georgianna craft

Birthday Banners for our twin cousins!

2012-01-27T08:36:00.001-08:00

With a name like Georgi, I distinctly remember never seeing my name on the rack of bedroom signs, pens, mugs you name it! These days, with the wide variety of names out there on today's kids, I bet there are a few children that feel the same way. I have made lots of names-crafts as a result. Here are some banners (or bunting) for our cousins. Perhaps they will decorate their rooms with them, or use them when building a fort or playing outside or maybe decorating for their birthdays. I think it's extra special when something has your name on it!

We Wilsons Flip Doll

2012-01-20T14:32:00.001-08:00

Finally! I have had this pattern on my to-do list for so many years now! It is a flip doll pattern, purchased from We Wilsons, actually, from her etsy shop. She has many stuffy designs that are really well thought out (I think) and very unique. While she doesn't sell this pattern anymore, I thought it was very straight forward and fun to sew. I wouldn't say it was easy, it was challenging, in a fun way though - not in a rip seams out and curse a blue streak way. I took my time on it (for a change, heeding her advice that it was tricky) and it really paid off. So quirky and cute! I'm tempted to just make the fox as a stand alone doll, he's so awesome! I'm also tempted to try the dragon/knight flip doll, but I'm concerned it might stay on my to do list for 2 years as did this guy!

2 New A-line Skirts, made to order.

2012-01-08T20:47:00.001-08:00

A very patient friend put in an order for 3 A-line skirts for work. She picked the fabric and I made them up. Unfortunately the Christmas Craft Rush interfered and the skirts were delayed terribly. I'm hoping (!) to turn over a new leaf and try to do orders right away instead of allowing them to get derailed by other projects. Wish me luck! The first one I did manage to get out to J before Christmas, a stunning teal corduroy, thin wale, by Robert Kaufman I think, with a bit of stretch. Lovely for a skirt and so vibrant. These 2 are a quilting cotton, Modern Martini by Amy Butler and Rashida Coleman-Hale's linen/cotton blend of a lovely graphic pattern called I Heart Wavy Lines. All terrific picks for the versatile a-line. If you are wondering whether I take orders I do but for now it's A-line skirts only and we're off on holiday soon so I can take orders but they can't be filled until the end of March/early April. I'm really not that reliable ;o)

Our House

2012-01-05T13:51:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone! Thought I'd share this neat photo. A local photography enthusiast climbed the clay cliff and took some photos of some downtown Whitehorse houses, including ours, and then tweaked them to look like miniature models. I don't know how it's done but I like it!

Finn's Goose is sending some gooses to some bruces!

2011-12-12T14:49:00.001-08:00

3 Christmas Gooses - check! The goose stuffie is a really cute project from The Long Thread blog, found here. I made a couple last year too, but forgot to take photos. These photos were taken at 10am in the dark, yes folks, a 6 or 7 hour drive north from our house and you can kiss the arctic circle if you're so inclined. It has been a dark November and December, many of us are looking forward to winter solstice and longer days. There are more photos of gooses and contents of those drawstring bags on my flickr site, but if you are K, you aren't aloud to peek! I've already shown too much but had such fun putting these presents together that I couldn't wait to share. Finn will be excited to see his goose after school today. A few notes on goose-construction, it is really worth it to take the time to hand stitch the beaks first, then machine stitch. I learned this the hard way as my beak was very crooked the first time around (and Finn's goose has the most crooked beak but I'm hoping he won't notice!). I also skipped trying to stuff the skinny feet, it was beyond my patience! I'm impressed with Ellen at the long thread for stuffing those feet!

The 12 Days of Christmas Market

2011-12-09T13:12:00.001-08:00

Last chance to stock up for Christmas. We were busy setting up this morning and wow! There are some really lovely things at the Firehall for the next 12 days. I have EVERYTHING there for big and little people. Stop by and take a look - fresh baked goods too (not by me but by many others). So yummy! I was very tempted to stuff my pockets with chocolate and eat it for lunch!

13th Annual Littlest!

2011-12-03T08:04:00.001-08:00

13th Annual Littlest!, originally uploaded by Georgi Pearson.

70's Dress redo

2011-11-30T08:09:00.001-08:00

So, not only do I sew a pile of lovely things to sell and share with everyone, I also have this terrible need to make something new for me to wear when I do a show! This time around I made a retro 70's McCall's #2008 brown linen dress that was fine but, well, it was brown and, in case you haven't noticed, my fabrics are usually quite bright and quirky. And my good friend T said "you can't wear BROWWWN to the Cranberry!!!". Rightly so. I made dress number 2, a 70's McCall's #2004 with a really fun streets and cars and trucks fabric that was meant to be quilty pants. It is very comfy and nicely fitted, the belt detail across the back is really nice, I cheated and skipped the back zipper - not the smartest, but time was tight and I didn't have one "in stock"!! I think I'll be making another one of these soon! A note to sewists out there, retro patterns may look groovy but man, they really made their lives difficult if you follow the construction instructions. There are faster, smoother techniques in garment making in our modern patterns, so, if you are making a vintage pattern, read it through and if you think you can skip a step or do a step in a different order to make your life easier than do it!

3 vintage wool blankets

2011-11-29T11:59:00.001-08:00

I've had these blankets for a few years, hoping to remake them one day into embellished blankets and pillow covers. Finally, that day arrived and they were ready for the Cranberry Fair. All the pillows have new homes and one blanket remains (the pink one). The pillow covers turned out sooo nicely. They are so warm and heavy, really nice to cozy up with. I'll have to keep my eyes open for more wool blankets! The Fair was great fun by the way! Lots of people and lots of beautiful handmade arts and crafts. The Yukon is full of very talented, hard working folks. I'm also thankful that my good friend R was my helper! A month ago I foolishly told her I would be ok and do it alone, luckily she was available to join me when I called her last week! Thanks R! I had a great time and look forward to next year!

The Bits

2011-11-24T17:10:00.001-08:00

These are my favourite parts of sewing - the bits and pieces. I've always wanted to show people my garbage piles from the sewing process, how weird is that? Luckily a good friend with a GREAT camera came by the other day and took some photos - click on this one to see the others!

44 Belts

2011-11-22T13:59:00.001-08:00

Belts for Cranberry Fair by the case load! Like most things lately, I can make them in my sleep! While I have been busy sewing for Cranberry, LIttlest and 12 Days, I did manage to fall off the wagon and make a skirt (or 2) that are not part of the plan. Sometimes when an idea comes along, you just have to make it! It's a horizontal stripe skirt of 6 or 7 fabrics with a simple elastic waistband. I may make them for Littlest but they are kind of silly for this minus 25 and 30 weather we're having! Unless you're heading for a beach holiday soon! Hmmm... maybe I should make a couple more - and lose the turtleneck sweater!

Sewing

2011-11-13T11:54:00.000-08:00

The Cafe Apron goes like this:
Cut all pieces, sew loop, press, iron hems, sides and bottom, iron top edge of fabric panel, sew fabric panel to apron, right sides together, sides and top, turn, press, sew along bottom edge of panel, don't forget to insert hang up loop, sew all around apron, sew tie across and tie ends, add label. Press. Repeat.

The Market Bag goes like this:
Cut all peices, hem and sew pocket top, sew up straps, press, sew sides of bag, serge sides, sew corners of bag, serge corners, press upper hem, sew upper hem, sew straps on (least favourite part, only takes 4 minutes but need to do it 4 times per bag = tedious!!). Add label. Press. Repeat 34 times. 68 straps. 136 strap attachments.

The Cafe Apron 2011

2011-11-13T11:41:00.001-08:00

More Cafe Aprons. Bring the Bistro home to your kitchen! This one is chocolate brown organic cotton with an Anna Maria Horner print that is really fun to look at - and the colours! Wow. There's a slate blue-grey that she has somehow gotten away with in there that is just amazing. Click on the photo to see the rest of the aprons on Flickr - sorry, winter light has made the photos not so great.

New Tote Style

2011-10-31T20:56:00.001-07:00

This bag caught my eye on the cover of this book a while ago. It's a big bag and has a nice shape to it, more than just a tote bag. This is a japanese cotton/linen mid weight fabric that is really pretty in real life! I bought it in Portland last winter with this bag in mind. I've made 10 of them in various prints for the Cranberry Fair, November 27th. This will be my first Cranberry Fair, a juried arts and crafts show here in Whitehorse and I'm pretty excited to be a part of it. I'm hoping to have lots of lovely things. My biggest concern right now is how to display bags on a table... not the easiest thing to do...!

43 Pairs and Counting!

2011-10-14T11:18:00.001-07:00

Click on the photo to see the rest of this year's Quilty Pants on Flickr. Frantically getting ready for tomorrow's swap and must go for a run - bye!

Corduroy Twirly Girls!

2011-10-13T20:43:00.001-07:00

Three new skirts for the Kidz Swap this Saturday at Whitehorse Elementary School, 9:30 til 1pm or something like that. Yes, I know, only 3 but I got carried away with the quilty pants and have oh, maybe 40 pairs of those!! It's a bit crazy, I think I can sew them in my sleep. I'm hoping to take some pictures of them soon!

Matchy-Matchy

2011-10-12T07:50:00.001-07:00

Another a-line skirt! These are a very quick skirt to make and a nice staple to the wardrobe. 2 twirly girl skirts accompanied mama's a-line and all 3 girls were very excited to dress matchy-matchy! I've recently made some twirly girls with a corduroy top layer, cotton under-layer that look like so much fun to wear - while being a bit warmer too! Twirly Girl skirts will be available this Saturday at the KidzSwap Meet. Stay tuned for photos!

Fresh Batch of Quilty Pants

2011-09-16T12:59:00.001-07:00

Here are half the new stack of quilty pants to be made for the 2011 Fall/Winter season! Get your pick October 15th at the Whitehorse Elementary School Kids Swap Meet! After that contact me or wait for the 12 Days of Christmas sale at the Old Firehall in December. NEW this year, quilty pants are available in sizes 2, 3 and 4! Very exciting and thanks to the mamas that encouraged me to make them bigger!

My nephew's quilty pants - how cute?!

2011-08-10T20:58:00.001-07:00

My sister in law has been an avid supporter and purchaser of my quilty pants and it was with great guilt that I FINALLY managed to give her lovely son a pair - he was almost one for goodness sakes! He really should have had a pair for everyday of the week starting at 6 months! But, now he is wearing them with great style, which I think he gets from both his mom and dad! My excuse for being late was that I wanted to make them with that super cute mini zoo fabric, even though I could have given a pair out of my supply, I really wanted to make a pair just for him - to match his zoo room! Thanks for the photo N - she is also a talented photographer!

A Castle Peeps Dress for River

2011-08-02T20:28:00.001-07:00

This is my staple dress and has been since university - I'm trying to remember the first one I made and I think the recipient must be 16 years old by now! It's a burda pattern #XXXX. This castle version was for my very awesome niece with a great monster roar! Her dad is big in to knights and castles, and so is she! And monsters, and rocket ships, and robots and...

Square Neck Summer Dress - Happy Homemade Vol 2

2011-07-29T09:04:00.001-07:00

Another lovely pattern and so quick and easy. The button loops at the back made for an easy closure - no button holes required.

Backpack

2011-06-29T21:22:00.001-07:00

I've been eyeing this pattern for a year or more and when do I decide to finally get the pattern and make it? The night before Day 2 of Summer Camp of course! It is a terrific little pattern from Made by Rae (another terrific blog for sewing for kids, and moms too!). Easy to follow and the result is a very professional looking, sturdy little back pack for your little guy or gal. It's called a toddler backpack but is easy to size up, which I did for a 5 year old. The instructions even provide tips on how to do this (which I should have read to save me adding an extra inch that I ended up chopping off...). I added 2 inches in length and a name tag sewn on the back panel. There are no pockets on the exterior which I might add on the next one. I thought a side bottle pocket too with an elastic gathered top might be nice. I cut and sewed this up in one evening. I think Rae is a science teacher, you can tell by how methodical and well written the pattern is! I really loved making this up! And Finn seems to like it too!

Simplicity 3835 - awesome top!

2011-05-31T12:19:00.001-07:00

Many of my favourite blog-sewers have recommended this top and now I know why. It's very fast and fits really nicely and it also comes in tunic and dress lengths. I can't wait to make another one in dress length next. I've had the pattern since last fall but was finally motivated by this one to get going and give it a try - I was also, most likely looking for a diversion from the other things on my sewing list - like a grad dress, curtains, quilty pants and a pair of room shoes for a friend... guess I better go and get those done!

Twirly Girl Skirt with Olivia!

2011-05-11T12:14:00.001-07:00

Here is a fun skirt for a birthday girl today! Luckily her birthday landed on Kids Clothes Week Challenge!! Another thing that landed around here was a snow blizzard this morning! Not many of us are impressed - probably just the 5 and under crowd think it's neat. Luckily it has melted and turned to rain which is greatly needed - haven't had any rain yet this spring!

Kids Clothes Week Challenge - Dad's made-by-me sweater gone wrong...

2011-05-09T10:37:00.001-07:00

I like to think that every knitter worth his/her salt has one of these, misshapen sweaters in their repetoire. I knit this for my husband a while ago and it took forever and it was too big and we tried to shrink it but it seemed to be short in the back and long in the front and it never seemed to look right. So, I decided to chop it into a sweater for our five year old. I didn't think I could actually cut into it - pretty scary and it was so much work to knit, I think it was 2 years in the making! But, better to use it than to throw it away! Now it looks great as a tunic sweater. I kept the neck line which, might have been a mistake as it is a bit of a big boat collar now. I'm also thinking it would make a great sweater dress for my niece after Finn is finished with it! I have so much overdue sewing on my plate this week, I sure hope I find the time to sew for KCWC!

7 Pairs of Room Shoes

2011-04-30T23:13:00.001-07:00

These little room shoes or house shoes are based on a Japanese pattern and tradition. For indoor wear, they are really fun and kind of like dress-up shoes for around the house! Finishing them all almost lead me to cancel the Trunk Show but I made it, they're done and ready to go! And I probably won't be making them again...!

Update from the Wishfactory

2011-04-28T11:34:00.001-07:00

Click on that photo right away to take yourself to Tara's sneak peak at what she's been working on for the Trunk Show - so amazing!!
This little mama bird has obviously been collecting nest materials from the floor of my sewing room!

Can you tell what these are?

2011-04-27T18:32:00.001-07:00

Another big batch of somethings for the Trunk Show - stylish Bike Cuffs, for saving your stylish flare jeans while riding around town! Fastened with velcro they've been working great for me for the past year. Come get them on Sunday at the Chocolate Claim - 10am til 4pm!

Little Blue Bird for Craft Book Challenge

2011-04-18T16:16:00.001-07:00

As promised (!) here is a Craft Book Challenge project for April! The Itty Bitty Toys book by Susan B. Anderson has some lovely knitted toy patterns, this one was a good starter as it went quickly. My 5 year old requested the worm as he knew once the bird hatched, it would be hungry! The reason I bought this particular book (last spring actually!) was the topsy turvy patterns. I'm currently working on the lion-elephant topsy turvy for my son's birthday present (I'm a month late already). Hopefully I'll have a photo to share soon...!

I'm In!

2011-04-18T14:50:00.000-07:00

It's Kids Clothes Week Challenge again! Hooray! This year I hope to make more shorts for Finn, and some twirly girly skirts for some friends and niece and and and...!

Polka Dots

2011-04-14T16:53:00.001-07:00

This is a new Ticker Tape quilt for this weekend's Kidz Swapmeet at Whitehorse Elementary School! All polka dots. Intended for a child's room, but this one could go just about anywhere!

Hope for Japan Fundraiser at Yukon College.

2011-03-31T14:44:00.001-07:00

Hello we are back. This was a last minute idea but I sometimes buy lovely cottons and linen fabric and pattern books from Japan (here and here and here if you would like to help them out) and managed to make a few items with these fabrics for the Hope for Japan fundraiser at Yukon College Friday April 8th. 2 lovely belts, two Zippy coin purses and one Flat Tote will be available for you to bid on if you attend the silent auction. I don't have to say what a good cause this is do I?

Craft Book Challenge

2011-01-19T09:42:00.000-08:00

I just found the Craft Book Challenge. Can't remember which blog lead me where but I found it! I signed up over at the Liesl Made blog and committed to starting in April as I will be without my sewing machine for 2 months while we "winter" in Portland, Oregon (not many folks do that I'll bet...!). However, I realized that in my typical last minute sewing project madness, I'm actually using one of my favourite craft books Bend the Rules Sewing by Amy Karol to "whip up" a birthday gift for a certain pair of February Birthday Girls! I figure it will be fine if their Mama is peeking because she may need the demo-pictures to figure out just what we're sending and what to do with it when it arrives! It's the awesome puppet theatre that hangs in a doorway on a compression-fit curtain rod (and more importantly folds away neatly in it's own little pouch!). See here, here and here. So, I can actually say that I participated in January - barely! I'll be back in April with the next Challenge! For Christmas I received this book and this book and can't wait to get at them!

How cute is my nephew in his sling Auntie made??

2011-01-02T21:35:00.001-08:00

A Barcelona Skirt

2011-01-02T09:55:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!
Sorry for the lack of posts. I think that's the trend around here. I've sewn so many things but my documentation is falling far behind! Here is the skirt I made to wear for Littlest (like I needed another project at that time!). I love this Tufted Tweets fabric - very vibrant. I was planning on making these skirts for that next trunk show but not many people could tell these were couches. I guess the graphic is a bit of a puzzle for the eye - or couches on a skirt are just so unexpected perhaps! The Amy Butler pattern is excellent and easy and belongs to my good friend K and she had it for a whole year unopened so I asked to borrow it! Hoping to repay her soon with a skirt of her own!

Market Bag Fun

2010-12-03T10:11:00.001-08:00

I’ve officially overdone the sewing as my wrist is inflamed from cranking the wheel on my machine to raise and lower the needle so much and lifting my iron! Last night I did 11 belts in one sitting, I think that’s a record! I’m really looking forward to tomorrow – even though there are about 8 things I still want to make and 2 batches of cookies!

Come See us at the Littlest!

2010-12-02T12:57:00.001-08:00

Only 2 more sleeps peeps, well, for some of us atleast...!

The Cafe Apron - in lovely organic cotton canvas!

2010-11-29T20:09:00.001-08:00

At long last, I will have more than 3 aprons for sale at the Littlest! No one else may have noticed but I've never managed to make more than a few of these lovely Cafe-style aprons as they tend to be last on the list and/or IKEA discontinued the fabric I used to use for them. This year, since I found a lovely organic cotton canvas, I have a stack - 12 to be precise - in grey, taupe and 2 in natural. I'm really pleased with this apron, it's my own design, and some folks even wear it around the house, over their ski pants, so I'm told! You will feel very stylish and like you can pull off an amazing meal in minutes without messing your hair-do when you wear this, or maybe you can already do that in the kitchen! Also a great style for the gourmet men in our lives. I hope you like yours as much as I love mine!

Working on a Display...

2010-11-25T14:06:00.001-08:00

Yes that's a bag of flour, an old phone, a vintage (mine!) Raggedy Ann and Andy coat rack and our water supply manifold... oh yes! And my new shelf unit to display my sewn goods at the LIttlest! I think it will be great as I'm often trying to display things in 3 sizes - S, M, L, or 6-12mo, 12-18mo and 18-24mo. Looks like the cubby with 18-24month Quilty Pants is a little low.,. hmmm.... better stop playing and get sewing!

Women's Long Sleeve Hoodies for the Littlest

2010-11-24T18:49:00.001-08:00

I've made a small stack of one-of-a-kind embroidered birds on fabric paint-stamped birdcages. They're all black, women's (sorry guys!), American Apparel (because they're made in USA), long sleeve hoodies. I've been test driving mine since the spring and I'd wear it every day if I could, it's that comfy and washes well to boot. If you'd like one or like to see them just let me know or come next Saturday to 17 Arnheim for the 12th Annual Littlest Arts and Craft Fair - the best one in town in my opinion! There's my sales pitch for the day - stay tuned for more. The next big news is that, after a dry spell of not finding just the right kind of apron fabric since IKEA discontinued my favourite linen/cotton blend, I will finally have Cafe Aprons again! Hooray!

Pattern No. 12 - Jacket with Hood and Big Pockets

2010-11-21T16:59:00.001-08:00

I bought this Japanese Pattern book in February (yes, 9 months ago folks!) while we were in Portland, Oregon. The Hooded Jacket in wool was so great, I had to make it - obviously I was in a big hurry? I also bought some lovely (local) wool from Pendleton Mills in Portland too. The pattern was very easy, I think I sewed it up in one evening, and then the buttons and hand sewn hem the second evening. Of course I ask myself, as the count down to The Littlest Arts and Craft Fair is on, and the frantic sewing frenzy begins, what the heck am I doing sewing this treat of a jacket for me at this time of year??!! Ah well, must be a form of procrastination! So, if you don't get something handmade from me this year for Christmas, it's because I was busy sewing for myself! He he...

Fresh Batch for the Chocolate Claim

2010-11-13T18:58:00.001-08:00

Belts, zippy change purses and hankies all in at the Chocolate Claim. It's busy around here with sewing for the Littlest Art and Craft Fair coming up on December 4th. I'm looking forward to it - I've got some lovely new fabric to cut into and get out the door. My stash is getting a bit too unmanageable lately - come help me out and take something lovely home for Christmas!

Sneak Peek No. 11 - Three Flillows

2010-10-22T15:12:00.001-07:00

Good things come in threes I'm told. These "floor pillows" are fun - and look like suitcases when you carry them by their handles - super cute!

Sneak Peek No. 10 - Batch of Quilty Bags

2010-10-22T07:50:00.003-07:00

Sneak Peek No. 9 - Littlest Onesie

2010-10-22T07:50:00.001-07:00

Sneak Peek No. 8 - Quilty Pants 12-18 months

2010-10-22T07:48:00.001-07:00

The famous flannel lined baby pants, available in sizes 6 months to 24 months. Please note that waistband adjustments are free since those baby bellies come in so many sizes!

Sneak Peek No. 7 - Quilty Bag

2010-10-22T07:47:00.001-07:00

Sneak Peek No. 6 - Littlest Hats

2010-10-22T07:46:00.001-07:00

Baby toques by American Apparel and me.

Sneak Peek No. 5 - Ticker Tape Wall Quilt in Pinks

2010-10-21T15:58:00.001-07:00

Sneak Peek No. 4 - Ticker Tape Wall Quilt in Blues

2010-10-21T14:22:00.001-07:00

Another one coming in pinks, they are small, 11x15" or so. Could decorate a child's room - or any room you choose. I made one for a friend's nursery and she looks at hers and dreams about all the crafting she's going to do while her boys are asleep! I am totally flattered that something I made inspires this incredibly talented crafty gal!

Sneak Peek No. 3 Quilty Pants, 6-12 months

2010-10-21T13:11:00.001-07:00

Sneak Peek No. 2 The Flillow (Floor Pillow?!)

2010-10-21T13:09:00.001-07:00

Blues and Yellows are in the works!

Early Bird Christmas - Sneak Peek No. 1

2010-10-21T08:13:00.001-07:00

Another Quilty Bag that I don't want to part with. Check back today for more sneak peaks!

Come Say Hi at the Early Bird Christmas Sale

2010-10-18T07:39:00.000-07:00

It has begun - the Christmas Craft Sale season! I was lucky to be invited to LeeAnn's first Early Bird sale at her home this Saturday. So far the line up will be terrific, including:
Lara Melnik (Funky polymer jewellery and art)
Johanna Duyan (Photography and watercolour prints)
Leanne Watson (play clothes, dolls and ornaments)
Erin Suggitt (children’s, bed, bath and kitchen accessories)
Carlene Hajashe (cloth doll houses, accessories)
Heather Ashthorn (play kitchens and toys)
Tara Diaz (paper creations)
Siana Mills (knitted mitts, booties and accessories)
Sue Warner (gourmet treats and drinks)
Laurie Larkin-Boyle (paintings, prints etc.).
Stop in at 49A Lazulite Drive, we'd love to see you! Hopefully I will post some photos this week of my wares for this sale - ~~I'll warn you now the light is pretty dark and rainy around here so you should just~~ (it's been gorgeous, I'm going to complain about the weather more often!) come to the sale to get a better look!

Another Happy Homemade Pattern

2010-09-30T11:12:00.001-07:00

This is my favourite kids sewing pattern book lately, and I still haven't done any of the cute sundresses - yet! The Elsie Marley blog hosted another Kids Clothes Week Challenge but we're on holiday so I missed it. However, in preparation for holidays, I made 2 super cute tops for 2 super cute girls we will be visiting shortly, so it sort of counts doesn't it? Also, the KCWC host made the same top - great sewists think alike! Check out the challenge here for some lovely, creative and repurposed kids sewing projects. I hope we have more of these challenges!

Barty's Parties!

2010-09-19T08:54:00.001-07:00

I was excited to make Birthday Banners (or Barty's Banners!) for a friend who has ventured into a birthday party supplies and rentals business here in Whitehorse. Barty's Parties is a service that provides a selection of really neat cake pans for rent, as well as biodegradable disposable plates and cutlery, environmentally conscious loot bag gifts and lots of other party related items. The banners were lots of fun to make. Katie asked for a superhero theme (red and blue), a dinosaur theme (greens) and of course the pink and purple theme (which, I think turned out the nicest).

Reversible Bags for the Birdhouse

2010-09-04T14:05:00.001-07:00

This is the second batch - the first batch is gone already and I didn't keep the one I liked the best! These reversible bags are organic cotton canvas in the solid colour and patterned cotton on the outside. This is another "everything" bag, big enough for an over nighter and small enough for an everyday purse. Oh, and I guess my blog entries were pretty non-existent this summer - a good sign of a hot summer and a few swims at Long Lake - amazing!

Belts for the Chocolate Claim

2010-07-31T13:43:00.001-07:00

A quick scan of the blog revealed that I have only posted belt photos once - I make them all the time so I assumed they were blogged all the time! Alas, here is the most recent batch to go to the coffee shop. They are a lot of fun to make because they allow me to use every fabric in my stash and the variety is astounding (= i have too much fabric!). They are typically 42" long but I often have folks come by our house to pick their own fabric and length for themselves, a friend or a teenager or two. A very gratifying product for maker and client alike!

Happy Canada Day!

2010-06-30T15:23:00.001-07:00

Vintage Barkcloth Sun Hat

2010-06-30T15:19:00.001-07:00

Sun Hat season is back. Last year I made these hats for the trunk show and they were very popular. I'd forgotten about them and a few friends were asking so, rush down to the Chocolate Claim, I'm only making these 4 this year, 2 from Edna's vintage barkcloth curtains. They're reversible, large brims, perfect for sitting and reading, not so great for walking around if you don't want to bump into anything! Actually, the brim folds up in many different ways to aid in seeing where you're going. Very fashionable style nonetheless. They are "modified" Lotta Jansdotter Hats from her book Simple Sewing.

Flat Tote with Cigar Flowers

2010-06-25T13:52:00.001-07:00

Cigar Flowers? Well, this fabric was a set of old curtains found at our local Sally Ann. It is clean, lovely fabric, incredible flower graphics... However, if you are inclined to iron said fabric, you will be looking around for someone smoking a cigar! It's actually not all that unpleasant, if you happen to have a happy memory of a nice, funny man that smoked cigars like I do.

Wristlets for Some Travelling Girls

2010-06-08T09:06:00.001-07:00

My good friend's niece and friend drove across the country to visit the Yukon and loved the wrist cuffs I had made a while ago. So I whipped a couple up for them to wear home today (just in time before they hit the road again!). These really are fun to make and give, especially if there is a fabric that says something about the wearer - the cars in these are (obviously) to remind them of their road trip! The pattern is from the lovely JCasa site, the buttons are from our days in Brunei. Here are some photos from DH of the wristlets in action on a sunny day - of which we have had MANY I might add while touching wood...

A Summer Batch of Market Bags

2010-05-26T16:45:00.001-07:00

It was market bag mania here yesterday - and I managed to plant the veggie garden too! I've 15 bags made (2 blue and green models not shown here) and I'm really hoping they'll last the summer, but that's probably wishful thinking! They are for sale at the Birdhouse Cafe and are doing really well up there. Morgan is so enthusiastic about them, if I'm ever feeling like I need a boost I should just go hang out with her! It's a lovely spot and they have a great locally made toy kitchen and play area too.

Kids Clothes Challenge, Day 5

2010-05-14T12:08:00.001-07:00

Another pair of shorts from Happy Homemade, shorts "L". This time I skipped the faux fly since they're pretty busy with stripes, I didn't think it would be missed... The real reason is that I haven't managed to make that #@!#? fly without a seam ripper yet and I've done it twice! This time the pockets are lined with gears - just as good as frogs, if not better, for our little guy!

Kids Clothes Week Challenge, Day 4

2010-05-13T16:10:00.000-07:00

Here is the shirt - look familiar? The fabric is the same as found on page 117 of Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing (a fantastic book, haven't made that shirt but have made the everything tote and, hmm... is that all? Add that too my list. I know I've drafted the pj pants in 2 sizes and the girl's sun dress in 2 sizes...oh, the cheque book, but I think cdn. cheque books are different than us. check books!). So the shirt was fairly straight forward although remind me to check the pattern instructions next time for the order of operations so I don't have to set in small sleeves! The easier way would have been to put the sleeve on the front/back piece at the shoulder and then sew up the side seam and sleeve seam, then hem the sleeve. I did snaps instead of buttons and I really like the grandfather shirt collar style! Everything I'm making this week is boys size 4, if you are wondering.
Check the Kids Clothes Week Challenge Flickr pool to see what everyone is up to.

Day 3 - The REAL Day 3

2010-05-12T22:07:00.000-07:00

So I got a bit ahead of myself and started this sewing challenge a week early! Luckily that happened since I haven't done ~~anymore sewing since last week~~'s, (correction, haven't sewn any KIDS clothing...) "day 3"! AND I blew it, over did it, as usual, and spent more than 1 hour on Day 3, probably spent 3 hours! I managed to finish some really cute shorts from the Happy Homemade pattern book in a train engineer's overalls stripe fabric but my model was not cooperating, as you can see! The shorts are the same pattern as the Pirate Pants. I haven't managed to start the shirt yet, not sure why... Coming soon though! I've also cut out another striped pair of shorts, same pattern, that look like fun too. So, after jumping out of the gate, last week, I'm not making any promises for the rest of this week!

Day 2

2010-05-04T23:52:00.001-07:00

Kids Clothes Week, Day One

2010-05-03T21:54:00.001-07:00

I'm hoping to sew one hour a day for a week for Finn as part of Elsie Marley's Kids Clothes Week Challenge (see button on right side)! Often my projects mean ideas for Finn's wardrobe get sidelined so hopefully this Challenge will help! Hour 1 was drafting the pattern for Boy's Shirt q in my Happy Homemade Vol. 2, Kids book! It's a short sleeve dress shirt with grandfather collar. Wish me luck!

Evening Sun at Trunk Show Set Up

2010-04-29T14:47:00.001-07:00

Top No. 21

2010-04-23T17:09:00.001-07:00

Finally some photos. I was putting off ironing these, otherwise I would have posted them sooner, since I finished them weeks and weeks ago (not!). My favourite pattern these days. Since L has been wearing hers around town and getting so many compliments, I thought I would make a few for the Trunk Show. Size 11 or thereabout, they fit L, who is smaller than me, and they fit me too, so hopefully they'll fit a few other folks.

Seriously Folks

2010-04-21T16:17:00.001-07:00

How can I possibly sell this cutie? I think I should post a tutorial on how to build these snap coin purses as they are tedious and there don't seem to be many tutorials out there on them. U-Handblog has a tutorial that I loosely follow. Click on the photo to go to my flickr for pictures of the others so far. There's a paint-by-number one that I also love...

Make your own envelopes

2010-04-18T09:25:00.001-07:00

There are a lot of envelope templates out there, some you can even buy - now why would you do that when you can just copy any old envelope on your own? Here is a brief tutorial on how I copied my favourite envelope size. It's 6.5" by 9.5" and it's a good size for mailing photos or fat quarters (more later).

You will need:
pencil, scissors, ruler, double sided tape.
an envelope that you want to copy.
a piece of scrapbook paper.

1. Carefully open the envelope to be copied along all the glued edges until it is a flat piece of paper.
2. Trace the envelope on the back side of the scrapbook paper. My envelope was slightly wider than the scrapbook paper so I took an inch off the front panel width and a half inch off each back flap. This was done by first tracing one side, then shifting the template over an inch and tracing the other side. The finished envelop is now 5.5" by 9.5".
3. Cut along lines and fold all flaps - use a scoring tool if you have one or just fold flap over your ruler and press with finger.
4. Place double sided sticky tape along long side edge, peel and seal. Place another piece of tape along bottom flap, peel and seal. Place a third piece on the top flap, don't peel and seal until your ready to use it!
That's it - so each and so pretty to receive in the mail don't you think?

These envelopes are filled with fat quarters to send to my Sew Mama Sew fat quarter swap partners. I will also receive 4 fat quarters in the mail shortly - can't wait!

The Trunk Show is Coming!

2010-04-16T12:49:00.001-07:00

7 lovely ladies have been hard at work to fill a suitcase or 2 of their art and crafts to share with you. Come by the Chocolate Claim for a snack and a browse of this spring's loveliest locally made jewelry, soaps, watercolours, quirky handmade dolls, women's tunics, and pottery to name a paltry few!

Mini Messenger Bag - fresh batch for the Trunk Show

2010-04-12T15:16:00.001-07:00

I started a little collection of vintage pot holders this winter while on vacation in Portland, Oregon. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with them but they are so pretty, so much work went into them (double thickness crocheted) and I doubt that anyone will use them as potholders anymore. In fact I wonder if these were ever used, they're in such great shape - the owners probably couldn't bear to pick up the overflowing crock of baked beans with them. At Christmas I designed a mini-messenger bag that completely sold out. This batch with potholder embellishment turned out really nice, almost like a big flower on each flap. For more photos click on the photo to go to my flickr site.

A Quilty Pant Set for a Special Boy

2010-04-04T09:44:00.001-07:00

My best friend called to order a pair of quilty pants and matching onesie for her good friend in Winnipeg who is expecting a very special boy very soon - if not already! This zippy car will travel from the Yukon, to Guelph and halfway back again to Winnipeg. I hope this set enjoys lots of travels with it's new owner. Thanks K!

Spring Time Tea Towels

2010-03-28T23:20:00.001-07:00

I've been wanting to do a tea towel with "dingo balls" for quite a while so here they are finally! I almost chickened out though. Once the patchwork was finished they looked so nice, even without the fringe, but I went ahead and le voila! I'm loving these greens, I don't think I sew much green! They are so springy - limited edition available at the Chocolate Claim sometime tomorrow, just in time for Easter!

More Monster Chunks

2010-03-21T09:12:00.001-07:00

The Making of Monster Chunks!

2010-03-17T19:17:00.001-07:00

Hello again. I've been on holidays. And now it's birthday boy week! This year's treat for all the guests (see here for year 2 and 3 treats) is a treasure hunt ending with a Monster Chunk treasure to take home and love. Rebecca Danger generously posted this free pattern and I've been knitting non-stop monster chunks for the past 2 weeks. More photos to come before they're scattered across town I hope! Rebecca has a great sense of Monster style - check her patterns for sale on etsy, I've bought a few and made a few - not as many as I would like, hopefully more will come to life on my needles soon!

I"m hoping to post soon about our trip and all the lovely Japanese pattern books I found as well as some Liberty of London prints. And then the Handmade and Preloved Trunk Show is coming soon! Details to follow!

The Flat Tote

2010-01-26T08:42:00.001-08:00

A new batch of stylish totes for a new retail venue for me. The Birdhouse Eatery and Cafe called a few of us local arts and crafts folks to provide goods for their racks and shelves. The newly reno'd cafe is a fun, bright place to have coffee (or crepes on Sunday - yum yum!). Lara's artwork looks great on their walls and I'm happy to have Flat Totes, Market Bags, Quilty Bags and Garden Goodness bags there too. I keep forgetting my camera but hope to have photos soon!

Happy Homemade Vol. 2 Pattern Book and Pirate Pants

2010-01-21T12:28:00.001-08:00

Once again, I couldn't resist a really cute pirate print on a Japanese linen/cotton blend. Nor could I resist this amazing Japanese pattern book for children's clothing. The pants are shorts pattern "l" but I just lengthened the legs with pants pattern "o", which is actually the same pattern piece provided in the back of the book. They're a wide leg, bell bottomy kind of pant that are really cute in my opinion. Luckily for me our little guy will wear anything - so far! This is a great book if you are in need of cute duds for the post-toddler years. More for girls than boys, as usual but really nice styles nonetheless! Click on the photo to see a few more pics of the pants.

Topsy-Turvy Times Two!

2010-01-11T16:35:00.001-08:00

Here is my version (30 years later!) of a Topsy-Turvy doll my mom made me. Once again I had big dreams of making four of these (that's 8 faces!) and managed to talk myself out of that and make 2 instead. They will be off in the mail to be a tad late for a birthday party for twin four year olds. I hope they like them - and I hope the dolls are sturdy enough to take 4-year-old love!

A Bucket for My Mom

2010-01-01T13:04:00.001-08:00

Another Christmas present, this one for my mom. I think it's one of the nicest buckets I've made yet! It came out perfectly and it's one of my all time favourite fabrics. The blue and red with the lime green and brown are such an unusual and yet pleasing combination! The buttons are vintage shell I think. I like this photo because it is a snap shot of a chaotic corner of my sewing table - bobbin rings for 2 different machines, parachuting blue cats from Bali, recycled metal flower from Honduras, and a wedding photo - to remind me to quit sewing once in a while and go hang out with Forest!

Three Brother-in-Law Shirts

2009-12-29T21:14:00.001-08:00

What I learned about making men's shirts... they are a LOT of work! I've made a few in the past and I've always wondered about making a bunch for the next trunk show or to sell since folks always comment on those I've made for my husband and good friend DH. Making 4 at once (3 brothers-in-law plus aforementioned good friend!) opened my eyes and you know what? I'm not making these to sell, nu-uh! Friends and family only. I really like them and the groovy retro shirting fabric I found (thanks to Habitual, see blog list on right) is exactly what I envision when making men's shirts. But when I was sewing them, I managed to sew the Japanese top #21 in between collars, plackets, pockets and snaps in what seemed like 10 seconds, compared to the hours the men's shirts took up! The snaps alone seemed to take a half hour each shirt - although I did get a bit faster after the first one. Cowboy shirt snaps, by the way, are from Cowgirl Snaps if you need some, and you just might as they are the coolest fastener and the colours are incredible! I'm looking around trying to figure out what else needs cool snaps! The pink shirt, for youngest brother, was my first cowboy style and it was fun - I tried it on and it makes a really nice women's shirt too if I do say so myself! Hmm... maybe I should make one for me... on the other hand, I could have 4 Japanese Top #21 in the time it would take...!

Another Japanese Top

2009-12-29T21:11:00.001-08:00

This is my second Top #21. This time I took out the gathers across the bust for a cleaner look. This fabric was such a cute floral print, luckily I have more. Now that the presents have been given, I can start posting a bit more of what I was up to leading up to Christmas - since I was obviously not blogging! This was a gift for my good friend Lara - who spoiled me rotten, as usual with many one of a kind creations from her studio. She also gave me a stack of old dress patterns from the Sally Ann - what a great friend! Hopefully I'll post photos of them - there were some gems - including a cat suit that Lara needs in orange stretch terry!

The Zippy

2009-12-07T19:59:00.001-08:00

How about that winter light for a December afternoon at 2pm? Fairly dark around here as we approach the shortest day of the year. Our house doesn't get any sun now but I think by the end of January it hits the south windows of my upstairs sewing room - down stairs is still in the dark for a week after that.
More Zippies! This time with ants, hedgehogs, bikes, frogs and cut-away houses or rooms in red, black and white. I make these with Japanese cottons from Japan (thank you karaku!) and the linings are hand sewn in. A handy swivel hook allows you to connect keys and money in one spot. I've four more to make for the Christmas season and then I'm out of swivel hooks - which means I've made 20 of these things already! How did that happen?!

Village Frock by Sugar City

2009-12-01T09:24:00.001-08:00

These dresses were fun and a real challenge to make. I thought I read on a blog some where that a woman sewed one in an hour! Not the case for me! The fabric is a cotton/linen blend and the texture of the gathers was amazing after a tumble in the dryer - no ironing required! The Sugar City blog is here and there is a link to her shop and patterns.

2009-12-01T09:20:00.001-08:00

2009-12-01T09:19:00.001-08:00

The making of the Littlest Onesies

2009-11-30T08:13:00.001-08:00

Here are a few new littlest onesie designs for this year (more elephants!). I use American Apparel onesies, made in the USA with long sleeves. I find the short sleeved onesies often get covered up as undershirts and babies never get to show off their smart shirts! If you use cloth diapers, the snap crotch design also helps keep everything where it should be! I tried brown onesies last year and they were a hit so they're back again this year along with basic whites.

A Parade of Elephants!

2009-11-27T07:48:00.001-08:00

Here are a few more sleepy elephants, new for the Littlest. Left to right, one from IKEA, one from Brunei, one from New York (state!) and one from Texas! I originally posted about them here and have cut out many more but they haven't managed to get sewn together yet... they're on the list!

Baby Scallop Blankets

2009-11-25T19:07:00.001-08:00

Let the Christmas Craft Season begin! Here are the only 3 baby quilts that will be available this year at the Littlest and, if they're still around afterwards, you'll find them at the 12 Days of Christmas. They are a lot of work and a bit slow for my need for speed! But ooo they are lovely and very gratifying to make... (or maybe I mean once they're made!). The pattern is from the book Bend the Rules Sewing, which is a great book for any level of seamstress from beginner to seasoned veteran - as long as you don't mind bending the rules once in a while! Hmm... is this starting to sound like a recommendation for that sewer on your Christmas shopping list?

Tea Towels

2009-11-17T14:57:00.001-08:00

Just trying to use up my scraps again! Those birds were a favourite print that I found at a shop in Victoria, sadly it is long out of print.
My mom has a Christmas idea involving tea towels and this lead me to search for funny words or sayings to embroider on tea towels. Here are a few favourites:
Restaurant Menu
Grocery List
"Make yourself at home - do my dishes!"
"Just dry the bloody dishes!"
"i am preparing dinner just as fast as I can dial!"

New Ironing Board Cover

2009-11-10T08:54:00.001-08:00

The trouble with lovely fabric is figuring out what to do with it so that you can enjoy it daily. Some fabrics just don't suit clothing and bags are always a great way to enjoy fabric but how many bags does one really need?! Lucky for me, my ironing board cover was looking very tired and Karyn had a really nice tutorial for making your own cover. This fabric is a heavy cotton canvas from IKEA which is working out really well as a cover. It stays in place and I'll wager that it will last longer than a quilt cotton. And as for enjoying this daily? Well, let's just say there's lots of sewing and ironing going on around here - Christmas is coming!! Hello Mr. Fox!

Ticker Tape Quilt

2009-11-08T22:24:00.001-08:00

I needed another project like a hole in the head (especially since the Christmas season is just about upon us!) but I couldn't resist this Ticker Tape Quilt by AmandaJean. I've been wanting to do a mini quilt project and this was perfect. Something about the random squares and not having to applique really appealed to me! The edges of each square are left to fray which I wonder about but so far it is extremely cute. I keep threatening (myself) to use up all my scraps before buying any new fabric but I haven't been very good at sticking to this plan. This project won't get through my scraps very quickly either but it sure was fun to play with. Mr. Fox seems to approve too. October was Scrap Buster month at one of my favourite blogs and shops Sew Mama Sew where they listed 5 or more project ideas a day to use up your scraps. The Ticker Tape Quilt was my favourite.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T20:29:00.001-07:00

Happy Halloween, originally uploaded by Georgi Pearson.

A late night post - most have you are stuffed with treats by now and having crazy dreams because of it! We had a big dump of snow Friday night which made for a blue sky, powdery, wintery October 31st. A little cow is out there trudging down the street as I type! We had our 5 minutes of Halloween around here - that was the length of time I was able to get Finn to wear his vampire cape and mask, which only happened because I used the age old mother's solution, THE BRIBE. It has been a challenging Halloween, to say the least. First off, I beat the rush and bought a nice big pumpkin at the grocery store (no patches up here - although someone did grow pumpkins in their greenhouse with success!), it had a proper stem for a handle, it was terrific! Until it froze... and went to mush... So, all week I checked all 5 grocery stores, yes that's 5 total, and no pumpkins. One glimmer of hope was a shipment of pumpkins was due Thursday at the Super A, so back we went and hooray - one tall, skinny pumpkin with a great little handle came home with us!

Pamplamoose Music

2009-10-16T21:30:00.000-07:00

Just stumbled across this musical duo - awesome...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xycnv87N_BU&feature=channel

The Zippy

2009-10-13T22:25:00.000-07:00

Japanese cotton prints are some of the cutest small scale prints around. Here we have some matroyshka dolls, ballet sheep and pandas, fat puppies, and musical dogs and sheep. Still to come are apple trees, farm animals, multi-colour polka dots, and blue trees with little fences. I wanted to make something small, and useful, that would show off these cute prints. I often find that if I'm just going out for a quick trip to the grocery store/coffee shop/thrift store ;0) all I need are keys and a card or some cash so, introducing The Zippy - when you just need to Zip out! There's a zipper, for starters, a loop of cotton twill tape to hold the quick-release key holder to the side and it's lined, with polka dots and a georgianna label inside. So far the coffee shop patrons are loving them. Guess I better make some more - thanks guys!

Delayed Until Next Spring?

2009-10-09T14:26:00.000-07:00

I was so impressed at how quickly this project of stripping, sanding and spray painting was going - and then it snowed! I can't spray paint inside so I was watching the thermometer every day and when it hit 10 degrees I'd scurry out with my spray paint and do another coat. Well, I'm probably one coat away from finishing and that thermometer doesn't look like it's going to pull through for me. So unless I build a plastic tent in the basement (which sounds like too much work) my fun old red chairs will have to wait til spring. Sigh.

Rhubarb Jams

2009-09-22T14:30:00.000-07:00

I think I've jammed about 12 pounds of rhubarb this week! It's jobs like this that I'm glad for a big kitchen, most of the time I'm thinking my counter top is too big and just collects junk as a result. On that topic however, I'm on a bit of a counter top kick - an effort to be able to see my counter tops all day - the second something lands on the counter it's quickly assessed and put where it's supposed to go. Back to the jam though! I've made some Ginger Rhubarb Jam and some Tangy Orange Rhubarb Jam. Making jam reminds me of my Grandma Ward and the first time I made peach jam in her kitchen. I don't think it turned out right though, I think I always get the length of boiling wrong. Similarly with this batch, I tried the jelly test but I'm never sure, is the dab of jam wrinkling on top as it cools on a frozen plate or not? I think I should invest in a candy thermometer to save me the worry! Alas, rhubarb seems to be very forgiving and these batches taste dee-lish - at least to me and my 3 year old - hubby doesn't like rhubarb, and that's another story!

Baby Quilt Block

2009-09-21T19:10:00.000-07:00

Here is my contribution to a group quilt for a friend's new baby, due next month. The theme was baby animals and the organizers provided the background square. I have a thing for elephants for some reason (probably because my husband does a really good elephant noise and action for our little guy, and has done since he was brand new!). So, I picked an elephant. I'm wishing I pulled the red embroidery floss out from behind the elephant so it wouldn't show through like it does, but it's not too bad, shows more in the photo than in real life I think! Maybe I'll just go and pull it out right now...! Done!