Lots of Felt and a New Project

I told you about how I have been SLOWLY reorganizing my house in the last post. Why slowly? Well, I get distracted sometimes, especially when I am working in my hobby room...

I found lots of felt from different places in the room. I guess I collected them over the years little by little. I started to line them up and color-coordinate them.

Look at all these colors!



and some more...



Looking at them made me wanna make something...and I actually started cutting them today. I will post the finished item with a tutorial soon!

Weekend Sewing

First off, if you haven't gone over to Project Run and Play to vote this week, would you mind heading over there and voting for #3 "Lindsay's Girly Girl Twirl Dress"?  I usually ask you guys to vote for your favorite look, but this week I need your help! 

This was a particularly hard challenge for me (I'm not much into current women's fashion trends).  We are definitely at risk for being eliminated and the next week is the vintage-inspired challenge which I know I can rock!!  So, if you all would please, pretty please, head over and vote, I would be so grateful!  Voting is only open until midnight tonight.

Click HERE to visit Project Run and Play!

This weekend I decided to take a little time to do some sewing for myself and my family.  I started my very first string-block quilt and these are my first four squares.

For those of you that sew a lot of clothing, you know how many scraps you end up having left over.  I thought this quilt would be perfect for using up all those skinny little scraps that I can't bare to throw away.  Plus, I love the eclectic look of all the different pretty fabrics.

 

A string block quilt has a "constant" strip of fabric that is sewn down the middle on the diagonal that is usually some type of solid color.  I chose to use white.  When all of the blocks are arranged the "constant" ends up making a diamond shape.  Pretty neat, huh?

In the picture above, you can see how the thin white strip forms a diamond when four blocks are placed together.  I plan on this quilt taking me a very long time, but I love that I am using my scraps and I know it will be gorgeous when it is all finished.

I also decided to sew a quick peasant style dress for my daughter Savannah.  I used the pattern that was given to us during the last Leila and BenProject Run and Play Challenge (the Sweet Dress pattern).  I actually sewed the pattern the way it was instructed this time.

This dress pattern took me about 45 minutes to get sewn (garment label and all!).  I would say if you are a beginner it might take about an hour and a half, but no more than that.  It's super-simple and only has two pattern pieces to cut! I would highly recommend this pattern to any new sewer that is looking to start to make children's clothing.

The only thing I did different with the pattern was to add the ruffle detail down the front.  I think this is going to be a great little dress for spring/summer.  And what I really love about this pattern is that Savannah will be able to continue to wear this as a top when she gets taller - gotta love that!

I hope you all had a great weekend!

Cottage Mama's Note:  The fabric used for the peasant dress is Heather Bailey's Pop Garden - Rose Bouquet - Emerald.

Link Love No. 40!

This week passed by in the blink of an eye for me. There is something I am working on but I can't reveal it ‘till March. I have been trying to squeeze the time to work on that into my schedule... and it has been fun! When I am focused on a project, I forget to eat or drink. Time flies by so fast! I have to make an effort to keep looking at my watch, so I won't miss my children’s pick up time.

Another thing I have been doing is to slowly reorganize my house. I have been working on each room, going through the closets and cupboards. I usually have three bags for "Sale", "donate", and "throw away". Sometimes if I am in the "zone", it's easy to part with the things and the clean-up goes fast. If I am not so much in the zone, my mind is blank, don't know where to put what. The whole thing takes a long time too.

Well, for the above two reasons, my family didn't eat very nice dinners this week. I felt a little guilty, so I cooked better meals Friday and Saturday. It should even things out, right? :)

I see in this week’s link party, more Valentine’s crafts, and they are fun! I hope you all are getting inspired by them! Well, here are my favorites for this week...

This is one of those Valentine’s crafts I just mentioned...Fast Daze shared a really fun Wreath, inspired by Tatertots & Jello. She also used the tutorial from “A girl and Glue Gun” to make felt flowers. How colorful and pretty!


Holy Cow!! Talk about big project, I mean, really BIG. Backwoods Cottage shared a STUDIO she built with her husband. Yeah, you heard (read) right. A STUDIO! She posted the step by step photos on her blog, so head over there to check them out! I would love to see the picture of it all moved in and decorated studio too! Amazing job!




You Seriously Made That? shared this pretty headband. I have seen many crocheted headbands before, but I really like this style and the colors of the yarn. Great job!


When I saw the picture of this plate, I was in LOVE! I love Jane Austin and Mr. Darcy... Grey Luster Girl was inspired by Pottery Barn and created this plate. Sooo romantic!


This is also a Valentine project, but without the usual red and pink. I love how A Crummy Marriage Blog layered the fabrics for the letters. What a fun way to make it more interesting!



Thank you all for sharing your great projects! See you at the next post!

Week 3 Project Run and Play: Adult Fashion Inspiration

The Girly Girl Twirl Dress

This weeks Project Run and Play challenge was to take a women's fashion trend, brand, or look and create an outfit for a child.  Rather than making a mini-version of an adult look, I decided I wanted to create my own unique look based on several women's fashion trends that would be truly wearable for a child - thus, I created the Girly Girl Twirl Dress.

These were my inspiration dresses for creating this look.........

I have been loving the soft, tiered feminine ruffles, the gorgeous deep jewel-tone colors, and the little lace details that we've been seeing in women's fashion.

I used a super-soft cotton/spandex fabric to create the long-sleeved top for the dress.  I also added three tiered ruffles to the end of both sleeves.  On the bodice I added tiered ruffles, surrounded by a little lace detail and finished with a gorgeous piece of woven vintage trim.

The skirt of the dress is made from a spandex, ruffle fabric in the a mix of the gorgeous jewel-tone colors.  Underneath the dress, I added a pair of black leggings that have a ruffle edge at the bottom (it's kind of hard to see in the photos).  I created a head-band from the ruffle fabric and the vintage woven trim.  The look is finished with a pair of Chanel-inspired, black patent-leather, quilted ballet flats.

Comfort is key when it comes to children's -wear.  I really wanted to create a look that was truly wearable for a child.  She could run, jump, play or twirl and be incredible comfortable and stylish at the same time!  And I know this dress fit the bill, because Savannah did not want to take it off - she told me it was "SO cozy and soft".  Perfect - mission accomplished!!

Head on over to Project Run and Play and vote for your favorite look!

Click HERE to visit Project Run and Play.

Oilcloth Giveaway

I realized it's been awhile since I did a giveaway here, so I think it is time!  Today I am giving away two half yard cuts of oilcloth from my personal stash for a total of 1 yard (the two prints are pictured below).  

If you've never worked with oilcloth, you are going to love it!  There are so many super-fun projects you can do with the versatile material.  Here are some examples of some great projects made with oilcloth:

Click HERE for more information.

To enter the Oilcloth Giveaway do one (or more) of the following (please leave a separate comment for each entry):

1)  Leave a comment and let me know what you might make if you win the oilcloth.

2)  Become an official follower of The Cottage Home blog (if you already follow, just let me know)

3)  Become a fan of The Cottage Mama (http://www.facebook.com/TheCottageMama) on facebook (again, if you already are, then simply let me know).

4) Finally, "suggest" your facebook friends become a fan of The Cottage Mama.

There are FOUR chances to enter this giveaway.  Please include your email address with each entry.  Giveaway will be open through Tuesday, February 1 at midnight (CST).

Cottage Mama's Note:  My next giveaway will only be offered to The Cottage Mama facebook fans, so if you are interested in a chance to win exclusive giveaways, please join us over on The Cottage Mama facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/TheCottageMama).

Baby Girl

Hmmmm...what's missing?

Her.

This is our sweet Margaret's favorite snuggle spot in the house.

Things that aren't captured in this photo but are lurking about:

crib (which is conveniently on wheels)

diaper genie

bouncy chair

night stand full of burp cloths

sound machine

diapers, wipes and diaper cream

assorted recently changed baby clothes and baby blankets

And me (in my pajamas) snuggling with the baby girl.

xo

P.S. First photo taken pre-babies.

Cork Flowers

I posted the winner for the Say it On the Wall giveaway on my sponsors' page. Don't forget to head on over there to see if you are the lucky winner!


A few months ago, I found this wonderful item at Tuesday Morning for a really great price.
So many beautiful cork flowers in different colors and sizes...I love the wooden box with a glass top that slides open too. I can use the box for a display box, when I am all finished using the flowers.


I guess I could use the flowers pretty much for anything. Scrap books, card making, making hair accessories, decorating frames and so on. Hmmm... What shall I make?

I look at them, stuck them up, and lined them up to form some ideas for now. I think this is one of the fun parts of making something.


With this many flowers, maybe I can bring an early spring in my house.

SEA ICE

Above, a timelapse of sea ice forming off Estonia.


Ice Breaking aboard the Akademik Shokalskiy from Finn O'Hara on Vimeo.

Above, icebreaking off Greenland, with a jaunty soundtrack and fogbows.

All photos courtesy NASA:

1. Sea ice under the combined influences of wind and ocean currents forms a frosty filigree along Kamchatka's volcano-dominated coastline, Russia.
2. Icebergs along Princess Ragnhild Coast, Antarctica.
3. Icebergs calving from East Antarctica's Matusevich Glacier.
4. Barnes Ice Cap, Baffin Island, Canada. 
5. Parry Channel, Canada. 
6. Neumayer Glacier, South Georgia Island.
7. Greenland coast.
8. Yukon River Delta, Alaska.
9. Guano-stained ice, the mark of emperor penguin colonies, visible below the bergs frozen into the ice in the center of this image of Antarctica’s Luitpold Coast.

i feel a change comin’ on

At the moment I have a pair of these on order…

 

I’m totally in love with the fabric.  I’m anxious to see if I love it as much in person.  If I do, then Baby Chase may have a new nursery design coming his way.  Luckily everything that I’ve purchased for his nursery up to this point will either totally work with this fabric or is able to be returned. 

LiveJournal Tags: baby chase's nursery

Just an update.......

First of all, thank you guys so much for voting for my "Sweet Ruffle Play Coat" over on Project Run and Play.  We, again, came in a very strong second place and have moved on to the next round - woohoo!

Many of you have emailed and asked and, yes, I do plan to make this pattern available on the blog.  I just need a little time to get my pattern pieces together, scan them into the computer and the tutorial written.  I have been really tired lately and slightly under the weather, so please be patient with me........I promise it's coming.  Oh, and I'll be posting the pattern for the "Winter Snowflake Dress" too!

For this next weeks challenge we were instructed to take a woman's fashion trend, brand, or look and make it into an outfit for a child.  To say this was a challenge is an understatement!!  But I've come up with a look that I hope you and the judges will like - I'm looking forward to sharing it with you on Saturday.

Secondly, thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone that commented on my "Adventures in Potty Training" post.  You all have shared some invaluable information with me and I can't wait to give some of this strategies, tips and tricks a try.  Miss S. did ok on Monday.  Probably the most humorous part of the day (though it was NOT funny at the time) was that in the time it took me to go upstairs to grab something, Savannah took off her Minnie Mouse underwear, went into the play room, peed on the floor, then put back on her underwear.  When I came back downstairs she said, "see mama, I'm doing great - I'm all dry!".  Well yes SHE was all dry, but the carpet was not - ugggh!!

Yesterday she seemed to come down with a cold that had her laying on the couch, so I decided to back off a bit.  I couldn't bare to make the poor little lady get up off the couch when she was feeling under the weather.  But today she seems to be feeling better and is, oddly enough, very excited about using the potty.  So, this is good, I guess.........we shall see!

But again, thank you guys so much for all your comments and support.  You're the best!

Link Party No. 40 and New Basket Makeover

I have been staying low...it's been about three weeks, and I still haven't gotten over this cold! I went through the whole symptoms like, cold chills, aches, fever, and so on. I took antibiotics and thought that everything is over... boy was I wrong. I think I have whole other thing now. Massive cough, and sneezing, followed by aching and fever... Holy cow!

I am still functioning though. Well, three small kiddos clinging how can I not.

I thought if I am up doing things, might as well, do something fun and take my mind off of these annoying flu symptoms.

I decided to do one of the projects that I have wanted to do for a while. I found this basket at one of my usual thrift store trips last summer. It had a yucky liner attached to it. I came home, took that off and cleaned it well...

Before...


After...


I made a new liner with a type of polka dot pattern fabric. It is removable for washing, and has drawstring to close it shut. If I don't want to be bothered by opening and closing the fabric, I can always fold the fabric inside.


Large corsage adds extra character to the basket...


I think it will be fun Spring/Summer basket.



Whenever I do a basket makeover, the hardest part is parting from them. I put so much thought and effort into them; I can't deny feelings of attachment there. Since I don't live in a 100,000 square foot home, I can't keep everything.
I am thinking about putting some of my creations in my etsy shop...

Well, we shall see.

Now, it is your turn to show us what you have been working on! Here are the rules;

1. Please post something YOU made. It doesn't matter if it is crochet, quilt, clothing, anything would be fine. I want to see it! If you use someone's idea or patterns please give them the rightful credit.

2. Link to your specific post, that way it is easier for everybody to find and read it.

3. Please grab the "Tea Rose Home" grab button, and link back from your post. If you can mention the party in your post or place the button on your side bar, that would be great! I want more people to have a chance to come and show off their creation.


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Thank you for your participation, and making this link party sucssesful and fun!