A tisket, a tasket

A yellow polka dot basket... well purse/basket type thing.

At the grocery store last week I picked up some cute spring tea towels that were on sale.

The pair of towels was on for $1.24. I didn't think they would make very good tea towels because they don't seem very absorbent but they could make very cute other things. So I got two of the yellow set and one of the green set.

When I got home I decided I really liked them and I would look to pick up a couple more when I went back to the store. Two days later, I return and they have either all sold out or they have taken them off the shelf. Oh well...

I used a set of the yellow ones to make a pursey-baskety thing. I think I've got an idea where this might end up, but I can't let too much out of the bag. I picked up the handles at Fabricland, I like them but they are a little expensive for my liking. So next time I think I will just do a fabric handle.

The inside is lined with the plaid fabric, and this particular bag is completely reversible. I think it turned out pretty cute.

One Cute Girl

I spent the past few days at my sister's place. It was great, Natalie is such a sweet girl.

I made her a cute little dress using a tutorial and pattern from Amy here. I didn't do the pintucks though because I didn't have a pintuck foot.

I'm hoping Natalie will grow into this dress for summer. It looks like it's about a 3 month size.

Isn't she precious?

Needs Some Work

My chocolate coating skills that is... need some work.

I attempted the cupcakes from the previous post and this is how they turned out.

Here's a few of them, some completely covered and some still needing tops.

This one's bottom wasn't flat enough, so he wouldn't stand up.

Some yellow tops and some pink tops.

The night I made them I tried one and it was so sweet it just about put me out of comission for the night. (I love sweet things so this is not an easy thing to do) But the next day they tasted better, not as sweet. Pretty good actually, the hubby didn't mind them either. He just thought they looked awful. (Thanks hun)

Finally a sneak peak of something I've made for Natalie, my new niece. I'll post more pictures later, once she recieves the gift.

Good Intentions

I just had to post about something I'm hoping to make for Easter Supper on Saturday at my mother in laws.

I have all the supplies and the cake made to make these amazing looking treats from Bakerella.
I say amazing looking because I haven't made them yet so I don't know what they will taste like.

I would like to make these ones (scroll through the whole post, there are lots of very cute ones at the bottom), but since this is my first try I guess I should start easy, and Bakerella says the cupcakes are easier. The chocolate does not have to be as smooth on the cupcakes. But if I keep practicing maybe I'll get to the eggs and chickens and sheep.

I also have three pies to make but I made the dough this morning so I just need to cook two of the crusts tonight and slice and peel apples for the third pie tomorrow and bake it. Oh and I guess I should mop my floors. Well maybe I'll mop.. we'll see if I get around to it.

A List of Upcoming Projects

So I have a few dates in my head for when gifts need to be made. I would like to make them all by hand but haven't come up with the perfect ideas just yet.

April 15th - Something for Natalie (because she definitely needs something homemade) I've got lots of ideas but I haven't decided on one yet.

May 10th - Mother's Day - Something for Mom and Mom-in-Law

June 7th - Lisa's Birthday (my SIL) - she definitely deserves something homemade and it has to be done in time to be mailed to Ottawa for the 7th

June 13th - Dad's Birthday (and Father's day all rolled up into one, it's close enough) - I really don't have any ideas here. I would like to do something homemade but I might just end up going to the store...

So if anyone has any great ideas of gifts that would work for these people... or if you are one of these people and you would like to make a suggestion (I know you are reading)... feel free to leave a comment.

New Arrivals

I left Sunday night to go to Niagara Falls for a few days for a conference for work. And while I was away there was two new arrivals.

First on Monday in the mail was this book. My sis had picked up the book while she was wasting time and mailed it off to me.

There are some very cute projects in this book. Like the felt booties and the fabric book.

And even more exciting than the book, on Monday at almost 5pm my new niece was born. She's absolutely perfect. I can't wait to meet her. Unfortunately I won't be able to make it to Toronto until the middle of this month.

Congrats Jen and Rob, she's perfect.

You can bet this little girl will be getting something from the new book when I meet her.

Books and an Apron

Tuesday when I picked up the mail I had a good sized box waiting for me from Chapters. I really do love Chapters, they ship so quickly and I've never had any issues with any of my purchases there. I find it is much cheaper to buy the books online though, so if I want to browse through a book first I'll look for it in a store but then purchase it online.


Anyways here are the books.



I was going to show you a couple pictures of some of my favourite projects from each of these books, but I've really only just skimmed through the books so I can't pick a favourite yet. You'll just have to wait until I make some of the wonderful projects inside.

On another note I'm going to a bridal shower for my cousins fiance this weekend. Mom and I have put our crafty minds together to come up with, what I think, is a pretty awesome present. We decided to make an apron, a table cloth, some napkins and include some wine glasses and a very cool decanter that was on her registry. I've also sewn some ribbon onto a couple tea towels and we found some coasters that matched our black and white theme.

Here's a picture of the hostess apron I made as part of the present.

Mom and I picked out the fabrics together. We struggled to find what we were looking for but I'm happy with what we ended up with. The apron is reversible the other side looks the same but the black panels are swapped (one black flower panel in the middle and two plain black panels on the outsides)

The inspiration for this design came from seeing this apron at Pier 1 Imports. I didn't like how there were only four panels on that apron, it just didn't seem to work out well, so I cut five panels for mine. I've also put four pleats in this apron to give a little more body, and to make it a little narrower. You can't see it well in this picture but I've also attached a tea towel loop so you can hang your tea towel off the apron.

I'll post more pictures of the whole gift when we get it all put together. I hope Kelly will like it.