have fun and happy sewing :) see you all on tuesday!
30 days of sundresses over on melly sews
have fun and happy sewing :) see you all on tuesday!
have fun and happy sewing :) see you all on tuesday!
weekend wishes
to welcome the sunshine...
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| image src: alphabet bags |
to have fun at the beach...
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to get this necklace...
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| image src: snugstudio |
to sport some sassy red for canada day this weekend...
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| image src: kendi everyday |
and to convince the hubs this is camping...lol.
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| img src: shelter |
this weekend i plan on knitting, knitting, knitting, knitting & more knitting. did i say knitting yet? haha. i'm obsessed with my summer sweater kal project. i've been slacking on all my other blog/sewing duties to work on my lovely pink grapefruit cardi. so in love with it's yummy squishyness. i'm also teaching mackenzie to knit. my pal rebecca of nook helped get her started yesterday and now i've got to keep the ball rolling. so far she seems like a natural (yessssssss!!!!) and has been loving it!
i do plan on doing some sewing in there though and guess what.....the sweetheart dress sewing pattern is not far away! i'm hoping for a release date in july! so stay tuned!!!! yay!!!! and in between all that goodness i hope to drag the hubs away from his studies long enough for us to all go hit the beach or get outdoors. should be a good one.
wishing all of you a wonderful, beachy, sunfilled, crafty, celebrating, snuggles and lots of fun kind of weekend. what are you all up to? anyone else have a camping phobia? are you teaching your wee one to knit? any tips to share? come chat m'dears <3
p.s. don't forget to get your entry in to win the art gallery fabrics fat quarter bundle (yum!) and also your very own "ruby ruffle dress" from the cottage mama! 2 giveaways in one week - wowsa!
banberry place fabric giveaway winner
we've got a winner.....was it you?
commenter #192 - adrienne charette
you've won a $25 gift certificate to banberry place! congrats! we'll be in touch soon! thanks again to corie for a great giveaway.
you can find all things banberry place here:
good luck everyone and thank you corie for the great giveaway. you can find all things banberry place here:
summer sweater knit along - my yarn & pattern reveal!
i can hardly put in words how excited i am to start the summer sweater knit along! see that pic above....that is my yarn!!!!!!!!!! squeal!!!! yep...yummy isn't it! it's been very, very, hard to not cheat and just cast on. after i did my swatch all i wanted to do was knit, knit, and knit! it's that gorgeous and really...my pics don't even do it justice. it screams summer to me and the tones are just scrumptious. i kinda just want to eat it...in a non weirdo way...lol.
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| yarn: yellow label dk by tanis fiber arts in colorway pink grapefruit |
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| pattern: something silver by veera valimaki |
things have been busy over in our ravelry group already and i can tell you that i know i'm not the only knitter just dying to cast on...i love the excitement! it's super fun! i want to see your pics too! show me your yarn, show off your pattern choice and then link your post up in our linky party at the bottom of the post. each week when i post on wednesday you guys can also link up your summer sweater kal posts too! simply enter in your name/url and then viola! linky party! we can then check out each other's blog posts, show some comment luv and drool over each others yarn stashes! i hope you'll join in!
there are also new topics in our ravelry threads this time round to keep us all organized. you'll find topics for your wip's, a gallery to show them off and also ones for your fo's too! i think it will make it a lot easier to follow along with all the chat going on in there. i hope you'll all chat away :) you'll also find some awesome moderators who help me to help you in our fun loving ravelry group. there is rebecca (nook), sandra (3pumpkinslittle), and kelly (CelticCastOn) - these gals are all avid and very savvy knitters. thanks for your help ladies! and if you're not already part of ravelry join in! it's free and seriously awesome! it's like facebook for knitters times ten! a huge resource and a great way to make dear friends :) but don't worry, you can still be part of the knit along even if you aren't on ravelry. instead of showing off your pics in our ravelry group you can add them to our flickr group! we all love seeing each other's handiwork!
i've also got a yummy summery button for you all to sport on your blogs too! the more peeps knitting in the summertime the better :)
enter the summer sweater knit along here:
and you can follow along with all things summer sweater kal here:
The Cottage Mama Ruby Ruffle Dress - Pattern Review & Giveaway!
someone in our house is sure excited to get a new dress and this mama is sure excited to see her daughter wear it! i can't tell you how hard it is to get my daughter to wear handmade clothes. she is extremely picky when it comes to what's on her body and let me tell you...it drives me bonkers...lol. she's always picking out fabrics for outfits for me to make her but only a rare few actually get made for her and even then, she will wear it once or twice and never again. it kills me. luckily harper is much easier going and will no doubt love all mack's hand me down frocks. but in the meantime mackenzie is head over heels in love with her "ruby ruffle dress" from my lovely friend lindsay of the "the cottage home".
i've known linds since she first started blogging and let me tell you what a sheer joy it has been to watch her bloom and grow. it's been amazing and i'm so thrilled and proud of her! when she asked me to be part of her "cottage mama pattern tour" i of course said you bet!
i chose to whip up the adorable ruby ruffle dress. i knew it was right up mackenzie's alley and the bow and ruffles would win her little heart :) and sure enough when i showed the pattern to her she went right to picking out her fabrics. and yes, my wee one loves amy butler just as much as i do. i used "deco dots in astor" for the front panel and "cutting garden in linen" for the main body both from the gypsy caravan line by amy butler supplied by our sponsor stitchsimple.com (all my fabrics come pre-washed & pressed!!!).
i found lindsay's instructions really easy to follow with clear instructions and lots of photographs. the dress was quick to sew up with lots of finishing details. only mods i made were to topstitch the neckline and armholes and also the tie. i know...i have an obsession with topstitching..lol. oh well...lol...could be worse things right? i made mackenzie the size 4. she is 5 years old but very small for her age and seriously her chest size would have fit a 2 but i decided to go with the 4 and give her room to grow into it and extend it's wear.
i love lindsay's little special touches she adds to patterns. it's fun to put your own spin on things and to also have the ability to choose from different finishes or techniques used in the pattern. i love that with the ruby dress i could make mack's with ruffles and a bow but if i want to i could easily just do the a-line version for her or for harper. the patterns cover a huge age range and are high quality.
are you crushing on the ruby ruffle dress too? well you're in luck - i'm giving away a copy of this gorgeous pattern for part of the cottage mama sewing patterns blog tour. would you like to win one? simply clink on the link below and enter your info! easy peasy! good luck!
CLICK BELOW TO ENTER TO WIN:
- giveaway is open until july 2nd, 2012 (midnight PST).
- you must have a valid email address or you will be disqualified.
thanks for letting me make one of your awesome patterns lindsay and for having me be a part of your blog tour! i had a great time making this dress and see many more in my future :)
you can find all things the cottage mama here:
and make sure to check out the rest of the tour:
Week 1: Stef from Girl. Inspired (Charlotte Pattern)
Jessica from Me Sew Crazy (Ruby Pattern)
Christina from 2LittleHooligans (Run Around Pattern)
Jess from Craftiness is not Optional (Ruby Pattern)
Week 2:
Maureen from Maureen Cracknell Handmade (Charlotte Pattern)
Liz and Elizabeth from Simple Simon (Run Around Pattern)
Andrea from The Train to Crazy (Ruby Pattern)
Destri from The Mother Huddle (Ruby Pattern)
Beverly from Flamingo Toes (Charlotte Pattern)
Week 3:
Shannon from Luvinthemommyhood (Ruby Pattern)
Mama Reita / Amy from Positively Splendid (Charlotte Pattern)
Susan from Living with Punks (Ruby Pattern)
the wellen tank tutorial & a giveaway!
a few months ago i got inspired while sitting on one of our gorgeous west coast beaches to create a tank for the kidlets that looked like waves. that little idea stewed and stewed while i sketched and drew until i finally realized how to put it all together. this tutorial is the result. wellen is german for waves and i sure hope you will all love this special little tank as much as i do. i think it's one of my fave projects so far.
it's a great little project to jump into trying out sewing curves too! i'm hopelessly addicted now! the tank itself is a simple a-line shape with a wide neck that's easy in construction so you can show off all your sewing and fabric handiwork.....and there's topstitching..weeee...i love topstitching :)
so come pop over to the art gallery fabrics blog and read the whole post :) you know you wanna....lol. i also know you'll want to win some of this ahhhhmazing fabric too. art gallery fabrics are made from 100% pima cotton and let me tell you...they are so soft! the drape is so nice to work with and you really can feel the difference from other quilting cottons. needless to say i'm a big fan..lol.
would you like a chance to win the same yummy fat quarter bundle i got? simply click on the link below and fill out the form to enter for your chance to win a fat quarter bundle of summerlove by pat bravo! that's it! easy peasy!
but wait...it get's better! you can enter over on art gallery fabric too! here's how:
art gallery's rules:
- follow them on pinterest
- like them on facebook
- subscribe to the AGF blog and leave a comment there letting them know you did.
giveaway will be open until sunday, july 1st, midnight PST. all entries welcome.
are you a big art gallery fabrics fan? what is your favorite line from AGF? have you been following along with our fat quarter gang? so fun! happy sewing everyone!
goodies galore - yarn & more!
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| Yarn: Sparrow by Quince and Co. in colorway 204 - Blue Spruce, 100% Organic Linen |
i also got some lovely new fabric goodies in the mail from an order i place for an upcoming project. purdy...purdy...purdy....
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| 1. shade grey stars 2. shade grey ringlets - both from quilt blocks by ellen luckett baker |
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| 1. slate kona cotton 2. shade flying geese by ellen luckett baker |
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| 1. outfoxed circles yellow by lizzy house 2. mustard kona cotton |
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| 1. denim blue essex linen from michael kaufmann 2. yellow kona cotton |
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| knitpicks felici fingering self striping sock yarn in colorway afternoon |
i also could not resist picking up this ombre dot journal from the martha stewart office line at staples. ummm...can we say yum! i stood in that aisle for a long time and it was very, very hard to walk away with only one! i love it! i also picked up a new graph paper pad for an upcoming knitting pattern i'm working on. need those graph sheets for doodling out some new lace designs - fun!
and here she is......my ironing board monster...clean!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! she's even sporting a fresh new ironing board cover! and no, i didn't make it...weeee! i didn't have time..lol. so thank you debbie travis for making a nice one for me and selling it at canadian tire so i could bring it home. i love it! and man does it feel AMAZING to fold up the darn thing! seriously...it's been almost 3 years since i could fold up my ironing board! it's fabulous!!!! let's hope it stays that way...muahahaha....
i hope you all dont' mind the lack of weekend wishes today. it just way too hard to keep all these goodies to myself! and i cannot wait to show you my fat quarter gang project for monday! it seriously has been a daydream that has come to life. it's so fun to doodle and dream up a project for months and then finally see it become real! i hope you all love it as much as i do so stay tuned!
also, thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart for your loving bday wishes. you guys rock!!!! it so made my day :) and to my lovely pals who surprised me on my bday for a fun get together complete with gluten free chocolate cupcakes, whip cream and strawberries - i love you guys!!! wishing you all a wonderful yummy fabric, scrumptious yarn and creative goodies kind of weekend. fill it with laughs and family and i'll see you all monday! <3
what are your weekend wishes? what are you making this weekend? any new goodies you've spoiled yourself with in the last few weeks? chat m'dears :)
35 is the new 25!
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| image via the light fantastic |
hope you all have a wonderful and special day today as well. thank you so much to those who have spoiled me and also for all your lovely facebook bday wishes! luv you guys! see you tomorrow <3
banberry place fabric giveaway!
**THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED**
we've got a yummy fabric giveaway for you all today! are you in the mood to win some new fabric? our sponsor banberry place has a huge selection of awesome knits/stretch/jersey! lots of fun prints and colorful selections!
on top of all the lovely fabric there is also trims & ribbons! i love me some trims people! so cute!
banberry place also has a great selection of patterns including e-patterns and e-book patterns. you can find patterns for women, children, boys, stuffies and more.
- one lucky winner will receive a gift certificate for $25.00 to banberry place!!! thanks corie!
- simply enter your info in our google doc form (link shown below) along with what you would spend your gift certificate at banberry place on. when you enter your info you are designated a number by google doc based on when you enter. this will be the number i use to correlate to your name when the winner is chosen. make sense? if you have any questions just ask me below in the comments. click below to enter the giveaway:
- giveaway is open until june 25th, 2012 midnight, pacific standard time.
- you must enter a valid email into the entry form or you will be disqualified.
good luck everyone and thank you corie for the great giveaway. you can find all things banberry place here:
the dottie skirt tutorial - color your summer 2012!
when kirstin of "kojo designs" asked me to join in on her and delia of "delia creates" summer series called color your summer i was thrilled! last years was ahhhhmazing and i'm super excited to get to be a part of this years series. i was even more excited to choose the color "rainbow"! you all know i'm not afraid of color when it comes to my kiddos clothes and i'm working really hard on adding pops of color to even my own wardrobe so i jumped at the chance to use rainbow as my inspiration starting point.
i knew right off the bat i wanted something that had lots of yummy colors that to me represented the feeling of summer. yummy sherberts, sunny weather, ice cream cones and balloons in a blue sky. i immediately went right to my stash pile and grabbed one of my fave prints - sweet nothings collection (dots cream) by zoe pearn for riley blake designs. it screams color and rainbow to me without being too cutesy and overly colorful. i think it's playful and the colors are right up my alley. i love the mix of turquoise, orange and chartreuse - so fun!
when deciding what to make i realized i've made skirts for my girls before but have never done a skirt tutorial on the blog before so i figured it was about time to whip one up! i decided i wanted something that had a fun twist to it! a high waisted skirt that had a fun belt attachment that was easy to construct and fun to wear with a bit of a vintage flair to it! the belt is made on it's own and simply stitched onto the back center of the skirt only. the belt is decorative and the elastic waist of the skirt is what holds the skirt up! i love the scalloped end of the belt and how it plays up the dots of the fabric. i can see many more of these in our future in all sorts of color combos!
you ready to make one too? pop on over to kojo designs for "color your summer 2012" for the full tutorial! i hope you have lots of fun with it! happy sewing ladies!!
winner of the polkadaisy jewelry giveaway
we've got a winner of the polkadaisy jewelry giveaway! our lucky winner won a gorgeous custom handmade katie necklace. was it you? let's find out :)
commenter #152 - kerri armstrong
congratulations!!!!!!!!!! i hope you enjoy your new necklace! we will be in touch with you soon.
thank you to all who entered and also to michelle for the lovely giveaway. you can find all things polkadaisy here:
weekend wishes
to enjoy a special & yummy father's day brunch...
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| img src: lonny mag |
to use my starbucks free drink card pronto...
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| image from mugwumpian |
to have fun celebrating multiple bdays with friends this weekend...
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| img src: mr. wonderful shop |
that summer hurried up and got here...
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| beach umbrella from alice b. gardens photography |
to travel more with my loves...
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| the world in black and white from julie o'dell |
and to try making some..ahem.. adult oriented popsicles.
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| margarita popsicles from matkonation |
hellooo...summer.....where are you? i see you sunshine...tricking me daily, popping out here and there and then bringing along cold ocean breezes and windy drizzly days. why oh why have i been wearing sweaters everyday in june? it's time...you can come already. we're excited to see you! come hang out already :P i'm seriously feeling the need for some good old fashioned vitamin d (with sunscreen of course). we want to hang out at the beach without freezing...lol.
we've got a few laid back plans for father's day this weekend that we're hoping to enjoy and i'm crossing my fingers for sun. our weekend is jam packed and both the hubs and i are super busy with work to boot. it's gonna be a long one but a good one. i'm treating myself to a fancy new haircut on the weekend just in time to go out with the girls to celebrate my upcoming aging and a few other wonderful ladies bdays as well. it's gonna be fun!!! i'm in the mood for a change but am still on the fence about what i would like to do. this turning 35 soon is really messing with my head...lol. i still feel 20 in my brain..lol...but my grey hairs and slowly forming wrinkles would like to say otherwise :) i'm trying to remain positive about hitting the mid 30's and i'm hoping a new look will be the perfect thing to keep me on track. wishing you all a wonderful family filled, margarita sipping, sunshine basking, brunch eating, lots of laughs kind of weekend :)
what are you guys up to this weekend? anyone else contemplating a big hair change? what are you thinking of doing...long or short? pics to share? wanna have a margarita popsicle with me....lol? ok...it's early...coffee??? come chat <3
makin'it in the mommyhood - pressies!
it was my lovely pal jane richmond's bday the other week and seeing as she is one of my besties i had to whip her up a little pressie. jane is a knitter but she is also learning how to sew. i knew she desperately needed some new pins and didn't have a fabric marker so since i LOVE buying sewing/knitting notions i had to get her a few to add to her kit. she needs her sewing ammo...lol. and seriously, to all of you out there just learning how to sew - ditch those tiny little rusty pins from the dollar store and invest in some good pins. it's worth it. trust me :)
i knew that i couldn't just give her the pins/marker though. nope, you know me.....they need something to go in. i had been hoarding a particular fabric print that a dear friend gave me (wink wink anna) and knew it would be perfect for jane. she looooves to garden and grows all her veggies from seedlings so how great is this fabric for her! awesome! so i whipped her up a cute little rectangular pin cushion for her new pins and a cute project tote for her to hopefully carry her soon to be en masse of sewing projects in :) i didn't use a tutorial for the tote, just went with the flow in a size i'd like. tote's are a great, quick and yet stylish gift to make that allows you to show off that fave fabric which i always love doing.
why a rectangular pin cushion? well, i like things the way i like em'...that's how i roll and my handmade pincushion that was square always bugged me. there was never enough room. i like that this is long and i can stab them in all over the place..lol. i used the basic idea from this tutorial but never cut up 4 squares per side. the fabric already looked like blocks joined so i simply made 2 rectangles and sewed them together per side. i then topstiched along that seam and then down the center to give it a tiny bit of a look of 4 pieces but it's really not. this kind of pincushion is easy, quick and functional :)
i also got a surprise in the mail for me yesterday! i had to hold it in till now and not even tell the sender i received it as i wanted to thank her and surprise her with posting it on the blog. the lovely buffy (of passionate design) so sweetly sent me the awesomest pressie! turning 35 won't be so hard with lovelies like these! thank you soooooooooooo much buffy! i know how much time and thought went into this pressie and it really means a lot to me. i. have. not. taken off those bed socks!!!! seriously! i LOVE them!!!!!! they rock! and the mug....people.....amazing!!!! i heart you buffy!!!!
buffy made me the cutest pair of sleep socks from the pattern "turkish bed socks"from churchmouse yarns & teas. are they not just so cute! they also fit like a glove and are so comfy to wear! super soft and very light. i can only imagine the time that went into these - buffy you are such a sweetheart!
she sent all my goodies boxed up and wrapped in hand drawn wrapping paper people! i'd show you but my kiddos ripped it up before we realized she had handwritten all over it!!! great idea buffy - i'm going to have to use that one :) she had all my goodies inside the biggest and best yellow mug i have ever seen!!!! she then handpainted one of my fave sayings on the mug that i believe she remembered me lusting after a few months ago...so sweet!!! this will def be my new fave go to mug buffy! only wish i could sip coffee alongside you with it.
accompanying the mug were the best turquoise colored pins i have seen! i have turquoise ones but not like this! the best color ever! *edited to add: just found out that buffy made the pins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what?!!!!!! omg! the pins were nestled amongst some pretty co-ordinating fabric. honestly, this made my whole month. the friendships i've made through blogging continue to amaze me. i have never met buffy in person (though i hope to one day) yet she is a special friend who has read my blog for years and always been a constant supporter and encourager of mine. she's wise beyond her years and has a giant sized heart. so sweet you are dear buffy. thank you for making me smile. this pressie warms the soul and helps make turning 35 so much easier. sending you gigantic sized hugs!!!!!
what projects have you guys been working on? do you have a fave go to item you love to make for friends gifts? a great tutorial you follow? anyone else turning an age that's freaking them out? i'd love to hear about it! coffee's a brewin'...come sip with me!
summer sweater knit along - announcement & roundup!!!!
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| lightweight pullover by hannah fettig |
join in with us and start this summer! this post is your 2 week heads up! we give you a wee bit of time to order/buy yarn and choose your pattern and everyone will all start together on june 27th. if you've got a sweater hibernating and you're not that far into it feel free to wait a few weeks and join in late to make it fair :)
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| 1.stasis pullover 2.exeter 3. inversion cardigan |
we will be doing something a little bit different this time round in our ravelry group. there will now be different topics breaking the kal down so it's easier to keep up with everyone. instead of having one giant thread and boy do they get giant we will have a few smaller ones and 2 galleries with no chat. it's gonna be awesome! and hopefully a lot easier to stay up to date with all of you talented ladies & gents!
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| katrine cardigan by cecily glowik macdonald |
there are really no rules for this knit along. you can knit or crochet and you can pretty much make anything as long as it falls under sweater, cardigan, pullover or top (no tanks please). it can also be for an adult or a child. we basically just want to encourage you to knit! so make what suits your taste, style, body and budget :) it makes it so fun to see all the different patterns people choose, find new yarns to covet and just plain fill up your queue on ravlery. mine grows exponentially each kal we do.
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| 1. featherweight cardigan 2. rocky coast cardigan 3. wispy cardigan |
what sweater am i making? tee hee....you'll have to wait to find out! i'm keeping it a secret for now! y'all know how much i love a good secret right?! i will give you a hint though...it's in this roundup! yep, it's time for our good ol' start of kal roundup. i dove into my faves and compiled a fun roundup of patterns i'm currently crushing on! new ones, old ones, classic ones, fun ones and just plain awesome ones! there's beginner patterns, advanced patterns, lace patterns and cables and styles to suit a bevvy of body types! beware....you may get inspired!
check em' out....
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| something silver by veera valamki |
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| 1. bluebelle 2. julissa 3. folded 4. argo |
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| audrey by jane richmond |
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| 1. levenwick 2. larch cardigan 3. vodka lemonade 4. tourist sweater |
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| 1. classic raglan pullover 2. fuse 3. i heart aran 4. before dark 5. aidez 6. darling emma |
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| blaithin by kate davies |
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| 1. driven 2. twiggy cardigan 3. baby cables & big ones too 4. owls |
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| 1. flyaway hoodie 2. shellseeker 3. shift of focus 4. pontos cardigan 5. regent 6. campus jacket |
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| 1. idlewood 2. february lady sweater 3. manu 4. tea leaves cardigan |
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| autumnal cardigan by hannah fettig |
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| 1. jenica hoodie 2. warriston 3. reed 4. terracotta |
START DATE: June 27th, 2012
END DATE: September 30th, 2012
you can keep up to date with our knit alongs and other knitty adventures in our luvinthemommyhood ravelry group where we post our WIP's, FO's, show off our yummy yarn stashes and join in our super fun themed knit alongs! feel free to ask questions, get help with your project and just plain revel in chatting with other knitters/crocheters who love stitching as much as you do! welcome :)
and you can also find me on ravelry under the name luvinthemommyhood.
but don't worry if you aren't on ravelry you can still join in. kal posts are usually done weekly and will be posted about regularly on the blog as well as on ravlery. you simply join in using a simple google doc entry form and you are automatically entered into the kal's giveaway and fun! we also will be having a linky party again this season where you can link up your blog post about your kal project so we can all see what everyone is up to! it's easy & super addicting! you can always find all of our KAL posts here as well.
we also love to see your handiwork! so feel free to show off your knitted and crocheted goodies in our ravelry group and also in our flickr group!
i love me a knit along! it's been such a blast doing these and i can't wait to see what you all will be crafting. the summer sweater knit along is my favorite one of the year and boy do we have some AMAZING and super talented sponsors for this kal! the prizes are awesome! so don't miss out on entering your name on the form linked above to qualify for the giveaway at the end of the kal. these sponsors seriously rock!!!! i will be announcing them and you will get your buttons etc in 2 weeks! see you then!
thanks so much for knitting along with me!
what project are you hoping to make? any yarns you are dying to use this kal? c'mon...chat away! it's kal time!
quilting 911 - this way and that way
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| dream on by urban chiks for moda |
i decided to go with a bit of a fence rail/basketweave design. i love the scrappiness of it and at first contemplated adding some sashing in between the rows of blocks but have decided against it. this quilt is going to be a test for me. it usually takes me forever to decided which pieces i want where on a quilt and i over analyze it to the point where i just leave the darn thing for months..haha. so this time i decided to just throw caution to the wind and put them together using my instant gut reaction. i simply picked up new pieces went "does it look good" and sewed them together based on my answer. i didn't look at the ones i had already created, i didn't pin them all up as i went, i didn't analyze my colors, i just went with my gut. it was soooo fun and super freeing.
i'm going to attempt to do the same thing when it comes time to sew those blocks together. i'm going to just pin them up and stitch em' together. of course i will take enough time to see if it's ugly or not...lol...but i'm really striving to go with a gut reaction and not over think the whole process. for now though i'm still in the cutting stage and you all know how i feel about my rotary cutter...lol. i'm getting better but i still have a love/hate relationship with the darn thing. luckily this quilt involved cutting but not tricky cutting...lol. i simply had to cut up my layer cakes and cut up my jelly roll. then when the block was stitched together i trim it down to square it up. it was pretty easy but i have to make myself do the trimming right now. not fun in my mind. i seem to keep finding other things to work on that are far more fun that trimming up this mountain of blocks (shown below).
now that i have my new worktop space it's been making quilting really easy and a lot faster. it's also nice to have a white worktop. it's clean and makes a great backdrop to choose fabrics and colors on. i've really been enjoying it. when i was at ikea picking up my new furniture i could not resist this adorable teacup tray. love it. remember when i did "teacup month" on the blog?
so fun! i knew this had to come home with me and guess what it's been doing? that's right....holding all my quilty bits...lol. it's the perfect size to keep all my in progress quilt blocks on. who knew in ikea that i'd end up using this adorable tray for that purpose right? oh well, if it's working - stick with it. the more organized i can keep my mess the better :)
i'm planning to do a sashing (maybe in a natural tone) around the entire quilt top when the blocks are all put together and the back is going to be done with the same light blue used in the blocks in a solid along with some patchwork. i'm super excited about it! as for the binding...who knows...lol. that's one decision i'm not looking forward to. it always seems to be the hardest one for me. i'm going to wait until the end to decide and then just go with it. you know....a little this way and a little that way...it's all good. i cannot wait to sleep under this beauty and dream of all sorts of vintage goodness. it's going to look fabulous on my bed.
i'm all pumped up to get it done sooner than later because i just recently placed a nice order from one of our sponsors - "fat quarter shop" for some fabric for another quilt that i've been designing for a few weeks now. i've got a little plan mapped out with a diagram and it's got a fun modern vibe to it. i'm really excited to see if i can bring it to life. i love that i'm going from scrappy vintage goodness to modern and fresh. makes my gemini soul happy. i've also really been enjoying the fact that all of my quilts so far have just been me going with a general idea and not following an exact pattern. i love the freeness of it all. the feeling of just letting your mind and your heart tell you how you envision the quilt and then making it come to life is just way too fun!
what is your process like while quilting? are you a this way and that way or an over analyzer like me? do you have a process that helps you make decisions on your quilts a bit easier? share...i'd love to hear your thoughts. it's raining out today and i'm in the mood to chat quilty goodness!
read more about this quilt here:
http://www.luvinthemommyhood.com/2012/05/quilting-911-its-never-too-late-to.html
moments in the mommyhood - attempting to recharge
we finally got a ken doll in our house. he's pretty rad. he came in swim trunks and a shark tooth necklace all ready for the beach. barbie was pretty stoked. they got engaged pretty much that day and the girls declared that they were in need of a resort beach wedding. we of course said yes and packed us all up for a weekend getaway so barbie and ken could tie the knot in style. j/k....muahahahaha...well sort of..lol. barbie and ken did get engaged and they did get married and we did go away but it wasn't just for barbie and ken. i haven't gone that kookoo yet :P
a few weeks ago the hubs surprised me with a weekend getaway about 45 mins out of town in sooke. again...thank you m'love..xoxoxo. we stayed at the best western prestige oceanfront resort and let me just say that this is not your average best western. wowsa! this place blew my mind. it was gorgeous and the room we had was to die for. i didn't want to leave the room. i swear to god that is no exaggeration. i literally would have been happier than a clam to just hang out in that gorgeous hotel room for 3 days! the bathroom was amazeballs and we had an ocean view, awesome beds, great modern decor...i loved it. the whole hotel is done up in colonial style and i felt like i was in a movie...lol. we had a lot of fun and the kiddos just loved it as did we. i didn't have to clean so i was more than happy. i'm sure you moms can relate.
we got to get some rest and most importantly get to have some quality time together as a little family. i highly recommend trying a mini-vacay with your kiddos not too far from home. we got to go somewhere we hadn't been before and it wasn't a long drive for the kids so no stress for us. we hit up a local provincial park during our stay and chilled ocean side while harper napped, i knit and mack and daddy played in the surf. here's some shots of our adventure....
just looking at these makes me want to go all over again :) we're back in the middle of jer's studies and this weekend was sooooo long. i'm pooped. i fell asleep at 8:40 last night! i think that's a record for me since i had children..lol. harper fell asleep at 5:00pm and slept the whole night. if that's not popped i don't know what is..haha. we are looking forward to next month when the hubs schedule is a bit easier on him and on us.
on the upside we went to madagascar 3 yesterday afternoon and loved it! we all went in 3d! so fun! i attempted to be super organized and pre-bought our tix. i picked up jer from school and we all went to the theater. i went to pick up our tix and the silly machine wasn't working. so we went inside and asked for help. the girl looked at my print out and said "you're at the wrong theatre". WHAT!!!! EMBARRASSING!!!! wowsa! i'm never gonna live that one down with the hubs. so hilarious! luckily the correct theatre is kitty corner and all we had to do was cross the street but still...we had almost bought our popcorn etc. i have no excuse for myself other than i am a mother. that pretty much sums it up. i'm sure you can relate...right?
how was your weekend? do you ever go on little mini vacays? what's your favorite way to recharge when you're tired? any embarrassing mommy moments? i'd love to hear about it. i'm off to enjoy the sunshine with the kidlets...it's finally poked it's head out today and it feels great! hope you all have some sun too!
weekend wishes
to add some more pink to my wardrobe...
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| image src toby key via bri emery on pinterest |
to wear skirts more...
to get a shirt with this on it...lol...
to make myself one of these lovelies...
to definitely get a NAP...
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| letter pillows from counter couture |
and to have a chance to finish the page turner i'm reading.
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| img src: kelsee (beauty in everything) |
last week i managed to get some time to read and boy did it sure feel good to just lose myself in a good book. i worked in bookstores for a big part of my pre-child life and am a huge book lover. after spending so much time working behind the scenes in bookstores and getting to order titles, read advances, head up multiple book clubs, attend author readings etc it's always a pure joy to me to snuggle up with a good book and by book i mean a real book...you know...the one with a cover and pages in it..lol. there's something so wonderful about the smell of a real book and i love my collection of classics on my shelf that i've found in little secondhand shops all over the place that i couldn't imagine them all being replaced by a file in an e-reader. there is a real art in book binding. now don't get me wrong...i'm not saying e-readers are bad..not at all...i'm just sayin that for me it would be a hard leap to make. i love independent bookstores so much and can't imagine the possibilities of them not existing. it makes my heart break a little. anyways...i digress...lol. bottom line...i'm reading a juicy one and cannot wait to get to the end this weekend.
what are you all up to? any fun plans? what are you going to be busy crafting? i'm working on my fat quarter gang tutorial that is coming up...can't wait to show you all! pull up a seat...your cuppa jo is already poured for ya....let's chat!
The Downton Cowl Pattern - New Pattern Release!
you all know that i love cowls and i love me some downton abbey. i'm so excited to tell you that i've been a busy bee working away bringing a sketch of mine to life for you all since the winter when i became hopelessly addicted to downton abbey.
you see during the commercial breaks they show a black screen with the illustration like image of downton and i just couldn't resist the peaks of the roof of that gorgeous castle. i instantly got inspired to whip up a cowl that easily could have been worn by any of the ladies of the manor - whether by the help or by the ladies of the house. knit up in gloriousmadelinetosh tosh dk in glazed pecan (from urban yarns) i'm so excited to finally be able to show you all "the downton cowl".
i am hopelessly in love with the chevron lace on this cowl. the ups and downs and peaks and valleys are so pretty. i love the garter like effect for the border that to me symbolizes the stability of a home - the foundation and the roof. and don't we all know how up and down love and life is in between :) i am pretty excited to have designed a new cowl and to also do one in a lace pattern in a dk weight! the downton cowl takes only (1) skein of yarn and can be made in one evening no problem. how's that for fun! i love quick projects like this that are both satisfying in design but fast in execution.
if you've been scared to try lace before this is a great beginner lace project. don't let it intimidate you. if you know how to do simple increases/decreases, knit in the round and read knitting directions you can do this! i promise :) the pattern is easy to follow and i've given you both written directions and a lace chart. as a knitter i like to have both to work from. i usually start with the written instructions and as i get the feel for the lace i move to the chart.
i was thrilled to find a good use for my very first skein of
and i hope i did it proud. i think the lace shows off the depth and tones of this gorgeous yarn. my sister camille didn't hurt it either. yep, that's my baby sister modelling for me in the photoshoot. she's pregnant with my soon to be niece/nephew and has that soon to be momma glow about her. i think she looks gorgeous and every time i photograph her i realize why i am so horribly unphotogenic...lol. she got all the good genes..lol.
we had a lot of fun on this shoot and we took our downton cowl and both my kidlets up to one of our cities very own castles -craigdarroch castle. it's gorgeous up there and i knew it would be the perfect place to take pictures for this pattern.
the downton cowl is a great cowl for all seasons too. it's lightweight but has enough oomph to keep you warm when you need it and it's not too hot when you don't want the extra heat. style it loose or stand it up for a bit more of a structural appeal. feel the romance of downton abbey and the fun of life and remember to enjoy all those peaks and valleys in between too. after all...where do you think downton abbey gets all it's story lines from?
a big thank you to my gorgeous sister camille and to all of you who let me slide on other knitterly duties as i worked on this cowl. i hope you all love it as much as i do. i cannot wait to see pics and yarn choices and all the fun goodness that comes along with releasing a new pattern from my home to yours <3
you can purchase the downton cowl onravelry now, my etsy shop here and my craftsy shop here. you can also look for it soon at magpie patterns as well! happy knitting!
what do you guys think? do you likey? i'm really happy with it and hope you will be too. has a tv show inspired you lately? let's chat! coffees on...
Polkadaisy Jewelry Giveaway!!
i've got a new lovely and you can have one too! you likey? me lovey! the talented michelle of polkadaisy wrote to me recently about the possibility of me hosting a giveaway for you all and i of course said - "heck yah"! you know i love me some gorgeous handmade jewelry and i know you all do too! now that harper is getting older i feel like i can finally start wearing a few pieces here and there again without that mommy fear of them getting ripped off, broken or chewed on..lol. polkadaisy's jewelry does not disappoint either! i adore my new set!
i love that they have my precious girls names on them and also their birthstones. how pretty is that? one of my favorite parts of this necklace is that i know michelle made it herself. it's not from a factory - it's made with love. i also love, love, love the chain! the fact that it isn't super dainty and fragile is a big plus in my book! it's not heavy but i'm not scared it will break after a gentle tug from my kidlets because they love it as much as i do. they get so happy seeing their names on mommas necklace and are constantly looking at it when i'm wearing it which is ALWAYS..lol.
i love the story behind michelle's business as well. so touching. click here to read all about how she got started and her emotional journey. each piece of handcrafted jewelry is designed & created with a personal touch.
- one lucky winner will receive their very own Katie necklace (shown above) that they can personalize with whatever shapes/birthstone they would like!!! awesome prize!!!! thanks michelle!
- Sterling silver tags
- Swarovski birthstone rivets
- An 18 inch sterling silver chain
- simply enter your info in our google doc form (link shown below) along with what your favorite piece of jewelry is from polkadaisy. when you enter your info you are designated a number by google doc based on when you enter. this will be the number i use to correlate to your name when the winner is chosen. make sense? if you have any questions just ask me below in the comments. click below to enter the giveaway:
- giveaway is open until june 11th, 2012 midnight, pacific standard time.
- you must enter a valid email into the entry form or you will be disqualified.
moments in the mommyhood - sewing blooms
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| mackenzie's two cups she's growing grass and other wonderous things in |
here's a shot of about 1/4 of the stack that i madly sewed up on friday night. yep...i rock out on friday's...lol. the hubs was at work, the kidlets went to bed early and i got to fit in some exercise, knitting and some serious sewing. i went full force on my quilt. i'm almost done all my blocks...yee haw and it's queen size so i'm happy with my progress so far. i just have to trim up a giant mountain of them and then i get to plan where they go (the hardest part for me). i'll show you a bit more later this week :). but back to colors...don't these look just like my balcony..minus the grey of course?
purdy right? i'm still on the hunt for just the right outdoor fabric to redo our pillows and bench seat out there and then hopefully i can give you all a good looksie :) it's been harder than i thought to find the right color at an affordable price for our budget. yum! speaking of budget...don't you all love saving money having to buy herbs and veggies from the market during the summer just look at our tomatoes growing away...they usually get as tall as our railing each year and we love growing them. our cilantro is another standby that seems super happy this spring.
i also got pretty much finished a new dress for mackenzie that i made as part of a blog tour this month for a lovely friend of mine! you'll have to stay tuned to find out and see more :)
all in all it was a very productive and creative weekend for me. jer took the kids all day saturday and i worked like a woman on a mission. i'm just about ready to release my new knitting pattern and it's killing me to not do it asap! i'm so excited about it. i also have the sweetheart dress pattern 90% ready to start pattern testing so look for announcements on that on facebook hopefully this week! all i can say is having a clean and organized work space is life changing folks. it seriously has lifted a huge amount of stress off of me and i feel so creative and a lot happier. it was worth the scrounging of every penny it cost. i hope to get pics up to show you all soon.
i was also able to spend so much more time sewing during the week that i actually got to read a book!!! yes...a non-sewing/knitting book!!! i felt like i could actually unplug and just curl up with a book and i did just that. it was glorious & guilt free!!! so thank you ikea! maybe what they say in their commercials is true??? lol.
how was your weekend? have you gotten to indulge in anything lately that you haven't had time for in ages? are you working on re-organizing your creative space? i'd love to hear all about it!