Purple Cow

We recently got a Breville Juicer after a friend mentioned to me that she "juiced." We are hooked! It is a great way to get the girls, who don't normally like eating fruit, to get their fruits & veggies. One of our favorite recipes is for "Purple Cow" from The Everything Juicing Book:

LOVE the color...

Happy (and healthy!) girl!

Behind the Scenes

I don't know about about you, but I love to see pictures of other people's studios, where they become inspired. A couple of people have asked the same of me, so here you go. I've spent the last week or so painfully organizing my fabric stash. It doesn't always look like this, I can assure you.

Boy shirts--love the bright colors!

A view of my fabric stash.

The pinks and reds definitely dominate.

But the yellows, navys, greens are just as inspirational!

Girls shirts--pink and navy are such an awesome combo!

And of course, thread.

How do you stay organized?

How to clean your iron!

Look at how tired & sad my iron looks...

My iron was in desperate need of a good cleaning and I couldn't find the Rowenta brand cleaner to clean it. I didn't want to discolor any of our beautiful new fabric, so I searched the net and found a way to make your own cleaning solution! Works for me!

Here's what you do:

-Unplug iron (iron must be cold). 

-Dissolve salt in warm vinegar. 

-Wipe with a rag dipped in vinegar solution until stains disappear. 

-Wipe with a clean cloth and fresh water. Don't use a scouring pad!

Refreshed & happy iron, ready for SPRING...

I plan on doing this once a week - it worked perfectly! P.S. Do you love my City Chic Country Mouse ironing board cover or what!? Who knew ironing could be so fun!?

Confessions of A (New) Mom

I became a mother for the first time to a sweet baby boy in June 2010 and THESE are my confessions... :)

Drive-Thru's are the Best.Invention.Ever.

I never used to frequent fast food restaurants, let alone their drive-thru's. But, now!? I'm going through a drive-thru window almost daily. They are a "must have" when you you have children in the car! My only complaint is that my neighborhood does not have a drive-thru Dunkin Donuts OR Starbucks. I won't be picky on this one - I'll take either at this point!

I recently used a Victoria's Secret gift card to buy sweatpants.

(I know, I know - this is pretty bad! My apologies to B, my husband.)

I still sleep with my yellow baby blanket.

A couple weeks ago, when our cleaning lady came, she mistakenly thought it was C's blankie (or "lovey" as the Flannery's girls call it) and folded up & put it "back" in his crib. I'm not going to tell her that it's mine.

I don't make C's baby food. And sometimes, he eats non-organic food.

I had full intentions of making his baby food, however, when I gave him some sweet potatoes that I "made," he gagged. And anyway, who has the time OR the energy to do this?!

The other night, while I was making dinner checking my email, I looked over to check on C, who was in the sunroom and he was elbow deep in Payton's dog food...and he had some of it in his mouth.

Ew. Ew. Ew. I thought the bowl was high enough to be out of his reach, but I was wrong! He has learned, in the last couple weeks, how to get up on his knees. Soon he will be pulling himself up...and then walking...and then riding a bike...and then kissing girls...and going to college. Oy!

I'm drinking 2+ cups of coffee every morning.

I know it's not that much, but I never even used to DRINK coffee. I feel like Lindsay Lohan...gotta get it under control.

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Okay, these are MY confessions! I don't think I'm alone, so tell me moms, what are YOUR confessions?!

Happy Birthday Court!

a.k.a. Mommy Courtenay

Fun, Spoil-the-kids-rotten Courtenay

Creative Inspiration Courtenay

Have a GREAT, FANTASTIC, WONDERFUL day.

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

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!