A Pink Polka Dot Bonanza

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It's been a busy, busy week in my studio!  A few postings ago, I shared with you my grand-daughter's request for lots of pillows for her new big girl bed.  Maggie and I camped out in my studio and kept my sewing machine humming. 

Pillow #1 is a simple square pillow made with the yummiest, butter-soft chenille fabric and pom-pom trim.  I think it may just replace Eloise's "bah" (security blanket that she carries to bed).

Inspired by the ruffles in the Gussy Sews collection, pillow #2 was made with baby-soft flannel with a ruffle inset.  It was trimmed off with pink daisy chain and a few buttons.

During our visit to see Eloise, my husband took her on a discovery walk where she found a pretty pink camellia that had just fallen from its bush.  She brought it home and her Zeke showed her how to keep it fresh in a bowl of water.  When she asked for pillows, I immediately knew that I had to make a pillow with a big pink camellia flower on it.  I have been waiting for a reason to make it ever since I saw the original tutorial posted by Allison of Cluck Cluck Sew.

I couldn't stop with just pillows for Eloise's bed.  She asked for "other things" to put on it too.  What could be better than a doll made in Eloise's image?  Using the pattern from my new Fleecie Dolls book (see this posting), Maggie and I stitched up a Little Miss Eloise doll.  I wonder what she'll call her?

Maggie (middle) spread out across the floor. 
She's claiming the left-over fleece for her own pillow.

There was one other specific item on Eloise's wish list - a little light.  She explained to me that her room is very dark at night and she doesn't like it (Daddy, if you're reading this - take note.)  I just happened to have a night light that would fit the bill.  From the left-over fabric from the camellia pillow and the pom-pom trim came a pretty pink polka-dot night light and a  matching lamp shade too!

I thought her new room is going to need a few personal touches - like a banner for above her bed and a special photo of Eloise with her Zeke and Daddy, and a whimsical wreath for her door.  No mistaking whose room it belongs to! 

One last thing for the little princess.  She will be heading soon across the country to a new home on the East Coast.  What would be better than to have a special goodie bag to make the airplane ride more fun?!  I fell in love with the little ruffled knapsack made by Marie at Not Very Domestic.  I really loved the ruffles, but wanted a bag with a lining so I modified the Beach Bag pattern by Martha Stewart.  I took the liberty of filling the ruffled bag with tons of toys, activities and treats for the plane.  Didn't this turn out so cute?

My mother has put in her order for a ruffled ditty bag too!  In fact, upon seeing the pink polka-dot bonanza, my mom said she was changing her name to "Eloise" - too funny!

As Eloise's pile of loot continued to grow, I became more and more excited - the simple thought of the expression on her face when she opens her box of treasure.  My creativity was running amuck sparking the flame for the next project.  My husband commented on how this experience is the perfect analogy to describe how Our Lord must delight in fulfilling our requests. 

So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you;

seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you.

- Luke 11:9

And so I say to you, be like a little 3-year old and ask Our Lord for pillows, lots of pillows, or whatever you are desiring.  You may be surprised one day to see that He has fulfilled your requests beyond your wildest expectations.  Don't be afraid to ask.

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Today's Creative Blog - Get Your Craft On

Tidy Mom - I'm Lovin It

It's Your Lucky Day

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Bringing the weekend to a close.  It was an unusually rainy weekend

on the Island so I spent most of the time in my studio and kitchen.

The frogs in the wetlands are loving the rain! 

It sounds like a symphony at night.

 

In the studio, I worked on yet another design challenge -

this one from the Shabby Tea Room  with a theme of "Luck of the Irish". 

Here's my entry into the challenge.



The center medallion was cut using Cricut's Lacy Labels and

stamped using Papertrey Ink's Tag-Its Stamp set.

The glittered shamrock was from the dollar bin at JoAnn.



The little tag reads "It's your lucky day".

I made a slew of these cards with the intent

to send them to my new Send Love Today assignment,

the grandchildren, and a few other special

souls (shhhhh....it's a secret).

What should I put in each card for a lucky surprise?

My parents surprised me with these lovely ladies today!

Spring is drawing near!!!

And my husband surprised me with a wedge of handcrafted cheese!

Aren't I a lucky girl?!!!

Papertrey Ink Fun

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I received a box of fun from Papertrey Ink this week and
had a ball in my studio
making some cards for the Papertrey Ink Make It Monday Challenge.

 

Enjoy the preview!

Stamps:  Papertrey Ink Flower Fusion #1
Flowers die cut using fun foam, hand colored with a pink marker
and then finished with vintage buttons.

This little treasure is destined for my new Send Love Today assignment in Ohio.



Stamp Set:   Papertrey Ink Tag-Its #1



Stamp Set: Papertrey Ink Button Boutique and
Papertrey Ink Signature Series Dress Form
"Buttons" were die cut using fun foam and then hand colored
with a green marker and attached to the die cut card.

3/7/11 Update:  This beauty is entered into the Get Sketchy #77 Weekly Challenge.

 I made two of these cards.  One is available in my etsy shop and

the other is destined for a very special person

treasured in my life

(Shhhhhh ...  it's a surprise)!

Stamp Set: Papertrey Ink Tag-Its #1

This lovely lady is headed for one of our grand-daughters soon!

Hope you had a fun-filled weekend!


3/7/11 Update:  Linking up to   and .


3/7/11 Update:  A Giveaway Contest to put a smile on your face at Tattertots and Jello. 

Color Me Tickled Pink

Pin It Today I received a box of INSPRIRATION - two books that I just had to have for my studio.  After renewing each book three times, returning them to the library, re-ordering and then renewing each again three times, I figured it was time to acquire these little treasures.


Fleecie Dolls by Fiona Goble
and
Color Sense by Susan Levin

 Color Sense - Creative Color Combinations for Crafters provides a kaleidoscope of color combinations on 200 pages of high-glossy paper.  Susan Levin introduces the reader to color theory, the language of color and color considerations.  The book showcases monochromatic, two, three and four color combinations for the entire color spectrum.  The book also comes with color swatches (like paint-chip samples) and a color wheel for your crafting bag.  I'm hoping this book will push me out of my comfort zone into new and exciting worlds of color. 

Here are a few examples of color palettes I pulled together with just some things laying around my office.  



Photo Left:  Three color split complement - yellow, blue/violet and orange

"Split complements are composed of a color plus the two colors on either side of the complement.  These combinations have strong visual contrast, like complements, but they have a lower level of tension because the colors are not in direct opposition."



Photo Right:  Three color triad - yellow/green, red/orange and blue/violet

"Triads include three colors that are equally spaced around the color wheel.  Triads create balanced color combinations with strong contrast but without the visual intensity of complementary colors."

 I really need this book.

I would have never thrown orange into the mix.



Three color analogous combination - blue/violet, violet and red/violet

"Analogous combinations are made up of three or more colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel.  Analogous combinations are related to monochromatic combinations but often look richer and more nuanced."

 Fleecie Dolls provides detailed instructions for making fifteen dolls - all made with fleece.  Cutting templates are included.  There are patterns for several baby dolls suitable for a large age range, plus patterns for a pirate, an alien and a monster for little boys.

 This little doll, Florence, reminds me of our little 3-year old grand-daughter Eloise.  She is the primary reason for purchasing this book.  I can't wait to stitch up this little treasure for our baby doll!!

I think Maggie would love to sink her teeth into this monster -

especially if it squeaks!

Join me over the next several weeks as I begin to expand my world of color.  I hope you'll share your color explorations too!

"'I set My RAINBOW in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the RAINBOW shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. The RAINBOW shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” (Genesis 9:12-16)









Somebody Turned One Year Old

Pin It Our son, Andy, and his lovely family returned from Chile this past week, and stopped in Long Island so that Baby Rafaella Elisa could meet her 88 year old great-grandmother Elisa.  Rafaella just turned one this month so we rushed off a box of goodies to New York for her arrival. 

Nanny and Baby Rafaella enjoying the beach. 
Rafaella left her swimsuit in Chile and bundled up for the Long Island Sound.

A little handmade card from my studio, Otter Hill Designs.



Pretty daisy fabric and organic cotton batting for a hand-made treasure.

A little blankie for Rafaella to carry and toss about.

Pattern from Martha Stewart's website.
I machine stitched the quilting instead of tying.

What little hand-made treasures have you made this week?  Leave me a comment and let me know what you've been working on.

3/7/11 Update:  Linking up to  and










A Journal for Me and A Journal for You

Pin It After showing my husband the little pocket size datebook that I made for his mother (see previous post), he asked me if I could make him a Birder's Journal to keep track of the bird sightings he makes on the Island.  I was tickled - "Of course, with pleasure!".  A friend then asked if I could make up a Dieting Journal for her to track meals and exercises.  "I'd love to!"  Nothing pleases me more than making a little treasure for someone.

I used the same weekly planners previously purchased at JoAnn.  To embellish the datebooks with the personality of a Birder's Journal and a Dieting Journal, a vintage image was attached to the front cover.  The Graphics Fairy (http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com) has so many vintage advertising postcards with birds, it was hard to choose just one.  A silver place setting image seemed perfect for the Dieting Journal.  If you are looking for vintage images to use in your projects, I suggest you check out The Graphics Fairy.  Everyday the Graphics Fairy posts vintage images in the public domain for anyone to use.  Each Monday she features projects made with images she has posted, and these journals are on her Brag Monday List this week.

Wishing you a week filled with surprises and delights!

11JAN11 Update:  I've linked this posting to Today's Creative Blog.  Click on over to see many other ideas from those who have got Their Craft On too.