One of my favorite quotes I have on the wall in my office. So well said!

Diva Babies by Charlene

Today, we are posting a pic of some Diva Baby Bibs made by Charlene. I like the use of fabrics, especially the animal prints. The fussy cut on the blue bib is an excellent idea and of course, the pink fabric choices are simply sweet!

Good job Charlene!

Other Than Sewing!

Until we are ready to start posting pics of our new releases (coming soon), I thought you might see that I actually do have another life besides Vanilla House. Not much of one, but I do! We built a new house recently and I decided to make the hearth pad for a new wood stove in the guest room. So this pic is a mosaic of small stones. I learned a lot but I think it turned out pretty nice. I used the small stones so I wouldn't have to cut anything with the tile cutter! LOL!

Took about a day!  My knees really hurt by the time I was done!

Basket liner fabric!

Another new project slated for this spring is fabric basket liners! These are the four fabrics I have chosen for the cover. I wanted four fabrics that 'kind of' go together or blend but each still having their own personality.

My favorite is the Playful Jacks fabric by Cotton & Steel.

More fabrics for more spring projects!

Try out these fabrics for some new oven mitts I am designing! I loovve food fabrics -- again, from Fabric Depot. But I can't decide what I like the best -- the bacon fabric or the olive fabric. 

Yum!

New projects this spring! -- Fabrics!

Starting my new spring designs. Just bought some fabrics at Fabric Depot! Such a great selection!
These solids are soooo beautiful! So I decided to do some projects in solids, which seems like an interesting approach  -- let's see how it goes! 

Don't you love these colors?!!! They look very good with the contrasting black background!
There will eventually be three projects: 1) cactus and jade -- with black, 2) ochre with tangerine -- with black, and 3)bluegrass and pomegranite -- with black. And check out the Kona Cotton color card:
www.fabricdepot.com/kona-cotton-color-card

Robert Kaufman Kona Cottons

Rectangle Dresses!

I have a couple of patterns that are rectangle dresses -- P155 Seams Sew Cute was the first, then P169 - P172, Poppy's, Pepper's, Lily's, and Grace's Easy Dresses. And finally, P185 Rectangle Dress for Girls. Now granted, sizing is not my best attribute when it comes to designing, so I do not do dresses so much anymore. But I did make some dresses for my granddaughters for this coming Christmas. I made  the designs up as I went, not using any of my patterns -- they're pretty cute.
 

This is the finished dress but notice the construction process below.

I call it 'flat construction" -- just sewing rectangles together.

This is what it would look like from the back side.

A pink version - just fold the flat arrangement in half, with RST, and sew the side seams!

Downloading with Chrome.

We have had a few customers, as of late, not able to down load some of our printables. If you are using Chrome for your browser, that may be the problem. We do not have a solution for it yet!! Working on it!!

Behind the scenes -- backyard view!

We love living in Oregon. My back yard is so peaceful and beautiful, even though I live in the middle of a suburb. Somehow, Oregon manages to make that suburb feeling go away -- each of us having our own bit of sanctuary. Even though it is green year around, summer green is intoxicating. 

Each house in the neighborhood is nestled by green!

 

 

 This view is over our back fence.

Out my studio window!

Okay, lousy picture! I took it out my upstairs studio window -- through the glass. I want you to know I work very hard -- but washing windows is not one of my frequent labors!! But look how lush it is! The fall colors are coming on and yum!

Hide Your Stuff!

Here's a few more pictures of our first epattern, Hide Your Stuff!

Uses one fabric!

Uses two fabrics!

Uses three fabrics!

Epatterns are here!

The time has come! We have finally gotten around to writing epatterns. We are getting more requests all the time and always knew the day would come. So we are finally starting. Yeah! We wanted to start with tons of downloads but in reality, it is not that easy! So we are going ahead and posting the first one and then we will go from there.

My epattern format is a little different than our paper versions. With epatterns, we can add color graphics, which really enhances each illustration. On our paper versions, that is not really practical. It will take some time to convert a paper version into an epattern version but I think it will be worth it!

Our first pattern is an epattern only and does not have a paper version. It is called "Hide Your Stuff ..... in the closet"! It is a clever little caddy you can hang in your closet and hide stuff like cash or jewelry. When you hang the bag amidst your clothes in the closet, the bag is almost undetectable. It is great for traveling and hiding stuff in hotel rooms! Makes a sweet gift, especially for friends who travel a lot!! Very easy to make, and in my opinion, very well written!!!!

The pattern will be available for download on our website www.VanillaHouseDesigns.com .

Red and green thing!

Okay, this red and green thing is not actually a Christmas item, but it would be a great gift for your favorite quilter!
 So this tool is mostly for quilters and though I am not a major quilter, I still love it. The whole Color Tool has three aspects to it. 1) numbered color swatches, 2) fabric preview windows, and 3) -- my favorite -- red and green value finders. Value finders help you determine contrast without the distraction of of color. They are amazing to work with to get your fabric colors to balance out in a project. Kind of have to use one to understand how they work -- so go get one  -- it will be worth it!

3-in-1 Color Tool by C&T Publishing (www.ctpub.com)

 

Pre-purchased black bias tape!

I haven't used this notion a lot but I did use it for an accent on the Tuxedo bib version of Dude Babies (P189) and it sure was fantastic to work with. I ought to come up with another project for this neat notion.
So just in time to make your holiday bib for Mr. Baby, get a load of Tuxedo Bib!

Quilt Bias Tape

Black trim around the edges! Just top stitched it in place!

The most popular gift!

A number years ago, meeting with a local quilt shop owner, was advised to make an oven mitt pattern. Wondering who in the world makes oven mitts, she informed me that the most popular pattern ever (at that time) was an oven mitt pattern. I had been making soft sculpture patterns for years, and my first thought was "I have been working too hard"!! So off to make my first oven mitt pattern. And hey, guess what? Tons of people love to make oven mitts. Who am I to judge!!
A very popular oven mitt pattern of late is Handsies for Pansies. I think it is the name! It's a great name!!
So just in time for Christmas, make your oven mitts. The foodie fabrics are FABULOUS for oven mitts!!

Handsies for Pansies - P193

 

Christmas is Coming!

Christmas is coming and it is time to start your Christmas sewing projects. Our stockings are clever with extra pockets on the outside for extra little gifts. The fabric possibilities are endless!

Pocket Long Stockings  - P196