Square Dance

Finally!  I finished the quilt!  It is now residing happily on our bed and I love it!

Mug Rug

I made this mug rug for my husband who obviously is a Patriots fan.  I sewed it inside out with the batting, then topstitched the perimeter and finally, quilted it in straight lines.  It turned out okay.  The next one I do will be with binding.  

A Classic Jumper

I made Ella this Classic Jumper from the One Yard Wonders book.  It's the first item I have made from the book and I'm looking forward to making more.  The instructions were pretty easy to follow.  The only difficulty I had was of course the button-holes.  After spending a couple of hours fighting my machine, I gave up and had a friend do them for me just so Ella could wear before she grows out of it.  I used the 12 month old measurements so she'll probably be out of it by summer.  I love the dress on her and she loves the buttons.  She ran all around the house and yard so it's obviously super comfortable and the length is just right.  I know you can't really see the length of the dress from this picture but it falls just below her knees.

Frockets

My niece came to visit for Spring Break and tasked us with making "frockets" which unbeknowst to me is a style trend amoung college coeds.  It's simply a tshirt with a fabric pocket.  So, we worked together make a frockets for the family.  Pictured is the one I made for Miss Ella.  I used scraps from one of my projects and a tshirt that I got onsale at Old Navy.  I love how it turned out.  And it only cost about $3 compared to the original Frocket cost of $30+.  Check

Curvy Pinwheels

I recently made a baby quilt with curvy pinwheels in which I GAVE THE GIFT WITHOUT TAKING A PHOTO OF IT!  I'm so disappointed.  I guess I could ask my friend to take a pic of it and send it to me however I know what it's like to have a newborn.  Ugh!  It was so adorable.  I used the same fabrics that I used in Lily's quilt.  I also made coordinating onesies, burp cloths and a bib of oranges and pinks.  So so sweet.

Babies, Babies, Babies

I'm in the throes of making baby gifts!  The gifts below are for a sweet little baby boy who was born last week.  His nursery is decorated in red, gray and black with elephants.  I decided to mix it up a bit with greens and blues.  The burp cloths were my go-to when Ella was a newborn as were the onesies so I'm getting these out asap so the new mom will have them handy.  I love the bib pattern because it's larger and really is more useful when babies get to the age where they actually need to wear them.  Next up, baby gifts for a Christmas baby girl. 

Lily's Quilt

My niece is turning 14 this month and requested that I make her a quilt with bright oranges.  So I did.  Introducing Lily's Quilt.

Mommy and Me Pillowcase Top and Dress

Love love love!!  I purchased the pattern from whimsycouture on ETSY.  The instructions were  pretty easy to follow especially considering that I have really basic sewing skills.  The dress for Ella is still a little too big but I can't wait until we have our Mommy and Me photo op!

T-shirt dresses

I recently purchased "Sew Pretty T-Shirt Dresses" which features over 25 patterns for dresses using "t-shirts" instead of sewing a bodice.  I love the book - lots of inspiration in there that I would never think of on my own.  I made one for daughter using a plain t-shirt and fabric that I had on hand.  It was so easy and turned out REALLY cute.  Now, she has to grow into it.  I can't wait to make more.  Oh please, let my girl be a girly girl - at least for a couple of years.

Teething or Nursing Necklace

I love this necklace!  I have received so many compliments on it and it is so simple to make especially if use this pattern from "BEFFIE48" on ETSY.  Her patterns are super easy to follow.  In fact, the first quilt I ever made was using her Rag Quilt pattern.  I've made two necklaces - one for myself (and Ella) and one as a baby gift for a friend.  I used hello kitty fabric so that both the baby could enjoy playing with it when being held by her mom or big sister and big sister would enjoy it too because, well, it's hello kitty.

Happy Mother's Day

I celebrated my first Mother's Day with Ella by sewing a sweet little dress (pictured) for her.  So far, I've only made one clothing item, pajama bottoms, in a class where the instructor worked with me from start to finish.  Here, I purchased an old school Simplicity pattern and did it completely on my own without ever having used or even read an "old school" pattern.  It was quite an ordeal and very time consuming.  I spent a lot of time looking up sewing terms and reading and rereading the instructions several times.  But, I did it!  And I love the dress and especially the smiles.  Miss Ella kept grabbing it and pulling it up to kick her legs so now I need to sew a diaper cover to match!  

A Stocking of Her Own

In the midst of feeding and diaper changes, I used some of the fabric for Ella's nursery to sew a Christmas stocking for her. I made my own template by tracing one of our stockings onto some cardboard. The tricky part was the cuff. Thanks to some guidance from my mom (who is staying with us to help with Ella), we got it figured out. I loved how it turned out.

Miss Ella Rose

It is our absolute joy to announce the birth our baby girl. She was born this past Saturday morning and we are in love. She is an absolute delight and in perfect health. We are truly blessed.

Baaaallerina

This sweet little lamb, along with her sisters, will soon be hanging over Baby Girl's changing table or crib. Isn't she sweet?

Pretty in Pink and Red

We've decided to do Baby Girl's nursery in pink and red. First, my husband painted the crib that we picked up from a garage sale for a mere $30. We picked a very pale pink white paint. Didn't he do a great job?? I love how it turned out. I picked up some red storage baskets for Baby Girl's stuffed animals and toys. Next, a changing pad cover in a very pale pink. Then, the rich red rag rug from Pier One. Now, fabric to tie it all together. After much shopping online and at my favorite fabric store, Valli and Kim's, I chose Michael Miller's Twirling Tendrils and Gypsy Bandana for a crib skirt and valance, and of course coordinating fabrics for a pink and red ladybug quilt. The crib skirt took quite some time as I basically made my own pattern after reviewing a few tutorials online. It was a time-consuming project but oh so worth it! I love it!

Bib-a-licious

After finishing a few burp cloths, I decided to try my hand at "bibs". I reviewed several tutorials and patterns online. I took a bit here and there and came up with my own. I began by cutting out a pattern of the bib style that I liked and tracing it with a fabric marker on a piece of a fabric (wrong side). I then pinned the fabric with the outline of the bib to a piece of a white flannel that was also in my stash (right sides together). TIP: DON'T CUT OUT THE BIB PATTERN from THE FABRIC. I left the fabric uncut so that I could sew the two pieces of fabric using my walking foot to guide me around the pattern. I left about a 2-inch gap on one side of the bib unseen so I could turn the bib inside out once I cut out the bib. I then cut out the bib and cut triangular notches around the curves so that they wouldn't bunch up when turning inside out. I turned the bib inside out and machine stitched the entire bib with a zig zag stitch with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. By the time, I made my second bib, I got the hang of it.

Even Princesses have to burp now and then

So why not burp or spit up in style? After checking out burp cloths online and at stores, I noticed "patterns" for them so I thought hmmm. I have a lot of fabric maybe I should give it a go. I began searching for free ones and hit the jackpot of patterns for burp cloths, bibs, blankets, quilts and more. The pattern I chose was surprisingly simple. All you need is prefold cloth diapers that can be found at Walmart or anywhere where baby stuff is sold. The fabrics and flannel came from my ever growing stash. So easy, so cute! Next, Bibs!

A Quilt for Sweet Baby Girl

We're in the process of decorating our nursery and have been struggling on colors, a theme, etc. I'm really not into matchy matchy themes so the nursery is coming together in an eclectic mix of new and old. I instantly fell in love with Aneela Hoey's Little Apples collection and I had to make something for Sweet Baby Girl so I designed this little baby quilt that include a couple of fabrics from the Little Apples collection (center panel, binding). Size: 32 x 34 1/2 Fabric: Little Apples, Polka Dot, Grey Leaves Binding: Little Apples Blue with red apples Pattern: Center panel, two borders Quilting: Machine Quilting - Diagonal