::Vintage Fabric::

I surprised my mom recently for her birthday.

I packed up my girls and headed down to Virginia

a couple Saturdays ago to

spend the weekend with her and my dad.

An added bonus to visiting my parents

is being able to visit Molly and her family.

Luckily for me, Molly and her husband

needed a babysitter for Saturday night!

Woohoo!

We kept Molly's little guy over night

and it was awesome playing trucks and cars

with him.

As always, when visiting my mom,

I end up poking around her sewing and crafting areas.

It's filled to the brim with vintage buttons and trims,

creative projects in the midst of being completed,

and of course, fabric.

I have a million memories of walking into my

mom's sewing room and seeing her back

as she was leaned over in quiet concentration

sewing and making and creating.

I've never gotten tired of seeing what she's made.

And I've never gotten tired of going through her

enormous fabric stash. There are many bits and pieces that

remind me of the quilts and dresses and curtains she's made.

It's like going down memory lane. I particularly love seeing

the remnants of fabric that she used to make clothes for us.

Mom joined me as I went through her entire stash of fabric

and let me take so much. Thanks Mom!

Here are some little bits of what I brought home.

Mostly vintage, but all very sweet.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

These pieces are so cute and delicate and precious that

I can't bear to cut them up.

They are going to stay in this little pile

on a shelf next to my sewing table.

The top piece might be a feed sack fabric.

I adore the little rosebuds and the petite flowers

on green.

I think it's time to accept the fact that I'm

a fabric collector

and it's ok if I don't actually sew

with this fabric.

What about you? Do you collect fabric for no

other reason than to display it?

Mimi & Pops are coming! Mimi & Pops are coming!

I'm makin' beds, doin' laundry, holding a teething,snotty baby and overall just getting ready for our next round of visitors!

So.....I'm a bit behind on my creating.  But, Mimi likes to create so I know we're bound to create something while she is here.  I have a few items on the docket so let's take a poll: What do you think I should do with Mimi while she is here?

What Kind of a Sewing Machine Do You Have?

I got a new machine!  Yippee!!!  I'd love to say I did the research, found the perfect model of machine I wanted and then went out and made the purchase.  It began that way and I got 100% mired down in indecision: What brand was best?  What features did I have to have?  What features would I eventually want once I was a more experienced sewer?    (Not to mention that with our big move I was too scared to spend that kind of money.  eek.)  So, when my Aunt called and said her friend was selling her Bernina which was ten years old but closet kept all these years, I thought, okay, this is it.   At least this will get me sewing on a better machine then what I have now and in a few years, I can make the leap to fancier doo dah.  


Now if only I wasn't on the road and I had this little baby up and running in my house already......

Nothing a little Fantastik and dust busting can't fix.

It's an Activa 130.  Anybody else have one?

The feet alone made this a good buy--walking foot, free motion quilting foot, pintucking foot (will I really ever use that?!).

That's Mimi reading the manual and Eleanor looking on--she wants to get her hands on my old machine. I told her I'd set it up for her--mommy and me sewing tables?!

Alright, so let's fastforward five years and I'm ready to buy new--what do I buy?  What do YOU have and why do you LOVE it?

::TIP:: Non-Skid Rug Backing

I always learn something new when I visit my mom. You know when you peruse the aisles at Michael's, Jo-Ann's or even Lowe's and you wonder who in the hay would know what to do with even a quarter of what they carry? Well, that would be our mother, Mimi. She is incredibly, unfairly, superbly handy and if I had half of the knowledge of crafting, furniture refinishing, lamp making, etc., I'd be a very happy woman. But, alas, I have to rely on our very infrequent visits.

So, here's your first Mimi Tip. You know that welcome mat you have just inside your front door? Want it to stay put and not slip and slide around?

Enter.......Safety Back Non-Skid Rug Backing.

Apply to the back of your rug with a foam applicator brush.

Handy, no? I'll work on mining her for more tips.....k?

A Very Handmade, Etsy Christmas

We had a really special Christmas this year with all of us and our families together at Courtenay's house in PA. Here is a wrap up all of the handmade and Etsy gifts given this year. Gift sources and tutorial links are at the end of the post.

Gift Sources:

1. Personalized Towel by Spirit of Giving on Etsy
2. Ironing Board Pad and Cover by City Chic Country Mouse on Etsy
3. Padded Laptop Sleeve by Bertie's Closet on Etsy
4. Handmade Doll Bed directions by Ana White
5. Reversible Headbands by Three Sisterz on Etsy
6. Girl Peasant Dress and Matching American Girl Dress by Personalized For You on Etsy
7. Sleigh Bell Door Hanger with Holly Leaves by Raging Wool on Etsy
8. Breast Cancer Bangles by Cripple Creek Wood Work on Etsy
9. Personalized Christmas Ornaments by Said in Stone on Etsy
10. Eighteen Inch Doll costumes (Jessie and Snow White) by Enchanted Designer on Etsy
11. Necktie and Bow Tie for Infants by Baby By Stevie on Etsy
12. Christmas Appliqued Onesies by Three Sisterz on Etsy

Finds: Bedroom Makeover

I've been reading a lot of blogs lately that are inspiring me to tackle some re-decorating around the house.  Am I the only one who likes to change it up every once in awhile?  First project up to bat: our master bedroom.  I love my master bedroom but our bedding is a quilt and well, it's 9 degrees out there.  Time for the down comforter....but...I'm without a duvet.  

So it's prompting a little re-thinking of my room.  

Here is my inspiration room from Miss Mustard Seed.  If you haven't read her blog already, go now.  Okay, wait until you read this post then go.  LOVE her stuff.   This is her guest room, but I love the palate: the creamy walls and comforter with pops of color from the pillows and the dark furniture and picture frames.  It is so peaceful but yet classic, isn't it?  I like to think my style is classic.

Another angle.  I like the pops of red and green.  

Those are my two favorite colors and you'll find them throughout my house.

I love the trend in feed and grain sack pillows.  Etsy has a number of them, as well as Pottery Barn.  Check out this cool one that you can have monogrammed.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61608175/provence-monogrammed-grain-sack-pillow

Or this one to commemorate your anniversary.   I like that notion since this is the master bedroom.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62309598/remember-the-day-burlap-feed-sack-pillow

I am loving this feedsack pillow.  So retro with the perfect pop of red that I want.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/63938173/feed-sack-pillow-cover-coral-blue

I have been struggling for a long time over what duvet to buy.  There are a ton of beautiful duvets on Pottery Barn but none that I could picture in my room with my stuff.  But I did stumble across this one that is classic and gives me that creamy, neutral palatte with which to work.

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/cameron-organic-matelasse-duvet-cover-sham-natural

And the ba-da-bing?  My mom is giving me her Stickley four poster bed from her master bedroom.   I should have it this spring.  It deserves a beautiful room, doesn't it?  I think I might just hang on it every day.  Seriously.  Drink my coffee, read my Country Living.......peace.

I'll be sure to let you know what I decide.  What are your inspirations for your bedrooms?

Doll Quilt: Newbie Style!

I am pretty proud of myself. I might even be on a sewing high. Is there such a thing? Yes, yes, there is. I made my very first quilt last night and it really didn't take too long at all. Santa is making doll beds for the American Girl dolls for Christmas (look for blog post once done) and I thought that, in the spirit of a handmade gift, I make doll quilts for the girls. I am so happy I did. I am so, so proud of myself. Did I mention that already? Sorry.

I followed the quilt top pattern for this doll quilt. This was a nice simple, quick quilt top to cut and piece together. I would say that 80% of my corners lined up with just a few here and there off by a smidge. (I am def looking forward to perfecting this.)

In the interest of time (the 25th is fast approaching!), I did NOT learn/teach myself quilt binding though that is now inching towards the top of my long to do list. I finished the quilt by stacking up the quilt top, batting and backing and then stitching 3/4s of the way closed. Turned it inside out and then did a basting stitch around the perimeter.

For some more visual interest, I added another basting stitch around the perimeter of the pieced squares. I like it because it gives some depth and also some durability.

I chose Cath Kidston remnants from the duvet cover Mimi made me awhile back. I didn't have batting and Jo-Ann's is 30 minutes away, but I did have some very heavy interfacing which I adhered to the back of the quilt top. The back of the quilt is a very pretty Michael Miller.

Ruthie is sleeping so much easier with her new quilt. Santa took a quick pic while the girls were at school.

The top and the back together. I really love how it turned out.

I really am quite proud to begin a journey in a long line of master quilters (Nana, Gram, Mimi, Aunt Theresa, Court, Mary). I've caught the bug peeps!

Project Takes a Different Turn....

So, remember all of my Cath Kidston material that I ordered for a nursery makeover?  And my idea for a fabric garland?  Well, my mom came up (to help with new bebe) and convinced me that using the beautiful CK fabric on a garland was a waste; why not make a duvet for the bebes room since I have been looking for one anyway?  Here's what Mimi made.  Wish I could take credit.  Wish I was even remotely talented enough to do this.  Maybe one day when I don't have 3 pairs of hands pulling on me all day??

What do I love most about this?
1. The colors--my favorite combination of primary colors.
2. The red vintage buttons on the back, all different.
3. It's sooooo cozy!
4. The way Mimi placed the fabric, coordinating on the diagonal.

LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT.  Don't you?