alittlesweetness

wild thing and sweet thing

Wild Thing is officially finished!! yippppppeeeeeee! 

A couple weekends ago, Kerri and I were able to have a little sewing time when our hubbies went camping with all our boys.....we have 8 of those between the two families!  We took the 3 girls with us to dinner and shopping and then watched girly movies while we sewed.  It was really nice to have the quiet time and get our quilts done!

Wild Thing is a really fun pattern by my darling friend Camille of Thimble Blossoms.  I love how my quilt turned out!

Lately, I've gotten a few cute pictures of my little sweet thing, Ava, and experimented around a little with different looks in photoshop. 

These 2 are Pioneer Woman's B&W....

This one below is Pioneer Woman's Heartland (i think??)

These 2 colorful ones I used the Pioneer Woman's Boost.

This is my favorite new little outfit I got from Target for Ava.....LOVE!!!!

Pretty sweet if you ask me!  ;)

Have a great week!!

Tasha

my mini market ~ spring 2012

As you know, I didn't attend Spring Market since The Simple Life wasn't ready for printing in time.  At the last minute I was given a small amount of strike-off's to be able to come up with a few little projects for a "mini display".  I was thrilled that there would be something at market to represent my line, even though I didn't have every print and I only had a little to work with.

Here's what I came up with:

The Simple Life Pillow:

Riley Blake has the cutest trims to add to your projects. 

 

The Happy Tree Pillow:

Loving this sweet ruffly crochet lace....

 

The Farmer's Wife Mini Quilt:

 

And a little drawstring bag with a tiny felt doll:

I made up the drawstring bag and the felt doll tutorial is from Charla Anne.

 

I've also spied a couple of photos of my little wall hanging around on the internet....

(Photo from Fat Quarter Shop)

I am happy RB was able to create that cute little bunting and an adorable quilt from my red panel. 

(Photo from Precut Paradise)

If you see any other pictures around, please let me know, I'd love to see! 

So I'm pretty happy with the way it ended up turning out given that I didn't expect to have anything there at all.  Thank you so very much to the girls at Riley Blake for making such a darling display!  I love it!

Tasha

the happy and the sad....

Yes, there is happy and sad news!  I hate sad, but sometimes sad just happens, right? I'm just glad that my sad news isn't something much sadder.  See, already something to be happy about.

The sad thing is that I won't be going to market!  Waaaa!  (yes, that was a baby cry...)  :(  I was really looking forward to my first show and being able to meet (in person!) some amazingly talented friends.  However, with some troubles in the strike-off phase, it just wasn't possible.  I know....WAAA!  Can you pout with me?  Please!?!

Okay, so the happy?  (And yes, I soooo needed some happy) 

I was lucky enough to get some small pieces of good strike-off's back to create a few projects for a small display at market.  I'm thrilled that although I had already decided not to attend, since I didn't think I was really going to have a display, I'll actually end up with a little wall of stuff at the Riley Blake booth!  Yay!

I didn't have long to come up with some little projects and it was challenging as well since I didn't have every print in the line and some prints I only had mere scraps.  So I did my best to represent the line and worked with what I had. 

Do you know how hard it was to not have any red polka dots!!  They're a staple item in my stash.  Thankfully, the solid red was a great substitute and brings across that simplicity of this line and the theme of Redwork. 

I'm just giving you some sneek-peeks until after Market next week.  Then I'll show you everything I made and hopefully be able to get some pictures taken of the booth. 

I loved doing so much hand stitching for these projects.  I love embroidery and this line is perfect for lots of hand stitching. 

At the last minute, I remembered about Charla Anne's little felt dolls, so I quickly whipped one up before sending everything off in a big box to Kansas City, Mo.

I hope it all makes it safely and on time.  Crossing fingers, saying prayers.  Be safe cute little projects!  (eek!)  That makes me nervous.

So, although I'm so sad I'll miss seeing so many of you and miss seeing my little wall of happiness, I'm so glad at least a little bit of me will be there.  (In the form of fabric creations, but still...)  If you see my wall at the Riley Blake booth, please (PLEASE!) take a picture for me!!  I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Meanwhile, I'm going to still be pouting with a bag of some sort of chocolate.  Any sort is fine with me.  Especially in desperate times.  Not to mention, my husband and 4 boys will be camping over the weekend.  Hmmm?  Maybe a perfect time for shopping.  And nail painting. And chocolate.  Oooh, and uninteruppted sewing time!     

See you next week!  And if you're going to market, be safe and have fun!

Your sad and happy friend,

Tasha 

still here!

Yep, I am still here!  My life hasn't been too exciting lately, just taking care of the day-to-day things.  I've enjoyed doing things like making dinner and walking to the park with the little one's.  Sometimes I just feel like I need to be more available and a break is in order.

Like enjoying ice cream cones on a warm Spring evening....

and watching my son do his stuff and the skate park...

I also wanted to take the opportunity to make some baby blakets for babies in need, so I was able to round up a few friends from church to get that done and it was wonderful and fun!  (Thank you ladies!)

I took pictures in about 3 minutes and 27 seconds flat, so they aren't the best, but the blankets were super cute....

and super cuddly with fluffy, snuggly backings...

MMM!  They turned out adorable!

Since then, my 9 year old broke his arm while also doing his stuff at the skate park....he's also a rollerblader.  He always wears a helmet, but this time left the wrist/arm guards in the car.  (of course!)  We enjoyed getting Menchies frozen yogurt after a Dr. appointment...especially him...look at that bite!

yes, he ate it all!  (and needs a hair cut...)

I'm also thankful I was able to help my sister, who has needed round the clock help since she had back surgery a few weeks ago.  She has 4 young children, and she can't do any bending, twisting or lifting anything over 10 lbs for 4-6 weeks and she's moving slowly.  I stayed for a couple nights this week and will go another day next week.  Unfortunatly she lives a little over an hour away, and with the kids in school I can't be there everyday, but thankfully she's getting the help she needs. 

I loved holding this little fella, the one I made the quilt for.  I thought it would be a good time to get some photos.  :)  He's simply sweet and adorable!

For the most part, that's been what I've been up to!  I'll be getting back on track shortly though and hopefully have some new projects to show you.  If you're waiting for orders, I'm working on it.  ;)

Thanks for peeking in!

Tasha

*Edit* P.S.

I also went to this most adorable and amazing party with Ava!  Take a looky....it's so cute!  :)

easter dress

I know I've been a major slacker lately!  Sorry!  I have to admit, I've been enjoying the low key, taking-the-day-however-I-feel-like-it method.  Feels great sometimes, doesn't it?  Oh yaaa. 

So, back to reality, I have a few things that need to get done, and back to the computer I am!!  Not without showing you the little Easter Dress I made for Ava first though.  ;) 

My main inspiration and desire was to use some Riley Blake Chevron....aqua, of course!  I got mine from Randi at Fresh Squeezed Fabrics.  Then, because I knew I wanted to be able to use several fabrics, I thought Sandi Henderson's Knot Dress would be perfect.  Especially since I already owned it.  Even perfect-er! (p.s.....I don't see that pattern for sale anywhere...???)

For the other fabrics, I used what I had on hand.  Hard to do since I don't normally buy large cuts of fabric.  So, a little give and take is necessary.  For instance, at first I wanted the top to be the pink flowers and the bottom to be the yellow flowers, but because of the amounts available in my stash, I needed to switch those two up...but I love it!  I knew if I got a pink top to go underneath it would give me that pink near her face that I wanted. 

I love the chevron straps!

I used a vintage sheet for the apron, trimmed out with Lecien Flower Sugar and Riley Blake crocheted lace (ask Kerri if she has more white). 

And, not to bombard you or anything, but here's a few pic's of Ava wearing her dress.  The sun was very bright, so sorry they aren't the best technique wise, but I'm happy to have these anyway. 

I love this one of her because she was absolutely focused for a minute on just this one dandelion that caught her attention.  So sweet!!

A good reminder to stop for a few minutes, be still and just take in the precious moments that we have with our loved ones, our life, and the world around us. 

Hugs. ;)

Tasha

little bitties....

So, it's Spring Break and I've got lots of to do's with kids home, a baby shower to help with and Easter quickly approaching!  One thing I'm working on is some little bitty hexie flowers....

EEEK!  I'm in love!

I had fun pulling pretty springy fabrics for these!

These are tiny 1/2" hexagons, which I got at Sew Deerly Loved.  I don't see them in her shop, so maybe ask if she still has some not listed. 

And what are they for? I'll leave that part a surprise....heehehee.

But I can't wait to get these little bitties all done!

I'll be taking the week off of any extra blogging and shop to do's....just going to focus on kids and projects, but just for kicks, (and although I won't be shipping anything off this week) if you'd like a little spring discount at the shop, please enter COUPON CODE: SPRING20 at checkout for 20% off your total purchase.  This is for paper products and embroidery patterns only. 

Happy Spring!!

Tasha

winner!

 Sorry about the late 'winner' post.  Yesterday I spent the day around the house with the kids mainly.  I also cleaned out the very messy art/activity drawers, made dinner, cleaned the kitchen....that sort of thing. 

Anyway....this morning I used the Random Generator to choose the winner and this is the result!

April Bishop said...

I just miss the sun... I love spring, when it starts to make an appearance more often. Just looking outside my window at my kids playing in the street with the sun shining down... Perfect spring bliss!

April is a sweet and talented friend from church, so I'm especially happy to see that she was #6!! 

Yay April!  ;)

As always, THANK YOU to everyone who played....it's always fun for me to do this because I get to know more of you.  I love reading your comments and peeking in to your blogs as well...  seeing who you are and what you're up to!

Today, I'll probably do more of the same as yesterday.  I do have a few orders to work on, so that's first on my list. 

After that....hmmm?  what to do next?  what to do next?  don't misunderstand....I have a bazillion things to do!  It's more the deciding what thing is next on importance and then what thing i want to do most and then coming to a conclusion about what order those things end up getting attention.  Then some things end up getting done, other things just get started and others... nothing at all.  Certain things have to get done, where other things are optional.  Even though some of the optional things are still important.  Or more important than other optional things. 

Whew!  Did that make any sense at all?  I think you know what I mean.  :)

(Sorry no pictures!)

Tasha

new art, free art + a giveaway!

*GIVEAWAY CLOSED!*

There's nothing better than helping Spring along than some new artwork and a little bit of fun!  At least for me anyway....because I'm reaaaallly wanting Spring!  And since I'm not getting it in our weather, I decided I should draw some Spring instead.

Little Spring Friend has been added to the shop....

What says Spring more than a bunny and lots of flowers? 

Oh!  A little lambie you say?

Yes, we need a lambie....

Little Lambie is from my new fabric line, The Simple Life, which will be released in September.  This is the first illustration of many that will be available in my shop to match the fabric.  I'm working on a pattern for this as well. 

Little Bird has been around for a couple years now, but never in an illustration form. (except her little appearance in A Little Bird Told Me). 

It's simple, but sweet.  And all red and aqua!

You can get this with or without text!  Or I can change the text to another simple saying. I'm pretty sure I'll be adding 5X7's and postcards of this....let me know if that interests you.

Lastly, I had fun creating some simple art to add to my hallway and thought maybe you'd like it too!  You can download it HERE for FREE!

 

For the GIVEAWAY, I'll be sending the winner an illustration and an embroidery pattern of their choosing.  Visit my shop if you need to see the selection. 

To ENTER, please leave me a comment, telling me what Spring thing you are in the mood for!  Please don't forget this part....it's my rule!!!  ;) 

If you'd like additional comments, follow me on Pinterest or Twitter or you can Favorite my Etsy shop...for a total possibility of 3 ENTRIES.  (Please only enter up to 3 times). 

Giveaway WILL CLOSE on either late Friday night, Mar. 23rd or early Saturday morning, Mar 24th.  WINNER will be announced on MONDAY, Mar. 26th.  

THANK YOU!  

Tasha

spring snow

We were so surprised to see snow falling yesterday morning and it continued for about half the day.  Ava was bringing me mittens before I knew it!  Usually I like to see snow, but that's during the winter months.  When it's suppose to be Spring though, not so much.

On the positive side, I did enjoy watching Ava think it was the best thing ever! 

She thought it was pretty funny to throw snow at me!

And of course, she loved eating it.....

See ya!

 

Brrrr....that post just made me cold.  (sorry if it did you too!)

Next week I'll have some new artwork for the shop that doesn't have anything to do with winter or being cold!

Tasha

baby quilt

Last week I was able to get a baby quilt done for my new-ish nephew.  And what a cutie he is!  My sister is more on the modern style, so I geared the style of the quilt more towards that. 

I literally had 10 minutes (or less!) to hurry and take photos, so forgive the lack of creativity and the crease down the middle from being folded up before hand.  (Normally I would've tried to get that out).

My sister had mentioned to me that she liked the MM Bikes fabric and the japanese Elephants.  She said she liked the blue and gray combo with a little red, for winter since her baby is a winter baby.  She likes things more simple and not a big polka dot fan, so I resisted using noticeable polka dots.  I did use some tiny ones. (sshhhh!)

Making things for other people is great because it really does give you the go-ahead to do something you might not otherwise do as far as fabrics and the style the project is.  It's always a pleasure knowing you really tailored the project to thier liking.  Although I really fretted about the placement and different widths of the fabric for this quilt....I love how it turned out and I think it matches my sister's style.  

I think next time we go out to see them I need to get a picture of the baby and quilt together, don't you think?!  

Better than just a picture of a rolled up quilt!

Happy Weekend!

Tasha

P.S.  all of the fabrics came from Kerri's shop!!  THANK YOU Kerri!!  :)

 

strike-off's....a sneak peek!

At the end of last week, my first strike-off's ever from Riley Blake landed on my doorstep!  It was really exciting to get a little peek of what my fabrics will look like in person. 

I only had a couple days to go over everything, write my comments, ask questions, (sneak in a mini photo shoot), and then promptly return them! 

The fabrics aren't printed on the 'nice stuff', so quality isn't at it's prime, but with strike-off's you are supposed to be able to make sure color and printing is correct.  I have some color adjustments, but that's it, so I'm happy with that.

My Laundry Day girl was the beginning point and inspiration for the rest of my drawings.  As a lot of you know, I drew her over 2 years ago for an embroidery pattern, and shortly after as an illustration, both in my Etsy Shop.  So it's really fun to see her in new colors and on fabric!  She'll probably be available in the new colors as an illustration too....for matching, of course.  ;)

I enjoyed thinking of all the different "Simple Life" tasks and tid-bits to incorporate into the fabrics. 

Little chickies and hens, patchwork quilties, hay, apple trees, cute little people working and relaxing.....enjoying the world around them. 

Buntings, flowers, gingham and polka dots for a fresh, vintage-modern feel. 

I'm so thankful for this learning process...for all the patience, feedback, thoughts, ideas and support from the wonderful Riley Blake Designs. (thank you!) 

EEEK!  I can't wait! :)

Have a happy day!! 

Tasha