Fabric Flair

Featured Fabric Friday ~ Sweet Divinity by The Quilted Fish

Even though the Sweet Divinity fabric collection by The Quilted Fish for Riley Blake was released last fall, I am still as enchanted with it today as the day it arrived.

Enchanted. That's the perfect word.  Or maybe divine but since that's in the title, it's a given.  The photos online are pretty, but you really do not get an appreciation of the detail and beauty of this fabric until you see it in person. 

The intricate details and so sweet colors are just waiting to be made into a something for the little girl in your life!  Just take a look! 
Soft Blocks from Lovin' Ewe

 

    

Pillowcase Dress by Lovin' Ewe             Patchwork Blanket by Made by Mum

 

   

Bonnet by Little Betty Designs               Pinwheel Quilt by Love the Baby

 

  

Pleated Wristlet by Cathy's Totes          Reversible Headband by Little Birds Boutique

 

Pillowcase Dress by ThreeSisterz    Burp Cloth Set by Mom N Mia Quilts

 

I have a selection of Sweet Divinity prints in blue and pink in the shop, so stop by and take a look if you haven't yet!

 

 

Success breeds a dress...

Okay, well maybe that's not how the saying goes, but in this case it really did!

I was so happy after completing my Amy Butler bag last week that I began to search for something else to make!  I decided that I wanted to try making a pillowcase dress for my 8 mo niece.  Pillowcase dresses appear fairly simple and seem like a low risk project so I decided to give it a try.

I searched Etsy for a pattern.  I found exactly what I was looking for at a cute little shop called  Owly Baby. 

There you will find some of the most adorable dresses and so many patterns it will be hard for you to choose!

The Betsy Pillowcase Dress is a pdf pattern that the shopowner emails to you, so you don't need to wait around for it to come in the mail.  Perfect!  I didn't want to lose momentum.  And the description indicates that it is a good pattern for beginners.  Even better!

I purchased the pattern and by the next morning it had been delivered to my inbox.  I read through the instructions a couple of times to make sure I mostly understood what I needed to do.  I was nervous, I was going to learn how to do a french seam and make bias tape, both of which I'd never heard of before reading the instructions!

I worked slowly and deliberately, and before I knew it, and only a couple hours later, I had one adorable little dress on my hands.  And it was so easy! 

Here's my Betsy Pillowcase Dress from the pattern by Owly Baby!  I used Daisy Path in pomegranate for the body and Henna Garden in brown for the trim and ties, both from Sandi Henderson's Meadowsweet collection.

 

But that's not all!  Let me tell you, it only took one dress to make me addicted to sewing with this pattern!  The very next day I just HAD to make another one!  Here's one using Lovesme Lovesmenot in grape and First Impression in potpourri from Anna Maria Horner's Innocent Crush collection.

 

I already have plans for another one!  So this sewing project definitely falls under "If I can do it, sew can you!"

Don't forget to stop by Owly Baby and check out her selection of clothing and patterns!

Choosing and Using Patterend Fabrics

This is going to be a multi-post informative about the 2 most important things to consider when choosing patterned fabrics in decorating: scale and color.

Previous centuries did not hesitate from layering pattern over every available 
surface.  Today, we would likely be intimated by this approach as we tend to use pattern primarily as a focal point.  But you needn't be afraid of pattern, as it just takes some practice and a few key things kept in mind to create a beautiful room.

First up, scale (yup, it's more than just that thing on the bathroom floor we dread).  Scale is simply the size of the pattern on the fabric.  Large scale and small scale patterns can make or break the effect you want it to have on a room's decor.

Large scale patterns appear to come toward you when you enter a room.  They create a lively and stimulating atmosphere.  They can make a room feel more cozy.  But in a small space, they need to be used carefully as they can overwhelm the room and drown the rest of the decor.

In contrast, small scale patterns appear to recede and can make small spaces seem bigger.  They work as good camouflage as awkward areas can be played down with small, non-directional prints.  However, applied to a large area, small scale prints can feel boring, bland, and actually appear as one single color from a distance.

The best guideline is to match scale to the area in which it will be applied.  There are no hard and fast rules, but it would be more appropriate to use a large scale floral on a large sofa.  A small scale floral would read as one color and more than likely get lost.  Likewise, a small geometric pattern would be better applied to the edge of a tabletop than on a ceiling accent, as it would get lost in the distance.

   

Scale can help to create a sense of balance.  A flowing, rambling floral will soften a  furniture piece that might otherwise feel boxy.  Or you can make the same piece feel more modern and rectilinear by using a geometric pattern.  Think of the overall effect you want to create choose patterns that will do the work for you.

Special thanks to Etsy shop owners at:

Holley & Gill

Spruce Home

Lake Avenue Home

for permission to use their great pieces in this article.

Etsy Shop Feature: Pink Lady Designs

This is one of those great times I get to feature a wonderful etsy seller who is not only a Fabric Flair customer, but also from whom I've purchased items!  Sandra from Pink Lady Designs is a fantastic person to work with in both capacities.  She makes and sells very pretty handmade bags and accessories.

My first purchase from Sandra was a custom order I was placing for myself.  I was a  bit indecisive, but she helped me gather my ideas and designed a custom set of pouches that I would be completely lost without!  Her impeccable quality easily handles the everyday (and I mean EVERYDAY!) demands I place on my beautiful little pouches.

I loved them so much I just had to buy a few as gifts at Christmas time.  Here's a few samples of her beautiful work, most with fabric she's purchased from my shop.

 

The swivel clip pouch I have has proven to be the most helpful, can't-live-without items in my bag!

Isn't this just the sunniest, prettiest bag you've ever seen!

Stop by Pink Lady Designs on Etsy and discover the accessories you can't live any longer without!

Etsy Shop Feature: Perryfinalia

 

Once again I have the honor of featuring a wonderful shop run by an incredibly talented, extremely friendly and personable shop owner.

Jenelle Perry of PerryFinalia makes the most adorable jumpers, tunics, and dresses!  Her designs are unique and her fabric combinations superb.  She invites custom orders and her items can be found in stores, as well.  Take one look at these and you just know that Jenelle is a very busy lady!  And look at her little model!  I just love browsing her shop to see what she has made from the great fabrics she has purchased from Fabric Flair.  While I won't be buying any for Conner, my niece Kate might just get spoiled with gifts from her auntie!

 

    

Etsy Shop Feature: Paperdoll Handmade Accessories

Very little excites me quite as much as when I get to see what others have done with the fabrics they've purchased from my shop.  In this handmade culture, I think there is a thrill in knowing that someone out there possesses or has made something from what you've lovingly packaged and shipped, even if, like me, you are just selling the supplies.

So when Jill of Paperdoll Handmade Accessories tweeted about the great accessories she had made using Art Gallery Fabric's Sugar collection, I had to go to her shop immediately and see her wonderful creations.  She makes the CUTEST hair clips, headbands, and brooches ever!  Jill's shop is so pretty and inviting, and so well put together, you'd hardly know it's brand new!

I just love the layering and color choices.  And the combination of fabric and wool felt is just beautiful.

If you are looking for the perfect little pretties to add a touch of style to anything from your hair to your handbag, you've got to stop by Paperdoll Handmade Accessories.

Etsy Shop Feature: Home Grown Pillows

 
You know all those aches and pains and sore wrists you get from sitting here at your computer trying to catch up on all the most recent blog posts, tweets, and facebook updates?  For me, they are the ones I ignore or don't do anything to relieve, even though running an online shop requires hours and hours of computer time every week.  Do not dismay!  I found the perfect Etsy shop to help relieve stress and soothe those aches!

I recently placed a custom order with Kristen at Home Grown Pillows on Etsy.  Kristen creates therapy heat wraps and pillows to help with comfort and pain relief.  She has several designs and great aromatherapy scents to choose from.  Her products are made with flaxseed (read the description from one of her listings to learn why) and can be heated in the microwave or chilled in the freezer.

To create my custom order, Kristen combined 2 of my favorite things, Laura Gunn's Poppy collection fabric and lots and lots of peppermint.  I LOVE peppermint! 

Kristen made a computer wrist support and keyboard pillow from Dogwood in spice (with peppermint of course).  I no longer have aching wrists that are red and sore from where they used to rest on the wooden desktop.  The peppermint is so soothing while I am sitting here working!

I love the pretty packaging!  Here's my eye pillow and back relief heat pack in Dogwood Stripe in olive.

And here are 2 sets that I ordered to give as gifts for Mother's Day (shh..they haven't received them yet, so don't tell them!)

Kristen was wonderful to work with, so accommodating, and her convo responses are lightning fast!  Stop by Home Grown Pillows and order your pain relief therapy!  Your body will thank you!

Etsy Shop Feature: Annabelle Tuesday

In December of last year I was shopping around on Etsy, looking for a gift for my niece.  Sure, it would be 4 months until she was born, but it's never too early to shop for babies!  My sister was going to have a spring baby, and that made looking for all the cute girly things even more fun!

I came across a shop that had the sweetest, most perfect gifts!  At Annabelle Tuesday,  Summer carries "Unique handmade newborn scratch mittens. Scratch mittens really are a necessity for every newborn, not just an accessory," writes Summer in her shop announcement.

My son had plain, blah mittens.  I even think that they were so loose we started putting plain white socks on his hands.  Blah, Blah.  Nothing even close to as precious as these.  So my thoughts are, newborn mittens are a necessity, why not make them an accessory!  I quickly bought half a dozen, in all colors and patterns, thinking that now she'd have a pair to go with everything!

Aren't these so sweet!

And Lounge Pants too!

 

And here are a set in action on my niece Katie

Be sure to go on over and check out AnnabelleTuesday!