sweet menagerie

My sister sent me some fabric from her shop, Quilter's Eden about 3 weeks ago. It's called Menagerie and it is from one of our favorite fabric designers in Australia, Melanie Hurlston of Melly & Me. Our other favorite Australian designer is her sister Rosalie Quinlan. (of course they are sisters!)

Mary asked me to sew up a few baby bibs. So this is what I sent her. I had fun sewing these up. The elephant bib reverses so there is an elephant applique on the back of the flannel polka dots. And the monkey bib reverses also to a flannel polka dot, but it is sewn using my favorite aqua color of thread for a nice little added detail.

Now the bibs used only half of the fat quarter I was sent. So I had to make up some sweet little booties too! I love this little shoe pattern. It features the elephants on one side and the monkeys on the other.

I still had fabric left! Can you believe it. That is one of the best things about creating tiny things for tiny babies. They take tiny bits of fabric. So I did a little fun applique on a long sleeve onesie. It gets cold in Minnesota don't you know!

I am also being sent more of this Menagerie collection, featuring owls and bees. Love new fabrics!

I see more bibs and booties in my future.

scrappy classes

I love my scraps! I really do.  Each little piece of fabric has a little memory that goes with it.  My trip to Quilt Market and meeting that wonderful fabric designer, sewing up a special dress for my girl, the pillowcase challenge book, they each have a little memory in my scrap basket.

My love of sewing with my scraps started with this little log cabin quilt.  Here is the tutorial.



I found it on one of my all time favorite blogs Melly and Me.  I met them at Quilt Market too!  They are generous and sweet sisters full of talent.  And a new fabric line!

Well now through my other girl friends at The Tin Thimble, I am able to embark on more scrappy sewing fun.  And you are invited to join me!  I will be teaching 4 classes at The Tin Thimble for their Home Ec sewing classes.

Each classes will be focused around using up some of those special fabric scraps that you have been saving.  Now you will be able to use them and make special items for your home and maybe sew up a gift for a special and lucky friend!

The classes will be held on Wednesday nights in March from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. for $30 per class.  A supply list will be provided when you sign up. Just call (916) 652-2134. I'll be sharing project photo's with you this coming week!  Here is all of the class info that you will need:

The Tin Thimble

3750 Taylor Road

Loomis, CA

March 3: Embroiderey Hoop Initials

March 10: Scrappy Coasters

March 24: Eye Pillows

March 31: Scrappy Quilt

little pillows

These little pillows are made especially to soothe your eyes and your brain.  They are filled with lavender and organic flaxseed.  So you can relax and rid yourself of that headache or just have a little time out by yourself.



I was inspired by Melly and Me when I learned how to make one of their quilt squares using only scraps.  And that is how these eye pillows came to be.  I have such a good time going through my bags of scraps now and mixing and matching.  It's great color therapy.



 

Aren't all of these colors just delicious.  I never get tired of looking at them.  Silly, I know! 

I hope to post again tomorrow with some other new creations to show you before the Roseville show on Sunday.  But after that it will be a week before you hear from me again.  I am leaving on Monday for Disneyland.  So have a great week!

the first

Indie Sacramento is such a great show that I wish I could attend it, not just vend it.  That way I could shop at my liesure and not have to hurry back to my booth!  And when I shop, I have to look at every little thing.   Just ask my friends.  I take too long for some of them.  That's why I often shop alone.  Not too many have the patience for me, as I look and look, and look.

Well I am a vendor at Indie Sac.  And to get ready for it, we are all asked to get together little bags of swag.  It's just a little free thing for attendees to receive that will promote our business.  In the past I have done book markers, lemon drops, gift tags, and magnets.



This time I did little square scraps of vintage fabrics.  I participated in a scrap fabric swap last summer, that was hosted by Melly and Me.  We were making log cabin squares, all from our fabric scraps.  I traded with someone in Australia and these little squares are just a part of what I got.  And now they are being passed on!



You can see the wide variety of cute little prints.  There are also some solids mixed in there too.



My girl helped me sort and stack one morning.  It was a great way for us to practice counting.  Well, she actually needs the practice more than I do.  She is 4 and can count up to 23!

So, if you are one of the first 150 to come to Fremont Park this Saturday, one of these little bags of scrappy goodness could be yours!  OOOh! AAh!  Or, one of these many other little goodies.  Check it out!  And see you there :)