Thursday, December 2, 2010

Holiday Hand Towel

So, is your home getting ready for the holidays? Mine is. A week before Thanksgiving, I started to work physically on a simple makeover in our bathroom (a mental makeover had started immediately after we moved in). What I did will be another post. Shoot, I forgot to take "before" pictures again. But, a little holiday decoration is under way even in the smallest spaces in the house. As I enjoy changing bedding and tablecloths, I like to place a new towel in the bathroom by the seasons or occasions. It makes me feel good when I hang a crisp clean linen towel in the bathroom before the holidays. I think I got it from my mom. She always placed a new towel in the bathroom before a new year (oh, I miss her so much). I have made a few holiday theme towels in the past, and there is another addition to them this year. As usual, I used my beautiful white linen (just $15 per yard at Peapod) and embroidered a greeting with a red floss.

Backstitch is one of the simplest embroidery stitches.
typed in the font i wanted and traced on the towel using a tracing paper.
this tracing paper from clover company is excellent ($4.25). no comparison to others.

mr.turtle on the shell has been with us for many many years...
yes, it's a blue bathroom. no, i didn't mean it, but it was so hard to coordinate with this typical 50's salmon pink accent tiles. i painted it on the day after Thanksgiving. i wanted it to look serene and a bit modern, but i couldn't deny it. it is a vintage bathroom! so i had to work with the characters of the space. well, in this case the pink accent tiles. so this is what it looks like, and i am liking it. well, any color would be better than dingy white walls full of brush marks and flaws. it's light and airy, my definitions of a comfortable home.
a snow town towel i made a couple of years ago hanging in my old apartment bathroom...

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Sew & Tell - Elizabeth's Dress

Like many of us, Elizabeth sews little things, but ever since she had a baby girl, Cora, she wanted to sew dresses (or any outfits) for her special girl. Well, she has a bit older boy, but you know having a girl is a very special thing for sewers. It's like a dream come true. So she's been busy. She was at Peapod just the other day and already sewed two dresses since then. She showed me a picture of another dress in her iPhone. Too bad you can't see it. But, you see her second dress. For this dress, she used a brown and orange print that I call "Birdie Town." It looks like happy birdies strolling in town. Perfect for Cora to stroll in town in. Well, in her stroller. An adorable dress! Thank you and keep sewing, Elizabeth!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Getting Ready...

Just moving things around to make room for the tree...it'll be all about Christmas soon...

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Sew & Tell - Sara's Quilt

Among many other things, Sara is a modern quilter. I've seen her works in the past, and they are usually more geometric with solids. But, it is nice to see a change once in a while. On her new quilt, she used seven bundles of precut kits from the MOMO collection (the finished size is about a twin size). I've never thought about using a precut package to make a quilt. What if I don't like some prints in the package? I always thought. But, now that I think about it it's not a bad idea. The pieces are already cut. And colors and prints are already coordinated. What could be easier? Yeah, it's perfect if you are very new to quilting, or if you are...um...unwilling to spend that much time getting ready to sew. Hence lazy :-) Sara claimed herself latter :-) Thanks to the precut packages, she finished fast. It's colorful and whimsical. She is very happy with her choice of backing fabric, half linen and half cotton lime green. I love it too! It's really cute! Thanks always, Sara!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving 2010 menu:
pumpkin curry soup
scalloped potato gratin
shrimp and avocado salad
caramerized onions, mushrooms, bacon, wild rice stuffed turkey breast
sweet potato and yam cheese cake

I will enjoy these in gratitude...hope you are enjoying your day too...

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Yellow Patchworked Tablecloth

So after all, I was the one who needed a new tablecloth for the holiday table. Or maybe just for everyday use. I patchworked four yellow prints randomly. I love it. It makes me so happy. Everytime I pass by the kitchen, I stop and admire it. And I could do this forever. I even brush my teeth in the kitchen so I can admire it again. It became one of the things that make me smile. Well, things I make for home should always make me happy anyway. There are so many flaws, but I love my home!

a flower from our yard...

i've been searching for kitchen art for the empty wall next to the window, but no luck yet.
maybe i should make something myself. a mini quilt in a frame? or another little display shelf?
i used the following prints + yellow solid...


Saturday, November 20, 2010

New Prints

I can't possibly post every new item here. More colors and prints restocked...See you there.