why i love it

I really like doing custom orders.  It's fun for me to give people a chance to pick out and create something that they feel really comes from them, not the department store.  And this one was extra special for me because it was to be a gift for my niece Katie.



She and her husband Victor are having their first baby!  Yes it's a boy.



My sister-in-law asked me to make a gift for them and I thought of this Dick and Jane fabric right off.  It reminds me of her and seems like something from her own childhood that she would want to pass on to our new baby nephew.



The blanket is soft flannel with vintage chenille and the tie fabric is perfect!  Doesn't that plaid just rock it as a tie :D  I am also working on another special order that I will be done with tomorrow.  I'll show you that one too if you like!

And with this sewing project done and posted it means that I have completed my Sew 5 Challenge!  Thanks Creative Maven for keeping me busy and on task!

finished my wip

I know you have seen this before, but I wanted to show you how these little squares got all sewn up together.  Finished finally!



Sometimes these little things can just sit around waiting to be finished.  It's just a little sewing and quilting.



But once I laid out the fabrics and my girl saw the tiny quilt she decided it would be perfect for her doll.  So I had to get it done right away!



She picked out the backing fabric with the cute cats.  And I did the rest of the sewing.  Now Jules Sparkles will rest nice and toasty, cozy at night.  Thanks to her Aunt Mary.

gift tag tutorial

I save all sorts of fabric scraps.  Including the scraps from the tiny quilts I have made.  That's where these little bits come from.



Too cute to be thrown away, right?  So don't!



I also have on hand the card stock that my bias tape was once wrapped around.  Any crafty paper will do!



Just place the fabric on the card stock, trim your fabric length or width as necessary. Then sew away, on your sewing machine.  I like using a zig zag stitch.



Use that ever handy hole punch and dig through your stash for a bit of ribbon.  I love to see what I find, looking for just that right color.

After you thread your ribbon through you have a nice little handmade gift tag.  I usually stamp the to: and from: on the back with a brown ink.  They also make cute bookmarks for what ever sewing book you might be giving as a gift this year!

my vintage love

I still have some a lot of unpacking to do from The Tattered House show this past Sunday.  My sewing room is such a mess.  So sorry, but I have no pictures of that!



What I will show you is this blanket.



When I first saw this fabric my heart skipped a beat!  I even looked around to see if there was anyone else ready to grab it just as I was reaching out for it.



I just love all of these colors together.  It is sweet without being overly sweet, if you know what I mean.



The flower print is vintage as is the nubby chenille on the back.  And the blanket is sized perfectly to fit over baby in the carseat or stroller so momma doesn't have to struggle with folding over a big blanket that is just too big.  I know... I am so thoughtful :)

new sewing class

This Wednesday night! Don't stay home, get out and sew with me!

Log Cabin Coaster's at  The Tin Thimble 3750 Taylor Rd, Loomis,  6 p.m. 9 p.m.

Call if you would like to reserve a spot 652-2134.  I hope you can make it :)

sunday

Come see me  Sunday, September 19 at the Roseville Fall Antique Market.



8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Rain or shine!



Oak Street, Roseville



Visit The Tattered House to learn more about the 50+ vendors!

making progress

I am getting a few little quilts finished.  Picking out the last bits of fabrics, sewing and hand stitching on the binding.



This one is the from the Wonky Log Cabin Quilt class that I taught.  Red is used traditionally for the center square, but I wanted to use this untraditional olive green.  Then I used some reproduction fabric in yellow for the sashing and back of the quilt.



The binding is some yardage that I have had awhile that I love.  I am into the yellow, orange, and blues together, aren't they just so happy!



And here are some blocks that my sister Mary sent me home with during my visit with her this past summer.  All reproduction prints.  Don't you love the soft yellow centers!  It's like a little pat of butter :)  This one is going to be a little quilt for my girl and her favorite dolls.  It will be just the perfect size.  And made with love from her Aunt Mary and Momma!

[caption id="attachment_2306" align="aligncenter" width="175" caption="see what it's all about"][/caption]

frisbee winner

I think this frisbee dog is a girl.  And if you ask my daughter, all of the dogs from her party were girls. Of course!  Especially since they are each backed in pink gingham. Pink = Girl.

And to the giveaway.    The winner is Shell!!  Thanks for all of your sweet comments!  I love hearing from you and I love that we share so many of the same interests.



Now I need to share with you the last little bit of what I have done with this fabric and the dog.



I couldn't resist making a shirt for her.  With just a little wunder under and brown thread.



It looks just as cute from the inside.



But, I think it is a bit too small for her.  She still hasn't worn it and I think it feels too tight to her.  So, it will go soon to my shop!  Size 5T if you're interested.

[caption id="attachment_2312" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="featuring the frisbee dog shirt"][/caption]

save the date

I love participating in local shows, especially ones of this quality!  If you love these street craft/antique shows then you should make it to this one.  This will be my 3rd time at The Tattered House market, and it is just the best!

I hope to see you there :D

sharing time

I wanted to show you my  last few pics of my girl's birthday party.  And p.s.  if you read this entire post there will be a surprise at the end!

My neighbor showed me a neat trick for making these fruit bouquets.  Insert a wedge of iceberg lettuce in the pot.  These were fun to make.  I wish I had bought more pineapple, and the strawberries also had blueberries on the skewers that helped them from slipping down the stick.  The kids loved it and of course they ate it all!



I also made these huge tissue paper flowers.  They hung from the ceiling over the counter where I had the food out.  My husband thought that I bought them, what a kook :)



Remember the theme of her party was dogs.  So I ordered this simple cake with a dog bone on it.  The plastic dogs we already had and had been through the dishwasher.  I was going to put them nicely around the perimeter of the cake, but when the girls saw what I was up to, they decided to assist me!



And here is was I made for each little girl to take home with her.  A little scottie dog.  My girl even helped me add the stuffing.  It was so sweet for me to get to make them with her.  She named her dog "Frisbee"!  Gotta love it.

And here is your surprise... I made an extra little dog for you!!  Yes, you can be the proud owner of your very own frisbee dog.  Just leave a comment for a chance to win.  This giveaway will end on Sunday night.  Thanks and pass it on!

a little pink

This is the last one of the baby bibs, for now. I am adding it tonight to my etsy.  Well I am trying to any way.



I am having a few problems with my pictures being the right size.  This hasn't happened to me before, so I must check it out, and get it figured out.



That is why you get to see it here first.



This is the last little bit of this vintage fabric that I have left too.  So no matching burp cloth.  Sorry!  I might be able to make just one little matching appliqued onesie.  If you're nice to me :)

i left my heart

One of my personal goals has been to vend at a big craft show in San Francisco.  So I had a little celebration, when a few days ago I learned that I was accepted to be a vendor at Bazaar Bizarre.

It is being held at one of the most beautiful spots in San Francsico at Fort Mason.  Right on the water.  And in December the weather should be perfect.  Well really, who knows!  It's SF and the weather is always a favorite topic of discussion.



Luckily I only live 1 1/2 hours away.  And even more lucky is that my hub and kids are coming with me!  Now to find a cheap inexpensive hotel.  Wish me more luck!

p.s. to see more about the goings on see the flickr group here.