the nursery reveal!

I've been busy getting this bedding set together for Maggie. Who in fact is probably having that baby as I type this! I finally finished the binding on the blanket.

I was really kind of VERY sad to see this go. I ♥ it so much! I really am going to make another one of those pillows. I also think I need pom pom fringe in every color!

I got to her house and set to work on tying 6 bumpers on the crib. The ribbon worked out well, although it was a bit short to tie bows. But I think I like this better anyway.

I'm definitely not a baby bedding stylist, but I tried to get some pictures to show how cute it all looked in it's new home.

I love the rocking chair corner. We couldn't decide which side of the pillow we liked better, I'm sure it will be flip-flopping a lot. I covet that pink damask lamp - I eyed it at Target every time I went and didn't pick it up. Silly me.

And what a fun cute little elephant nightlight!

The bed decided it liked this side of the pillow.

I love the wainscotting with the pale yellow walls. And HELLO gorgeous chandelier!

Is it weird that I'm so attached to this bedding? The room is very sweet and calm. I told her I'm coming over to hold the baby and sit in there when I need a break! And Maggie, good luck today!

This is by far the biggest custom order I've taken on. Well, besides the bags I've done, it's the only one. But I'm so glad I did it. I learned to use my serger better as well as how to sew with minky (pin it A LOT!). I discovered how much I like collaborating with someone to create something beautiful which will be well-loved . And it was a huge confidence builder for me. Perhaps I have it in me to take on more challenging projects.

What challenging projects have you been working on lately?

and the pillow

Another sneak -

I decided this little number needed a little pizazz. Enter the pompom fringe!

I'm delivering all of the bedding today! Can't wait to take some pictures of the whole nursery. Will post soon!

Stay tuned for my first ever theme-week: Painting Makeovers! (mr. linky will be making an appearance!)

crochet anyone?

Are you tired of taking mismatched store bought reusable totes to the store? Do you want to make your own that could look as cute as this?

Penny at sewtakeahike has come out with her first pattern!

She is giving away 5 pdf files of the pattern and the tote you see up top! Just go to her site to see the 3 ways you can enter! Really it's so easy!

and if I may quote her:
But really, everyone is a winner. Because during the giveaway, I'm offering the pattern up for only $3.50. Just through the giveaway time. It will go to it's normal price of $5 next Sunday June 12th at 8pm MST. (If you purchase the pattern during the giveaway and win a copy, I will reimburse you.)

what have you got to lose? Even if you don't win the bag or pattern, you will have met one of the nicest crafty bloggers on the planet.

If you will excuse me now, I need to go buy some yarn.

i really do ♥ pink

and I really do ♥ my new-to-me serger. Remember how I got it?

I finally got it out while my mom was here and figured out the tension and have had fun finishing up seams! It's especially helpful in taming the fuzz minky creates!

I was asked by a friend if I would be interested in making her baby bedding so we met up and she picked out a couple of my FAVORITE prints! Amy Butler Belle Acanthus in Olive for the blanket and Sandi Henderson's Medallion Bloom from the Farmer's Market collection. And the piece de resistance - hot pink minky to back both.

Now I just need to hand-stitch the binding down on this blanket. Look at that nice serged edge!

The instructions on the bumper pads say to cut 24 20x2" strips of fabric then press them all, then topstitch them all and 5 hours later you can have fabric ties. And some burned finger tips. How do I know this? I've made them before. I decided it would be just as lovely to use a coordinating grosgrain ribbon in Lemongrass.

I just love the moment in a project where you get to see it all come together! It's so satisfying! I really want to keep these for myself (no, I'm not announcing anything) - they are just so CUTE! And the blanket is deliciously cuddly. That's the real minky there folks - it really is softer than the imposters! (and now I sound like a commercial.)

So this is a little sneak peak for you Maggie! I hope you are as excited as I am!

more from my mentor

aka, my mom.

So yes, we are suffering from Grandma Suzie withdrawl. My daughter has said on numerous occasions, "Grandma needs to come back to our house!" and we all agree!

Here are some the fun things she made during Sewing-fest 2009:

This shadow embroidery was a project she did with her quilt group. She pieced it and put it together one of the first nights we were here. I love how that embroidery on the back shades (hence the term shadow) the muslin. That and it's cute. I wish I would have hid it so she would have "accidentally" left it here.

If I remember correctly, this quilt pattern is called Yellow Brick Road. This was whipped up in an afternoon from 6 fat quarters and a bunch of strip piecing. It turned out very cute - it's a baby quilt size.

This is the same pattern only bigger and with brighter colors! I think it's adorable!

And look at all the cute kitties! This one is closer to a twin size and only used 12 fat quarters. Now that I've seen it done, I really need to make one myself.

mais, La piece de resistance. are you ready? This is a McCall's pattern (I think) It didn't look like much when I saw the drawing on the envelope, and I wasn't sure about the fabric choices, until I saw it!

yes! that whole thing is trimmed in bias tape. She worked it on there like she does it everyday! When I asked her to show me how you do it, it was another one of those moments, "things my mom thought she taught me....." you know the rest.

Speaking of which, did you know that store bought bias tape has one fold longer than the other? It's to use on the backside so you will catch the back when you are stitching on the top! You learn something new every day. And maybe now I won't hate working with bias tape!

She's amazing - now if I could just plug an external hard drive into her brain to download all the information that's in there....

sewing-fest 2009 comes to an end.

My mom left today. It was very sad. I thoroughly enjoyed having her here. We were so productive!! And the kids loved having someone else to read them bedtime stories. I'm boring now. My daughter kept saying, "but we want Grandma Suzie to stay with us!" Amen.

Between stories and outings and eating and trips to the fabric store, we managed to get a lot of sewing done! I got my quilt-along top put together. I really like it! I sent a picture of it to my husband and his comment was, "it's really colorful. And it looks like a lot of work." Well, it was! Thank you for noticing!

I'm sure he will love it come winter and we are watching a movie on the couch and he gets cold.

I finally got a bag made for my mom - It was about time!! Part of the problem was fabric selection. Once she got here and saw this in my stash it was a no-brainer. Chez Posh by Moda. If she hadn't chosen it, I might have used it for myself!

And because she's my mom, I let her design a second set of interior pockets specially sized for her doo-dads.

You know you have a fabric problem when you load some to be washed and think, Hey! I need to take a picture of that! It looks so pretty! On second thought, maybe it's just a blogging problem I have....

I also made some delicious blueberry scones from Cook's Illustrated. They are delightful! Here are the blueberries ready to be shaped into the triangles of joy. There's some lemon zest in the dough, just in case you were wondering.

My mom loves to bird watch and so I thought I would get a feeder to see if I could get the cardinals to come and visit. The first cheap feeder I bought was destroyed by a squirrel within the first week. This is a squirrel-proof one that is really cool! The cage on the outside of the feeder is spring loaded so that when the squirrel gets on it his weight lowers the leaves to cover the feeding holes. Nifty!! And look at all the fun birds that I didn't know were my neighbors.

And this picture reminds me of the idea I had for my Notion or Two quilt!

More Sewing-fest 2009 pictures to come. You have to see the apron she made! (but I have to upload the pictures first.)

ikea love

Do not read this post if you are not within driving distance to IKEA. I mean it! The surgeon general has warned that severe jealousy my ensue and be damaging to your health. I'm just sayin'.

Darn you, IKEA, why do you have to be so cute *and cheap!*!! Seriously.

and this chair? It was half-off in the as-is room. Just because it didn't have a box. I'm going back to buy more for our little table with all the mismatched chairs. Plus, I don't have to paint them. They come in white!

Oh? You like the bag? It's for my high school bff - She's going on a summer musical mission trip next week and needed a swanky bag to tour around Austria with.

After talking to her about what she would like I was having a hard time figuring what to do. Then, oh THEN! I saw this daisy print and it was a no-brainer. I found a darker coordinating print for the exterior.

I love these big pockets. You can fit your wallet in there so it doesn't get lost in the bottom of your bag. You can also put 2 packs of gum, 2 ziplocs of goldfish crackers, chapstick, lipgloss, scissors, 12 pens, diapers, wipes, a small cat and your digital camera in there. Not that I would know. I've just heard.... They key hook is my favorite part - you can always find them there.

Did you notice that everything in this post was blue, white and yellow? Not really planned.....


(and by the way - way to go USPS!! I put this in my own mailbox yesterday and it was in hers today!!)