1
Nov

Fall and Halloween 2012

Happy Halloween! Well, a day after the fact, but I hope you all had a great one. It has been a whirlwind of a couple days returning on Tuesday from International Quilt Market in Houston, TX and then all of the Halloween festivities we had yesterday. Luckily my flight was only delayed an hour and a half due to high winds in Chicago from the big storm back east. I would have been beyond sad if I missed my babies all dressed up on Halloween.The Quilt Market Recap post will be coming soon, but I thought I would share some pictures of my little cuties. Boy did I miss … continue reading

24
Oct

Holly Designs Giveaway

Today I'm excited to introduce you to Holly Designs on Etsy where they create custom handmade applique shirts, clothing and gifts for your little ones.Holly offered to send me a custom shirt for one of the kids. I decided to have her do a shirt for Matilda. I kind of feel like Matilda doesn't always get the special new things because if I have to choose, I usually will get something for Savannah in hopes that Matilda can wear it a few years later. But this time, it was all about Matilda.At Holly Designs, you choose the shirt color, the fabric for the applique, the … continue reading

23
Oct

Easy Eye Glass {or Rotary Cutter} Case Tutorial

Today we have a special guest, my mom (aka Grandma Jane) with another one of her quick and easy quilting tutorials. Take it away Mom........ I would really encourage any new quilter to find some sort of quilting group to join. It is a great way to learn from and be inspired by more experienced quilters, share quilting projects, get advice and support, and most of all, to make new friends who are as crazy as you are about quilting! There are a lot of online quilting resources out there (after all, you are reading this blog) but a group that you can physically be … continue reading

18
Oct

Recipe: Uncle Bill’s Red and Green Chile Pork Tamales

My mom is in Taos, New Mexico having a sisters weekend with her three sisters and it made me remember that I never shared my Uncle Bill's Tamale recipe with you all. We served these tamales at Caspian's Baptism celebration and they were so good.I absolutely adore New Mexico. If you've never been there, you should definitely put in on your 'must visit' list. I don't even really know how to describe it, but I always feel like I'm a new world when we visit. My grandparents owned an art gallery in Taos for many years and my Grandma Marge was an amazing artist. We are … continue reading

15
Oct

Fat Quarter Tote Bag Tutorial

This is an easy afternoon project called the 'Fat Quarter Tote Bag'.  I fell in love with the fabric line, 'Seaside', by Riley Blake Designs the first time I saw it at quilt market back almost 9 months ago in Houston, TX.  The colors, the prints, the nautical feel......awwww, swoon.  I knew I had to use this line the minute it came out! The Fat Quarter Tote is a fully lined medium-sized tote bag made from six fat quarters (with a little bit of interfacing).  Once you know how this sweet little bag goes together, you will be able to whip up several of them in no … continue reading

11
Oct

Vegetable Rice Soup ~ Recipe

There is no doubt about it........fall has arrived in the midwest. The leaves have changed colors and coats are definitely a must for outdoor play. For lunch the other day, the girls and I wanted something nice and warm and decided to whip up a quick and easy soup with some leftover rice.Don't you just love soup? We sure do. You can add just about any vegetables you would like to this soup and if you are vegetarian, try making it with vegetable stock instead of chicken stock. Also, if you have any vegetables that are on their last leg, chop them up and throw them … continue reading

9
Oct

Sewing for Birch Organic Fabrics

Wow, this last week was probably one of the busiest I have had in a long time with all sorts of things going on..........whew, I'm exhausted just thinking about it. One of the projects on my to-do list was to finish some garments I designed for the Birch Organic Fabrics booth for International Quilt Market (which takes place in Houston at the end of the month).Cynthia, the owner of Birch, sent me four different prints to work with and I honestly had no idea which fabrics she would be sending. It made it kind of fun......I'm so used to picking my own fabrics for … continue reading

3
Oct

Scrappy Ruffle Headband Tutorial: Project Design Team Post for Riley Blake Designs and Fat Quarter Bundle Giveaway

Today I'm guest blogging over at Riley Blake Designs sharing a tutorial for the Scrappy Ruffle Headband. It's a quick and easy project that requires very little sewing.Click HERE to head to Riley Blake Designs and view the full tutorial.I also made Miss Savannah an outfit to match her headband from the line 'The Sweetest Thing'. Here is Miss S. doing her little posing for Mama. She loves being in front of the camera these days.Unfortunately, Riley Blake didn't have the bundle of the line I used (The Sweetest Thing) to giveaway to you all, BUT I have an equally … continue reading

1
Oct

Seersucker Double Layer Twirl Skirt Tutorial

My name is Lindsay Wilkes from The Cottage Mama and I'm so excited to be here as part of the 'Skirting the Issue' series.  What an amazing cause and I'm thrilled to be able to provide some handmade skirts for some very special little ladies.  I make clothing for my children all the time and the idea of a child never having something special made just for them, breaks my heart.  Every little one deserves to feel special, pretty, girly and loved and it is the least I can do to provide some skirts to hopefully bring those feelings into some little girls hearts. … continue reading

28
Sep

This and That……..and Giveaway Winners

This has been a good week. Lots of things going on around here, but all good. Gorgeous fall weather has swept through Chicago and I'm loving every minute of it. Fall is definitely my favorite time of year, how about you?This past weekend it was the perfect weather for us to go on our annual apple picking excursion. Our regular orchard wasn't open this season due to the unpredictable, crazy weather we had this last spring. But we decided to try a new one that turned out to be lots of fun.....Gigi (Brett's mom) came along on our fun apple picking adventure.Earlier … continue reading