So Long September

It's the last day of the month. You know what's coming next...

Swinging Girls Dress

One project down...and how many more to finish?

Sew & Tell - Ivy's Dress for Mom

You might not recognize her, but this is Ivy. Yes, Ivy the girl who makes everything. For herself, she has made the dress, and the top and the skirt. For her doll, the matching outfit. And for her mom, this dress! I know she has sewn her mom a dress before, but this is my first time to see it on her mom, Robin. Doesn't she look great in it? Again, Ivy does such an amazing job. It's not kid's work. It is a real dress! A dress that you buy at a store. Robin, you are one lucky mom. Beautiful work, Ivy! And thank you!

the time flies...ivy looks so grown-up now...oh, thanks for posing for the camera, sophie the pug :-)

Baking Monday

Happy cupcake Monday to you! I tried this recipe and baked at 375F for 12 minutes, instead of 400F for 20 minutes as the instructions say. I forgot to put vanilla, but the hungry boy will be happy to see those on the dinning table when he comes home.

Sew & Tell - Sarah's Jacket & Pillows

More projects from Sarah (the same Sarah in her nursing cover. My mistake to leave the "h" out from her name). She made another jacket for Maddy on the same weekend while the kids were a sleep. See? she has a newborn, but she doesn't use it as an excuse for not sewing. I love her :-) She is motivated! Great work, Sarah! Thanks always!
The fairy and mushroom jacket...Super easy according to Sarah.
She usually backs it with jersey so it has nice weight...

Jaxen's elephant pillows with a quilt that Sarah made for Maddy when she was a newborn. Time flies...
BTW, how does she keep her chair so white with two kids and a dog? Amazing...

Reversible Duvet Cover

After my boy's duvet cover, I remembered I never posted mine I made last year. So here it is. Nicely made for the photoshoot :-) On one side I used two different greys and the grey bike print on the other. A reversible duvet is great so I can change my bedding depending on my mood. I chose all grey, but the two sides have different looks. One serious with the plain solids, and whimsical and light on the other.
a matching pillow case. so when the plain side is up, i can accent it up with a printed pillow...

the print side up...

the yellows warm up the cool grey bedding...
the bed is now on the other side of the room...

The Inner Sunset Street Fair

There are still booths available at the Inner Sunset Street Fair. Again, this is a good opportunity to show the public what you make. So hurry if you want to apply. The Fair will be held on Sunday, October 16th.

Hello Duvet Cover

It's been way too long since I made my boy a duvet cover. Blue floral on a white back ground backed with a sky blue sheet became blue floral on a tan background and the sky blue was no longer sky blue. "How do you describe that color? " I asked the boy. "I don' know." The boy answered in a flat voice with his eyes glued on his Facebook page. Okay...I will just try my best to describe it. Um, yellow with a hint of green? and some Oscar the Grouchy color in the center. And since the dog came along, thinned textile was easy to be shredded with his paws. I knew it's been way over due to make a new one. So, yesterday after sanding the newly obtained cabinet, pruneing the hedge, weeded the driveway, four loads of laundry, prepping for the week's dinner (this doesn't happen a lot. I was very good yesterday), I started to sew.

I used the Hello print in green...

the room decorated by the owner of the room...painting the room on the "to do" list...

the gangs on the bookshelf...

cowboys vs space rangers...

waking up to happy faces...

Around the House

I woke up, stared at my sewing table, took a picture, intended to finish one project at least...and walked away. Then I looked at the corners of my home that I want to look at. The corners that make me smile.

fyi - i can't even leave a comment on my own blog (so thanks for all who left a comment). the blogspot system tells me that i don't even have access to this blog while i'm logged in. odd? it's been a while since i found their system so user-unfriendly. i might just have to give up their site and move my blog someplace else again. if you, the blogspot folks, are reading this please improve the system.

three unfinished projects on the table ...

the feather garland which I made with those feathers my boy brought back from the zoo camp in LA a couple years ago.

the heart rock wall...

a nature corner...i love the ghost leaf...

my boy's art project from grade school...

the yellow foyer...

A Window Gallery

Some of you may have noticed something is different on Peapod's window space. It has become a small art gallery for handcrafters and artists. It currently exhibits handcrafted pottery by a ceramist, Yuko Sato (aka Nama) of Nama-ya. Yuko has nearly 30 years of experience in ceramics both in Japan and San Francisco. Her ceramics are earthy, whimsical, and truly original. It is well-known that the Japanese eat with five senses, and her rustic style for sure makes the traditional Japanese cuisine "shine," but her style is versatile enough to suit in any table setting. Here is what she says about her pottery in her own words. "I love to make simple and natural tableware because their purpose is to let the food "shine" and be the star. However, some of my more playful designs with catfish or monkey drawings make people smile, that would also be a joy for me."

The window gallery is available for anyone whose work is suitable to Peapod's taste for a very reasonable price. So, if you need a little gallery to show your work, please email me (with your info) for more details.

Happy Monday

Sew & Tell - Cherie's Nani Iro Dress

Finally someone made something with Nani Iro double gauze. Yoohoo! Cherie made this pretty dress for her little girl, Yuki's big first birthday. Isn't it beautiful? Its delicateness is just undescribable and perfect for this project. Cherie thought she would never make her a "traditional" princess dress, but for her first birthday, she had to. I agree. She kept it simple, but the big sash in matching coral pink and Mary Jane shoes are the perfect accent. You don't want to mess with the Nani Iro aesthetic, and Cherie knows it. Thank you, Cherie! And Happy birthday, Yuki!

I love this picture...

Yes, you are one big star!

Too Many to Post