Sewing

I’m 30 today…

Kinda crazy, but at least this year I wasn’t a grump.  My good friend from college had a baby girl today, so I was thrilled to say the least!!!  She was due earlier in the week, but I knew she could hold out until my birthday (ha ha).  What fun and I can’t wait to make the little girl some cute things.

I was folding laundry last night and thought I’d share a few of my favorite things {yes, inspiration from laundry}:

my sweatshirt (which I wear almost everyday in the winter), it’s from one of the radio stations that my brother works for and I love it.  I even love the stains and paint splatters that cover the whole thing.

my swimming t-shirts:  all cut up and ready to make into a t-shirt quilt.  Here’s a little peek into my world: I swam competitively for over 12 years of my life.  Thanks to my mom who took me to all the boring swim meets and bought me all these crazy shirts because I “had” to have them.  And as an added bonus, it’s also how I met my husband, we both swam in college.

my family, of course, and all the laundry they produce!  (I thought I’d spare you the dirty laundry pile shot)

Here’s to 30!

Sewing

Table Runner & Napkins

I think this might be one of my most favorite projects yet.  I love the colors and the fabrics and how soft they are!  I made this quilted table runner and set of napkins for my sister-in-law for Christmas (yes, I have a total of 5 sister-in-laws, kinda fun). 

The fabrics were dreamy to work with,  I chose the Etsuko Furuya double gauze Birds in Purple from fabricworm.com and ordered the shot cottons from PurlSoho (I got a yard and half of Lipstick and the same of Apple).  I also had the blue polka dot from Patty Young’s latest Flora & Fauna line (from MaterialGal on Etsy), it just happend to coordinate nicely! 

I had the tiny dark brown polkadot in my stash, something I picked up at my local Hancock fabrics.  The table runner measured about 24 inches wide by 54 inches long.  I’m almost thinking I need to make a quilt using these same fabrics, for myself!

I used this tutorial over at Sew, Mama, Sew! for the napkins.  I ended up with hardly any leftover fabric, maybe a fat quarter or so from the Furuya fabric left (excited to add it to some clothing item for the girls —  the double gauze is dreamy). 

The best part of this project was that I ripped all my pieces, yes ripped!  I was reading this tutorial before making the table runner and decided I should just go for it since I was running late on time and wanted it straight on the grain without a lot of fuss.  It was awesome!

Sewing

Last Minute Gifts

I’m pushing through these last few projects that are left on my to-do list for Christmas giving.  Eek!  I’m a little behind.  Probably a bit ambitious, but you know, why not.  I put together a kitchen gift set for my boss, she’s an excellent cook and I know she’ll appreciate it.  Jacquie over at Tallgrass Prairie Studio has an awesome tutorial on how to make these great potholder/dishtowel sets.  (She also has a ton of other great info and tutorials.  If you haven’t visited her blog before – you’d better!) 

My other boss is a simple kind of guy, his famous quote is “if you can’t carry it in a backpack you probably don’t need it”.  How many bosses say that?!  So I made him some Chocolate Espresso Snowcaps and put them in this cute little box.  Yum!  My husband had also made grape jam earlier this fall and we are giving them each a jar. 

Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!  I’ve got a few more gifts to show off, so I might post some before Christmas or the day after.