A little Christmas Ensemble

My business associate (Mom) and I went Christmas shopping the other day and I thought I would poke around and see if I could find a cute Christmas-y outfit for the baby.

Turns out that my idea of "cute" and Target/Old Navy's idea of cute are very different.

While looking at all these outfits that were not quite my style for this baby, it occurred to me that I possessed a certain set of skills and if I couldn't find something cute for the baby to wear at Christmastime, I could certainly make something!

(Duh...)

I took a scrap of fabric from my stash and appliqued it to one of the baby's onesies.  Super easy.

If you know how to do a blind-hem stitch (the same stitch you use to tack down a quilt's binding by hand), then you know how to applique... it's the same thing!

And I went back to my favorite Quick Change Trousers pattern to make these little Christmas pants.

Voila!  I did all the cutting one night and all the sewing the next night: (almost) instant Christmas ensemble, and just what I wanted.

Happy early Christmas present, Baby Boy Butler!

Your Mom and Dad and the rest of the family can't wait to meet you...

 And I especially can't wait to see you in these little Christmas clothes !

XO,

Rhea

Christmas Houses

We had another Craft Swap at the shop last Friday night...

As usual it was a lot of fun and everyone came away with something delightful.

I made up a trio of  "Haus Sweet Haus" from the Wee Wonderfuls book by Hillary Lang...

*Love* that book and all the projects in it.

I chose red, white and pink fabrics to make up the houses: mostly stuff from my stash.

I love red, white and pink for Christmas because they are Christmas-y without being too "in-yo-face..." Christmas-y.

And I thought these would look lovely placed side by side on a shelf or windowsill for the coming months.

There was LOTS of great stuff at the Craft Swap...

 Sleepy owls and wide-awake owls made from a re-purposed sweater...

One of Dawn's signature zig-zag totes...

Donna made this wool-applique wall-hanging of her own design: it reminds me very much of something Sue Spargo would do...

A necklace and matching earrings...

And a Craft Swap baby!!!

This little dear belongs to my friend Chase, but at the next Craft Swap I thoroughly intend to bring my own little Craft Swap baby...

There was lots more to show from the Craft Swap... too much to fit into one post, but we really did have a wonderful time.

Thanks to everyone who came out to play!

XO,

Rhea

New in the shop!

2 new arrivals in the shop that I think you should know about...

The Washi Dress pattern by my close, personal friend Rae Hoekstra of the popular blog MadebyRae has been nothing short of a phenomenon.

Truly every body looks great in this dress and it looks so stylish and comfy... I wants one!

You'd best get your hands on this pattern while you can as it's a limited edition printing... once these nice paper copies are gone they are gone for good.

And I forgot to let you all know that the 2012 issue of Stitch Gifts has arrived at the shop, too!

The magazine has all kinds of new patterns and some favorite ideas to inspire you: 51 projects total, including my very beloved Matryoshka doll pattern that I made up for my little sister last year by local author and general all-around fabulous person Heidi Boyd.

In baby news I have less than a  month to go and there is still so much I want to blog to you about:

my Early Empire Cinch belts I have made and the dresser that Ollie refinished for the baby's room and pictures of some of the handmade goodies I got at my shower last weekend... and, and, and...

Hopefully I'll fit them all in...

XO,

Rhea

 

 

Gray things on a gray day

This is what it looks like outside our back window here at the shop today:

It's the kind of day that doesn't exactly motivate, but makes you a bit sleepy.

A good day to share some knitting I recently finished (as in, last night by the fire).

It's the "Full of Fluff" baby shell and you can find a link and some more info about the pattern here.

I love the neckline.

When it comes to knitting I am still very much a beginner, but I do love knitting an awful lot.

I made lots of mistakes with this sweater, but I had a great time making it and can't wait to make another (this time in a larger size and decreasing the sleeves every OTHER row instead of every row... details, details!).

I used this yarn.

I am a bit heartbroken on this gray day because I found out the Amy Butler Belle organic yarn has been discontinued by Rowan and we can't get anymore.

If you like this yarn (like I do), then you'll want to stock up while it's still available... some colors are sold out but we still have quite a few to choose from.

We'll get something else from the Rowan line equally as fabulous but I can't pretend to not be disappointed: I loved how this yarn knit up and loved the colors and loved that it was organic.

The cotton/wool blend was the best of both worlds: super soft and easy to knit with, with a fabulous memory and weight... especially for babies.

Ah well.

Last but not least I noticed Pam is almost done with her Penguin Family she has been stitching up, which will be a sample for here at the shop.

I thought they matched so nicely with the sweater they were the perfect "gray" indulgence on a gray day like today, so I snuck them in the photo, too.

The Penguin family is even a pattern by "BasicGrey", a team who design scrapbooking papers and also fabrics for Moda, so how do you like that?

I think they're awfully cute, even if the baby penguin doesn't have his eyes open yet.

Babies come into the world with their eyes closed, you know!

Enjoy this gray, gray, day...

See you again soon!

XO,

Rhea

Grateful...

• For friends and family who threw me the sweetest baby shower yesterday afternoon •

• For this community I live and work in: such a wonderful place to raise a child •

• For a husband who helps me snip tags and fold tissue paper after the shower, paying each gift special attention and pointing out his favorites among the loot, until everything is put away and organized and in its new special place •

• For the BeBand I bought at Target a week ago... how did I ever live without one of these things? •

• For every little kick and flutter and hiccup coming from my belly, and the feeling that I already have such a special bond with this baby because of his constant reminders he is in there, growing all the time, getting stronger and bigger until he is ready to come out •

• For an extra hour yesterday and some much needed sleeping-in time •

•  For an amazing local hospital, a midwife I really connect with, and the chance to ask a jillion questions at baby class every Monday night •

• For the interactions here on this blog with my readers: thank you from the bottom of my heart for checking in with me... sometimes we talk about fabric and my shop, sometimes we'll talk about babies and other personal stuff.  Such a great place to share and make new realtionships! •

XO,

Rhea

Late-Riser's Sale this Saturday for locals!

What's that you say???

The Late Riser's Sale (for local cutomers) is this Saturday, November 3rd from 9 to 5???

With 20% off all regularly priced merchandise???

Donuts and hot cider will be served???

And it's also the first day of the annual food drive and I should bring a non-perishable item to donate to the local food pantry and I'll receive a free gift???

I will be there FOR SURE!!!

XO,

Rhea

PS: On-line customers will have their very own Late-Riser's Sale next weekend: read all about it here, darlings!