Bananas For Bananas

The lovely Shari from Rotten Bananas is an amazingly talented professional quilter. Visit her Red Llama Studio to see the amazing custom quilts she has created. Then, stop by her blog for fun stories, craft ideas and inspiration. Hurry -- because Friday she will be giving away one of these awesome bags! Simply visit Shari's blog to enter.

More Valentine's Stuff

Valentine's Day is sneaking up on us! I know it's overly-commercialized, but it's hard not to like a holiday that's all about LOVE, right?

For the headband "flower," I wanted to do a sort of "inverted" yo-yo. To make one, just cut a long strip of fabric and sew up one side with a long basting stitch -- it will pretty much just gather itself. Pull the threads a little to cinch it some more and then just sew the ends together on the sewing machine. For the middle, use a regular button or one covered in the same fabric, and then sewed the "flower" part to the button (or the shank of a covered button) with needle and thread. Attach the flower to the headband with hot glue (like I did) or your preferred method. By the way, I got the headband (part of a set of six) as the Claire's Boutique Outlet for not too much. I guess you can find supplies for your crafty obsession just about anywhere.

Also that cool corduroy skirt with the tulle pettiskirt is from Target! $10! And it looks like it will still fit next year. I love that place.

Head over to One Pretty Thing for more Valentine's ideas. You can select the "Valentine's Round-up" category from the drop down menu, check the box for "only show similar posts" and then scroll back through all Rachel's previous Valentine's day roundups. Also, check out this amazing wreath that artist Alisa Burke made out of junk mail. Now THAT is serious talent and creativity. Amazing!

Awesome Book Giveaway

I would really like to win the One Yard Wonders book that Jaime & Jacinda from Prudent Baby are giving away. BUT if I can't win, I'd really like you to win! So go enter. Drawing closes Monday night. Good luck!

Adorable Owl-y Giveaway

The adorable and talented Becca from Naptime Journal is giving away this super-cute owl on her blog. Head over there between now and Sunday, January 17, to enter. While you are there, check out all her clever projects and tutorials. She also has an Etsy shop with lots more owl-y cuteness. Good luck!!!

Miscellaneous Dollhouse Info

Hi there. I'm still plugging away on the dollhouse project. It has been pretty hard to find furnishings because of the scale of the house. I considered pretending it was a regular 1/12 scale dollhouse with really high ceilings, but that seems goofy. So, I just going to hunt for things here and there and try to make everything else. I did find this adorable vintage book about how to make your own dollhouse furniture in a stack of my old stuff at my parents' house. Here is my vintage first grade penmanship from inside the front cover. Awwww.

Anyway, if you do have a normal scale dollhouse, Michael's has these incredibly detailed unfinished china cabinet/bookcases for $1. These are so cute but would look liliputian in my dollhouse.

I also found these little wooden construction toys for $1 each at Michael's. Perfect for the little fake dollhouse kids to play with. I'm going to paint them in primary colors with metallic accents.

Lastly, I found these little unpainted wooden chests at Hobby Lobby during a 1/2 off all unpainted wood sale. One will be the toy box and one will be a larger table/chest for the living room or master bedroom.

From here on out, I am hoping to make as much as I can and/or buy it second-hand and/or scavenge it from my childhoood dollhouse that is at my parents' house. I also wanted to mention again my favorite dollhouse blog, Mini Modern. The author has stopped posting new items, but I have been stalking the archives. I would love to have some modern pieces like these to mix with more traditional ones in the dollhouse I'm working on.

Go Enter This Contest!

One of my all-time Etsy favorites for kids' clothing is Rae Gun. The designer, lovely Marissa, is giving away a very cute Halloween-themed twirly skirt on her blog. You can enter by clicking here.

Have a lovely weekend!

July Update

Can you believe it? I won something else: this precious clip from Briar Claire, via my friend Steph's Green Kiddos blog. (I love that blog, by the way.) Seriously, the last time I won something before my recent spate was in about 1983, when I won five Taco Bell tacos as part of a Girl Scout carnival drawing. Let's see . . . what else? I got really busy at work. Also, I don't want to turn on the air conditioner upstairs in the craft room (and get another $400 electric bill!!!!), so I haven't posted any crafts. But I am planning to start learning to make jewelry this weekend. JoAnn is having 40 percent off all of its beads, crystals, findings, tools, etc., starting on Sunday. I got two great introductory beading books at Half Price Books, plus my jewelry-making sister is coming to visit. I'll post whatever I make unless I'm too embarrassed! Here is one of the books. It's out of print, but it is so cool. I'm super-excited.

Have a lovely weekend!

Two Woos

Woo number one is that I won another giveaway on Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day -- this awesome crochet book and adorable handmade spool doll and mushroom. (I don't know how I got so lucky . . . the last time I won anything was 1983). Woo number two is that I found so many great blogs by entering the giveaways, including Hope's blog, Going Sew Crazy. Thanks for the great prizes, Hope! I love your blog!

I Want To Be Like Claire

One of my top 10 favorite blogs is the awesomeness that is Blah to Tada. Its author, Claire, is the MacGuyver of crafts. She can take any little scrap of anything and turn it into something beautiful, amazing and/or useful. Inspired by Claire after a week of having zilch craft inspiration, I covered a coffee can to keep sharp tools away from toddler fingers. No, it's not an original idea, but it was "free" because I reused things I already had on hand (a can, some Mod Podge, a 13 x 5 inch fabric scrap and 13 inches of grosgrain ribbon left over from another project). And it makes me happy. Thanks Claire!!!

Rae Gun: Giveaway: Citrus Summer Ruffle Diaper

Rae Gun: Giveaway: Citrus Summer Ruffle Diaper

Click on the post title to win this adorable ruffled diaper cover from one of my long-time Etsy favorites, Rae Gun. Good luck!

Are You Kidding Me?!?!?! Amazing Giveaway!

This is actually a real giveaway! I would probably die immediately if I won. Whipstitch Fabrics, via the awesome Fabric Shopper blog, is giving away two fat quarter sets that YOU DESIGN!!!! It's SO EASY! You visit Whipstitch Fabrics, select 12 fat quarters that fit a theme of your choice, go back to The Fabric Shopper and leave a comment with your selections. Two winners will be selected to win the fat quarter pack they designed!!! I might have to make my husband design one too!

Giveaway Winners -- Abby And Me, Too!

Thank you SOOOOOO much for entering my SEWN giveaway. This was so much fun that I am already planning another giveaway. I'm thinking about doing one per month! The winner, per Random.org, is DRUMROLL . . . . Abby from Steals & Deals. Check out her rad blog!

And in a lovely karmic twist -- I won a giveaway in the Sew, Mama, Sew May Giveaway Day! Woo! Specifically, this amazingly generous pile of fabric scraps (really, they are bigger and better than scraps) from Kristy at Hernanamer The Project Journal. She is super talented -- check out that pillow at the top of her post today!


Yay for giveaways!

My Favorite Tutorials

I am working on two big projects, and I'm still not finished. I hope to have some pictures later this week. In the meantime, check out some of my all-time favorite internet tutorials. (I'm sorry not to include photos, but I didn't have time to check each blog's policy on using images, etc.). I'll come back and add some more tomorrow.

V & Co.'s amazing Fabric Easter Basket at Moda Bake Shop
Inchmark's very chic Fabric Scrap Memory Game
Traditional but still awesome Canning Jar Pincushion by Suzanne's Crazy for Collars
A divine honeycomb smocking how-to on Tumbling Blocks
Crafty Carnival's precious Tooth Fairy Pillow
Among many others, Purl Bee's Connect the Dots Pillows and Party Garland
Glue Gun Annie's insanely awesome Pencil Case
The Red Thread's lovely Paper Christmas Wreath
An oldie but goody -- Artsy-Craftsy Babe's Fabric Flower Tutorial

Okay I can't stay awake any longer. I'll add some more tomorrow. XOXO

I'm Not Kidding -- You Can Win This Quilt

The lovely and talented Elizabeth at Pigtails & Snails is giving away this amazing quilt!!! But hurry over to look at her lovely blog and enter the giveaway, because it ends TONIGHT!!!!

Vintage Crafting

Yep, I'm a crafter from way back. See, here I am as a mere infant already at the sewing machine:

And as a preschooler, supervising the cutting of fabric from an upcycled garment to create doll clothes:

And creating original works of art (and in my sleep at that!):

Haha. Seriously, I've never been very crafty or artistic -- I didn't buy a sewing machine until I was 32! Most of what I've learned has been from my mom and from the wonderful world of internet bloggers, who are so willing to share their ideas and expertise. Someday I will have time for classes and lessons and such, but until then, I just click on the links over here to the right. Thanks bloggers!

Valentine Blog Love: Zakka Life

The lovely Jessica at Zakka Life brings us a blog full of sweet crafty how-to's and lovely photographs, and her projects are often featured on Craftzine. This is one of those blogs where I pretty much bookmark every tutorial with plans to try it out when I have time. One of my favorite things about the blog is its title -- Zakka Life. Although there are several popular definitions of the Japanese "zakka" concept, my favorite is "finding the savvy in the ordinary and mundane." For me, that's the key to leading a happy life! Anyway, back to the blog. For Valentine's Day, I love this heart sequin bookmark and free downloadable snail Valentine card. Precious.

I'm also a big fan of pompoms, so I can't wait until my little girl has enough hair to wear this pompom ponytail holder.

(All images are the property of Jessica at Zakka Life.) More Valentine blog love tomorrow!

Valentine Blog Love: Tangarang

Today's blog love goes out to the awesome Kira of Tangarang. Professionally, she sells awesome handmade party goodies, and she shares all kinds of craftiness, recipes and free downloads of her graphic designs on her fun blog. Thanks so much Kira! Is it wrong that I want to leave work immediately, drive home and try to make this adorable sequined lion, following Kira's tutorial? She mentions possibly selling kits for these . . . Doooooo it!

I also love these fun lanterns, which were made from empty cannisters. Wouldn't these look great placed all around at an outside party?

Here is one of my favorite free downloads: a super-organized planning list. The problem, of course, is actually completing the tasks on the list...oh well.

(All images are property of Tangarang.) Stay tuned for more blog love this Valentiney week.