nanaCompany

:: sparklers, fabric, and adventure Downtown

Thursday we surprised my husband with a visit to his office in downtown Los Angeles... He's been wanting me to bring the kids by for some time.  He works in the Bradbury Building, which is an architectural landmark.  It was built in 1893 and it's beautiful inside...

(image from wikipedia.com)

... and it always smells nice because of the sandwich shop on the first floor.   There's a lift operator to bring you up in one of two cage elevators ~ and my darling kids think an elevator ride = adventure.  Woo hoo!  Oh how they love to visit their dad at work.  My husband's office has twirly chairs, a fireplace, and a closet.  (My "office" has a toilet and a sink.  Haha!)

I love downtown LA.  Parts are really cool and parts are really grungy, but I like to look past all the ugly with my romantic binoculars, envisioning it as it once was... glamorous and snappy.  Also, driving downtown is pretty fun (read: a nightmare) since half of the streets are one-way, but I love the ornate buildings, the archictecture, the art deco theatres.  We went to lunch at our old favorite, "Hop Louie," in Chinatown...

And ~ lucky me! ~ I found boxes of sparklers exactly like these in my favorite trinket shop:

Source: tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

I was so excited... they were only $1 a box!  The kids went on quarter rides and got souvenirs ~ we all left happy.  Then Daddy went back to work and I went on to visit Michael Levine, that giant fabric warehouse, in the garment district...

This store is a bit overwhelming, but I spotted and brought home with me these lovely things...

I mean, really, how good is an adventure if there is no treasure at the end?

xo amy

... a sweet goodbye

hello friends!

This past week has been all about hardcore workouts at the gym, miles upon miles of running... and even, yes, a strict diet.  Yech.  I'll be running the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll marathon in a little more than a month if all goes well.  No more sweets for me ~ that cuts out about half of my former diet.   Goodbye cake, hello chicken breast!  (This is the sweet goodbye, I'm not going anywhere.)

I haven't even been sewing much.  I've started a few projects, but nothing is finished yet (!).  I've been trying to balance the children's need for fresh air and library books with my need for eight mile runs (along the ocean), and my husband's need for dinner at the end of the day (oh, and clean underwear).  I'm not complaining.  Just sort of explaining why I have nothing to show you except for this mosaic of flickr faves, inspired by an email from Anthropologie called, "salt, cream, chalk, cloud"... isn't that pretty?

1. Untitled, 2. snowy cloud hoop, 3. Dinner mat, 4. Untitled, 5. Untitled, 6. *, 7. The aspects of things that are most important to us are hidden because of their simplicity and familiarity., 8. Untitled, 9. Linen flower hairpins, 10. Ruffled Tote Bag, 11. Village Frock Pattern, 12. cs post & co, 13. White White White

Soo, I haven't been making.  But I have been running all around town and my mind is racing with ideas... I could hardly get to sleep last night I was so excited about the things I hope to make.  Well, now I'm off to downtown Los Angeles with the kids to surprise my husband at work (he's been asking for this "surprise" for a while), and then it's back to my sewing corner.  Enjoy your day... and eat a cupcake for me?  A tart, an eclair, whatever you like best...

xo amy

... we had a little Easter party

When Nicholas' best friend Elijah came over to the house yesterday, we had an improptu Easter party...

There was an Easter egg hunt.  Anne hid all the eggs in our house (I think there were 96) while I took the kids to the park.  Of course, Elijah found the most eggs and the most gold coins ~ that was no surprise, because he's quick as a fox.  (When I try to give him a kiss, he always gets away!) 

The kids helped me put marshmallow bunnies on "sticks" ~ to be toppers on the cupcakes.  For some reason, that was a big hit.  They loved that ~ and putting the cupcake liners in the pans, beating the cake with the mixer, and eating the batter with their fingers.

We boiled and decorated Easter eggs.  Two dozen of 'em.  And if I had to vote, I loved Nicholas' blue egg the best...

There's Olivia and Elijah...

And here is the cake that Anne decorated...

So, the children had fun at our unplanned party, 'cause those are the best sometimes, don't you think?  Now it is actual Easter Sunday and I have to go clean up the mess before our friends come over... We're having a ham today!  I hope you're all enjoying the weekend...

Happy Easter!  

xo amy

:: a fabric Easter basket tutorial for you

This little fabric basket could be useful and charming year-round, but it's perfect at Easter and is happiest when filled with candy.  Disclaimer: While sewing this, my second basket, I realized that I should never be telling anyone how to sew anything.  Seriously!  But go ahead ~ give it a try...

You'll need:

2 x pieces of linen, 3 1/2" x 15 1/2"

1 x piece of medium weight interfacing, 3 1/2" x 15 1/2"

1 x piece of lace or ricrac or your preferred trim, 15 1/2" length

 

2 x strips of printed fabric for handle, 1" x 9 1/2"

1 x piece of medium weight interfacing, 1" x 9 1/2"

 

1 x linen circle, 2 1/2" radius (5" across)

1 x fusible light interfacing circle, 2 1/2" radius (5" across)

 

2 x linen circle, 2 5/8" radius (5 1/4" across)

1 x medium weight interfacing circle, 2 5/8" radius (5 1/4" across)

 

1 x piece of printed fabric for bow, 1/2" x 15" (or ribbon)

(Sewn with a 1/4" seam unless specified otherwise)

First lay out your 3 1/2" x 15 1/2" strip of medium weight interfacing.  Place an equal sized piece of linen on top and the trim on top of that.  Line them up edge to edge (without the stagger that's shown above) and stitch together across the top.

It will look like this, and you'll add the second piece of linen on top later... but first you need to make and attach the handle.

Lay out your two 1" x 9 1/2" floral prints, right sides facing each other.  Put the equal size piece of interfacing on top.  Line up edge to edge, and stitch along the two long edges with a 1/8" seam, as shown below:

See my lovely hooked tool below?  Do you have one of these?  It's used to pull fabric tubes right side out.  Using Liberty lawn, it's fairly easy to pull this tube right side out, but if you're using thicker fabric it may be difficult.  (In that case, you might take a 2" x 9 1/2" length of fabric... iron in half lengthwise, then fold in both of the raw edges and iron again so you get a 1/2" x 9 1/2" strip... stitch along each long side about 1/8" in from the edge and now you have a "handle" for your basket.)

Once you've pulled your tube right side out, iron flat and topstitch 1/8" in along the long edges...

Now pin your handle as shown below... centered on the 4" mark from one side:

Then pin the other end of your handle, centered on the 4" mark on the other side, as shown below:

Then I stitch each end of the handle 1/8" from the edge, keeping the pins in about 1/2" from the raw edges, and making sure the handle lies perfectly perpendicular:

Okay, now take your second piece of linen, pin on top of the lace edge and handle and stitch all these layers together, the same 1/4" seam.  Then iron open at the seam like this:

Once you've ironed it open, fold in half.  Align those two short ends together and stitch that short edge:

Now you have a circle... these are the walls of your basket.  Pull the single side of linen down, so that now the interfacing is sandwiched and you will have linen on both sides, facing out.  Iron like this:

Next iron the light weight fusible interfacing circle (5") to the linen circle (5").  And here comes a difficult part:  Turn your basket walls outside in, so that the lace is facing inside.  Then pin your linen circle to the walls, with the interfacing side facing you, like this:

Except, really, it's probably better to pin it with the sharp needles facing inwards, not outwards as I did.  Stitch all along the circle, 1/4" seam, taking out your pins as you go along.  This part is really difficult for me, but I managed it and I promise you can too.  Once you've finished stitching the complete circle, you could go around again with a zigzag stitch.

Phew!  Now pull your basket right side out and push the bottom down.  You can see below that I had a problem with this basket bottom (no problem with the first one I made) and I got a few puckers but they're kind of cute so ... oh well, glad they're in the back.

Then place two 5 1/4" linen circles on top of the 5 1/4" medium weight interfacing circle.  Stitch around the circle edges, leaving a 2" opening.  Make small slits all around the raw edge of the circle (see below.)  Pull your linen circle right side out, so that the interfacing is sandwiched between both layers of linen.  Iron the edges and topstitch 1/8" in from the outer edge, all the way around.

Place your linen circle into the bottom of the basket... see how wonky mine is...

Stitch a bow to the front, fill with candy, and you're done!  Yay!

xo amy!

... all in all a good day

Today I ran 7 miles.  Actually slightly more than that.  I took 599 photos, which I will narrow down to about 15, or so.  I burnt my forearm with the iron on its highest setting only 1 time, but it looks as if it will scar and stay with me forever ~ lucky me.  I received a package in the mail containing 4 new yards of pretty calico prints.  I pierced my finger with an embroidery needle 5 times.   And I completed 2 sewing projects... all in all a good day.

It started off in the kitchen with a few goodies from Trader Joes...

Ranunculus, my fave.  And what's better than fresh cut flowers in the morning?

Fresh cut flowers and strawberries!  And sunshine.  And finishing a place mat that has been on my to-do list for months...

Also, here is the petite fabric Easter basket I made today.  This time I did it in linen and Liberty...

The tutorial will be posted here on my blog tomorrow... just as fast as I can type it.  But first, I need a few good hours of sleep.  6 or 7 would be nice.

goodnight! xo amy

:: just around the corner...

It seems that every time I check the calendar, another major event is sneaking up on me ~ one that I knew was coming, but only in a vague sort of "someday" kind of way.  It is true, I live in my own little world as a stay at home mom, but really, c'mon.  How could I not have known that Easter is this weekend?  I need eggs pronto ~ and dye, and more vinegar, and chocolate bunnies, baskets and toys... and more candy.  (Wouldn't want to make the Easter bunny look bad.)

1. May She Will, 2. Untitled, 3. on being a girl., 4. Garlands tied with root string, 5. Trying to get my ducks in a row, 6. Garlands Fabric, 7. open your heart, 8. Simply Country, 9. notions IV, 10. Possibilities, 11. Irish Hare, 12. Untitled, 13. in like a lion Created with fd's Flickr Toys

I'd put some bunnies and hares, and a set of Easter egg candles throughout the house a few months ago.  The bunnies are still out there ~ the eggs have disappeared (thank you, Olivia).  Since that was months ago, I might have guessed Easter was coming fast, but no, not me.  La la la la la la la...

As it happens, yesterday I felt the need to sew up a little fabric basket and I wrote down the dimensions in case you like it and want a tutorial.  I plan to do one in linen, too.  I realize now it'll be too late for this Easter, but if you're like me and time is swiftly racing by you, Easter will always be just around the corner.

This fabric basket is about 4 1/2" diameter on the bottom ~ a tiny little thing.  Just perfect for holding chocolate eggs...

If I stuck an iTunes gift card in there, Anne's basket would be finished.  But I'll need to buy more chocolate eggs because Olivia assumed this little basket was for her...

What are your plans and traditions for Easter?  I could use some tips ;)

xo airhead amy

 

:: home again

Oh! my trip home to Connecticut flew by way too fast.  Now I'm back in Los Angeles and there is that neverending laundry pile to face.  What did we do all week?  A whole lotta nothing.  You know... staying up late with my parents, watching old episodes of "Match Game," eating lots of comfort food (blueberry crumb donuts from a childhood favorite donut shop, pickles from Rein's deli, Mom's chicken parmagian), sleeping in, watching the kids hang out with family... that kind of nothing.  The best kind there is.

I was happily surprised to find a little fabric shop right by my parent's house and I picked up these pretty fabrics...

Years ago, when I first started sewing I bought mostly bright, modern, novelty prints, but now I'm finding myself reaching for tiny floral prints.  I love 30's reproduction, of course, but now I'm even more attracted to calico prints, which surprises me.  There is a fine line that I can't quite define, that divides calico prints into those that I would never ever use, and those that I absolutely adore.  What I do like is that they soften things up when you are otherwise using a lot of dots, stripes and ginghams.  And they look great as binding.  Right now, I'm drooling over these...

(http://www.fabricworm.com/ststdapeflco.html)

And while I did have all sorts of plans and projects for the week, the only things I managed to sew were these five hexagon flowers...

And I did a bit of tidying up in the floss box.  Thought I'd take a picture since it won't last long like this...

Sadly, I still can't crochet, I don't know how to use my Wacom Bamboo tablet, and I didn't actually use any of that newly organized embroidery floss.  In Connecticut we did a lot of driving and just looking around at the scenery.  I'm in that odd position of having lived 18 years in Connecticut and 18 years in Los Angeles, so I refer to both of them as home, but I am now more familiar with California than I am New England.  I could spend all day looking at those old houses with signs that say, for instance, "Built in 1766" and "Built in 1831, The Edward Adams House."  It's like an entirely different world out there compared to Southern California.  Forever in search of our retirement home, my husband fell in love with this one...

But it's already been sold and the renovations are starting soon.  We plan to go back to Connecticut next summer, when the trees and grounds are all green and lush.  It will be fun to see how much progress they've made on the house by then.  It was startling to find that all the trees are mostly barren this time of year.  I'd forgotten about those pesky four seasons.  I found this tree in bloom and it was like a breath of fresh air...

For the kids, there was bowling, ice skating, golfing, a picnic, a Disney on Ice show, a second birthday party for Olivia (Grandma told her it was her birthday month, not just day), and of course, my children do always love a carousel...

But hey, the party's over ~ I've got piles of laundry to face.  There's a Target just a few miles away that is missing its best customer.  My girlfriend and the sushi bar down the street are crying out my name.  My running shoes are begging me to take them out (we've got a marathon to run in less than two months).  And, of course, my poor sewing machine is sitting idly in a dark corner.  (I was gone for a week, can you tell I don't get out much?)

I'll leave you with the last photo I took in Connecticut.  It's a photo of a photo from my parents wedding album.

I love this photo because it makes me think of hopes and dreams.  And now that we're home again there is definitely that feeling of so much to do and so much to look forward to.  It's good to go home.  And it's good to be home again...

xo amy

:: going home...

Am I the only person on the planet who doesn't know how to crochet?  I can't even crochet one single chain without screwing it up, but my interest and ambition are suddenly kicking in.  I'd like to learn how to do this:

1. Untitled, 2. a 'high hopes wrap'..., 3. White Bunny, 4. Linen flower hairpins, 5. Crochet circle squares, 6. fields of flowers..., 7. doily, 8. little olive..., 9. Esme..., 10. Tiramisu Baby Blanket, 11. Detail granny square blanket, 12. Potholder love, 13. roses

Emma Lamb's beautiful crochet work kills me.  She's a wonder with color.  And have you seen the work of Namolio?  This is like a little piece of heaven.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.  First, I need to learn to crochet a single chain of stitches that are even.

(images from Namolio: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaide/) 

And I'm turning to my mom for help.  Tomorrow I'm going home to Connecticut for more than a week to see my family.  It's been a while... maybe two years.  I've managed to have everyone travel out here to California to visit me since I'm the one with little kids, but it's time.  And I'm bringing with me a multitude of projects that I may or may not even touch.  A bag of yarn is one.  A few embroideries might be fun.  And this is about half of my hexagon stash, waiting to be sewn together...

Lastly, my husband bought me a Bamboo Wacom tablet that I'll be messing with, figuring out how to use to it's fullest.  Anyone got one of those?  He thought it might be a good one to get started with.

Sooo, if you're looking for me this weekend, I'll be quite busy... though tomorrow, when I'm on the plane (with my three kids) I'll be dreaming I'm here instead...

Source: traditionalhome.com via Amy on Pinterest

 

In a tiny house, all alone, lying on this couch...

Source: eismandesign.com via Amy on Pinterest

 

With a favorite book...

Source: flickr.com via Amy on Pinterest

 

Eating this cake...

Source: rosylittlethings.typepad.com via Amy on Pinterest

You see!?!  My dreams aren't fancy.  Reading a book, eating an entire cake... is that too much to ask???

When I wake up from that dream, I hope to be safe and sound on my mother's couch, but I'll have a belly ache, I'm sure.  Ah well.  Have a wonderful weekend, friends...

xo amy

a balloon story

oh, how those kids went crazy over the balloons.  And when the sun came out next day after Livi's birthday party, we thought we'd take those balloons out for some fresh air...

Several passersby yelled out, "Make sure those balloons don't carry her away!"  But Livi handled them just fine...

Until Nicholas asked if he could have a turn holding the balloons, and Olivia said, "okay."  She handed them to him...

But he never got them...

They floated so quickly, high up into the sky.  Up, up and away...

Oh, the agony.  My kids sobbed ~ loud, tearful, whimpering sobs~ the whole walk home.  I almost wished I'd never bought those horrible balloons in the first place, they were so sad (though I was trying not to laugh, it was just too sweet).  Back at the house, Grandma, Grandpa and Daddy already knew what had happened... they'd seen the balloons flying high up in the clouds.  And later, my kids were philosophical about it.  Nicholas told Olivia he'd get her more balloons on his birthday and that her balloons would travel all the way to Saturn before they would pop. 

"Saturn?" 

"Yeah, Saturn." 

"Okay." 

And I told them that Saturn is a balloon's most favorite place in the universe... and, of course, that there would be more balloons... someday... soon...

Olivia turns 3!

It was sunny and bright the day before and after, but Saturday was just plain dismal.  Gray.  Thankfully, Olivia didn't notice ~ she was too excited about her birthday party ~ and we were excited for her because she's so dang sweet.  Now as head of the party committee at my house, I can attest to the extra effort it takes when dealing with a limited budget, as well as the flurry of activity required when all the princess party planning has been put off until a week before the party... (bad mama!).  But it all came together quite nicely, I think, bit by bit...

She was truly most excited about decorating her birthday cake this year, so I really had no choice but to make her a princess cake ~ she's been watching the how-to video on our iPad (howdini.com) for months.  She's watched that video so many times, she can quote every word.  So, my helper and I baked and decorated this Cinderella cake together.  Livi added all the little pink pearls herself, and that was by far her most favoritest part ;)

We also made cupcakes with sprinkles and lollipops... (lollipops are one of Livi's major food groups, ya know, along with macaroni & cheese, pretzels and chocolate)...

See the Katie Daisy designed cupcake wrappers?  So pretty.  There is a whole spring line at Target right now using Katie's designs, including the paper plates we used, the pretty gift bag, and also a tea pot and cookie jar!!

I wrapped Livi's presents in paper and fabric... the ribbon are fabric strips from my stash (sometimes I had to sew two strips together to get the right length), tied simply.  It's nice to know that I'll never be limited to my actual ribbon supply when I can easily make my own!

Treat bags were filled with chocolates.  Luckily, I had these Martha Stewart bags on hand...

I made the tablecloth with pink gingham and used this tiny berry calico as an accent at the joined seams...

A bunting from the children's room was moved out here for the party...

Those giant 36" balloons are from Sweet Lulu and they were indeed the largest balloons anyone had ever seen.  The kids went crazy over them (kind of a funny story, later).  You should have seen me struggling to fit all five of them, all blown up, into my car... it wasn't going well until a very sweet lady came to my rescue.  I actually don't think the balloons' size translates here in the pictures, nor do I think my florist filled them up to capacity, but they were impressively large.  (The local shop charged me $4 per balloon for helium, just for your reference.)

Then, of course, our princess had to have a throne... I made a pillow with pom pom trim, a mini bunting with her name on it, and threw a few princessy things on an armchair... ta da, a throne! 

You know ~ a place to accept visitors and receive gifts...

She loved it.  (Which is precisely what I wanted.) 

Happy Birthday my dear Olivia!  xo Mommy

...and the winner is...

I really, truly wish I could send you all a package of goodies because you girls are so so sweet... really.  As I read each new comment that came in I thought... hmm, I hope she wins.  But at last, a random drawing has produced the winner and all I can say is...

Yes, Meg of Boutique Nutmeg Designs, who said, "What a wonderful giveaway! I found you a while ago on Flickr you always have such pretty things!" is the winner!  Congratulations, I hope you will love everything and enjoy the placemat.  Everyone else, I suggest you come right back here to this blog for the next giveaway... it'll be happening sooner than you think!

xo Amy

banner day

Of all the things I've made for Livi's birthday, her petite bunting is the thing I like best...

Actually I made one version, and I wasn't completely satisfied so I had to go in with the seam ripper and tweak it a bit.  Now I love it.  I must say, today has been a long, productive day.  Really, "today" is over since it's not even Friday anymore, but I'm still hanging on at 2am... I just wanted to leave you with my fave flickr pics for the week....

1. Swan Song, 2. Vintage Pillowcase, 3. Ann Wood - The Gentleman Sailor, 4. toy boat bookplates, 5. sailboat fabric, 6. Ship in a bottle, 7. bon voyage, mon amour..., 8. Laundry bag, 9. Ship, 10. Getting in the boat, 11. progress, 12. the weekend is here, 13. IMG_6495

Mostly there is a boat theme here, but I've thrown in a few odd ones for some extra color... and, I didn't like it all too matchy matchy.  (I would love to do an embroidery like that animal tree someday.) 

Sooo, tomorrow is a big day for us.  And Sunday I will announce the winner of my giveaway!  I would like to say thank you to all of you who've shared and said just about the nicest things about me ever... and there's still time for more!  No, please, really.  I don't mind at all ;)

Well, I must say goodnight for now.  I hope you all have a great weekend, but stay tuned!