A Birthday Gift Set : :

Haila & I spent this past Saturday morning sewing up a special gift set for her best friend's birthday and I had to show it off today!



She loves the drawstring backpack I made for her last week and REALLY wanted her friend to have one, too!

Inspired by the personalized drawstring pouches we made together earlier in the Summer, Haila chose Bari J.'s gorgeous Joie De Vivre collection and began her project by fussy cutting her friend's initials, A.R. from the Joyeux Alphabet panel. This time, I just had to guide Haila while she created a log cabin style block using my quick quilt as you go method to be the front of the backpack. She's getting so good!



Haila wanted to embellish this backpack with the same lace details that I had added to hers. The combination of these colorful fabrics, denim, and lace is so pretty!



For the lining she chose this sweet, pink Joie De Vivre floral. She did such a great job!



I think I'm most proud of how well she quilted the reverse side of the backpack. Her stitch consistency has come such a long way since that very first simple, quilted pillow we made together when she was just beginning to learn. I love it!



A little matching pouch from the scraps made such an adorable set!



The little pouch measures a 5.5" x 7.5" and the drawstring backpack measures 12" x 15" finished. Since these turned out so perfect, I'm thinking I might pass the bag-making torch off to Haila for a little while, so I can get back to more quilt making! I'm hoping to start a new one today using April's new Observer collection, I shared a little peek of my plan just now on my Instagram!

You can find these lovely Joie de Vivre fabrics in stock at Fat Quarter Shop and Llama fabrics!

♡ Maureen  

A Birthday Crown SALE : :

Beginning today I'm having my second annual Birthday Crown sale in my etsy shop! Come tomorrow most of us are sure to start planning our Christmas shopping, I know I am, so I wanted to have a little holiday sale beginning today to not disturb my planned Giveaway with Pink Castle Fabrics tomorrow!!  Last year I received so many emails saying what a special personalized gift and stocking stuffer these made, and that meant so much!!

So please stop by and enjoy 20% off any crown of your choice!




Wool felt birthday crowns have become a tradition in our home, for my own children to wear on their special day. They're perfect for a little one to receive for their first birthday, to be worn on birthdays to come and other special days ahead of them. In addition to birthday celebrations, these crowns can be a wonderful touch for creative and imaginative dress up play. I love to work to make each crown personalized to fit each child's needs and interests -- Customize with specific colors, a name, or a theme. Just convo me with your request or include the colors, name, and details in the comment section when you order!

Just use the discount code: GIVE20 at the checkout!

  
Thank you for your support and to those who are celebrating today, I wish you and yours the most wonderful THANKSGIVING!!

Improv Bee Blocks & a Birthday Set : :

This month Jacey asked the Love circle of do. Good Stitches to make our bee blocks scrappy and improv and in citrus-y greens, yellows and oranges. After all the large scrappy improv blocks I made for my scraps quilt, I was so excited to see that request -- this was definitely up my alley!



I pulled what citrus-y colored scraps I had left in my scraps basket and got to work. Hanging them out of my way, in the hallway as I finished.



These went out yesterday and I'm so, so happy to have them finished this early in the month! That's a first for me!



The Birthday crown and pillow sets for my nieces and nephews have continued again this week, too! This time I made a special Birthday set for my nephew Owen, who loves all this Star Wars and Superheros!



I don't think I have ever seen Star Wars fabrics for sale? I assume they have some, but since I had these adorable Superhero fabrics in my stash already I thought it would be perfect. I picked these up a while ago from The Little Fabric Shop.

I do love this shade of aqua blue for boys!



I finished Owen's crown in a similar shade of aqua blue felt and I had the word "KAPOW" in mind when I added the details. Can you tell?



These sets really are super fun to make and definitely something I plan to try to offer in my etsy shop this Fall when I am making my handmades full-time.



Now I just have one last Birthday crown and pillow set to make this month for my niece Sylvia (I know, it was a busy birthday month) and since it's raining here today, I think I might even get to that last quilt top. Wish me luck!!   ♥ Maureen

Sewing Again : :

I'm here and am finally sewing again! We really appreciate all the sweet comments you left us -- congratulating Kevin on his races, on understanding the disappointment we were feeling on the house situation, and in regards to the passing of Grandma Jane. Thank you!!

I brought back a pretty glass of roses from her garden, aren't they beautiful?!



Yesterday in the late afternoon I found my opportunity and dove right into sewing. It felt great, just what I needed in fact!



My niece Josie and I share a birthday this Sunday on the 10th, woohoo! I'll be thirty-one, in case you're wondering! :)

So... just as I've done for all my little nieces and nephews this year, I made her a Birthday Crown and Pillow set.



I tried out two more stitches on my new Janome -- the applique stitch, to add all the pillow details and the oval satin stitch, to add the flowers to her crown. I am having so much fun with these stitches! It's amazing what a huge difference changing up the stitching can make to a project. Even to something as simple as a birthday crown, which I have made over 500 of now -- WOW!!



I'm hoping Josie likes both the birdie themed pillow and the color coral, you know I love both!



I tied them together in my favorite yellow Divine Twine and sent her package out the door just before the Post Office closed last night. I hope she loves it!! Happy Birthday, Josie Bear!! Love, Aunt Maureen -- which she actually pronounces "Aunt Mean" -- can you believe it?!



Last night I even finished up my May AND June bee blocks, but I'll save those to share another day!



It's feels SO good to be back! Thanks again, friends!! ♥ Maureen 

p.s. Here's a little peek at tomorrow Fabric Giveaway!! Be sure to stop back!

Going Out : :

In the midst of all that's coming in, the fabric folding, pin cushion making, and trying to figure out the proper spelling of selvedge/selvage -- since I keep seeing it spelled both ways? -- I have also been working on a few local and etsy custom orders. I thought I'd share a little of what's been going out the door from my creative space...







Feel free to share a link to what you've been working on in the comments, so I can stop by and have a look. You can hop on over to kootoyoo to see more creative spaces and to play along.

On another note --- My Paper Doll Pillow is featured on Handmade In Pa today, woot!!! I would LOVE for you to stop by there, too! It really meant a lot to see that this morning.

Happy creating!  ~ Maureen