denim skirt and new fabric

A few weeks ago I ordered this skirt from Old Navy. 

I really liked it online, but when I tried it on I did not like the pleats in the back.  Pleats are cute but not when they make your backside look puffy!  Then on Sunday, I remembered my mom had given me some lightweight denim, (chambray I think).  So I made my own, pleat-less, elastic waistband version. 

  

I'm pretty happy with the finished product.  It is a little stiff, but will probably get softer with more wash and wear.  I know it would be better to have pictures of me in it, but pale legs and an almost 3 year old photographer just don't cut it.

Also this weekend, I visited a new fabric shop in Cincinnati called Sewn Studio.  There was so much beautiful fabric it was hard to limit myself to two! 

Wouldn't the red cherry print look cute paired with blue for a skirt or sundress for Ella?

cargo pants to tote

 I've been eyeing all the military/utility canvas jackets popping up in stores, but can't bring myself to buy another coat.  So instead, I was inspired to make a tote out of old cargos from one of my brothers.

it has cool sideways pockets...

and polka dot lining (which is not so military, but fun anyway)!

I might have to say goodbye to the diaper bag!

new spring clips

So I've had my etsy shop for almost four months now, and I feel like I am still trying to find my niche.  There are a LOT of hair clips/headbands out there!  So I am trying to combine two of my favorite things right now - felt and embroidery.  Here are my favorites so far...

a tulip trio!

bicycle clip!

and because I wish I could wear the little girl clips, I made something more mommy friendly. 

birthday presents

Last week I made some heating pads and gave them away as birthday presents to two of my sisters.  

 They have a removable bag of rice inside, which can be heated in the microwave.  (Brent and Ella took turns trying them out - sorry Mary, yours was heating Ella's toes!) 

I thought they could also double as a cold compress...just stick in a bag of peas! 

striped pillows

Pillows are definitely the easiest and fastest way to give a room a new look.  And I did just that a few weeks ago when I found some large, striped fabric at Ikea.  

 

I love the chevron pillow (from this tutorial at MADE), but ran out of fabric, time and patience, so I pieced the back.   

(The yellow pillows are actually on our purple couch - yep! we have purple couches and I love them.)

Now, if I can just keep our dog off the new pillows...

the LOST sweater

After Christmas we didn't have a whole lot going on, so Brent and I started watching LOST.  I wasn't really interested in the show while it aired, mainly because everyone told me I needed to start from the beginning or I would be "lost"  (haha sorry - it was going to happen sometime...). 

 We were totally sucked in!  In less than two months we watched ALL 6 seasons!  But at least I didn't just sit there and do nothing.  I made a sweater...

It is a bolero pattern by Debbie Bliss, from her Junior Knits book I believe.  I shortened the sleeves and used a different yarn - the sleeves were suppose to have a rolled-up cuff, but since I used a heavier, cotton yarn I thought the cuff would look too puffy. 

After all that time in front of the tv, I'm now looking for a new book to read.  You know, stimulate my brain a little.  Any suggestions?

sunshine

I think all of us could use a little SUN today!

p.s. i'm coming back to the blog!