Dolly

I have had fun making Izza's American Girl doll a few outfits.  I have a great "modkid" pattern that I love! http://www.modkidboutique.com/patterns.html 

Oh, and the reason that the outfit is not being modeled in that she hasn't gotten the doll yet!.... Christmas is coming!

(Ugh! I couldn't get these pictures to rotate!)

Pink Fig

This darling dress is made from a from Pink Fig pattern, Vintage Jane.

Swoon

I am taking a quilt class with my dear friend, Suzy, at Olive Juice Quilts in Onalaska, WI.

The pattern is "swoon", from Thimble Blossoms. 

This is one of 9 blocks.  I am working on #5 right now and will be sure to post when all are complete!

Twirl Power

It has been a delight to sew for Izza and (so far) she loves what I make.... especially if it twirls!

Flannel

Wow, it's been a while since I have blogged.  It feels good to be logged back in.  :)

I am excited to share some of my recent projects, with my most recent one being flannel pillow shams to liven up my cozy new white flannel bedding.  I took a paper-piecing class with focus on hexagons recently, so I took the extra liberty of embellishing the pillowcases with some hexes too!  I am now debating about adding some to the bottom of the comforter cover.  They are so quick and easy!

The flannel is from Anna Maria Horner's latest collection. They as luxurious as they look.

Productivity

These pictures remind me of what it means to live "the good life".

I am one who loves to stay busy.  I LOVE to create, to SEW, to DREAM, but the days we spent at the lake reminded me what it truly meant to love LIFE!

Idle

Here is my sewing basket... sitting idle while we were on the most marvelous family vacation ever!

www.westclr.com

Invaders

I guess that I should be delighted that my sewing room is such a cool place to hang out :)

An Original

My dream has always been to design my own patterns.  Well I have a long ways to go, but I had fun making this skirt for Izza Grace out of some scraps.  I hope to make another before she starts school in September.

Jackie O's

I have re-stocked my inventory at "Jackie O's Coffeehouse" in Galesville, WI.  Here's what's new!

Creativity

Eli has taken great interest in developing his creative side! As a mother, it has been a great delight to watch him develop a joy and love of being crafty while demonstrating intense patience.  Who wouldn't melt if their son asked, "Mommy, will you crochet with me?"

Scraps

One of my greatest memories was using my Grandma Helen's scraps to make potholders and doll blankets.  And now my Eli is making his own memories with my scraps! :)

Peasant shirt

My mom spotted this fabric at a sweet fabric store in St. Paul, Treadle Yard Goods.  She said that it reminded her of fabric that her own great aunt had used to make her dresses years ago.  I made Izza a sweet sweet shirt out of it from Anna Maria Horners book, "Seams to Me".

Alas!

Here is Eli in his new, what I would call bullet vest!  The other day, he commented that he had no pockets in his shorts, so did I had the solution for him!  This vest has 5 pockets that will accommodate a multitude of (nerf) gun bullets.  What a lucky boy! 

This pattern can be found in this highly recommended book!

Book Review

Okay, so this is more of a book preview than a book review.....

Today my husband he asked me to pick up "50 Dangerous Things (You Should Let Your Children Do)" (An activity book about danger, safety, and the incredible world around us.) for his next children's sermon.  Okay, so I was surprised at 1st by his request, but then I got to thinking.... this has become part of our theology/ premise with raising our own independent, resourceful, and confident children.  Some have been amazed, and perhaps even bewildered, at how much our children do and have been allowed to do.  But to Chris and I, these opportunities to succeed, fail, and even crash and burn are what strengthen them.  Okay, so that was a bit of a tangent, but I guess what I hope to convey is that there are so many chances in life worth taking and so many things worth doing:  to Chris it to go parachuting, to Eli it is go hunting with his dad, to Aamon it is to have his own construction company, to me it is take a trip by myself without any reservations or a map (really, that would be a risk taking activity!), and for Izza it would be something like turning into a princess and being an only child I am sure. :)

So on an ending note, there is so much to savor in life, whether it be a good book, a trip only dreamed about, a project that would be elated to be completed, or a balloon to fly away with. 

My should and wanna do list for this summer are to make at least one project from my newest books:
Scandinavian Needlecraft: 35 Step-by-step Projects to Create the Scandinavian Home by Clare Youngs and Sarah Hoggett
and
Fresh Quilting: Fearless Color, Design, and Inspiration by Malka Dubrawsky

.... and my dear husband, says we can take a trip without a map and without a plan in August! 

 

A new bag

Of course, like most sewers I have my favorite patterns, but here is a NEW fun style.  It has fun pleats, a magnetic closure, a zipper pocket, and a special cell phone pocket (standard on on all my bags) The pattern for this bag can be found at www.ithinksew.com.

....and of course, here are some of my favorite designs done in classic, yet mod, fabrics.

Graduation Dress

Izza graduated from preschool last week. I made her a dress from an antique pillowcase.  

She looks like a little beauty, but her brothers look less than thrilled with the event :)

Here is Izza with her dear preschool teacher, Mrs. Johnson!

Not hot enough

It was a sad day in my world yesterday.  My beloved iron decided to lose it's heat.... the heating element must have gone out.  It was bittersweet, as it had been a treasured gift from my new in-laws (at the time).  So now, approximately 8 years later (but YES we have been together MUCH longer than that!), my iron had to be replaced.  I found another (fairly priced & on sale) Rowenta at Hancock Fabrics today!
So as I bought a replacement iron, I could only liken this to the day we had to replace the Ford Ranger.  To make a long story story short.... the parking brake failed on the Ford while attempting to load the family boat on the trailer. AND I ended up with my DREAM car, an old Volvo... after the Ranger sunk slowly into the Mississippi.

Scraps

I have been part of the "Hex Club" at Olive Juice Quilts in Onalaska, WI with my dear friend, Suzy.  Each month we do something new and exciting with hexagons and this month, we used both hexagons and pentagons to fabricate this amazing fabric ball.  And best of all, I was able to use up some stunning scraps on this fun little project!  PS It was all done by hand!

Talent & Color

Okay, so wood is not exactly my material of choice, but my dear children have the luxury of being surrounded by wood and fabric.  In other words, their father is a carpenter and their mother a sewer.  I grew up in a home with a fine woodworker and a master bread baker.  (Now my folks are the engineer and the professor!)  Just as I was able to witness & marvel in the talents of my parents, our children are able to see Chris and I doing what we love and see our talents at work.  We are building up and onto the play area. What a dream for our children!  And shortly I will be able to help select paint for this project.  Paint is ALMOST as fun to pick out as FABRIC!  Perhaps some curtains are in order :)



PS  I am hoping to make a wood sign for the fort and perhaps a fabric flag banner!  Oh what fun :)

Looks like summer to me!

Here is one of my customers sporting my newest bag, a cross-body style.  Heidi, you make a great model!  (thank you)  The bag was done in fabrics taken from Amy Butlers Soul Blossoms line... the inside is equally as delicious. 

I couldn't help but include this sweet picture of Izza and her best buddy, Halene! 

 Don't they look like summer?

Something old and Something new

New, fresh, and classic.... are all ways I like to describe what I aspire to incorporate into what I create.  My eye is always drawn to new and modern fabrics.  Modern home furnishings excite me.  The clean lines and bright colors are invigorating.

Our home is filled with old linens, furniture, and family keepsakes.  These treasures are surrounded by the colorful and new things that my husband and I have purchased over the years (hint... we have lots of IKEA items in our home). So just as my home is filled with old and new... I would like to incorporate this concept into some of my future work (aka re-purpose!). Wish me luck :)

Old family quilts

Spring flowers

Happy Hat

Wow, little girls are fun to sew for!  Here is Izza in the hat that I made her out of my new Oliver + S book.  I have Eli's little vest full of pockets done; I just need to add the buttons.  I will be sure to post pictures.