Little Happies: Felt Food

I'm still waiting for the email containing the PDF's of felt food patterns I ordered from Etsy, but in the meantime, my Crafty Maven friend got me started with some entry-level bacon and eggs. (Yes, had to put them in a skillet for "effect!")

Thanks again, Cara!

My Little Kitchen

I just ordered Avery this play kitchen...Whenever a friend has one, she's all over it, and really, how could I pass up this terribly cute, retro version? (It also gets great parent reviews - muito importante!)

I couldn't avoid buying the kitchen from a Big Box store, but I was hoping to go more of the "buy local" or handmade route with the play food to round out her Cozinha Pequena.

I found these handmade felt foods on Etsy - they are beyond adorable!

Fruits and Veggies do the body good! Just wait...
Chicken dinner...I'll take the drumstick, please!

Here's some petit fours and tartlets for those with a taste for sucrose.This has to be my favorite - complete sushi meal!

This woman's eye (and patience) for detail is amazing - but she only sells the patterns for these little darling yummies - not the goodies themselves! So, do any of you have any experience with making these felt foods? Are they difficult to make? I'm just crazy about them!

Droolin' like a baby

Just another reminder of how seriously I need to learn to sew...

Children's clothing via Whitten Grey Organic

Little Happies: Handmade Sundresses

This past weekend, my good friend, Carrie gave Avery an early birthday gift...

A perfectly-precious little sundress! The dresses are handmade by Carrie's sister, Holly, who I emphatically informed NEEDS to get a store going on Etsy!! The turquoise & yellow one was the gift, but I couldn't resist buying the one with the little cherry print - I mean really, could you?
Kirsten, if you're reading this, I know what you're thinking! Yes, I really need to learn to sew! :)

Happy Treads, to You!

Before we moved to Brazil, we lived in a lovely old, two-story home in North Carolina. Despite needing to sell it, I miss it very much, and still dream about projects that could have been...One of the things that had been on my save-up-for list was a stair runner.
Although I can certainly appreciate a beautiful, clean tread and riser, I just get the warm fuzzies when I see a great runner. Call me a Traditionalist if you will, but some of the best carpets I've seen put down in stairwells recently are far from dowdy.

I'm crazy, crazy, about this bound sisal with the brass stair rods - natural, but classic. I think, given the chance, I would've done something like this in my home. (click on pics for links)...But, then again, this cool gray stripe with nickel hardware is fairly swoon-worthy...

I'll hold that thought...for the beach house I pretend I'll have one day!

Wait! Be still, heart! Is that a runner made from vintage french grain sack? Why, yes it is!

Three words: Oh. My. Goodness. Clever, divine, beyond-cool - whatever you wanna call it. Can someone pleeeasse just get one of these so I can love it? Found a roll of the fabric on Ebay you could use for it - go here if you're interested.

As I mentioned...runners today are a far cry from the "granny" looks you may envision. Here's a more contemporary interpretation...

botanical runner - House Beautiful

Unfortunately, custom ordering is often the norm for these lovelies, and yes, that translates to ka-ching...

So, wasn't I tickled at someone's a) Creativity and b) Ninja sewing skills when I saw how they put together end-on-end an inexpensive Ikea rug to create their own unique (and so happy!) runner.

from designage

I'm not sure Ikea still carries that particular rug, but a similar look could be accomplished with either the cabana stripes of the Sveje...

Or the more subtle look of the Signe

For $2.99 a piece, you can probably afford to mess up one or two in the learning process!

Ofcourse, the most economical route to an interesting staircase would be to paint a runner. If you're REALLY talented, I guess you could attempt to paint a faux carpet - but I was getting more at the illusion of a runner...something like these...

via house of turquoise

via girl meets glamour

Here's a before and after shot from Domino - the article also provided a DIY guide to painting a runner - go here to investigate.

I'm forever gushing about my projects...What's on your project or to-save-for list?

Can It Be Sew Easy?

Have you seen this ad in the dwelling mags for the sewing and embroidery machines by Singer, Husqarna-Viking, and Pfaff? I'm dying to learn to sew and embroider after seeing the how-to's at Sewing Ideas.

They have downloadable PDF "project sheets" for everything from basic pillows to very intricately-embroidered panels. The styles are "handpicked by Martha" so you know they're uber-tasteful, and true to form for her, the instructions are so clean and detailed - right up my Type A alley!

When I was little, my Grandmother would let me sew a few stitches when she was making cute little dresses for my sister and I, but I never really learned to sew - tragic, I know....Now, I've inherited an old, foot-pedaled Singer that was Ben's Grandmother's, and I've yet to open it up and play a bit. I may not become a venerable seamstress, but I'm determined to turn out some basic throw pillows, at least. I'll keep ya posted on my progress - in the meantime, check out Sewing Ideas for some DIY inspiration!

In my dreams, I could make these!