Pretty little thing...

So this is my new pattern :) It was created around the fall last year and has been selling well locally but I wanted all of you to know it's now available online through my etsy shop which is slowly filling up :) and through the MSQC! I love them!

Still Designing! Still happy!

I've been thoroughly busy and thoroughly enjoying this holiday season! I am also thoroughly glad it's over! My husband kissed me at midnight on New Year's Eve and I swear at that moment a weight was lifted off my shoulders!
I could look around and think clearly. I have no deadlines pushing in on the year yet. I'm learning to be a mom to my boy (this is a total adjustment, and I'm still figuring it out... it'll probably be that way forever :) ) and I felt the need to do things I enjoy again! It was so wonderful the New Year seemed to have washed away all the stress that had been hanging around for the last 6 months or so!
Seriously starting mid September through, well, January (and even March if you include my birthday, but we don't really want to do that!) is birthday/ Holiday season at our house. Don't ask me why I planned it that way. I didn't. But every 2-3 weeks starting in September someone is havin' a party whether it's a birthday or a Holiday! It's fun but totally crazy!

Anyway here's some sewing sneak peeks of what's been happening during the last little while!
Sunshine thoughts in this project :)
Lots of embroidery love here!
And this is a snippet of a pillow that inspired a new pattern idea!
(Now we have to see if I can get it written down. The problem is definitely not a lack of ideas!)
Anyway there will be more to come! There have been presents made and crafts that are super fun to play with!
But for now, here's one of my little sweeties,
wishing us all a Happy New Year!
I hope it's filled with friends and fun and sewing and peace (and quiet :) ) and all your grand plans fall into place for a magnificent 2011!

Smoke and mirrors

May I just say. Things are far busier than they appear :D
Yes it's all tricks I play. Smoke and mirrors to make you think I'm slacking off but no. :D

Hehe, in any case I have lots going on, sewing and not!

I have a tutorial I'm getting ready to put up, my very first pattern (not the giraffe) is ready to go and for sale in a couple places (makes me smile:) )
I also have another pattern getting ready to be finished this month (possibly the giraffe... cross your fingers) if I can get my scanner to work right, ugh.
And I finished my swap projects! Yay!
Here's a backwards peak at my Urban Home Goods swap stuff that I'm sending... a few days late. But I'm pretty sure she'll still want them :D I'll post more pics tomorrow after I have some sunshine and I mail them!
And I can start attacking even more projects... do you ever dream of getting your sewing table completely clear of projects? Not just so it feels clean but so you can start fresh again! I love a clear table and right now mine is anything but that.

Happy dreams.

Vintage trims and a little stitching!

I got excited about a little embroidery this week! I've been working on a pattern for some Pay it Forwards and got a little practice in yesterday on these sweet little blankets!

I stitched on the names in white and then got into my vintage threads and pulled out some tiny crochet thread to accent the white on white monograms :)
And to top it off I got to dig into my ribbons and found some of my favorite pink sheers from who knows what year :D to wrap these beautiful little treasures! The only thing a little tricky here was that I couldn't mark out my pattern because of the types of fabric on the blankets (Thank goodness for quilting cottons!) and the little fact that I've somehow lost my water soluble pen... oops.
But I think with all the fun materials going into these they turned out beautiful!
If I do say so myself :D Oh well,

Hattie and Hannah
(Sweet vintage names too!)
I hope you enjoy your blankets!

Crazy 8!

Happy eighth day of Christmas!

Today's project is really quick and based off a little doll quilt. I don't know about you but my family likes to go caroling & take treats to friends during the holidays. These are what you take to the friends and family you really like! Great for In-laws or good friends the gift is a little tray but can be opened and hung as a wall hanging or mini table runner! Double gifts, woohoo! Who wouldn't love that?

Start with any festive little doll quilt

...or something just plain cute! Honestly the smaller the better I think, mine is big enough that the sides don't hold up as well as the small ones.

and 4 - 1/2" pieces of velcro

I wanted my sides to stand 2" tall so I stuck a pin at 2" from the corner on all sides.

Then sew a piece of velcro just outside the pin, and under the binding. Feels like a given but make sure you have one of each kind of velcro at each corner.

If the base is bigger than 5"-6" across you'll probably want to stabilize it with something. I know walmart sells cake boards (white cardboard essentially) that you can hold underneath it just so it's stays were it's supposed to.

Tada you're done!

Quilt Show

I was lucky enough to be able to attend a quilt show held during a Civil War reenactment in Northwest MO 2 weeks ago. It was hosted by the MSQC and they had lots of help from the wonderful quilting ladies in the area! You can see a few pictures on their blog!

I thought I'd post a few of my favorites though!

I thought this one was phenomenal!

I'm amazed at the design and the work that went into this!

I also really like this red and white one...

... and I thought the re-creation of this one was a little more feasible :)

But still gorgeous!

Another favorite...

... at this point I'm starting to see a pattern and thinking I need to try something red and white! lol!

Breaking from my theme of favorites I found this awesome quilt along the back wall.

I love the colors and circles!

It's partially appliqued...

hmm...

Who knows I think I like it well enough that I might try something like this out one day!