Window treatments and crib sheets!

These crib sheets have been around a while.

Used them with both kids, and they had some stubborn stains and were generally dingy.

But I found a solution -- pink dye!

$1.50 at Jo-Ann's and about 30 minutes, and voila!

Fancy new crib sheets!

But just a note, if you don't want to have hot pink hands the rest of the day, wear gloves.

So I wanted to be able to construct the valance to match the bumper, and then leave it up to match her big-girl room. So here's her valance.

It's super simple, but I like the tulle to make it extra girly. This would be an easy, cheap way to embellish a ready-made valance as well! This is a standard window (36") and it took about 4 yards of the light pink and 2 yards of the dark pink.

a giveaway!

Well, how about directions to a giveaway?
Click the link here to go to calicodaisy's blog (one I REALLY enjoy, by the way!) and enter to win the pattern pictured above! I think it's so cute and seems quite useful.

Hope you win! And it you do, will you make me one?

strawberry fields quilt

Here's my baby's quilt. I love it! It's all nice and washed and crinkly. And she's so adorable playing on it.... she's discovered her toes and that she can roll over. Perfect age to have her quilt finished, don't you think?
Oh, and here's the back.

Getting there.... and a question for you!

Basted up, ready for quilting! I love this quilt. I've really enjoyed working on it. I love a pattern that showcases a cool print.

So here's my question: I've been thinking about writing a pattern and posting it here for a quilt like this one or this one or this one. Anyone interested? And if so, which one would you like to see? Much love to you guys---have a great week!

progress on hula girls...

Here's the current state of the hula girl quilt. So pleased with it! I really like it.
Too bad it's monogrammed--I might just decide I couldn't part with it!

little fancy pants

I don't sew clothes. I've confessed this before. But now that I have 2 little girls, I have an uncontrollable urge to dress them alike. And the easiest way to do that is to sew for them... hmmm...

I made this little outfit for my 5 month old. Not too difficult, but I'll admit that it's much more of a challenge to me than quilting is! Sorry the picture's not great. By the time I had figured out that the picture was crummy, the outfit had some extra "embellishment" on it, i.e. spitup.

I did learn that my machine has an overcast stitch much like a serger stitch. That was fun to play with. I think I'm going to make a matching set for my 2 year old.

Next I want to learn to use elastic thread to do smocking. So I have bought this pattern for a little smocked dress.

So what else do you think I should try to make for them?

need your input, please!

Dear friends, I am in a pickle here......

I picked out this Starling fabric months ago for a baby quilt for a dear friend.

{Please Note that friend really likes birds.}

I like it. I've seen it on other things across blogland. Other people like it.

So I've completed the quilt top.....

And now I'm concerned. Do you like it? My husband doesn't. But I do. But I've been staring at it a while..... and I like the birds. He doesn't.

I was planning on binding it in the green print. But I have enough of the starling to bind it as well. I think I'm going to back it in the blue print.

Help! What do you think?

A special blankie

Both of my grandmothers sewed. Quite well. If I could be half as good as either of them, I'd call it a miracle. Although I got to do crafts and things with them as a child, I regret that I never really got a chance to sew with them.

I do have my grandma's dress form, and I use it as a display at craft shows and in my sewing room for my works in progress. A while back, my mom found some fabric she had kept from my grandmother's house. It's this lovely pink flocked tulip pattern. I don't have any idea how old it might be, so if you know, please comment and tell me!
I used it to make a blankie for my 4-month old. I love how it turned out. The green on the back really sets off the pink!
Here's a closeup so you can see the patterns togther. I love the binding I found to match it!
I think Grandma would be pleased.

Another giveaway of sorts in which Wendy asks for your input

I promise there's a giveaway. Just keep reading.

Well, friends, I find myself in a pickle today.

Today's creation is in the picture above. It's a little blankie for my daughter.

It's cute! And monogrammed!

But... I seem to be in a rut. You see, I don't have boys. But I'd like to create wonderful, beautiful things to sell for boys.
So here's the deal.
Give me a suggestion on how I can make this both utterly fabulous and appropriate for a little boy. Let's assume I can find the silky fabric in just about any solid. And the furry fabric is available in red, green, yellow, blue.

Oh, and there's a prize as well! For the best suggestion, I'll make one of these for you.
For a boy or a girl. Monogrammed with whatever you want.
Free!

I'm counting on all of you....

Arrrrr, maytie!

Here's a cute little project for a friend's little boy, complete with his little outfit to go home from the hospital. I made the hat and onesie to match! He was a very cute little pirate....

the quilt was SO CUTE and it went together easily. Would anyone be interested in quilt kits on this one?

After that.... some adoption quilts

Next I decided to play with some different techniques, and I had a perfect reason to. My friend was in the process of adopting 2 beautiful babies. Hmmm.... well, not babies. Kiddos. And I wanted them to have a Blankie. A special one that reflects how special they are.

So here's the one for the little girl:

And the back....I LOVE the way this one turned out. I just quilted it along each of the strips.

The one for the little boy included some recycled denim (actually legs of jeans) from other projects.

I liked how the yellow back set off the front nicely!

Tiara onesies

Onesies are among my favorite things to create! I guess it's just because I love babies. Here's two onesies in the same style. The front has a tiara with the baby's name. And the back has angel wings! And how can you go wrong with a fluffy bow to match?

These are also in my etsy store: http://twirlytutus.etsy.com