Weekend Wrapup

I hope all of you are enjoying these summer weekends. Our days are usually quite full, but I really love the lazy moments that pop up. I work just about every Saturday at the library, but I try to spend the rest of time enjoying my family and making gifts for those I love. These past months have been so heavy with work that I haven't had time to make much for the girls. I was very excited that today I was able to create so much with and for them.

Kiddo and I made a bird feeder while Baby napped. It's a fun kit from Joann's for about $5, and it gives you just about everything you need to make 2 feeders. All you have to add is some recycled 2 liter bottles and about 30 minutes of fun!

And then we made another quick and fun craft, a no-sew "Brave" fleece blanket. I normally would not consider buying this, I *LOVE* to sew. However when we saw it at the store, Kiddo just about wet her pants in excitement.

This smile just about says it all..

Of all the quilts and blankets I've made her in the past 4 years, this one seems to have made the biggest impression. Oh, well.. I'm happy to see her that happy. And I heard from a friend that Merida, the "Brave" princess, is now at Disneyland for meet & greets - Kiddo is just a wee excited about that as well..

And lastly I've finally finished this chenille baby blanket. I started it when Kiddo was a baby - seriously! It was such a fun class that I took with my mom, but just never had the time to complete. Faux chenille is popping up all over the blog world and it renewed my interest to get this done. Since Kiddo was just gifted the Disney blanket, I decided that this would be regifted to Julie.

It is super duper soft! They love stroking all the layers of chenille and played with it for a good portion of the afternoon.

If you are interested in learning how to make one, there are excellent tutorials at Dana Made It  and Aesthetic Nest. The only difference with mine is the binding. My instructor recommending using a flannel strip with the raw edges showing - it only adds to that nice fluffy texture of the blanket.

Love, love, love it and can't believe it's take me so long to finish it. I will be making more of these for sure - great way to use up my stash of flannel!

One last parting picture..

Today they were all about the boy cut shorts sans shirts.. And back at the pool of course!

WIPS For This Week

Hope everyone that celebrates Easter had a wonderful weekend. We had so much fun with family and friends. My mother & I opted out of cooking a big meal and went out to brunch - hand's down *the* best idea! Amazing food and no clean up..

Unfortunately a number of my WIPS don't have pictures that I can show..yet..

I'm working on a tutorial for CSI!! I am soo excited.. I will reveal more soon..

And I'm test driving a pattern for Tie Dye Diva. A super cute romper for the babies..

Pictures and a pattern review are in the works..

So what can I show you?

I'll show you a peek at my knock off rugs!

I've tried painting rugs with hobby paint, wall latex paint, and spray paint..

I'll give you the low down and tutorial tomorrow!

What do you have in the works??

WIPS for This Week

How was your weekend? Were you a project warrior or did you relax? We finally enjoyed a bit of sunshine here in Utah. I was sure to spend some time each day in the back with the kiddos. Isabelle would live in a tepee if we allowed it! Sunny weather meant I could get back to doing one of my new favorite things..spray painting!!

When we moved into our home over 4 years ago now, the previous owners left a ton of stuff; lots of birdhouses and odd colored shelves. The birdhouses got trashed the minute I walked in (sorry those belong outside, not all over my kitchen) and I put the shelves in storage in case we ever need them. Well lately I've been suffering some major mantle envy. A couple of my most favorite blogs have these beautiful mantle displays! And although we have a dual face fireplace, there is no mantle on either side. I decided I would prime & spray paint this canary yellow shelf and use it as a mantle until we can upgrade to real one.
It's almost done! Just two coats of primer and several coats of brown. I can't wait to have the hubby install it and I can start decorating it!

I also put the finishing touches on my Pottery Barn Knock Off Easter Garden Stake. I'll be posting Part Two of the tutorial tomorrow.

And my Bestie's birthday is just around the corner and I thought I'd try my hand at glass etching. I took that outside too. I was guessing the etching creme was pretty toxic and I didn't want to wash it down the pipes in the kitchen or bathroom. I had pretty awesome results! I'll do a full tutorial with my tips after she receives it. She sometimes reads my blog and I don't want to run the surprise!

I've been working on a quilt for my Etsy shop. It's a super sweet child size quilt, inspired by a sassy Minnie Mouse. Lots of polka dots and lots of pink! It just needs a few more strips and the top will be done. I'm not sure how I will quilt it. I'd love to do something uber girly.. Maybe a continuous heart pattern..

I tackled the sewing pattern to be reviewed this week. This pattern is definitely for the intermediate seamstress. However if you quilt, you will love this pattern! The cover and lining are free motion quilted and the whole enchilada is bound (what I was doing in the picture). I've only had to fix one boo-boo so far. It makes a very tailored coupon organizer!
And I gave our local 2nd hand store another shot. I didn't find much, but it was a Saturday and quite busy. I did find several shirts that will be cut apart to make a single dress for Isabelle. I won a gift certificate for the Soren Lorensen Design Etsy store awhile back, and Isabelle has fallen head over heals for the dress I got her. I'm going to try to recreate it so I can get her to wear something else for a day or two!

Both girls are under the weather so we missed our mom's group Easter hunt. I was pretty bummed, but luckily I hadn't mentioned it all to Isabelle so there were no big tears. I didn't get everything done on my list, but I did have a super fun girl's night out and now I have very glittery pretty feet!

Hope you had a fabulous weekend and have lots of fun projects in store this week!