Happy Birthday Banner for Maggie, Anna, and Lucy

 

 Over the last couple of weeks, I have been making a birthday banner for my cousin Sarah's three little girls.

 

I made each banner separate so she can hang them up how she wants, and they will work for multiple hanging locations. I made one Happy and one Birthday banner, and then I made one with each of their names.

 

 This way she can switch out the bottom strip depending on whose birthday it is.

 

These take a while to make because I had to applique each letter on the pennant background, but I am very happy with the way they turned out! Hopefully, they will help brighten up their birthdays starting in March!

 I had to share this picture of the scrappy binding.  I cut strips each night this week as I had time and sewed them all together Friday night.  Yesterday, I trimmed the edges and used my bias tool to make bias tape out of the strips.  I didn't measure the length as I was going along; I just wanted to make sure I had enough for the banners.  I ended up with 34 yards of scrappy binding!  I didn't use all of it, so I now have a nice bundle for my next project.  I like the way it looks all rolled up!  It is like a fabric cinnamon roll.:)

Daisy Chain Dress

It has been busy around here since Christmas!  I thought I would have more time to sew and more time to post on here, but it just hasn't happened.  I worked on a dress for Zerah over the last couple of weeks that I just finished by sewing on the buttons this weekend.  My mother-in-law sent me this fabric and the pattern back in the fall, and I have been eagerly anticipating putting it together because I knew it would be cute.

The pattern is The CuppyCake dress by Pink Fig Patterns, and I made a 2 out of Amy Butler's Daisy Chain fabric.  The navy and white polka dot fabric is from Joannes.  This dress needs a lot of fabric.  It should be great for twirling, and I may cut it all up once she has worn it to make a quilt.  I do think the skirt would make a great table runner, and it will already be sewn.:)  I added a ribbon from my stash to the front bodice for that extra embellishment.  I think it works really well.

 

The back criss-crosses and has a shirred strip.  This was the first time I had used elastic thread in my bobbin, and I was really worried at first.  I shouldn't have been because it really wasn't that difficult.  It was really neat watching the fabric gather up once I steamed the elastic thread.  It just shrunk right up; it reminded me of using shrinky dinks and watching them shrink in the oven, so much fun.   

We have been cooking and cooking around here.  Last night I made this black bean chowder recipe, and it was so delicious!   I love soup in the winter and I need to find some really good recipes.  A soup night each week sounds perfect to me.

I also have been playing around on Pinterest.  It is a really neat way to bookmark recipes or projects that you would like to try later because it acts as a inspiration board with pictures that you pull from your favorite sites.  You have to request an invite right now, but mine only took a couple of days.  It is really neat; I am on there here if you want to look at all the soup recipes I have started collecting.:) 

2010 Recap

1. Aubie Dress, 2. Apple and Pear Jumper, 3. Pop Garden Frannie Dress, 4. Polka Dot Frannie Dress, 5. Madison Dress Front, 6. Ric Rac Jumper, 7. Jackson Top and Shorts, 8. Oliver S 2 +2 Tunic, 9. Oliver S 2 +2 Tunic, 10. Kid's Week Challenge: Sundress, 11. Purple Gingham Seersucker Dress, 12. Robin's Little Jacket, 13. Playsuit, 14. Taylor, 15. Iva Leigh Dress: Pink Swiss Dot Front, 16. Blue Gingham Iva Leigh, 17. Claire Dress, 18. Tiger Dress Back, 19. Analise, 20. McKenna Playsuit, 21. Owl Dress front, 22. Navy and White Polka Dot Crossover Dress, 23. Polka Dot Party Dress, 24. Fish!, 25. Olivia's Garden, 26. Far Far Away 2 Madison Dress Front, 27. Auburn Dress, 28. down the clothesline, 29. Patchwork Sleepsack, 30. DSC_0240, 31. Circle Skirt, 32. Circle Skirt, 33. Anna Tunic front, 34. Springtime Tunic: audreypawdrey, 35. down the clothesline 2

I love looking back over the year and remembering everything I have made.  It is fun because through the pictures I remember why I wanted to make something and who it was for.  This year I made many more articles of clothing than in previous years; it may have something to do with a cute little girl of mine!  Zerah has already grown out of most of these, but I did make some for next summer; I am definitely glad I did!
   

I made three quilts this year ranging from a full size to a table runner.  This is a lot less than in previous years, but I think I was gravitating to projects that could be completed in a weekend or a couple hours here and there.  I worked on many that I hope to be able to share next year!

My absolute favorite thing I made this year is my postage stamp quilt.  I just love it.:)

I can't wait to see what next year brings!  I still have Christmas projects to post, but I keep forgetting to take pictures of a few things that I made for here.  I hope everyone has a wonderful new year, and I am so happy to have all of you that stop by this little space.:)