New Patterns Fall 2013

 

     It feels like it's been SO long since I've released new patterns. I think mostly because I didn't go to market and I'm super glad I didn't because I got to see my children enjoy an entire week of Halloween to the fullest! Speaking of children...my first pattern in this collection is called, Pixie. This pattern was one of my very favorites thus far. It was inspired by my little pixie, Remi and her little fairy wings. This pattern is easy to put together, but it does entail some small piecing...I won't lie. :)

 

 

     I tried really hard to keep it bright and fun, just like Remi's character. You won't see any white background in this quilt. Each square can be completed all on it's own..no sashing here! And then when all the squares are complete, you just sew them together and voila! You have an adorable quilt!

     When finished this quilt measures 44" x 60" which was perfect for my little gal, but if you want it larger or smaller, you can just add more squares...It's so simple!

 

 

     This next quilt is another fun design inspired by barn doors....

 

 

      This pattern is fast and simple to put together! It comes with instructions for both barn doors, but would even be fun to make an entire quilt out of just one kind of barn door. Don't you think? This quilt measures 52" x 48" when finished. I was sent some fabrics from a fun new organic quilt shop to use on this quilt and I just loved the feel of it. These fabrics felt a little heavier but they were equally soft. The collection is Free Range by Monaluna Fabrics.

 

 

     This final pattern is one I've had in the works for several months and finally got around to finishing it! It includes a mini version of both my Poppins bag and my Jumbo Glam bag! These bags come together so quickly and use very little fabric! I became addicted very quickly.

 

 

     They are small enough to be framed in a 16 x 20 frame, but still have pretty much all of the same features as the large versions! I promise the Mini Collection won't disappoint!

 

     I am listing these patterns in my shop as we speak! And all will be available in PDF format next week. I hope you enjoy them and hopefully they were worth the wait!

 

     Also, many of you have been asking about when the Shore bags will be listed in the shop again...I'm hoping to get that done soon as well, but please be patient with me, I am only one little person. :) I have been so thankful for all of your continuing support with that bag though!

 

 

 

Quilts and More Fall 2013

      I woke up this morning, remembering that this was the day! This was the day my favorite little clutch was going to be debuted in the fall edition of Quilts and More. So I hopped out of bed, prepped myself just a little for the public eye, and went for a morning bike ride.
     When I walked in the grocery store I couldn't help but smile, knowing just what I was heading for and when I went to pay I'm certain that cashier was thinking, "Why is the crazy lady in here all sweaty, with bed head, buying this quilt magazine?" Well had I wanted to make any more a fool of myself I would have told her that I was making my very first magazine appearance and because I had to stop and have a baby a long the way, it was a lot of effort to get this project accomplished and so I was very, very proud of myself! However, I didn't want to make a fool of my already sweaty, bed-head self, so I just paid for my magazine and walked away proud.

     I rode home and showed my husband who had already dressed 3 children and drug them outside to work in the backyard. I said, "Look honey, I have a 3 page spread!"

     He replied, "Oh, I didn't know it was going to be a centerfold!"

     All kidding aside, he did think it was a pretty fancy spread and so did I! I couldn't be more pleased with the way it turned out and it was such an honor to work with Jill Mead and her crew. Thanks ladies for all of the fun and great work on your end.

     Now stop reading my silly blog and RUN (or bike or drive) to a quilt shop or grocery store and get one for yourself, so you can make "A Simple Touch" clutch for yourself! It's super easy and can be made in 30 minutes or less. Go now, get one! It looks like this, in case you need a visual:

“Used with permission from Quilts and More® magazine. ©2013 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.”

And this is my Joy!

The Lake

We love our little lake here. The really warm days have been rare and so we go whenever we can. The boys are so good to stay close and play with Remi and they love play wild crazy sea creatures. :)

Ruger has grown so much since last year and is just the best help with the younger two. I wouldn't know what to do without him! I love the lake because it wears them out and I hate going to the lake because it wears me out and makes my home a sandbox. I guess that's the price we have to pay. Right?

I took all of these photos with my iphone and so some of them aren't the best, but I still love these cheesy little grins. They make me happy!

xoxo, tiff (and my toes that weren't suppose to be in the photo)

Shop is stocked!

I've been digging to the bottom of the barrel here, trying to list everything I have in the shop. I need to clean up shop a little and make room for new designs. I (lightly) used this banner for Remi's birthday party and no longer have a use for it, so I've listed it in the shop. There is 7+ yards of it and would work great for any party celebration! You can find it here.

This Poppins Bag was a fun display at market and I'm just now getting it back. It has the 4 exterior pockets and two large inside ones. Would work great as a diaper bag, church bag, etc. And it has those fancy silver rings to add a little bling, and the gold on the fabric shimmers as well. It's a bold bag and I've really grown to love it! You can find it here.

 And then this adorable Poppins bag is also from market and is still in the shop waiting for a home.

 I've also added a bunch of fun new Shore bags and some old ones too! Some have sold, but there are still a few left! I love this new crimson style! The red/pink colors really go well with the navy stripes.

 And I wasn't sure how people would feel about the green with the navy, but I just had to try! And great news for me...they sold out quick! Hopefully we can get more of that fabric in soon.

I also added more of the fuchsia and orange as well. Go grab them while you can!

 I hope you're all having a wonderful summer! We are keeping so busy over here with the lake and the park and cheap movies and soccer and swim lessons...really it's a hard life we live! I hope you all have a great weekend!

Remi's TWO

 My baby girl turned TWO yesterday! Can you believe it? I feel like it was just yesterday that this was happening and sadly, I still can't wear those jeans...I miss those jeans. I am happy to give them up though for what I got in return. Everyone was blown away that this little miss was over 9 pounds, but I knew she'd be a little squirt and boy am I grateful. I can't pack a big toddler at this point. ha!

 Remi you've been so easy and fun to have around and now you're TWO! You're still pretty easy to get along with, but you've had it with the camera. Smiles are out of the question. Luckily, our old favorite neighbor stopped by and got this smile out of you (thank you Lawnie!).

 This past little while you've broken out of your shell a bit. You've used your voice a lot more with your brothers and your words a lot more with me. It's been so fun to watch your vocabulary grow, even if you say things like "coke" and "no, no, no" (I know it could be worse). You love to dance around in circles and do some sort of little chant that I've never seen before and you either bless or curse everyone you see with your hands. You are a character. You have a great LOVE for men and your Grandpas, probably because your daddy is so good to you. And it's ok...for now. You'll take your daddy over anyone any day. You are two peas in a pod. You'd rather eat off of his plate then touch anything I put in front of you (even if it is the same food).

 You have the craziest curls and rolls that go on forever. You love to stand at the top of the stairs and yell "Ra-ga" and "Ya-ya" (Ruger and Sawyer). We paint your toes a lot because you love to be "pretty". But you'll take a power ranger or transformer any day of those silly dolls we keep buying you. You've started helping with chores, because it's what your brothers do. Your favorite is throwing things away and we find all sorts of things in the garbage. You also love to scrub the walls and the toilet and help with laundry. Swimming is your favorite activity! You can jump of the side of the pool any time and kick your feet like mad, while we still can't get Sawyer off the stairs. :)

 You love covering your face when you laugh ^^^ and you do the best fake cry I have ever seen! You can point and say, "eyes, ears, mouth, teeth, nose, hair, and head. You know where your hands, feet, belly, and "bum-bum" are and your belly button which is referred to as a "beep-beep" (thank you Roni). You love your sippy cup more than life itself and will take anything over dry cake, which is why we filled your bday cake with caramel syrup. Ice cream and watermelon are your favorite and you are a pro at chewing gum and spitting it out properly. You love to play on and under my sewing table and your favorite shows are "Do-da", "Uuuumi", and  "Diego". But above all the one thing you love most are your "shoe-shoes". You are clear on your favorites and love shopping for new ones. We just aren't quite sure what to do with all the "shoe-shoe" love around here, but we're learning. :)

You're just the happiest little ending to our fairytale and we love you so so much Remi! Happy Birthday big girl!

Patriotic Sale

Just thought I'd share with you that all PDFs are 20% off in the shop right now!

Just click on the photo above for quick access.

Happy Fourth of July everyone!

My heart can't take it!

Two years is quickly approaching since the birth of my little baby girl and my heart is aching. I've been planning Remi's little bday party with her cousins for a month now and the closer it gets the more my nerves and anxiety grow. How is it that all of this newborn goodness has already passed?

 She still has that birth mark on her forehead and the tiniest little nose. And her long little toes are still the same size...she wears a size 2 in newborn shoes...isn't that adorable? While I miss these days so very much, I also look forward to the days ahead. She is talking more than ever now and is fitting right into our family mix. I love you so much sweet Remi! Please stop growing up!

 

______________________________________________________________________

 

And because the fourth of July is right around the corner, I wanted to let you know (again) that the Shore bags are back in stock (did you see the cute navy/red combo), as well as the Oh Betsy! bag and Poppins bag. If you order by tomorrow, they'll arrive before the fourth! Have a great week! I'm off to celebrate with family and cry at my baby's birthday. Wish me luck! ;)

Oh Betsy! ... the bag

About a year ago my sister in law Betsy sent me a text in desperation of a fun little tote that could carry her wallet and keys and not get in her way of handling all six of her children. :) I thought about what she wanted for several months. I'm not usually interested in sewing smaller bags, because I really like my big bags (I heard once they make you're butt look smaller...I guess that could be true!).

As the months passed I was able to eventually come up with a design that I really like.

And what I love MOST about this bag is that it works in any fabric. I really can't say that about other bags. Typically a pattern is drastically changed by the choice of fabrics, but with the Oh Betsy! bag that's really not the case. Here it's shown in some Dear Stella fabrics. Which I am really going through a phase with navy and emerald. I actually just listed this little number in the shop.

 The next two photos are the original bag from the pattern photographed and modeled by Beth. Isn't she so pretty? I was so blessed to meet her at market a few years ago.

 This bag is complete with an interior pocket as shown below, two handles for an easy grab, or a long strap for across the shoulder. When making the bag you can even add little hooks for removing the strap if you want. When finished it measures about 11" tall by 9" wide and has instructions for adding a snap if desired. OH, also it can be made with only ONE yard of fabric! How awesome is that? Perfect for gift giving on a budget!

 And then.... the red and turquoise. This little number was popular at market and sadly has already sold. I love these Joel Dewberry fabrics (if you haven't caught on yet). I used a larger hook and ring size on this one and really liked it. I think I'll stick with the larger size from now on.

And to conclude my story with Betsy wanting a smaller bag... she sent me a text when she finished testing the pattern and said, "I love it! I think you should name it the Betsy bag!"

I wrote back, "Oh, Betsy!" ;)

If you have never met Betsy before, then just know that you're truly missing out! She is as happy as a person can get and is simply one of the best people I know. I'm so blessed to have such wonderful siblings and in-laws.

And I have listed some fun new Shore bags for people who just want the bag. There are three combos currently listed--bubblegum/navy, sunshine/navy, and the original orange/navy. So go pick one up for yourself if you'd like to skip over the whole sewing portion. ;)