You're the Man!

I remember photographing these boys for the "You're the Man" tie. There was no way we were ever going to get all three to look the same direction. There were so 'boy'!

"Look this way, no this way, no that way!"

But one at a time, fabulous! This is one of our favorite photos EVER!

Spray Paint Queen!

If I could squeeze in another business, it would be recycling furniture. This chair came from Goodwill for $10.00, with hideous brown lacquer and a gross seat covering. 

Blue spray paint and some Amy Butler fabric - looks great!

Technique for turning "horrible looking to amazing" with spray paint:

1.  Remove seat from the chair frame.
2. Rough up the existing paint with fine steel wool.
3. Clean the steel wool dust off the chair frame with a cloth soaked with rubbing alcohol.
4. Using a can of spray paint, lightly spray four to six coats of paint on the frame, no individual coat of paint very heavy, but a build up of color (allow to dry between coats).
5. If you want, use steel wool and the cloth with rubbing alcohol between each coat of paint for a super professional look.

Technique for recovering seat cushions: 

1. Take off (rip) the old fabric off the cushion and remove old staples from the board.
2. Use the old fabric as a template to cut a new piece of fabric.
3. Put the new fabric on the floor, wrong side up.
4. Set the foam rubber, wrong side up (amend the foam rubber if needed) on top of the fabric  -  center it.
5. Align the board on top of the foam rubber.
6.  Have someone stand on the board to compress the foam rubber. Meanwhile, you take an industrial stapler to staple the allowances of the fabric on to the back of the board. Start in the center of the sides and work out to the corners, tugging the fabric taut as you staple. Use lots of staples.
7.  Get off the board and see the foam rubber expand to fill out the cushion and look great.
8. Screw the seat cushion back onto the chair.
9. Wala!

      

Tooth Pillows!

Tooth Pillows (P201) for boys mostly -- but they are three downloadable motifs for girls also.

You put the tooth in the truck bed!

The tooth goes in the flower center!

The tooth goes in the blue pocket!

The tooth goes in the nose! [This just sounds wrong!]

My Favorite Scissors!

These scissors are not very well known -- but they should be. I LOVE them! They are  by United Notions  -- 8" dress maker scissors with Florine!

My favorite scissors  - by a long shot!

Grandkid photo shoot!

I love using the grand kids for photo shoots! They are cute in every shot, even the pictures where they are obviously NOT thrilled with the experience! My little Dude Baby (P189) in his 'business' bib!

"Mom, please don't make me do this!"

"Okay, but only if I get ice cream for dinner!"

Online Video Helps!

We made an introductory online video about our instructional online videos! Am I repeating myself?!!  Inside the patterns instructions, you will internet addresses for video helps on some of the harder spots of the project. What I great idea, if I say so myself!

Criss Cross Apron & other gifts!

The Criss Cross Utility Apron works great for all sorts of activities - from cleaning the house to garage sales. The pattern comes with a cute oven mitt and a "Cookie Mix in-a-Bag". You make the dry mix (recipe in the pattern), put the mix in the fabric gift bag, staple the bag topper on. The recipe for the 'giftee' to make and bake the cookies is on the back of the bag topper. All the instructions are in the pattern, including the bag topper. BTW, the cookie mix is a totally fabulous!

Fabric is Garden Gate by Henry Glass
"She looks like she has a really long arm going behind her back!"

Fabric is Pretty Little Things by Free Spirit
Behind the scenes secret - "the model is 11yrs old"!

Great Christmas gift idea!

Pocket Long Stockings!

Sew here's Pocket Long Stockings! It's all about the three pockets on the front of the stocking -- for extra goodies and gifts! This pattern also has four internet addresses on selected steps throughout the pattern for extra video instruction. It is awesome!

Use pom poms, rick rack, or a combination of both for trim on each 
pocket! You could also use the double-folded trim by itself  -- 
actually, tons of ways you could embellish the stockings!

Quilt Market went well!

We loved being at Quilt Market 2013 in Portland, Oregon. Our booth was 1136, a great location on the trade show floor.

Booth 1136 in Portland, Oregon International Quilt Market 2013!

Pan Handlers (P202) -- don't you love the name! They are selling very well!

Pan Handlers! (Oven Mitts)

Our Sewing Shrooms (P197) were a big hit! Who wouldn't love them!

Sewing Shrooms! (Pin Cushion Sit-abouts!)

We introduced seven patterns at Market and they are doing great! Thank goodness for the best customers in the world! I think Pocket Long Stockings and Criss Cross Apron & other gifts are doing the best. We'll post pics next time! Cheers, Barbara of Vanilla House des