Gnomes

I'm quite certain that my current favorite to-do list project is gnome-making.

On a whim, and with inspiration from Salt & Chocolate, I started making these little cuties the other day. Camden loves them, and lights up with each new friend he receives.

The tiny family of three is growing, so I'm sure you'll see them again soon.

Honestly.

I'll be honest. I've got nothin' of my own for you. My mind is mush--perhaps flooded from all of the rain we've experienced in the last week.

But! I've had a major crafting bug lately, and so I've been doing a lot of nap time surfing. Want to see some of my newest favorites? Maybe they'll spark your creativity too.

I love Samster Mommy's quick crafts. I'm having visions of adding some waffle sleeves to baby's onesies just in time for the colder months? Adding some ruffles to a boring tee is sitting on my list too. How cute!

This playhouse from Homemade by Jill would be absolutely *perfect* for us, considering our, ehem, spacial... issues. I'd love to make one for Camden, but I've got to get over my fear of giant sewing projects first. While you're there, take a look at her handmade birthday decorations for her little guy. We've got a birthday coming up, you know! ...and I'd love to make one of these cute butterfly 'specimin cases' too.

This advent calendar from Pottery Barn Kids caught my eye a while back. But I cough and sputter every time I look at the price tag. So I'm making my own. More on that later... and would you like to see the whole process? or just the final result?

What's on your crafty, creative list?

I'm done!

I've learned something about myself in the last 48 hours.

I am, without a doubt, not a fan of tying quilts. Not sure what it was... perhaps the fact that I stabbed myself with the needle? In.my.lip. (don't ask. I don't know.) ...or perhaps the fact that I BROKE a needle?

Anyway. It's done.

Please excuse this second photo. I've had visions of hanging the quilt out on an old clothesline, wheat field in the background, soft breeze blowing... but that's just not happening. The kitchen floor will have to do.

Oops.

This might contradict what I was saying the other day about unfinished projects, but when I get an idea in my head, and I'm excited about that idea, I have a tendency to shove everything else to the back burner until I've finished my mission. You know... unimportant things. Like the bills, grocery shopping, blogging... er. um.

Anyway. I cut out 80 6.5-inch flannel squares on Saturday. I had a decent stash of kid-prints and solid colors going, and I wanted to put them all to good use. I also wanted to make a new blanket for Camden.

Yesterday, I sewed all 80 squares into a quilt top. I ironed, I snipped threads, I pinned and I stitched. All afternoon.

Today, I went off in search of the backing, and found a spunky, sports-themed bed sheet. The perfect back for a quilt, as there are no seams required! Yippeee!!

I washed, I sewed, and I pinned some more.

Tomorrow, the finishing touches where sewing is concerned... and then I've got a date with a big, fat needle and some embroidery floss. I'm going to tie the quilt as opposed to, well, quilting it.

Does that mean I'm making a tie?

Pictures to follow.

Sewing: a new carry-all!

I have a problem with starting projects and never finishing them.

Anyone else?

It's just so *hard* not to be distracted by a pretty new piece of material, a new recipe, or a new photography experiment.

Nevermind that though.

I thought you might be interested in my newest undertaking.

I have officially purchased my first pattern. It was on sale for $1.99! Yippee!! (does anyone have any idea how much those darned things cost? because, woah!)

Anyway.

I found this fabric on the discount aisle and just had to snag a couple of yards. It's beautiful, isn't it? When I realized it reminded me of one of my favorite Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bags, I decided to go out on a limb and try to make a bag of my own.

This bag, to be exact. And I'm going to line it with bright, cheery pink. Because I need more pink in my life.

I'm a little nervous. Is that normal?

Orla Kiely at Target

Do you ever see something, put it in your cart and wander around with it... and eventually return to the spot you found it, returning it to the shelf?

I did that a couple of weeks ago with a set of Orla Kiely dish towels from Target. I've got some birthday money left over, and I'm absolutely head-over-heels in love with the line Orla put out with Target. I wanted to use the towels to make a tote bag.

Even more exciting than the towels is this tray, but I cannot find it anywhere. Believe me. I've tried. I might go to some pretty intense lengths to get my hands on this tray. Seriously.

..and have you seen these canisters? Be still, my heart. They're fabulous too. There's also a table cloth that would make a fabulous set of pillow cases... yes people--this is the stuff that goes through my mind. regularly. and when Ryan reads this, he'll smirk and shake his head. because it is oh-so-true. Or throw pillows.

Ok. Who am I kidding? It's all fabulous, and it's almost all sold out. The good stuff is gone, never to return, and I missed it. At least I can live vicariously through this Flickr Pool... or buy it for three times the price on eBay.

...but that tray. Has anyone seen that TRAY recently??

Hint.

A few of you have asked what I'm up to with the fabric... and while it'd be fun to just tell you...



...it's more fun to give a couple of hints...



...and see what you come up with. Give it a try--it's not hard!

Confession.

I'll bet you clicked on that post faster than Lightning McQueen, thinking maybe my confession was about the rightful owner of those pregnancy tests, didn't you?? C'mon--fess up. I know at least one of you took the bait...

Anyway, remember how I wasn't supposed to buy any fabric? Well. I bought fabric.



Will you laugh at me if I tell you I think I'm in love?? I think I'm in love.



The gray fabric with the blue flowers, top of the pile in this photo, really catches my eye... but I think I like the pink prints the best... more specifically, the one on the left.



Which one is your favorite??

Sewing Project...

I'm working on a new project. I've got the sewing itch again!! Mind you, it'll probably take me three weeks to finish this simple little task, because Bug, er, Camden, isn't much for letting me get things done when I want to. He's totally worth it though--little cutie.

This project is for him. You can see it here.

Anyway... I've got the pieces cut for my project from some leftover fabric. If I like the results, I'll buy the fabric to make another.

I'll post photos later. After I remember to take them.

un, deux, trois...

...et voila!

(Did I say, er... spell... that correctly?? They said it in the French restaurant on our Honeymoon cruise each time you got a plate of food and I always thought it was cute. Too bad for you, I'm unveiling a finished taggy blanket instead of a big plate of food!)

So here it is... and I LOVE it!! My sweet mama helped me with some of the details, and with a few 'speed bumps' along the way. I'm still learning to sew...



...and doesn't it look cute with the quilt we picked up a couple of weeks back? I'm really not one for 'theme-y' baby stuff, but I am having fun mixing in little jungle-critter touches here and there!



I'm ready to make another... I had so much fun!




P.S., you might be wondering... "what's that elephant-print square on the green side??" It's a pocket, which I thought would be fun once toddler-hood starts... kids love to stash things in pockets, don't they??