Olivia + Arthur

Let me introduce you to Olivia and Arthur, better known as Olive and Archie. They’ve undergone a name change as a way to distinguish big sister’s dolls from little sister’s dolls.

Olivia and Arthur were part of Little Miss Bee’s Christmas present. I couldn’t just stop at a set of dolls though. You see, I love gifts that are part of a larger theme. So along with Olivia and Arthur came a doll bed, mattress, pillow, and quilt.

The whole gift was a fabulous success. And how do I know, you ask? Upon opening it the little miss grabbed the neck of one doll, picked up the quilt, and desperately tried to fit herself into the bed. It was a sight that had us laughing all Christmas morning.

Sold!

Towards the end of last year one of my co-workers came to me and said she wanted to hire my skills, specifically my quilting skills. I laughed and blushed and said, “Oh, shucks.” But she was dead serious. She was ready to talk fabrics and design. I was hooked.

And that is how this baby quilt was born. It’s my Path to Pop Garden quilt scaled down to baby size, each final square measuring 7 inches. I worked in a color palette of greens and blue, the only real requirement of my “client”. The fabrics are from Nicey Jane, a line of fabrics I had somehow managed to resist buying up until that point, with a print from Bijoux thrown into the mix; a sunny stripe from Urban Chiks backs it all.

Winter has been cruel to New Englanders so I especially love how in the midst of all that swirling snow I was able to create this bit of spring. Can’t you just imagine taking baby outside on that first really warm spring day for some playtime on her quilt? I can. And it warms me through and through.

The Tooth Fairy

First Little Miss Lou had the audacity to turn five. Then she insisted on starting kindergarten. As if that wasn’t enough growing up, she’s started losing her teeth!

The idea of loose teeth completely freaks me out so I had to focus my energy on something more worthwhile, a tooth fairy pillow. After a bit of trolling around the web I came across a cute little tooth cutout from Martha. Thank goodness for free templates! The rest of the pillow was a cinch because, of course, it had to feature her favorite color, orange. I just happened to have the perfect orange and white polka dot in my stash. Then to take to it the next level, I added some classic white piping.

Into the Valentine’s Day package went this little extra treat for Miss Lou. It just missed the loss of her first tooth but was at the ready for the loss of her second. The generosity of the tooth fairy, or perhaps the value of teeth, has greatly increased since the days of my baby teeth. The lucky Little Miss has scored $2 each! She offered this simple explanation as to why mine were worth so little when I was a kid:

“Well, Auntie, you only get $2 if you pull them out yourself. If your Mommy does it for you you’ll only get a quarter.”

Well, indeed.

For my Valentines

Simple stitched cards made from scraps too lovely to throw away

An Oliver + S jumprope dress in gray fine wale corduroy with calico accents

A tiny baker's apron with ruffled detail

Makin' Whoopie

No, not that kind! The pie kind. Think coffee laced chocolate cookie cakes spread with buttercream and we’ll be thinking the same thing. Of course, they could accurately be described as sugar, some more sugar, fat, and more fat, but that just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

In this cute little four bite size I made them in for the masses you can ignore the fact that they are sugar and fat bound together with chocolate and flour. And because it’s Valentine’s Day I think ignorance is bliss, enjoyed with a hot cup of tea or coffee.
Recipe from Baked Explorations, a must have for all you bakers out there.

The Vanity

1. Have a facial (done!)
2. Get a manicure (done!)
3. Get many pedicures (two so far!)
4. Work with a trainer
5. Buy a fabulous handbag
6. Figure out how to rock a belt
7. Find the perfect boots
8. Get awesome new shades
9. Decide my next hairstyle (done, I think!)
10. Wear make-up (on several occasions!)

Part of the 2011 in Lists Project

The Experiences

1. Visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
2. Attend a Seane Corn workshop (done!)
3. Take the Ben + Jerry's tour
4. Visit the ICA (done!)
5. Take a European vacation
6. Play putt-putt
7. Visit a new (to me) U.S. city (done!)
8. See Mary Poppins (done!)
9. Go to an outdoor concert
10. Head to the beach

Part of the 2011 in Lists Project

The Nest

1. Fill up my lovely address file
2. Refinish the coffee table
3. Find the perfect old or new china cabinet/pantry for the kitchen (looking..)
4. Find the perfect old or new chairs for the living room
5. Find the perfect old or new side table for the living room
6. Get floor lamps for the living room (got one!)
7. Fill the couch with awesome pillows (made two!)
8. Tame the fabric scrap basket (done!)
9. Plant a succulent
10. Update the bathroom accessories (in progress!)


Part of the 2011 in Lists Project

The Food

1. Eat a dozen oysters with a glass of champagne
2. Start a Sunday Supper Club
3. Take a cooking class (done!)
4. Have dinner at Menton (done!)
5. Pick raspberries or blueberries or both
6. Eat at The Butcher Shop
7. Check out Flour
8. Assemble the liquors for the perfect classic cocktail bar
9. Give Coppa Enoteca another try (done!)
10. Make ricotta
11. Make mozzarella
12. Make cassoulet
13. Make mayonnaise
14. Make bagels
15. Make chocolate babka from The Craft of Baking
16. Make crepes
17. Make croissants
18. Make Chocolate Coffee Cake with Dark Chocolate Ganache from Baked Explorations
19. Make doughnuts
20. Make whoopie pies (done!)

Part of the 2011 in Lists Project

The Handmade

1. Make a stack of fabric napkins (fabric options scoped!)
2. Make an apron....for myself!
3. Finish the Sophia bag (done!)
4. Make a half square triangle quilt for Little Miss Lou (done!)
5. Make a pinwheel quilt for Little Miss Bee (in progress!)
6 . Crochet enough sunshine squares for an adult sized afghan (96 + counting!)
7. Embroider a wall hanging
8. Make one or two playsuits for Little Miss Bee (done!)
9. Make a birthday party dress for Little Miss Bee
10. Make lazy days skirts for Little Miss Bee (done!)
11. Make an apron for Little Miss Bee (done!)
12. Make a super-cape for Little Miss Bee (done!)
13. Make a long-sleeve jumprope dress for Little Miss Lou (done!)
14. Make a tooth fairy pillow for Little Miss Lou (done!)
15. Make lazy days skirts for Little Miss Lou (done!)
16. Make a school photo dress for Little Miss Lou
17. Make an ice cream blouse for Little Miss Lou (done!)
18. Make flannel pjs for both Little Misses
19. Make a fabric pennant garland (made a mini!)
20. Make fabric cards
21. Make an ice cream dress with solids for Little Misses Lou and Bee (done!)
22. Make the doll carrier from Little Things to Sew for Little Miss Bee (done!)

Part of the 2011 in Lists Projects

2011 in Lists

For a few months I've had ideas tumbling around in my head about what I wanted to accomplish in 2011. I've done a list before but it didn't really capture all the ideas or options that appear throughout the year. And although I was the author of the list I never felt like I could change it once I put it out there. In the end it felt a bit like a to-do list and I lost some steam along the way.

For 2011 I've developed a different plan for my lists making. The lists will be divided into categories: The Handmade, The Food, The Nest, The Experiences, and The Vanity. They will be living lists and things may be get the axe and other things may be added as new opportunities or interests appear. It's my way of keeping track of all the ideas that float through my head and a way to make sure I'm tackling the ones that end up most important to me.

Each day over the next week I'll post the list for each of my categories. I'll also be adding a sidebar category with links to all the lists so you can find them easily. My hope is to keep each list updated regularly with status or links to pictures or full blog posts so you can see how I'm doing.