PinkLemonadeBoutique

I really wanna quilt.

  I've been so intensly occupied with my purse making business that I can't remember the last time I made a quilt start to finish. I'm beginning to feel nostalgic. Lately I've been reading blogs and gazing at Flikr photos of quilts and quilting vicariously through these. This post would be endless if I mentioned all the quilters i really admire, so I'll just share a few with you, that lately I've been especially fond of.

First is Laurie Taylor who  makes these gorgeous, luscious, color saturated quilts. I love her wild abandon approach to color and pattern. 

Allissa makes these wonderful, eye-catching beauties. I love her use of white to frame the great fabrics. i recognize so many of them as some of my favorites. Squares are something she also uses alot of, which is my favorite patchwork shape.

 Ok, i could stare endlessly at Malka's   quilts.  And i think I have in the past week or so.  She combines her handdyed fabric in ways that will amaze you. They are an alchemy of vintage, stripy, dotty, floral goodness. A mix of tradition and innovation that is fresh and modern. I covet. 

So, armed with such inspiration, I stole a few indulgent hours yesterday and fashioned myself a wonky log cabin pillow, adorned with my first attempt at stipple quilting. I think I like it. Ok, I love it. 

      

So I'm thinking..."Pinklemonadeboutique at home", what do you think? Boy that's a mouthfull, I would need to shorten that I think. These are some  purses that I've made recently for the shop. 

  

 

   

Does anyone else find this disturbing?

Or is it just me? I swept back the shower curtain this morning and felt compelled to contact the crime lab. Apparently Olivia didn't put her Polly Pockets away after draining the tub last night. 

   

I find them all over the house like this, arms splayed, hair all a mess, various stages of nudity. I feel a bit terrorized. And annoyed. Because of this:

 

It's bad enough having to pick up after a seven year old all day long, but now I find myself picking up after a 7 yr. olds creepy little "Pollys".  I think it's because the literal matter of the clothes occupy such negligible space but requires me to spend the same amount of time picking them up off the floor and furniture and putting them away as it would legitimate articles of clothing. It doesn't seem to justify my energy expenditure. On top of the fact that the manufacturers are peeing themselves silly on account of the profit margin.    

All in all, not one of my favorite toys. But I do have to admit that once or twice whilst vacuuming, I may have sucked up a pair of shoes or two. Don't tell Liv.  

Howdy!

Hello out there in blogland, remember me? I am back from and extended, unintended blog hiatus.  During the summer I really felt the need to reduce my computer usage and emailing. I really wanted to spend the last remaining summer days interacting with my daughter more before she went back to school. I'm sure most of you can relate to this. Blogging is so fun, but it does tend to eat up considerable chunks of time, composing and responding. Like most things in life, it's a balancing act isn't it? But I've missed it so, and am eager to show some things I've made recently for etsy and the Pawtucket Arts Festival which I've done for the 2nd year in a row, and for the second year in a row it's rained cats and dogs for at least one of the days. But it was a success, and am very happy about that. 

  The next show coming up in December is the Foundry Artist Show  in Providence. I'm so honored to be a part of such a distinguished group of local artists and craftspeople.  I have already begun to prepare for this 8 day extravaganza. Oy. Here are a few things I've made so far. The first group are bags made from  my husbands cast-off suit jackets. Disclaimer: This is not my original idea. i saw these from this Etsy seller and was instantly hooked on the idea. How cool are they? These are my interpretation:

     here's the back of this one:

 

   

I am in love with Anna Maria Horner's Drawing room fabric. I paired this ornate scroll pattern with lucious Framboise velveteen.

 

 

Ok that's it for now, I need to keep is short and sweet to ease back in. Plus my computer is acting wonky right now, and I think I need to give it a rest. A rest now and then is good.  

Of Babies, Peas and Anne Geddes...

On the same day as I started a baby quilt for a friend who is expecting, my mother in law came over with a glorious bounty from her garden.

 The baby's gender shall remain a mystery until the blessed day, which of course sends us baby quilt making people into a tizzy, does it not? For me, when a friend announces that she is with child, the first thing that swirls around my head is a baby quilt! We wait with bated breath until that 4 month ultrasound reveals the gender and then as soon as we know, we head off to the quilt shop with boy fabric or girl fabric in our heads. It literally makes me giddy. I love making little baby quilts. I get to indulge in the sweetest, pinkest, girliest fabric on the planet. Or with just teeniest less enthusiasm, I am on the hunt for vintage train or stripes, or Jack Russell Terrier fabric for the boy.  So when I realize that gender neutral is the way to go, I am a deer in the headlights. Polka dots? Too girly for a boy? Blue/green, to boyish for a girl? Yellow, too obvious? Purple, too kooky? If there is a print that has a hint of even magenta and the baby turns out a male, will the father secretly fear for the boys masculinity? Such are the worries of the baby quilt maker. I love making them just the same. Especially since I make purses all the time, it is such a treat to stop and indulge in my favorite craft of all. A baby quilt is small, manageable, instantly satisfying and  I can usually piece the top in one afternoon. This particular quilt I started at noon, and had it basted by Liv's bedtime. I will show the final product when it is complete, but here is a pic of the fabrics all together. Oh, and it is gender neutral. I hope.

  

The main print is by Kaffe Fassett, and it's called "Planets" I beleive. They remind me of oblong Everlasting Gobstoppers. The background is dark plum. I am now wishing I incorporated orange in my coordinating fabrics, but I was kind of overwhelmed and overly influenced by the nice quilt shop lady (who by that point was sick of me wandering around the shop muttering to myself, and pulling every other bolt of fabric from the shelves.) 

 So with the thought of babies swirling around my head, my Mother in Law arrives with beautiful fresh peas from her garden. Here she is with Liv shelling them on the back deck. How perfect. Liv is delighted by a pod bearing a motherlode of 9 peas. 

 Understandably, I couldn't get this crazy image out of my head.

Post Craft show-O-rama

Well, it was a bit of a bust. Thankfully it was free. It was only the first year for this particular show, it was in the Hope Artiste village, "an eclectic mix of artists and entrepreneurs in one of the biggest mill restoration projects in Rhode Island. The project combines the fine arts and independent small businesses and brings them together under one roof." but in a bad section of town, but such a cool place, if not for the child, I would totally be living there, in a loft...anyway, I'm glad I did it though, I sold some bags, had some fun, and got to share space with my fellow arts in ri peep Paula, of  Venbead http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5154768 (for some reason my links are not working....) she makes the most gorgeous glass pendants and beads. Here's a pic of my booth and the ever helpful man. Paula and I both have 7yr olds, and he was great keeping them busy, and making coffee/food runs, even on his hurt foot. Thanks Jeff!

 

Well I returned with a bounty of yummy bags and wristlets, that are now in the shop. I am also having a GIVE-A-WAY! I will randomly pick 3 lucky people to receive one of these fabulous lavender eye pillows! they are filled with lavender from provence (ooh la la ) organic flax seed and buckwheat hulls.

Just comment by midnight Wednesday and relaxation will be on it's way! 

The last day of school...or my life as I know it, is over.

At least for the summer anyway. Does that make me a bad Mom that I feel that way??? Especially in light of the fact that I have one child, albeit with multiple personalities, which makes it seem like many, many more. Ok, she hasn't been officially diagnosed with multiple personality disorder, but I have strong suspicions. In my desperate trepidation in which I face the next 2 months, I went and checked out Rosie O'donnells Crafty U book for kids, and let me tell you, if you want to make your life more difficult and messier, go out and buy this book, and do the projects inside with your kids. I wanted to be able to keep her occupied for awhile independent of me, that was the point. I work at home for goodness sake. Sheesh. Ok, in case I'm sounding like the most unmotherly mother around, how's this for motherly?

 

Yep, I baked cupcakes for her last day of school, and wrote all the names of the student's on them. C-R-A-Z-Y. 

We have been busy 'round here lately. Liv had her dance recital Saturday night, and here are a couple of pics of her in her jazzy costume. (I'm crossing my fingers she picks ballet next year...)

I'm also getting ready for a craft show on Saturday, which I decided to do at the last minute. So I'm sewing like a maniac trying to get a respectable number of items to sell. I also am very unprepared for the logistics of the whole thing, like display arrangements, tables, clothes, etc...I've only done one show before, so I'm not really proficient at it. Everything is at such loose ends, I can't actually picture myself pulling this off. I may go mad in the process. I'll let you know. 

Here's a couple of new purse designs I've made for the show:

  

I'll have a full report after the show...if I'm still sane that is. 

Miss Spud and friends.

I decided that my living room is entirely too serious and grown up. I do love it, but there was just not enough frivolity. So I had to lighten things up a bit. Enter Miss Spud.

Then came her friends...

Charlotte...

and Mini Me.

It's pretty much my first foray into the world of softies, and I have to say it is so much fun! It's a really nice diversion from the serious business of purse making, and one that I think I will be doing more of.  Olivia of course, being the softie junkie that she is, is quite thrilled with my newfound hobby. And they always seem to end up in her possesion. The 3rd little crochet bunny is from a pattern in  this book.  I don't think I used the correct yarn, it really stretched out once I stuffed it, but it still looks pretty cute.   Lots of tips and a variety of styles and projects in this book. I am especially taken with the needlefelted bears...which is a technique I would love to master.

Of course I also have been up to bag making, and here is an update on the shop offerings:

Well off to pay bills, and decide what to do with my ESP check...hmmm, perhaps a visit to my fave. Etsy sellers might tempt me...Have a great day all.

Oh, Go DAVID COOK!!!

   

   

Redecorating frenzy part 2

Which suggests that there will be a part 3 ,4, 5, 6, 7 and so on. Wait, no, I only have 6 rooms in this diminutive house of mine. My new mantra being, "keep nothing that is neither useful or beautiful." I don't know who said that but they are words to live by. Or redecorate by. Thus, I have a cellar chock full of stuff people. I think a yardsale is in my future. I wish I had taken some "before" pics, but I think I wanted to beleive the previous living room was all a long bad nightmare. But take my word for it, my previous living room was "U-G-L-Y you ain't got no alibi." Bad paint colors. Bad feng shui. Bad furniture. It was like my evil twin had decorated (and I use the term loosely) it. It all had to go. Ok, here is the new and improved version.

Ok, I love my new furniture! It is so soft, plush, and deep, i actually have to kind of jump up to get on it. I need to do a slight bit more accessorizing, I'd like to get a giant round mirror for over the sofa. The painting is one that my MIL who is an artist painted.   The horizontal stripes. Aren't they cool? I love them. I saw this technique on a home dec. show years ago and filed it away in my head. The walls were painted in a flat finish. The horizontal stripes were taped off and painted in the same color but in a semi-gloss. Voila. Subtle but noticable. Plus, I never pass up an opportunity to make more work for myself. It's the masochist in me. The big ugly brown armoire was re-painted in the same technique as the bedroom furniture re-do of 2007.  The curtains are chocolate brown embroidered taffetta. Ooh la la. And LINED! I am such a grown-up now. 

So needless to say not much sewing was accomplished this during the month of April but just a few:

If I don't sell these, that's ok, because they all match my new shoes...

   

Three...Tres...Trois

  Hello. Hola. Bonjour. Yes it's a triplicate kind of day today. Funny how that happens. First up, 3 new bags:

Visted my favorite bookstore in Providence, Cellar Stories and picked up these 3 books:

A David Sedaris (funny) book I haven't gotten around to reading yet, Ogden Nash,(funny and clever) and all six Jane Austins in one. I've been currently obsessed with the Complete Jane Austin on Masterpiece Theater and have asked everyone I know within an arms length if they've been watching. I'm sure they're like, shutup enough already, but still. Anway, I figure since I'm such a fan, I should at least read one of her novels right??? But I can't imagine my literary Mr. Darcy being quite as dreamy...

My etsy friend Suzannah surprised me by sending me these adorably, sparkly clippies! I think these will be for me! Thank you so much Suzannah!

Have a lovely weekend everyone! And remember tomorrow night, Part 2 of Sense and Sensibility...Goodbye, Adios, Au Revoir.

The agony of defeat

Ok, just a little whining, and then it'll be done, I promise. Thanks for indulging me. Ok, by now, I'm sure you'll all have realized I did not win that fabulous machine. Because if I did you'd know about it by now, because I would've had a mini-celebration via an ecstatic blog post, but alas, I concede defeat to a super talented seamstress who created an unbelievable bag that obviously wowed the socks off Amy B.  You can view the winners here: Yes i said winners, because there were also 5 runners up. Which I didn't make either. Ouch. Thank you all for cheering me on, and for the expressions of outrage at my not winning! I  must say, I was somewhat taken aback by the Amy B. bashing, although truthfully while trying to be gracious, I myself may have thought similar things. I am touched! The END.

Whilst licking my wounds, I realized happily, that I have come out of my creative stagnation. It may not have been very apparent, but every single bag that I have made over the past few months was pure effort. The juices were just not flowing people. Now the ideas and inspiration have been coming fast and furious. Ever go through that? I don't know, maybe it's the increased sunlight working it's magic on my addled brain. So while "Amy who?" passed over my lips I created some new lovelies:

I am quite tempted to keep this last red embroidered one,  but I have to remind myself that I am in this to earn a living, it's not for fun. Oh, but it is so much fun!