Ranunculus in Pink: Inspiration for a Party

Tomorrow we're having a little party for a little girl about to turn three. I'll be spending the rest of the day baking  a cake (maybe cupcakes, too) and doing some simple decorating.

My inspiration for the party comes from these beautiful ranunculus and my grandmother's old dishes - pinks and blues.

Also, this pretty, old-fashioned party that was featured on Decor8. The cake with the sprinkles is my inspiration for the cake I'm baking today. I'll post photos later, if the cake turns out as pretty as I hope (I'm no pro, but I love the creativity involved in cake decorating).

Have a great weekend!

Alabama Studio Style & Sewing Green

How do you choose a craft or sewing book? Do you have a criteria? I had the "day off" on Saturday to do some shopping and basically be out-and-about sans kids and with no curfew. I decided part of what I wanted to do was go to a real live bookstore and look at some of the sewing books I see around blog-land. Oftentimes I will check out craft or sewing books from the library first, to get a good feel for the projects. But that's a very time-consuming process as I have to wait for inter-library loans and the new ones always have waiting lists. I felt like just sitting down and looking at a bunch - so that's what I did! Now, finding a bookstore in Milwaukee with a decent selection of craft and sewing books was a bit of a challenge. In the end, Barnes & Noble was the winner with about four times the number of books as it's nearest competition. I checked both independent stores and another chain. Do Milwaukeens not sew? Or, is the market underserved here? Hmmmm.

From the beginning, I decided I didn't have to buy a book, just get an idea of one I'd maybe want to buy someday. Then I thought I should have some sort of criteria as to how to pick one. With the proliferation of free patterns and instructions online, how does one choose to buy a book?

Here's what I ended up looking for:

1. Projects I actually want to make. Obviously. But how many projects I want to make would justify buying a book? Only one if it's great. Or a bunch of little, easy-ish ones.

2. A collection of projects not found easily online. Sometimes online instructions are not as detailed as those in books, or they can be hard to find. Or you have to go to this blog, then that blog and can't remember where you saw it. Sometimes it's just nice to have a bunch of things you always wanted to make in one book.

3. Can't put it down. Can't imagine leaving the store without it.

The two books I ended up with met all three categories.

Alabama Studio Style by Natalie Chanin is a beautiful book that is as much about the photographs and style as the techniques taught. The projects revolve around hand stitching (which I really want to work on improving) and cotton jersey fabric. I love cotton jersey, I love working with it and wearing it.

All of the clothing projects revolve around one basic sewing pattern - a very flattering tank/dress/skirt pattern. It actually reminds me of my favorite-dress-ever that I bought in Portugal when I was in college. Sadly, it no longer fits me - you know, it shrunk ;)

There are a few other interesting projects and many, many ways to embellish the fabric with applique and stencils. A fabulously inspiring book. (Oooh, and there are recipes, too!)

Sewing Green by Betz White is the book with a bunch of projects that I've always wanted to try. I love having them all in one place - totes, pants, blankets, napkins, pillowcase dresses, stuffed animals and much, much more. And so many clever ways to reuse other materials. It's a great reference for the many techniques that Betz White has perfected and teaches.

Look for my version of some of these projects on the blog in the future. Once I get through all the other projects I have started!

What do you look for in a sewing/craft book? Have you bought any good ones lately?

Sprouts and Breezes

I was down and out yesterday, hit by a stomach bug that's been passed around our household. So I am, of course, beyond way behind in preparing for Easter. No colored eggs or cute bunnies here. However, some of the recently planted seeds are very eager to grow up and show us what they've got (the cosmos, I'm afraid, is not supposed to be that tall at this stage, though).

We had gorgeous weather today. I think the main reason I love sheer curtains so much because of the look of them billowing in the breeze.

Jamie Christina Sewing Patterns - New In The Shop

New in the shop - cute sewing patterns from Jamie Christina! These pattens have easy-to-follow, detailed intructions and diagrams, including how-tos for sewing techniques. I speak from personal experience as I have made the Pretty Ditty Apron twice (see below). It is so easy to sew and it makes you feel like a professional with your handmade, boutique-style apron! I'm thinking of making a new one for summer, picnic-style! Below are the two I made previously.

Here is Jamie Christina's newest pattern: The Hooded Scarf. It has 5 different options and includes instructions for both adults and children. Suitable fabrics can be both woven and knit fabrics.  I think mine will be grey & baby blue:

 
Finally, the Honey Girl sewing pattern, which includes complete instructions on how to shirr fabric with elastic thread. Pattern includes instuctions for sundress and top. Wouldn't this be pretty with one of Harmony Art's sateens?

Seed Starting Weekend

This was our big project this weekend. Maybe, maybe if the weather cooperates tomorrow, I'll plant the cool season vegetables (spinach, peas, beans, etc) outside tomorrow. Of course, then I'll need some compost and I'll have to clean out the beds, so ... maybe not ...