A Birthday Bag

My lifelong friend, Corey, sent me this amazing new bag made out of Amy Butler fabrics for my birthday. Does Corey know me or what!?! I was just thinking today that I didn't have the perfect bag for our Hawaii trip and then UPS delivered this cute new purse today, the day before we leave!

I LOVE Amy Butler fabrics and the bag is the perfect size for so many occasions. I love handmade things. I just absolutely love them.

This beautiful bag was made by anadeau and you can visit her Simply Handmade shop on Etsy.

A Better View

When we bought our house over 5 years ago, we swore that these hideous ceiling fans with the short blades would be the first thing to go.

Instead, we looked at them every day and did many other things around our house. I didn't love most ceiling fans in stores and wanted ones that had a modern feel to them. Finally, I bought fans at Costco and we had them installed last week. I love the new look and they have a great remote that attaches to our lightswitch. Our new view. (It looks better in person but I took this photo at night.)

A beautiful new pincushion

My dear friend, Sara, who constantly amazes me with her talents, made me this pincushion for my birthday - a perfect accessory to my new sewing machine. The detail is hard to see in the photo but, trust me, it is exquisite. The small strawberry has little beads in it so you can sharpen your needles.

I just love this gift and am tempted to put it on display as a work of art somewhere in my home.

The Runner's Cookbook

Our friend, Jenny Crain, an elite runner, was hit by a car last year while running and is involved in a long-term recovery after suffering severe neck and head injuries.

This cookbook, which features recipes from world-class runners, benefits Jenny's Make It Happen Fund as well as the Ryan Shay Memorial Fund.

Ryan Shay was running in the 2008 U. S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon last November when he collapsed and died.

We just bought this cookbook to support these two funds. You can check out the cookbook here.

Homemade things for Babies

I love to sew and because I'm not that experienced, nor do I have oodles of time, I love making projects that can be finished quickly and easily. Here's my latest... I love homemade things for babies... blankets, clothes, burpcloths, bibs, etc. Here are a couple of bibs I made for a baby boy and a baby girl using cotton flannel fabric from my stash. The fabrics are so much cuter in person.

Keychain for Dad

I haven't been posting much lately (although I have tons in my archives waiting to be posted) because I've been so tired. Who knew it was because I'm carrying twins?!?

Since I know my husband doesn't check this blog, I know I can safely post this photo.
Wouldn't this make a great new Dad present? I wonder if she could fit 5 names on it. :)

From Lisa Leonard Designs, via Room Somewhere.

Roman Shades

My kitchen blinds are on their last leg and I'm thinking of sewing some bold new roman shades for both windows in the kitchen. The kitchen walls are green (specifically Fen, a Martha Stewart color at Sherwin-Williams) so I'm considering a bold, unexpected fabric that would be dramatic when they are down, and have a hint of drama when they are raised during the day. Here are two Joel Dewberry fabrics that I love from his Ginsing line.

Bloom - in Thyme

Orchid - in Thyme

Joy in Motherhood

"Women need to find joy in motherhood.

If you aren't finding the joy, you are doing it wrong."

- Lily Anderson

found on paisley and polkadots

Makes me want to throw a party

Just heard about Pingg.com. They have great designs for email invitations.

Here are a few that I love.

Beautiful Bookcases and Art

Love the vintage steel bookcases.

And, the large dot artwork is one I saw in a Martha Stewart Living magazine years ago. I loved it so much that I researched it at the time and discovered it to be permanently out of my price range. I had completely forgotten about it until now. I wish I could even remember the artist or name of the artwork.

Found on desire to inspire.

Map Scrap Art

I love this Map Scrap Art at the Bombus shop on etsy.

The map pieces are from various times and locations. The finished piece is 17.5 x 17.5cm. And, as for me, I have no idea how big (or small) that is.

Maybe I should do something like this with some of our Italy maps from last summer...

Artsy Clutch

Last week, I used Amy Butler fabrics from my overflowing fabric stash to make a little Artsy Clutch from Amy Karol's Bend the Rules Sewing book.

It was easy and done in less than an hour. Seriously easy (and I'm not super fast nor an accomplished seamstress).

Charm City Cakes

Belle and I just finished watching the Food Network's Ace of Cakes show. Charm City Cakes, a company based in Baltimore, makes the most amazing cakes I've ever seen. I seriously couldn't figure out which photos to post so here are a whole bunch.
They can make anything you can dream up. I wonder what I would choose... I know my hubby would choose a snow skiing one like this or a waterskiing cake.

Isn't this cake just so beautiful? I love the different shade of green on each layer and the delicate flowers.

Just monkeying around.

M&M madness.

In addition to this Candy Land cake, they also had a Scrabble cake.

So whimsical and fun. And, I love anything with polka dots.
How fun would this be for Father's Day?!?

Modern Planters

I love love love modern planters like these from CB2.

Now if only I could keep my plants alive...

What's not to love?

Is there anything that Restoration Hardware makes that I don't just love?

The answer is no.

Always classic, refined, and just beautiful.

Sewing Inspiration

Last week, my husband bought me a great new Bernina Activa 230 sewing machine. I've been so inspired to work on a whole lot of new projects from these books....
Amy Karol's Bend the Rules Sewing has great ideas and suggestions. I'm going to make this artsy clutch on the cover with I have on hand as well as a few baby bibs for friends that are going to have babies. I think I may add a little appliqué to the bibs too.This pattern book has beautiful projects. I used their letters as a guide for a special phrase I appliquéd on a quilt for a friend. I'm planning to make their Diaper & Wipes Quick Totes and try their Bib ideas as well.
I love Amy Butler's designs and this book is no exception. I'm planning to make quite a few projects from it starting with a new pair of pajama pants made out of her Olive Lacework and Linen Full Moon Polka fabrics.

Great ideas in both of these "Last-Minute" books.

I don't have this book...yet. I really want to make that little purse on the cover but the library doesn't have the book. Guess I'll just buy it but I wanted to glance through it first.

Sew & Stow... a title and description that intrigue me. I'll have to check it out and let you know if it's as great as it seems.

Do you have any favorite sewing books or patterns?

I love Room and Board.

I love Room & Board. It's worth checking out their website, ordering their catalog, or making a stop in their showroom if you're in one of the major cities where they have a showroom.
I put a stop at Room & Board on our list of things to do in Chicago last November. I loved this sofa - classic and yet so refreshingly simple and tailored. I love the pillows too. I just wish my pillows would always look so nice on our couches.
My dream outdoor furniture is modern and from their outdoor collection. Beautiful and simple. Love it.

Green Inspiration

I love this glass bubble knob. This is my favorite color. Ever. I could design a whole bathroom around these knobs. And, the pink ones are just perfect for a little girl room.

From Anthropologie.

Another beautiful kitchen

Apparently I'm collecting photos of beautiful, white kitchens. The backsplash is Cararra marble tile. Stunning. And, how would it be to have a low bookshelf for my cookbooks?!?

From HGTV.com.

Clean, Fresh, White Kitchens

There's something about a white kitchen that just seems so fresh, clean, and classic.

I can see me and the kids in here making lunch. I love the high small cabinets with glass doors.
I love the wood accents and the loads of light.

Both photos are from Desire to Inspire.

A Bigger Kitchen Remodel

I'm not one to frequent yard sales but a perk to early Saturday morning runs is sometimes, I spot the PERFECT little something at a fresh yard sale. Such was my luck on Saturday when I found this little cream hutch and stove.

I stopped and asked the woman how much they wanted for the hutch.
Really nice woman: "We're asking $10 but we're willing to take less if you think that's too much." (not much of a negotiator)
Me, trying to hold in my shock: "Um. That's fine." (not much of a negotiator either)
Really nice woman: "We have a stove too for $7."
Me, still trying to sound normal: "Um.... I'll take them both."
Then, I hurried home to get the kids and the car. I had to get back before someone else discovered she's asking barely anything for such cute things!
They are perfect with our first kitchen purchase on the right. After we refinish all three pieces, we'll have a cute little kitchen set for $29 plus supplies! And, the hutch came with a surprise: it was filled with adorable dishes, including the totally retro "Tupperware Toys" pictured in the hutch above.

Here's our inspiration from The Land of Nod.

Paint all three white with red stove knobs. Maybe green on a few accents. We have chalkboard paint we could put on the hutch doors. The hardware will be silver. I'm going to see if I can get two 13x25 scraps of linoleum for new countertops.

So fun!!

My dream craft room

Someday, my dream home includes an inspiring space where we can all create in our own ways...
Here are a few creative spaces I love:

This is Amy Butler's creative work space.
I love the idea wall and would love to post ideas and inspiration on a wall.
Another photo where you can see her idea wall.

This fabric wall would be so amazing.
Imagine a small scrap from every sewing project attached to the wall.

And, last but not least, Martha's craft room is, not surprising, perfect.
Great natural light.
Great use of otherwise useless space in an attic.
Craft supplies organized neatly and where you can see them.
If I can see my supplies, I'm more likely to use them.

Ahhh... Someday. :)

A Great Playroom

I love this playroom. The colors, the storage, the magnetic and chalkboard cabinet doors.

So fun!

Beautiful Bathrooms

I'm not a bath person but this photo really makes me want to soak in the tub while reading a great book.

When we finally remodel our upstairs bathroom in the next decade, the look will be inspired by photos like this one. Isn't it lovely?

I've had these photos for awhile and can't remember where they are from.