School started back for Sis today. She woke with a song in her heart and she was so excited for her new class. It blessed my mommy heart so much but at the same time she is just SO old! Gee! She warmed up to her dress and was so happy to put it on, however, I never did iron it. We found out at Open House last week that her backpack would need to fit a folder and her current backpack (no matter how hard I tried) would not fit that folder so there was a bit of last minute sewing that took place around here after all. I had ordered a pattern about a month ago on Etsy just to have for when brother heads to school (you can purchase it here). I pulled it out and altered it making it a good bit taller, wider (to fit the folder of course) and added a pocket. I am really happy with the way it turned out. I did also alter a few other things in the pattern such as using heat-n-bond to add a fabric to the inside and not padding the straps but again using heat-n-bond. I would recommend this little pattern as it does come together pretty quickly and easily (trust me,I sewed it the night before school). Sis was amazed that the backpack was ready for her this morning and she was excited to head off with it to school. She had a great first day which I am most thankful for!!!

Definitely never was I a boy scout nor a girl scout, come to think of it, I am never really prepared for much of anything but this year I am prepared for the first day of school. Yes, even a month early! I finished up sister’s first day of school dress last night. While I am excited about the way that it turned out sister is still trying to convince herself that she likes it. She is not a huge fan of the bows although she loves the pink on it. Hopefully she will be excited about it in a month and hopefully I will iron it before then!

Yes, I still sew! There is so much on the sewing table waiting to be sewn that it is sad! I am not sure what is keeping me from sewing but alas I am anxious to snap out of it! Our dear friends were expecting their third little one and she finally arrived this morning just a few hours after her official due date. She has already received a few goodies but this little blanket will be accompanying us tomorrow as we head over to meet her. I still need to monogram it but I am excited about the silky trim and flower fabric. I found the fabric a few years ago on clearance at Joanns and knew that it would be perfect for a little baby girl someday so it has been waiting in the stash for a long time. It was fun to finally pull it out and sew away.

I wanted to give a thank you gift to a friend who has really invested herself in our family in extravagant ways lately. I thought for a long time and finally decided on a purse. Our friend has a gift of creativity and she is very stylish with her dress so I felt a little nervous picking out fabric for the purse but once I remembered the bird fabric I was excited. I stumbled upon the bird fabric one day at Joanns and bought a fair amount (40% off coupons are our friend) that I tucked away for such a time as this. I ended up using Amy Butler’s Frenchy Bag pattern which I really liked. It was quick and simple to put together especially if you leave the pockets off as I did. These pictures are iffy as I used my cell phone to take them but at least I remembered to get pictures at all!

It has been awhile since new fabric has arrived at our house. I have been busy saving away for some landscaping for our front and backyard. Our goal was reached for the yard and while there are a few more things that I would like to do I really needed a fabric shopping spree. Okay, need isn’t the word. . .wanted! Many fabric places have been having great sales this summer but there were some older fabrics that I really wanted that many were out of. Fabricworm had some great stuff and it was hard to narrow it down but I did have to use some kind of self control! The goodies arrived today in the mailbox and I cannot wait to get sewing soon. . .just after I finish up the 4th of July outfits for tomorrow! What can I say, I love last minute projects!

I have had a pillow case dress pattern for a very long time but I had never tried it. The perfect occasion arose so sew I did! I am excited about the way they turned out! These are for a friend but I am anxious to make one for Sister now. I am hoping to use Sandi Henderson Farmers Market Apple Dot Fabric to make Sister a first day of school dress. Hopefully I will be able to accomplish that before school starts. Our local fabric shop has a 40% off the end of the bolt on the last day of every month so I was super excited to find 2 yards left on that bolt!!! I know 40% off! Wow! Stay tuned hopefully I will sew that up soon!

With sister’s quilt done it is time to move onto brother’s quilt for his birthday. I was a little burned out after sister’s birthday quilt and I had fabric that I loved for brothers quilt that I did not want to cut up so his will be pretty simple but super heavy on the quilting.

I am quilting along each side of the roads, yes, I am crazy but I really like the look of it. There will be a million tiny strings to cut when I am done as well, maybe hubby and I can have a sting clipping party one night (what do you think hubby???). I found this fabric (Michael Miller Merryville and Street Stripe) well before Christmas and knew that it would be perfect for brother so I added it to my wish list and was super excited when I unwrapped it. I am pretty sure that brother will be excited about all the trucks, airplanes and people. It will definitely be a fun surprise! Well, I am off to sew more roads!

We celebrated Sister this past weekend with a royal party! She invited a few prince and princesses over and while we were hoping to play in the backyard the rain had other plans for us. The royal party was held indoors but the princesses and princes did not seem to mind. It was so fun to see all the kiddos dressed up and playing together. It was a wonderful time and sister really enjoyed it which was fun to watch.
I used this tutorial for the crowns and we filled the gift bags with paint to decorate their crowns with. Super fun and easy!

The work of Mushroom Meadows on the gift tags. She actually made a few things for the party including the incredible invitations! Thanks again to her! If you have not seen her work check out her Etsy shop! I am a huge fan!

Every year for the kiddos birthday’s they get a quilt. I started this when sister was turning one and decided that it would be a fun tradition. The quilt usually has something that they like in it. This year for sister I made her a blue jay quilt as they are very special to her. I took a pattern that I love and messed with it a good deal adding the blue jay head and changing the fabric arrangement up a bit. We wanted the quilt to match sister’s room and we purchased enough fabric to make (yet to be made) curtains as well. Hubby (yep, he helped pick out the fabrics) and I ended up picking Feathered Friends by Wendy Slotboom. I did finish the quilt the afternoon before the party (just in time) and I am now happy with how it turned out. There was a large struggle within me about it though as I started realizing that I am often afraid to like the things that I make for other people. I am fearful of liking them or even loving them because what if the recipient does not like it. What if I pour myself out into this gift and no one likes it. God really taught me a lot in making this quilt. He taught me that it is not about who does or does not like it. I do feel that He called me to make the quilt and by being obediant to Him, well, that is all that matters. I have learned that if someone does not like what I make it is not that I poured out extravagance for nothing because I poured it out for Him. Doing what He called me to do for His glory. . .not mine or the recipient or anyone else but for His glory. This was a huge thing for my heart to grasp and I am still trying to grasp it all and take it in but I am excited about this new found freedom. The freedom to use the gift of creativity which God has given me and to not be fearful in wondering will it be liked. Jesus poured out His life extravagantly and a lot of people did not and do not like Him. Just trying to grasp all that and continuing to learn.

Front of the quilt.

Back of the quilt.

There are actually several things on the cutting table but I keep putting this one on top of all the other projects. I have been wanting to make the Zig Zag Quilt ever since my SIL made one last year. Hers turned out so well that I wanted to give it a try. I have started sewing a few of the squares to make triangles and I am excited to see how it turns out. It will be awhile before it is finished as I mentioned the other projects are for such things as birthdays, baby showers etc. that need to happen in a timely manner. I am excited to see this quilt come together though!