Easy Baby Quilt

So I have this baby shower coming up this next weekend and I've been going back and forth between several gift ideas. I, being the procrastinator that I am, have waited until 7 days before the shower to actually make something happen. I've been wanted to dip my foot in quilting for a couple of months now, but am aware that this is no 2 hour task. So I came up with a quick one hour baby quilt project that I think turned out very cute.

Materials Needed:

3/4 yard of pattern fabric

3/4 yard flannel fabric

2 packages of double folded bias tape

Thread

And here is how you do it:

1. First pick out a front fabric that has some sort of varied patten to it. I chose this striped fabric, which from afar kind of looks like a quilt already. Other fun patterns could be like this, or this, or this. I got my fabric from Hancock's and I'm not sure who designed it.

For the back I chose a solid pink flannel. Very cosy and I wanted it to be solid so that you could see the stitching I would add to make it "quiltish"


2. I cut one rectangle of each out. My dimensions were 20" x 35" but you could do whatever size you would like. Then I set my machine on my favorite stitch pattern (see the scallops) and I went down every pink and green row. If you machine doesn't have fancy stitch patterns that's OK. Set it to a zigzag stitch, that would be just as cute.


So the I took the brown double fold bias tape I bought and I ironed it open to make for a thicker border. I like using this instead of the baby blanket trim you can buy because it is less flimsy and comes in more colors.

Note: There are fusible bias tapes out there (which means you can iron your border together instead of sew) I've never gone this route, but let me know if you try.


Then I placed the pieces around my big rectangle and cut the corners to a 45 degree angle. Then, like you would do when sewing a pillow, you sew the inside faces of your 45 degree angles together. Then flip them back out, push those corners back to their point, fold into frame shape and iron.


You slide your big middle piece into the picture frame and stitch around the border. Again, I used my favorite stitch.

So it's not technically a quilt...but it's quiltish and it only took about an hour. Which if anyone has craft ADD like me, you'll enjoy this one.

Happy Semi-Quilting!
Sandra Lee from Semi-Homemade would be so proud

If you have any questions feel free to email me.

Workin' Nine to Five...

...More like 8am-9pm! So I have not been crafting alot the past two weeks, I've been working. But it has been fun, so I thought I would share. There are three projects that are on my desk right now and they are all in different stages of the design process.

It has been a two year process for this first one. I was the Interior Designer for a local spec office building. It was the first thing I worked on when I came to Memphis. It's not ground breaking design by any means and the client had a very strong vision for exactly what they wanted, but it's fun to compare original sketches to the final product.

So here is the lobby

This is the custom light fixture and ceiling. I'm only 50% pleased with this fixture. One of the hazards of my job is that some things look better in my head and in my renderings than they do in real life. It's not terrible, it's just not exactly what I had in mind.

I also designed the restrooms. Here is the rendering I presented.

And here is the near completed product.

Note: Those plastic plants were not picked out by yours truly. If I were going to pick out a live plant (plastic not even being an option) I would have gone with the grass (see rendering)


I was also the Interior Designer for one of the tenants for the building. It is not as far along in the construction process as the public spaces. Here is the sketch I presented of their lobby.


This is a close up of that feature wall in the making. See the box...it will soon glow.


Conference Room
(I borrowed one of the iPod dancers for this shoot :), I thought her cell phone to the ear pose was much more appropriate than her typical wild dance moves)


Conference Room ceiling looking the opposite direction. This man asked me why I couldn't just make the ceilings flat...what fun would that be?!


The GC on this project is great. Here is an example why...

A wall with all my paint colors to help me with any last minute freak outs and to avoid an uhhh...it looked much better on the paint chip moment. Unfortunately I've had a few.

And my current assignment that gets me excited about going to work.....
It's an elementary school! And it's two blocks from my house. And it may sound weird to other Interior Designers but I've always wanted to work on an elementary school. And the extra exciting thing about this one is they have a fairly descent budget!! I just presented this today and it went very well, especially considering that this school is in a very historic part of town and has an very strict board of approvals. But I threw them this "concept" of the ceiling element being a "ribbon" wrapping up the "gift" of a new building and I think they liked it. Hopefully the board will as well. One of my bosses said I was full of you know what, but I think he meant it as a compliment.

Here are some other views of the main lobby, the color palette, and one little library sketch.

Wouldn't you think you were so cool if you went to school here?! I would, but I suppose I am partial.

So that's what's on my desk this week and the reason I have not been able to post any fun crafts. But stay tuned...I'll be home for the Labor Day weekend and if all goes as planned there will be crafts!

Go Neighbor Go!

I was once again addicted to the Olympics last night. I commented to Bryan that I wished this went on all year…which I know would not be possible for a number of reasons and would definitely take all the fun out of it. But I would like to give a big Way to Go to our Canadian neighbors for their awesome platform diver Emilie Heyman. She was a trooper! She is a normal size 26 year old woman who really hung in there when diving against China’s 75 pound Chen Roulin, who ultimately took home the gold. I do like to watch that little bit Roulin and her side kick Wang Xin dive. It’s almost like watching a small child and you can see by my crafts that things relating to children are always cuter. But I do have to point out that it’s not really fair because of course they are going to make a smaller splash, they are super small people.

But back to Emilie…so focused…so talented…and such a graceful silver metal winner! She could have been like several people I’ve seen who get all in a huff and cry and whatnot because they didn’t get first. Hello…I am not especially talented in anything..how would you feel about that? But I do understand that these people train all year for this one thing and it’s very hard not to be emotional about a less than perfect performance.

But I took even more pride in Emilie’s win because her country is connected to ours. I love Canada. Never been there, but I stayed with two Canadians when I was in Cinque Terra a few years ago and they were super cool. And I know some Americans whose parents made them sew Canadian flags on their backpacks that same summer…so I feel like I have a special bond with Canada and thus I was rooting for them hard last night.

The pressure was on and you did your best. Good job Emilie…you make North America proud!

Waitress Cookies

My sweet friend Melissa fed our pets for us this past weekend while we were out of town. I wanted to practice my decorative cookie technique for a shower I am throwing next month so I made her some waitress cookies (since she served our animals food...get it?)

Inspired by my favorite Waitress.

Ta-Da

I am still perfecting my technique for mass distribution (baby shower party favors)

I need a piping recipe that is a little harder than what I'm doing now. Any suggestions? I'm just doing the confectioner sugar, egg whites, food coloring recipe. Not hard enough. I need to be able to stack them without them smudging. I tried butter cookies instead of sugar this time. My other major problem the last time I tried these was that the sugar cookies spread too much in the oven and lost their original cookie cutter shape. Any decorative cookie genius' out there that want to share some tips with me? I know you're out there. I've stalked your blogs.

Aren't my pets are so crafty!...and what penmanship.

My Morning Jacket

Have you heard of them? I love them. Two years ago I heard their second CD in the car with some friends and have been hooked ever since. This Friday they played in my hometown Nashville. Bryan and I decided we had to make the trip to see them live. And...it was awesome! Any band that includes a slide guitar, a saxophone, and a mid performance cape gets an A+ in my book.

Here is a home video for your listening/ viewing enjoyment. The guitarist is from Nashville and is the star of this video...along with the guy playing the air drum at the end.

The Cutest Bag I've Ever Made

So there are not many bags on this blog, although I've made a million. I went through that phase about 3 years ago, before I discovered blogging. I made baby bags, I made tote bags, I made every type of bag you could think of. At one point my mom had me contracted out to make bags for her friends and then later I subjected myself to making bags for all of my bridesmaids, flower girls, and attendants in my wedding (and I'm from the south, it was not a small wedding party).

Once you go craft you never go back (if that gets as big as that's hot...someone better give me credit). You feel like your selling your friends and family short when you go with store bought...when half the time they would probably like the store bought better. Anyhow, I made a bag this afternoon and I'm very proud of it. I love it. I want to keep it for myself...but it's not for me.

Introducing.... the cutest bag I've ever made.

I love how wide the straps are, it's my favorite part. And I used my favorite stitch to sew the inside to the outside...don't know if you can see that. The best part is I made it in one hour! Raise your hand and I'll come over and teach you how.

This is a self portrait of myself (obviously) and the bag. Don't think of it as blurry...think of it as an action shot.

I call her The Kate Bag

Bootie Design Development- Phase I

So I'm trying really hard to come up with the cutest, most well constructed, best designed booties ever. I know it's a little late seeing as the bootie competition is over, but I obviously have room for improvement...I didn't get first. Which I would like to re-emphasis that I cannot believe I even won. I've been looking at other people's booties all week trying to come up with my new prototype and there were waaaaaaaaaay cuter booties than mine. The judges must have liked green.

Here is where I am. From what I've read of real mom comments, these probably would not stay on very well.


Love the back detail on this one.



And on this one I was trying to pull some inspiration from the first place winner, but it's not really there. I don't like the exposed elastic. Still working on that detail.


I'm obsessed with booties...can you tell?

Walk Score

Have you ever heard of it? Well now you have. Here is the website

http://www.walkscore.com/

You type in your address and it tells you the walking distance to all types of things like parks, grocery stores, libraries, and restaurants. There are so many things within a mile of my house. When you are so used to driving I think you loose perspective on how close things are to walk to. The score for our house was an 85! I was proud. Here she is, smiling on account of her great location.

I figure the more I walk the less I have to go to the gym.

What does your house score??

International Fashion Police

I would like to interrupt this mostly-craft blog to bring you an update on world fashion. I would like to declare a this code red alert. The world has gone mad in the fashion department. Did anyone watch the Olympic Opening Ceremonies? I mean seriously!? The world is watching..is that the best you can do?

Australia- not the worst. Their Olympians are attractive people so that helped the clothes. But to me it's a cross between flight attendant and freshman sorority girl.

P.S. How did the girl in the middle get to loose her jacket and

neckerchief...doesn't seem fair to me.

I have no comment on this one...except maybe Go Vols!

France...so close. This was the best Westernized clothing I saw (the best overall being the traditional African outfits, you can't go wrong with that) These are also attractive people. Love the hats, love that square bottom tie, love the blazer, love the red belt...BUT what's up with that side strap matchy-matchy purse. You were doing so good and then you blew it...so 1992.

And representing the home team we have Mr. Ralph Lauren. Ralph you brought us the polo shirt. You brought us the white top/ khaki bottom beach combo. You brought us the sweater over the shoulders (still not sold on that) Point being, you have defined the sophisticated, classic American look. What is this!? ... obviously stealing from the Aussies on the flight attendant jacket...white pants could go either way with me...but the hat!??! What are we representing, the classic golf caddie look? To me it looks more like something K-Fed or Britney Spears would wear with a wife beater shirt.

The WORST by far was Hungary, but I can't find a good picture.

And let's all give a round of applause to the real heroes of this runway event. The poor Chinese women who had to dance cheerleader style (spirit fingers and all) for the entire ceremony. I thought your outfits rocked, especially the built in water bottle holder on you hip. Fashion is one thing, but survival should always comes first.

Bye Bye Birdie

or better yet...craft accomplished.

I made the birdies today. I love fast crafts. I work half days on Fridays...love summer hours. So I came home and got straight to the birdies. They now reside on my fireplace mantel. My tips for trying this are.

1. Cut a little wider than the pattern on the tail connection. If it gets too tight it's impossible to flip.
2. Iron on some fusible stiffener to the back of the fabric before you sew. If not your sewing machine will suck that little beak right down.
3. Use more fun fabric than I did. I love this fabric for the previous project I bought if for, but I wished I had some more fun blacks and whites or stripes. I do love how they go with the tree outside the window.

I tied them to the branches with brown thread and it turned out really cute because it kind of looks like bird feet.


Oh and did you notice I didn't actually make a mobile? I already had these sticks in this vase and totally forgot about it. When I came home the other night and told Bryan my idea he was like " uh..why don't you just put them on those sticks". Obviously he didn't like the thought of too make stick decorations around the house. So I count this craft and home decorating effort as a team project.

I'm thinking they need names. I had parakeets as a child, Superman and Lemon-Head. Neither of those names are going to work for these birds. Any ideas? They need names so that when Zoe finally notices them I can say "No Zoe leave __________ alone."

Birdie Mobile

I want to make this.

Except I want to make it longer. Like a big art mobile, instead of a baby mobile. No babies in my house. If you didn't know me, you might assume otherwise by my blog topics. I just have allot of reproducing friends. Sometimes I have baby cats for play dates at my house, but no baby people. Speaking of cats, wouldn't Zoe love this. I'm thinking over this chair.

What do you think? Too much? Maybe over my side of the bed would be better.

Don't you love Photoshop? What would I do without it? I tell you what I would do...some really bad Interior Design. I portray myself as someone gifted with visualization skill. I would like to confess that those skills are computer enhanced, but what isn't these days?

P.S. I know I've got some other outstanding crafts I've promised. I'm working on it. And for those who have requested it, I'll get an up close shot of that pillow.

P.P.S. Why won't my pictures enlarge anymore?! Any smart blogger-techie types have a clue?

Redeeming Love

Read this book! You know those kinds of books that you close and your just like "uhhhh"...(that was a good uhhhh) like you are emotionally drained but wish it would just keep on going. That is where this book will take you. It is based on the Old Testament story of Hosea the Prophet and Gomer ,a prostitute. And if you've read this book of the Bible you'll agree, no one likes Gomer. The whole time your thinking...what the heck is her problem. But this book will make you LOVE Gomer...or at least have some serious compassion for Gomer. This book teaches you how every woman is dying to be loved.

I'm trying to get my husband to read it. Doubt it will happen with the woman in a dress on the cover. I wish they would have put a field or something. I would have had a better chance. READ IT and then call me to talk about how great it was.

What the Craft!?

Cheesy title, I know. I had to use it in a sentence. It was supposed to be the name of my booth at the Cooper Young Festival this year, but I didn't get my application in on time.

But on to more serious matters. I have a very important public announcement to make. If you craft and you blog...choose your words very carefully and give credit where credit is due...allow me to explain.

Last week I posted that I was scheduled to do a little felt on felt crafting, inspired by a new line by Hella Jongerius for Maharam. As you can read below, I love Hella and am in awe of her awesome designs. I also love Maharam. For those of you who are not in the design world, Maharam is to fabric as Q-Tip is to cotton swab...get it? Anyhow, they've been around forever and have facilitated many great designers to do their thing and become super famous for it. This includes my all time favorite duo, Ray and Charles Eames. I love them so much that I tried to get Bryan to go to architecture school in lieu of medical school (crazy I know) so we could attempt to be the next Ray and Charles Eames (again, I know I'm crazy). Maharam is responsible for keeping the Eames Jacks Pattern in production and for a couple years I tried to include it in every project I worked on. I was obsessed...see renderings (and no picking on renderings, they were pre-Viz.)

So back to the man watching you...I am sitting at my desk on this typical Monday morning when suddenly there appears a FedEx package. Well two FedEx packages, but I was expecting one of them. I tear into the unknown package and see what looks like a fabric sample...of the Maharam fabric that I mentioned below. I did not mention in my previous post that this fabric is so exclusive (and expensive) that they do not even sample it like typical fabrics. You can order a loaner piece, that you must return to your rep asap. So my immediate reaction is What the heck, I don't remember asking Jean Marie for this...I've got to get this back to her before I mess it up and owe her $250.

I go to take the fabric out of the box and realize it's a pillow....and there is a note inside. See above.

I know! Crazy huh!? I'm being watched by the fabric mafia. It's like the Sopranos but more colorful and needles instead of guns. Here is a glimpse of my reaction to what has become a very atypical Monday morning. (Holding the new pillow)

Before today I honestly didn't know much about Michael Maharam. Thanks to the Internet, I've been able to do a little research of my own. He wouldn't like the picture of Zoe on my desk. He has an awesome appreciate for design and the art of textiles and has even been able to get his product into Moss, New York's leading design emporium. And unlike our Republican candidate for President, he uses the Internet.

To Mr. Maharam: If you happen to Google yourself or your company today, thanks for my pillow! I don't see myself ever being in the fabric manufacturing field and I've never sold any of my crafts. But if you are ever looking for a no-name-wanna-be fabric designer for your next line, send me another letter. I've got a million ideas and seeing as I'm not in the MoMA, I'm probably the best bargain around. I'll continue to practice my craft, inspired by your craft, in the meantime. Thank you, thank you, thank you....you made my day.

To anyone else who reads my blog (which I've always assumed was about 5 people): The Mahram Layers collection is $250/yard because it's allot of hard work, trust me I've tried it. I'm on my third attempt with no real resemblance. Thank you Hella for your inspiration...I'm going to try really hard to specify your product to legitimize this whole experience.

P.S. Michael Maharam, the CEO of Maharam, said I had a cute blog!