Makaio's Tooth Fairy Pillow

My nephew, Makaio, just lost his first tooth! What a big boy! Can you believe I hadn't even made him a tooth fairy pillow yet? What kinda auntie am I anyhow??

He was a little uneasy with the idea of someone coming into his room while he slept, so that bought me a little time.  But now I have redeemed myself and he can carry on losing those teeth.  It's actually not a pillow at all - this design fits better under his pillow. Or maybe I should have made one that hangs on the doorknob.... oh, well.

Remember this one I made for Malia? 

Here's the front:

The back (aka where you cash in).  I made it nice and roomy so the tooth fairy can fit packs of gum, hotwheels cars, or large wads of cash (inflation, y'all):

I hope he loves it!

All Grown Up

I know you've seen these guys before, but I like to think I'm expanding my repertoire a little.

My nephew is 7! *sniff*  He's become such a smart, funny, energetic, sweet guy!  Since he was learning tick marks in school recently, I thought this would be appropriate.

 

And while adults seldom broadcast their age, my sister-in-law expressed some interest in displaying her name on a shirt, and, well.... I jumped on that!  Thirty-one is her lucky number and this happens to be her golden year!  Happy (SUPER BELATED) birthday, Jess!  And so I made her a birthday shirt too, but little more subtle...

Ready for Fall

We've been having such lovely, warm weather here in Oakland (did I mention we moved to Oakland?? More on that later...), that I haven't felt right about decorating for Fall.  Nevermind that these decorations have been up since early September :)  But now that it's cooling off and the leaves on the sycamore out front are changing colors and dropping to the ground, I feel justified. 

Bring on the Trick-or-Treaters!! 

How are you decorating for Fall?

Brooklyn Baby

The recipient of this quilt is getting a baby brother!  I simply cannot wait to meet him!!

So this quilt shall be called Brooklyn Baby (since they've recently moved from NYC). 

Orange binding and the 2D Zoo I'm in so love with as backing.

Aunt Sara and Uncle D love you already!  We can't wait to meet you in September!

p.s. I've been informed that the quilt has already been hijacked by big brother, Charlie, upon which to host stuffed animal tea parties.  This makes me immensely happy.

Max's Blankie

I've got one more baby blanket ready to go for my friend's baby, Max!

If Max is anything like his parents, he will go bananas for the orangeness of this blanket... I just know he will.  I love this 2-D zoo print, and have for a while.  I'm so glad I have an excuse to finally use it!

And my new favorite binding is the faux bois, any color will do.

The other babies are enjoying their quilts, and  I hope Max will too!

I Went With Red

I went with 2 different reds, in fact, and I'm glad I did.  The Liberty of London just threw it all off.  I kept the orange, and although it looks a little rainbow-y, I think I really like it.

Now how to attach them all....

Also, I Want to Make This...

...in fact, I will probably try to replicate this room in the new house. D doesn't know this yet. 

D, I'm going to replicate this room in our new house.

Ok, now he knows.

It's good to have an inspiration though, right?  Then you're not blindly hoping things go together.  This way, you already know! However, the room in mind was newly painted a very nice (different) color, so I'll work with what we've got.  

 

 

{image from House Beautiful)

But isn't this quilt great?!  I am in love!

I can probably figure out this quilt pattern, but if someone already has a pattern for this, I would love it!   Anyone interested in a quilt-along? 

Things ARE Happening Around Here

Well, I know I've been quiet in the posting department, but things are going on around here.  We're actually in the process of buying a house (!), so that's been consuming much of my time, energy, and adrenaline.

In anticipation of having to move (shoot me now!), I thought I would "consolidate" and start using up some of these fabrics.  Some old, some new. Also, it is very like me to embark on a big project when there are one meelion other more important, more pressing action items to tackle.

This is an (as usual) exceptional evening-time photo of what I've been working on (soon there will be good lighting at the new house!).  We'll have some guest beds to make, so I'm going to make this one a twin-size.  Inspired by this a-dor-a-ble quilt, it's mostly blues and greens, but I'm not sure about the orange on mine.  Maybe the orange will look better if I omit the Liberty of London (for Target) print. I need one more color - what do you color theorists out there suggest?  Would a little bit of red work?  Hmm....  I will sash it with white.

These crosses come together really quickly and require very little ruler action. The more un-straight (I refuse to use the word "wonky"... aw, crap. I just did!), the better.  Anyhow, hopefully you'll see a finished product before too long.

And do get back to me on those color recommendations!

Shirt Refashioning

I wish I had taken before photos of these, but I am hasty and I get too excited.  I've discovered knit ribbing!  I'm not very good at using it yet, but I decided to sacrifice a few shirts to practice with.  Please do not scrutinize, they are very un-Virgo with lots of flaws. Whatever - I'm learning.

This used to be a turtleneck.  I liked the stripiness of it, but couldn't justify wearing it when the weather was nice (which is has NOT been in like 2 years - boo, San Francisco!).  But anyway, here's how I refashioned it:

This was a rather boring, ill-fitting shirt I got at the GAP for like $5. I had to take in the sides because it was frumpy (schlumpadinka, as we say 'round these parts), but that was a long time ago.  Anyhow, still not loving it, I added this yellow ribbing.  Mucho mejor. The yellow is a bit too lemony for my taste, but really, you can't please me - if it's not too boring it's too exciting.  Though I am pleased with this shirt now and maybe now I'll wear it to places other than the gym.

And this old thing, well, I still wear it to work even though I had to cut the sleeves off (put a hole in it trying to pull up the sleeves).  It worked as a 3/4 length sleeve shirt, but since it was pretty much garbage anyhow, I experimented with some colored cuffs.  I think I just added a couple months to the life of this shirt.  Nevermind that the cuffs are about 1/2" difference in length (awesome me!).  And yes, I wear garbage to work.

And this, folks, is what I do with a surprise day off.

Matchy Matchy

My sister, Monica,  is a little obsessed loves the Amy Butler Barcelona skirt.  I have made her several and she wears them all the time.  And they look totally great on her too!

She's stopped waiting for birthdays or Christmas to receive them as gifts, and now just supplies me with fabric any ol' time of year :) I'm cool with that! I had a little left over to make a Lazy Days skirt for Maile.

Monica kindly snapped this photo with her fancier-than-mine camera.  Would you look at that photo styling?  She's hired!

Kate, I'm pumping out skirts for you!

Miss Maile is Four!

My littlest niece, Maile, is getting so big!  She turned 4 today!  I can't even believe it.  She's having a rainbow party this weekend, so I had to make sure she was ready for the party in rainbow-wear.

 

I found this very appropriate rainbow fabric at Birch Fabrics, which is dangerously conveniently located on my way to San Luis Obispo.  

Kate is having her Summer Skirt Challenge, so this was perfect timing!  I used the Lazy Days skirt pattern, per the usual.  It's tried and true and fast as ever. 

I hope she loves it!  Happy Birthday, Miss Maile!  We love you!

Caution: Cuteness Overload

Oh my goodness, I am so mad!! 

Why? I am so mad that I can't take credit for the following adorablosity!  (but I will take credit for that new word, thank you)  Mud & Twig on Etsy is the genius behind this genius.

Check. These. Out.

Hand-sewn labels for your home-canned goodies!

Marmalade!

Honey?! Get me a hive, STAT!

Pickles!? Too much cute!  Look at those things!

And this, right here, would be the reason I would spend all day in a steamy kitchen canning tomatoes.  Just so I could put this label atop.  But then I would be so in love that I simply couldn't part with or open them.  It might be a problem.

You probably won't believe this, but there are even more labels in her Etsy shop, like marshmallows, lemons, pears... I know, it's ridiculous. 

I think you need to buy these.  I think I need to buy them too.  Also, I need a drink, because that was way too cute for me.

Bikey Blankey

My good friend just had her first baby boy! His name is Freeman - isn't that such a great name??

Daddy is a big cyclist, so I simply had to include bicycles in the quilt!  I love how it turned out.  Sweet, simple, and wrinkly.  Nicey bicycles! 

I hope there will be many snuggles, cuddles, tummy-, nap-, and play-time, drool, and forts made with this blankie.  Welcome, Freeman!  I can't wait to meet you!

You Make-a Me Blush

Kate is such an awesome friend.  We had a super-fun sewing play/sushi date the other day.  Well worth the drive to San Jose.  She is super-awesome for a lot of reasons, but one of them is that she takes great quality photos that you can keep forever and ever in your treasure box.  To me, they're priceless... even the ones where you're wearing a mustache and fake-smoking a cigarette.

Oh, my fruit salad profile photo is by Kate too!

Anyhow, she just started snapping while I was doin' my thang.  Of course, I took off my super-sexy quilting gloves for the occasion.  Check out the whole post here.

(photos by Kate)
Next time, Kate gets her photo taken behind the "wheel".

Thank you, Kate. You're la cosa!

A Game-Changer

My life is forever changed! (That was slightly dramatic, wasn't it?)  I just used this stuff for the first time, and I just basted 4 quilts in one evening!!  Granted, they were baby quilts, but whatever.   I can't believe how much time I wasted pinning!

Um, don't spray it while your quilt is directly on your carpet... I mean, not that I know (D, this has all been taken care of) and not that I would do it indoors because it's not very-well ventilated indoors, as everyone already knows.  Spray it over some extra batting that you'll end up spraying anyway down the road....outside or in the garage (should you have one).
 
In other exciting news:  Tomorrow I have a long-overdue sewing playdate with PeepThread's Katy! She'll be getting ready for the Etsy Craft Party she's hosting with The Cheddar Guppies.  Sounds too fun!!  I will probably just look around her place to see what ideas I can rip off...

Easter Un-Candy

Who says an Easter basket has to be filled with candy? Growing up, my favorite non-candy treats OUR Easter Bunny put in our baskets was Aveda Shampure. Such a luxury back then! I think I once found an artichoke in my Easter basket, which I also thought was the greatest.

[Ok, but Cadbury Mini-Eggs and peanut M&Ms are also compulsory...]

Anyhow... say you want to give an Easter gift to a little friend who doesn't eat much candy? How about these Springy reminiscent-of-Easter-eggs bean bags? Great for juggling (or pelting). Also, they can be heated for a few seconds in the microwave and serve a little hand-warmers! So cute & so easy!



I made these using 5x5 squares and filled them with flax seeds. I tried making them egg-shaped, but it didn't work so well. If you want to be really awesome, you could make 12 of them and present them in an egg carton.

I'm pleased as punch. I feel like juggling.

Also, I Made a Skirt

I made a skirt the other day. Just like this one and this one.

(bad lighting + iPhone photo = awesome)

I made it out of this fabric and it's the perfect cold-weather skirt (made just in time for Spring to arrive! Super.) The greatest part is that the fabric was heavy enough that I didn't have to line it. I completed it in about 2.5 hours. Yessss!

Passport Cover Revamp

I'm totally in travel mode right now. And my passport cover needed a revamp. But I was totally out of good/interesting maps to make a cover with, hmmmm.

But I thought of something - what about making the outer cover with fabric & iron-on vinyl? And the inside with paper & contact paper? And so my new passport cover was born!


Polka-dots, of course.

I actually made two. One with a generic inside, maybe to sell/give away?:


And one with a custom inside - for me! Cuba (shout out to my roots) and Haiti (shout-out to my next destination). Luckily they're right next to each other!:


The inside flaps are a bit different than the last ones. Per D's request, I have a different kind of flap on the right side so you can fit tickets or other travel documents that may need to stick out the top. Also, the whole thing is a little bit smaller than the last one so your passport isn't flapping around inside (possible exaggeration).



You can also tuck your open passport into both pockets to display your ID open.


And that's my project for the day. Feeling satisfied. Maybe one day I'll make a tutorial for this. But for now, I need a nap.

More Baggies

You sick of these yet? Well, I use mine every day and love them! But I promise to curb my display of them soon.




These were all made with scraps, so each bag is a little different in size. Most of them went home with my mom and sister, so I suppose I'll have to make more :)

Stash-Busting Snack Bags

I've been home sick the past day and a half and one can only take so many 3-hour naps! I mustered some energy to go through my scraps and put together some reusable snack baggies.

While I prefer a more uniform process (hello, Virgo!), using scraps forced me to make them all different sizes. These range in size from 6.75x6.25 to 5x4.75. I have a whole stack of scraps lined up and destined to become snack baggies.

I must have gone through an orange phase, because I sure do have a lot of orange fabrics! I'll try to mix it up next go around.

p.s. Check out my friend's new blog: PeepThread ...she is so cool.