for the baby's room

I recently purchased these for the baby's room. Both are from Mackey Blue.
I had been wanting the duck rocker for many many months and I think it was meant for me because it patiently waited for me to be sure. The chair showed up more recently and it matched the duck perfectly. I think they make a cute couple.

You can see the front of the rocker better in this photo.

Have a lovely weekend.

xx

Sweet Needle Felts

I received my copy of Sweet Needle Felts: 25 Projects to Wear, Give and Hug the other day and am thrilled with it.


Jenn takes you through the process explaining the materials and techniques of needle felting in a very clear and understandable way. Once you have the basic concepts and have purchased your tools and wools you are ready to go. The projects in the book are well varied and include housewares, accessories, jewelry, embellishing items like t-shirts and dolls & toys all with cute photos and clear directions to accompany them.

If you are familiar with Jenn you will be super excited that you can make your very own bear, bunny and kitty with outfits and accessories just like the photo on the cover. Okay, maybe not just like because Jenn's are so perfect but, similar.

Personally, I know I will be trying out the Folk Belt, Coasters, Pillows, Trivet, Forest Floor Pincushion, Fabric Artwork, Cute and Cuddly Critters, Fun Fruit, and Miss Penelope Poppet but, there are so many others that are so cute. The fact that I want to make this many projects makes this craft book very successful to me. How many times have you bought a craft book for only one or two of the projects?

I personally own three of Jenn's needle felted creatures. All are beautifully made and adorable. Although needle felting is a relatively easy craft to learn the artistry behind Jenn's whimsical creations is one of a kind.

Congratulations Jenn on your book. It's amazing. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Red Dress

I finished knitting this red dress for Scarlet the other night and put the finishing touches on it this morning. I'm very pleased with the way it turned out and I look forward to seeing her wear it when she is a little older. She is doing well...a very calm and happy baby. I can't believe six weeks have passed already.

The pattern is from Minnowknits and the yarn is Manos Del Uruguay cotton.

knitting a new scarf

A little something I work on here and there. I started knitting this lattice pattern scarf a few days before Scarlet was born and then neglected it for a while and recently picked it up again. I love the look of the pattern with the Rowan Kid Classic yarn. It's a very relaxing project to knit especially good for a rainy day like today with a cup of tea.

birds nest

Handmade birds nests and eggs. These will appear in the shop sometime today.
I made 3 brown and 2 white.

I originally planned for them to be egg cozies but then decided I liked them better as nests.

You could really use them either way or even as a little bowl.

Can you tell I have spring fever?

millinery brooches

Spring is in the air. The birds are singing, the trees have little buds on them. The bulbs are poking up in the front garden of our building...

And, these three millinery brooches will be flying into the shop this evening.

Today, we took a drive out to our new town. We went by our new house and Little M and I ran around the nearest playground. Then we had lunch at a nearby cafe that I can walk too. It's great - couches, good cappuccino and latte, very kid friendly -toys etc. To top it off there is a yarn store a couple doors down. YEAH!

Sorry to have dropped off in my posting but I haven't had much time this past week. It was either photograph & post or craft and I chose craft as I'm working on the updates. I've also been packing which involves organizing my craft supplies (a very good thing) and of course as always I need to take care of the littles.

Saturday, I dropped off some spring smocks and dolls at Mackey Blue. I'm crossing my fingers that I can finish up some more items by the end of the month.

I've also been working on my Etsy update and have decided to add items as they are finished and photographed rather then one big update. The update will continue throughout the week and maybe into next.

spring smocks

I am working on shop updates for Mackey Blue and my Etsy shop which I realize does seem a bit of a crazy undertaking with a newborn and upcoming move but, so far it's working out. One of the items I've been making are these toddler smocks which I first showed here

I've got about 7 new smocks done (they sew up very fast).

I'm thinking smocks for both shops and

-felted items & brooches for Etsy (more on this later)

-dolls, onesies & bobbies *and hopefully brooches and dresses* for Mackey Blue.

I don't think all this will happen this month. My outlook is whatever gets done in the next week or two works for now and the rest I will finish up once we settle a bit in the new house.

found in the attic

My Mom found a suitcase in the attic with the rest of the crocheted items my Grandma made for me when I was a little girl and when I was there recently she did a little show and tell. There was so many great things in there. I brought home the doll clothes above and this cape and beret but, the rest I left there until we move. The abundance of handmade crocheted clothes my Grandma made me is astounding. I was completely smitten with the Red Riding Hood hat and cape as well as several crocheted skirts and dresses. She didn't always use the best of materials but, they are special to me nonetheless and I plan to utilize them. They just needs a good spin on delicate cycle.

makie goodies

I've been planning a trip to Makie for a very long time. More info. here. I knew it would be dangerous on the wallet because there was no way I was walking out empty handed. The store is full of amazing clothes for babies and kids. It was hard to decide what to buy but, I fell in love with this gray swiss dot dress and so it came home with me. The design is absolutely gorgeous and the details so good. I also left with this adorable bunny, lovely bib and two pom-pom thingy's (not sure what else to call them) but they are cute accessories to add to hair or an outfit for Scarlet (or me). The boys clothes are great as well.

home sweet home

Ladies and Gentleman,

We have a home. Well, we have not closed yet but, it's under contract. Actually, we have been under contract for some time but, I have been afraid to say anything as I didn't want to jinx it. If you must know Mick was on the phone with the realtor while I was in labor at the hospital and I was signing papers shortly after Scarlet was born.

Yes, we are moving to the suburbs but it's less than half an hour to the city by car and train which is pretty much the same as it is now with walking and the PATH train (okay, maybe a little different). We all have our own rooms and I even get a craft room -hip hip hooray! It is a 1920's center hall colonial. I adore victorians as well so for our next house I'm crossing my fingers for a farmhouse victorian. I wonder if I will be able to see the stars when I lay in the grass of my very own backyard.

I must add that our home is featured in a book as the front yard was converted into a fruit and vegetable garden. There are amazing things growing there. Here is the description of what was planted last year:

Each of the 15 planters contains a different combination of herbs and vegetables, which include [moving from the back left planter]: (1) red lettuces (2) green lettuces (3) 6 different varieties of mint (4) several varieties of basil with cantaloupe, squash and zucchinis around the perimeter (5) eggplants in the center surrounded by a border of alternating varieties of thyme [middle row] (6) rhubarb surrounded by leafy greens (7) climbing cucumbers surrounded by a border of chamomile and catnip (8) tomatoes surrounded by a border of marjoram and basil (9) climbing cucumbers surrounded by a border of curry plant and sage (10) tomatoes with purple basil in the corners and a border of wooly and creeping thyme [next row] (11) an ornamental clipped standard rosemary shrub surrounded by different varieties of mint (12) lemongrass in the center surrounded by chives and sweet corn (13) an ornamental clipped standard rosemary shrub surrounded by eggplant and a border of oregano (14) different varieties of peppers (15) bok choy with a border of oregano and marjoram.

On the right side of the garden as you approach the front door are the fruiting trees and vines. Flanking the sidewalk steps are two diminutive dwarf peach trees. You then walk through a series of three arched arbors planted with 6 varieties of grapes, which will eventually cover them. Aligned with these on the south side are three fruit trees: cherry, apple and peach. Between each tree is a raspberry bush, which will eventually grow up a 6' wire tower structure. A six-foot diameter circular tiered bed is densely planted with various berries: currants, blackberries, gooseberries and blueberries. Against the house are grape vines and two potted fig trees, which may be moved inside during especially cold weather.

Interesting, right? We will see what comes back this Spring and if I can keep it up. Here I was just thinking about terrariums and the flowers I want to plant...

(above photo- a recent ebay purchase)

daisy bag

I've been wanting to make a shoulder bag for a while now. I had planned to draft my own pattern which I will try to do at some point because I have a specific idea of one I want. I just haven't the time to do that lately (understandable, right?). I found Lula Louise through the blog world and really liked the way her reversible shoulder bag looked so I went for it. I used Katie Jump Rope which I love so it's a lightweight bag . I must say I am very fond of the daisies on the outside and the stripes/dots on the inside and most likely will not reverse it. I think this would also be nice in a thicker sturdier fabric but, I don't plan to carry heavy things around in the Spring/Summer days ahead. I am thinking a corduroy mixed with a plaid for the fall.

pillowcase dress

Here is one of the recent sewing projects I completed. It is a pillowcase dress I made for Scarlet to wear this summer. The pillowcase is from Kate and as soon as I saw it I knew I wanted to do this project. She had a fabric giveaway about a month ago and I won one of the 2 fabric piles.

The dress could also be a top once it is too short so perhaps it could work next summer too. We will see. This was a very simple and fast project. I found the directions here.



To my surprise, I received a package from Carrie on Saturday and was ecstatic to find that she sent these 4 vintage pillowcase. I had left a ' oh woe is me' type comment on her blog about how I never get to go thrifting anymore. Carrie always finds such great things. She also included buttons, a Holly Hobbie pincushion (!), some bias trim, some really cute vintage children's clothing patterns and a retro craft/cook book that is too much and had me laughing out loud several times. Thanks again Carrie!