Lady bug fat quarters

I purchased a darling fabric fat quarters bundle when I was pregnant.

Playing around with them I had a t first thought to make a little quilt top.

But then I just couldn't resist the ladybugs being a little dress.

I did a little smocking in the center.

i was so proud of myself for finding floss that matched so well
then when I was done wished it hadn't matched so well
because you barely see it.

Instead of running it through a pleater I did the dot pleat method on the back of the fabric.

It was such a small area so I thought it wouldn't be too bad.

Made me glad I have my mum's pleater for big jobs though, smile!

In the back I left the skirt open and turned the edges under.

I wanted to ruffle the bum area and be able to see it.

I ran 1 1/2 inch strips through my serger to do a bound rolled edge.

Then I gathered, pinned and sewed them  across the bottom.

It turned out pretty cute and my baby looks darling in it!

Shopping at Pine Needles in Utah

My sisters, my mom and I went to Gardners Village in Utah.

My favorite was the shop called Pine Needles
I could have bought the entire store!
I loved every inch of that place! My goodness it was a candy store.

I know my sister and I were wishing we could some how be wealthier that minute.

Another sister and I recently went to a shop in Denver such fun.
(have to blog about that place later)
I believe this will be a new tradition to go to quilt shops on our travels.

Creating "Reminiscing" in Yellow

Do you have memories of babies when you were little?

I am 6 years older than my sister C and I remember her coming home from the hospital clearly.
I also clearly remember a dress she had that was yellow with scallops across it and a little duck.
The world just doesn't make baby things like that any more

my angel baby E modeling her new dress

I found a pattern Simplicity 2392 a vintage reprint with the scallop design
and I knew what I wanted to do in an instant.

I found some lovely yellow fabrics and some lace with a vintage feeling and set to it.
I was tickles with how it turned out.

I also made a diaper cover to match and covered the bum with lace ruffles.
(The diaper cover isn't included with that pattern)

Having fun making some sweet little baby gowns.

A little Angel at our House!

Here is the latest creation of mine! I think I am proudest of these creations!
First they take 9+ months to make and they turn out so-ooo cute!
So here she is in all her newborn cuteness!
Baby E!

That's right I have a 4th girl. We adore her so much already!

I think thats just what I make!  So we are a family of 7 now.  With our 4 girls a boy

and of course the mama and daddy!

My sister told me I did a good job taking this picture.  I just took a snap shot
of my new baby on a blanket the evening we came home from the hospital.
The truth is it is a very average photo that I doctored up on my photo
editing iPhoto on my Mac. I faded the color nearly all the way and increased
the pink tones, upped the contrast, and blurred the edges.
Here is the original picture.  She still looks like my cute baby, minus the glowy
whimsy the effects add.

There are lots of places that have free photo editing to try out.

I always make a duplicate to play around with first.
I play around with Picasa lots.  I like to make my blog collages with Picasa.
Give it a try!

Mmmmm homemade donuts!

Lately making donuts is a driving force!  Perhaps because I am pregnant, LOL but it is.

I love them warm and slightly crisp form the pan and dreged in cinnamon and sugar.

I like them raised and glazed with a cup of milk.  Either way I make  them they are Yummy!

Here is a raised recipe glazed doughnuts

cheer up!

What do you do when you have 4 lbs of fresh strawberries and you are feeling blah?
You make Chocolate Crepes and whip up some cream.
I have to say crepes are always heavenly and these chocolate ones are divine.
I used a recipe from somewhere online (just google it)  it was yummy.
First I made a simple strawberry syrup (water sugar pureed strawberries, boiled)
spooned a generous amount onto the plate.
I filled the crepes with whip cream and strawberries, rolled them up putting them
onto the plate in the middle of the warm strawberry syrup and added more
cream and strawberries then drizzled dark chocolate syrup and sprinkled chocolate chips
on top!  very yummy!  Though my girls just ate the whip cream and left the rest.
That's okay pregnant mommy went a head and finished theirs for them.

Prairie Girls Party

My Daughter L loves Little House on the Prairie. In fact all three of my girls 

like to pretend they are Laura, Mary or Carrie.  I had a lot of fun sewing for this party.  

I made each daughter a calico dress, apron and bonnet. 

 Then I made bonnets for each girl to have and wear at the party.  We had fun deciding

on what was a good old-fashioned treat.  We choose muffins with hand shaken butter, 

lemonade and and pop corn.

With candy sticks as our sugary treat, like you'd get at an old general store.  

Grandma made her a divine Lemon Meringue Pie in place of a cake.   

I wrapped up the gifts with brown paper and tied them with cream colored ribbons.

You might notice my muffins are in plastic bags.  I was so afraid they would dry out 

I didn't dare set them out in the baskets unprotected.

The girls were absolutely adorable in their bonnets!  Our first game was 

"Clothes Pins in a Bottle".  We set up three stations and with 9 girls it was 

perfectly even.  The most exciting thing at first was our baby chicks in the 

heated brooder.  They spent at least half and hour petting and watching them.

Then we played "Button Button who got the Button".  

Then we did some crafts.  We made cloths pin dolls and embroidered 

a monogram or initial on a hankie.  I made the hankies and then with a 

washable ink pen drew some cross stitch letters for the girls to sew.

It turned out to be a really fun day.

Every one took home a bonnet, clothes pin doll, wooden embroidery hoop, 

personal embroidered hankie and candy sticks. 

I also enjoyed the party myself.  Thank you mom and fam for all the help!

Hope you enjoyed seeing our Prairie Party!