I really only have one favorite this week but I'm not free to share just yet- not my news so I need to get the green light!

While these favorites can't hold a candle to this week's REAL favorite, I still think these are very awesome.

1. Health is a major focus of mine this year. After Christmas I bought Against All Grain by Danielle Walker. I LOVE this book. It gives you 8 weeks of meal plans and the shopping lists needed. It has been making my meal planning so much easier. The work is more or less done for me.

2. KONA solids. I love this fabric. I'm making a new quilt and am using a number of fabrics from the collection. They have a nice weight and wash really nicely.

3. My new Capri Pouch from Stella & Dot. I love it. Makes switching purses and keeping the mommy items separate and easy to find from the kid things in my purse.

4. 21 Day Fix. I started a challenge group on January 5th and will be starting round two this coming Monday. I am liking the workouts more than the last time that I did the program. I've lost 3lbs this round BUT I was sick the last few days so I haven't gotten my workouts in. I expect better results in the coming round. I'm thrilled with the loss because I've been holding a plateau for a while now.

5. My new Union Square scarf. Dress up, dress down- I love this scarf!

What are your favorites this week?

Make it Monday

I really hope the weather is nicer wherever you are reading this than it is here where I wrote it! It is a blah, gray day AND a Monday. That has to be the worst combination of weather/weekday there is.

While I haven't been sewing for my business recently, I have been sewing for gifts.

I was so thrilled when our friends welcomed their little boy this past summer. Shaun and Julie are two of the most kind and laid back people I have ever met. They are both incredible photographers (Check his daddy's work out HERE) and I instantly knew I wanted to make Little D a camera onesie with funky fabric and a vintage flare. I loved how it turned out but had forgotten to take a picture of it when it was completed. Just yesterday afternoon his mom posted this:

Credit: Julie Marshall

This little guy has some incredible giggles. My day is better already just from sharing this little guy's smile and stylin' onesie with you.  For this onesie I traced a vintage camera clip art and then cut the fabric. I was out of heat bond so I used a spray adhesive for sewing to keep each layer in place while I stitched around it. I probably could have made the camera smaller but I was really happy with it and, from the smile on that face, I think he is too!

Homemade Holidays- The Wrap Up

Sewing like a mad woman, I completed the majority of the gifts the week before Christmas. I was still sewing up a couple of pieces Christmas Eve and I abandoned 2 Christmas quilts that I just didn't have the time or energy to finish. I do have the fabric for the borders cut and once I sew those on the quilt tops will be finished. A couple of outfits for Baby Stella also got put on hold. Christmas was going to come whither Baby Stella had new clothes or not, so I decided not to feel bad about it and to feel good about all the gifts I did get made.

Here is what I made:

*12 Pairs of pj pants (Heidi and Finn All you need Jammies Pattern)
*10 trays of Cinnamon Rolls (Pioneer Woman you never lead me astray)
*8 Make Up bags (No Guts Boxy Pouch Free PDF pattern from So Chick)
*6 personalized pillow cases (Thanks to my incredibly talented friend Nadja for the embroidery)
*2 Pocket pillow covers
*1 batch Peanut Butter Balls
*1 Nightgown
*1 Hockey Nan blanket
*1 Herringbone Quilt (Fabric from Ella's Cottage based out of PEI)

I loved the quilt (and coincidentally so did my parents!). I top stitched the quilt top along the white herringbone sections and then did a simple straight line quilting down each column and around the outer borders. The 2 pillow covers went with the quilt. I love how comfy cozy it is and I can't wait to visit my parents to take a turn curled up with it!

The pj pants were a big hit. The cousins got matching hockey pj pants and then a few pairs for other kids were made in fabric that matched personalities and favorite things at the moment.

Boxy Bags were stuffed full of goodies before being sent off to their intended. We played on the "MistleTOES" for these gifts. I added a very special iphone case to my sisters but it didn't fit! So I'm on the lookout for another place to make one for her. The kids were so excited to have selected pictures and even told me what to have printed on it. Anyone know a great supplier where I can attempt to remark this for a reasonable price?

LESSONS LEARNED:

1) Start sewing earlier and build a gift stash. It never hurts to have a few boxy bags, hand warmers and eye pillows on hand for last minute gifts.

2) Start sewing earlier

3) Start sewing earlier

I really enjoyed making gifts for people. I went slightly over budget on supplies BUT I think I would have spent more had I purchased something from the stores. All but 3 meters of fabric come from local sources (Frozen fabric is a hot commodity!). When I did buy gifts, I tried to select items from local artisans and mompreneurs to support local as much as possible. One of my favorite artisan purchased gifts is this Breastfeeding Mummer made by Danielle Designs in Newfoundland.

A portion of proceeds benefited the La Leche League in St. John's. My boss is a huge advocate and is involved with National initiatives for supportive practice. Needless to say this is right up her alley and she loved it! (She is also from Newfoundland- across the street from my grandparents! Small world).

Happy New Year!!!

A new year, another chance to get it right. I'm excited to keep writing our story.

Thanks for joining me on this journey.