lovely linen

Anna Maria Horner is one of my favorite fabric designers. I love the colors and patterns she uses, and I especially appreciate the quality of the fabrics that carry her beautiful designs.

Field Study linen line from AMH's website

Just this week, she came out with a line of linen fabrics from her Field Study line. I can't wait to try them out! The linen/cotton blend seems like a great medium for small crafts, pillow covers, and dreamy blouses for spring and summer. AMH's blog is full of ideas and inspiration, and this week she's going to be doing some posts about how she loves to use these linens.

spring forward

I seem to catch the sewing bug mostly in spring, which coincides well with my tendency to have my knitting needles out more in the winter months. This spring, I'm envisioning a watercolor flowered dress for Easter, a bright tunic for the beach (or the pool? hopefully at least a pool), and some new pillow cases to freshen up the basement abode.

A recent, albeit brief, visit from my parents afforded my mom and I an afternoon of cutting, planning, and sewing together. She helped my pick out a lining for my dress, find the best fit for the dress bodice, and taught my how to sew in pattern markings. We even had a little time to go drool over the Berninas at G Street.

There's an Easter dress in the works, people. And we are t-16 days.

polka dot pants

With some major inspiration from Emily of RufflingFeathers and my MIL Mary Ann on her way to visit us in Virginia, I realized that polka dot pants were going to need to be in my immediate future.  I'm very blessed to have married into a family of incredibly loving and crafty people, so I knew I could count on MA to be in on the dotty pants idea.

The pants that originally inspired this crafty endeavor were these spring polka dot pants options at Anthropologie:

[Anthro pants]

MA and I went in search of brightly colored skinny pants at Target (out of our sizes) and then at H&M, where we finally found some blue ones we liked.  Never one to follow the crowd, MA went for large dots, and they turned out A-dorably.

[MA's gold dots - Instagram does not do them justice!]

[light blue pants with white dots, in progress]

[I'm no fashonista, but these pants seem to pair well with comfy slippers]

Go forth and make dotty pants!
Also, check out Paula and Katie's super-cute versions.

Christmas inspiration

Now that Thanksgiving is over, I feel like Christmas is right around the corner.

I'm very inspired by Anthology's Gift Guide today.  There are so many great ideas, recipes, DIYs, and pretty things to see.

Anthology Gift Guide

crochet aspirations

I'm always planning my crafts out.  Like when I'm supposed to be studying, I'm thinking of what fabric I'll line my clutch with, or when really should be finishing a paper, I'm here on blogger telling you all the things that I want to crochet this winter.  :)


Here are some things from my Pinterest that have been inspiring my crochet aspirations for the cooler months ahead....


some fun bracelets, designed by Wren Handmade

Source: purlbee.com via Katie on Pinterest

some crocheted trivets in lovely colors with gray borders

Source: flickr.com via Katie on Pinterest

a giant doily rug to go on out (hopefully) hardwood floors sooooooon

Source: etsy.com via Katie on Pinterest

a big crocheted lion head, the pattern for which was made up in the amazing mind of Anna Maria Horner

Source: annamariahorner.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

and neon-accented crochet granny afghan? yes, yes indeed. from Purl Bee

Source: None via Katie on Pinterest

Click on the images to see them on my Pinterest, where there may be more info.  If not, the lovely thing about Pinterest is that it always links back to the original source!

summertime

Happy first day of summer!

This summer, you'll find me...

sitting on the back porch with my love

sewing and fixing up some thrift-store finds (which I hope to share here)

writing letters to this guy

enjoying refreshments *withatwist

eating dinner from the garden [arugula with balsamic + OO, et cetera]

in addition to lots and lots of nursing textbook reading and test-studying and care log-writing. :)


What's on your summer list?

hex nut bracelets

Have you seen the hex nut bracelet tutorial on Honestly...WTF yet?  Super fun and easy -- you really could go a lot of ways with this one.

don't mind the crazy cousin face, we are doing some serious crafting.

finished products

We made some a few weeks ago while my mom was in town for the weekend.  And I finally got around to wearing mine today.  I think I'll be sporting it a lot more now...

happy heart day

so pretty and romantic, she looks like an oil painting -- the black label from ban.do

white and dark hearted brownies from Smitten*Kitchen

a table for two from house of brinson

heart-y breakfast from martha via say yes to hoboken

diy glittery heart banner from say yes to hoboken

oh, how I want to sew.

I've been studying like crazy lately.  In my first semester of nursing school, I've studied almost every day (at least a little bit) and most days a LOT.  This has left little time for hobbies I love.
Where are you, sewing machine?  Where are you, knitting needles?!?

[the one apron I've sewn since july]

I've made time for lots of things during this time to help keep some balance.  Blake and I have gone on a few dates here and there.  We've met up with new friends and old friends.  And I've (tried to) kept up a fairly good workout schedule in order to maintain some semblance of sanity and health.

[one of Gertie's sewalongs]

But as the semester draws to a close, I realize how much I've missed CRAFTING!  There's something special about making things with your own hands -- being creative and letting yourself invent.  Or just relax to the repetitive clicking of the knitting needles.

[great fingerless glove pattern from knitty.com]

So I'm so looking forward to a three week Christmas break full of friends and family and down time and some creating.  It'll do my heart good :)

dream pantry

I am awe of and in love with this pantry I saw on Design*Sponge.  It is the pantry of the lovely Emerson of Emersonmade. And is it amazing.  It would be like having a bulk food aisle attached to your very own kitchen.  Take a look...

PS:  check out Emerson's creations, too.... here are some of my faves:

rompers

The issue of rompers seems to be a bit of a polarized one.  I used to rule them out entirely, assuming they were weird and juvenile, not to mention unflattering.  But then my beautiful friend, Christina, wore one to an afternoon barbecue that I hosted... and my thoughts started to change.  Not only did she look glamorous (per usual), but she also looked really comfortable.  Perhaps I could start by rocking one around the house... you know, a little Saturday lounging outfit (Lounging, what?  I don't really even remember what lounging feels like, but you know what I'm talking about.)

rompers (clockwise): penelope's, topshop, modcloth, topshop

Then, when I was pattern-shopping over girls' weekend, we happened upon a $1 per pattern sale at Joann's!  the perfect justification for trying out a romper had arrived!  I could sew my own for $1 + the price of fabric (which in my head at the time was negligible, because I intended to make it out of a vintage bed sheet.... currently rethinking that plan, since even in the privacy of my own home, I don't want to look like a loony-cake).


and so, this is my sewing mission for the weekend: a romper.