handmade cass

It has been eight weeks since I had my sweet baby boy, and I managed to start and finish a sewing project. I think I can declare - I'm back! Thanks mom, for watching the kids so I could actually finish these throw pillows. Is it sad that I was proud of myself for actually taking out the iron and ironing board to get the seams sewn properly on the fold over backside? Either way, I'm happy that it all turned out well, no pattern and about 90 minutes later. I found the zebra print as a fat quarter at my favorite quilt shop, Fourth Corner Quilts . I picked up a few more Tula Pink fat quarters while I was there for additional pillows ( Tula Pink Acacia Pixel Dot and Tula Pink Fox Field Foxtrot ), but may end up using them for a different project. The sunburst backing fabric was a steal at $5/yard at Joanns. Here's another little secret. Instead of craft store pillow forms I used IKEA pillows at $4/each.

I was really glad that Craft Critique was re-launched right before the CHA Winter 2013 show, because the timing was perfect for me to attend as a reporter.  It is such a special conference for any crafter to attend - full of all the latest and greatest products, tons of inspiration and projects, and even some celebrity crafters.  Here is just a small portion of what I saw.  At CHA I made a beeline to the American Crafts booth to check out the new Amy Tangerine line " Yes Please".   LOVE the new stitching kit from the "Yes Please" line.  This set has chevrons too!  Amy was doing a make and take project, so we could test out the stitching kit.   Loved the Amy Tangerine travel kit that I have seen online.  Perfect for vacation mini books! Smitten with the colors and patterns in "Lucky Charm" from Dear Lizzy and American Crafts. My favorite color is glitter.  And I can't believe how awesome the POW glitter paper is...

I have so many active craft projects right now!  December is crazy with both my daughter's birthday and Christmas at the end of the month.  So I am trying to get everything done early this year.  These are the things I am currently working on: Quilted crib blanket Decorations for the John Deere tractor birthday party Sewn and embroidered goodie bags for the party A craft project for the kids to make at the party December Daily mini album Christmas cards I need to have most of these done this month - yikes!  And this doesn't include ongoing crafts like items for  fresh crafts Etsy shop , book of lists, cards, and daily crafting with my mini crafter.

I have been thinking about what kind of flowers to give my mom for the last few weeks. And I was sure that I was going to do something with blue hydrangeas, but it all changed when I saw these pinky-orange roses. I think the arrangement turned out pretty good for an amateur, but next time I'm going to try using some flower foam in the bottom to keep the stems from going all over the place. And the reason I had hydrangeas on the brain...I finally found the batik that looks like a blue hydrangea (top row, third from left).  I got the top row selections at Rosie's Calico Cupboard and the bottom row were all Christmas gifts from my sweet mother-in-law. I have a throw pillow from my husband's grandma that has one tiny piece I have been trying to match for a while. Now that I have it I'll have to come up with an awesome project.

Spent the last week making some baby shower invitations and I love them!  Pink vellum overlay with a Stampin' Up woodgrain background in pink pearl ink, and a couple forest animals from Hero Arts and Amuse.  To keep it from being "too pink" I used copper accents with the ribbon and some punched leaves (Marvy Uchida punch with Stardream metallic paper).  The cardstock backing is 100% recycled, as is the kraft envelope.  I showed my husband and he actually giggled when he saw the squirrels.   I've also been sewing some bedding for the crib in our baby room.  The fabric on the top right (from Alexander Henry) is the main one and I have some green batik fabric and an orange print that coordinate like a dream!  Right now I have all the pieces cut and in various states of assembly for a bumper and crib skirt.  Also bought some coordinating fleece for a stuffed hedgehog toy that I saw in Stitch magazine - which is my new favorite!  More pictures ...

With lots of help and moral support from my mom, the quilt that I started two years ago is done and ready for snuggling.  It would actually still be in pieces if she hadn't taken it from me and finished it herself!  I did all of the quilting on the long arm by myself, and helped with the binding (a little).  But it turned out great! Frank has already made himself at home with the quilt and says that he prefers the minky backing for his naps. My mom and aunts coached me on the long arm part of the quilting and made me practice my design on a white board beforehand - that was a good idea because it was harder than I expected!  I decided that I wanted contrast thread colors so you could see all of the hard work I did on the quilting: orange on top and brown on the back. And to finish it off I signed my name in one of the bottom squares.  So glad it's done so I can start on a new project!

I would love to spend every day working on craft projects.  But I usually get to a point every few months where I avoid my craft area entirely because it has become such a mess.  I was at that point this weekend.  So I spent a couple hours today filing away new scrapbook papers, storing fabrics I got for my birthday, recycling old magazines, deciding which product catalogs I want to keep (from CHA), and making a nice big pile of stuff to give away. I also came up with a pile of craft books that I really want to read but haven't had the time.  One quilting book, one with quilting stitches I want to learn for applique, another with felt projects (lots of pincushions), two on making books, and one with some great travel scrapbook ideas.  Now I just need to find some time... I also have a new fabric obsession.  My husband's grandmother made this pillow and I just recently put it out in our living room.  Every time I see it I can't help but think of h...

I don't know about anyone else, but I'll drag out my birthday celebration as long as possible.  My husband put an end to birthday month last year - too much pressure on him I think.  So this year I got birthday week.  I have a number of friends with March birthdays, so there is still plenty of celebrating.  My mom was kind enough to give me a number of crafty items for my birthday.  I think most of them were picked up while we were on the quilt run a few weeks back. Of course...Frank wanted to get in on the picture taking. And speaking of that quilt run, I had picked up a Mother Goose panel to make a book for an upcoming one-year birthday party.  In typical fashion I got all of the supplies but waited to start the project until the morning of the party.  I was proud that a few times I ripped out a couple seams and went back to make sure they were straight - something I never would have done a year ago.  It turned out far from perfect, bu...

A bunch of ladies in my family have been going on quilt runs for a few years now and this was my first time joining them. Glad I did - it was really fun! We left at 8AM yesterday morning to drive north for an hour to get to the first store and then 10 hours later ended at our 10th store for the day! It was quite a feat. But I got to see 7 stores that I had never been to - most of them fabulous and ones that I plan to go to many more times (a few not so much). I fell in love with all of the colorful quilting and projects artfully displayed at Starry Night Hollow Quilts & Crafts . Loved walking through each room in this converted house and was so happy to see a whole rack of 1930's reproduction prints. Near the end of our adventure we ran from our car in the rain to get to get to The Country Loft - another store that used to be a little bungalow house. The fabrics here weren't really my style, but I loved their selection of wool and wool felt and fell in love with a b...