nanaCompany

1, 2, 3...

The other day I was at babyGap admiring their bibs when I remembered ~ save your money, girl.  Make your own.   So, in my stash I found the perfect dusky flower print from French General (Pom Pom de Paris), sat down, drew a pattern and stitched it up.  Then I found a bag of Livi's baby things and pulled out an old knit dress and a swiss dot bubble onesie that are both stained down the front ~ perfect for cutting up and giving new life.  So I made two more bibs...

The two knit bibs are truly special because the dress I made them from was bought nearly 16 years ago from babyGap and both my daughters wore it.  First it was Anne's... (see her in it here in 1997).  And then Livi wore it in 2009... (see here).  Call me cheap or call me crafty, I was pleased as punch to give new life to this little dress that now all 3 of my daughters will get to share.  It was a little hard cutting into it at first ~ but once you get started it's nothing.  The ruffles on these bibs were made from the dress hem, and the back of the pink one is lined with Livi's old bubble onesie.  I'd bought two of those adorable rompers at the time, and one is still in perfect condition so I'll get to see the new baby (who still has no name!) wearing it, too.

I love the bibs.  And they just happen to look perfect with the little things I did buy from the Gap this week...

Happy Friday!

1. Hand Pieced Quilt-A-Long Block #5 Granny Square, 2. me by Damnmeandyou, 3. {201} a handful of radishes., 4. finished rose, 5. IMG_9956, 6. Vignette 1, 7. Untitled, 8. Blue Bouquet Vintage Wallpaper, 9. rose garland (hand embroidery pattern/transfer), 10. Yo-Yo Garland, 11. Untitled, 12. Untitled, 13. Vintage grandmother's flower garden quilt

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy

:: Zakka Style giveaway!

Have you seen the book, "Zakka Style: 24 Projects Stitched with Ease to Give, Use, & Enjoy"? I just got my copy in the mail and I am truly in love with this craft book.  It's compiled by Rashida Coleman-Hale and boy did she do a great job.  Never mind that I got to be a part of it ~ yep, I've got a project in it (thanks so much, Rashida!) ~ I would've wanted this book anyway.  Zakka which translates from Japanese to "many things" or "sundries" is a style I particularly love.  When I hear the word I think: simple, charming, handmade... and that's what's in this book.

My contribution was this cute little cookie sack...

See it on the back cover!

This book is chock-full of simple and sweet zakka projects and what's really cool is that many are made by my friends ~ like this bread basket made by Rachel Roxburgh...

Perfection.  I so want to make one of those.  Actually I want to make one of everything in the book!  And I've already got started...

See the page below... it's like the cutest bookmark ever, designed by Kat Mew, and it charmed me to pieces.  So I just had to make one!

And I'm happy to give it away to one of you, along with a copy of this awesome book.

C'mon.  These two want a new home.  All you have to do is leave a comment here at the end of this post... tell me your favorite color combination!  The winner will be chosen at random.  Comment by next Monday, February 27th and I'll announce the winner on Tuesday.  Cool?

have a great week! xo amy

a postcard from Paris

Seems longer to me, but one month ago ~ excited and armed with inspiration ~ I set out to make a Valentine's Day postcard pillow for Liv.  Instead, she's getting a springtime postcard pillow that she can use all year...

And after fiddling and stitching, ripping and re-stitching, I really like it.  Really, really.

Here are some of the details:

I changed the stamp from flowers to the Eiffel Tower...

If you look very closely here, you'll see the pencil mark inside my "cancellation stamp" that I stitched in, didn't like and ripped out.  After the first wash, that line will disappear.

Here is the little house patch down in the corner that keeps getting cut off in my pics:

Not very good pics, but you get the idea.  I was inspired by a Dottie Angel apron for the base, and had an idea to use the white lace around the postcard as if it were tape.  But the "postcard" needed more framing, so I added the pink stripes, thinking of washi tape.  Love it.

Whew, I'm so glad it's done!  And just so you know, Olivia sleeps on two pillows... both are rather flat.  This one goes on the bottom and the pink dotty one back there behind it (that I made for her when she slept in the bassinet) goes on top.  So she won't really be putting her face on all those postcard stitches.  And she spends half the night in my bed, anyway.  There's another story.

There are a few minutes left of Friday so, here are my faves this week:

1. Coffee ♥, 2. ♥♥♥ - Christiane Dahlbeck (from the book "Fadenspiel"), 3. peter cotton tail, 4. Amy Borrell, 5. Untitled, 6. Project 365 - Day 168, 7. inspiration from sanctuary, 8. tooth pillow, 9. The sweet one , 10. Granny Squares, 11. flora the explorer, 12. old rabbit toy, 13. happy valentine's day, flickr peeps!

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

p.s.  After a trip to the doctor's office to find out Nicholas has an ear infection, we're all on the mend now.  Have a great weekend!!  xo amy

Wishing you all...

... a day full of love.  Happy Valentine's Day.

I rather feel like crap.  Sadly, we passed on our colds to the little ones.  Nicholas had a fever and a bad nasty cough and runny nose all weekend, then quite suddenly Livi got a stomach bug and passed it onto me.  I wish I were sewing but laying down feels really good.

I love the names you've given me.  I've read them all aloud to my husband and he smiles and says us ladies must all be watching the same movies and reading the same books.  I said, yes, I think we are.  ;)  For the moment, we're carefully weighing Chloe Sofia and Maria Rose.  I prefer Chloe, I think, and he prefers Maria.  But, my girlfriend reminded me that since I have the greater burden in the pregnancy and delivery of our little baby, I should be able to choose the name... right??!  Fair?  Ha!  We'll see...

Well the sewing of the postcard thingy continues and I hope it'll be finished soon.  I had planned for it to be a Valentine's Day postcard, but as I'm a little late, I'm changing the "message" altogether.  In the meantime, I got some new fabric to play with...

Random basics to help with the two baby quilts I've got coming up.  One is a custom order, and one for me!  (And btw, the little pink basket is at the dollar spot at Target right now.)

Happy Valentines Day to you all!

xo amy

:: ready for the weekend

I know it's only February but here in LA we've been enjoying summer weather.  Better than summer weather!  Last week the beach was amazing and just yesterday I was at the park, happily working on the doll quilt when my kids complained it was too hot and wanted to go home.  That custom order doll quilt, by the way, is all finished.  (Remember Justine, I won't be sad if you don't like it!)

I've always wanted to do blocks on point and this is my very first time.  Pretty cute, eh?  I'd love to do a much larger version some day.  This one is meant for an actual doll bed and measures about 18" x 14".  It is backed with pink polka dots.

And I have another project in the works.  Remember the postcard inspiration?  Here's a sneak peek of mine...

This weekend I have lots of plans... to finish the above thingy,  spend some time at the beach, a bit of furniture restoration on an old Pottery Barn dresser we got off Craig's list, and a trip to the library.  We'll see what I actually get done ~ ha!

And, thank you so much for the congratulations, continued prayers and good baby girl vibes!  Now, we have to get serious about deciding on a name, which isn't so easy this time around.   Olivia wants us to name her Barbie.  Her second choice is Sally.  My husband quipped that we could call her, "the girl whose name must not be mentioned" (yes, we watch a lot of Harry Potter).  Grandma likes the name Sophia.  I don't know (I'm woefully shaking my head).  I'd love to hear some of your favorite girl names.  Seriously, throw some at me.

And have a great weekend!

1. fabric covered notebooks, 2. Dream Dress, 3. Little sheep, 4. Heidi & Finn Pinafore Pattern, 5. Bolsa Wishes*, 6. i can't look at a flower without thinking of you.........he told me..., 7. such light, springy colors, 8. living room, 9. paper flowers, 10. Vintage Laundry Labels, 11. original art work, 12. granny square blocks! :), 13. autumn quilt

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy

bring on the pink!

I can feel this tiny baby in my belly kicking me with its tiny feet.  My husband felt it today, too, for the first time.  It's funny because our little baby is about 8 oz. right now and I'm like an old pro, having been kicked before by as big as a 10 lb. 2 oz. baby Nicholas in my belly!  So when I feel these little jabs, it's like, aww that tickles!  Well, today was the "big" ultrasound.  Baby is perfectly healthy and so far, so am I.  She's a miracle, to be sure and yes, she's a she.  Bring on the pink!  (I can't wait to start sewing and shopping.)

Source: gap.com via Amy on Pinterest

 

Source: boligpluss.no via Amy on Pinterest

 

Source: flickr.com via Amy on Pinterest

 

This week I've been struggling for inspiration, but I found it finally and sewed up a custom order doll quilt that's on the list.  I wasn't given much direction but I was told "pink" so what I made is kinda colorful with a pink background.   I honestly won't mind if the customer doesn't like it because then I can keep it for myself.  Here's a sneak peek...

All it needs is the binding and quilting.  Ahem, it would have been done by now, but I stitched on a bad choice of binding (confirmed by my husband) and had to tear it off.  (I know that's two in a row, but I still have hope this isn't going to become a regular thing with me... ;)

Enjoy the rest of the week!

xo amy

I chose blue

Sometimes you gotta move fast to do something right...

... 'cause if you wait too long it might never get done at all.  I chose solid blue.  It looks so vintage in person.  So what I wanted.  The red binding came off in less than an hour.  Olivia put on an old movie, "The Black Cauldron" and we chatted away while I ripped stitches... I even managed to poke myself in the face with the seam ripper at one point... ouch!  I really get into my work ;)

xo amy

cook me a meal and I'll make you a...

You might think I'm crazy (and you may be right!) or you might think, um yes... but I'm going to change the binding on the hexagon doll quilt I just finished (see the post below).  After seeing it in pics, I realize the look I'm going for isn't quite there and it's because of the red binding.  I think an aqua blue or pink might be just right.  Scroll down, take a look... do you agree?

Well, I get to check one thing off my list today.  A few weeks back a new friend invited us over for lunch, cooking for hours to create a Persian food feast (in the beginning of this pregnancy I craved middle eastern food more than anything ~ kabob, basmati rice).  Her kitchen was cheerful and bright and she was wearing the cutest apron so I knew immediately I could make her a little something as thanks.

Cook me a meal and I'll make you a...

... hotpad!

An oversized hotpad, perhaps.  It's about 12" x 12", but perfect for big platters of food, like the ones she served at our lunch.  I'm getting hungry as I write this...  Alright, we are off to let the kids ride bikes at the beach ~ off for some much needed fresh air.  But I leave you, of course, with a little Friday inspiration:

1. Miss Etoile Spring 2012, 2. Laundry bag with embroidery, 3. happy birthday, 4. Yay!, 5. Halfway finished, 6. Naturally Scented fabric softener/ over 3000 views, thank you., 7. Untitled, 8. abundance - the whole lot of them, 9. Good Morning Again!!! I deleted this by accident !!!, 10. Vintage Sheet Lap Quilt, 11. Tomato Circus In Town, 12. shabby chic table cloth, 13. Spoonful Zine Quote

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

Happy weekend!  xo amy

hand tied hexagon doll quilt

Daaang, the chicken soup was good.  And thanks so much for your well wishes and great cooking tips (for next time).  Sounds like you ladies are some real serious soup eaters ~ my kinda people.  Well, today is my first day of feeling major improvement and I have a finished hexagon doll quilt to show ya...

I did handquilt, per usual with my trusty DMC perle no. 8 cotton floss, around the hexagons and all the borders, but as you can see I also did some hand tying for the first time ever... and I know it won't be the last.  I love the vintage old-timey look and it's super easy.

I hope I did it right.  This morning I did a search on the internet ("how to tie a quilt by hand") to find out how and I just happened to have some red perle floss that's no.5, I think.  The label was gone so I can't be sure, but the ties held up after their first wash...

The prints I used are my absolute fave 1930's reproductions and Japanese prints ~ mostly by Lecien and Atsuko Matsuyama...

And the finished doll quilt looks pretty cute on Livi's wall of handmade stuff...

If you haven't tried sewing hexagons and you've always wanted to, it's time to start.  For this doll quilt, as in most of my projects, my hexagons measure 1 1/4" per side and I use these papers.  Instructions are included with the papers, so go ahead and buy a starter pack and get stitching already!  It's so easy!

Seriously.  xo amy

chicken soup

Whew, this week was a blur ~ I've got a head cold and I'm taking meds and I'm simply dragging myself through the motions to get the bare minimum done.  Dirty laundry?  Yep, I've got piles of it ~ and I won't get to it today because after I write this post I'm tossing a chicken in my stock pot to make some chicken soup.  I am, however, very open to improving upon my award-winning (the husband raves over it) tried and true recipe, so I'm wondering if any of you would be kind enough to share that magical ingredient that makes your chicken soup a knock-out?  An herb, a special spice?  Really, is there anything better than soup when you can't breathe through your raw pink nose, when your mouth is dry from hanging open, and your head aches???  Oh, also, one thing I'm really interested in making next time is matzo balls... know a good recipe for those?  I'm all ears :)

Well, the hexagon progress is going delightfully ~ everything else has been dropped like a hot potato.  I did make one more star for Liv's garland...

The new star is the one with the bell.

Enjoy the weekend!

1. Tasmin in the lavender field, 2. Giant Dwarf // Dwarfette Bunny, 3. kapok,hemp and vintage, 4. balcony, 5. eleanor and prudence, 6. vintage books, 7. Busy Bark, 8. weekend fare, 9. Granny Squares Scrappy Quilt, 10. que chique.... achados da net, 11. main 003, 12. naturally dyed strips of fabrics, 13. Remember Spring

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy

sidetracked again

Focus?  Pshaw!  Who am I kidding?  I can't even focus when I call myself out on it.  I was so lazy all weekend, watching movies and sewing hexagons in full addiction mode ~ I couldn't stop.  Plus, the movies were good ~ "Midnight in Paris", "Harry Potter", and "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day."  And, ya know,  I'm not actually watching the movies, I just listen and lift my head occasionally at the parts I really love, so is it really so crazy that I might've watched "Midnight in Paris" three times?

When I finally got to my sewing machine I pushed my 'wips' aside and started something new.  And it's all because I'd found a pic on pinterest of the cutest thing in the world and I just had to make one too.  Here's the original:

Source: kkomegii.com via Amy on Pinterest

 

The Japanese website this comes from, kkomegii.com, has a ton of cute things and I dare you to go there and not want to copy at least one of her adorable crafts.  When I was making my bear-mat I was working off my memory of that picture and as much as I wanted to look at the pic again, I didn't want to copy her mat exactly, so I didn't.  I see now the differences and I like some things better about hers and mine, but I am totally bummed it's not my design.  Oh, sob, sob, because it's sooo cute!

Bear-mat (that was nowhere on my check-list): check!  And now Olivia has a new snack mat and Nicholas has informed me that it's too baby-ish for him, so he'll stick with the 'cookies and milk' mat I already made him.  That's fine.  I've got so many other projects to get to ;)

Hope you're all having a great week!  xo amy

:: focus

I really only do well if I have a list to check-off, otherwise I flounder and flop around like a fish.  How 'bout you?  Focus ~focus~ is my issue.  Like today, I sewed up one tiny thing I needed to get done but spent the rest of my time playing with spools and trims...

... to take a few pretty pics.  Which is nice, but I'd be happier getting stuff sewn, ya know?!

This needlebook has been floating around in my "to-do" fog for a while.  It's done, check.  And now I'm moving on to the Valentine's Day postcard thingy...

... tomorrow.  I hope you had a great week, everyone!  Happy Friday...

1. ., 2. Pink, 3. Untitled, 4. On a whim quilt, 5. mobile nuage, 6. ♥ teacups, 7. Quilted Blanket, 8. Double hourglass quilt completed-edit, 9. Bow @ the printworks - Prints for sale - EXPLORED, 10. Vintage Fabric Picnic Blanket, 11. just say it like it is..., 12. Untitled, 13. .

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy

love:

I'll never tire of sewing hexagons, much like I'll never tire of quilting by hand~ mainly because you can do it anywhere in the house (like on the loveseat) and with a movie playing in the background.  This is my heaven.  So, I've started another hexagon piece and this time I'm using some of those fabrics I've got precious little of...

... which means it'll probably end up a wall hanging so that little fingers and markers won't find their way to it.  I also have a Valentine's Day project in the works.  I'm kinda excited about this one.  This was my inspiration:

Source: fler.cz via Amy on Pinterest

Source: designcrushblog.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Amy on Pinterest

 

Thank you, Pinterest!  In the meantime, I've stitched up a teensy eensy 'pretty little thing' just to satisfy my creative urges.  I don't know why I haven't made more fabric tags, they're so fast and fun...

You can never really go wrong with linen and scraps, right?

(And hey, thanks for all the sweet comments about the brown quilt.)  Have a great week!

xo amy

the finished quilt

I love how inspiration can sometimes lead to copying... and sometimes leads to bold new interpretations.

I pretty much copied the vintage doll quilt in the book ~ with only a few slight variations.  Obviously, mine has less nine-patches, and I added a touch of white quilting instead of all brown, and then I bound the quilt with a bright floral calico, even though as much as I wanted to bind it in brown, I just couldn't resist the urge to add more color.  But still, I love it...

And now it's done.  And when it is washed and has that crinkly, soft, scrunched up look, I suspect I'll love it even more.

Happy Friday all!

1. Bennett, 2. blossom nest, detail, 3. homemade bias tape, 4. floral dress, 5. raspberry jewel, 6. Untitled, 7. Pencil case Cara - name detail, 8. Warmers, 9. Mail, 10. Untitled, 11. Linen Chamomile Ring, 12. dress2, 13. Burano lace umbrellas

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy

:: almost finished!

Sewing on the binding by hand...

Now I wish I'd made this quilt larger... much larger, like queen size 'cause it's so dang pretty.  Someday I'll have the guts to make a quilt that big, but not today.  Making small quilts feels safe and easy and doable, y'know?

In case you were interested, the book that inspired my baby quilt is called, "Warman's Vintage Quilts: Identification And Price Guide" and it's going for like $3 on Amazon.

Here's another one of my favorites from the book:

Love that palest seafoam green as a background.  Okay, I gotta go.  I mean, I literally have to leave this room because a strange smell is wafting in through my window ~  probably no one else in the world can smell it, but you know how crazy your sense of smell gets during pregnancy?!!  Ugh, gag!  Okay.  See you tomorrow, friends!

xo amy

vintage quilt ~ inspired

Inspiration for the baby quilt I'm working on came from a book about vintage quilts ~ got from the bargain racks for a mere $5.  Inside are pages of beautiful, old quilts with interesting color combinations and astonishing testament to the durability of a well made quilt, passed down through the years.

This doll quilt caught my eye and had me coming back to examine it again and again.  I really don't know why... but, I was inspired to at least try to make a version of it for myself.  And so began the cutting of the squares, and now there is a quilt top.  Of course, to achieve the look I want I'll have to hand quilt my version as well, but I've made mine a baby quilt, and rather a small one at that.  It consists of only 12 nine-patches, and here's a sneak peek...

The quilt below my quilt top is still being hand quilted... a project going since last year.  But the baby quilt will be finished in days, I hope!

xo amy

:: fabric love

What better way to start the new year than with a fresh new pile of half-yard cuts and something sweet?  Yesterday the postman delivered these lovely prints and a package of my mom's homebaked cookies :)

Of course, I have a sewing to-do list but I've let inspiration get the better of me ~ after glancing through a few books I've discovered a quilt I just have to make and right away.  Luckily it's a small one.  So I began going through my scraps, cutting 2.5" squares, and before I knew it I was in a cutting frenzy...  1.5" squares... 1.75" squares... 2" squares...

um, okay.  Maybe it wasn't exactly a frenzy, but it took me a while to cut all these and, sadly, didn't even make a dent in my scrap bin.  But anyway, there is a baby quilt in the future!  And with these pre-cut squares I see lots of other fast and cute projects, too!

Have a great weekend, friends!

1. Family Heirloom, 2. Closet Candy..., 3. vintage floral quilt, 4. Untitled, 5. the girly girls, 6. Purdy Treats, 7. Northern star, 8. Muffins, 9. Maxine's Room, 10. Modern Crazy Quilt for Aurifil Thread Challenge, 11. Cookie Bear Door Hangers, 12. Sequin storage, 13. More apples..

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy

:: first sewing of the year

hello!  Unexpectedly my best friend came to stay with us for a few days, so my hopes for a New Year's Eve full of food and movies was spot-on.  But after that gluttonous start to the New Year (a roast, potatoes au gratin, creme brulee, more eggs benedict, red beans and coconut rice, pavlova with raspberries, pasta in cream sauce with sausage, fruit and chocolates and cookies...) I'm actually glad that life has settled into its less indulgent normalcy. 

The kids are all back to school and I have returned to my sewing corner.  First sewing of the year?  Mini paper tags with fabric scraps... I love making these to put in my shop orders when I have the time.

But this morning, I got to some more substantial sewing with a fabric jacket for my composition notebook ~ the one in which I write down notes and ideas and sketch pics of new projects...

I made a mistake in my measurements, so the dots on the bottom weren't planned, but I like it better this way anyway.

Actually, I love it. 

xo amy

:: goodbye 2011

The following are words I want to commit to in the coming year...

Source: inmyblessednest.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

 

It's so simple really, but I do have to remind myself to be be joyful, to be thankful, and to keep on praying ~ even while admitting that my life is pretty damn rosy any way you look at it.  But my focus can get muddled.  Like right now I'm trying to remember that pregnancy is not forever ~ I will feel good again.  And no matter what happens with this pregnancy ~ I am already blessed with three beautiful children that charm me to pieces and make my heart full.  But I get frustrated, and I get hormonal, until at last someone sends me into a fit of laughter that shatters my cranky mood and then I remember... Be Joyful.  Yes!  Be Thankful.  Yes!  And keep on praying ~ keep Him with you in all that you do.  Yes.  These are my resolutions for 2012. 

To round up my last week of 2011, I'd like to show you the finished tea towel I made for my niece, who is recently married and making a home. 

This past week, we also headed down to Legoland for the day.  The little ones loved it... 'nuff said. ;)

It's crazy, but all that stuff is built out of teeny tiny Legos!

And lastly, here's an overview of my stitches in 2011.  It's not everything, but you get the idea...

1. liv's new apron, 2. leaves and berries, 3. merry Christmas to you!, 4. holiday cookie garland, 5. Play Cookie set Giveaway!, 6. new needlebook , 7. the start of something good, 8. for Rach, 9. needlebook, 10. hexagon flower, 11. two brothers, 12. baylea's quilt, 13. come on over... grandma's baking cookies!, 14. a cozy house needlebook, 15. home sweet home, 16. patchwork needle book, 17. needlebook, 18. baby j, 19. linen + hexagon cover, 20. linen + scraps, 21. stitches, 22. easy as 123... abc, 23. scalloped edge dresden plate trivet, 24. FWQAL block no. 44 "Gentleman's Fancy", 25. milk & cookies, 26. little outline stitches, 27. baby animals quilt, 28. for the love of joy, 29. set no.3, 30. patchwork quilt, 31. the schoolhouse bib, 32. 111 | 365, 33. 91 | 365, 34. apple tea towel, 35. baby animals, 36. 47 | 365

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

It's been a good year.  Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart, for being a part of it.  I wish you all a tremendously joyful 2012! 

Happy New Year, friends!  xoxo amy

an apron for Liv

hello all!  Ready for New Years?  Big plans?  Not us... in fact, I have no idea what we're doing.  I only hope it involves lots of food and lots of pajama wearing and maybe a few movies, too.

Well, hey ~ I am loving the new Singer.  Took me about two minutes to get used to, and the first thing I've sewn is an apron for Livi...

And here's the back... I used unbleached muslin as the lining.

Pretty cute, eh?  Well, I've got more to share but right now I'd better get ready for my dinner date... I'll be back soon!

Happy Friday!!

1. Christmas decoration, 2. 10-02 TableNumbers1, 3. wedding invitations, 4. Winter Wreath, 5. Linen Bread Bag, 6. Sequin storage, 7. crafting for craft: gold caddy a-go-go, 8. A. B. bee!!! #crossstitch #lizziekate, 9. blankets for bear, 10. In a creamer..., 11. Gausse, 12. Whit's Knits: Eleventh Hour Blanket, 13. red, white & blueberries

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy