project runway stroller

Far too often my girls are wearing out their toys (partly because most toys these days are made cheaply and partly because the girls are wildly active and "imaginative" with their toys). The latest toy to be worn out: the beloved doll stroller.
So the choices are: 1. throw out the old stroller, buy another one and wear it out too, 2. redo the fabric on this stroller... and make it stronger and more darling... and add a few bells and whistles.
The choice was obvious.
Alli helped me pick out the fabrics. At one point she held up two pieces of fabric and said "I don't know if these make sense together" (sometimes we watch a little Project Runway together). So we picked different fabric. We added a bead trim to the canopy.
On the back we added a pocket... and more bead trim.
So we ended up using a sparkly pink fabric, the brown canvas with polka-dots, and the mid-century-modern multi-colored design, and a teal paisley fabric. As Tim Gunn would say, "We made it work."
And this is why I doubled up the fabric and reinforced seams...

Mom, don't look at this yet...

Mom, if you are reading this, stop now... until my card arrives in the mail.

Here is a card I made for my mom. I went with a bird nest theme. There are many, many kids in my family, and 90% are out of the nest. My mom is an amazing mother, who has had a busy, full nest for 39+ years. Anyhow, I thought Mom would appreciate the sentiment... and she always appreciates any home-made card from her peeps... er, kids.

This is the front of the card. The mama bird and the nest. (Click on the pictures for a more detailed view.)

This is the inside. There are ten little birds inside (there are ten kids in my family) who have hatched from their eggs and are flying around like chickens with their heads... oh wait, lets stick to nice bird-isms...they are flying around like a bird out of ... oh well. Crazy, busy, colorful flying birds. Here is a little detail on the back of the card... under the heart-felt message to my mom.

The card is made from paper collage and drawing. The paper shapes were made by cutting freehand (with my favorite Tonic spring-cut scissors... essential for detailed cutting), and there are some QuicKutz die-cut shapes as well.

The birds are simple to make: cut out two tear-drop shapes, one larger than the other (I used QuicKutz rain die-cuts). Use the large one as the body, the small one as the wing. Add a beak, eye (googly eyes are great for this), and twiggy feet.

The darling patterned papers are manufactured by Colorbok, Chatterbox, Paper Source, Bazzill, SEI, and others.

My mom will like it. Happy Mothers' Day!

My current project...

I am working on a small quilt. It is not done, so here is a preview. I have added a few beads to this piece. This is my first time adding beads to a quilt, and I love how it is turning out. This is a small quilt, so I should be done soon... and I will post a complete picture.

I am already plotting out my next quilt project. Here is a small collage version.

I am not quite sure how to do it... but that is how I like to start most projects. I will start working on the fish quilt as soon as the little one is done.

Framed

I painted this landscape about five years ago as my goodbye to Utah. This is a painting of a fantastic spot in southwest Provo. The painting has been framed in a second-hand wood frame from D.I. This week I fixed up that old $2 frame. I primed it and gold-leafed it, and now I just love the frame. The painting looks so much better bordered in crackled gold.

Unfortunately, the painting is not yet on the wall, so when I set it up for a quick picture, Alli and Ruby stole the spotlight.

They too look great framed in crackled gold.

Polka-Dot Quilt

I finished a small quilt yesterday. I made it for the St. James Auction. It is all hand-stitched... with much love. Here is Alli modeling it for me...

Alli and Ruby contributed by drawing on it with a marker... luckily it washed out.

If you are interested in buying the quilt, I will invite you to the auction.

Getting Crafty

Congratulations to my friend Stephanie! Baby Eliza was born March 3rd. To celebrate her birth, I got a little crafty and made a nursing cover. The front is held open with a flexible plastic piece that keeps mom's view unobstructed while baby nurses in privacy. The nursing cover folds into the front pocket for compact storage. The magnetic clasp holds the strap on one side. I got this great fabric at JoAnn's.

Every mom and baby needs a diaper clutch to hold the essentials. This little bag holds a small wipe container and a few diapers. The fabric lining inside is glittery pink. The magnetic clasp is hidden under a felt flower. I cut the felt with my QuicKutz die-cutter.
The wipes container is embellished with fabric, felt and beads. The flowers were cut with the QuicKutz die-cutter. I used clear Gloo by K.I. Memories to adhere the fabric and beads.

A sneak peek...

I have been working on a children's book about Ruby's unending desire to be UP. So far I have about fifteen illustrations done or in progress. The text is outlined, but not polished. The illustrations are depictions or exaggerations of climbing feats Ruby has actually attempted.

Ruby is fearless and confident. She has the most darling smile with over-sized kid teeth growing in a toddler mouth, and she does this funny smile where her top, front four teeth stick out... in a very cute way. She is vivacious and bubbly and physically active. And she is always trying to get herself on higher ground... or furniture as the case may be.

The illustrations are watercolor paint, ink, and pencil on heavy watercolor paper.

This illustration is not quite complete... but you get the idea.