Hello.... Happy Mail.

The mailman was good to me the last couple days. ♥ ♥

I don't know what it is about this line exactly, but I couldn't get it out of my head. It's called Hello Gorgeous (by Iza Pearl for Windham fabrics), and I just liked it.  And had to have some.

I had no specific plans with this line, but the colors were so pretty, and I like the flowers.

I thought worst case, they'd make cute clothes for Scarlet.

I haven't quite finished this (it still needs something for the bodice), but I added this little ruffle to a t-shirt for Scarlet (she's tall for her age, and when she bends over, her shirts come up too high, ruffles solve this problem).

Tutorial coming soon!  I already took the pictures!

Still trying to decide what to do with the top.  I was thinking of appliqueing one of the big flowers on there, but am worried of what else it might resemble. :-/  So maybe I'll do something 3-d or something.  It'll probably need a hair bauble too.

I got my Hello Gorgeous from Sprightly Fabrics (coupon code 'Welcome' for their new dot com site!) and Beth at Stash Modern Fabric.  

While I was at it, I added a few of these Art Gallery blenders (also from Sprightly Fabrics).  

I got one more piece of happy mail today.

These are some promotional copies I got from the Editor of this magazine.  

They've decided to give me a go as an assistant pattern editor.  (!!!!!) 

I've got started on my first couple patterns, and it makes me feel smart and a little slow at the same time.  But I usually end up feeling smart by the end so I think that's good.  I'm really excited.  And SO grateful!  And still pretty much in awe that I have an official "job" in something quilting related!  

And no, I still can't believe it.  :)  I just hope I can do them proud.  (and P.S.  -- even though a lot of the patterns in here might be done in different fabric choices than I customarily make, there are some awesome designs!  And it's really a great deal for a lot of patterns.  The paper is shiny too if you feel like checking it out.  They also give you access to all their past digital copies when you're a member, which is pretty cool!). ;)

I'm going to leave you with an excerpt from the new editor, Michele Duffy (some of you might know her from here) that makes me really excited to be a part of this magazine.  After she gave some great analogies about people like Renoir, Picasso, and Klee and their styles, she summarized with this:  "We are a textile art community and, as such, have the choice to honor, respect, support, and encourage one another, even when we don't hold the same opinion or style... In the end, we are all quilters, we are all artists, and we all create from a place within ourselves..."

I just really like that.  

(and I hope it was OK I put it here Michele!  I'll ask next time, but you're 3 hours ahead of me, and hopefully not still at the office!)

Easter sewing

Just Three is going through this week -- link up your goals for the month! ♥
--------------
Around 10 p.m. Friday night, I decided Scarlet needed a Mommy-made Easter dress.

Around 10 p.m. Saturday night, I decided Steiger and Scarlet needed Mommy-made Easter baskets.

For the dress, I used the little Sugarplum top from SeeKateSew,

and for the Easter baskets, I used Nova's Nesting fabric bowls.

_____________________

Dress specs:

Fabric - the sweetest, prettiest, most feminine pastel goodness double-gauze from Nani Iro's little letter collection.  She will continue to get the sweetsiest things I can find until she is older and can voice her own opinions. 

I made size 2T so she'll be able to wear it longer as a tunic type shirt.  I used a length between the top and dress length.

I'm not a huge fan of the ribbon closures at the neck -- I think I'd prefer a button, and will modify it if I made another.  The design of the dress is really sweet though, and thankfully, it came together quite easily. 

And Scarlet was too precious in it.  I squealed at her most of the day.

Looking out the window:

Easter egg hunting (with her coordinating basket!):

(Daddy still makes her look so small!)

She loved carrying her basket around. (was very possessive of it in fact)

I tried to get a picture of her with her brother in front of the Lady Banks roses... this was how it went:

(herding cats I tell you)

Steiger (who turns 4 in a week!!!) got a globey-type basket made with Out to Sea's map panel print.

The Nesting bowls pattern made these super simple -- Nova has size options, measurements, and a visual for how to add a handle.  I have mental deficits when it comes to the area of spatial awareness, so I appreciated the clear instructions!  Makes me want to whip up a set for my scraps... one day that is.

I was really proud to give these hand-made touches to my babies' Easter.  Even if it meant I got behind on a couple other obligations... what good is it to have a mama who sews, if she doesn't make things for her own babes after all?

I hope your weekend was blessed...I listened to this song over and over while sewing, made it even sweeter.

When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me...

WIP Wednesday - Rather Random Round-up

I'm telling you, we really need a second computer at our house... that way, I wouldn't have to throw all these random things in to one blog post... but here it is.  My WIPs. :)  (and I think I finished something too).

I figured -- the start of one quilt along, deserves the finish of another.

SO CLOSE AM I!!!
And I will post the measurements for how to do the little inset border piecing muy pronto.  Email me if you want to make the quilt and I haven't got around to them yet. :)

I am kind of wanting to sell this quilt because I want to go visit some quilty friends early next year, BUT I don't know that I'll be able to part with it, even if I don't have a clearly defined purpose.  I'd say it would be lovely draping the couch, but if you knew my farmer of a hubby, you'd agree with me that a cream colored background could be a dangerous thing (I have a three year old and baby too).

Speaking of the baby... she's almost 1!

I'm working on some little gifts for her.

I have this pattern that I'm working on so she'll have a little cozy baby doll.  Of course the cozy baby needed a patchwork blankie. :)  In very girly fabrics. (Speaking of -- does any one know the name of the fabric that is like minky, but with a very short nap -- like a really short fuzzy fabric?)

I'm also making her a birthday dress that will double as a Halloween costume.

I'm using the Family Reunion pattern by Oliver & S, and do you see where I'm going with those tights?
I happened to have two different red polka dot fabrics, so I'm making this dress twice (at the same time), and I'm going to sell the other one as a Halloween costume (because it's the same size, she really doesn't need two, and I'm thinking a little Strawberry Shortcake costume might be a hot commodity this month).

We'll be scheduling her one year birthday photos soon.  I'm so excited I could arrange another trade for photos!  I am working on a little photo backdrop, as well as these little banners (which are actually finished). If you're a quilter who, like me, spends most your disposable income on fabric, but would still like some wonderful family or baby photos -- talk to local photographers about a trade.  Both of us have been really happy with this arrangement!

Here's the girly banner (made to match the quilt I sent)

And the boy banner.  (to match this quilt)

If you look up in the corner of that banner, you'll see a really big, special quilt I'm working on.  I have loved Laura Gunn fabrics for a long time, and have a bit of a ridiculous stash of them... and this quilt, made with her new Cosmos line to be released soon, will be going with Laura to Quilt Market.  *sigh*  If only I were joining it... This is so ridiculously exciting for me.  It also brings me one step closer to my goal of having my own booth at Market one day... (maybe even this Spring in Portland!)

So thank you Laura!  The fabric, and quilt, are looking beautiful! (and thank you to my dear friend Angela for passing along my name... ♥)

So is that enough random for one post?

I'll be linking to Lee's!  

Treasure Boxes cutting instructions coming tomorrow or Friday!  Get your fabric, and get in the group! :)

a pretty little dress

Before I get carried away... some logistics:

Thanks for all the love on my first pattern. :)
My giveaway for a Rouenneries Deux layer cake and a copy of the pattern, French Kisses, is going on here until Wednesday.

Secret Garden version of pattern -- back from Eileenquilts.com and ready for binding!

On Wednesday, we'll be starting our Quilt-Along.  Really I just want to see how everyone's quilt looks, because I have yet to see a fabric group used in real life or in computer form that doesn't look good (like look at this progress from Kristy, in Patty Young's Lush).   I also thought it'd be handy to have a place where I can help give clarification and what-not.  I won't be giving explicit cutting or piecing directions, as they're all included in the pattern (with lots of diagrams if you're feeling intimidated), but I'll be around to help answer questions, make sure you have enough fabric if you want to change sizes, that sort of thing. :)

______________________________

Now -- on to my post for today.

I made Scarlet a little dress.

Amy at PeekaBoo Pattern Shop needed her new pattern, the Natalie, tested.  And she needed it in the 6 mos. size.

"I have an almost six month old, and I've been wanting to learn how to sew her clothing," I thought.  So I volunteered.  And I made her this dress.

There were a couple tricky spots for me to figure out (it's been a LONG time since I've sewn clothes, like since junior high long time, and I haven't worked with knits), but it still turned out pretty cute.

I changed a couple things, and would change my methods again were I to make it again, but it was still fun, and I felt accomplished. :)

And it fits her pretty well too!

The fabric is a pink knit I got at JoAnn's, and a piece from Laura Gunn's new Garden Walk (Wee Sprig I believe it's called... in pink).

It's fun having a baby girl to sew little baby girl things for.

I love her expressions

So I hope you don't mind seeing pink around here more often. :)

I'm sure I'll branch out eventually.

(and her fuzzy hair and her sticky-outy ears). :)

But why mess with a good thing, right? 

(Baby girl got sick last night, pukey sick, for the first time.  I felt clueless about what to do!  Steiger didn't get his first pukes until he was 2 1/2, and it's only been once - yes, we're lucky - she did OK last night, and has kept her breakfast down so far this morning and is sleeping now, I hope we're through the worst of it!)

And I hope I get my binding done! :)

Linking to Quilt Story's Fabric Tuesday. :)