Thursday, June 28, 2012

Ahhhhh.... Fabric


I love fabric. Pure and simple it makes my heart go pitter-patter. A couple of weeks ago I hit upon a particularly fabulous sale. Not only did I get shipping free, but I got an additional 30% off sale items. Yum. What's more it was fabrics that I absolutely adored! See that newsprint fabric below? I've been wanting a fabric like that for months. I know just what I'm going to make with it...

L to R:
Woodland Dots & Vines Yellow

Look at these fabrics below. Isn't the one in the middle with the corn and sunshine adorable. Love the gray, lime and lemon color combination on that fabric. It would be fabulous with the newsprint fabric above. The floral fabrics below are two fabrics from the same collection -- just different color combinations. If you look carefully there are different critters (squirrels and birdies) scurrying around the design...
 
L to R:
Garden of Delights Flora & Fauna White
Crabtastic Corn Maze Grey
Garden of Delights Flora & Fauna Taupe

Oooh la la! Take a look {below} at this adorable fabric with a Parisian flair! Corner cafes, the Eiffel Tower, and side streets punctuate this charming fabric. Paris at its best!

L to R:
Woodland Dots & Vines Yellow
 Woodland Dots & Vines Pink
 Woodland Dots & Vines Teal
J'Adore Stella Paris Map Blue

I love the designs on the Woodland Dots & Vines fabrics (blue fabric below, pink and mustard above). These fabrics are so versatile that they could be used in practically any project I could dream up. I should have gotten about 50 yards of each color. The little birdie and birdcage fabric below is from the same "Parisian" line as the road map fabric above -- so cute.

 L to R:
J'Adore Stella Birdcages White
Woodland Dots and Vines Teal


Monday, June 25, 2012

Matroyshka, Pattern Give Away & a Discount!


Everyone's a winner with this Give Away and Discount -- 
please read to the end of this post for all the information! 

Last week I introduced to you a Matroyshka plushie that I made from a pattern that was given me by "Whimsy Couture".
We've named her...
Natasha.


with instantly downloadable patterns. 
In addition they have  
where you can purchase patterns.

Today I'd like to acquaint you with another version of a plushie Matroyshka that I created! 
Meet Valentina...


For Valentina I used the basic Matroyshka pattern that was give me by Whimsy Couture, and I added a scarf and apron to make her mine. I love it when I can easily alter a pattern to change things up a little!


Now for the Give Away... 
Whimsy Couture is offering my readers a Three Pattern Give Away!
To enter, simply follow the instructions below...


This contest will run through Monday, July 2nd. On Wednesday, July 4th a winner will be announced! No anonymous comments please. We will need an email address or accessibility to a public blog in order to contact the winner.

But wait -- there's more!
Whimsy Couture is offering ALL my readers a 50% discount on all their patterns!


"Simply visit the Whimsy Couture Pattern Shop and type in TAKEOFF50 when you go to check out!
(The discount won't work in their Etsy Shop.)


If you've never appliqued fabric before, don't be intimidated by this project.
Simply go to my tutorial on "How to Applique on Fabric" for step-by-step instructions!


Good Luck to all!


Friday, June 22, 2012

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Matroyshka


Awhile ago I received an email from the PR Consultant for the online pattern store "Whimsy Couture." {They have an instant download pattern shop called "Whimsy Couture." In addition they have an Etsy Shop where their patterns are sold.} She was in the process of sending sample patterns to those who might be interested in reviewing and testing their patterns. It was an offer I couldn't refuse. Whimsy Couture has many patterns, but the one I chose was a little Matroyshka plush pattern that I felt certain one of my granddaughters would love! Here's my first Matroyshka plushie that was created from that cute pattern...


I used the basic PDF pattern that was delivered via email from Whimsy Couture, then I added a little scarf and apron to make her mine!


With a little poly-fil, she was almost ready for her new home...



To top her off, I added a crocheted flower that I'd had bought for just the right project a year ago. 
It found a home tucked into her hair...


Next week I'll be showing you another version of this cute pattern.  In addition I'll be hosting a Three Pattern Give-Away from Whimsy Couture AND everyone will be eligible for a discount coupon to use on any and all patterns in their store. That's my idea of a fabulous Give Away!


Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Bloomin' Tuesday...


I thought I'd give you a little update to the blog post I published last week for Bloomin' Tuesday, more particularly an update for the High Park fire in northern Colorado. It has become the most destructive fire in Colorado history. It is being blamed for the destruction of 189 homes, and it has consumed more than 58,800 acres. It's a monster. The weather, with its high temperatures and winds, has been a good part of the challenge in trying to keep it contained. Yesterday it was over 100 degrees and winds are expected to gust today, which fans the fire. Seventeen hundred firefighters, 17 helicopters and more fixed-wing aircraft are battling the blaze. I'm praying for rain.

As a result of this blaze our skies have been smoky which gives all my photos an eery, yellowish tint. You'll see that in the photos below. I've decided to concentrate on my daylilies today. Both of the varieties we have in our yard have emerged this week. "Forever Stellas" are my favorite lily. Their beautiful, bright, golden buttercup blossoms add a punch of color to any garden. We have a four-tier rock garden off our backyard patio, and these daylilies claim the third tier as their home. You can see them in the background of the first photo below. The first tier is filled with a beautiful birdie fountain and a gajillion impatiens. The second tier is a rock garden brimming with perennials and one of our resident bunnies. In the third tier my "Stellas" thrive...





The second variety is called "Renaissance." It has a spider-like blossom of dark crimson with a splash of yellow at the center that reaches into the petals. Sixteen of these lilies surround our flagstone patio with their dramatic blossoms. These lilies are shown below in the foreground of the picture.



Do you see the cherry tree in the background of this picture? Those cherries are going to be ready to pick in about a week, and it looks like we'll have some peaches in about a month!




Linked to:
Bloomin' Tuesday @ Ms. Green Thumb Jeans
Garden Tuesday @ Sidewalk Shoes

Thursday, June 14, 2012

More Kindle Cases...


The fire is still raging in northern Colorado, so most of us have spent more time than usual indoors, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. As a result the shelves in my Etsy have been restocked with Kindle Cases...

 


 

 

To see more, hop on over to my Etsy Shop and browse around!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Thrifting, Repurposing, and Refinishing...


When I was a teenager, if anyone would have told me I would be excited about a trip to Goodwill, I would have asked to be committed right then and there. Things change. A couple of months ago a Goodwill store opened in our town. To say I was thrilled was an understatement. You see, I'd had experience with Goodwill before. That's where I bought this vixen for $14.99...



Of course, that picture is after I refinished her. She looked like this when I bought her, but I tried not to blame her {too much} for going far too long without a good facial...


Anyway, I used to have to travel to a neighboring town to see what Goodwill had to offer, but now there's one right across town. Yesterday I braved the smoke-filled air to see if the store had any bargains. I've been looking to add to our toy supply {for the grands} for awhile. I found just what I was looking for in this little rocking horse...



Did you see how much it cost???  
$5.99

I've wanted a wooden doll cradle that I could spruce up for a long time now. I've been biding my time waiting for just the right one, and yesterday I found her...


I love the curved detail on the head of the crib -- so cute...



That's right -- it was only $3.99. A steal. That's why I love Goodwill. Plus I got a 15% discount {-$1.50} because I've reached the ripe old age of 55. How amazing is that? Grand total at the checkout counter: $9.17! Score. I can't wait to refinish these items to make them "ours." I also have plans on sewing some sweet baby-doll bedding for the cradle. I'm one happy grandma!