Fall Leaves - Downloadable Color Page

Wednesday, September 30, 2009


Yesterday Jack & I baked muffins & bundled up to collect fallen leaves for crayon rubbings....I'm officially in the mood for fall! I'm thinking of a few other autumny crafty projects to do with him (any ideas? please pass them on!) and came across this sweet fall leaf download. It was in my biology teaching file, boy i really had to dust that off! Anyhow, it's a great coloring page or piece of inspiration! You can find it (and read copyright info) at activity village {they get the image credit too!}.


Here's my ode to fall- this throw pillow with felt autumn leaves:

Finito - Very Wee and a little Wonderful

Tuesday, September 29, 2009



Hooray! I finished the little Wee Wonderful Archie I had been working on. But, oh. No. Hmmm. He's a little, well, 70's mod. A Beatle maybe? Not quite what I had in mind. I hope this outift isn't any indication as to how well I dress Jack. And don't look now but his mouth already needs some restitching. The happy bit? Jack loved him & gave him a big squeeze even before he was fully stuffed (which might account for the wonky head?) Anyhow, the directions were straightforward & I enjoyed it as much as i can enjoy working with a pattern, though I did leave off the flat bum part & next time I'll stitch the face before sewing him all up- despite what the directions say. So yes. Next time.

p.s If you're feeling lucky be sure to check out my Etsy shop giveaway (click here)...enter to win $10, $15, & $25 shopping bucks!!


Woo Hoo 100 Posts! My Little Giveaway

Monday, September 28, 2009


Well, what do you know. After a few false starts & some sputtering here & there this little blog has made it to 100 posts (including this one!). Took me awhile to find my voice & purpose here but now I really look forward to writing down my thoughts here & taking photos to archive it all...

Soooooooo....since I love celebrations, I would love to share my happiness with this milestone by offering a giveaway to my shop!


{{{Here are the prizes, ta da!}}}

First prize: $25 Quiltish shopping spree
Second Prize: $15 Quiltish shopping spree
Third Prize: $10 Quiltish shopping spree

Yes! The winners will be able to spend their moola in my shop & can buy all sorts of fun things: zipper pouches, wristlets, baby gifts, & a few lovelies for the home.

{{{How to enter}}}

Well, if you're like me I enjoy contests where I can improve my odds (besides cheating :) so I'm offering a few ways to enter...you can do one or as many as you like!

1. Check out my Etsy shop & comment on one item you think would make a nice gift this holiday season = 1 entry
2. Let's stay in touch- subscribe to this blog or add me to your blog list (if you already do, just comment below) = 1 entry
3. Blog about this - write about this giveaway on your own blog & post the link in the comments = 1 entry
4. Tweet Tweet - send a tweet on twitter about this giveaway & leave the link here (1 tweet per day please) = 1 entry per tweet
5. Facebook - Link to this giveaway on Facebook. In a separate comment leave a link to your status update or Facebook page = 1 entry

....................................................................................................................................................................................................
{RULES} you know we've got to have them ;)


  • please make sure to leave each entry as it's own comment. thanks!
  • the winners will be chosen using random.org on October 5, 2009 at 9pm PST
  • please be sure to leave me an email if your account doesn't link to one (how else will you know you won?!)
  • shopping spree money can be used in my Etsy shop & may include shipping fees, though not redeemable for cash, (but you guess this right?)
  • upon contest completion, winners will be notified with further details about how to redeem their shopping spree :)

Color Me Happy

Sunday, September 27, 2009



Picked up some bold & bright embroidery thread today. Just loved the colors. I've been kind of mixing & matching colors lately...my most common method? Crayons with Jack. He's so into coloring lately, not coloring books really....but blank white pages & fills them with very precise & detailed curly-cue circles. He becomes quite focused & choosy with his colors. In any event it's rekindled my love for crayolas & got me interested in looking up & bookmarking color charts. I've found them handy when mixing colors for quilts, naming items in my Etsy shop, or finding just the right descriptor for that 'green' fabric- hello celadon, moss, & fern.



{Image Credit: hessler.com }


{Imade credit: Roger Cortesi}


{Image credit: Martha Stewart Living}



{Image Credit: www.andolscreek.com DMC chart}

Random Saturdayness

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Happy Saturday! Oh how I love Oregon- the sun is shining & it's crisp & clear. Perfect. But how can I possibly stay inside to sew? Oh well. Here are a few things I picked up this week...but they'll have to wait for a rainy day!


Momo fabric I found on sale at the Pine Needle while Jack & I gallivanted around Lake Oswego


Random Christmas bird fabric that I loved at first sight, thinking holiday pillows but not sure...

Robert Kaufman Kona in Charcoal Gray that I've spied for awhile now plus a lovely thick & grainy muslin I picked up from my supply trip to Joann's (oh how I wish someone would buy out that store & instill some customer service....but I guess basic finds like these keep me coming back...)


And this spunky package was waiting for me at the post office...direct from Hong Kong, I wish my mailers were as happy as these!

Downloadable Thank You Cards

Friday, September 25, 2009



So much to be thankful for! Just getting around to writing thank you notes to friends & fam who made my 30th birthday so special and I thought this bright & bold print from Susy Jack is just perfect! I stumbled upon this gorgeous site through HowAboutOrange, perfect timing! My hubby printed them off for me last nightat his company's fancy shmancy printer (shhh) & now I'll just add my thanks & send them off, Voila!

The orange & pink combo is just pure happiness, no?here's a gift I wrapped up for our nanny (aka my lifesaver) ...she heads back to college today!


{{first & second image credits Susy Jack}}

New Patchwork Journals!

Thursday, September 24, 2009


So yesterday I managed to kind of get ahead on my orders (thanks to massive amounts of coffee & bluegrass music!) which gave me a wee bit of time to do something a little creative with my ever-over flowing scrap fabric bin. Inspired by a photo I saw this weekend in Lotta Jansdotter's book, Simple Sewing, ( I always browse but never buy!) I decided to use up my scraps & do something I really love, combining colors & prints!

I really love how these turned out, they are intended as gifts but I'm considering making a few more & listing in my Etsy shop {Hmmmmm....}

Right on Target - Cool New Branding

Wednesday, September 23, 2009




Have you seen Target's new brand? The bright chunky arrows on their home products? So happy & cheery & inviting, yes? I just had to include a post about this because my in-home genius (aka my husband) worked on this project last year! Though I had to keep mum, I was able to hear all the juicy tidbits that went into creating this reinvention & also had a sneak peek of the little arrows. I still wish they were a wee bit less round & chunky but I do love all the color especially on a bright white background. Of course, this will only add to my already established obsession with Target- I do make weekly trips & am certain I have been since they first rolled into town when I was in high school & we realized not only did Target have gobs of books & make-up & clothes....but it was shopping cheap without feeling....well, cheap.


So cheers to Mark (the genius) for helping to create this fab brand design!


(p.s. if you sort of squint at the photo above, it kind of looks like a modern quilt :)


{image credit Target}

Garment Labels Source

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Cut. Sew. Repeat.

That is today. So, I thought I'd post just a quick little note & after many, many messages sent to me via Etsy regarding where I purchased my garment labels I thought I'd just give the info here! I ordered my labels last year & after much hemming & hawing (on my part!) they turned out just as I wanted. My husband did the graphics bit of it, I of course, supervised and the folks at Distinctive Designs walked me through the whole process. They responded to every single one of my confused emails & phone calls. You have to order in big batches, so it's a big commitment....I get sort of nervous with decisions like that, I can even be wishy washy about what to order at Starbucks (though I get the same thing every time!) In any case, here's how they turned out & I would definitely recommend this company!

{{Since I am feeling a bit punchy today I will add that I absolutely would not recommend BCI Labels...big waste of time there & rude customer service ...}}

You can see them here:

Hello Fall, Goodbye Summer - New Bags

Monday, September 21, 2009

Looking out my window it still looks like summer to me, but the calendar says tomorrow is the first day of Fall! So even though Portland will be in nineties this week (tell this to the people who think Oregon is just cold & rainy!) I'm gearing up to get cozy with my sweaters & hot chocolates and making plans for the pumpkin patch! Every time a new season starts, I always think- 'this is my favorite.' Then the next one comes & I think, oh, I love this one too. Funny sort of realization. Anyhow, I'm excited for fall & her are some autumnish things I've been working on...with more to come of course... (if you've seen my previous posts I've got a big 'ol long list).....


already available in my shop too!

Stop Gap : Creative Conundrum

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Arg, I'm my own worst enemy! Often my lists get too long, my ideas are too varied, & I want to complete so many things at once....that the end result is....nothing. I end up getting overwhelmed & instead of everything or some things, I end up not really completing anything - like I just get stuck in the tornado of crafting/sewing/brainstorming/etc...and then all my energy is used up!

Soooo...how am I going to work on this? I'm not sure exactly. I'll probably brainstorm solutions about brainstorming too many solutions - ha, ha. But no! I will harness this frenzy and create things that have been brewing around inside....just wait & see. (ok, that's more of a challenge to myself!)

Thought I'd include a couple photos of Jack- I have a lot to learn from him....being so happy, carefree, and enjoying the moment:

Hodge Podge: Projects, New Items, & Giveaways

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

In keeping with my frenetic multi-tasking days, I thought I'd post a bunch of random little tidbits.

* New Item! Sweet Baby Set featuring Riley Blake fabric I purchased from Fabricworm. These sets have an original home at the Grasshopper store in Portland but I thought I'd add a few to my Etsy shop as well.

* Project Underway: The Wee Wonderfuls Archie doll is still in the works...I chose the shirt (green & red) & pant (blue & black dots) fabric, but realized he needed some hair! So I ordered some wool blend felt from American Felt & Craft ....look forward to receiving it & hoping all these pieces magically turn into a little cloth person Jack can love & snuggle.

* Giveaways: Seems like there are some fabulous contests & freebies lately.... Considering my recent obsession with Twitter, I've entered quite a few I've seen posted. Better than Vegas in my opinion! Here's a few:

- Art Prints from Blue Biccicletta on Etsy Stalker

- Sale & $50 giveaway contest at Rik Rak Studio

- Mini Quilt from "Sew This is My Life"


Now...back to my to-do list :)



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The Long Thread - new favorite landing place!

Monday, September 14, 2009

Awhile back I found a new favorite blog, The Long Thread -packed with color, ideas, patterns, tutorials, and Etsy finds- it's a virtual hub of inspiration! I discovered the Long Thread after my checkbook cover was included in the Friday Finds (yes, all the way back in July!). However, I've been checking back often and my list or projects gets longer & longer with each posting. I love the new mini quilt car mat- if Little Man Jack wasn't so destructo I'd consider adding that to my list :)

My current list of projects include (for home & for Etsy):

- Wee Wonderfuls doll for Jack
- name pennant for Jack
- new frame pouches (awaiting the frame arrivals)
- finish stacked coin quilt
- redo the quilt I made my husband for our wedding...it was one of my first... (quilts not weddings)
- wall hanging for keys & letters & such
- something Halloweeny
- pillows....patchwork maybe?
- first wallet for Jack
- new baby items for Grasshopper store
- something embroidered...a tote? a holiday ornament? hmmm
- Jack's cowboy costume (this require more assembling really, but a project nonetheless)
- kitchen towels & placemats for our home. need something to spruce up this abode!
- a scrap quilt. for who? don't know, just itchin' to piece together colors o' fabric

Ok, now that this list is permanently transcribed in the big old world of internets, maybe I'll get it all done!

Newness- Pouches and Kitty

Friday, September 11, 2009

Happy Friday! We have a little song we like to sing here at the end of the week, though it's more of a dorky sort of dance. We sing, well, more accurately, I sing, "Friday, Friday" (pronounced Fry- dahy, Fry- dahy) the important bit is to wiggle the hips & bum. Anyhow, it's Friday & summer is back here in Portland. Having a bit of a rest from sewing.... my shop is taking some new turns. Phasing out a few of the baby items & expanding more on my zipper pouches & adding some wristlets & clutches. Change is good. Change is hard. One thing that has perked me up a bit are these sweet little wooden kitties I received from urastarhouse - an absolutely amazing & clever shop, one in which I'll be turning to for the holidays. These were sort of a birthday gift to myself- since I love all things mama/baby and can never turn away a kitty.

Here they are displayed with my new zip pouch featuring Jessica Jones' Modern Flora fabric. (I HEART orange & blue combos!) Meow.

My Next Thirty Years

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

So here's my birthday post. Two days late. Mostly because I cried so hard on the actual day I couldn't hardly send a text message let alone a thoughtful entry. That's me though. I cry for a lot of things, good & bad. I cry for roadkill & sometimes when Jack says, 'mama.' Luckily, before the big birthday bawl session, we took off for two days in sunriver....central oregon- one of my favorite places. ever. here's some photos of our little trip... my husband was wise enough to not photgraph me on my actual brithday with the big bleary eyes...but instead captured these moments that kind of depict how I'd like to remember my 3oth and how i'd like to continue living. I've also add Tim McGraw's lyrics, "My Next Thirty Years," since I'm still so emotional, I thought I'd l let someone else take care of the sentiments!














I think Ill take a moment, celebrate my age
The ending of an era and the turning of a page
Now its time to focus in on where I go from here
Lord have mercy on my next thirty years

Hey my next thirty years Im gonna have some fun
Try to forget about all the crazy things Ive done
Maybe now Ive conquered all my adolescent fears
And Ill do it better in my next thirty years

My next thirty years Im gonna settle all the scores
Cry a little less, laugh a little more
Find a world of happiness without the hate and fear
Figure out just what Im doing here
In my next thirty years

Oh my next thirty years, Im gonna watch my weight
Eat a few more salads and not stay up so late
Drink a little lemonade and not so many beers
Maybe Ill remember my next thirty years

My next thirty years will be the best years of my life
Raise a little family and hang out with my wife
Spend precious moments with the ones that I hold dear
Make up for lost time here, in my next thirty years
In my next thirty years