Wee Wonderfuls

academics

My children are very studious these days. Phoebe's reading the classics and Oscar is starting in on the preschool pestering now at 8:30 AM! His class starts at 1:00. Maybe they can teach him how to tell time.

wip's

Just when I was abandoning the idea of fairy stitchettes, a little burst of creative energy came out of nowhere.

Materials for a doll that somehow jumped out ahead of the others I had planned.

Last Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts

Look what I've finally got in my hot little hands, Last Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson. It's got everything I look for in a sewing book; it's beautifully styled and photographed (by Anna Williams), full of many, many enticing projects (unlike the stacks of books I've bought for only 1 or 2 projects),  clear instructions and passes the truest test of a craft book... has something that I have to drop everything for and make straight away like this pincushion. Oh yes, and it doesn't hurt that one of my patterns is in there :) Thanks so much Joelle for including Peanut. I'm really proud to be a part of your gorgeous book!

What are Olive and Archie up to now!

Hey make-a-longers, long time no action. That's all about to change. Today the latest chapter has been released along with pattern number 6 for a sweet little jumper for Olive and a pair of jazzy overalls for Archie. Check it all out here...latest chapter, what it's all about and where to buy patterns.

The make-a-long resolution along with one final pattern (for pjs!) is just around the corner.

the blackberry fairy

Yet another picture of Phoebe? Nope, it's The Blackberry Fairy, her wonderland doppelganger. I rediscovered this book from my childhood, Flower Fairies of the Autumn. I love it so much. Especially now that I have my own little pixie. I've been inspired to start some new stitchette designs, seasonal fairies this time. We'll see how it goes. I've got a cute acorn hat but then it's sort of fizzling out. I think my head is too cluttered with to-do's to start a new project.

Speaking of acorn hats, fairy dust is in the air...have you seen the chicken girls' fairy houses? so cute!

good children

I love it when Oscar, Phoebe and I are in synch. Oscar read my mind when he started in on his "when's preschool? is it time to go to preschool? are you going to drop me off at preschool? are you going to put that down and take me to preschool? how many minutes til preschool?" routine. And Phoebe just read my mind when she suggested that instead of starting on sewing project we take the sketchbook to bed and work on things and see where we end up (asleep).

Phoebe thinks tomorrow we'll have the energy to resume posting with pictures.

reversible jumper

More baby clothes today. I made a little reversible jumper for Phoebe. It was inspired by this one by Makie. I made mine out of a linen Japanese print and a solid cotton poplin. I made the test pattern out of muslin and was so excited when I tried it on her. Thought this would make the perfect baby outfit. Something to throw over her one gazillion onesies. And it turned out great and I do love it, on the hanger. It's a little stiff and a little big. The big is okay but I think I'll try the next one in a lighter fabric. It's hard to outfit these squirmy babies. I really should be making things out of knits but knits scare the bejesus out of me. Me and my 20 year old sewing machine.

bonnet peg rack project

Amy sent out an email yesterday to her mailing list announcing that her bonnet pattern reprint is now available! That totally reminded me of this project I'd been wanting to do. I want to have a shaker peg rack full of bonnets for Phoebe's room. I was inspired by another photo from the Collecting American Country book (the first inspiration being the doll quilt wall) and also the shaker nursery in Martha Stewart baby. As a card carrying mail order club member I already have my bonnet pattern so I got started last night and ordered my peg rack and finished my first bonnet. Talk about immediate gratification. I love this pattern!

friday flickr favorites: kitty, bunny & bear

Kittys and Bears for Room 9. Check out this whole litter of friends from Nina who wrote me... " I volunteer at a first-grade class once a week at a school in Seattle which has a high population of lower-income and ESL kids. I had been having so much fun making your patterns that I decided to make every one of the kids in the class (17 total) a Kitty or Bear from the Put-Together-Book No. 1 and give them as an almost-end-of the-year gift. I also made backpacks for the animals and filled them with doll-sized books."

Isn't that amazing! Those kids were so lucky to have you Nina!

Here are a few more kitty, bunny, bears from the flickr pool...
 

Ella's Clubhouse

nancy's wee kitty cat

We've finally reordered the Put-together Book #1  and it should be in the shop within the next week or so.

tidy

As I may have mentioned before I'm a straightener, not a cleaner. I'm the one with the home where everything is picked up but all the surfaces are sticky. I had a very satisfying bit of tidying up in the craft room last night. My desk is clear now which I LOVE and I pinned all my project piles up on the felt wall. Sort of makes me feel like things are in progress when really they're just vertical instead of horizontal.