SEWING || STYLO MAGAZINE RELEASE!!!

That's my daughter above!!!! EEEEK!!!!

I RECENTLY GOT TO WORK ON A VERY FUN PROJECT FOR THE PREMIER ISSUE OF AN AWESOME NEW E-MAG CALLED STYLO!!!

Myself and a few other bloggers were given a print from the yummy new line called Glitz by Michael Miller Fabrics and asked to sew whatever we'd like from it. To say I had fun with this challenge is an understatement - I LOOOOVED it. As many of you know I used to be hairdresser before I had my girls. I get really excited about photo shoots/styling and when you combine that with a modern kids sewing magazine I was just plain giddy!

I knew as soon as I got the fabric in the mail that I wanted to let it do all the talking! And since it was for a magazine I knew I could have some fun with the outfit and styling. We went with an ankle length high waisted skirt (self drafted) and a knit cropped top (self drafted) paired with a simple necklace from H&M. I had some fun with my daughters hair and we opted for a sort of feminine faux hawk of sorts. We put on Roar by Katy Perry and had such a blast doing our photo shoot.  I knew I could have sewn one of my own patterns but I really just wanted to let loose and sew something strictly for sheer fun! It was so freeing and I can truly say my daughter had a say in every step of the way. She had input in the whole process and it was a great experience to work with her for STYLO!

You can see our little spread on pages 110-112 in STYLO. I highly recommend checking out the whole issue. It's filled with so many wonderful and talented people! Lots of gorgeous pics, sewing, tutorials, articles, free downloads and more! Tons of friends and their gorgeous kiddos too! So excited! I'm just thrilled that I got to be in it. I'm so proud of Celina (petit a petit and family) and Jess (The Sewing Rabbit) for putting STYLO together and bringing it to the sewing community! I cannot wait to see what's coming next!

// STYLO //

"...is the first fashion forward eMagazine centered around children’s sewing patterns and style. Our focus is on modern patterns, trends, fabrics, and clothes that your kids will love.

We have hand selected an amazing team of contributing editors to help make STYLO a smashing success, bringing their artistic visions to life in beautiful photographic spreads.  Showcasing some of our favorite sewing patterns from all around the world, indie designers to the Top 5, all in a fabulous editorial setting. As well as trend reports, interviews, tutorials, and more."

Make sure you pop over to STYLO today and check it out! Happy sewing!!!!!

DIY || AIR PLANTS & SUCCULENTS DIY ROUNDUP

I LOVE AIR PLANTS.

For christmas this year Jane gave me a terrarium she made. I seriously was so freakin' excited to get these wee succulents in the most adorable glass shaped heart. I don't want them to die (i have a habit of killing houseplants), I like to spend time picking their dried bits off and cooing at them. That's normal right? I like that when I look at them all cozied up in their new home that it makes me smile. It was something I've always wanted but have never had time to actually make for myself.

This led me to my new found love of the Air Plant or what's known as the Tillandsia. They are the coolest plant I have ever heard of. You may have seen these amazing beauties all over pinterest because they are...well...just plain cool. They don't need dirt, soil or anything. You don't plant them. Can you believe that? They live off air! They get all the nutrients they need from the light and from you giving them a bath now and then. And you can pretty much put them in anything you feel like for display? Upside down, egg shells, vases, pods, driftwood, tea cups....etc. So neat right?! The kids are so into it and I have to say I haven't been this excited about plant life since I grew my first set of veggies (we still love that too).

So when I, of course, turned to trusty ol' pinterest to find out the ins and outs of air plants and succulents I got lost in the beauty of all the DIY projects and modern aesthetic of the air plant. I became even more infatuated with them. Then my friend got some and that was it. I was done. I whipped out to the garden store the next day and painstakingly chose 3 new babies to bring home. I'm going to name them (don't judge me..lol). I gave them a lovely and luxurious bath when they got home and now they are happily awaiting their new home. I can't wait to make it for them!

So since I spent wayyyy too many hours perusing all the cool air plant and succulent DIY's I thought to myself "I can't keep all this good stuff to myself! I must create a pinboard and a roundup". Yep, that's the brain of a blogger. Never hoard the good stuff to yourself. It's way more fun to get you all in love with air plants too!!!! Then we can all name them and you can chat to me about them.

SO WHAT DO YOU SAY? WANT TO JOIN ME?
See below for some links to cool products, DIY's, holders, pods, macrame & more!

 // HIMMELI //

// Brass Prisms picture at top of post,  left and right from HRUSKAA //

- himmeli air plant holder diy from Smile and Wave.
- how to make himmeli via Martha Stewart.
- DIY modern himmeli.
- how to make your own brass himmeli on Swoon.
- DIY straw himmeli ornaments.

//  MACRAME //

// Hangers left and right from HRUSKAA //

- how to make your own macrame hanger
- easy hanging planter from refinery 29
- rope into potted hanger on elise blaha
- diy plant hanger

// PODS //

// egg plant hangers / pods / mini planters //

- make your own easy plant hanger with egg shells
- egg shell garden DIY 
- diy wall garden favors

// GLASSWARE //

// air plant globes / hanging mason jar planters //

- how to make air plant globes
- hanging mason jar planters
- DIY tinted glass beach terrarium on Henry Happened

// SUCCULENTS //

// clay pots / succulent garden / concrete planters //

- how to make clay pots
- easy succulent garden
- DIY concrete planters
- pvc pipe succulent planters
- modern upcycled planters DIY
- recycled can succulent planters
- succulent tea cup tutorial
- planting a simple cacti garden on A Beautiful Mess

// HOLDERS //

// hanging air plant containers / air plant wall hanger / hive planter / rustic reclaimed wood hanger //

- hanging air plant containers DIY from Design Sponge.
- air plant wall hanger from BHG.
- DIY contemporary indoor garden
- air plant hanger DIY
- DIY painted pots
- gold leaf DIY succulent pots
- tiny pinch pots from Classic Play

NOW COMES THE HARD PART....TRYING TO DECIDE HOW AND WHERE TO PUT MY NEW AIR PLANTS.

I hope you enjoyed the roundup and found some fun new ideas for your plants at home! Do  you have a favorite DIY for succulents and air plants? Any tips to share? Leave them in the comments below and I'll add them to the post in our Readers Faves section!

DIY eggshell planters from Le Robin's Nest

WANT SOME MORE AIR PLANT & SUCCULENT FUN?

Make sure to follow our Air Plant & Succulents Pinterest Board! I'll be pinning all the cool things I find for my new plants on there and you'll also find all the links from this post & more!!!

Happy planting & making!

GIVEAWAY || FAT QUARTER SHOP FABRIC GIVEAWAY!!

I've been on a sewing kick lately and have some new projects to show you on the blog soon! I've been having lots of fun and I thought what better way to have you join me than to giveaway some new fabric!!!!  

 Who doesn't love new fabric right? One of our awesome sponsors Fat Quarter Shop is hosting today's exciting giveaway!!!! One of you lucky readers is going to win a lovely gift certificate to get some yummy new fabric from them! Whether you're looking to make a new quilt or an outfit you can find tons of fabric at Fat Quarter Shop! They've also got patterns, tutorials and lots more fun things you can join in with on their blog as well!

One of my favorite things about Fat Quarter Shop is the way you can find fabric. I hate cutting and love buying precut bundles for my quilts. You can find all the specialty cuts bundled in all your favorite new fabric designs at Fat Quarter Shop. They also carry a wide range of solids as well. You can find fabrics sorted by designer, manufacturer, specialty cut and more! They also have great prices and good customer service! I buy from them regularly and have always had a good experience with shipping and I'm in Canada. Make sure you pop by and see all the new lovelies they just got in stock!

YOU READY TO WIN SOME NEW FABRIC?

\\ PRIZE \\
- one lucky winner will win a $50 Gift Certificate to the fabulous Fat Quarter Shop!!! Wahoo!!! Thank you Fat Quarter Shop!

\\ HOW TO ENTER \\
- simply leave me a comment letting me know what fabric line you would buy if you won!
- bonus entry: like Fat Quarter Shop and/or Very Shannon on facebook and then leave a separate comment on the blog here letting me know you did that too!

\\ RULES \\
- you must leave a valid email address with your comment or you will be disqualified.
- giveaway is open until Sunday, January 19th, midnight (PST).

You can find all things Fat Quarter Shop below:

WEBSITE || BLOG || FACEBOOK || TWITTER || PINTEREST

Good luck and a big thank you to Fat Quarter Shop for the generous and awesome prize! Happy fabric shopping!

KNITTING || STASH MAINTENANCE

I added to my stash. There. I admit it. I'm not ashamed. Ok, maybe I am a wee tad. 

I have enough yarn but sometimes a gal's gotta treat herself to some new lovelies just....well....just because. Our local LYS Beehive Wool Shop had a big boxing day sale on and I just couldn't pass on a good sale. There were too many new babies that wanted to come home with me. I am proud of myself though for not purchasing the gorgeous selection of Brooklyn Tweed they have in stock. It wasn't on sale so my weird though process meant that it wasn't ok to splurge on it but after seeing the new BT Winter 2014 Collection I'm glad I didn't buy any because now it means I can go in and get yarn for my favorite pattern from the collection. I'm all over that Channel Cardigan by Jared Flood. Dreamy! I need that on my body asap!

I also find it more fun to by yarn when you are with friends (ahem...enablers). I get a shopping high off of just watching them buy yarn. I love seeing us all go nuts over skeins and skeins of yummy yarn feeling content in the fact that I am not crazy and not the only one who can get THIS excited over yarn. We all spent a nice of chunk of time there and all came home with bags of new goodies. It was a lovely afternoon after all the xmas craziness. Yarn is good for the soul but what does that mean to our stash?



Well....I try to limit myself. I have one shelf that is just for yarn. Once it is full I'm cut off. On that shelf I have one level for yarn to just be stacked so I can see it. These are the ones I'm hoping to use in the near future and want to be inspired by. Then on 2 other levels I have 2 pretty turquoise baskets that I keep my WIP's in and other miscellaneous knitting goodies like my scale, sock blocker etc...and then on the bottom shelf I have 2 small plastic tubs. 1 tub is for all the leftover bits of yarn from projects that I want to keep (don't ask me why because I don't know yet. I just find it horribly hard to get rid of madelinetosh even if it's only a little poof of it left..haha) and the other tub is for skeins that I've had in my stash for longer that I haven't used yet. These I'm hoping to swap or maybe sell sometime so I can make room for more new stash. See how that works...lol.

I do try to remember though that I live in a condo. I don't have tons of room and my yarn is mostly in the open so I can't easily hide it from my eyes and well, I just start to get all fidgety if I have too much yarn staring at me all the time. I already don't have enough time in the day to get my work done never mind yarn making me feel guilty for not loving it enough ;) So this year I'm planning on trying to knit from the stash I now have (new babies included) and as I work through stash I can reward myself with new skeins (plus I have to save up for Vogue Knitting Live in March!!!!) Sounds like a doable plan and one I hope to stick too. Just don't ask me about my fabric....that is a whole other can of worms (hangs head in shame).

So in honor of the new year I'm going into phase "Stash Maintenance". Not a yarn diet, but maintenance. Anyone care to join me? C'mon now....you know you want to (ummm...need to). Don't make me do it alone...lmao. And after asking you so very nicely to suffer alongside me and not buy tons of new yarn till we use what we have I'm now going to show you my new lovelies....I know...twisted. But they are soooooo purdy. I had to show them all to you. It wouldn't be fair to hide them from the world in my dark bedroom.

// SWAN'S ISLAND

SWANS ISLAND 100% ORGANIC MERINO WOOL FROM THE NATURAL COLORS COLLECTION \\ COLORWAY SHALE

- Swan's Island has been on my to knit with list for ages now. I finally caved in and scooped on this gorgeous skein of 100% organic merino (light fingering) yarn in the most lovely grey/green color. It was one of my new year's resolutions to knit with this company's gorgeous yarns! I could not put this skein down and literally refused to leave the store without it. And let me tell you  - the swatch I'm working on now is sooooo delicious. Like dreamy soft and so pretty! I can't wait to knit with it!


// MADELINETOSH

MADELINETOSH DK \\ COLORWAY DR. ZHIVAGO'S SKY

- Uhhh..hello...I  never go into the beehive and leave without some Madelinetosh. It's like an addiction. I've been wanting to add this colorway into my stash for ages and am so glad I did. I'm obsessed with this color - Dr. Zhivago's Sky! It's so pretty!

// MADELINETOSH AND INDIGO DRAGONFLY

MADELINETOSH VINTAGE (LIGHT TURQUOISE) \\ COLORWAY BUTTON JAR BLUE & INDIGO DRAGONFLY SUPERWASH WORSTED \\ COLORWAY MY OTHER ORCA IS AN OTTER

-- These lovelies were gifted to me for my stash! Lucky me! The light turquoise which is Madelinetosh Vintage was a gift from my dear friend Hannah of Ummashin and the other 2 skeins from Indigo Dragonfly were from my parents :) Both are gorgeous and I'm happy to give them a new home.

// PATONS CLASSIC WOOL WORSTED

PATONS CLASSIC WOOL WORSTED \\ COLORWAY NATURAL

- remember my French Press Felted Slippers I showed on the blog on Monday? These skeins of Patons Classic Wool Worsted yarn are going to be a pair for a gift this month :)

// PATONS CLASSIC WOOL ROVING

PATONS CLASSIC WOOL ROVING \\ COLORWAYS (LEFT) DARK GREY & (RIGHT) CHERRY

- These 2 skeins of Patons Classic Wool Roving are going to be KEATON hats for the hubs and for my oldest. They were both requested at xmas time.

Here's some other helpful posts we've done in regards to stash and WIP's to stay organized! 

KEEPING THE STASH ORGANIZED

:: YARN STASH BALL BANDS PRINTABLE
:: TOP 5 TIPS FOR CONQUERING YOUR WIP'S

Now it's your turn to spill the beans! What have you added to your stash lately? What yarns are you dying to get your hands on this year? Any tips for stash maintenance? Will you join me? 

P.S. You can get a sneaky peeky at my stash here on my instagram.

HAPPY 2014 & GIVEAWAY WINNERS!

Happy 2014 my friends!!!

I've missed you all! My lovely 2 week holiday is sadly over. I admit it's been a much needed and fun break but I have missed you guys. I hope you all had a lovely and wonderful holiday season and that so far 2014 has been good to you!

I promised you all before the holidays started that I would finally get around to announcing the winners of the last 2 of our giveaways!!! So to start off the new year let's give away some prizes!! Yay!

\\ VERY SHANNON PATTERN COLLECTION GIVEAWAY \\

Here are the winners of our Very Shannon Pattern Collection Giveaway! 3 lucky winners won my entire pattern library!!! Both sewing & knitting patterns!

| WINNER 1|  Sowing Stitches  | WINNER 2 |  Tanya  | WINNER 3 |  Karina

\\ HANDMADE WINTER eBOOK GIVEAWAY \\
Last month the new eBook from the Creative Mamas Collaboration released our first eBook entitled Handmade Winter: A Season to Gather, Make & Share! You can read all about the book here.

| WINNER |  Trishknits

Congratulations!!! I will be in touch with all of the winners in the next few days with your prizes!!

How was your holidays? Did you have a good holiday season? Did you make or start any new projects? Let's chat...I can't wait to hear how you have all been! 

PATTERNS || 2013 IN REVIEW & A SALE!

KEATON HAT PATTERN (SIZES BABY - ADULT L) || BUY NOW

Merry Christmas my friends! I hope you are all having a wonderful and special holiday season. 

I'm not officially back at work till January 6th but couldn't resist popping in with those infamous year in review roundups. It was fun to sit back and look at the blog over the last year. I put together a wee roundup of all the patterns I released this year - both free & paid! For both sewing & knitting! I couldn't have done it without all of your loyal support so thank you so much!

<<<---------------------------HATS------------------------------>>>

The Keaton Hat shown in child size. This pattern is available in sizes baby through to adult large.

The Swift Hat is great introductory knit into lace patterns! Fun and easy to memorize! Swift is part of the book JOURNEY but is also available as an individual pattern now as well.

The Hannah Hat is made from super chunky yarn and is quick and fast to knit up!

Dreiecke was inspired by my love of HST's while quilting. This pattern is full of texture and is a fun knit!

The Yarnster Hat was named after my friend Arika. It's free, quick and an easy knit!

<<<-----------------------ACCESSORIES----------------------->>>

The Barbara Cowl was designed for Sweet Georgia Yarns and named after my mom. It's so full of squish and comfort and knits up like a dream! It's also a freebie!

Inspired by Angela Lansbury and Murder, She Wrote the Lansbury Cowl is full of fun twists and turns and is that perfect year round cowl.

Onward is one of my fave pieces of the year. A shawl full of textural & directional stitches it's surprisingly easy to memorize and makes a great 1st shawl pattern. It's also from the book JOURNEY and is available now as an individual PDF pattern as well.

Camille is cozy and unique cowl featuring a twist - it's own hood!

The Emelia Scarf tutorial makes a great gift, first time sewing project and you get to draw your very own textiles if you'd like!

Jeni's Reversible Apron tutorial is made only from fat quarters! It makes a cute stash project and is an easy sew!

Cate's Cowl tutorial was one of my faves this year! Sewn using your fave knit fabric this cowl is not your typical infinity cowl - it features ruching on each end that's adjustable using ribbon ties! Love it!

<<<-------------------------GARMENTS------------------------->>>

I can't forget the Sally Dress! This vintage modern dress pattern that features a fully lined bodice, no closures, large pockets and sleeve options was a dream come true to release!

Antrorse is my baby. My first knit garment design and also from the book JOURNEY. This pullover is such a pleasure to knit and also works up quickly. With a slimming silhouette and fun neck/pattern detail this is sure to be a staple in your wardrobe. It's now available as as an individual PDF pattern as well.

Inspired by Ferris Beuller's Day Off the Sloane Jacket tutorial is also available.  Wish I could have worn this as a kid.

<<<-----------------------------HOME-------------------------->>>

Last but not least the Embrace Baby Quilt tutorial! I adore this baby quilt that is made from those larger leftover pieces of your stash. It's a great first time quilt to have some fun with your quilting and practice some easy piecing.

Such a fun year! And to say thank you to all of you for all of your support and to ring in the new year please enjoy a special SALE!!!! 

Use code "newyear" to save 15% off my entire pattern collection!!!! Woot Woot!!!! You can find all my patterns here in my shop - Very Shannon. Coupon code valid through till January 2nd, midnight, PST.

*Coupon code is valid in my etsy shop, ravelry shop and my website. 

Happy new year's and here's to another year filled with creativity and making! See you in the new year!!!! May it be even more fun thank 2013! xoxo

WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!

Wishing you all a wonderful and lovely happy holiday season!

I'm so excited for this Christmas! I'm looking forward to spending some much needed time with my hubby and kiddos and family & friends! I hope your holiday season is filled with love, laughter and lots of handmade goodness!

I'll be taking a break (yay!) from now until Jan. 6th. It's the longest holiday time my hubby and I have had off together in years so we are very excited! I'll miss you guys but I'll be popping in here and there on social media so you can follow me along on there - especially instagram.

Much love to you all for being the most awesome readers ever! Thank you for everything this year and for all your continued support and love. You guys are the best and you mean so much to me!

Merry Christmas and see you all in 2014!!!! xoxoxoxoxo

P.s. I'll be announcing our Handmade Winter Winner & Very Shannon Pattern Giveaway Winners when I'm back! Thanks for your patience!

READING || SEW CLASSIC CLOTHES FOR GIRLS BOOK REVIEW

I'm so excited for today's book review of Sew Classic Clothes for Girls!
I am so gosh darn proud of the author of this gorgeous book - Lindsay Wilkes (from the blog The Cottage Mama)! She's a dear and special friend of mine and I'm beyond thrilled with all of her successes over the past few years. She's hardworking, loving, kind and a genuinely lovely and special woman. She deserves so much success and I'm just over the moon with her new book!!!!


Lindsay and I first started chatting years ago when she first started blogging and I've been a loyal and dedicated fan of her style and aesthetic ever since! She's got a special flair for fabric combinations, notions, design, and a style that has such a strong voice! She's also great at teaching and explaining techniques and how to's. So when Lindsay told me the news about her book Sew Classic Clothes for Girls: 20 Girls Dresses, Outfits and Accessories from the Cottage Mama I just knew it was going to be awesome! Now we all get to share in her wisdom and tricks & techniques!


Lindsay's patterns are just like the book says - classic. They are timeless styles that any little girl would be happy to have in their closet and any momma would be lucky to sew. The patterns in Sew Classic Clothes for Girls result in professional and clean finished garments - the kind I love! I love a gal who pays attention to finishing and the little details. Makes me happy.


The book is laid out so nicely as well. Let me walk you through it:

GETTING STARTED
Fabric Selection \\ Pairing Patterned Fabrics \\ Trims & Embellishments \\ Patterns & Size Selections \\ Tools of the Trade \\ Techniques
This section is always my favorite part in sewing books! I learn something new from everyone and Lindsay did a fabulous job teaching me a few new tricks! She covers some wonderful techniques and does it well! 

SMOCKS & FROCKS
Patterns for a top, frock, smock, a dress and a skirt.

YOU BET YOUR BRITCHES
Patterns for multiple capris & shorts and knickers!

BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE
2 Adorable coat patterns!

A IS FOR A-LINE
3 patterns for a-line dresses & 1 top.

SUGAR, SPICE & EVERYTHING NICE
Patterns for 3 gorgeous dresses.

THE FINISHING TOUCH
Learn how to embellish a bib shirt, make a fabric covered headband, embellish a ruffle shirt & make a vintage style hair accessory!

This patterns in the book are accompanied by clear and colored photographs as well as well written instructions. I've made Lindsay's patterns before and her fit and instructions are always spot on.  She also gives you little hints and options for each pattern called "make it just sew". I really enjoyed these little boxes of info.

I highly recommend this book to any sewer looking to add to their collection some wonderful, lovely, classic and timeless patterns. The patterns in this book are so versatile and easy to customize to your taste and fabric choices. I'm so happy to have one on my shelf :) I can't wait to sew from it! First I have to get the girls to stop fighting over it! They love looking at it and trying to choose their favorites!

Thank you so much for having me along on your tour Lindsay. I adore you and from the bottom of my heart I am so proud and happy for you girl! It's been such a gift to be your friend and to be able to watch your dreams come true!! Love ya lots! xoxoxox

You can find Sew Classic Clothes for Girls here on amazon. It's also for sale directly on Lindsay's site here. You can find all things Lindsay and the Cottage Mama below:

WEBSITE \\ BLOG \\  SHOP \\ FACEBOOK \\ PINTEREST \\ TWITTER \\ INSTAGRAM

MAKING || MODERN HOLIDAY DIY ROUNDUPS!

fernliving christmas tree blanket

CHRISTMAS IS MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY OF THE YEAR.

I love being able to feel like a little kid and let all that special excitement fill our home! I feed off the kids joy and I just go for it! The first few years my hubby and I had xmas together we didn't have a lot of money for decorations and I made 90% of our ornaments (thank you martha stewart). Well not all of them have survived the last 6 years or so but some have and I treasure them. So this year I vowed to make a few new ones for our tree and do some annual Christmas crafting & decor for our home.

Life has been crazy busy over here and I got knocked over by a nasty flu bug. I like quick and fulfilling unless it's truly worth it :) So instead of doing 3-4 roundups like I usually do each year this time I decided to put them in one AWESOME roundup of what are my 5 fave choices for the year to possibly make in our home. Not everything will get done, heck I might not even get one done (I'm not a machine...lol) but I love making a good roundup for me to go back to for inspiration and more in one easy place.

<<<---------------------DIY WREATHS--------------------->>>

geometric wreath tutorial \\ marshmallow wreath \\ snowflake wreath \\ duct tape wreath \\ pom pom wreath

First let's start off with one of my favorites - the wreath! Who doesn't love a wreath right? 
Such a statement piece that can so easily reflect your whole Christmas style in one piece! I have tried a few different wreaths but fell head over heels for this one which remains up on our wall all year round. So this year I thought I may add to our arsenal of wreaths. It's about time I think. Above are my faves for this year.

<<<-------------------DIY SNOWFLAKES------------------->>>

paper snowflakes \\ star wars snowflakes \\ printable snowflakes \\ coffee filter snowflakes \\ fuse bead snowflakes

Next the snowflakes. We have a big crush on snowflakes in our house.
Each year since the girls have been babies we make a boat load of snowflakes and adorn the apartment with them. So fun! This year we decided to look into doing some "fancy" snowflakes instead of our usual winging it ones (though those are equally as fun). Above are some of my faves for the year:

<<<-------------------DIY HOLIDAY DECOR------------------>>>

wall art diy \\ honeycomb chandelier \\ honeycomb tree \\ paper party ball \\ ornament balloons

And ohhhh...the home decor! Lovely little jewels of diy to adorn your home with!
I have a thing for pine cones. I spread them all over the house year round. I think my hubs thinks I'm nuts but I still do it..lol. This year I thought to myself though "branch out a bit Shannon, try something new"...so I'm going to give it a shot. Above are some of my faves for the year.

<<<--------------------DIY ORNAMENTS-------------------->>>

diamond ornament \\ let it snow \\ felt ornaments \\ himmeli ornament \\ felt tree ornaments

Now - the ornaments. We can't leave out the ornaments! These can be the most fun to make!
Those first few years I made only my own ornaments were sure fun! I bought rolls of some awesome silver shiny wrapping paper and saved up for a month all of our used cardboard and set out to cut out ornament shapes from templates and then the same sizes from the wrapping paper. I painstakingly glued them to each piece of cardboard. Then for some special ones I would print out pics of us and the girls and glue them to the wrapping paper. Hole punch and hang with spare thread. Voila! Well last year I was too darn tired to make them. So store bought ornaments finally made their way to our house and we loved them too! So this year I'm going for a happy mix! A few handmade each year to add to our collection. I don't need to go nuts and do the whole tree if I just can't swing it. I think that's the trick with xmas - don't add too much too your plate. Just do what makes you happy. If it's stressful - skip it. It is afterall a happy time of year :) Above are some of my faves for the year.

<<<---------------CHRISTMAS TREE SKIRTS----------------->>>

bright & colorful \\ very bari tree skirt \\ chevron tree skirt \\ snowflake tree skirt \\ pom pom skirt

And last but not least the tree skirts - we can't forget those! Who wants a nude tree! Not me!
I admit for about 5 years I used an old white receiving blanket/sheet for a tree skirt...hangs head in shame and finally whipped one up last year. I loved it then and love it still. I waited all that time until I had the skills to make one I would really love. Above are some of our favorites for the year (ours included).

Want to keep track of all the other lovelies I will add during December? Follow my "Holiday Love" Pinterest Board to keep track of all the fun things I love during the holiday seasons!

HOLIDAY LOVE PINTEREST BOARD

What are your fave diy's of the year? What did you make for the holidays? Any fun ones you'd like to link up to or share? Happy making!!!

CRUSHES || RAPTURE BY PAT BRAVO

I don't know about you but I've been feeling pretty cold lately. 

Winter is definitely here but that doesn't mean our fabric choices have to reflect the grey weather! I finally got my hands on the lovely Pat Bravo's new line for Art Gallery Fabrics - Rapture, and boy do I need myself a pina colada! This cheerful, colorful and yet soothing palette of prints just hit the spot for me during the endless days of rainy gloom we've been having. I swear I can feel the Miami breeze blowing! I love that Pat's prints always make me feel happy and that I can escape merrily into my imagination and create with them! They make me feel so creative and inspired! If you pop by AGF to check out Rapture make sure you don't miss the free Blissful Quilt Pattern Pat released as well. So pretty!

I was so excited when I saw my Patricia Cowl (named after Pat) in the Rapture Look Book shown above (you can also see it in the pics below)! Doesn't it look so awesome! The Patricia Cowl is a free tutorial I did for Art Gallery Fabrics this year and you can find it here. It is seriously one of my favorite go-to gifts to sew.

Img Src - Art Gallery Fabrics

Want to see some of the prints close up?


 You can find all things Rapture and Pat Bravo below:

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I'm gearing up for a lovely and long winter break this year and can't wait to get sewing with this pretty bundle! This is the first year in a very long time (and I mean like years time) that the hubs has had 14 days home in a row with us! We are so very excited! So after this week I won't be popping up in this space until January 6th. 2 week vacay for me! I can't wait!!! Wahoo!

I plan on filling it with family, fun, fabric, yarn, sleep, coffee, yummies, friends and more! But don't worry - there is still this week! Make sure to pop by our facebook page today for a fun surprise and also for an awesome book review, giveaway winners and more this week on the blog!

And did you notice anything new around here? That's right!!! We got a new look!!! I've been working madly away in the background updating and revamping the blog! You may have noticed that the "luvinthemommyhood" banner is gone. I'll chat more about that and what to expect for 2014 this week on the blog. I can't wait to share it all with you guys! I hope you like the new look as much as I do! I'm loving it!

But wait, before you go, tell me which which print you love from Rapture! Are you loving this line as much as I do? What would you make with Rapture?

PATTERN || THE KEATON HAT (CHILD VERSION)

Yesterday I released my new hat pattern KEATON and couldn't resist showing some pics of my little one wearing her KEATON hat! My heart just melts. There is something so adorable about a kid in a chunky slouch hat! Adorable!!!!

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KEATON PDF Knitting Pattern

Add to cart

KEATON is available in 6 sizes - baby, toddler, child/teen, adult s, adult m & adult l! Wahoo! You can make one for every one in your family & all your friends too!

Tons of colors, stripe 'em, color block 'em, add a pom pom or make one without - doesn't matter - they are all fun! Plus this is an awesome beginner pattern and so quick to make it's ideal for gift knitting!

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This is the first hat my husband and both kids have ever asked me for. It's a Christmas miracle! Now if you are a knitter you will understand how much this means. I was so excited that I have at least 2-3 more KEATON's ready to go over holiday break! I think I may need to get a family portrait with us all wearing them...that would be so dorky but also hilariously cool...lmao.

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THE KEATON HAT PATTERN FEATURES:

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:: clear and easy to understand instructions

:: bright & colorful photography

:: 6 sizes - Baby, Toddler, Child/Teen, Adult S, Adult M & Adult L

:: 2 page color PDF pattern

:: a great knitting experience

KEATON is available to purchase at the following:

1. RAVELRY 

2.  ETSY 

3. VERY SHANNON

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KEATON PDF Knitting Pattern

Add to cart

I'm dying to see some of your kidlet KEATON's pop up! Make sure you share pics when you are done making yours!!!!

What yarn would you make your KEATON in? Color? For who? Let's chat knitting! It's Friday!!! Wishing you all a wonderful, fun, hug, snuggles, laughs - filled kind of weekend topped off with coffee, tea and lots of making :)

NEW PATTERN || KEATON HAT PATTERN!!

I've found my new favorite hat. You know the one that you want to make in 10 colors and actually find yourself hoping the weather stays cold so you can wear all the time? That's the one.

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The KEATON hat is here! And guess what - this bulky weight ribbed hat comes in sizes Baby, Toddler, Child/Teen, Adult S, Adult M & Adult L!!! Wahoo! Now you can make one for all your friends and family and just in time for xmas cause this hat is quick, fast and super easy! Takes 120yds or less (including pom pom) and knits up with so much squish I have it on word that one of my testers even slept in hers!!! 

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I've been thinking for a while now that my Mallory Cowl needed a hat to go with it. I have so many sewers wanting to learn how to knit and other new knitters needing a great easy hat to make that I just knew KEATON would be a great go to pattern for them.

The pattern is written in an easy format, with technique options, a great cast on to learn, links to helpful videos and more! I mean really....who doesn't love a pom pom right? And a pom pom on a slouch hat is a win win in my book. I suck at making pom pom's but I still love 'em. 

I really want new knitters to feel brave and embrace learning new techniques. Don't be scared - just jump in! That's how we all learn and I'm still learning too! It's fun, I promise and I'll be there cheering you on! Plus if you are a more experienced knitter this is a great hat to whip up for kicks and style. You can easily make it more/less slouchy, mix up colors, stripe it...and more! 

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I used Quince and Co.'s Puffin (shown in Clay) for the one without the pom pom (adult sized) (you all know how much I adore Quince and Co!) and the others were both in Patons Classic Wool Roving (shown in Taupe and Plum) which has the exact same gauge for me! Wahoo! You seriously can't go wrong with either of these yarns! Both are great bulky, super soft and squishy yarns! But don't worry, KEATON looks great on other types of bulky too! My testers tried a variety of bulky yarns and they all looked just as good!

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THE KEATON PATTERN FEATURES THE FOLLOWING:

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:: clear and easy to understand instructions

:: bright & colorful photography

:: 6 sizes - Baby, Toddler, Child/Teen, Adult S, Adult M & Adult L

:: 2 page color PDF pattern

:: a great knitting experience

KEATON is available to purchase at the following:

1. RAVELRY 

2.  ETSY 

3. VERY SHANNON

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But wait...aren't my models just so darn purdy? I owe them so bad. It was freeeeeeeeezing cold when we did our photo shoot and Carly of the blog "Style Snapshot" and Kate of "Victoria's Wardrobe" so kindly agreed to come out and brave the weather for me. These 2 stylish gals are friends and fashion bloggers in the city I live. I loooovvve the KEATON on them. I asked them to wear what they would wear with the hat and I love how the overall look turned out! So fun! Plus I have to admit I want to steal Carly's boots and Kate's jacket....heck I want both their outfits. I owe ya one ladies - you're both stunning! Be sure to check out both of their blogs for upcoming posts on what they wore with the hats.

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Want to see the smaller version? You can see pics of the child version here. You can also see more pics on www.veryshannon.com. I've already gotten a request from the girls for 2 more and 1 for the hubby and another for me. I see lots and lots of ribbing in my future. Good thing they are fast to make :)

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Keaton PDF Knitting Pattern

$5.00

Add to cart

I hope you enjoy the pattern and I cannot wait to see some KEATON's pop up! If you make one please share your pics with  me! I would love to see them! Happy knitting and thank you for all of your support! xoxoxo

GIVEAWAY || VERY SHANNON THANK YOU PATTERN GIVEAWAY!

I am so grateful to each and every one of you. Thank you for reading and for being the best readers ever!

As promised when we reached 6,000 facebook likes I would host a giveaway for you all! So here it is! I'm keeping it short and sweet and easy to enter! I've been busy working in the background on a new look for the blog that's coming very soon and also a new pattern is coming out this week - yay!!!!! Can't wait to show you all!

|| THE PRIZE ||
Three (wahoo!) lucky winners will win my entire pattern collection (includes both sewing & knitting)! You can see all my patterns here on my website www.veryshannon.com

|| HOW TO ENTER ||
- simply leave me a comment below letting me know which of my patterns is your fave.
- bonus entry: follow me on facebook , twitter, and/or sign up for our free newsletter and then leave me another comment letting me know you did so.

|| THE RULES ||
- A valid email must left in each comment or you will be disqualified. Giveaway is open until Monday, December 16th, 2013, midnight, PST.

thank you decal || anchor decal co.

Good luck and thank you again from the bottom of my heart for reading. It means more than I can type here. I heart you guys.

MAKING || HANDMADE WINTER eBOOK RELEASE & GIVEAWAY!!!!

EBOOK ||  BUY NOW

I'm so excited to tell you all about Handmade Winter - a very special project that I was so lucky to be involved in!

Handmade Winter: A Season to Gather, Make & Share eBook by the Creative Mamas Collaboration is here! I've been drooling over my copy ever since I got to see it! Such an amazing and wonderful collaboration of talented ladies and I feel so honored to be included! This gorgeous eBook just shines with the love and passion for home, family, handmade and inspiration. Every page just begs you to turn to the next one. The cover alone makes me want to curl up on the couch with my fave quilt with the fireplace on and a cup of tea in hand, to sit and reflect and read this special eBook.

The talented women who worked to bring Handmade Winter to all of you are some of the most inspiring, loving and generous women I've had the pleasure of meeting and working with. It was so fun to see what everyone brought to the table and what ideas sparked from all of our conversations. The end result was above and beyond what I could have imagined and I'm just blown away by the sheer awesomeness of these gals! The words gather, make & share truly resonate with all of us creative mamas on a daily basis and we're so excited to share this book filled with recipes, crafts, sewing, jewelry, essays, poetry and more with all of you!!!!

Would you like to see more of the inside of Handmade Winter? Yay! Keep reading to see some sneak peeks of the eBook below!

The eBook is easily broken down into 3 sections.

Under Gather you can find...

DRINK 
This was one of my favorite sections of the book! I seriously am trying every one of these bevvies! Each one is more delicious than the last! I think I squealed with delight when I saw these. I'm always on the lookout for a new "adult" bevvie during the holidays.
EAT
From soup, salad, veggies, chicken & more you cannot go wrong with any of these recipes!
SAVOR
Cookies, masala chai, and did I say cookies? LOL! This section is just delish!
HOST
Learn how to host a favorite things party as well as a winter cookie exchange.

 

Then we come to MAKE...

There are so many fun crafts and goodies to make. Walnut fairies, leather jewelry, chalkboard blocks whimsical winter decorations and more!

And under SHARE...

You've got my super fun quilted coasters (4 different patterns), cushions, felted tablet cover, child's maxi skirt...and the list goes on!

That's not it though! In between the projects and recipes there is gorgeous photography, essays, and poetry. It truly is a gorgeous eBook.

HOW MUCH IS IT & WHAT'S INSIDE?
For just $15.00 you can get the Handmade Winter eBook filled with 50+ patterns, tutorials, recipes, crafts and more!!! So much good stuff to keep you making all through the winter season. To see the entire Handmade Winter Table of Contents for all projects included, click here. 

WHO ARE THE CONTRIBUTORS?
21 talented and creative women came together to form Handmade Winter (including myself)...

The Sewing Rabbit || MollyMoo || Simple as That || Things for Boys || Curly Birds || Little Stories || Buzzmills || Sew Jereli || Maker Mama || Crafting Connections || My Life at Playtime || A Golden Afternoon || Rajovilla || Craftstorming || Small + Friendly || Living on Love || Classic Play || Salsa Pie || Hideous! Dreadful! Stinky! || The Southern Institute

|| HOW TO ENTER ||
Simply leave me a comment letting me know what your favorite thing to make/bake/cook during the winter season.

|| RULES ||
You must leave a valid email address in your comment or you will be disqualified. Giveaway is open until Sunday, December 15th, 2013, midnight PST.

I hope you all enjoy a Handmade Winter as much as we did putting it together. It's such a special collaboration and I'm so excited for you all to see it!!! Find out more details and purchase your own copy of Handmade Winter here for just $15! Enjoy!!!

You can always keep track and join in with us and the other creative mamas on social media using hashtag #creativemamas and #handmadewinter on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook & more!

JOURNEY BLOG TOUR || JANE & I ON THE SINGLEHANDED KNITS PODCAST!

Ok, I have been dying to tell you all about this all week! It's been killing me to keep it a secret!

Today is the last stop on the JOURNEY Blog Tour and we ending it with a bang! One of my favorite podcasts to listen to is the awesome Mel of Singlehanded Knits. I've since gotten to know Mel and she is such a sweet and lovely person - you can't help but love her podcast!

When Jane and I asked her to join in the tour she said yes but then excitedly asked US to join in on her podcast! Say what?! We of course said yes and now you get to see......

JANE AND I LIVE ON A PODCAST!!!!

That's right! I haven't watched it yet but I'm sure I made an ars of myself....lol...and Jane looks gorgeous like she always does...haha...sorry Jane. All in all though it was quite the experience and we had a grand ol'time filming it and we hope you enjoy it just as much watching it.

So for those of you who have always wanted to sit down and knit while watching Jane and I blabber on now's your chance! We'll be chatting about all things JOURNEY and some of the behind the scenes stuff too.

Mel did such a lovely job and I can't wait for you all to see and hear it! You can also enter to win on her blog for a "hard copy" of the book JOURNEY!!!! YAY!

So come on by, grab a cup of coffee, curl up and come chat with Jane, Melissa and I! I can't wait to see you!

Follow along with the whole tour at this link and find more information on JOURNEY here on www.marianraepublications.com! Thanks for reading everyone!  We hope you enjoyed the tour!!!!

JOURNEY BLOG TOUR || IN COLOR ORDER, A PLAYFUL DAY & MISO CRAFTY KNITS

You all ready for some more JOURNEY Blog Tour fun today? I am!!! I hope you've all been enjoying the tour so far!

First up today is Jeni from the blog In Color Order. I positively adore Jeni. I started reading her blog eons ago drooling over her massive collection and knowledge of pyrex and vintage lovelies! Since then she's become an amazing pattern and fabric designer! Drool worthy for sure. I've been so happy to have gotten to know her and I'm so thankful that she joined in today! I squealed with delight when I spotted her Swift hat this morning! I love it on her! Does my heart good! Make sure you go by In Color Order and visit and be inspired!

You can find all things In Color Order here.

Next we have one of the most fun knitters I know - Melissa of Miso Crafty Knits. I'm so lucky to live in the same city as Melissa and get to see her regularly! She's a dear and special friend. She's also got some CRAZY knitting skills and this girl could get you excited about ice if you lived in an igloo. I love hearing about what things she's currently loving because I know I'm about to find something new to obsess over too! It's fun. I love this girl to bits and if you haven't already been to her blog go pop by. You'll love it!

You can find all things Miso Crafty Knits here.

And last but definitely not least we are stopping at the home of the amazing podcast A Playful Day. I love to listen to knitting podcasts and have recently become addicted this year. When I'm out and about waiting on the kids or their classes I plug my earphones in my ipad, whip out my knitting and get lost in a podcast. It's like always having a knitting buddy to knit with. And this podcast doesn't dissapoint either. A Playful Day is doing a review and giveaway today but stay tuned for next week when she will review the book as well on her podcast.

You can find all things A Playful Day here.

A HUGE thank you to all the ladies above for joining in! I have loved reading each and every one of your posts today!!! Thank you so much!

Follow along with the whole tour at this link and find more information on JOURNEY here on www.marianraepublications.com! Thanks for reading everyone!  We've got more to come so stay tuned!

JOURNEY BLOG TOUR || NOODLEHEAD, HEY PORKCHOP & SKIRT AS TOP!

I'm sooooo excited for today's stops on the JOURNEY Blog Tour! 

The 3 ladies joining in today are some of my favorite bloggers! 2 of which primarily sew and are new to knitting. I love that they are part of the tour today and hope you will hop on over to all 3 of their blogs and give them a warm hello! I know you will love all 3 of them!

First up is one of my long time bloggy friends Anna of the blog Noodlehead. I adore Anna and I equally adore over everything she makes. Her patterns, blog and work are all amazing plus she is a genuinely kind and awesome friend! Pop by Noodlehead today to read her review (she's been knitting for almost a year) and check out the JOURNEY project she has in the works!

You can find all things Noodlehead here.

Next up is Amanda from Hey Porkchop. First off be warned, I drool and get lost in Amanda's site every time I visit it. The yarn shots, the handmade socks, the adorable embroidery - this girl is one of my fave blogs to kill an hour at :) She's one half of the awesome biz The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery - seriously cute cross stitch patterns!

You can find all things Hey Porkchop here.

And last, but not least, the lovely Kristin of Skirt as Top. I heart Kristin. A brand new knitter who's braving the world of knitting - I'm so proud of her! She's a die hard sewer and has some seriously mad skills so I'm so proud to see her finally jump into some knitting too. You all know how much I love to convert people...hehe. I just know in a few months she'll be knitting up a storm! Make sure you go on by and cheer her on.

You can find all things Skirt as Top here.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart ladies - so excited you all joined in!!!!

Follow along with the whole tour at this link and find more information on JOURNEY here on www.marianraepublications.com! Thanks for reading everyone!  We've got more to come so stay tuned!

JOURNEY BLOG TOUR || TANIS FIBER ARTS!

Are you ready for another stop on the JOURNEY Blog Tour? Yay! I am!

Next up is uber talented Tanis of Tanis Fiber Arts! You all know how much we LOVE her yarns!!! She's also a seriously amazing designer herself so make sure you drop by her site and check out the yarns (one of my top faves) and her patterns! You won't be disappointed!

You can also enter to win an eBook of JOURNEY on her blog today too! You can find all things Tanis Fiber Arts here:

WEBSITE ||  BLOG  ||  FACEBOOK  ||  TWITTER  ||  PINTEREST  ||  INSTAGRAM  ||  RAVELRY

 Thanks so much for joining in Tanis!!!! So thrilled you loved the book!

Follow along with the whole tour at this link and find more information on JOURNEY here on www.marianraepublications.com! Thanks for reading everyone!  We've got more to come so stay tuned!

BOOKS || SIMPLE SEWING BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY!!!

Don't you just love a good sewing book? One that you can't decide what to make first when you open it?

I do and today I'm so excited to be part of the Simple Sewing Blog Tour for Katie Lewis of the blog The Red Kitchen for her new book "Simple Sewing: 30 Fast and Easy Projects for Beginners". Now don't be swayed by the word beginner. Yes, the patterns aren't difficult, so yes, they are suited to beginners but you definitely do not need to be a beginner sewer to LOVE this book. The projects are quick, fun and such great sews. There are so many to choose from it honestly took me a good few weeks to decide. I won't deny I love that.

In the end I went with the pattern for the fabric basket. I have been procrastinating on making one for eons and thought to myself it's time. I'm going to give some of that clutter on my sewing desk a new purdy home. I love how it turned out and in fact, after making it, decided it may even get a home for a while on our coffee table :) I used some of the new line "Minimilista" from Art Gallery Fabrics. I combined Script Turquoise and Darts Turquoise and they make me so happy together. They look so great with the same color turquoise walls in my sewing area.

Want to see some more of Simple Sewing? Yay! I can't wait to show you! 

Simple Sewing is bright, cheerful and easy to follow. Featuring clear instructions, full color photographs, and a helpful beginning section on sewing supplies, fabric, stitches, and terms & techniques that will aid a new sewer to conquer any of the projects in this book. Simple Sewing is organized in the following fun chapters - Accessories, Home, Celebrations, Baby, School Days and Toys! Each chapter has 5 awesome patterns! I love that the book also represents Katie's style and aesthetic as well. It would make a great gift or addition to any sewers book collection.

You can purchase your own copy of Simple Sewing: 30 Fast and Easy Projects for Beginners by Katie Lewis at the following:

AMAZON  ||  BARNES & NOBLE  ||  BOOKS & THINGS

or 
ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF SIMPLE SEWING BELOW

HOW TO ENTER: Simply fill out the rafflecopter entry form below.

PRIZE: 1 winner will win a copy of Simple Sewing by Katie Lewis

RULES: Open to US Residents ONLY. Giveaway will end on Dec. 9th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for having me on the tour Katie!!! Congratulations on the new book!

Make sure you guys also stop by the fabulously talented April Rhodes blog to check out what she made!

JOURNEY BLOG TOUR || THE YARNIAD & TRULY MYRTLE

We're on day two of the JOURNEY Blog Tour! Yay!

So excited for today's stops! First up is one of my fave designers and friend Hilary of The Yarniad! She's one of the sweetest gals I know and I just adore her designs and work as well! So excited to have her on board with us today! Make sure you pop by her blog today and show her some luv! You can also enter to win an eBook of JOURNEY!

You can find all things The Yarniad on her website here.

We also have the wonderful Libby of the blog Truly Myrtle on the tour today! A regular member of the luvinthemommyhood Ravlery group and one of my fave knit bloggers she's sharing which patterns are her faves from JOURNEY today and also giving away a copy of the eBook! Libby is funny, sweet and so talented so make sure you visit her too!

You can find all things Truly Myrtle on her website here.

Thank you so much for joining in Hilary and Libby! You guys are awesome!

Follow along with the whole tour at this link and find more information on JOURNEY here on www.marianraepublications.com! Thanks for reading everyone!  We've got more to come so stay tuned!