When in the course of human events . . .

I couldn't pass up this fabric from Robert Kaufmann that actually has a reproduction of the entire Declaration of Independence on it. I managed to get the entire text on each side of this pillow cover; alas, some of the signatures had to be cut off at the bottom. This should make it easy for our kids to memorize this important document!

Summer pillows and bunting

I've decided that in our family room I'll make new zippered pillow covers on a regular basis--adds variety to the room and also will force me to wash the covers more often! I wanted to make some that were kind of summery, so I decided to use this cute Michael Miller patriotic fabric. I love the look of these--especially the one with the bunting on it (white background) and the one that looks like exploding fireworks (blue and white). I made this bunting last summer and have decided that seasonal bunting is the way to go with these windows (had considered some kind of valance, but thought that two valances would look fussy/busy, and one over both windows might look like a unibrow). It softens the harshness of window edges but still looks hip and fresh. Sorry about the closed shades . . . it was so bright outside that I had to pull them down to cut down on the glare.

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New Sweater

I just finished knitting this sweater. I love it! I love this look of a short-sleeved sweater over a long-sleeved shirt. This was so fun to knit. I worked on it primarily while watching Max & Ruby with Jack! I may even make another one it a different color. It's just such a nice wear-aroud-the-house-but-still-look-put-together style. Not sure if you can tell from the pics, but it's dark purple. (Oh yeah, and you can see my new haircut, too.)

Chair Facelift

I have this beautiful Adirondack chair that Dad made for me several years ago. It has undergone a few different redos. First it was painted dark green with navy checked cushions. Then I painted it this blue and had khaki cushions. Well, it needed a little fixing up, so I redid the cushions and this little throw pillow. I just love it! I'm going to make a triangle bunting to hang on the windows in this room out of pretty light blues and whites, so they will match the chair well.

A few years ago I made these valances for the sunroom windows (where the chair is) and I put them up with sticky velcro (lazy me! didn't want to mount curtain rods). Well, the velcro unstuck from the fabric, so I ended up with this messy look:

I am going to peel all that off and replace with the aforementioned bunting. Also, here is one of the two felt bags I made for Jack's Easter egg hunt. Got the idea from Purl Bee.

Lastly, here are my French General charm squares laid out for a quilt. This is actually only half of them--I'm going to use all for the quilt. Yay!

Windows and pillows: updated!

I wanted to show some changes that I've made to couches and windows. In our family room, I made new, simple pillows out of corduroy and linen in bold colors . . . it gets so cluttery in here just by virtue of the kitchen/fam room combo layout, that I wanted something that looked less "busy" and also chose fabric that would be practical for napping! I used the zippered pillow cover tutorial from Design Sponge and now can whip these out in the same time it would take to make an envelope-back pillow cover.


The "love one another" banner is just made of felt (the cheap stuff from JoAnn's) that I cut out using "stencils" I made by picking a font I liked and blowing it up big, then printing out the document (using grey for the letters to save ink an toner). I used some twine I had and attached the letters with cute mini clothespins from Michaels. I did the same thing at Christmas but made a turquoise and red felt banner that said, "Come let us adore Him." It dresses up the windows and the simplicity is striking.

In the piano room ("living room") we painted over the green with a great creamy color (it's literally called "half and half"). I should say, Mando painted . . . I cheered him on! It was time for a change. I made valances using Jessica Jones fabric (Outside Oslo) that is stylish and slightly retro-looking. I used an idea I found online somewhere to make a rod pocket on the BACK of the valance, which gives it a look like pinch-pleated drapes, but softer and looser. I also made corduroy and linen pillow covers that kind of match the valance for the sofa under the front window. It's hard to see in this picture (it was bright and sunnny out here, hence the contrast. But the room is very bright and cheerful now. I liked my Amy Butler Love pillow covers, but after two years was ready for something different and a little less fussy.

Cute storage!

I saw these darling vinyl and fabric bags at the Make It and Love It blog (http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2011/12/clear-toy-storage-bags-with-drawstring-closure.html) and fell in love with them. We even have the same Lego set that she shows in one of her bags. I knew I needed these cute bags for our toys. I made two for us, one for a baby shower (the one photographed alone), and then a variation of the bag that I use as a thread/scrap box while I'm sewing. I loved the selvedge on that fabric, so I included it. I'm sure I will make several more of these! They are way cuter in person--I'm a terrible photographer.

Stockings! and a quilt

Long time no post! I know we are all busy. I have so many projects in my mind. I'm getting a few done, little by little. I made us Christmas stockings a couple of years ago, but I never really liked them. Hence, new ones shown here. I quilted them and I just love how they turned out. Also shown is a quilt I made for Jack.