Small Green Pillows

Jesse and I are both suckers for a good pillow. In our short time living together, we have managed to accumulate quite a few of them. On our bed, we had two small white pillows that came with the quilt and shams. After a while (even after regular washings), they started looking pretty dingy. As an alternative to throwing them away, I found some old fabric in my collection and made some pillowcases. Now, they are even easier to clean and it adds more color to our room! 
I used a green flannel material with a geometric pattern on it. I got the fabric years ago from DI. 

The center pillow is a teal velvet fabric with painted gold polka dots from Anthropologie. The two gold faux suede pillows are from Bed Bath & Beyond. The two small green ones are the pillows that I covered. 

This is what our bed looks like when I make it vs. when Jesse makes it. We always have a good laugh when this happens and make a joke about how he is "just expressing his creativity."

Sewing for Babies

Sewing clothes for babies might be the greatest thing in the world. I cannot wait to sew clothes for my future babies!

About three years ago, I took a Children's Clothing Construction class as part of my minor in Clothing Construction. Around that same time, I found out my sister was expecting a baby! My first nephew! Everything I made in that class (with the exception of the little white blessing dress) was for my man, Henry.

One of the projects we made was this little sweatsuit.

Even I can admit.. It looks like something that escaped from the 90's, but he is still so darn cute! 

Another ugly-but-cute project was this poncho bib. It is made from a dish towel and some ribbing. So simple!

He looks unsure, but he warmed up to the bib.

A few months after Henry was born, my sister-in-law announced she was expecting a baby. My second nephew! I went straight to work at making him his own sweatsuit, too. I will never grow tired of sewing for these babies!

A Tie for Jesse

One of my favorite things about Rexburg, the small town in Idaho where I went to college, was the thrift store, Deseret Industries. I used to shop for clothes there and every once in a while I would find something I liked. Eventually, I would go straight to the unorganized shelves in the back and search for bunches of fabric. Most of the time there was nothing but old sheets, but every now and then I could find a bundle of super cool, unique fabric.

This green/brown fabric is from the DI. It is really thick and has fibers of green, brown and black in it. I knew immediately that I wanted use it to make a tie.

The floral cotton lining is so beautiful and there was just the right amount for this project.

To make the pattern, I traced a tie of my brother's that, in my opinion, was the perfect width. Pattern making has become one of my favorite steps of the process. Having the skills to draft a simple pattern makes me feel as though I can make anything!

From our engagement photoshoot (Allie Lindsey Photography)

I gave the finished tie to my husband a few months before we got engaged. He still wears it all the time and it makes me so happy!

This last Christmas (and just in the nick of time) I made ties for my father and father-in-law with the same pattern. Someday I'll master a 100% handmade Christmas! Someday.