Little Girl Dress

In my free time, ha ha, I sewed this darling dress for one of my darling girls. It was for her baptism and she carried the fabric around with her for a week to show everyone. 

This girly girl was baptized at an older age than my first one and I had such guilt about it. For several reasons, it never was the right time for her to be baptized. Looking back, I see the special story of each of my daughters baptisms that the Lord was writing just for them. 

See, I have written your names on the palms of my hands...

Isaiah 49:16

a tower of giraffes

Before my last baby was born, I had some nervous energy so I created and sewed lots and lots of giraffes. Oh, I love them. 

All of my daughters like them. Happy to hold them, sleep with them and chew on them. 

     I made them for all of my daughters classmates for Christmas. We had a grand time picking out          each fabric for each child. It was a delight to create them and we prayed Gods' blessing over each                                                           child as we sewed their giraffe. 

Makes me think of our God and Him taking such delight in creating each of us. 

Wonder what He was thinking when He made you and me...

Makes my heart a flutter and brings me sweet peace. 

"He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing..."

Wonder if God whistled while He worked?

The giraffe has a different fabric on each side and the ears are another fabric. The ric rac adds a little punch for their tail.

They are roughly 7.5 inches tall and 3.5 inches hind to chest. 

I am happy to take orders! 

Email me:  thegovernorsdaughter@gmail.com or find me on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/thegovernorsdaughter

They are $19 each, All of these giraffes are in their new homes but I am working on a new tower of giraffes. FYI, a tower of giraffes is a bunch of giraffes together. You learned something new!

Baby Boy Blanket

I made this for a friend earlier this fall. He was actually born the night of my mother in laws funeral. It was nice to see life on that day. 

I really liked the multi stripey chevron fabric. I was even more pleased with the look of the wicker weave fabric with the multi stripey chevron. 

It was a nice masculine baby look. Yes, thats a term. 

Real butterflies and halloween butterflies

For Halloween and yes that was awhile ago, my 2 baby girls dressed up as butterflies. 

We found a butterfly costume that seemed "simple" on pinterest. We created our own brand of butterfly but it turned out so pretty. It required much more glue then I think they meant for it too:)

We have been into the butterfly since last summer. Well, it all started with a caterpillar. And there were several different types of caterpillars. We would find one and then go look it up. ( Don't touch! Look up first! ) My daughters and I were learning things together for the first time. It was really special for all of us. And actually, my husband and parents got into it too.

This was our caterpillar, Yellow. 

Then she went and started her chrysalis. So fascinating. 

It gets darker over time and right before the monarch emerges, the chrysalis becomes more clear and you can actually see through to their wings. See it?

And then she came back! Then her name was Orange. My daughters learned new things and I did too. I can't wait to catch one again next year.

This was my daughters picture of a zebra longwing. I was captivated by the butterflies and caterpillars in my own yard.

 I feel as though we must travel far and wide to experience His earth and we don't always have the time and money. However! I am learning that the Lord gifts us with beauty and pleasure in our slice of earth. And I am grateful.

Happy day to each of you. 

happy stacker

For my third baby girl, yes, while I was away I had a baby, and a darling baby I might add, I created this happy stacker. I know that last sentence was a doozy of grammar. 

While I love how this turned out, it required my full attention. I am glad I sewed it before she was born and when I felt good in the 2nd trimester. 

Now, I did enjoy it once I figured it out. I was so proud of me! Basically, I created fabric pillow donuts. And 5 of them. They were cute. 

I have no idea when baby girl #3 while even notice this, but baby girl #2 enjoys it. But it makes for pretty decor in her nursery and I had a fantastic time picking out the fabrics. 

I am not sure I will willingly make one again. Ok, I would but when I know have time to devote to it and have the patience. Say 15 years?

Baby Girl Blanket

I am on a baby blanket roll these days. Lots of babies! 

Haha. My toes made it in the pic too. 

I loved the way this one turned out and the colors were so happy. This little girl has been born and I know she looks just darling wrapped up all snug in this blanket. 

baby blanket for boy or girl

I sewed this baby for a baby due in August. Mom and Dad are not finding out what they are having ( how exciting!) and it makes it a challenge for moi. I like this challenge though. 

I thought that the bikes were so cute and adds a touch of whimsy. 

Happy baby!

quilting in progress

Slowly coming together... still not sure what I am making...

a project in waiting: white quilts

I was watching tv the other night/day ( who can remember anymore?) and I like to feel like I am getting something accomplished while watching. I don't know why. Although, a good old fashioned couch potato session can be super nice, with a side of my strawberry crumble dessert. 

Anyways, I cut these bricks out of fabrics I have from other projects. Maybe a table runner? Maybe a baby blanket? I can't decide.

 On the note of playing with fabric and laying them out in different patterns, one should really read The Gentle Art of Domesticity. Helps give words to what I do and want to do everyday at home. And just realized I have written about it before but called it by the wrong name. Whatevs. Still a fantastic book. The author talks about laying out fabrics, candy, cupcakes, etc in fun patterns. Patteries. Thats we call them around here.

Back to my fabric at the top...

I like the idea of them bordered in white. White- yikes! It just seems like its yelling out for mustard, coffee and little orange fingers. 

Yeah, but you can bleach them, put them back on a little wet and in no time flat.

I don't buy it. 

( FYI, I have been looking at a lot of sofas lately with my mom. White sofa and 5 grandchildren? Makes me have sweaty palms just thinking about it.)

But I might just go for it. Not the sofa. The white on a quilt. 

Aren't these nice?

Who knew I would ever like white? It sets off the other colors nicely. I will keep you updated. Got to wait until another Castle comes on.

No, really. 

an "anthropologie" outfit

I loved this idea for a sweet valentine's present. I am thinking about doing one for Easter as well or just maybe because.

The shirt I saw at Old Navy and knew my girls would like the butterfly. I sewed the skirt from fabric I bought that day, some Amy Butler something or other. But I thought it made the shirt so much cuter and had an Anthropologie feel to it because they were not matchy matchy. 

Ahh. And what a beauitful day it was! And a reminder of a sweet and simple valentine's day. 

hearts are always in season

I made 2 little dresses for valentine's day, although for little girls, hearts are always in season. Love that about them. And the carefree love of lavender. 

I had 2 plain pink dresses from Old Navy and jazzed them up a bit. I appliqued a heart on the top and added ruffles to the bottom. Girly girls loved them!

valentine's day

I know this is after the fact but one of the reasons I have this blog is to remind myself of things I have made and created to celebrate special days around my house. And we had a special valentine's day here. We had our cousins and another family over to decorate cupcakes. It was easy and delightful. 

My daughter and I pieced together this heart garland. I simply cut hearts from felt and she handed them to me as I sewed them together. It stood out so well against the white, and was a nice pop of happy pink and red.

Have I talked about this runner? I can't remember. The top was finished for the soiree but I still haven't finished the back. That's the boring part so therefore, I haven't sewn it yet. I already have plans for my next runner. It was nice because cupcakes and icing didn't get on it from the kids but it provides some pizazz. Plus, I can still sew something for the table. I could have used boring old brown paper but that is certainly not as fun for me.

I must admit, I made the cupcakes from a box. Gasp. I can't believe I was okay with it but they were good. Plus, one of my nephews is gluten free and I found the box to be easier. I will say, and I was shocked, the gluten free chocolate cupcake was better then the red velvet normal ones. 

Hope your valentines was stress free and enjoyable!

valentine's day quilted runner

I have been working on this puppy for Valentine's Day. It is a bit of a wonky styled runner. Say that 3 times! Wonky Styled Runner, Wonky Styled Runner, Wonky Styled Runner!

I like!

Baby Blanket for he? or she?

I made this baby blanket earlier this week for a precious baby that will be making his or her debut very soon. I have done a few gender neutral blankets but I was most pleased with how this one turned out. It makes me happy:)

Ties and Fan Pulls: a gift giving guide

Every year, I have high hopes to sew, create, make everyones Christmas present. 

And then, that doesn't happen and there is something nice about being a consumer and buying a gift.

However, this present combined the two! I bought button down shirts for my nephews along with a Starbucks gift card. I sewed a tie for each (aren't they cute?), and wrapped it all together. 

I thought the presentation was so good that I could be deemed a "great gift giver." Now, I can't believe I am saying this, but my husband might be a better gift giver to moi than I am to him. Hurts a little, but I have gotten some very thoughtful, sweet and nice presents from my main man. My thinking outside of the box can really come in handy but when 20 years later your sister is still talking about the sunflower fan pull you gave her, not in a good way, maybe its time to rethink. She liked sunflowers. And its been 20 years?!?!? Whenever I see a themed fan pull, I still think of her. 

A Dream to Wear

I love this apron. I feel a tad bad saying that because I made it, but why not? The color combo is superb and its a dream to wear. I really think it makes me get work done faster and I am more happy to do it. Perhaps?

Here is the up close of the pocket. Generous size for holding random crayons around the house or your phone, or actual things used for cooking or baking. 

The top will actually cinch to fit you. Who would have thought, but its quite difficult to wear an apron and take a decent picture of yourself. So, this one below is the same fit as the one above. 

The apron is $45. I will be putting it on my facebook site as well. Comment or message me if interested. 

Girly Girl Pillows and General Hospital

This pillow is so sweet and makes you think of days running back and forth between your best friends house and your house. We had secret meetings under the sweet viburnum by the bird bath, we made "houses" by raking leaves into floor plans ( why isn't one of us an architect?), and had elaborate soap opera wars going on between her Barbies and mine. I realize now I watched a lot of General Hospital as a child. Been through a lot with the Quartermaines. Sad I know their names. 

Back to the pillow...

 Each girl is hand painted and outfitted with a darling skirt that is sewn on. 

The pillow is 12"x16" and is quite soft. She is $45. Contact me at thegovernorsdaughter@gmail.com if interested. I have several others I will be showcasing on my facebook page. To see them, go here. 

Tootles!

apron

On Sunday, I whipped up this apron. I can't believe I started and completed one sewing project or any project for the matter, in 1 day. Gold star. 

I just realized that 3 of these fabrics are from tablecloths from birthday soirees we have had at our house. That makes me happy. The green is from one daughter ( pony party ), the red brick is from another daughter ( kitty party ) and the pink and green is from my sisters( school party.) This apron was for my mom for her birthday. I am thinking now of what mine will look like...

Baby Blanket for Generations of Women

I recently finished a pretty blanket for a darling little baby girl. 

I wanted to use purple. I am working on changing the world one woman at a time and reinventing the royal, regal color of purple. Small doses is key. Check out my pinterest board on all things purple, plum, aubergine, lavendar, lilac and everything in between. 

I came upon doing it in purple because the mama of Baby Girl is a fan of purple. Or rather she is embracing the purple once again from her childhood. I added a dash of the chevroney green for grandmother of Baby Girl. The baby's grandmother is a fan of bright, limey green ( ok, this is not exact ) but I liked the idea of tying the generations of women together. Their stories and lives are woven together, just like a quilt and the fibers that make up its being. 

This is the quilt almost wrapped. What a fun surprise that awaits Baby Girl!

Go on and get cozy this weekend!