Fall Sale

How dare she!

Since I have new business cards and hang tags (to match my cute new banner), I was letting the girls use some of my old cards. I swear, it doesn't matter what it is, if it belongs to me or is in my trash can, the girls must have it.

Anyway, look what my little competitor had the nerve to do!

She scratched out "Mama"and wrote "Bella", scribbled out my tag line on the bottom, and drew in a little birdie because apparently, the card was too plain for her taste.

Totally unrelated, I'm really loving yellow right now. I'm wearing this bright yellow cardigan today

with this super ruffly tank

It's one of my favorite outfits (lucky I have it in gray too!). It feels so happy and feminine. This bag I just listed this morning would go perfectly with it but I'm exercising self restraint...for a few days. I may have to make it mine if it's not gone by the end of the week.

Two prints or not two prints, that is the question

I'm getting ready to order some new fabrics and I'm leaning toward bold prints with coordinating solids rather than the two pattern bags that I usually make.

So, what do you prefer?

Bold print with a solid coordinate?
(How fabulous is this bag? I just listed it last night despite really wanting to keep it for myself. I'm really loving the big solid colored ruffle - thus, today's question.)

Two prints?

Or a print with a pseudo-solid like these stripes?

Competition

I'm not the only crafter in the family.

Bella is obsessed with crafts of any kind. Many days, she comes home from school and works on crafts until bed time. Our dining table is constantly covered with markers, bits of paper, and yards of ribbon. It sometimes drives me crazy but her teacher says she's a gifted artist so I'll go along with it.

This week's big project was Butterfly Girls Spy Club necklaces. All I know is that I gave her a box of my old scrapbooking ribbon and two hours later, she had made little paper tags for a bunch of her friends and was giving me instructions on how to attach them to ribbon to turn them into necklaces. She was totally irritated with me for not finishing them before she went to bed and every time I walked by her room, she would ask me if they were finished yet.

Sadly, my work did not live up to her standards and we're now remaking all of the necklaces. Working for someone so much like myself isn't really going well.

Wee Wonderfuls

Is this not the cutest doll ever?!

I made her using a pattern in the Wee Wonderfuls book. I've never really purchased crafting books but after some recommendations from a friend (and an Amazon birthday gift card!), I've been on a mini book-buying streak.
The book is really, really good with lots of fabulous projects and great pictures and directions to go along with them. I think there's a great range of projects for the less skilled to expert seamstress. I've found that the author is a big fan of hand stitching. I am not. I don't have the skill or the patience and for something like the cute little doll above, I really prefer a durable machine stitch for the really important parts like attaching her arms and legs.

I also made this tiny mermaid doll. She definitely needs some work (deciding where to machine stitch rather than hand stitch) but Matea loves her and has been swimming her around the house all morning.
The pigtail cutie at the top of the post is available in my shop. Just click on her picture and she'll take you to the listing.

*New*

I was in the mood to sew yesterday but wanted to do something different. I had stumbled upon some old baby pictures of Matea in the morning and I think they induced some very temporary baby fever.

So, instead of bags, I decided to work on some baby gift sets. I wanted to do something more fun than the usual single fabric so I made patchwork bibs that I free motion quilted.

I LOVE how they turned out! The patchwork definitely took longer but I think the end result is worth it. Imagine giving one of these sets to a pregnant coworker or friend. They get a beautiful handmade item for their baby and have no idea you only spent $15!

I definitely see more of these in my shop soon. I already have piles of scraps sorted and new bibs pieced that just need quilting.

On a different note, Friday, October 15th is the last day to order trick or treat bags for this Halloween. And if you've already placed an order with me, I'm finishing up your bag this week and it will ship no later than Monday, October 18th. Thanks!

Pumpkin Spice Latte

I think it sounds horrible as a drink...

but fabulous as an outfit.

Inspired by

You don't have to be a fashionista to know that ruffles are EVERYWHERE this season. Tops, bags, shoes, jewelry...ruffles are definitely the latest trend.

I was recently lucky enough to get some generous birthday gifts (money:) ) and I spent almost all of it on new clothes. Our weather is really mild here at the beach, mostly 60-80 degrees year round, so lightweight layering pieces are key.

I bought several bright cardigans and these ruffle tank tops from Old Navy in four different colors.

I think they're feminine and sweet without being Victorian or too young looking. Crafty Papa did mention the Seinfeld puffy shirt episode but I quickly shot him the death stare and said, "Really? Are you really comparing my tank top with four ruffles to THE puffy shirt?!".


The ruffle tank tops definitely inspired today's bag. I think the end result is great and I hope you do too. The brown is a super soft upholstery weight fabric with lots of texture. Perfect for fall.

Trick or Treat Bags

Have you ordered yours yet?
Shop here.