Wednesday, June 29, 2011

a farmers wife!

I'm officially now a farmers wife!! I joined the quilt along a few weeks ago and picked up my book at Joanns but had to put it on hold to work on my daughters birthday party. I was also waiting for the fabrics I ordered to arrive and they came on Friday and Saturday!! THANKS, Amy for doing a little swappy-poo with me and pointing me to the right direction to pick up the other 30's Old New fabric by Lecien!!

For my first two blocks I chose were Spool and Country Farm. Spool was the first one I did and it was a great starter one. I also love star blocks so it fit well for my second block!!


{84} Spool ~ a simple but fun block!!

{23} Country Farm. A fun star block!!

Here is a stack of my 30's Old New fabrics that I'll be using for the quilt along. I'll add some basics in with it too and maybe some of the new Annie's Farm Stand. But this is what I'm basing them off of. :)



I can't wait to do a couple more next week!! I hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday and enjoy the rest of your week!! We are heading out of town to go camping for the 4th of July so I'll see you next week!!

Monday, June 27, 2011

a polly pinwheel party!!

Saturday was the big day in our house!! We'd been planning, making, baking, and with that, there was lots of anticipation!! It all came together well, and Maya had a wonderful day with lots of friends, a little craft, and of course lots of sweets to eat!!

Displaying little Polly dolly, the frame I had made for the centerpiece, and a few pinwheels!! I thought it turned out really sweet!!

The polly pinwheel quilt block all framed!!

All the yumminess!!


A polly pinwheels cake!! Lynne from Sweetiepie Caketopper Shop made the amazingly adorable cake topper as sweet little Polly Pinwheels that my creative friend Ariel illustrated! Isn't it just so sweet!!

Yummy cake pops!! I had one a couple weeks ago for the first time, and when I found out how easy they are to make, they went right on my list for party treats!! I thought it was a nice substitute for cupcakes too! The cute decorated tub I got from Emily of brodyandma and it worked great for displaying the cake pops!!

For the activity, we made cute little felt pinwheel hair clips!! The girls had so much fun making them, and with it being a pretty simple craft, it really worked great for the time we had!!

All the pretty pinwheel hair clips!!

The girls showing their hair clips!

Pinwheel goodie bags!!

Maya after the party! Such a pretty happy girl!! I love you, Maya!!

I really had lots of fun planning and preparing for the party!! I thought before I'd probably not do another big one after this, but I truly have such a wonderful time doing the parties that if they want one, I don't think I could say no. It must be seeing it all come together after all the planning, and then to have them so happy, it really makes it all worth it!! And, it really is so much fun creating!! :)


Now, I think I need a nice cool lemonade while I sit and enjoy the sun for a few hours!! Then back to work!! :)

Happy Monday to all my friends, see you in a couple days, since I have been doing other sewing too to show you!!

Friday, June 24, 2011

a polly dolly!

this week i was able to make a new doll, and of course it had to be a version of miss polly pinwheels. to match little red i had made her with striped leggings and aqua boots! :) as most know, i really enjoy making dolls, and it was a fun excuse with my daughters birthday party tomorrow. :) i sure hope my daughter like my version of little polly dolly!!




I hope everyone has a super spectacular week-end!!


PS. If you'd like to download the cute tape strips I used for the pictures you can find them here.


Tuesday, June 21, 2011

mini pinwheels...and tutorial!

Yesterday I worked on some mini pinwheel blocks, and really enjoyed the simple yet fun process. I love the way each one turned out being unique and so adorable!!

Using the cute pinwheels I bordered sweet little Polly Pinwheels, and am now working on a frame so I can have her all ready for my daughters birthday. I'll show you when she is all finished and framed. :)


To make the pinwheels, I used a simple method, that is so quick and easy!! Here is a quick little tutorial on how I made them~

Cut 2, two and a half inch squares.
(it would be really quick and easy to use charm squares or a layer cake if you want a larger pinwheel for a quilt.)
the pinwheel will end up the size that you cut your squares so you can cut any size you want!! :)


place right sides together and pin.


sew a 1/4 inch scant around the entire block.


cut with your rotary cutter and ruler diagonally from corner to corner, to create four triangles.


press seams open and then trim each corner


arrange your blocks to make a pinwheel and then sew all four blocks together.


sew the rest of your blocks using the method above. each block ended up 2 1/2 inch square! i told you, isn't that super easy!?! :)


the finished polly pinwheel block!!


Yesterday I also received Annie's Farm Stand!! I used a few of them for the pinwheels, and am already in LOVE with this lovely collection!! I even have a few more still coming so keep a look out!!


Better get back to more party planning as I only have till Saturday!!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

pinwheels

Lately I've been planning my daughters birthday! There are so many wonderful ideas online that really makes it fun!! After seeing some cute pinwheel ideas and knowing my sweet friend, Ariel has the most adorable illustration of Polly Pinwheels I decided on the pinwheel theme.

I found some cute vintage shabby chic inspired papers online and ordered them (don't you think they would be the sweetest fabrics!?!). They just came last week so was able to start on the invitations and some cute party pinwheels. I used this tutorial from Martha Stewart for making the pinwheels.

The cute invitations, with Polly Pinwheels, fun paper pinwheels on doilies!! I really love the way they turned out!!



Fun party pinwheels!!


Here are some of the parties I've gotten inspiration from.
A cute pinwheel party arrangement!


I just love the sweet pinwheel cake and all the cute goodie bags!!

I'm hoping to make a cute table runner with sweet pinwheel blocks like these from Amy!

For shop news, I just received some of the 1001 Peeps by Lizzy House!! I just love this fun collection!!



This week I should be receiving the cute Hoo's in the Forest collection by Riley Blake, and then later this month Sarah Janes Children at Play, and Leciens new Flower Sugar collections!! I can't wait!!

Hope you are having a terrific Tuesday!!