More good things

Here's Miss Ann and the tote bag she made:

It was a quite a project, but came out beautifully, loaded with pocket and heavy duty interfacing. She took a class at Southwest Decoratives (fabric from there, also, and we still let her into the store even though she cheated on us!!) Good job, Ann!

And another good thing - baby boy Dean is just a few weeks away from making his appearance. Jen goes tomorrow to get her c-section scheduled. We can't wait!

And more on my obsession with the baby robins outside my window: all 3 are doing just fine, and now have quite a fuzzy coat of feathers. Mama is taking good care of them - I hope to be able to document them until they learn to fly!

A delivery from the UPS guy today: all Amy Butler fabrics - a number of bolts from the Nigella line of home dec., as well as Lotus, Belle and Daisy Chain - some that we thought were just swell!

Good Things

Alright, now I hardly EVER do these things - you know, forward on an email that tells you to "forward to 7 people", or do those lists and pass them on.....but I was on a blog I like and she's doing a week of "Good Things".....listing a few things each day that are, well, Good. So here goes:
*the baby robins outside my bedroom window bring me endless happiness as I spy on them.
*my best childhood friend is coming to visit tomorrow, from Delaware, and I'm so excited I can hardly stand it! We met when she was 5 and I was 6, and though it breaks my heart that we can't live closer, I'm going to relish every moment we have together on her short visit.
*I broke out sandals today, and felt so light and breezy and I can't wait for summer!

Jen is making the Flower Girl Dress from Weekend Sewing for her 2-going-on-10 yr. old (that girl is so darn smart it's like talking to another adult sometimes) She cut out the fabric, and found that it didn't call for enough in the pattern directions. Grrrrrr......we're having many little frustrations with this book, but I still love it and will still continue to make things from it. Any one else have some insight/feedback?!

Speaking of smart little girls, a wee little one named Delilah was in the store today with her mom and grandma - I think she was 2? Anyhow, she sat and sewed with the lace-up cards we have for kids, which many kids don't have the patience to sit and complete a card. Little Delilah was so adorable, sitting and 'sewing' - I was very impressed with her stick-to-it-ness and her fine motor skills - such tiny little hands - such a cutie-pie. Kids never fail to impress me.

Signs of spring!

Here's what was just outside our bedroom window this afternoon:
We'd been watching this nest for the past few weeks, as the mama robin sat patiently on her eggs. We stealthily snuck peeks through the window, trying our best not to scare her away. What a neat sight to see the newborn birds today! My daughter Jane took this photo - pretty cool!
And the dress is done - here's Claire modeling it:

1st communion is still a few weeks away, but she nudged me along, making sure I finished it in plenty of time....nudging is what I need to finish projects!

Happy Spring!

Wooohooo!

I got up this morning and 1st thing went to the computer to alibi.com. Their "Best of 'Burque" was published.....(drum roll).....we tied for 3rd place in the "best new business!" What a thrill! A customer came in today and said "I didn't even know about it - I would have voted for you!" Yes, we kind of didn't get the word out too much about voting....we didn't know it was going on until the week before the deadline to get votes in!

So we're just tickled pink to get third place - thanks to those who were in the know and voted for us!

Here's Claire, wearing the "Jane's Head Scarf" from Weekend Sewing. I made it up last night - super easy - and was going to wear it today, 'till she spied it and asked if she could wear it to school. So I let her, jokingly telling her that she has to tell anyone who asks about it that it's made with Amy Butler fabric from Hip Stitch! Our kids are some of our biggest advertisers!

How cute is this?

Kara, you've been telling me how easy this is - and you're right! Introducing....our April project of the month: a tissue pouch! How much more stylin' can you be as you're blowing your nose constantly with your allergies? Or how about in church, when your child needs a tissue, and you try to discretely get one out of the plastic pouch, making as little noise as possible? (or is that just me?)
Just a scrap of fabric is all that's needed, and voila! We'll be offering it for just $10 - a one hr. project, which includes time to make a few or more - pass out to friends!
Thanks to Sew What Bags for the idea. (being added to the calendar shortly!)

Sewing in the dark

It's Earth Hour, in case you didn't know, which means from 8:30 to 9:30 pm tonight, we're all supposed to turn off non-essential electricity in our homes. Translated by a 9 and 11 yr. old: get out all the candles you can find in the house, and live by candlelight. As you can see by the picture, the sewing machine was considered essential. Oh, and the computer. Ten minutes left, by my watch, though this has been a fun experiment on our dependance on electricity!

This is the project I'm working on tonight - two simple sundresses for my 6 yr. old goddaughter. And this is the task I was faced with when I didn't have a bodkin at home:
turning 8 straps right side out! I had to resort to a safety pin, which I used for years and years before I discovered the bodkin....sigh....it took me so much longer....!

Here's my 1st project from Weekend Sewing: the Yard Sale Wrap Skirt! I just love how it turned out - I'm anxious to be able to wear summer sandals with it, as I just can't find any winter shoes that compliment it. I noticed an error in the pattern, with how much 45" fabric was needed (I even made a comment on Heather Ross' website -http://heatherross.squarespace.com/weekend-sewing-tips-tricks-faq/2009/3/16/yard-sale-skirt-one-panel-short-of-decency.html#comments - I feel so important - haha!) I recommend you read this page before starting - there are a few errors here and there with the patterns, but in my opinion, it's still a fantastic book!)

Next project: the Kimono Dress from the same book. I'm going to make it with Kara, a customer and great friend - can't wait to start!

They're here! They're here!

Delivered this morning.....Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross! I bought this book about 2 weeks ago while at Borders with my girls. A total splurge, as I rarely buy books - I head out to the trusty library instead. But it looked so.....delicious. And it is! All the patterns come in the book - I was up late last night pouring over it cover to cover. Heather even includes recipes to make and gather with friends and sew together - isn't that the neatest thing?! Now the hard part - what to make first...