolate-making for the first time. I used a mold called "Birds and Blossoms" and purchased melting wafers online. I didn't realize how simple choclate-making can be! I expected a big chocolate mess on my stove and in numerous pots and pans. But I was able to melt the chocolate in the microwave and used a spoon and toothpick to fill the molds - easy peasie!

I didn't take as many pictures at the wedding as I would have liked. The role of "Matron of Honor" and "Mama" kept me busy enough. My sister has amazing taste, and everything was lovely - you'll just have to take my word on that :). Everything was black and white damask with hints of burnt orange and gold - gorgeous!

One last minute sewing project was a jacket for my little Sweet Pea. I found a black and white dress at Old Navy that fit the wedding theme perfectly. The only down side with the dress was that it was a summer dress and had very small cap sleeves. It was much to cool for an October wedding. So last week I decided to whip up a cute little jacket for her to wear. I made a pattern from one of her dresses out of muslin. The jacket ended up being a little snug, but at least she's a baby and doesn't have to move around too much :). This isn't the greatest photo, but at least you can see most of the jacket and a bit of the dress.

We had a lovely day and I hope my sister and new brother enjoyed themselves too! Now on to some sewing projects. Next up is finishing a diaper bag as well as some aprons. I have a few aprons that will be ready just in time for Christmas gift giving, if you are interested in purchasing one or more just let me know. I'll post them as soon as they're finished! Stay tuned!

Giveaway!

2009-09-21T14:15:00.000-07:00

Judi is having ANOTHER giveaway! Go check it out here! I think all I've been blogging about lately has been giveaways :). One of these days I'll get back into a sewing groove, but right now I'm busy with my kiddies - one is being potty trained and the other is starting to crawl... I'm having a ton of fun, there just isn't much sewing happening. As the weather starts getting more chilly and crisp, I think the sewing itch will kick in soon enough. Stay tuned!

Another Giveaway!

2009-08-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

Judi is having another great giveaway on her blog - this time it's for a lovely bundle of fabric. Just leave a comment on her blog to be entered.

Also, just a quick update from me: I'm plugging away at my sewing projects, but only a little bit every couple days. Life has gotten so busy the last couple weeks! We're in the middle of potty training Peanut and we're trying to squeeze in all kinds of fun in the sun before the summer ends. I'll have to post some "in progress" photos one of these days. I usually like to save photos for when I'm finished a project, but I don't know how many projects I'll actually finish this month... I just have a bunch on the go...

I'm hoping to get back into a more consistent sewing groove when the weather cools down. I get lots of inspiration in the summer, but don't actually find the time to sew things until the fall/winter. I have a little sketchbook next to my sewing machine that I doodle all my bag, quilt, and clothing designs. (There is also the odd sticky note on the night stand from "middle-of-the-night-should-be-sleeping" bursts of ideas. If I actually have a "hmmm...what should I sew?" moment, I just pull out my sketchbook for ideas. It's always fun to tackle a project that has been tossing around in my brain for a while and attempt to make it a reality. Fun, fun!

:) :) :)

2009-08-04T17:08:00.000-07:00

Check out the results here.

I'm just a little excited. :)

My take on the 'Throwdown' bag

2009-07-31T21:41:00.000-07:00

I was recently visiting the Tiny Seamstress blog, when I noticed a friendly little competition. The challenge was to design a bag based on simple bag pattern brought to you by Tiffany of Tiny Seamstress Designs. As long as the basic bag and dimensions were the same, we have free rein. Fun! I'm always up for a great sewing challenge!

Here's what I came up with:

I've been considering making a bag for Peanut for some time. As he gets older (he's almost 3!!!), he's starting to walk on his own as opposed to constantly being harnessed in the stroller. Plus, he doesn't really need a diaper bag chuck full of stuff - a snack, a juice box, a couple diapers and he's good to go! He loves helping out and enjoys carrying things for me. Lately he's been carrying his own bag of books to the library, but all my totes are just too big for him. So, I thought it would be nice if he had a little backpack for our outings.

I decided to do a bit of quilting for his bag as well as applique his hand on the front. (He has a little obsession with tracing his hand lately, so I thought he would appreciate that detail :)) I also did a little stippling on the pieced part of the bag (my own recent obsession).

The back has two simple corduroy straps that are sewn to the top of the bag. I attached ties in the side seams of the bag and the ends of the straps to make a couple little bows. I did it because I thought it looked cute. Hopefully it's practical too. :) Also, this way we have the option of tying the two straps together for a single strap to go over his shoulder if he gets tired of the backpack.

He already loves his backpack and can't wait to try it out!

An amazing giveaway!!!

2009-07-09T15:25:00.000-07:00

Judi over at Green Fairy Quilts is having a stupendous giveaway to celebrate her 100th blog post. She is giving away four and maybe even five of her lovely products including a quilt pattern, quilted bag, and more!

The "nice" side of me wants to share this great news with everyone. The "naughty" side of me wants to selfishly keep this fabulous news to myself. Shocking, eh! Well, Judi was nice enough to throw in 5 entries to anyone who blogged about her giveaway, so I guess I feel better ;).

Also, take some time to read about the charity Judi and her husband have organized. I wish I had a quilt laying around to donate, but I can barely stay on top of my own sewing projects lately. Maybe as my piles of fabric scraps and little kiddos grow, I'll have the resources and time to donate to this worthy cause.

Go check it out!

what I've been up to the last couple months...

2009-06-22T17:54:00.000-07:00

I've been just a little preoccupied with the latest addition to our family. Our precious baby girl arrived in late April, and we have been busy loving and cuddling her. She's our little Sweetie. So, that's why I haven't been blogging very much lately. My understandable (I think) and lovely excuse.

In the midst of the snuggling, I have been able to finish a few sewing projects. I haven't been able to make all of my ideas a reality, but I have the rest of her life to make little dresses and girly things, right? :)

I sewed up a pair of kimono-style pjs for Sweetie from Amy Butler's "Little Stitches" book. The blanket in the first photo is also from this book. There are some cute projects in there! I'm excited to sew some more projects from this book for Sweetie and also for baby gifts.

Before Sweetie arrived, in the midst of nesting I decided to give the car seat a good cleaning. Well, after much scrubbing, the car seat still didn't look 'great'. So, I decided to sew a carseat cover. I made a pattern by removing the existing cover and pinning muslin to it. I didn't line or quilt it with any other fabrics. It fits nicely over the existing cover and it comes off easily for washing. Bonus!

Here are a couple 'non-baby' projects:

I sewed an apron for my niece's birthday. I added a little gathered inset for fun - I had to do a little girly sewing :).

I also painted a tree in Peanut's room last week. Slowly, but surely, his room is coming together.

Yep, we're staying busy over here. But it's a good busy - it keeps me out of trouble ;).

Darling Daisies

2009-03-14T14:31:00.001-07:00

Today I decided to take a break from my big sewing projects. I just needed a little project that I could start and finish within a couple of hours to get the creative juices flowing again. The best parts of sewing, for me, are the beginning and the end. I love finding inspiration, designing patterns and coordinating fabrics. I also love the satisfaction of finishing a project and using or enjoying it. The middle is where I get stuck. So, to break up the monotony I like to find quick projects that help keep me motivated to finish the larger, more tedious ones.

I recently found this tutorial online, and today seemed like a great day to make a couple fabric flowers. They brighten up my sewing area and just, plain make me smile :).

I'm back...and with a new diaper bag for me!

2009-03-12T13:56:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm still around :). However, I've been camera-less. I finished a custom order diaper bag several weeks ago as well as a pouch carrier for the new baby. I've decided to wait until I have the baby to post pictures of the carrier. It's hard to demonstrate proper "carrier technique" without an itty bitty :).

I've also been working on my son's quilt off and on. I really need to get moving on his quilt, though, because I'd really like him to be in his "big boy" bed before the baby arrives. He is currently sleeping in the baby room while his new room transforms from the office to a bedroom. It really wouldn't be the end of the world if we didn't move him into his new room until later, since the baby will be in our room for the first while. But with Peanut, I would often do night-time feedings in the baby room to let hubby sleep better. You're welcome, honey :). So, it would be nice to get everyone and everything organized and settled in the next couple weeks. Perhaps the nesting instinct will really kick in one of these days...

Anyways, here's the project I finished last week: a diaper bag for our new little blessing. I couldn't sleep one night, and this bag design worked it's way into my brain. I got up long enough to make some sketches and start thinking about fabric options. Since we don't know if the baby is a boy or a girl, I tried to come up with something neutral. I have to say, now that it's finished, it's a tad on the girly side. But if the baby is a boy I'll probably just take off the flower yo-yos on the front and call it good. Besides, I'm the one who has to carry it - that makes the girlishness ok, right?

It was definitely fun to make some baby items for myself the last couple months. After making so many custom orders for other babies, it's nice to look forward to using some items myself. Hopefully I'll get some ideas for improving my bag-making techniques as well. Sometimes I feel bad making custom orders when I myself haven't tried out the designs. Who knows, maybe there will be some new bag designs in the near future! :)

I also made a diaper changing kit very similar to a custom order from last month. I made it a little smaller and attached the change pad to the bag with snaps.

The Little Diaper Bag That Could

2009-02-02T13:28:00.000-08:00

This diaper bag was my first custom order of the new year. My friend wanted a smallish diaper bag that could fit a few diapers, a wipes container and two bottles/sippy cups. She also wanted to have a change pad. Initially the plan was to have the change pad attached to the bag in some way, but in the end we decided to make it detached. (I'm still mulling over the idea in my head, though. I may try to come up with a design that has a change pad that is attached but can be removed with a zipper, buttons or maybe snaps.) Hmmmm. But anyways, I digress, here's the bag we came up with:

My friend sent me a picture with an idea of what kind of bag she wanted. The front flap in the picture had a funky curve in it. I decided to make a curved flap and also added some embroidery since the flap drew attention to that part of the bag.

The back has a pocket for the change pad.

The change pad has a layer of clear vinyl to protect the fabric from baby messes.

This bag was so much fun to make! I'm also really liking the design. I may make one for myself. I'm also contemplating making a few for my Etsy shop.

Sharing a Shangri La Giveaway!

2009-01-30T17:23:00.000-08:00

Judi of Green Fairy Quilts is having a giveaway. Make that a lovely giveaway! She has a quilted bag as well as some gorgeous fabrics from the Shangri La line. So beautiful! Go check it out on her blog: http://greenfairyquilts.blogspot.com/

A monkey for my little monkey

2009-01-24T12:39:00.000-08:00

Peanut is growing up so fast! He's about ready to be moved into his 'big boy' room. *sniff* *sniff* The upside to this is that I'm having a blast planning projects for his new room. Too many ideas, actually :). I'll have to tackle the major ones now and get to the other ones over the next year or so.

This is just one of the many projects I hope to complete for his new room. I bought Amy Butler's "Little Stitches for Little Ones" last year, and ever since I saw the "Cheeky Monkey", I knew I had to make him a part of Peanut's new room. I'll be venturing out of the theme a bit (the quilt and most of the decor will be bug and nature related), but I couldn't resist adding this cute laundry bag.

The brown stripe fabric will be incorporated in the new quilt as well. I thought the chocolate brown would wash out Mr. Monkey, so I used it for the lining fabric instead. I also LOVE the blue diamond fabric for the outside fabric. I'm so glad I could put it to good use. The monkey is made out of micro-fleece, so he is cuddly and soft despite his inevitable home on the bedroom door. :)

A Little Bit of Christmas in January

2009-01-23T21:20:00.000-08:00

This evening I decided it was about time I updated my blog. I love reading about all the projects and happenings in blogland, but seem to put off posting about my own. Funny how that works. :)

After the rush of sewing orders in November and early December, my family and I enjoyed the holidays in a lovely (warm!!!) place. We had a marvelous time visiting family, and we also spent quite a lot of time relaxing and enjoying ourselves. The sun did it's work and has rejuvenated us for the new year.

Over the last several weeks I was able to finish knitting two sweaters for me, begin a sweater for our little one on the way, and start a purse. Yes, I'm attempting to knit a purse. I'm still trying to decide if I'll keep it or sell it. I think I'll wait until it's finished before I determine if it is even 'sell' worthy :). Pictures will follow when (a) I am satisfied with the blocking and fit & (b) I remember to ask my hubby to take a few pictures. No more taking photos in the mirror - I just can't get it to work!

One of the projects that has been in my 'to finish' pile is a Christmas quilt I started two years ago (yipes, I can't believe it was that long ago!). I bought it as a kit since I was new to quilting. I cut the fabric, stitched up the quilt top, but got nervous when it came to the actual quilting and binding. So, I put it off until I could take a class. Well, it was year before I took a binding class, but boy was it worth it! I pull those directions out every time I bind a quilt. I'm so nervous I'll cut a strip the wrong way or mix up a mitered corner.

I finished the class and even sewed up the binding, but once Christmas passed, I lost the motivation to hand-stitch the binding. Back on the 'to finish' pile it went. Even though we were away for Christmas this year, I was determined to finish my Christmas quilt. I almost took it with me on vacation so I could finish it and add a little Christmas decor to our rental condo. But I decided it was not worth the effort or expense (baggage is not so cheap on the plane these days!).

During our first full day back home I finished the quilt. My pregnant body was a bit annoyed that I spent one day traveling and the next rushing around the house like a mad person trying to recuperate from vacation. (Isn't it funny how we seem to need a day or two to recover from vacation???) In between tackling loads of laundry I tackled the quilt. By the end of the day it was complete and already part of the decor. (Did you notice my loverly bench?! Definitely a keeper. Sorry all you fans of the bench, I don't think I'll be parting with it anytime soon :))

[I took these photos this evening. Yes, that means my Christmas decorations are still up. Is that weird? Apparently I put off finishing quilts AND taking down holiday decor.]

A scarf AND a hat...in one!

2008-12-04T14:04:00.000-08:00

I decided I was in need of a break from sewing for Christmas. I've had the idea for this project in my head for a while. All the materials I needed were on hand, so I decided to give it a go!

While this is my own design, I got the idea from this blog. I can't remember why I decided a giraffe variation would be cute, but that's what it ended up being. Now I have ideas for making these scarf/hats in different animals too. Wouldn't a monkey be cute? Or really any animal with cute ears? If you have any ideas I'd love to hear them!

This could be a new 'thing' for me. Too bad I'm a little late for Christmas, but maybe I can whip up a few for January, since that's when it really starts getting chilly around here.

Giveaway at "Simplify"

2008-11-23T13:45:00.000-08:00

Sorry about the short notice, but Camille at "Simplify" is giving away a quilt!!! You get to pick the Thimble Blossoms pattern, and she'll make it for you or send you the kit (if you prefer to quilt yourself). This is an amazing prize, and it's being drawn for tomorrow. So hurry over!

http://camilleroskelley.typepad.com/simplify/2008/11/feeling-lucky.html?cid=140190076#comment-140190076

One Down, Four to Go...I Think...

2008-11-12T18:06:00.000-08:00

I just finished this custom order apron. My friend gave me an idea of what she wanted, and I went from there. She knew she wanted solid black for the main part of the apron. She also thought pink and polka dots would look cute, but was willing to let me see what I could find. Well, I found the perfect pink and black polka dot fabric for her. I think she's going to be thrilled, because I was having trouble finding the 'just right' fabric for her.

I changed my apron design up a bit to allow for adjustments around the neck. Since this apron will be a gift, I wanted to make sure it would fit the 'giftee'. I also think the two bows in the back make it look extra cutesy. I also added knots where the black and pink fabrics meet around the neck. The knots seem to finish the apron off as well as make the fabric transition a little more clean.

I hope she likes it!

All these apron orders for Christmas keep reminding me about my own Christmas shopping...or lack there of...

To Do List:
Finish aprons (by Christmas)
Finish Christmas shopping (by Christmas)

Custom Baby Items - Finished!

2008-11-03T13:23:00.000-08:00

I finally finished a custom order for a stroller quilt, matching stroller bag and a change pad cover. These are all for the same friend who had me make the pink and brown crib quilt.

She wanted the stroller bag to fit a water bottle and a few small baby items. I used plastic canvas between the layers to keep it nice and sturdy.

The water bottle compartment has an elastic band since water bottles seem to vary in size. I also thought if she's jogging the band will help keep her water bottle in the compartment :). The other compartment just has a flap to keep things inside and dry.

All the snaps are reinforced with plastic canvas. I've never made anything like this before, so I wanted to make sure the snaps could handle the weight of a water bottle.

I also made her a change pad cover to match her crib quilt. I used just about every scrap of fabric to make this cover. I hope she's happy with how everything turned out!

Better than nothing!!!

2008-10-16T10:44:00.001-07:00

So, it turns out the camera that needs to go in for 'repairs' just needs a good cleaning. Well, I don't mind a few specks on my photos if you don't! Hopefully I can get it cleaned this weekend, but for now, this will do.

I am excited to show you my latest project - Mary Jane slippers! I picked up this pattern last week at Quilt Essentials great sale. It's a pattern for 'Ballet Slippers', and you can make basic slippers or add cute straps (i.e. Mary Janes, cris-cross straps, and pretty ribbon straps). I've needed slippers for so long, but I was waiting for something cutesy. As soon as I saw the pattern I knew I wanted Mary Jane slippers :).

I love the little tab on the back - such a cute detail!

I've also been working on a custom order quilt. My friend (who ordered the pink crib quilt in previous posts), also requested a stroller quilt. With the fall weather coming upon us, she wanted something to bundle her baby in while they go out for crisp fall walks. She picked out the two main fabrics and the fuzzy backing and gave me free reign with the design. How trusting of her! :) After I made a few of the quilt blocks I realized it was going to be a bit busy, so I purchased the gray fabric to break it up a bit. I hope she likes it!

The quilt is actually a nine patch, but it's hard to tell from the photo :).

I'm disappointed I can't show you the quilt I finished or the apron I made for my sister-in-law, but I was camera-less and the projects are now out the door to their 'new owners'. At least I was able to post a couple of pictures and give a quick update. Hopefully, more projects will be finished soon!

Sewin', but nothin' showin' for it

2008-10-10T19:20:00.000-07:00

I recently finished the pink baby quilt as well as a few smaller baby items, but alas, I have no camera to take pictures of them :(. Hubby needs the camera for work while his is being repaired, so it may be a little while before I can capture my projects on film again.

I have a bunch of projects in the works, though. I'm excited to share them, so hopefully my camera is back soon! I'm just about finished a fall coat for myself, I'm about to start quilting a quilt I started a year ago, and then I have a bunch of custom order aprons that need to be finished before Christmas. It doesn't seem like much now that I'm writing it out, but I really want to get these projects finished in the next two months. Actually, if we're talking Christmastime, I have a Christmas quilt that I started last winter that just needs the binding hand-stitched. So there's another one that needs doing for the holidays. Lots to do, but it's oh so much fun!

I read other blogs and I'm amazed how much sewing they can crank out in such a short period of time. On the very odd day I can finish a project in one sitting, but that is very rare! I usually have 3 or 4 projects going at one time, and they usually take me about a month or two to complete (unless it's a quilt, that could take several months...or in my case...a year...). :)

I think one reason I'm having a tough time finishing projects lately is I'm sleeping a lot more these days. I usually get a lot of sewing done while Peanut sleeps, but seem to be sleeping when he sleeps. At night I seem to be vegging - knitting, sometimes reading, and sometimes tidying up depending on my energy level - or dropping off to sleep again. Hmmmmm, I wonder if expecting a baby has anything to do with that...

:)

Quiltin' Away!

2008-08-20T22:42:00.000-07:00

It's been a little while since I posted last, but that doesn't mean I haven't been sewing! In fact, I have several sewing projects that need doing in the next month, so you should be seeing more pics in the future. But right now I'm working a custom order for a baby quilt.

The expectant mom and I got together and talked about what she wanted. She was open to patterns, but liked the one I made for Peanut. She also mentioned that when her girls were babies they loved cuddling anything warm and soft. She was willing to buy the fabric herself and have me do the quilting, so that's what we did! While she was at the fabric store she found a gorgeous waffle weave fabric and some great brown microfleece for the backing. She did an amazing job picking out the fabrics. Her little baby girl is going to love it!

It's not finished yet, but here are some progress pics:

Finished squares!

More squares

The top is finished and now it's time for pinning the batting and backing.

Baby is going to love the soft pink border fabric!

Cutesy Apron

2008-08-02T15:37:00.000-07:00

I just finished this apron for a friend. It's an apron pattern I designed and have made a few times. I had one of my aprons for sale at a fair, but my friend didn't like all the pink in the fabric :). So we managed to find a cute fabric in green. (There is a little pit of pink on the cupcakes, but she still approved. :)) I love cupcake fabric! This fabric is by Robert Kaufman and it was great to work with.

Originally the apron was going to be all the same fabric. But I found a lovely coordinating fabric in my stash in brown and green polka dots. I thought it would break up the busy-ness of the cupcake fabric too. I hope she likes it!

Peanut walked by and gave me a 'leg hug' :).

Close-up of the fabric.

Close-up of the gathers and big top-stitching.

A Giveaway!

2008-07-21T22:11:00.000-07:00

Penny at "Sew Take a Hike" is having a lovely giveaway. She is passing on a thrifted gingham apron, a cherry bag, a copy of Cook's Country, some CUTE fabric and more! Go check it out and leave a comment here to enter. Enjoy!

It's been a while!

2008-07-20T17:15:00.000-07:00

Wow, I just realized how long it's been since I've updated my blog! Sorry! I haven't been up to much in the way of sewing lately. The weather has been amazing and Peanut loves to be outdoors. We spend one or two days a week at the beach and the rest of the time we're in the backyard or neighborhood park. William loves the sand and I soak up a little sun (30 minutes immediately followed by sunblock). :)

I started a knitting project last week that I hope to have finished by fall. If any of you are still curious about the 'mystery' crochet project, it's still in the works. It's on hold for a little while, but I hope to have it finished in the next month or two as well. I've just always wanted to learn how to knit and I found a great sweater pattern that looks complicated, but is actually fairly easy (so far...). The hardest part is keeping track of which row I'm on in the pattern! I started keeping track with a sticky note, which has been has been a big help :). Aren't sticky notes great?! I had to learn a few new stitches for increasing and decreasing, but Google and YouTube have been extremely helpful. I've finished two pieces and I'm almost finished the third. Once it actually starts to look like something I'll post a picture.

I hope you're enjoying the summer too!

A Chain of Giving

2008-07-05T11:05:00.000-07:00

I'm a fan of reusing and recycling. I have a tough time throwing things away when I think they could have a new and better purpose. I try not to be a junk hog, but I do hang onto things that I think could have 'a second life'. If I can't find a purpose for it, then at least I can donate to a local thrift store or give things away.

This past week I was the happy (Happy HAPPY!) receipient of a chain of giving. This may be a little tricky to follow: My friend's grandma's neighbor is moving and decided to down-size her fabric/craft supply. She asked her neighbor (my friend's grandma) if she wanted the stuff or if she knew of someone who could put it to good use. My friend's grandma accepted the stuff and decided to pass it along. I'm not exactly sure what happened next. From what I understand 'Grandma' was talking to here daughter (my friend's mom) and mentioned the craft supplies. My friend's mom thought of me and so I got a call a couple days ago to come pick up some free stuff!!! 'Grandma' called it 'craft supplies' on the phone, so I didn't really know what I was going to get. But I love all things crafty, so I readily and greatfully set-up a pick up time.

Peanut and I made the trip to see my friend's grandparents. We had a lovely visit. Peanut ate some freshly picked peas straight from the pod - he thought it was pretty cool :). I was able to poke through one of the boxes a little, and I was thrilled that 'craft supplies' meant fabric. Woohoo! I couldn't wait to get home and dig through everything.

Well, I got home, put Peanut to bed, and got to work...well, more like 'play' :). I couldn't believe what I found! There wasn't just fabric - there were tons of different kinds of trims and ribbons, a Tupperware full of buttons, some lace, finished collars, and - perhaps the most exciting find - some vintage patterns! Not only were there some cute patterns, I found an amazing apron pattern - I can't wait to try it! I've been looking for a vintage-ish apron pattern for my sister-in-law. I actually gasped when I saw the pattern because it is perfect. Yay!
The icing on the cake is that for the price of a little gas I was able to get all these wonderful treasures. Now I just need to think of some projects 'worthy' of all these great things. I'd love to get some ideas from you. Thanks for reading!

Baby Stroller Cushion and Quilt

2008-07-04T14:20:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July everyone! I hope you have fun plans to celebrate. I'm just glad the weather perked up a bit after the thunderstorm and torrential rain yesterday! I'm not going to complain about that bought of rain because we did need it, I'm just glad it's sunny today :).

Here's my latest completed project. It's a custom order for a stroller cushion. My friend recently had a baby and bought one of those great jogging strollers. She loves the stroller but thought it didn't have enough padding for her baby. There is a metal bar right under where the baby is supposed to sit - poor baby bum! So she asked me to make her a cushion.

She picked out the fabric which is brown, maroon, pink, and lime green. I found a coordinating minky dot fabric in pink. The cushion has two sets of holes for upper straps and a funky hole thingy for the buckle strap. I made it this way so it would fit both the stroller and the car seat as well as be adjustable for when baby gets bigger.

What my friend doesn't know is that I made her a matching stroller quilt as well! It will fit the stroller nicely and not be too bulky for carrying around. I hope she likes it!

Hmmm...Mysterious...

2008-07-02T09:15:00.000-07:00

Here's a crochet project I started a few days ago. It's not something I typically make (you know, an afghan or a sweater). I'm not finished yet, but I'm kinda excited about it. I just had to give you a sneak peek. :)

What do you think it could be?

A blog I love and a giveaway I couldn't resist...

2008-06-25T08:56:00.000-07:00

I love Sandy's 4 Reluctant Entertainers blog! She has tons of tips for entertaining (not to mention gorgeous photos) - no matter your age, space constraints, or budget. Here is an exerpt from Sandy's blog:

"With the best intentions, many of us think about entertaining, but never get around to it. For many this blessing of gracious living for both the host and her guests never takes place because of fear … fear of failure, unable to cook, unwilling to share their lives with others, fear of deepening friendships … they are intimidated and think the meal has to be perfect, or … they don’t have the lifestyle that says, “welcome.” I believe in connection. I believe that Americans need to lower the expectations of perfection and open their homes to heart-warming dinners and in doing so, open their lives to LOVE!"

If that isn't motivating enough to go check out her blog, then you should also know that she is having a giveaway! Go check out her blog to learn more about how you could win a lovely Cheery Cherry Apron and more!

http://www.reluctantentertainer.com/

Diaper Bag for a Friend

2008-06-20T14:14:00.000-07:00

Yippee! It's finished! My friend just had a baby and wanted a customized diaper bag. We looked at different pictures and designs and came up with this:

She wanted a sturdy bag that could hold its shape, so I used heavy duty stabilizer. The strap is adjustable and has some polyester batting inside for comfort.
It's a messenger style bag, so we took advantage of the flap and added a zipper pocket for extra storage.
The back has a large flat pocket and the sides have bottle pockets.
The inside has pockets lined with clear vinyl. The bottom has clear vinyl too for easy clean up and spills. I decided to add a zipper pocket, because my friend wanted 'lots of pockets' :).

I hope she likes it - I can't wait to give it to her!

Faith, Hope, Love

2008-06-13T13:05:00.000-07:00

I think this quilt pattern by McKenna Ryan is gorgeous. I love the message, the colors, the design, ahhhh...everything. It looks like tons of work with lots of applique, so I don't know if I'm quite ready for this type of project. Also, the price tag isn't quite so gorgeous - about $100 for just the patterns!!! I think I'll just drool over the pictures for now :).

More pics here: http://www.pineneedles.com/SuperStore/SuperStore-Assortment.asp?AssortmentID=48

To infinity...and beyond!

2008-06-06T19:22:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted to make an infinity dress. For those of you who don't know what it is, its a halter top style dress with very long straps that can be wrapped and knotted numerous ways. If you look at the pic below, the straps are attached at the waist and then come up over my shoulders, cross in the back, then they cross again around my waist and are tied in the back. It's fun experimenting with all the ways I can wrap this shirt.

Originally, I wanted to make a dress, but in my search for ideas, I found someone who paired a shirt with a skirt. This way, I have the option of wearing the top with pants, other skirts, or the matching skirt. Fun stuff!

Here's the tutorial I based my infinity shirt/dress on, but I did change a few things like the length of the dress as well as the length of the straps. I also added extra fabric in the band for modesty and I left the fabric square to get the hankerchief hem. http://rowena.typepad.com/rostitchery/2006/06/one_seam_conver.html

Here it is as just a top. The straps are quite wide so I can scrunch them up like a tank top or spread them out to get a cap sleeve.

Here is the infinity top with the matching skirt. I'm debating how often I will wear the matching skirt - does it seem a little 'too' formal to you? I was hoping to wear it to church, but I may save it for weddings or formal occasions. Hmmmm.

Thanks for looking, and I'd love to read your comments!

Baby Silhouette Canvas with a Tutorial

2008-05-30T23:27:00.000-07:00

Peanut isn't exactly a baby any more *sniff, sniff*, but you get the idea. I wanted to capture this moment in time with a fabric silhouette. I got the idea from this blog http://blissfulliving-domesticbliss.blogspot.com/2008/05/fun-little-projects.html.

Hmmm...I'm thinking this might be a great gift idea for Father's Day or simply a personilized gift for a loved one. So, here's a write up of what I did:

Materials: 2 types of fabric, a canvas (bought mine at Walmart), Heat'n'Bond (a double-sided iron-on adhesive, I bought mine at Joann's), tacks

1. I took a side view photo of Peanut (I had him look out the window. He loves the outdoors, so this was an effective method for us :)).

2. I uploaded the photo onto my computer and just traced his profile right off the computer screen. Seriously! I put a piece of paper on the monitor and traced away. It worked great!

3. I cut out his traced profile carefully. I will use this later as a stencil.

4. I ironed my selected fabrics (I used two fabrics - a brown sateen and a green cotton gingham to match Peanut's room). I made sure the brown piece was large enough for the silhouette and the green gingham was a few inches larger than the canvas.

5. I cut out a piece of Heat'n'Bond large enough to fit Peanut's profile. Then, I ironed the piece of Heat'n'Bond onto the back of the brown fabric. Leave the paper backing on the adhesive - you will use this to trace the silhouette.

6. I traced the profile stencil from earlier onto the paper from the Heat'n'Bond. (Note: if you care about which way your silhouette is looking, make sure you trace the profile in the opposite direction)

7. I cut out the profile. You'll want to cut the silhouette out carefully with sharp scissors (preferably sewing scissors) because you'll see mistakes on the fabric if you cut too far.

8. I peeled off the paper backing from the silhouette and laid the silhouette, adhesive side down, on my gingham fabric. I spent a bit of time making sure the silhouette was centered on my fabric.

9. Then, I ironed the silhouette onto gingham fabric. I started ironing in the center and worked my way to the edges to avoid wrinkles in the fabric.

10. I let the silhouette set for a few minutes until it was cool. Then, I centered it on the canvas.

11. I used tape initially when I was stretching my fabric over the canvas. The gingham was tricky to work with because I wanted the checkers to line up correctly.

12. Then, I flipped the canvas over and tacked everything down. I started with a tack in the middle of each side and then I tacked each corner. You might have to fiddle with corners a bit to get them to look nice.

13. And voila! There you have a lovely canvas silhouette!

If you use this tutorial I'd love to hear from you - this is the first tutorial I've written. Please let me know if any of the directions are confusing or if you have any questions. I'd also love to see your silhouettes, so please share!

Enjoy!

While hubby's away, why not play!

2008-05-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I bought some fabrics to make a quilt for Peanut. I realized I love to sew, but I haven't made him very many things. Also, whenever we go visiting in the evenings I never have a blanket for him (if any of you have had us over in the evening, you know that I always ask to borrow a blanket because I don't have one with me :)). I decided to make a quilt just for him that we can take with us when he needs to sleep.

I cut and pieced on Wednesday, then quilted and bound yesterday. I was amazed how quickly it went - TWO DAYS! I think using a pattern helped, because I didn't have to waste so much time figuring out the math. Also, it's a crib size quilt, so it's a nice small one.

It's finished! Binding and all!

A close up of the fabrics and binding. I cut the binding strips on the bias to get the diagonal stripes.

Looking out his window with his quilt. You can see the back of it here. Pretty simple - just a green paisley fabric. (I love paisley! - I'm hoping it's not too feminine for my little man.)

Just sewing and crafting

2008-05-30T12:22:00.000-07:00

I recently realized my family blog was turing into a crafting blog. Since my family doesn't necessarily care to see all my crazy crafting projects AND I'd like to be able to share my crafting with the blogging world, I decided to start a blog just for sewing and crafts.

Enjoy!