those elegant shutters...

 Well, I finished the vintage shutters! What do you think? I was going to do vintage linens, but I wanted something a little brighter for the summer. So, I chose some of my favorite Heather Bailey fabrics. Just love them!!

 This is what they looked like before...

 And, now they are elegant shutters to brighten up my home. I love that I will be able to change the fabrics with the seasons. Already have ideas for the fall and Christmas! ;) 

I have been waiting for a few months for this line of fabric, Seaside, to come out from October Afternoon. I love all their craft papers, and had the papers of these prints. So, when I heard that they were making a fabric line of it, I was so excited! It just came out last week, and you can get some for your sweet fabric stash at the Fat Quarter Shop! 

 Here are a couple of grannie blocks using the sweet fabrics! I have two more to go, and I am finished!! Then, it will be time to put the quilt top together! 

 Some patriotic granny squares since I am into the red, white, and blue lately. 

And, here is my lovely piles of grannies! It looks like I have made great progress for a blanket, but when I lay them out on the floor, they would make a small rug. ;) Okay, maybe a little bigger. So, maybe by Christmas I will have enough to make a lap size blanket. We'll see! Wishing you a beautiful day sweet friends! 

patriotic flag tutorial

Thank you all for your sweet comments and support on my new batch of goodies. You truly made my day!

Today is the day for the patriotic flag quilt block tutorial. This is my first quilt block tutorial, and it is simple one to sew together. I am not a professional quilter, so I apologize ahead of time if there are any mistakes. ;)

 It can be made into any size, but for today we are going to make a 12 1/4 in. by 7 1/4 in. block. Let's get started!

Lovely Materials:

(length by width)

*blue and white fabric for the stars-  one piece, 5 3/4 in. by 3 1/2 in.

*white floral or polka dots fabric- 1 strip measuring 7 1/4 in. by 1 1/2 in. 

2 strips measuring 12 1/2 in. by 1 1/2 in.

*red floral fabric- 2 strips measuring 7 1/4 in. by 1 1/2 in.

2 strips measuring 12 1/2 in. by 1 1/2 in.

*All piece are sewn together with a 1/4 seam allowance. 

*Cut all your pieces of your sweet fabrics, and let's get sewing!

*First, sew one small red strip, with your one small white strip together. Press the seams open or to one side, however you prefer to do it. I always press to one side. 

*Next, sew the last small red strip to the other side of the small white strip. Press seams with your iron, and your piece should look like this. 

*Take the blue and white piece of fabric and sew it to the left side of your three strips.

*Open and press the seam. 

*This is what is should look like when you're done! Hopefully, this is all making sense! ;) 
*Next, take one of your long white strips, and you will be sewing it to the bottom of your piece.

*Here is what it looks like upside down. You can pin the two pieces and then, sew them together.

*Open and press seams. It is almost done! 

*Continuing sewing your last three strips together in the pattern, red, white, and red. Make sure to press your seams when your done sewing each strip.

*I love my 1/4 seam foot for my machine!

*When you are finished with your last piece, iron, and you might have to trim the edges a little bit, to make the sides all even. And, that is it! You should have a vintagey patriotic flag! 

This block can be made into a pillow, a mini quilt, or used as an appliqué! Please kindly only use this pattern for personal use! Thanks!

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial! I added these patriotic mini quilts to my shoppe yesterday, ready for the 4th of July! Wishing you a lovely and creative day! 

patriotic sweetness

 This week is going so fast, and I am in need of an extra day! Thank you for all your sweet comments on my strawberry enameled container! You all make my day!!

Well, I finished my patriotic wreath yesterday. I ordered some mini vintage American flags, but they still have not arrived, so maybe I will use them for something else. I am almost finished with the quilt block tutorial, and should be able to post it on Monday!

 I also decided to make some mini flag quilts using the pattern and will be putting a few in my shoppe next week. 

A pretty vintage patriotic tablecloth arrived yesterday in the mail! I just love the design, and the pop of colors! This will be made into vintagey tea towels for my shoppe, just in time for the 4th of July! I have been busy this week working on a new batch of tea towels and will hopefully have them all in the shoppe by Monday. My poor sweet sewing machine has had no rest this week! ;) 

 New grey bowls! My favorite! I bought these at Anthropologie and I am a little addicted to buying them. I have them in every color, and when I saw the pretty grey ones in the sale section, how could I pass them up!

Today in the mail I received these sweet vintage straws from Party Pizzaz! Aren't they so neat! Perfect for the summer!

 And, some new fabrics to play around with! I have been wanting the vintage typewriter and clock ones for awhile, so I decided to cave in and get them!  

 I also can't seem to get enough of the reproduction prints! Please tell me I am not the only one with this problem. :) Well, I am off to sew away..wishing you all a beautiful and crafty weekend! 

sweet strawberries

Well, I finally found the perfect enamelware container for my vintage strawberry decals I bought awhile back. 

What do you think? I was so excited when I found this red and white container, and that it was complete with a lid! 

They were meant to be together, and the strawberries add just the sweetest touch.

Perfect for the summertime, and would be cute for a summer picnic with yummy treats inside! 

Speaking of yummy treats...I made these strawberry and rosemary scones for a lunch I was having with a friend, and they were so delicious! Another sweet blogger shared making them, and even though I don't bake very often, they were so tempting. 
Here is the recipe link if you want to give make some! I didn't make the icing that is calls for, and I used unbleached flour, and maple sugar, which I just love! 

Of course, you have to have tea with your scones, so I thought I would share one of my favorite teas. It is delightful with cream and during the summer it makes a lovely iced tea. 

I am linking up with sweet Sue at It's a Very Cherry World for Rednesday!! Head on over to check out some more lovely reds!!

a little red, white, and blue

 Happy Monday! 

Over the weekend I was into decorating for the 4th of July, and came up with a new little patriotic quilt block for my front door wreath. 

 I just love when ideas come to me in the middle of the night, and they actually work out! I am going to leave this block with the rough edges for my wreath, but was thinking how sweet it would look as a pillow or mini wall quilt. I will be putting together a little tutorial for the block later in the week if you would be interested in making one. So many possibilities, and easy to sew together!

 I adore roses, and I am always keeping my eye out for crocheted potholders, and aprons with pretty roses. I was happy to come home with these lovelies.

 Some of my favorite colors together, pink and green! 

 I have been wanting to make some of my own, and finally bought the yarn and a couple of vintage crochet books for the patterns. We'll see how well I do, the patterns are a little intimadating. Have you ever made these before? And, I know that it was well worn by some wonderful lady. 

 The shape is so elegant, and I can't wait to wear it in the kitchen or in my craft room! 

Two more grannie blocks, and only 4 more to go! If I get time I might finish them up this week, but knowing me I'll get distracted with something else. ;)

Wishing you a beautiful and crafty week!