Quick 'n Cute Coasters

I had some leftover Liberty print fused to wool felt from a project and realized I could turn it into 2 coasters. I found the right sized round template and traced it onto the felt, then cut around the circle with scalloped pinking shears.

Some contrasting top-stitching around the edge makes the coasters complete.
Fun little project to show off special prints :-)

My new book

My Blue Bunny Bubbit will be in stores Jan 7th!

The story was inspired by a stuffed bunny I designed and sold in my Etsy shop from 2005 - 07. I sold many of these bunnies and customers really loved them.

 I felt it was one of my best pattern designs ever.

 While I was making bunnies, this story came to me about a girl and her grandmother sewing together. Nonni made Bubbit for her when she was born, and now they are making something for the new baby! For the fabric, they cut up the girl's "old favorite jacket that Nonni made me" that is now way too small.

I hope readers will enjoy this story about grandma/granddaughter togetherness, re-purposing materials, and creating wonderful things together!

it's holiday crafting time...

sketching this year's mouse ornament...in the interest of time i think it's gonna be the simple triangular ones featuring fun graphic prints...i'll post again when i have some made up!

Second proofs for my next book

this week i received a copy of the second proofs for my next book!
it's called My Blue Bunny Bubbit, and will come out in the fall. the art for the book was put together digitally, which is a first for me. i used a combination of traditional and digital to create the artwork, and it was very strange and kind of anticlimactic to just upload the finished files to the art director's Drop Box after all the months of work. before, there would be the ceremonious labeling and careful packing of the original art, taking the box to Fedex, and then receiving an appreciative and enthusiastic phone call from the editor and art director when they had received the package and were seeing the art for the first time.

however, there was a reason to develop this new way of working - it was something that i felt called to do for this particular story, and i'm very happy with what i came up with and will probably continue to work this way. i was worried about how the art would print, since on the computer you're always seeing a brighter version of things due to the back-lit screen and you feel a certain disconnect. but i needn't have worried because it's printing very well, and pretty close to what i expected.

the story has a sewing theme, so i'm also making simple version sewing patterns of the two stuffed toys that will be available to readers through Clarion Book's website. i hope parents and kids will enjoy making them together! these are the first round samples - i'll show the finals next. xo

Woollyphant

 Here's a fun elephant I made from this fabulous thick two-tone nubby wool fabric.

 Lester joined the photo shoot, looking innocent enough.

 But as a lover of anything wool, he thought this toy for him.

Help! Where is Lester's head? Where is the elephant's trunk?

Luckily, Woollyphant is a sturdy guy and he came through unscathed, ready for his trip to CA.
xo

my new best friend

I'm fairly bereft that he's gone back to CA, but am trying to keep around at least a few of the Buckets of Joy my nephew brought us on their 3-day visit.
He is truly the happiest and most fun & lovable little person Ever!

I whipped up some lightweight wool pants for him before they left - good for chilly winter days in northern CA.

Come back soon, Tomo!
xoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxxoxooxxxoxoxxoxoxo

who's on the bus?

bus pillow/toy made for a very special little boy, who, i'm sure, has been very very good!

 it's about 11" x 19", and has movable wooden wheels. i hope he likes it!
xo

Kitty

I've been a long time away...
There's a new doll in my shop!
xoxo

Hoppy Easter!

for easter i made myself one of my bunnies from my Most Prized vintage cotton fabric - a stunning abstract floral. i'd love to have Everything made from this print - pants, skirt, shirt, pillows, handbag...but a bunny is a nice way to start.

Happy tulips and daisies and everything yellow!
xo

be mine

custom patchwork and vintage-lace pillow for a wonderful friend.
she's giving it to her mom today - i hope she likes it!
happy valentine's day to moms everywhere, and to the rest of us too!
xoxo

Big Meadow pattern set!

 i finally finished the Big Meadow pattern set for my etsy shop. it was a long time coming, since, as i've probably said before, these patterns take an unimaginably long time to complete!

 i had fun adding new animals and doing a different treatment with the basket, since the word Meadow was a bit too much to applique.

 this set has a leafy log for the animals to jump over or to gnaw on...

 and some felt fir trees too.

the pdf is 15 pages and includes patterns, instructions, diagrams and reference photos.
it's a great pattern for urging Spring to get here soon!
xo

ornaments

one of my favorite ornaments from a few years ago - Big 'n Little Lambs. i had thought to make up the pattern to sell on Etsy but that didn't happen....maybe next year! xo

big farm in austin, tx

a customer in Austin sent me this photo of the Big Farm set she made from my pattern. i just love how completely different it is from mine - i really dig some of her fabric choices!
besides reporting that the instructions were easy to follow for a novice seamstress, she said, "It's hard to give it away since my 3yr-old fell in love with each animal while I was making them."
yay!

who doesn't love a chicken?

the very chilly & gray weather here in the northwest has given me the Christmas Crafting Bug just a little early!
here's a new ornament i just designed, called "chicken 'n egg".
i'm offering the sewing pattern for sale in my etsy shop.
i can't wait to get our tree & display her with my other handmade ornaments.
this would be fun as a kitchen decoration too - keeping chickens being such the rage now.
and anyway, who doesn't love a chicken?
xoxo

little bunny softie

i designed a new bunny pattern for a very special baby who soon will arrive....
8" tall, made from wool, satin, velvet ribbon, and vintage flannel.
soon to be mailed to california...bye - bye, bunny!

horsies found a home

some things sit in your etsy shop for a long time and you start to think they will never sell (and some things never do), but then suddenly out of the blue (like most sales are), somebody wants them, and it makes everything feel okay.
i knew that some small person would really love these horse softies, so it was frustrating to have them stuck in a storage box instead of being played with.
finally they are going to a home in wisconsin, maybe a horse ranch?
or at least a house with a nice yard.
i hope they have lots of fun galloping in the tall grasses!