One last toy for 2011! This little bear is wool & cotton and stuffed with kapok. Photographed with the quilt I made my mother for Christmas.
xoxo CBB
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December 2011
December 31, 2011
a new bear
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December 30, 2011
the Utah studio
While I am on visiting my parents this is where I work:
ma mere's desk...
my sewing machine's twin, set up on the cutting counter...
a bit of holiday cheer...
my advent calendar...
my desk...
fabrics arranged by color...
and the cutting counter!
It is quite fun to craft away with my mother-- and since I am on vacation I don't have to make anything but I still like to. I hope you've enjoyed this little studio tour!
xoxo CBB
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December 26, 2011
Holiday Recap: What I Gave
I always make all the gifts I give and this year was no exception. Here's a look at what was given to my family.....
a headband...
bear friends...
blockprinted stationary sets...
a throw quilt...
a block-printed jersey circle scarf...
the yearly trio of pajama pants...
a patchwork travel pillow...
and another pillow...
and then some quilted pillow covers...
a skinny pincushion...
and some yummy chocolates!
All handmade for Christmas--and done with plenty of time to spare!
xo CBB
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December 24, 2011
December 21, 2011
when on vacation....
I can't seem to stop making! My mom took me to this very quaint little quilt shop called Village Dry Goods and I picked up some beautiful fat quarters of cotton prints and some very lovely wool felt. After that, I was feeling inspired so I made the first little creature for my spring collection---a cutie cottontail rabbit!
This little guy is made from wool fabric and stuffed with wool and has accents of cotton: a hand embroidered face, a little bowtie, and a very fluffy organic cotton pom pom tail!
xoxo CBB
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December 20, 2011
something fun to make
Last week I came across this super simple ornament project and knew I just had to make a few!
I used different shades of red cardstock and some fun flocked polka dot paper for mine and made them a bit smaller so they would be proportionate to my tiny tree...
xo CBB
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December 17, 2011
12 Days of Cheer Recap
In case you missed it--12 Days of Cheer: 12 how-to's & recipes for the holiday season! Here's a little summary....
Day 1: Embroidered Snowflake Ornaments
Day 10: Peanut Butter Truffles
Happy Holidays!
xo CBB
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December 16, 2011
a very special commission
For Christmas my Nana decided that she wanted to give my little cousins some of the pop-up puppets that I make. She wanted two kitty cats to gift. I set to making them and I ended up with a slightly different design than the previous ones but I am quite pleased with the result!
xoxo CBB
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December 15, 2011
Fabric-by-Fabric One-Yard Wonders
A few days ago I was very excited to receive my copy of Fabric-by-Fabric One-Yard Wonders in the mail! I love that it has different chapters for different types of fabric. I contributed my Pretend Sewing Machine pattern to the Wool section.
(c) Tara Donne
I made the very first pretend sewing machine in 2008 for a customer with a two-year-old daughter who was fascinated with her mom's sewing machine. She wanted to be just like mom and with a pretend sewing machine she could! Since then, I have made upwards of 30 of these softies.
I hope you enjoy making them for the children in your life!
xoxo CBB
Check out the rest of the Fabric-by-Fabric One-Yard Wonders Blog Tour:
12/12/2011 Becka's Project Journal
12/13/2011 Craft Buds
12/14/2011 Patch Work Duck Designs
12/15/2011 A Spoonful of Sugar
12/15/2011 Nifty Kidstuff
12/15/2011 Becka's Project Journal
12/16/2011 Nom Nom Nom Nom
12/16/2011 Quaint and Quirky
12/17/2011 ikatbag
12/17/2011 Two Brown Birds
12/18/2011 Sharon Sews
12/19/2011 LBG Studio
12/19/2011 Carolina Fair Designs
12/19/2011 Under Construction
12/20/2011 Little Blue Cottage
12/21/2011 Craftzine
12/21/2011 Neuroses Galore
12/21/2011 Emily Steffen
12/22/2011 Jenna Lou Loves You
12/23/2011 Spincushion
12/27/2011 One Inch World
12/28/2011 Sew Sew Etc.
January ‘12 Lu Lu Carter
January ’12 Fiberosity
January ’12 Zuhause
January ’12 Obsessively Stitching
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12 Days of Cheer: Gingerbread Houses
Making gingerbread houses is a Christmastime tradition in my family. This year I made gingerbread houses with my students in the baking class that I am teaching. The recipe comes from a video my mom checked out from the library many years ago called "Gingerbread Fun for Everyone".
Gingerbread Houses
Yield: 6 houses
Dough Recipe
DRY INGREDIENTS
4-5 C. Flour
1 Tbsp Baking Soda
3/4Tbsp Ginger
3/4 Tbsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
WET INGREDIENTS
1 C. brown sugar
1C. shortening
1 C. molasses
1. In a pot, combine wet ingredients and heat on medium until well blended, 10-15 minutes, stir occasionally. Add dry ingredients, except for 1 C. flour set aside, and mix. When ball forms sprinkle extra flour on board and knead dough. Divide into 2-3 sections. Leftovers can be made into cookies.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll dough 1/8" thick. Place patterns on dough and cut with a sharp knife. Place on cookie sheet and flatten with fingers to remove air bubbles. Cut out windows and doors AFTER baking. Bake 7-8 minutes.
3. While still on tray, straighten edges, cut doors, windows, chimney. cool completely on rack after removing them from cookie sheet when cool.
Icing Recipe
4 C. powdered sugar
2 egg whites (made from powdered egg whites)
1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
4. Combine in bowl. Mix at low speed and then on high, cover w/ damp cloth to keep frosting from drying out.
5. Decorate!
my students hard at work assembling....
my quick little demo house for showing how to use a pastry bag...
I hope you've enjoyed 12 days of cheer!
xo CBB
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