work in progress...

here's a peek at the current project, a new set of placemats. this time the textile inspiration is a combination of amy butler's lotus fabric and heather bailey's freshcut line:

nice set

jump for joy! the first set of placemats is complete! this is a mix and match set of 10. they will retail separately but, of course, they would prefer to go at least two-by-two. the patchwork fabric comes from the aunt grace 15th anniversary collection from marcus brothers fabric. each placemat was lovingly piece together from 5" x 5" squares and backed with sturdy denim. check 'em out:

click on an individual picture and you are magically transported to the online album. you can get a better look at them there.

welcome to the blog-o-sphere

julie, my super talented friend (and knitter) has just started a blog for her little guy called max the monkey. here's a super cute picture of the cyber-celebrity:

it was about this time two years ago when a still incubating max ignited my baby knits fire. because julie and i had spent quite a bit of pre-pregnancy time together knitting (and watching soccer and drinking sneaky beer), i wanted to give her and the baby-to-be something special and handmade. here's a look:

nutty the squirrel models a hat and mitten combo
teddy the panda looks fierce in a tasseled sweater and bootie duet

blankets are currently my favorite gift to make for baby showers.
(and yes, i do knit for hire -- email me!)

bigmouth strikes dc!

my adopted uncle morrissey paid a visit to our nation's capitol and my very own backyard friday night. the moz was on top of his game and fit enough to take his shirt off for the crowd three times. the show was pure delight.

in honor of the buzz that i still have from seeing a living legend perform, check out these super cool smiths/morrissey inspired finds from etsy.com and rest assured that uncle morrissey's music will be in extra special heavy rotation this week in a certain chickadee's sewing corner.

git 'em:
large moz totebag (blacklilypie.etsy.com)
broken bicycle tee (jackrabbit.etsy.com)
morrissey maudlin street print and silhouette picture (olive.etsy.com)

start your holiday shopping off right!

hey baltimore/dc peoples...this saturday (november 3) the dc craft mafia is throwing a party! come to beautiful downtown bethesda for their alterna-craft show, the unusual suspects. the show runs from 12-8 at the anastasi room, 5020 battery lane.

my friend and supremely talented jewelry designer dandelionblu will be showing her latest treasures there. i'll be helping in her booth so stop by and say hello!

i hope you are the one...if not, you are the prototype

that line from an outcast song has been stuck in my head for two days now. it became lodged in there as i was prepping these bags for their photo shoot. the following are some bags that i'm experimenting with and toting about town (and the globe). they are the prototypes. each of these was made with the leftovers from other projects:

the flower and denim.

born from the scrap pile, this is a small tote (10" x 12") with a few key features. it is hard to tell from the picture, but the denim side was made by sewing small denim squares together. they were left over from construction of the placemats. the floral aspect boasts two denim accented pockets...one for a wallet and the other just the right size for a cell phone. the neatest thing about this one is that it is reversible.

the cowgirl.

much like the other totes on the site but this one is square (about 13" x 13"). the inside is polka dotted and also has pockets just like the ones on the front. a true multi-tasker, she'll carry quite a bit despite her size.

the happy traveler

a personal fave. this was made for a trip to germany and it performed so well it is now my go to carry-on bag. a roomy 18" x 14", it holds the essentials plus some other things that you probably don't need but feel like you have to bring along anyway. there is a zip pocket for small bits and three slip pockets (not pictured) to organize reading material, notepads, crossword puzzle books, i-pods, pens, pencils, etc... the coolest part, there is a small zip pocket in the seam of the bag. the perfect size for a passport. easy to get to and secure. my travel buddy.

frost on the pumpkin

brrrrrrr...

ok, it is not that cold yet but it is getting there. while i'd love to go turn the heat on, i also realize that it isn't quite necessary. better to save that energy and cuddle up under something that took some of my own energy to make...perhaps this lap blanket. like the baby blankets, it keeps you warm while you work on it. this one turned out great! i love the colors.

team baby uniform

everyone knows that team baby prefers to sport the onesie. painted or embroidered, i am proud to outfit these little people in easy to launder cotton strips.

here is my friend owen showing his love for citrus fruits:

baby blanket bingo

check out this assortment of cuddly blankies for the wee ones. you keep making the babies, i'll keep making the blankets.

aprons too!

the picture isn't the greatest, but here are a couple of reversible aprons made from bandanas.

there are more of these and more to come next week. please stay tuned. also please feel free to comment and to email with suggestions or questions.

thanks everyone!