"Thuy the Lion" Pillow by Mika Yamamura

I can't believe I haven't discovered Mika Yamamura's blog, Cuore, before now. Wow!
Mika designed and made this lion pillow and don't you just love the brown polka dot fabric!
Mika is a professional designer of accessories and worked for Paul Frank Industries for over six years! So you you know you're in for some extreme kawaii when you visit her blog. Have fun!

Valentine's Fun with Matchboxes

This is probably one of the most popular links in Blogland but I thought I would post it any way because:
1) This graphic is so visually pleasing
2) It is a fun project
3) It is an easy project (you could do this with kids)
4) I love matchbox projects (I did some clay-wrapped boxes for Christmas stocking stuffers.)
Thanks to Inchmark for this terrific Valentine's Day project!
Link and instructions here.

My First Ever Diaper Cake

My daughter's baby shower was yesterday. I was asked to do the decorating. Her last baby shower was for our sweet little Madison and very pink and girly. These are a couple of pictures of that shower to give you an idea.
Since this baby is a boy and it's winter I thought I would do something bright and cheery. My daughter is not into the pastel baby blue boy thing.
Anyway, the cake...
I knew I wanted to do a centerpiece and I had seen diaper cakes before. She definitely needs diapers and I thought I could incorporate both of those requirements with this diaper cake.
There is a bottle of champagne in the middle around which all the diapers are wrapped. The "fondant" is white tissue paper. I wrapped ribbons around each layer and dotted the whole thing with bright polka dots I cut out of card stock. I made the flowers, as you can tell, from tissue paper.

It took a little bit of work to get it right but I think she liked it.

Bramble Mushroom Nightlight

How much do you love this little night light?
It's from White Rabbit England. The original Bramble nightlight is available with either a red or blue top. You know I love red polka dots. There's Bramble the Elf with his friends, lizard hedgehog and mole. Look out for the little white rabbit hiding somewhere amongst the foliage! (You can just barely see it in this photo.)

Bramble Toadstool Nightlight: $45 Euros

Scrap Fabric Belt

This is a great idea for using up scrap fabric from Area Thrifty One. (Don't you love that name?)

The complete tutorial is on her blog. It's simple and can be sewn to any size. Just fabric and D-rings. Take time while you're there to peruse her blog. Really cute stuff and very inspiring.

I also must say that it's killing me that I can't work on projects right now because I'm painting my new art/craft area upstairs. I really shouldn't complain. I am very fortunate to have the space to devote to creating. I will be able to access my materials better and don't have to worry about leaving a mess. It will also clear up a lot of mess and clutter in the den.

Pillow Case Dress Red & Aqua

I just love pillow case dresses.

This one was made from a thrifted pillow case that originally started out as a white pillow case with gray flowers, a tone-on-tone. Pretty, but I wanted color. I hand painted the flowers and leaves in one of my favorite color combinations, red and aqua, and added the cute red polka dot ribbon (I'm madly in love with polka dots!).
Madison's not big enough to wear this yet but this is the type of thing she could actually wear for years. Because of the ribbon ties it can be adjusted and could even be worn as a top when she's older. Another recycled project - I never waste anything if I can help it.

The Polka Dot Dress Fit!

Remember this dress? This is the polka dot dress I sewed for Madison for her first birthday. She looks adorable in it and I'm so glad it fit her. Couldn't you just eat her with a spoon!

Red Polka Dot Dress

Today is Madison's first birthday! Happy Birthday, Madison!
We are having her party on Saturday but today is the "official" birthday.
I made this dress for her. I used another dress that I cut up. I mostly made this from a McCall's pattern but I added the white part to the top of the yoke and also added the ribbon at the waist and hem. It zips up the back which is a chore because I don't have a zipper foot so my zippers are never perfect but it works anyway!
7/25/08 Update: See Madison wearing this dress, here.

Polka Dots and Flowers

Here is the latest outfit I just finished sewing for Madison. It's a 2-piece outfit, 100% cotton with a dress that can be worn separately or with the matching shorts.

I LOVE polka dots and any chance to use them. I love mixing patterns and I kind of like the way this one turned out.

I would love to see what you're making!