Nifty

another sewing machine

of the plush variety...

 

custom made in pink & green!

 

xoxo CBB

craft show!

Saturday was a success--although the weather might have been a little too nice (keeping some people away) but otherwise it was quite lovely. Here is a little peek at my set-up...

and for once I actually made enough finger puppets! (usually I sell out before the end of a show)

 

xo CBB

bits + pieces

I realize that my blogging has been, well, inconsistent. So to catch you up, I give my last three weeks in photos!

a yummy recipe.

a gift for a friend's upcoming wedding.

some hand lettering

a little cross-stitch.

a lovely tin of tatting+lace, passed down to me (originally my great-great-grandmother's).

some patterns were written and submitted in hopes of being included in another book.

one-point perspective was taught to my students.

a custom pretty prize-ribbon.

a new quilt ministry was launched.

 

Exciting things are happening!

xoxo CBB

spotted

I was just catching up with one of my favorite blogs, The Purl Bee, and I saw a little something exciting! You see, back when I was an intern for Denyse Schmidt I helped to make samples for a book--a book that is now published. Anyways, I spied one of the quilts that I pieced!!

The orange peel quilt! Appliqued on my trusty Husqvarna.

xo CBB

quilt process: half-square triangles

I decided that I really wanted to do a little quilting (it had been awhile!) and I  thought it would be fun to document my process and share  it with you, dear reader! So here it goes---my half-square triangle quilting method:

Pick out some fabric. I like a nice mix of solids and prints.

Cut up that fabric into squares. The finished half-triangle square is always 7/8" smaller than the squares cut to begin with.

Lots and lots and LOTS of squares.

Pair up those lovely squares with right sides facing and mark a diagonal line.

Sew 1/4" on either side of the line marked.

Now cut along that nice little line that's marked.

Press those seams open and you've got two nice half triangle blocks.

Lay out the little blocks into rows and stitch them up. (Note the cute pincushion sewing jar from Sweden!)

Sew those rows together and ta-da! some pretty half-square triangle piecing. It is quite easy--I hope you'll give it a try!

xoxo CBB

listed!

Done and done. The little owlies have made their way into the shop...

xo CBB

new and next

I am feeling inspired to work on some new product designs! I am focusing my energy on more designs for babies since my little lion men rattles have been so popular. Here is a little sneak peek of my newest toy in progress....

 

xo CBB

a first

I finally did something I had been considering for a looooong time. I put together a digital pattern and I have it for sale on a site called Craftsy. I am hoping to get some more written up soon (perhaps a bunny pattern in time for Easter?) But first I decided on my lovely elephant for a pattern--which you can check out right here.

The next step on my to-do list is to design a print version and find some stores interested in selling it.

xo CBB

back to it

I am back stateside after a lovely trip to scandinavia! I am still not quite back in the swing of things--but I'm getting there. I would rather like to sleep in later than 6:30(the time my body thinks I should be awake) and I would also like to shake the cold I seemed to have picked up on my way back. A full post on Sweden adventures is soon to come I promise! In the meantime I have started work on none other than a batch of finger puppets for a spring craft show. Seems as though no matter how many of these I crank out--its never enough!

Also on my to-do list is to get back into the routine of posting regularly here!

xo CBB

sending you a little....

LOVE. That's what my valentines for this year say! I used a template from Martha Stewart for the inside pop-up and my typewriter for the labels on the front of the card. The cards and envelopes came from a fun kit I got for valentine making a few years back.

Happy Valentine's Day to you too my dear readers!

xo CBB