Happy 1st Birthday Penny!

Fall is a special time in our family. Between September and November we have four wedding anniversaries and eight birthdays across all of our siblings. Phew! But today is a very special day because Penny (Penelope if we're being proper about it) is one year old today. Could she be any cuter? 

Of course, I had to sew her a couple of dresses to mark the occasion. I made this same pattern for big sister Paloma when she was a wee one so it was fun to continue the tradition. Plus, there was just the perfect amount of extra fabric from Penny's quilt - to make a second dress. What's not to love about pink elephants?

Crazy for pouches

I've been slightly obsessed with making pouches since I found this tutorial on Sew, Mama Sew! They are the perfect combination of lovely and easy to make, with endless fabric combination possibilities. I had made some travel bags as gifts before, but this tutorial showed me how to make them more polished, using two fabrics. So cute and a perfect gift any time of year!

Flea market inspiration

I love the Alameda Flea! It only happens the first Saturday of each month, and I hardly ever get there, but there's always a fun discovery every time. Like these little lavender-filled fabric hearts. Such a cute idea with the different initials and whimsical embroidery. If I get my act together, these would be perfect Christmas gifts to make!

Travel bags

I was trying to think of a perfect gift for a friend of mine recently. She's got a big trip coming up (to Italy no less!) and I was thinking about that when it hit me. Travel bags! Of course. So I picked three of my favorite stash fabrics and got to work. I just love having these bags around, especially for traveling. They're great for shoes and dirty laundry, or for delicate things that might snag. They also help provide cover for things that you'd rather not expose to TSA or customs and the different fabric patterns make it easy to remember what's in each bag. So much fun and easy to make.

Mason jar pin cushion

I get really excited when I find a craft project that's both good looking and quick and easy. So when my friend Emanuela showed me how to turn a basic wide-mouth mason jar into a pin cushion - I couldn't resist. This was a double bonus since I have an endless supply of jars laying around from all of my jam making. I think the best part is deciding what kind of treasure to put in the jar when you're done.


Step 1: basic ingredients include a jar (with lid), a piece of scrap fabric, some polyfil stuffing.


Step 2: Make a ball with the polyfill stuffing and cover with fabric. Slip the fabric between the mason jar ring and push into place with the lid. I used a glue gun to glue the fabric down to the lid  - but you could also skip this step.

Totally inspired

There's something really infectious about quilting and knitting and when you find friends to share it with - it's even better. My friend Emanuela has been on fire since she got a sewing machine for Christmas and, after taking a paper piecing class, she has been quilting like crazy. I could not believe how cute these slippers were! I just love the pattern and the fabrics.


She also turned me onto a terrific blog called Pink Penguin shere she found a tutorial to make this adorable lunch bag for her son's teacher. I am just blown away by her projects. She has such a great eye for color. I can't wait to see how her next project turns out!

Happy Birthday Lil' P

My niece Paloma turns 2 today and she's starting to become quite the young lady. Paloma is particularly special to me not just because she is my sister's child, but also because we have the added fun of sharing a birthday. So I figured she needed a snappy birthday dress to mark the day. I have to say I'm pretty proud of how this one turned out and I owe a huge thanks to this blog for the pattern.


Since Paloma lives by the beach, and I was on a roll, I thought this extra fabric from Jacey's quilt, would be perfect for a snappy pair of clam diggers. Cross your fingers everything fits!
Sending you big smooches and huge hugs from Auntie Mary lil' P. Have a GREAT GREAT day!!

Summer skirt

This weekend I got the sewing bug and managed to whip out a couple of projects that were sitting there patiently waiting to be loved. It was especially helpful to have something to take my mind off of adopting a dog - which is my other current obsession.


One of my favorite things to do is to pick out a couple of projects and do the fabric cutting. Then - when you get the bug, it's presto-change-o ready to go! This is the easiest pattern - and I just fell in love with the fabric. Outside of pajama pants, I could see myself making a bunch of these skirts to have around. 


They are great for travel, super comfortable and just plain fun.



I'm hoping my friend Leslie will see this and be proud of me for making my own bias tape.



Here it is - almost done- just waiting for a bottom hem.

Days of the week PJs

Comfort food has a special place in my heart. There are classics that always pick up my spirits like roasted chicken, braises of all kinds, penne al forno, bread pudding, chocolate chip cookies and a soothing cup of tea. I also find great comfort in other things - like a cozy pair of hand-knitted mitts, or putting together a quilt one square at a time, or pajama pants. I know it sounds funny, but it's true. 

I don't know how to sew very well and I have no desire to be able to make my own clothes, but whipping up a pair of pajama pants is really satisfying. If I see a fabric I love but really don't need - it's always easy to justify buying a couple of yards for pj's. I  mean really -  is it wrong to have a pair for every night of the week? I don't think so. 

PJ's for Pepo

So today is a big day. Since it's a matter of secrecy involving crossing fingers and toes and hoping for the best - I can't tell you WHY it's a big day. But - I can tell you that my man deserves a little special love and attention today. And for that - of course - what could be better than a pair of custom-made pajamas?
One thing I love about B is that he's so patient (oh, and kind and charming and...). Occasionally I ask him if he'd like me to make him something- like a pair of mitts, or a hat or some socks. We'll pick out yarn, or fabric, and then - sigh - he gets shuffled to the back of the project line while I complete things for almost every other person I know. Did I mention how patient he is?
Awhile back he hinted that perhaps a pair of flannel pj's would be nice. And so he shall have them. He's a fairly conservative gentleman if you must know - so I'm not at all surprised by this elegant and understated fabric selection. I think I'll get started on them tonight.
Oh - and if you'd like to join me in crossing fingers and toes - please do!

Embroidermania!

Sometimes I get inspired by things that I've had for years, even if they've been sitting there, right in front of me, collecting dust. So it is with my new love, embroidery.

Several Christmases ago I asked Santa for a very particular Martha Stewart embroidery kit. Being that it was a Martha operation- you can be assured that it was beautifully packaged, had just the right thread color choices and also came with a booklet of instructions that even the most dedicated crafting fool would find impossible to tackle.


When I first got it, I took a stab at a making a "stitch sampler" and tried to learn a few things... but then, sigh, it was packed away and placed on a shelf.

Fast forward several years (ok - maybe 5 but who's counting?)...I remembered the kit  when working on a quilt for my niece Jacey, and decided to embroider a little love note for the back of it. It was a snap to make and super cute!

Then I remembered that I had this fabric laying around- a very nice natural colored linen from a pair of curtains I had bought at IKEA and never used. And the spark was ignited. NAPKINS! First I thought it would be fun to test out one of the decorative stitches my sewing machine can produce and I did this:



Pretty, no? But oh so much cuter now with the lanterns. I have so much fabric, I think I could make at least a dozen of these - and that's just one curtain. Hmmmm.... I'm sensing a crafty, gifty Christmas idea coming on. To my friends and family - don't say you haven't been warned!