Lotta Pillows

Posted on August 15, 2013 by oliver's fancy

Wow, time sure does fly with a newborn and toddler in the house! I am loving every (well almost) minute of it but it doesn’t leave me much time for extracurricular activities. I have been using every spare minute for fun sewing and now have an over-abundance of things to share with you….to find time for photo-shoots, however, is another story. Feel free to follow me on instagram (@brookecrook) for lots of gratuitous baby pics and a glimpse into our everyday lives.

First off on my list of back-to-blogging projects, the promised project from before-baby. I finished up these pillows the week before Eliot was born when I was so tired of being pregnant and wanted a quick, happy project. I have been hoarding this Lotta Jansdotter fabric since it came out because I have never found a project worthy of it. It’s mostly from the Echo line with a few from the Bella line mixed in. Lightbulb moment- new pillows for the living room! Then I can look at my beautiful fabrics every day. 🙂 I made three super quick and easy pillows- one fabric in front, envelope closure on back. I did baste the front fabrics with a piece of white kona cotton to give them more structure. This is the first time I have done that, and I will definitely be doing it with all quilting cotton weight pillows from now on. The extra layer gives just the right weight to the pillow.

The fourth pillow I made a bit more interesting but still easy. Two rows of patchwork squares surrounded by some essex linen in flax.

Our local Modern Quilt Guild had a pillow swap a few months back and my partner made me an adorable pillow using mostly Lotta fabrics. I love the additional pop this pillow gives to the others.

I love looking at my favorite fabrics every day and already bought some Lotta Glimma canvas to re-do the chairs cushions in my adjacent dining room. Hoping to have time to get to that soon except I have in mind an entire room redo so it will be a bit of a larger project that requires more time than I currently have!

Etsy Shop Focus

Posted on January 31, 2013 by oliver's fancy

I thought I would take a minute today to let you know about one of my new favorite Etsy shops- Meadow Mist Designs. This shop is run by Cheryl Brickey, who just happens to be the newest member of our Greenville chapter of the Modern Quilt Guild. I have been wanting a cute pincushion for a while, but have had too much going on to make one myself. At our last GMQG meeting, Cheryl happened to mention she sold them on etsy. I immediately checked out her shop and was so happy with what I found that it took me a week to decide on what I wanted. Look at some of her shop goodies!

Source: etsy.com via Brooke on Pinterest

In the end, I contacted Cheryl directly to ask for a pincushion with all Lotta Jansdotter fabrics. She put together the perfect pairing of fabrics and also made me a needle book and a thread catcher. Look at how cute they are! Excuse the fact that I took this picture in a poorly lighted room…We all like instagram pics every once in a while, right? 🙂

She doesn’t have the needle book or thread catcher up on her shop but I’m sure if you asked nicely, she might be willing to start selling those too! 🙂 This is not a paid endorsement in any way. I just love finding new etsy shops that are affordable and have good craftsmanship, and I thought you might also appreciate the knowledge!

KCWC Days 5-7

Posted on April 29, 2012 by oliver's fancy

Day 5

Did not make it into the sewing room until late Friday night. BUT I had good reasons and some of them have to do with sewing. See this big pile of fabric? I was alerted Friday morning that a warehouse in town was having a yard sale and selling fabric for $1. We’re not talking Wal-Mart fabric here, folks. They had Free Spirit, Amy Butler and many other designer brands. Because of my current car situation, I was not able to be there right on time. That meant I had the place to myself, but also had seconds dibs on the fabric. However, I am still pleased with the haul I was able to get- over 27 yards for $24! I figure that amount would have cost me close to $300 at retail price so I’m feeling very thrifty right now:).

When I got home from all my errands, I had about 30 minutes before my company arrived, so I ran into my sewing room and frantically tried to get something done. I ended up finishing one bib and almost finishing another. Not a huge accomplishment, but every bit helps right?

Day 6: Little Man’s 1st birthday party today- no sewing done, but I’ll let you enjoy some pictures of him in his mama-made birthday outfit.

He loved his cake:)

Our little family! Mama’s got her handmade Tova on too:).

Birthday boy’s outfit made earlier this week: Treasure pocket shorts, Appliqued onesie, and felt birthday crown.

Day 7

I finished up my bibs today. I started with the pattern from Lotta Jansdotter’s Simple Sewing for Baby, but ended up creating my own. (somehow, I can never keep with patterns and must always tweak them!) The flannel I was using was too thin for a single layer bib so I cut out a coordinating backing for each bib, sewed them right sides together, flipped them right-side-out, and then top stitched over the entire bib. I then stitched velcro on for closures. I am very happy with how they turned out- the flannel is soft but now more substantial. The pocket adds a nice touch. The bibs are definitely on the small side and will only work for newborns. I think I may make more in graduated sizes so when I give them as gifts, I will have a variety pack to gift.