by Sherri Sylvester | Feb 15, 2013
Hope you all had a happy, chocolate filled yesterday! Here’s how our day went down… some hand-sewn gifts, some treats and a LARGE chocolate fondue = some super-hyper happy children. Thankfully we decided to go for a family drive after bathtime – 1/2 hour later we were back with sleeping children – works every time!
Plate walls are good for more than just plates.
Handmade cards are the best. Check out the caricature of me that my husband drew! I love handmade cards from the kids too, these are keepers!
I sewed the kids each a skirt on Wednesday night. Just a simple one – but I’m really happy with them. Especially the pink/gray one. I think the blue one might be a bit TOO puffy (if that is possible!) But my oldest LOVES it, the frillier the better I guess!
I made my husband a pencil holder bookmark to go with his drawing book, and found the ninja pencils at the local bookstore. They say “Hi-Ya” on the lower portion – really funny – good gift for someone who draws! I am going to post a tutorial for the bookmarks sometime in the near future, they are really handy.
We have a tradition that my husband buys flowers for the girls as well as myself on Valentines day. We are so lucky! The pink mini roses are so pretty!
Of course, not to be left out, we had to try out the bubble cards we gave my oldest daughter’s class ourselves.
This is my favorite vase. I received this blue owl last year on Valentines and mostly it stands empty as decoration. It’s extra nice, though, when we have some flowers to put in it. They match the decor perfectly!
Mmmmm… mashed potatoes anyone? My husband commented that “Most people let their kids eat the beaters when they are baking” not the potato masher! Hey – whatever makes her happy! I have to say, mashed potatoes are a lot healthier than eating the leftover icing! (Don’t worry, it will get sterilized in the dishwasher!)
Mmmm…. the best part! Our fondue pot fits enough for 8, so we had enough chocolate left over to save in the freezer. We’re going to have amazing chocolate sauce on our ice cream sundae’s for a while!
My youngest was having trouble keeping the marshmallows on her fork…. so she took the best way out a 2 and a half year old could come up with!
Just a reminder, It’s your last day to use the coupon code for fabric from Mad About Patchwork! Check it out!
by Sherri Sylvester | Feb 12, 2013
Here you are – and only 1 day left to make these before they get shipped off to school!
I based these off of another idea I found here. I like that they don’t have any treats in them. Which, aside from the obvious (no crazy sugar-powered children!), they are allowed at school. Since we are not supposed to send any food because of allergies, this one fits the “fun” bill as well as the “follow the rules” bill.
Things you will need:
- Packages of small bubbles (I found mine at our party store – 12 for $3.00)
- Lollipop/Cookie bags – clear or coloured (Mine are 5″ across, from your local craft store)
- Cardstock or Photo Paper (1 piece per 4 cards)
- Printer
- Scissors/Paper Cutter
- Stapler
- This free downloadable printable (prints 4 cards per sheet of paper)
Print out the cards on cardstock or photo paper. They come 4 on a page. Cut on the solid gray lines and fold on the dotted gray lines.
Have your child write their name on the back in the space provided. I think this is good practice and also a good habit to get into. If they want Valentine’s treats, they should be willing to spend 5 minutes writing their name on the cards for their friends!
Now, put a bottle of bubbles in the bag. Fold over the extra at the top of the bag (or you can cut the bags shorter if they are too long). Staple twice on the bottom or sides of the printout, making sure to catch the paper and the bag.
YOU ARE DONE (already?!) – And your cards are at least 100 times cuter than the 24 in a box kind you can get for a dollar!
by Sherri Sylvester | Feb 11, 2013
I was at Mad About Patchwork a few weeks ago searching for some Kona Cotton in Charcoal for my husband’s T-Shirt quilt and I got a bit lost… well… maybe a lot lost. I ended up with 3/4 of a yard of Octo Garden in Aqua. The Salt Water line by Tula Pink is really great. I wasn’t sure at first, it’s a bit strange – octopuses… really? The way they are incorporated into the fabric is really fun and unexpected – right up my alley! Looking at the Salt Water options again I also really like the Sea Strip in Aqua. Maybe some throw pillows for the couch?
I have had some trouble finding aqua coloured fabrics in the right shade for my living room, which has a red and blue colour scheme. It’s surprising how often they are too purple or too green. Anyhow – this shade of aqua is perfect, thank goodness! I can cross this project off my list, it has been too long in coming. Though the chair seat re-cover doesn’t have any sewing involved, it does have the gorgeous fabric. Also, it is graced with a Valentine’s project worthy pillow, so I’m good with it!
Octo Garden Chair
This chair used to be covered in this fabric, just for reference and so you can see how wildly my tastes have changed in the last 5 years. Don’t worry, I made the photo small so you aren’t blasted with the craziness!
The chair sits in the living room against a wall to provide a bit of extra interest along with the red couch and chair. I have been looking for something to recover it with since I changed the colour scheme over a year ago – has it been that long already?!
Here’s a better view of the octopus himself, or themselves, since there are many in the pattern. I really like how it doesn’t look like a sea creature from across the room until you walk closer. And the splash of pale blue is much better than the golden yellow/red that was there before.
Now all I have to do is finish painting light gray over the darkish taupe I have in most of the house. I think it will freshen up everything and maybe provide me with a few more photo walls, hooray!
The pillow was made following this tutorial by Noodlehead. I made it a bit smaller by printing the template about 1/2 size and then decreasing the seam allowance by the same percentage. I really like how it turned out and the contrast with the chair is fun too!
Speaking of Valentine’s, I am making some for my daughter’s class based on this idea and will post a printable for them by Wednesday morning – just in case you procrastinate as much as I do and want to make some too!
Along with the gorgeous fabric, I can’t forget to remind you about the interview with Pam from Mad About Patchwork I posted on Saturday – she even gave us a coupon code for her Canadian online fabric store – check it out! (And just in case you are wondering, I have not been paid to post her information. The opinions are all my own, she really does have a great store!)
by Sherri Sylvester | Feb 9, 2013
I blogged recently about the state of available modern fabric online in Canada. Since then I have been able to test out one of the stores that I found, and I am happy to report that my experience was amazing!
Today, I am introducing you to Pam, owner of Mad About Patchwork. She has been kind enough to let me interview her and has given me some information about her store to share. She is based out of Stittsville, Ontario and has owned Mad about Patchwork for almost 5 years. Her header states that she sells “Modern. Fresh. Fun. Fabric.” and she’s right! I have been in and out of her shop many times over the last few weeks, adding to my list of must-have’s.
Pam carries a wide variety of fabrics – as she says “I carry quilting cotton from well known manufacturers such as Westminster, Freespirit, Michael Miller and Robert Kaufman. They are suitable for quilt making, as well as clothing, totes and home décor projects. I also carry flannel, Minkee (polyester fleece) and Essex linen blend to add texture to your projects.” She also has a great selection of Kona Cotton solids, books, rulers, patterns and more. The amazing price and variety in Kona Cotton solids is what led me to find her in the first place. I am learning as I sew more that solids are the best thing to stash, I’m always searching for a solid to go with a great print that I just found.
Here’s my mini interview with her:
Thread Riding Hood: Hi Pam, what inspired you to start Mad About Patchwork?
Pam: “A number of factors influence me to open an online fabric shop. I was looking to start a business I could run from home that would allow me to pursue my creative interest at the same time. I felt there was a lack of Canadian online retailers in the industry, and that there would be a growing market for the modern fabric that was just starting to emerge at the time. With no background in retail it was quite a leap, but I started small and have been growing steadily ever since.”
Thread Riding Hood: What is your best trick for making sure you find time to sew?
Pam: “It’s sometimes hard to find time to sew. Even though my children are teenagers now, I can be quite busy with household and parenting duties, so it’s a balancing act for sure. I’ve recently adopted the 20 minutes a day challenge (you can find out more at EvaPaige designs). It’s surprising what you can accomplish in just 20 minutes, although once I sit down it often turns into 30 minutes or even an hour. It helps that I have a dedicated space for sewing and can leave everything out and ready to go whenever the mood strikes.”
Thread Riding Hood: What is your favorite fabric right now?
Pam: “I cannot possibly pick one favourite fabric, but I’ll share a few prints that I’m very fond of at the moment. First is Submarines and Seaweed in Aqua from Tula Pink’s Salt Water collection. Blue is my favourite color, and that print is gorgeous! Next would be Faded Poppy in Red by Laura Gunn. It’s a large, painterly print that could be used in so many interesting ways. And Blueprint in Grey by Carolyn Friedlander is on my list too – the whole collection is very fresh and unique”
Thread Riding Hood: Thanks Pam!
Here’s my Mad About Patchwork order, fresh from the mail. The shipping from Stittsville to Toronto is really fast! I placed my order Sunday night, got a shipping confirmation from Pam on Monday and it was in my hands on Wednesday evening. AMAZING, what a difference from ordering anything that comes from the US – no 2-3 week wait, no duty, no customs! I should mention, that she does sell to US and International customers as well – I know you are out there! Check out my Made by Me Monday series next week to see what I did with the Octo Garden in Aqua from Tula Pink’s Saltwater collection pictured above.
Now it’s your turn! (And this is the fabric-y treat I promised yesterday.) Pam has generously given me a discount – just for Thread Riding Hood readers! Use the Coupon Code “HOOD10” to save 10% on your Mad About Patchwork orders until February 15th. Stash up, and buy yourself a little (or big!) Valentine’s Day gift from Pam. Happy Saturday, see you on Monday!
by Sherri Sylvester | Feb 8, 2013
We have been hit by what they are calling a Winter Storm.
View from my kitchen window, AFTER the first shoveling!
Out back, those piles are at least 14″ high and still growing!
My daughters went out this morning to help shovel the snow. One lasted about 20 minutes, the other half an hour. It was another half hour after that before my husband came inside, he had finally finished shoveling!
The pink hat is a made-by-me, copied from one of their too-small hats. If you are interested, let me know and I’ll do a tutorial on it.
My youngest is wearing a Made By Rae Snowblossom Hat. Super-cute, and really easy!
Just for fun, this is a photo of where I found my youngest when I checked on her during naptime. She sleeps in the funniest places. Where will she end up next?!
Make sure to come back tomorrow, I have a super great fabric-y treat for all of you – you don’t want to miss this one!
