nanaCompany

:: just laying here eating cake

hello!  I'm still here.  C'mon in...

Source: conflictingheart.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

 

I really wish I could invite you all over.  Your comments cheer me for sure.  I know if you came over I'd be amused and we'd be laughing and this last bit of bedrest would be more bearable.  But, all is well...

Source: zsazsabellagio.blogspot.com.au via Amy on Pinterest

 

I just lay around eating cake all day.  The kids don't need to be carted to and from school at different times (also gymnastics) and I don't go to the grocery store everyday (because there's always something we need that I forgot.)  I don't get ambitious at odd bored moments and the kids don't jump on the bed when I do lay down, contracting, with a fan blowing on me to keep me cool.  Uh-uh, nooo.  Sometimes I lay outside for a change of scenery and ring a bell when I want more cake...

Source: heidiclaire.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

 

This little baby in my belly likes cake, I think.  And now I'll have to tell you that we really are doing well.  I shouldn't complain but bedrest is never easy is it?  I have been working slowly on a little embroidery...

Yep, it's my "Small things" pattern again.  (Download it free here.)  I just love how you can make it so entirely different by choosing another color scheme and trying new stitches.  I love the leaves like this.  They looked pretty without the black outline, too, so I'll probably be making another one.

Happy mail so far this week?

A little parcel from Korea, from the etsy shop Unique Shiny.  I think I might have to get some of this floral gauze for the baby, too.

Now, how 'bout a piece of cake?  xo amy

:: friday update

I have been having painful contractions and spotting for days and you'd think I was in labor, right?  Nope.  I just spent a sleepless night in the hospital... they monitored my contractions from 9pm-6am and they were 2-3 minutes apart the entire time, but it's not real labor.  Three doses of meds couldn't get those contractions to go away and finally they said I could go home, but I have to go back tonight.  More steroid shots, tests, monitoring... I hate the hospital.  Love my home, my bed, and the little ones that keep asking, "When are you going to pop?"

"Soon," I say.  Can't bring myself to tell them what really happens ~ I'm afraid of scarring them for life.  Yet, they seem to be okay with the idea that my belly is going to pop and a doctor will catch the baby as it flies out.  I hope I'm not a total coward for letting them believe in this "popping" business.  If you had to, how did you so delicately explain it?

Well, I'd hoped to be further along with this project, but here's a sneak peek at what I'm working on...

I fell in love with this pretty little thing a while ago, and used it as my jumping off point.  I think I even used the same crochet trim that Eileen used.  I got mine from JoAnn's.  And since a lot of you ask where I get my trim, I thought I'd show you some of the pretty ones you can find there, as well as a few of my favorites from easy to find places...

So, all the trim up there is from JoAnn's except for the two labeled with arrows.  I do have a lot of other trim, some antique, that have been given to me or bought at odd little places, but the ones above should be easy to get.  Searching for "crochet trim" on Etsy will also find you some really pretty ones.

Additions to the fabric stash this week...

and Friday faves...

1. Cherries, 2. IMG_5653-1, 3. Bambi, 4. cupcakes 2, 5. Primele, 6. Untitled, 7. Swedish "slagbaenk", 8. A passion for Ribbons ♥, 9. this sweet love., 10. IMG_9384, 11. Baby quilt with Eliza's fabrics, 12. Inside Out Quilt, 13. Untitled

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

I wish you all a great weekend... I'm off to hospital, crossing my fingers, toes, and eyes that no "popping" happens just yet!

xo amy

:: tuesday already?

Did you have a nice Mother's Day?  I was going to pop in to wish you all a lovely day, but that didn't happen... it was such a nice lazy weekend.  My Sunday started off with a handful of Ferrero Rocher hazelnut chocolates (you know, breakfast in bed.  Thanks, Mom.)  After church and a delicious brunch at the Marmalade Cafe, I... yes, fell asleep.  Later, there were presents, a video chat with my mom, ice cream sundaes, a trip to the bookstore...

Now, it's Tuesday already.  How does that happen?

Time is going by so fast.  I'm counting down the weeks and I'm getting really excited to meet our new baby girl ~ and anxious, even a little nervous.  Her 2nd sleeping mat is now finished and her going-home outfits are washed.  We've got teensy eensy little diapers in the house again and sometimes my husband and I just look at each other and say, "How are we going to do this again?"

Yet we're anxious to get started.  Oh, I'm looking forward to that sweet baby smell. 

Totally off topic, for the person who asked about the "baby" ribbon ~ I got it several years ago and it's manufactured by American Crafts.  The other question I just remembered ~ the name of the blue bird fabric I used for baby's pillow is called Rural Jardin by French General.  I've got to get more myself, if I can find it.  And ooh, my order of Lecien's Old New 30's fabric just arrived from Sew Deerly Loved.  And wouldn't you know... I just spied some new fabric there (Hope Chest by Mama's Cottons) that I now have to have.  Thanks a lot, Kerri!

Swoon.  Love it.

xo amy

:: getting cozy

Making me happy right now?  A tiny new rose plant by the kitchen window...

Not that I spend much time in the kitchen these days.  Last night we ordered in ~ Chinese.  I intend to make dinner this evening, but we'll see.  As far as my energy and mood(s) go, I have completely become like Forest Gump's box of chocolates ~ ya never know what you're gonna get.  And dinner is just so late in the day, isn't it?  Recently I bought a crock pot and it's been sitting on the counter for a week because I don't know how to use it yet and apart from seeing all the fabulous looking dishes on Pinterest, I don't have any recipes.  Are any of you crock pot users?  Love it, hate it?  Dish, girls. ;)

While the kids were at school this morning, I made a pillow and pillow cover for the bassinet.  Little by little, our baby's nest is getting cozy...

I added a teensy bit of pink to the binding because my husband preferred the pink over the green and I figured this way we both win... kinda.  You see who really won. :)  Then I reached for my scrap basket and started the patchwork for baby's 2nd sleeping mat...

Happy Friday!

1. bouquet, 2. T E A C U P S, 3. #C355 - Colar "Costureira" (Peça única), 4. napperon, 5. Untitled, 6. IMG_4984, 7. Natsumi, 8. Pony Machine, 9. Front of zig zag quilt, 10. Untitled, 11. Pavement, 12. Untitled, 13. Sewing satin stitch pencil leads

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy

Do small things with great love ~ Free pattern

 

"We cannot do great things, but we can do small things with great love."

~ Mother Teresa

I love this quote.  It's what I try to do in my own way.  Apparently Mother Teresa, whose real name was Agnes, chose the name Teresa when she took her religious vows in honor of Saint Therese de Lisieux ~ "the little flower" who believed that life should be spent scattering "flowers"... that is, small acts of love.

So, when I wanted to embroider these words, it made a lot of sense to frame them with lazy daisies and little buds.  And I've turned my pencil drawing into a pdf pattern for you... it looks like this:

Download the free pattern here.

Maybe you'd like to stitch it, too?  The embroidery is really quite simple, as it consists solely of french knots, lazy daisies, and backstitch.  Here you can see I used the pattern on the center of a dresden plate, but I'm itching to try it on a piece of solid grey fabric in the same color palette.

Using Cosmo floss, these are the colors...

I used two strands of floss throughout.  And here it is all finished... just a simple mini quilt with a simple message.

I love how it turned out, I only wish I could have gotten a better pic of it.  The hand quilting around the dresden looks pretty cool and you can't even see it in these pics but I've got to move on now...  I've fallen alseep at least 20 times while writing this dang post. 

As for the tiny quilt I gave you a sneak peek of last Friday...

It's really just a small mat for baby to sleep on.  The bassinet pad is covered in plastic and I noticed that it still feels too plastic-y under the sheet cover... this quilted mat makes it perfectly cozy.

And I love that it's made entirely with small pieces from my scrap basket.  I'll probably make another one, for when this one's in the laundry.  And I think a small flat pillow is in order.  More bibs will be coming.  Burp cloths.  Oh yikes, the clock is ticking...

xo amy

spiders, oh my!

Do you all do the spider thing?

If so, skip over this... but if you don't it's just a neat little trick I learned about a year or so ago and I've been meaning to share it with ya.  Spiders are little scraps of fabric that you'd normally throw away (though not me, of course) that you can use again and again for continuous sewing of patchwork without having to pull your threads over the cutter, tossing out 5 or so inches of thread each and every time.  Very wasteful.  I hate waste.  Or maybe I'm just really cheap.  But you know how it is... say... when you're making granny squares, and your trash bucket gets filled with long white threads... well, no more.  At any point when you would normally pull on the threads to cut them, sew over a spider instead.  Snip the threads connecting the spider to your sewn pieces and leave the spider in your machine until you're ready to sew some more.  Never pull long strands of wasted thread again!  (Do I sound like an annoyingly excited commercial?)

You will need to keep a small pair of scissors handy and please be careful not to cut into your sewn patchwork when snipping it free from the spider.  Also, just for reference, I've found the perfect size for a spider to be 5/8" wide. 

See that blue spider up there?  It used to be blue, it's fairly covered in white thread now because I've been using it for months.  I love it so.

Now ooh, ooh, ooh, look at what just arrived at Sew Deerly Loved, my fave fabric shop...

Finally, the new Old New 30's collection from Lecien has arrived, yay!  Remember the pocket pillow I made recently with that fabric?  I've been waiting to get my hands on more and it's here at last.

I'm still "in progress" on a lot of projects but here's a sneak peak of one that's finished...

I'll show you more soon, it's just that right now I'm falling asleeeeeeep... zzz...

Happy Friday!

1. Raspberry, yogurt and chocolate sponge layer cake, 2. Monogram detail, 3. Molly's Sketchbook: Lavender Sachets, 4. IMG_0856, 5. Quilt market sample: simpatico table runner, 6. local strawberries are in season..., 7. Untitled, 8. Stars On Pink-3, 9. cups & saucers, 10. Dream On - Inside Out, 11. natalie and eloise, 12. No Star Like Thee, 13. Crostata-crumble dolce-salata con caprino e mirtilli marinati nel balsamico e cassis

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy

in progress...

Probably 80% of the time I sew whatever comes to mind, simply enjoying the process of cutting up pretty fabric and sewing it together, and then finishing it off with a few (or more) stitches by hand.  It's the hand-stitching part I love best, so embroidery is pretty high on my list, too.  During the last several days I carefully chose a palette from my new Cosmo floss stash, and I've been embroidering with those...

Actually, I've got a bunch of embroideries in progress and I can't wait to show you.  I'm totally in love with the Cosmo colors ~ they're perfect and the floss is like butter.

The other 20% of the time I'm sewing custom orders, gifts, and... gasp... practical items.  You know ~ oh! my fave potholder is burnt to a crisp and I need a new one.  Or ~ omigosh, we're having a baby and the bassinet (that we only just bought) is empty!  So I know that probably sounds horrible, but when you're having baby #4 things are a little different.  And, of course, when you're in a high-risk pregnancy where everything could go wrong ~ it's hard letting yourself get excited.  It's definitely been an emotional rollercoaster.  During a visit to one of my doctor's yesterday, she said, "Yes.  You're finally out of the woods.  You can now tell people, 'We are having a baby!'"

So the bassinet pad needed a few covers.  Too boring to share.  But I do have a patchwork thing in progress that I'll share when it's done.  And baby x (still haven't decided on a name) got a new pile of cloths...

Look at these little birds.  I can't wait to put them in her memory quilt!!

Okay!  Gonna get back to work now.  But, check out some of the adorable things I got in the mail yesterday from my friend, Rebecca...

Those are 1/2" hexie papers ... squee!  And when I opened the package, Olivia was right beside me asking for the ribbon.  She always wants the ribbon...

Thank you, Rebecca!  xo amy

a free "Sweet Dreams Little One" pdf pattern

Want to make your own?  Based on the amount of mail I got about the Sweet Dreams Little One pillow, I thought it best to give you the basics on how to D.I.Y.  It's simple.  Very basic patchwork + an embroidered panel = one sweet pillowcase, or pillow sham (whatever you like to call it) for a standard sleeping pillow.

The patchwork is easy peasy.  The bottom portion is made up of 28 - 4 1/2" squares.  With a 1/4" seam, that'll leave you with 4" finished squares.  Four rows of 7 squares across.

{click on pic to see it larger}

Attach lace if you'd like and then add a 4 1/2" panel across the top of your finished patchwork.  Next, trace the embroidery patterns onto the top panel. 

You'll need to purchase the Sleepy Time Animal Pals embroidery pattern PDF from my shop, unless, of course, you already have.  It costs a mere $3, so I promise it won't break ya.  (And please note that the pattern is intended for a smaller doll quilt, so for this pillow sham you'll need to trace or print out the pattern at 115%)   Next, click here to download my new free PDF pattern, "Sweet Dreams Little One" ~ which includes the text along with the tiny stars, moon and big sleepy star.  It looks like this:

After tracing on the patterns, lay the pillow-top on a piece of cotton batting, or whatever batting you prefer and pin in place.  Put on a good movie and stitch away!  I use three strands of floss and do a running stitch on everything except for the text... for that, a simple backstitch.

Next, add the backing, so you now have a quilt sandwich ~ backing, batting, and pillow "quilt" top.  I hand quilted mine, but you could just as easily run it through your sewing machine in minutes.  Yay!

For the pillow back, I use an envelope closure with an overlap of about 3". So, if the pillow is 28" inches wide: I have one piece of finished backing at 23" wide and another piece that is 8" wide.  Like this:

Fancy pic... I know ;)  Sew these two overlapping pillow back pieces onto the back of your quilt sandwich.  Lastly, bind the pillow like a quilt.  Again, I stitched mine on by hand, but it would be just as wonderful and a whole lot quicker if you sewed it on by machine.  And now you're done!

Obviously, this is just a guide on how to make the pillowcase for those of you with basic sewing skills, but if you are totally new to sewing there are unlimited resources on the web... just a short "google" away... and a thousand different tutorials on anything you'd like to know... like "how to bind a quilt" or "how to transfer an embroidery pattern" or "how to sew an envelope closure pillow"... etc.  And, of course, I'm here to help.

I've been sewing more hexagons lately.  Shocking, right?  It was fun trying out my new 3/4" hexagon papers.  I've almost always worked with 1 1/4" hexagons so it was fun to make these tiny hexies and boy, do they sew up fast.  Now, of course, I want to try the 1/2" hexagon papers ~ find them all at Kerri's shop.

I wish you all a great weekend, everyone!  If yours is anything like mine, it'll be slow... and easy... and restful.  :)

1. Pink with a dash of Lime!, 2. Pincushions, 3. Untitled, 4. Art wall, 5. Impossible?, 6. Feb. Issue of Martha Stewart, photos by Jen Causey, 7. Cotton Time Sept 2010, 8. Cotton Time no.77 - Book Vol. 1, 9. Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies with Fleur de Sel (Gluten-Free), 10. Quilted Vest, 11. 1hour skirt II, 12. Loulouthi Swoon so far..., 13. Molly and ABC

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy

sweet dreams little one

It's official.  I'm not sure if I can continue blogging ~ it puts me right to sleep.  Yes, the moment I sit down with my laptop I start to doze off... and then... zzz...

So I'll just leave you with a few pictures...

It's a hand quilted, super soft and sweet pillow case.

The fabric I used is the new Antique Flower in Pastel by Lecien, of course.  The font for the lettering is called "Monterey BT" and I used my pattern for the Sleepy Time Animal Pals but enlarged them to 115% and then scattered on the little stars, moon, and big sleepy star.

{click on pic to see it better}

And by the way, I'm super backed up on emails and stuff right now ~ so if you've sent me a message or asked a question I swear I'll get back to you soon... k?

xo amy... zzzz...

bear in a bag

I love a sewing project that makes itself.  You know, the kind that simply comes together without much thought or planning and in the end is one you truly love ~ even more than the projects you labored over and tried so hard to make perfect. 

Hello bear in a bag!

Sleepy tiny bear in a giant sleeping bag... that is.

I've got a lot of random hexagon flowers hanging about my sewing room.  I make them while out and about, knowing that someday they'll come in handy.  This hexagon piece was sewn during the drive home from our recent trip to Las Vegas.  Then I happened to place it on some blue ticking when I got home and it screamed yes!  A tote bag!  But, this ticking is different from the kind I'm used to ~ it is super soft and has a nice drape.  So the tote idea went gonzo and I decided to make a doll quilt.  Then I thought, no ~  better, a sleeping bag.

And I found the perfect piece of binding but it was a few inches short.  I used it anyway...

And added a little button detail along the bottom...

I love it!  Oh, and one last thing... after I appliqued the hexagons onto the ticking I very carefully snipped out the backing because the stripes were so dark they showed right through the hexagons.  But normally I don't do that.  When you applique hexagons onto fabric, do you snip out the fabric from behind?

Happy Friday!

1. Gorgeous Roses, 2. Wool Eater, 3. linen shoulder bag, 4. "A room without books is like a body without a soul.", 5. Untitled, 6. Beautiful chevron design on the Taj Mahal, 7. Vintage Sheet Swap, 8. Traditional Home Magazine, 9. Molly's Sketchbook: Mother's Day Liberty of London Handkerchief Set, 10. Pink threads, 11. Organic Merino Wool Knit Wrap, 12. Granny Square Bonnet, 13. color dots

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy

a side by side and a sneak peek

Can you see the difference?

The fabric on the left is Lecien's new 2012 Antique Flower in Pastel reprint, and the one on the right is the original from 2007.  This is probably the only print in the bunch where I prefer the old one better.  For all the rest I like the reprint better.  Like this one...

The little flowers are more defined and the slightest touch of white was added.  And in this one...

They removed the little tiny bits and overall the print looks cleaner and fresher.  But really...

I love all of it!  And it'll be at my friend Kerri's shop, Sew Deerly Loved, soon.

Btw, what do you think of the new legacy reprint of Denyse Schmidt's Flea Market Fancy?  I ordered a short stack of half yards last month and I love it, though I miss the silky hand to the original printing.

And now a sneak peek...

These are a few things that have been hanging about my work space the last few days...

A cute new set of mini notecards.

A little girl (it seems she's always hanging about).

... and a work in progress.  One I've been thoroughly enjoying making.  Oh and lastly, I wanted to show you some of the cuteness I got in the mail from my new friend, Sam...

Goodness, I love that Merry Bonbon stuff. 

See you Friday!  xo amy

Pastel petals

Hi!  We're back home again from our short trip to Las Vegas ~ and it's pouring rain outside.  The sky is dark and there's thunder and lightening ~ all pretty cool since we don't often get weather like this.  It's good to be home.  My belly is growing, the baby is kicking, my husband is at work, I'm back to my sewing machine, Anne is listening to her iPod and doing homework, Olivia and Nicholas are bickering and making a mess ~ everything is normal.  Love it  ;)

I'll have to admit I've been terribly unfocused and I'm swimming in a sea of half-finished projects, but I do have something to show you.  Lecien has reprinted their Antique Flower in Pastel line... which came out originally in 2007, and I loved it then.  But I think I might like the reprint even more ~ there is something about the way they've balanced the colors that I really like.  Oh, I don't know ~ they're both great and if I get a chance I'll try to take side by side photos.  But for example, back in 2008 I made this little apron:

In the past few days, I've been finishing this:

Antique Flower in Pastel petals fused and sewn onto white wool felt, then stitched onto a background of Lecien's Color Basic mocha dots.

A little peek at the back... It's linen with a teensy bit of Antique Flower, closed envelope style.

There is, however, a tiny part of me that wants to tinker with this a little more ~ maybe a bit more stitching, or a few more petals.  Does it look finished to you?  Lemme know what you think.  Though as soon as I hit the "publish this post" button, I'm out the door.  I've convinced my husband that I absolutely need to go to Johnny Rockets for an Oreo malt shake and french fries.  Sometimes being pregnant isn't all that horrible!

Happy Friday!!

1. Untitled, 2. in process, 3. Mini Diamonds..., 4. Vintage Baby Flower Bonnet, 5. lilu, 6. embroideryBaby, 7. Made by Chloé Rémiat, 8. Short termed, 9. New, 10. Nursery Prints, 11. Gold stripes for a glamorous touch..., 12. Queen Holden Paper Dolls 14., 13. _MG_3575

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy

:: an Old New pocket pillow

It's Spring Break (woo hoo!  party!  yeah.  right.)... and we'll be leaving for Las Vegas soon, to visit family.  But first we're enjoying a few days with my sister here in town.  I am the worst company, though.  To add to my list of complaints I'd like to introduce sciatica, which means sometimes I can barely move, but handsewing is never a problem.  Thank goodness.

Using Lecien's beautiful and brand new "Old New 30's" line, I stitched up a hexagon pocket pillow... with a handle!  (Click on the pic to see it better... I used all the prints from the line in those hexagons.)

And, I quilted the hexies by hand... these are 1 1/4" hexagons. 

To make the button loop, I braided three strands of embroidery floss and knotted it at both ends ~ hiding the knots inside the fabric patches.

And then I put a handle on it because it's a bigger pillow for Livi at 18" x 18".  I envision her stuffing a doll and a book in that pocket and dragging this thing all around the house ~ which is exactly what it's for.  It's kinda like an early present for our birthday girl.  In just a few days, Liv is turning 4! 

Oh, and I've got to show you this quilt I found on Pinterest...

Source: bittybitsandpieces.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

 

Wouldn't it be just perfect in the Old New 30's line?  Love it.

Happy happy weekend to you all!

1. Spring moments, 2. the delicious hopelessness of daydreams, 3. G R A C I A S, 4. Bea, 5. Antique French Button Card, 6. Thread That Binds, 7. Liberty Scrap Challenge - Feb Edition, 8. 4/365, 9. a box of sewing threads, 10. Bunny jars filled for Easter, 11. gigantic dresden complete, 12. Summerlove Spring Birdie Pillow, 13. Catherineholm!

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy

things to be thankful for...

Does it look like Christmas?

Oh, it felt like Christmas when I opened this package.  And by the way, does it get any better than receiving a present... wrapped in fabric!?

Erin of Why Not Sew? sweetly sent me these gorgeous things ~ a beautiful patchwork basket and quilt made from the Patisserie line by Fig Tree Quilts. 

I'm absolutely in love.  Like over the moon, in love.  Erin's work is amazing in person ~ it's inspired me to try a little harder on the technical aspect of my work.  You can see a better pic of my pretty new quilt here.  Thank you, Erin!!!

Yesterday, there were a lot of things to be thankful for... Like getting the results from my 3-hour glucose test (that I started to black out after taking) and finding that I don't have diabetes after all.  And then there was the visit to the high-risk ob-gyn who verified that the blood vessel connecting my placenta (that's in two pieces) has moved away from the baby and is no longer a threat.  Stuff like that.  No big whoop.

On the stitchy side of things, I started some yo-yo's for a coverlet thingy.  I went out and bought a Clover yo-yo maker ~ has anybody have any experience making yo-yo's with the Clover and without it, and prefer without?

About 2 months ago, I found the pic (below) of the little girl sitting on a yo-yo coverlet, and became really excited about making one of my own.  I never even liked yo-yo's before, but now I'm diggin' 'em.  I'm just not sure about the Clover yo-yo maker... ya know, if it makes things easier or not. 

1. Yo-yo doll quilt, 2. Yoyo along: part 2, 3. Yo Yo Quilt, 4. Mini Quilt - Aug. Handwork Theme, 5. happy birthday, 6. Yo-Yo Garland, 7. yoyos.jpg, 8. Untitled, 9. Yo-Yo Rosette Pillow

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

Also, thank you to all of you that have purchased the Sleepy Time Pals embroidery pattern from my shop.  I do hope you'll share a pic with me if you make one.  And, I hope you're all having a good week, too.

xo amy

simple and sweet

Hi there!  Yes, that is me ~ all puffy and pregnant.  We've made it to the last trimester and it'll be go-time before you know it, so it was time for a pic, I think.  Have I mentioned I think we're going to name her Gabriella?  Gabriella or Isabella or Sophia or Chloe or Maria ~ aah, I'm still undecided but my family has chosen Gabriella.  What do you think?

This week was a time for simple and sweet crafts as I had very little energy for anything else.  With Spring in the air and the farmer's market on my mind, I made a few more of the strawberry pincushions with Heather Bailey's pattern...

They're just so dang cute, I guess I couldn't stop.

But one cannot live on strawberries alone...

Did you know that Easter is, at last, just around the corner?  I'm way ahead of myself this year ~ the little one's Easter baskets are ready to go and last night I whipped up this little bag for Anne.  She's too old for toys, but not for gift cards.  And if you know me, you know I can't normally "whip" anything up, but this simple bag can be made in minutes.  I used my bunny template (get it here), a scrap of cotton print, linen, and a bit of crochet lace.  Voila!  Perfect for holding a gift card plus a few other little sundries.

Simple and sweet, right?

Lastly, I wanted to let you know I've made up an embroidery pattern of my Sleepy Time animal pals and it's in the shop.

The pattern includes a drawing of the animal pals and basic instructions on how to assemble your own doll quilt.  So if you liked the Sleepy Time doll quilts you can easily make your own!

Have a great weekend and happy stitching!

1. Pretty floral fabrics ~ crochet lace, 2. My bedroom, 3. Strawberries, 4. Cotton Time May 09, 5. complimenting each other, 6. Rosie & Bear "First Stitches", 7. Jacquard tape, 8. pink baby quilt, 9. Vintage Clip Art 22, 10. first ranunculus of the season, 11. letters, 12. Corner, 13. Color Me Pretty: Easter Ideas

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy

:: my very first cross stitch, yeah!

It rained here all weekend and now the sun has cleared through ~ I love it.  Los Angeles truly sparkles after she's had a good shower (as do I, but hey, some days are diamonds and others... not so much).  Today it is glorious and I'm happy as could be because I finally tried my hand at something I've been dying to do ~ yes, cross stitch!  I've been admiring other people's work these last few years but that paralyzing fear of trying something new has held me back.  Finally yesterday, I took out one of my fave books, Alicia Paulson's "Embroidery Companion: Classic Designs for Modern Living," and set to stitching.  I haven't yet exactly read the book, but I've studied those gorgeous pics a hundred times, and I don't care that my work isn't perfect and my x's are 3 different sizes... I did it!!!

And I know my sister won't care that it's not perfect either.  She recently bought a house in Connecticut so I made her this set of monogrammed pocket placemats as a housewarming gift.

I haven't seen the house yet, but I'm pretty sure my sister's style is slightly more sophisticated than ours over here at, you know, kid central.  So choosing the colors and fabrics was a challenge but I gotta admit, I love these placemats.  The blue fabric is by Lecien and it's called "Le Petit Jardin."  The linen monogrammed pockets are lined and hold silverware perfectly.  Can't you just picture these being rolled up and thrown in the summer picnic basket?

Okay, now I've got picnics on my mind.  Like a nice sunny one up in Napa Valley with my husband ~ no kids!  A blanket, a book, a bottle of wine... i'll just keep dreaming over here... ;)

xo amy

little strawberry

Just got back from seeing "The Hunger Games" with Anne.  She had me read the book trilogy in the first trimester of this pregnancy, when I was utterly sick and nauseous.  It was such a pleasure to be pulled into another world at that time, to get my mind off things, and I loved the film for the same reasons.  Can't wait for the next movie to come out.  Did you read the books?

Well, I don't know about you, but things 'round here keep getting crazier and crazier.  Some of the "crazy" is exciting and some is just plain complicating, but I'm going to take long slow breaths and keep telling myself I can handle it.  My sole accomplishment this morning was making this strawberry pincushion.  I parked myself in a chair and pulled out Heather Bailey's pattern and two seconds later (haha, don't believe it!) I had a lovely little strawberry.  I can see making a whole bunch of these.  They're perfect for getting your creative groove on when you don't have much time or energy.

This week's flickr faves:

1. untitled , 2. buttons, 3. bunnysal3, 4. oh, the fair, 5. Hope Valley Flying Geese Pinwheel, 6. saturday inspiration, 7. Swatch Book Pages, 8. Spring/Summer Bags, 9. 72/366, 10. Cath Kidston buttons, 11. Crochet Hair Barrette Pink Daffodil with White Flowers, 12. a quilt for harry., 13. citrus

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

Well hey, looks like the weekend has already started... have a good one!

xo amy

the perfect sleepy time doll quilt

... for Olivia, that is.  So what do you think?  Not quite as pink as you thought it would be?  There's a lot of strong color in there and I didn't intend for it to be like this, but once I started arranging those 2" squares I just couldn't help myself.  And I was right... making the top panel pink made all the difference in the world for Liv.  She loves it.

Love the vintage-y type look of the thing.  I used a combination of mostly Lecien fabrics and random prints from JoAnn's.  Then I drew the sleepy pals with a little more character this time.  Love the bunny especially...

and Livi loves the kitty.

But enough with sleepy time doll quilts already!  It's time to wake up!  Did you know it's offically Spring at last?

Just got these fabrics in from Japan.  The shop, Lilymeru, is on vacation right now but she'll be back this month.  And I'm off to blow my nose... yes, I'm sick again.  Love being pregnant and sick.  Okay, but really, I'm off to...

Source: 28.media.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

 

At least, that's what I strive to do :)

xo amy

"not enough pink"

I can't believe those words were uttered from my youngest daughter's lips about something I made, but it's true.  I sold the three Sleepy Time doll quilts I made last week and this weekend I set out to make one special for her.  But Olivia has announced there's "not enough pink" in it... really?

I see pink.  Lots of it.  But she doesn't love it, so I'll be making another one and this one's going in the shop tonight at 5pm.

I think she simply wants the top panel to be pink and the creamy beige dots I used aren't working for her.  I'm off to the sewing corner to whip up something pink ;)

xo amy

:: yellow and pink

It's a bit overcast today.  I wanted to show you some granny square blocks but I can't take a good pic to save my life, so here's a sneak peak.  For this baby quilt, the customer wants something vintage-y and soft and I think it's coming along pretty well.  I've noticed that everyone does their own variation on the pattern of colors in the granny square blocks.  I admit I like all of 'em but since this is going to be a more traditional quilt I went very tidy and regular with mine...

More to come later!  This weeks friday flickr faves...

1. Untitled, 2. Ballad Of The Milkmaid, 3. Retro Fat Quarters 10, 4. lila's birthday dress, 5. Yo Yo Quilt, 6. Craft Corner wall hanging - Front, 7. Textures4layers - 7, 8. All you need is LOVE!, 9. Fabric Wrapped Embroidery Hoop, 10. Happy weekend!, 11. Monsieur Lapin, 12. Living in a Tree house, 13. zigzag2

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

Oh, and the sleepytime doll quilts are going in the shop tonight at say 6pm.  The medium already sold, so that leaves the "big" one and the small one.  (I'll be making a new one special for Liv ;)

It's set to rain all weekend here in L.A... think we'll have a cozy weekend.  Hope you have a good one, too!

xo amy