Christmas Wish List

Have you heard about Above All Fabrics fantastic giveaway? Melanie is giving away gift certificates to three lucky winners who blog about thier wish list at Above All Fabrics!

My wishlist has a few City Weekend prints by Liesl Gibson that I've been dying for like this one and this one. I plan to use these for backing a City Weekend HST charm square quilt I've got on my project list. I also want some to make Jump Rope Dresses for my cubettes.

I've also got some Anna Maria Horner voile and flannel on my list after being inspired by Ashley's lovely baby blankets, I want to make one (or two) of these for the cubs. Big Sister Bear models a certain Peanut and his trusty blanket, so one of these would be perfect for her.

For good measure I also put a Hopscotch Skirt and Knit Top Pattern from O + S. Some of Jennifer Paganelli's Queen Street made it on the list too, I just love these dots.

This wish list is perfect for informing Papa Bear about what I want for Christmas. Oh how lovely to open my gift and find these delicious goodies inside (hint, hint Papa Bear).

Because I feel that this post should have a pretty picture to go along with it, I'm going to share with you a totally unrelated photo. Papa Bear took this one of Little Sister Bear over the weekend. Just goes to show if you take the time to fiddle with the camera you get a pretty awesome shot.

Not Your Mom's Jack-O-Lantern

Last night we had a pumpkin carving party with some of our friends. We each carved a pumpkin and then I roasted all our seeds. These roasted pumpkin seeds may have been the best ones I've made yet.

I find that roasting pumpkin seeds makes me feel nostalgic. They were one of my Dad's favorite things. This batch would've made him proud.

Our pumpkins didn't come out too shabby either.

I was impressed with the pumpkins our friends carved because it was the first time for one of them and the first time using an intricate stencil for the other. Our first timer even got brave enough to put her initials backwards on the back so the light shines through and her initials show on the wall.

Papa Bear and I are realizing that Sprout has taken over our lives. I'm coming to grips with the fact that I love Thomas as much as my cubs do.

The Powers of Rationalization

As you know I am supposed to be on a fabric ban unless it is for the wedding quilt. Thanks to the wonderful powers of rationalization and logical thinking I found a loop hole.

I recently bought Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones. There are so many cute things made from this book on flickr that I couldn't pass it up. Also, after making all those sweet little dresses I discovered that there is something so satisfactory in know your child is wearing a hand-made outfit. When people ask where I got it, I can say with pride that it is one of a kind. I guess you could say that it sparked a passion for making my children clothing.

Naturally after browsing through the book and deciding to make the kimono baby pants I wanted some super cute fabrics to make them. I've cut out three pairs from my Castle Peeps stash, but that wasn't enough. I wanted to make more than just three pairs so I got on fabric.com and while browsing I came across Ann Kelle's Remix line. I just couldn't pass up that nerdy argyle print or those whales.

In order to get the free shipping (and since I had a coupon) I added on the Oliver + S Music Box Jumper Pattern. I think these dresses are just darling. They remind me of the jumpers I used to wear when I was in elementary school.

I took a trip to the local fabric store to get fabric for the dresses since they require more yardage than I have (my stash consists of half yard and one yard cuts). I decided on two prints, one to make an any day jumper for Big Sister Bear and another to make Christmas dresses for both the girlies. I will be taking a trip this weekend to get the remaining supplies and the inner yoke fabrics.

It is pretty obvious that thanks to the super powers that are rationalization and logical thinking I was able to justify a little fabric spree. I also went on a book spree that same week because I am a total nerd and have a penchant for learning about sewing.

More about those books and the trip they took across the country on my next post.

As Promised

It has been very rainy around these parts lately. Perfect weather for ducks and getting some sewing done. I've worked on a few things since my last post.

I made myself a nice big pincushion. The one I had wasn't quite fat enough and the pins were poking through the bottom. I went through my scraps and put it together in a log cabin-ish way.

Speaking of pincushions...Nana Bear snapped a photo of the pincushions I made her so I could share them with everyone. She's already got them all filled with pins and sewing goodies.

I also made a few Black Apple Dolls. One is for Big Sister Bear and the other is going to be a gift. I just love these dolls, they are so cute and easy to make. I plan to make many more for Christmas presents since they're the perfect companion for any sweet little girl.

I also have a late Sunday Stash post because the order didn't come until yesterday. I got a few half yards of Hope Valley in Fiesta and New Day. I also got a half yard of some adorable Kokka train fabric, Full Moon Dot in red and Meadow Dot in citrus. I ordered them from Thistle Hill Fabrics on etsy.

We also had two momentous occasions here in the Bear Den last night. Little Sister Bear started taking the spoon and feeding herself and Big Sister Bear sat in the booster seat and ate at the table!

Finally, Lucy & Norman are having an awesome giveaway for their blog-aversary here, check it out!


Whew! That was a long one, hope you enjoyed it!

Sunday Stash on a Tuesday

As you might have guessed I missed posting my Sunday Stash on Sunday this week. I was very busy this weekend and come Sunday night I was just too tired.

Saturday night we had some good friends over for dinner. I made a delicious feast of mussels (steamed in Sam Adams Summer Ale), avocado chicken burgers, couscous and salad. After dinner I had my first martini and it was amazing. Our guests brought some very tasty brownies that went well with our cocktails. I love cooking for people and having dinner parties. I find it very gratifying.

Sunday we went to a baby shower for a friend of mine who I've known since high school. The blanket and booties that I made were well received. I hope the baby who is expected sometime next month likes them as much as I do.

the coloring is off a little due to the position of the sun

reversible booties

Finally, here is the original reason for this post, this weeks Sunday Stash. This week I've posted my Christmas stash. Now I know it's not even September but, I'm starting a few projects for the holidays early for two reasons: 1. I don't want to leave them to the last minute and be stressed out about it...and... 2. I'm going to need to spread out my projects in order to work on the wedding quilt and other projects simultaneously.

Last but not least...a few totally unrelated but super cute pictures of Little Sister Bear.

Sunday Stash

fabric.com had an amazing sale on Westminster fabrics so I stocked up

Prairie Gothic by Jane S.

Japanese imports

Castle Peeps by Lizzy House

not part of this week's Sunday Stash but I had to show off the fabric for Papa Bear's camera bag

Mini Quilt Mini Experiment

I have finally started the mini quilts for the bear cubs. I'm making it into a sort of experiment. I've been doing some research about quilting, pre-shrinking fabrics in particular. Half of the quilters always pre-shrink and half don't. So here is my mini experiment: one quilt is going to be made from pre-shrunk fabric and the other won't be washed until completed. Can't wait to see what the difference (if any) is.

Quilt #1 (pre-shrunk) is being made with fabrics from Heather Bailey's Freshcut line and Kona solids. It is intended for Little Sister Bear. Quilt # 2 (not pre-shrunk) is being made from many different fabrics and is going to be a strip quilt. This one is for Big Sister Bear.

My fabric collection has grown significantly over the past week. This rapid growth has been contributed to by many factors:

1. I am gathering fabric for a king size wedding quilt
2. some of it was a gift from my Mom
3. fabric.com had 2 amazing sales back to back so I took advantage and stocked up (36.5 yards total!)
4. I needed more Japanese imports to go along with the ones I purchased in NYC
5. I am obsessed with fabric and sewing

Things have been busy around the Bear Den lately. Summertime passes so quickly. I believe this is partly due to cramming so much into 12 short weeks of beautiful weather. I am longing for Fall. I love the laziness that comes with Fall. Everything sort of slows down. The weather begins to cool, apples and pumpkins ripen, gathering begins and everything has a crispness to it. This Fall also brings the homecoming of the cubs Marine Uncle who has been deployed since January and still has yet to meet Little Sister Bear. Oh I can't wait, apple and pumpkin picking, baking, making soups and stews, vivid colors, a few chilly picnics, brisk weather and many happy memories.

You're My Obsession

I have completely become obsessed with sewing. The fabrics, techniques and countless applications. I'm constantly jotting ideas in my sketchbook and talking Papa Bear's ear off about my many plans.

Since my last post I have sewn a few things. I made Little Sister Bear some bibs. I up-cycled some old bath towels for the backing.

Sewing up the bibs was a great learning experience. The front fabric was very cheap, I will not make that mistake again. From now on it's only good quality fabric for this Mama Bear.

Speaking of fabric...my lovely piles of prettiness arrived...

Moda, Sandi Henderson, Amy Butler, Anna Griffin and a few others (above)

Heather Bailey and Michael Miller (below)

I also made myself a drawstring bag for my scraps and a patchwork pincushion for travel sewing. This was my first attempt at patchwork and I was very pleased with the outcome.

The bag pattern came from Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts. I really like this book. The day it was delivered I sat down and flipped through cover to cover. It is a great reference book for an individual new to sewing (such as myself).

Featured in the photo above along with my bag and pincushion are some Kona solids.

Now I begin my adventure of making a dress for Big Sister Bear for a wedding that is a week away. Hopefully there will be a minimum of cursing and seam ripping involved. More about that on my next post.

Addicted

It's official. I have a serious designer fabric addiction. Over the weekend I made purchases from fabric.com , fabricdepot.com , and etsy. I am very much obsessed with Michael Miller, Heather Bailey, Sandi Henderson and Amy Butler prints. I rounded out all my gorgeous prints with some Kona solids.

Since ordering these fabrics I have had dozens of projects dancing around my head. I cannot wait to receive my packages and get started. My first project is going to be a dress for Big Sister Bear to wear to a wedding in a couple weeks. I am also going to be sewing a wedding present for the happy couple. Just in case they follow I won't be posting about their gift until after they receive it.

I've also sewed some stuff since my last post. Introducing Ollie and Allie...

After hours of searching online for a plushie pattern for both Big Sister Bear and Little Sister Bear I came across owl plushies. I finally decided on how I wanted mine to look and sewed up these lovely ladies. Since Little Sister Bear is only 4 months and doesn't quite play with much, Big Sister Bear has been having all the fun with these two. She's loves them, she's always hugging them and kissing them, so cute. I am quite pleased. I am planning on making a more in depth one with crinkly wings, differently patterned/textured fabrics and maybe a rattle inside to hook Little Sister Bear's attention.

Looking forward to showing off my sweet fabric stash and it's uses very soon. Also feel free to share projects that are inspired by mine in my flickr pool .

A New Outlet

Ever since I was a little girl I've wanted to learn to sew. My Memere taught me how to hand sew a pillow for my dolls out of scraps when I was about 11. And that was the extent of my sewing knowledge. Well that and reattaching buttons.

Thanks to my wonderful husband, Papa Bear, I recently received my first sewing machine. Along with my machine, which is a Singer Esteem II, I received a sewing basket with all the goodies to fill it.

After I was all set up to sew I took my first trip to the fabric store. I was overwhelmed by all the beautiful bolts of fabric. Being a beginner I had to keep my head about me and just stick to a few cute prints that were on sale to get me started. I can already tell that I am going to become a fabric junkie. My mother-in-law is an avid sewer and had tons of fabric to spare. We took the kids over for a visit and to raid her stockpile. I ended up with 14 yards of various flowers prints.

The first night sewing was very interesting, just learning how to adjust the bobbin tension was a challenge (but thanks to Papa Bear's previous embroidering experience we figured that out quickly) and about an hour into playing with the various stitches I broke a needle! It was a good learning experience.

The first sewing project is an apron. I'm looking forward to getting started. I am preshrinking the fabric tonight so that I can get cutting and sewing tomorrow. Excited to see how it comes out. I need to keep in mind that I am just starting to learn and not be too critical of my work until I get some experience (I can be a perfectionist at times). Can't wait to show it off in an upcoming post.