more spring sewing!

my husband bought me this book a few months ago, and i finally got around to making one of the patterns from it.

i sewed the "boy shorts," hoping they would fit maximus, but they turned out pretty big. maxi will probably be able to wear them next spring, or maybe even this fall, the rate he's been growing!

luckily, madelynn thinks they are pretty hip.

i used some leftover elvis fabric for the lining.

this is by far the most detailed pattern i have sewed thus far, and i had a lot of fun, though it was pretty time consuming.

but they are perfect for playing in, and the lining makes the pockets sturdy enough to hold sidewalk chalk and bugs... you know, the usual.

coolest park. ever.

we got to spend last weekend in the dalles, oregon, visiting my husband's grandparents and playing in the best park, ever. we had a great time. it doesn't seem like it could have possibly been a year since our last visit, but it was. hopefully we'll get there a few more times this summer. and next time i'll think to get a photo of the kids with their greats. ;)

a haircut and a water hose.

i was having some serious trouble keeping maxi's hair out of his eyes. so the day has come...

my tiny boy is growing so fast!! this last picture is good for me. he was so independent while we were playing, that i was a little glad he finally had a moment of breaking down and crying like a little baby. after all, he is only 1.

:)

finished!

here's a look at my first quilt. i'm pretty excited about it. the top is made of recycled t-shirt material, with some jersey appliques and free hand embroidery, which is designed to mimic the lovely paisley on the flannel backing. the batting is a bamboo/cotton blend, which i've read a lot about and think is lovely.

:)

lino block print = note cards

here is what came of the lino block prints. the little elephants became decorated with the help of some embroidery floss.

there is a set of them in my shop if anyone is interested.

:)

learning to print.

lately i've been playing around with different printing techniques, including lino block and potato printing. i'm pretty excited to show you pieces of the results. the finished products will be in my etsy shop by the end of the week!!

i am loving these little elephants!!

i can't be the only one in the world who thinks it is funny to print a potato with a potato, right?!

:)

the lesson i learned...

today i learned an important lesson in quilting.

here, i have just finished my quilt top and am pinning it all together with the batting and backing. beautiful.

here, i am quilting it with the amazing thread i found that matches beautifully. exciting.

here, i am binding the quilt with what appears to be two different colors of binding. yikes!

why didn't i notice?!?!

and here is what i learned. it is MUCH easier to bind a quilt, than to un-bind it!!

but for the record, i'm not so careless that i bought two different colors. they are SUPPOSED to be the same. i'm just apparently oblivious to the manufacturer's mistake (/in denial because i just. wanted. to finish!!).

introducing...

carey's art shop!!

today i opened my etsy shop. i will be adding lots more soon, and will continue adding to it often, as the ideas in my head continue to materialize. go ahead and take a peak, and then come back every once in a while to check out the new stuff.

i hope everyone is having a LOVELY weekend!!

:)