May 2012 | lots of pink here!

teacher gifts

May 31, 2012

Today was the last day of school for my girls. I can't believe it!!! It was somewhat bittersweet. Penelope will be going to kindergarden next year and while I am SO excited for her, I am also a little nervous. She is so very sweet, a little shy, and very innocent. I hope the big school doesn't take that from her! I know she will be fine but I hate to see the snarkiness that comes with growing up. She is my sensitive, sweet one and I just hope she stays that way!

Anywho... the end of the year means teacher gifts!! I wanted to make their teachers something really special this time since it was Penelope's last year. Their preschool is AMAZING and I just wanted to let them know how much we love having them in the girl's lives. I made each teacher a patchwork pillow.

I used a charm pack to make each pillow front. I chose 36 squares and then cut them down to 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" squares. That made 6 rows of 6 squares.

I tried to pick fabrics that matched each teacher's personality since I haven't been inside their homes.

I made envelope closures on the back and bound them just like a quilt. Each cover holds an 18" x 18" pillow form. I was happy with how they turned out and the teachers really seemed to love them. :)

Now that we have been at that school for 2 years I am running out of ideas on what to make for the teachers. Adelaide will be there for another 2 years! Help!!! What do you guys make for gifts? Keep in mind that I will have to make 4! I have a feeling I won't be making each teacher a king sized quilt! :)

we have a winner!!!

May 26, 2012

(2 comments)

So.... without further ado the winner is... #10!!

and this happens to be my lovely friend Mary from across the pond who said...

I'm going to email you Mary, right now! :)

I have to say a big THANK YOU to all of you that visited and entered!!! I was floored by the sheer number of comments and all of the nice things that you guys had to say! I am so glad to have so many new visitors and I truly hope you will all come back!

I know I say this every time but I hated not replying to all of your comments but it was just impossible!

Thanks for a really fun giveaway day!!

It's Sew, Mama, Sew giveaway day!!!!!! (now closed)

May 21, 2012

(1380 comments)

***Please note that this giveaway is now closed***

Woo Hoo!!! I LOVE Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway Day!! It's so fun to visit all of the blogs and find cool new ones! So... welcome! I'm so glad you are all here!

I have up for grabs 2 yards of the new Vintage Modern fabric by Bonnie and Camille for Moda!!! I just got it in the shop last week and it is beautiful! You can choose how you want to cut it up too! Two yards of one print, yard cuts, 1/2 yards, FQ's, however you want it!!!

I will also throw in a fun pattern! I will choose the pattern based on how you answer my question. :)

So, for your chance to win:
1.) Please leave me a comment on this post letting me know what you love to sew the best. Do you love to quilt, to sew bags, children's clothing? What is it that makes you run to that machine? I want to know!

2.) As always, if you are a follower of my little blog you are welcome to a second chance, so leave me a second comment letting me know that you are a follower!

I am happy to ship anywhere so for all of the wonderful international sewers out there please enter and have fun!

I will choose a winner with the lovely random number generator on May 25th at 8 PM EST.

Make sure you check out all of the giveaways over at Sew, Mama, Sew!!!

the Sophia beach bag

(12 comments)

Welcome to all of you ladies coming over from Ellison Lane Quilts!! I love summer and I love sewing so I was really excited when Jennifer asked me to be a part of her summer sewing contest! And...I had a perfect little project to help inspire everyone. :)

I was asked by the lovely ladies of Clover and Violet if I wanted to try out one of their super cute bag patterns. It took me all of 2 seconds to email back with an enthusiastic "yes"!!! They are a mother and daughter design team and have some really cute bag patterns in their shop. I chose the Sophia beach bag knowing that it would make the perfect Mother's Day gift for my mom (since she and my dad recently moved to Hawaii!).

For the picture below, I loaded two large beach towels in my bag along with the girl's beach coverups. Two towels!!! And look how much room there is left!! You could easily fit everything you would need for a day at the beach for a family of 4 and even more if you planned well.

I used a charm pack of Vintage Modern, osnaburg, and some Ruby yardage (only because the Vintage Modern yardage wasn't out yet).

The pattern uses HST's (half square triangles) and arranges them in a pinwheel pattern which is so cute! I wanted to show how versatile HST's and this pattern are though, so I just rearranged them to form the chevron. I then quilted following the chevron pattern. I really love how it turned out and my mom was thrilled with it!!!

The pattern was thorough and well written. It had lots of pictures and clear directions. It is not a last minute gift type of pattern since the piecing takes some time but it really is a beautiful bag!

Please hop over to Clover and Violet and check out their really cute pattern shop! Be sure to leave Jennie and Clara a note to say hi! :)

And make sure to keep checking out all of the fun going on at these fantastic blogs:

May 7: In Color Order

May 9: Sew Crafty Jess & Old Red Barn Co.

May 11: Stitched in Color & Canoe Ridge Creations

May 14: Don't Call Me Betsy & Sweet Deisel Designs

May 16: Olive and Ollie & I Like Orange, Too!

May 18: Diary of a Quilter & Craft Buds

May 21: Lots of Pink Here

May 23: Love Affair With My Brother & Sukie

May 25: Stitchery Dickory Dock & LR Stitched

May 28: The Busy Bean & Fresh Lemons Quilts

May 30: Random Thoughts Do or Di & Sew Sweetness

Grab a button and spread the word! Then get sewing!

Here's the low-down:
1. Sew something fun for summer in one of these 4 categories:

Quilts
Home Decor
Clothing
Bags & Accessories

You may enter one item in each category.

2. Link up your entry at Ellison Lane Quilts: June 10-17.

3. Finalists are chosen in each category: June 18

4. Voting Begins: June 18- June 23

5. Winners announced: June 26

The Prizes:

The winner of each category will receive a $100 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop.

A randomly chosen winner in each category will win a Fat Quarter Bundle of fabric from Westminster Fibers / Free Spirit Fabric.

A wild card winner will be chosen by Jennifer's husband and will receive a $25 gift certificate to The Intrepid Thread.

Shop update: Vintage Modern is here!

May 18, 2012

(4 comments)

I got in the beautiful yardage of Vintage Modern by Bonnie and Camille today! It is really pretty and the blender/supporting prints are really fantastic! I can't wait to sew with it. I have a project that was waiting for the yardage. Hopefully I can get it finished over the weekend and show it to all of you next week. ;) Here are pics of just a few of the prints that i have in the shop.

vintage in sky

hopscotch in pebble

houndstooth in candy apple

snickerdoodle in pear

Sew Can She

May 9, 2012

(8 comments)

My travel sewing kit tutorial is being featured today over at Sew Can She!! I am so thrilled and honored. If you haven't visited their site yet, you really should!!

Every day they feature a different tutorial and if you sign up for their daily newsletter you can get the tutorial right in your inbox! I signed up months ago and it is so fun to see what tutorial pops up every day.

So please head on over and check out a really fun site!!!

Summer Sewing Contest

May 7, 2012

(1 comments)

I am so excited to tell you all about a fun sewing contest that I have been asked to be a part of, it is all being organized by Jennifer of Ellison Lane Quilts ! All month, starting today, you can visit the blogs listed below for some really great summer sewing inspiration! Then on June 10th you can enter your own item that you have sewn for summer for a chance to win an awesome prize (see below)!

So head on over to Jeni's blog today and get started on some fun summer sewing!! Please read below for a list of all of the wonderful ladies that are participating and for all of the details of the contest!