Things to share

I've so missed blogging the past few weeks. Things have been crazy round here but I've been working on a few things.....

I've been ironing the vintage fabric squares and cutting out hexes for my flower garden quilt.

This was the inspiration quilt. I love the solid mixed with the prints. I'm going to do the same.

This lovely quilt inspired me to pull out my quilt and start working again!



I made my way back to Dana's last week and finished this piece.

I wanted to make a companion piece and thought a beaded necklace with one of my flowers as the clasp would look lovely. I actually like it as a center piece at the front.

I'm almost finished with these p.j.'s. Need to hurry as it is starting to warm up here in Seattle!

Lastly, I had to share this pic of the matching p.j's I made for all of my boys to wear on Xmas eve. The biggest boy was definitely surprised!

La Conner Quilt and Textile Museum

One of our holiday traditions is going to Deception Pass the day after Christmas. We usually go to La Conner for a bite to eat. It is a wonderful little town with antique stores and a great restaurant. We were driving around and I saw a sign for the La Conner quilt museum. Oh what a find. Their permanent collection features works from Josie Teeter Schlotterback (1882 - 1974). Josie was a professional seamstress who graduated from the June Tailor School in 1901! Her family left her collection of amazing quilts, quilt blocks and quilt pieces to the museum. The exhibit also included unfinished blocks, patterns and other memorabilia.
I've started making one of these. I'm sure it will be a life long project.
Josie hand stitched the entire quilt together and it is hand quilted. Amazing!

I love the use of tiny scraps on this quilt.

Things that are making me smile right now.....

Using my son's monkey sharpener and fish pencil. Shhh, don't tell him Please....

Sweet satsumas and a hot cup of tea.

Reading the post it "love notes" from my son Liam:

" I love you mom"

"I love your her" (my favorite)

"Chres I love you From Liam"

And best of all - listening to my six year old play with his childhood friend in his room next door.

Lavender Sachet + A Tutorial

Every Christmas my mom sends gifts to our relatives in Germany. We try to find local items from Seattle, at least the U.S. My mom asked me to make a sachet similar to one I gave her years ago. I was thrilled with the idea as I have lots of scraps to use. I'm really happy with the way they turned out. The gnome and ice cream truck fabric are Munki (so cute!) The Matryoshka doll fabric is from Heather Ross.

The lavender I use to fill them came from Purple Haze Lavender in Sequim, WA. It is heavenly.

To Make them you need:

• 1) 4 - 2 1/2" squares of fabric
• 2) Silk or Poly organza for back
• 3) New or vintage button for front
• 4) Stay button for Back
• 5) Ribbon (optional)
• 6) Lavender florets to fill sachet. I got mine here.
  
• 

Cut 4 - 2 1/2" squares of fabric. I used two of each print.

Arrange the squares as you like.

Stitch the two left and then two right squares together with a 1/4" seam.

Stitch the center seam using a 1/4" s.a.

Flip the front over to the Right Side. Cut a piece of organza to fit the square and pin each corner.

Stitch around the perimeter using a 1/4"
seam allowance. Leave an opening approximately 1" centered at the bottom.

Clip the corners and press the s.a. open.

Turn to right side.

Make a funnel out of paper and fill your sachet.

I ordered 1/2 pound organic lavender which is enough to make many, many sachets!!

(My table never looks this clean. I should take photographs on it more often!)

Slip stitch the bottom opening and add a button and optional ribbon to front.

Don't forget the stay bttn on the back!

Toile and a finished project!

I adore toile fabrics and decoration. I recently purchased this book, Toiles De Jouy, which has beautiful examples of the French fabric maker's toiles.

I started collecting this version of toiles - transferware plates - about eight years ago when my husband's grandmother gifted us reproduction red and white Spode dinner plates for our wedding.

I've been collecting ever since and have purchased them on Ebay (left), at auctions (center) and on my travels in the South of France (right).

More of my ever growing collection. I found the plates on the right at my local T.J. Maxx for $1 a piece!

I recently finished these pillow covers. (Yay, 1 more thing to cross off the list!) The white swirl printed fabric is actually napkins I bougth at Anthropologie some time ago. The toile was purchased at Jo-Annes.
I love the way they turned out!
I used three self fabric covered buttons for the back envelope closure in contrast red toile with red toile binding in the same pattern. I had never made covered bttns before. They were so easy and I'm really happy with the look.

Happy sewing and collecting!

Holiday Traditions Old and New

I love Christmas. I haven't always felt this way but since having kids I seriously get into the holiday spirit. It is exciting making the boys dreams come true and to experience the wonder of Christmas through their eyes.

We have established a few family traditions in the past few years. The first is going to Snohomish the day after Thanksgiving and watching Santa enter the town in his horse drawn sleigh. Snohomish is a lovely little town and has lots of great antique shops. (I'll do a separate blog post on Snohomish in the near future!)

Another tradition is putting the Santa photos in frames and hanging them on the tree.

We always ride the carousel downtown and enjoy the "snow" at Pacific Place.

This year we started a new tradition - cutting our own tree. It wasn't purely motivated by the romance of trekking through the snow to find the perfect tree. We were tired of spending lots of $$ on the "perfect" tree. I happened to see coverage on the local new that with a $10 permit, you can go into national forest and cut your own. There are designated areas, but that being said, I was surprised at how many areas allow it.So this is the tree. At first we were a bit worried since it is much barer than the perfectly dense and shirred Xmas trees we usually get. It has grown on me and I'll have to say I rather love it. It is how nature intended. You can actually see the ornaments on the tree!

The romance of the boys having a wonderful time in the snow diminished rather fast. Luc was pretty miserable after dropping his gloves in the snow.

Liam was a good sport and wants to go back and make a snowman.

We were up on a ridge and the views were breathtaking.

We must have seen dozens of trees and after hiking about a mile......

We decided on this one. The day was not quite as I imagined but I'll cherish it always and look forward to doing it again next year.

Link for cutting your own here!

Jewelry Show this Saturday!

If anyone is looking for something fun to do tomorrow night, there is a fabulous jewelry show and party (oh yes.....there will be lots of wine and food) at Danaca Design in the U-District. Myself as well as nine other talented designers will be showcasing their work. We are raffling off an incredible necklace for only $5 a ticket. Each and every designer collaborated on the necklace by making a bead. Proceeds benefit the Jewelry Art Stimulus Fund which will provide scholarships for jewelry classes at the studio.

We are also featuring many of the artist's jewelry as well as some paintings and stones in a silent auction which will also benefit the scholarship fund. Check out the link for photos of the items!

Following are some of my favorite pieces!

Yes....I have been a busy bee!!!!

Holiday Inspiration

It has been a crazy past few weeks in the Randell household. We have been continously sick with a cold or the flu which explains my lack of blog posts.

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I'm so excited for Christmas this year. Seems like the Fall is flying by and Christmas is just around the corner! I have been perusing the web and found these lovely projects and images I just had to share. . . . . . . .

I think these beaded snowflakes are absolustely lovely.

I'm excited to try making this wreath. Wouldn't it look lovely over a fireplace?

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And last, these beautiful images from tinekhome.

There is definitely a silver & white theme happening here!

Have a lovely day!