open for business!

These three items are now listed in my etsy shop! I have to say it feels so good just to have something up for sale whether or not someone buys them. I adore all three of these and loved sewing them!


I'll list some more items throughout the week. The sun was going down as I was taking pictures so I had to stop to wait for better lighting.

Let me know what you think!

an oldie but goodie

I just think my dad is too cute. He keeps a box under his bed of all the little gifts his five children made for him growing up - and he really treasures it. There are items in that box all the way back from the 70's and I just so happened upon this tie made from (now vintage) wallpaper and construction paper.

A classic Father's Day present of 'coupon' ties. The ties were good for feeding the dog, breakfast in bed, and a hug and a kiss. Such a sweet present for a child to give to their dad!


I think this is what the little miss will be giving to her daddy this year!

Have a happy weekend!

petits habits

I'm happy to say the buttons were found and I am SO close to putting some items up for sale in my shop. It'll be a big relief to finally 'open' and see what happens! It was a lot more work than I expected, but I am having fun with it!

In the meantime Petits Habits has been providing me with oodles of inspiration and I hope they provide some inspiration for you too!

twilight concert series

Check out this years line up for the Twilight Concert Series. It's FREE and starts playing every Thursday beginning July 9th at the Gallivan Center in Salt Lake. Music starts at 7:00 pm but go early to grab a bite to eat and peruse the local arts & crafts for sale. A perfect date night in my book.

July 9 Bon Iver | Jenny Lewis

July 16 The Black Keys | Human Highway

July 23 M. Ward | Land of Talk

July 30 Sonic Youth | Awesome Color

August 6 Q-Tip | B.o.B

August 13 Toots and the Maytals | N.A.S.A.

August 20 Iron & Wine | Okkervil River

August 27 Robert Randolph & the Family Band | Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears

I am most excited for Iron and Wine (speaking of 'Twilight' - Prom dance scene anyone?).

enjoy the weekend!

I'll be off button-hunting so I can finally finish some outfits.

So maybe there will be a fun surprise next week in my little shop - as in actually something for sale! Cross your fingers! (or at least I will...)

{Photos - 1, 2, 3, 4}

r.i.p. regrets

Today has been one of those days. The kind where the seam ripper gets more action than the sewing machine...or so it seems. As I write this there are two separate projects waiting to be ripped open - for the second time today. And I just had to take a break.

Because I should know by now to put right sides together, and I should know by now that its important to follow the directions and not get ahead of myself, forgetting to sew the sleeves on before I sew the side closed...among other similar oversights (yes, there were more).

And my mother's words are ringing in my head, "If it's not right, take it out and do it again." The mantra her high school sewing teacher tortured her with in her youth. But, really, it was for her own good - which she now realizes and is grateful for - because if it's not right, she does take it out and she does do it again. And her projects are always well-done, with no lingering regrets hidden in a seam or hem.

Now if you are thinking that of course I would need to fix my completely obvious mistakes, you are right (I think people would notice if the sleeves were missing). I have no choice. But, sometimes, when its a little mistake, one that could go unnoticed I contemplate just letting it slide.

And then I take it out. And I do it again. And knowing it's free of any regrets at the end is almost worth the mistake in the first place. Almost.

{photo}

{{and check out this crazy beautiful tat}}

amy bulter for free!

I made this throw quilt months ago from an Amy Butler quilt pattern I downloaded for free. I just went back to her website and was reminded just how many FREE cute patterns she has available! There are a bunch of fun quilt patterns, and other little projects including these cute cat pillows, along with duvet cover, fabric necklaces, and silhouette cutouts... enough to keep you busy all summer!

austrailian abodes

My friend Alexis is living in Austrailia with her husband and little girl this summer and she posted these pictures of some houses in her neighborhood. They make me melt! Especially the one on the bottom left.

Sigh... Someday I'll have a house of my own...

so fresh and so clean

Doing the laundry wouldn't seem like such a chore in these pretty rooms...







{via AT}

sew them your love

I love the surprise of getting a tangible ink and paper letter in the mail, but I think I would love getting a thread and fabric letter even more! This is such a personal and loving way to tell someone you care.

And I think it would be so sweet framed.

{via Twig & Thistle}

happy weekend!

This jumper has been patiently waiting for buttons for about two weeks now... here's to checking things off the to-do list this weekend!

head in the clouds

Ever since I posted about this fabric collection my head has been in the clouds.

Click :: for link.



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ninainvorm

Ninainvorm's happy colors and mix of vintage and contemporary style has me swooning! I dream about having a white kitchen and would love to brighten it up with dishes like these!






{all images from her shop}

homemade party hats

I think I am going to have to steal this party hat idea - so adorable!


"You had party hats. Did you make them?
I bought a party hat from the store and took it apart and traced it onto card stock and stapled it together to make a cone shape. Then I used pompoms that came on a string and stapled them around the bottom of the hat. (You can use clothes pins to hold it in place while you staple.) I did the same thing with a feather boa. For the newspaper fringe ones i just cut a strip of newspaper and stapled it around the bottom of the hat leaving a few inches hanging down to cut into fringe. Then we stapled the elastics on."

{images and quote via Nesting}

upcycling: old dresser

I'm so inspired by this DIY bookcase from Country Living. It's so bright and cheery and... made of old dresser drawers! Now there is a conversation piece for your sitting room.

pretty pretty please!

I haven't won anything since 2nd grade (a 1-800-flowers gift certificate) but if something were to break my bad luck streak PLEASE let this be it!

MADSEN Cargo Bikes is giving away TWO of these beauties this summer and how I would love one of them to tote my groceries home, or take my little miss for a ride... and YOU can win the other!

Good luck to the both of us!

oh boy!

I'm going to start on my first little boy outfit! I'm so excited mostly because this fabric I got is so stinkin' cute! I really love it. Find it here.

movie camera bookend

I'm still looking for the right paint color/fabric/wallpaper to spruce up my bookcase, but in the meantime I did find this 1950's movie camera and I thought it would be a perfect bookend (its really heavy). I wish I could actually use it, but looking at it makes me happy too.

Have a fun weekend!

party planning

Even though my little miss isn't turning 1 for three more months I've been thinking a lot about what kind of party to throw for her. Different themes have been going through my mind from princess to tea party to carnival and everything in between. But after seeing these images from Flora & Henri the themes have been set aside for a good old fashioned classic balloons, confetti, pom-poms, and streamers birthday party.

But I still have time to be swayed... Do you have any fun ideas?

lovely storage idea

Vintage suitcase for crafty storage via Armelle from DIY Magazine.

getting closer

I've been asked when I am going to open my etsy shop, and I am happy to say that with the arrival of this custom ribbon I am a whole lot closer! They said I wouldn't get my order for 3-4 weeks, but I was pleasantly surprised to receive my ribbon after only one week!

I am going to use it as the label on my clothes. It makes me feel so legit.

You can get your own custom ribbon at namemaker.

my happy garden

Look for Cloud9 Fabric's 100% organic cotton collection, My Happy Garden to come out soon. Doesn't it seem like your child (or you) would have wonderful dreams sleeping on these clouds?





{via fabricworm}

beehive bazaar finds

Last night was the opening of this Spring's Beehive Bazaar. Its runs through May 2nd and I highly recommend dropping by if you want to find some unique and imaginative wares - or to get your own creative juices flowing from all the inspiration you can garner from hundreds of handmade items. Some of my favorites (click on banner for link):

Also check out her lovely blog.

Darling crocheted jewelry, scarves, etc.

Cute stationary and an adorable matryoshka doll pillow (which made it home with me!)

Unique illustration and design.