Cute (free) Skirt Pattern

I found this super cute skirt pattern here.

I love the ruffle detail, the flower applique and the wool jersey fabric it is made out of.

I think I will use this flower as inspiration for the flowers on this skirt.

The instructions can be found on Heather Bailey's website here.

Hope you are enjoying your week!

Some Cool Freebies

These days I LOVE freebies. We are keeping costs down in our household as I'm sure many others families are in these trying economic times! So when I saw this link on one of my favorite blogs, I was quite excited. They have the cutest calling cards as well as free downloadable gift and thank you cards. I'm especially excited about the calling cards. I have business cards but they are out of date. It is pretty embarassing to be a freelance designer and jeweler and not have a card to give to new contacts!

My other recent favorite freebie is this pattern on the Burda website. It is from the new book Twinkle Sews. You may be familiar with Wenlan Chia's fabulous knitting books. You can print the pattern at home and even though it is 50 pages it is still cheaper that buying a pattern. I have this wonderful green double knit that will be perfect for this skirt. I plan on buying the book when $ aren't so tight. It really is wonderful and the designs are adorable!

Happy Creating!!

Too many projects, too little time.....

I love to make things and dabble in all kinds of crafty mediums

but lately it has been all about sewing.

Maybe it is because I have a dedicated place to sew. Luc is sharing a room with Liam now so I have the third bedroom to use as my office and studio space. I've been back to the jewelry studio at Danaca Design but I'm not feeling the love for the jewelry thing. I'm sure it can be attributed to not having a jewelry studio at home. I did at the old house and it was so nice to start a project, leave it on my bench, and come back to it at my leisure. I do love the overall relaxed and creative energy as well as the adult interaction and friends that I've made at the studio. Maybe I'm creatively fickle. Maybe I've just been enjoying making things for myself and the boys?!

I did figure out what to do with this. This is the beginnings of a quilt made with small squares all out of vintage fabric from the 30's.
I've spent the last few nights taking it apart getting it ready to use for the project.

I saw this image and had an aha moment. The squares I have are small (approx 3" x 3")

and I knew this would be the perfect use for all those lovely squares. I found a great website here that explains the history as well as the technique.

The technique is English paper piecing and the pattern is called Grandmother's flower garden. It is done entirely by hand which speaks to my love of intricate details and handcrafted items.

I'm also working on some p.j's for the boys, new pillow covers for our bed as well as some clothes for myself. I can't complain, life is good and I'm looking forward to finishing some projects!!

I've got the bug.....

The quilting bug that is. It is something I've always wanted to try and I love it! I finished my very first block lastnight! I've been collecting these Munki pj's that have the most adorable prints by Heather Ross.
I think they are great for quilting and I'm really looking forward to using them.
You can read more about the Munki obsession here.

I went looking for this lastnight. I found it at a yard sale years ago. It is the beginning of a quilt and looks like the squares are made from vintage fabric. For years I've been trying to figure out what to do with it. I think I'll be taking it apart and using the pieces for a future quilt!

Two of my favorite prints!

Happy Sewing!

Anthropologie Love

Paint by number plates. How cool is that?

I just received the October issue of Anthropologie. I Love, Love, Love this store. If I had to choose only one place to shop it would be here. I've attached some of my faves. Happy shopping!

Heaven on Earth

Eden Ranch
An old house Jay and I made an offer on. We can't wait to start the renovation.
Ha ha - just kidding. Though.....you know we are obsessed with old houses!

Yes, you all know what this is. Only a city girl would love a pic of a hay bale!


Cutie Primo.

Cutie Segundo with my mom.

It has been about a month ago that I, along with the boys and my parents made the pilgrimage to Chesaw. We went to visit my brother Paul and his family and meet my new nephew Cayden. We also went to spread my brother Miles' ashes. The last time I visited was about 10 years ago with Jay. I didn't remember how incredibly beautiful the area is. Chesaw is in North Eastern Washington about 30 minutes from the Canadian border. Rolling hills, farm land, big open spaces. It is truly heaven on earth. We stayed at the Eden Ranch an incredibly beautiful place with the sweetest little cabins. Many of the cabins and the main lodge (which is pictured) are sided with the boards from historic buildings that were beyond repair.

Robin, the owner, is a warm and wonderful host.

I was hoping to get back for another visit before the mountain passes close, but we will have to see! I have more pics of my brothers cabin, which he built himself, as well as pictures of my adorable little nephew. Heaven on Earth part deux coming soon! Ta ta for now!

You know Fall is just around the corner when......

The leaves start changing color....

Unfinished knitting projects come out of hiding....



Hot tea (with cream and sugar) is your preferred beverage.

Enjoy your last few days of summer!!

Liam's First Day of School

Walking into the classroom.Words of reassurance from mom.

Custom labels for his jackets. Oh he liked that!

My little boy is growing up! Seems like just yesterday we were going for stroller rides in the neighorhood. My emotions about Kindergarten are a bit silly since Liam went to a full day preschool last year but honestly, public school is soooo different.

I could tell he was nervous - I think due to the size of the school and number of students. Bryant has 500 compared to about 40 at his preschool.

He is doing really well and has made a few new friends. He brought home his first assignments yesterday and each and every day reports about the new things he has learned.

I'm so proud of my big boy!

Happy Anniversary

Jay, Thanks for the last eight years.
Thanks for our lovely boys
for working so hard for us
Thanks for the lovely dinner tonight.

Lets have a make over dinner without the boys!

I Love You.

Budding Artist

Love this. Very modern. I can't wait to hang it in my new office!!

Liam is bicycling to QFC and thinking about the chocolate chips he will buy. Those are the dots in the "thinking bubble" above his head.

It has been fun spending time with the boys this summer. Sometimes I feel more like a referee than a mom!! Liam starts Kindergarten in only a week. I try to spend one on one time with him when Luc naps as Luc is a very demanding two year old when awake. We often pull out the art supplies and draw. I'll have to say I was very impressed with the artwork he created yesterday. It is fun to see how their minds work through their art.

I think we may have an artist on our hands! Yay!

Little Pink Skirt

Contrast Yellow Inside Hem

Don't you just love the yellow seahorses?!

My plan was to make a dress out of this fabric until I realized I only had 1 1/2 yards! It is Heather Ross from her Mendocino Collection.

The fabric was originally purchased for a purse lining. I decided it is much too cute to hide inside a purse, so I decided to make a skirt! The pattern is an old McCalls, simple A-line skirt.

I wore the skirt yesterday and absolutely love it.

Happy Creating!!

Little Red Bicycle

Liam in his new t-shirt!

I love girly, feminine things. Having two boys has made me think outside the box - the box that I create in. I design women's clothes professionally and make women's jewelry. Making things for girls is truly my comfort zone.

I've been making pants for my youngest son, Luc, and thought it would be fun to make a shirt to go with some of the pants. I didn't want it to be too "cutesy", so I came up with this retro logo of a bicycle based on the Curious George books.

The best compliment came from my almost six year old son Liam. I had made a tee for his little brother and he said "mama I would like one too."

The process is really easy. I sketched the design, reversed the image in photo shop, and then Photo copied it onto iron-on transfer paper. The idea came from the book Lotta Prints, by Lotta Jansdotter. The fun thing about this is you can take any image and turn it into a t-shirt. I want to take some of Liam's artwork and use it for a tee!

I am working on the "girly" version of this tee. Little Pink Bicycle. There are a couple young ladies turning two years old very soon and I thought it would be a fun gift!

Turquoise Color Story

Dresser

Lamp is a vintage find from a friend. Jewelry box from Anthropologie.

Necklace and Earrings are my own.

Our remodeled bathroom.

Vintage sink and fixtures. Mirror from Anthropologie. Hand towel from Target.

I am loving using the color turquoise as an accent in our house.

If you love turquoise, check out the blog - House of Turquoise.

Someday I'll have a turquoise dining room like Anais Nin in the movie Henry and June.

A Delicious Summer Dinner

It has been incredibly warm in Seattle the past few weeks and I haven't been in the mood to cook. Yesterday was a comfortable 70 degrees, the perfect temperature to fire up the oven!

I was watching Rachael Ray (while sewing) and she had a great, super fast and easy recipe for a Caprese Lasagna.

My husband Jay hates tomatoes so I though I'd try a prosciutto and mushroom version.

Jay is the cook in the family, so when he walked in the house and said "that smells really good," I knew it was a winner!

Prosciutto and Mushroom Lasagna

Serves 2-4 depending on how hungry you are!

Ingredients:

*4 tablespoons butter (2 tbs for bechamel and 2 tbs to saute the mushrooms)

*2 cloves crushed garlic

*2 tablespoons flour

*1 cup milk

*1 cup chicken stock

*Approx 10 ozs crimini mushrooms, sliced

*1 box oven-ready lasagna

*1 package 4 oz prosciutto, cut into approx 2" pieces

*1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation:

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F.

Saute mushrooms in 2 tablespoons butter on med high heat for about 5 minutes. Set aside.

Place a medium sized heavy bottom saucepan over medium heat and melt remaining 2 Tbs. butter. Add the garlic to the pan and cook until aromatic, about 1 minute.

Sprinkle the flour over the butter and garlic and cook, whisking mixture for 1 minute.

Whisk the milk and chicken stock into the butter/flour mixture and bring to a bubble. Continue cooking, whisking mixture, until thickened, 3-4 minutes.

Assemble the lasagna by ladling about 1/4 cup of the sauce into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch baking dish and laying three lasagna noodles over the sauce. Top the noodles with about a third of the mushrooms, a third of the prosciutto 1/4 cup of sauce and 1/3 of the parmesan.

Repeat until all ingredients are used up, topping the lasagna off with a final layer of sauce and shredded parmesan cheese.

Cover the pan with foil and bake the lasagna for 30 minutes. Remove the foil from the baking dish and bake another 5 minutes until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbly.

More Summer Sewing

We have been having a heat wave in Seattle and

I've been hiding in the house sewing the past few days!

I hate to complain as I would much rather have the sun and heat than rain!!

These pants are version #2 of the Huck Finn pants from Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing. I took the basic pant pattern and added a few pockets and the cuffs. I also added adjustable elastic - the kind with buttonholes can now be purchased af the fabric store. (I think it has been available for awhile.) I love this pattern and promise I'm only working on one more for the summer though I may make some in corduroy this Fall!

Back to my sewing machine and fan!

Summer Garden - Nasturtium Border

Here are a few pics of our backyard.

The orange flowers are naturtiums. They are so easy to grow. I purchased a packet of Renee's Garden seeds from our local nursery. They take about 9 - 12 days to germinate and Voila - in about one month a lovely border appears.

Hope you are enjoying your summer!

Summer Sewing

Luc in a variation of Huck Finn pants from Weekend Sewing

Luc in Kai's shirt from Weekend Sewing.

My next project. Fab vintage 1968 shift dress pattern.

Sewing is a passion of mine. I started at the age of six making clothes for my Barbie dolls which lead me to the career as an apparel designer. It was not a straight path and I've definitely taken some turns on the road to this career.

I've heard that you should look back to what you loved at around the age of six and that is a good indicator of what may be your passion later in life.

Sewing has been put on the back burner since having the boys - other than the occasional home decoration project. This spring I happened upon the book Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross. It is a fabulous book and renewed my desire to sew. I've been making versions of the Huck Finn Pant for my son Luc. I've also made Kai's shirt and a few of the dresses for myself.

My next project will be a sundress using a vintage pattern I've had for years. The fabric is from Heather Ross' Mendocino collection. I'd better hurry since the weather could change at any moment! The weather in Seattle has been unusually warm and dry and I am Loving it!!!!

Welcome!

Finally a working kitchen!


Pressed glass windows

Kitchen Before
(Yikes!!!)

I thought I'd start my first post with the current most consuming aspect of our lives....Our house remodel. We bought our 1908 Madrona Box style house 3 1/2 years ago and it is (finally) looking great.

We have a working kitchen after all this time! I really love the pressed glass we used for the windows. We wanted privacy but also wanted to keep the look in the same period as our 1908 house. My husband Jay has been painstakingly restoring all the windows. They look so nice and they actually work. I love the clinking sound of the weights when opening the old windows!

The farm style sink is from Ikea and I absolutely love it. There is still lots of work to be done but we are definitely making progress!!

I'll post some more before and after pics soon......