craft corner in the making

Now that the flooring issue is over, I can concentrate on organizing the new sewing corner. Previous versions had a big table area and the storage was not so functional.

I found that I really don't need a big table, because I always end up cutting my fabric on the kitchen table (which allows me to walk all around) and sewing on my FANTASTIC little folding table (Muddus@Ikea).
So now I'm going to place the little fellow with my sewing machine in my corner.

Next, a little thought about my fabric stash: I realized I needed something to keep the dust away from my fabric, but I wanted also to still see the whole stash. Guess what? Smadal@Ikea with its glass doors is just the right thing.

Then, for the library and some other assorted things, I had some (Ikea) furniture to replace.

This is the partial result of the restyling:

craft corner 2.0 (almost)

You can see on the left the space I left for the sewing table, which will have also a brand new comfy chair with a fluffy pillow. I'm also repainting an old (Ikea... what else?) chest of drawers that's going to be on the right, below the wall shelf and the hearts. That would be plenty of storage.

When everything is complete, I'll show you things in details. For now, the only detail I want to share is a little Thun bell that a dear friend of mine gave to me on my birthday. Sooo nice!

teacher's gift - tote bag

Remember the teacher's gift I was working on? Well, actually I made this tote bag in half a day.

The tutorial is from jcarolinecreative and it's a very easy and quick step by step. This is my first bag and I think it came out pretty well. Next time I sew one, I'll keep in mind some notes I took on this project to get an improved version. I hopefully will be a little bit more precise in sewing the whole thing.

I now have a distinct idea of what's going in the bag and complete the teacher's gift. I'll show you everything when I have all the items ready.

the flooring issue is finally over!

We thought that maybe in the bedrooms upstairs it was better not having a tile floor. We thought that maybe laminate flooring was better. We thought the Smurfettes were going to like the change. We thought everything would be prettier. We certainly were SO VERY RIGHT!

Smurfettes' bedroom

guests room - detail of flooring

We also thought that it was no big deal. We thought it wouldn't take a toll whatsoever on any of us. We were SO VERY WRONG!

the studio disaster, aka bedrooms redecoration
our master bedroom is in a similar shape... well, a little better... we did sleep on our bed last night

But, boy!, how we like it now!!!!

And this is going to be my craft corner!!!

the soon-to-be craft corner

smiling with no words... and still speaking volumes

Smurfette#2 smiling this morning

teacher's gift

Smurfette#1 is going to primary school next september, so I thought it would be nice to give her kindergarden teacher a goodbye gift.

After browsing for some ideas, I came across a tote bag tutorial that really really begged me to be sewed. I gave up and so I'm currently working on it.

I don't really have much to show you for now, but I hope to very soon.

What I do need now is to think of something to put in the bag once is finished. Any idea someone?

embroidered bibs

Once in a while I like to indulge in my old love: cross stitch embroidery. So... what about bibs? I made these while I was pregnant with Smurfette#2, 'cause I knew I was going to need tons and tons of bibs.

This is first Smurfette#1's bib, made six years ago (more or less):

I don't know why I'm thinking (and blogging) about cross stitch, maybe the old flame is burning again...?

work in progress

I've just finished the blocks of the quilt I'm working on.

There are three types of blocks, and they are in two colors (lime green and turquoise in the center piece). There are 56 of them, with a size of 7inches (squares).

I'm going to piece them together in a lattice scheme with a neutral fabric, such as the one used for the "dividers" in the blocks.

The fact that I'll need to cut more blocks for a king size is obviously a certainty, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. For now, I simply enjoy my little soft blocks.

I'm also not excluding the possibility to add a sort of border, made with crazy stripes in the very same fabrics used for the blocks, that will run all around the (top) size of the bed... but I really don't know. It depends on how I'll like the block scheme.

I'm currently thinking about a name for this quilt, but it's not easy 'cause I want it to mean peace and serenity... we'll see.

linen confetti bags

In June Smurfette#2 will have her christening, and therefore I have some work ahead.

I thought about confetti bags and made some prototypes... the only thing I had clear in mind was that I wanted to use linen and dry rose petals.

This is the one I chose among all prototypes:

It's a 7inch square bag made in antique rose linen, loosely filled with dry rose petals (the perfume is really nice!), and sewed on all four sides. Then a toulle with three confetti is attached to the bag with a natural fiber string and a little lattice ivory rose.

I think it came out well.

bloggers' quilt festival - spring 2011

I'm going to take a leap and step into the world of real quilters ('cause I think I'm not...) and add my link to Amy's Bloggers' Quilt Festival.

You've already seen this quilt:

It's my first real quilt, the first I made the math for, the first with so many pieces and the first I challenged myself with a (simple) quilting scheme.

For the front, 480 triangles of wonderful fabric, mixed up with my iPhone random number generator (so much for the planning, uh?). For the back, Ikea fabric (which, by the way, is wonderful for quilting).

It's also the first quilt for which I planned a real back (others were simply white or beige).

I still hand stitch the binding on the back, 'cause I don't feel confident enough to try machine stitching yet...

All in all I think it came out pretty well, don't you think? I really love the way it blends with the colors in the room.

I'm currently sewing a twin quilt for Smurfette#2, who's still sleeping in the crib.

soft pillows

Smurfette#1 is ALWAYS playing on the floor.

Smurfette#1 harrassing / being harrassed by our dog

We had a couple of big (60x60cm) horrible pillows, with an old and ugly Winnie the Pooh fabric that I've been wanting to cover up with more suitable colors and materials.

So I bought two long beige zippers, some beige and orange velvet and sewed these two fantastic covers for the ugly pillows.

Smurfette#1 is currently jumping on said pillows, so I suppose I did good...

baby girl 'heart' quilt

This quilt was inspired by some photos, results of a Google search. I know, not so creative, but I was tired and very pregnant...

heart quilt

By the way, this heart quilt is my Smurfette#2's favourite quilt.

It's very simple and I love the colors: lilac and beige are just perfect together. The fabric is very soft and comes from my local fabric store. The square blocks are very easy and I sewed the top in no time. Both the back and the binding are beige and I must say the clean look is very pleasing.

smurfettes

I knew that Smurfette#1 was going to love having a little sister, but I didn't have the slightest hint on how much they truly enjoy sisterhood.

Smurfettes

Two of a kind, I suppose...

this certainly sounds true...

I just came across these words, and I think they are perfect for bloggers...

friendships are not decided on by chance but according to our dominant passions - Alberto Moravia


... just wanted to share.

lavender bags (takes three and four)

take 1

Ok, I promise, this is the last... After this and this, I tried to simplify things a little and the result is quite intresting.

The first take is made with a beautiful japanese fabric and finished with a pearly button and some ribbon.

Although the previous one is very pretty, I like the next best. The fabric is of a cheerful lilac and the wood button is perfect with the thin string.

take 2

(By the way, sorry for the blurry photos... not made with a serious camera)

lavender bags (wedding version)

In my frenzy for lavender hearts I came across this gorgeous fabric that just called to be used for this project.

I made two little bags as a present for a friend of mine that recently got married. The style is classic chic, in perfect harmony with both the wedding style and the bride wibe.

work in progress...

I'm working on a king size quilt for my bedroom, and in the past two days I've been cutting some beautiful fabric.

See the little block? That's the prototype of one of the blocks.


This quilt is the first I'm going to quilt properly. I'm determined to work well and plan ahead. But... I didn't cut the blocks with size in mind. Nope. I'm going to attach my crazy blocks one at a time and add whatever it takes to get to the proper size.

I tend to be a little obsessed with the math thing... and I don't want to be carried away with the numbers and miss the joy of the actual work.