JD Salinger January 1, 1919 – January 27, 2010

"It's funny.  All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they'll do practically anything you want them to.:  ~J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye, Chapter 21

Rest in Peace J.D. 

New PDF Empire Style Dress Pattern

The new pattern is listed.  Sizes 6 months to 4 years.  This will be your favorite pattern, as it is only two pieces and takes only 1 yard of fabric.  Free zipper tutorial included.  :)
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39199491

I just can't stop making these dolls they are so much fun!!!  I made a tutu for a Special Baby's 1st birthday and I thought her Bit of Whimsy Doll would look perfect sitting on it.  I'm hooked!

New PDF Empire Style Dress Pattern

New Snugnluv Pattern.

I'm excited to be releasing my newest pdf file next week.  It's an empire style dress, with bias tape for the armholes and neck to avoid the tricky armholes.  It is two pieces of fabric and uses less than 1 yard. There is an option for a back zipper, but the dress fits without putting a zipper in.
Sizes 6months to 4 years.  Check back next week, as the pattern will be listed in my Etsy shop!

Easy, quick, and most of all fun to make!

Lovely Feature on Today's Giveaway - Thank You

Check it out for a chance to win.

Here is the post from  http://www.todaysgiveaway.net/2010/01/snug-n-luv-patterns-free-giveaway.html.  Go on over to enter.  :)  Buy one pattern and get a second for 50% off too if you buy today.

Loving the Bit of Whimsy Dolls

Just finished this girl today.


And this one yesterday. Lindsay chose the skin tone and the outfit is one of her old favs!

This one is for my niece. She's a Tween so goth is cool. :)

My First Bernina Quilt - Michael Miller Zoology with a Minky Back

Well, I finished my first quilt on the Bernina. I can`t believe it.  It was so much fun.  It measures about 40X40".  I wasn't sure who it was for until I say my daughter's reaction to it.  She is eighteen months so when I opened it up she was at eye level.  She started pointing to all of the animals and was naming them,  "shuuu", "muu" (?).  She tried to kiss them multiple times. hehe  Then I showed her the back and she went "ahhhh" and hugged it.  She also said "shoft". I had it sitting on a chair in the living room a little later and when I heard a noise and went to investigate she had taken it off the chair and was laying cuddled up in it on the hardwood floor pretending to sleep. She looked at me and put her finger over her mouth and made a "shhh" sound.  Way too cute!!  Now I am just waiting for the fabric to make one for my soon-to-be four year old. (although I did make her something in the meantime which will be posted later today) :)

I pieced the top using  the 1/4" foot, quilted through the top and binding using my walking foot,  and then attached the minky...(yes, the ultra slippery minky) using the walking foot.  I used a "stitch in the ditch" method.  Because of the  1/4" foot the seams were easy to sew and turned out perfect.  After I had it all cut out I realized that I had made a mistake in cutting so I ended up using applique for each of the centre squares, but I think it turned out ok. :) I tried to attach the binding using the machine, but decided to do it by hand in the end.

The fabrics are a combination of Michael Miller and Amy Butler.  The dark brown animals is Michael Miller, Zoology. One of my all time favourites!  The blue and green polka dots and stripes are from Amy Butler Lotus. (full moon polka dot and oxford stripe)

Pink Bliss Fat Quarter Quilt from All People Quilt Free

I just love this quilt and it's a freebie, fat quarter friendly pattern.  24 fat quarters and it's done.  Get the free pattern from All People Quilt. Yep, it's Amy Butler too.

Materials
24—18x22" pieces (fat quarters) assorted small, medium, and large florals and prints (blocks)
1/2 yard green-and-pink paisley (binding)
3-1/3 yards backing fabric
59" square batting

Finished quilt: 52-1/2" square

Cool Site

Can I Get the Recipe? is run by Cari, a fellow Canadian Collective member.  Cari has worked as a chef and has traveled the world creating meals and menus on private yachts. Currently, she lives in North Vancouver with her family and is the owner, publisher, recipe collector, and the writer of Can I Get the Recipe?

Each week she puts out a menu, with recipes, and a grocery list.  The food is easy to make, family friendly, healthy, and it won't cost you a fortune to make.  The site features interesting cookbooks and kitchen gadgets and offers reviews as well.

Last week I won the giveaway and shall soon be sporting a new set of Credo organic mesh reusable produce bags. Woohoo!  They are going to be perfect, if I can somehow trigger my overwhelmed brain to remember that they're in the trunk. (I'm teaching Kindergarten this year and my brain is full...hehe)

Check the site out. Comment on any of the January featured recipes for a chance to win reusable shopping bags by Grey Gourmet.   The recipes look delicious and if it makes life a bit easier I'm all about that!