just because ~

Our trip to Valencia was a fun, adventure, event filled weekend. Really there were too many things that happened to recount. Although we did not bring home trophies, ribbons or medals, the girls were happily satisfied with all they had done, it was the perfect ending to my girls Speech & Debate season.

One day I was in need of a break, I excused myself and traveled west to Ventura for some fabric therapy. What better place than Superbuzzy. I bought these items just because ~

Great store, with friendly helpful people. I just love that!

Have a great weekend

phew ~

What was originally a trip to the fabric store for just 2 pieces of fabric turned into 6. How does this happen? It happens when you bring a little 9 year-old with you who loves bunnies. I should know better.

I had my eye on an adorable tutorial found on NanaCompany dot typepad dot com for a pillow case, "Sweet dreams little one". I wanted to make something for DD #4 for her first camp. A little love from home. I had some left over scraps from my Montana Quilt and stitched them up. Not her first time away from home but her first sleep over camp. And first time mom and dad home alone without children. 

Added the top band

Then, silly me, having to make things more complicated than they need to be, decided that I wanted a message on both sides, a 'good morning' side and a 'good night' side. So I decided that the patchwork would be the morning and the flannel the night and so that there was no seam I wanted it to be like a standard slip on pillowcase. Phew.... For the 'good night' side I stitched the band using the 'hot dog' method. This is a great method for hiding seams and could probably be used for the bottom of pajama pants (idea!). 

 

Then using a washable marker traced the words. I printed our the message using Giddyup Std and traced the cute little animals purchased from NanaCompany . 

I used Cosmo embroidery floss brown color 311 for all the embroidery. I backed the patchwork side with muslin then quilted all the diagonals.

It was challenging to stitch the words on the band. I should have embroidered before I sewed on the band. 

 

The patchwork side is about 1/4 inch longer than the flannel side which worked out beautifully for the binding. 

Pinned the binding all around the pillowcase

Making sure I did not accidentally catch the flannel band, I pinned it back. I use Heather Bailey's tutorial for attaching binding to quilts. Works every time.

Washed and dried....all the blue washes out in cold water.

Happy face

I would make this again and again. Thank you NanaCompany for your sweet inpiration!

So back to pot holders, Hawaiian postcards quilt and all the other projects just waiting to be completed. 

I love 5 o'clock ~

 

The Postman delivered a little package filled with all these colors of embroidery floss. I know it is a little thing but the girls at the shop tied each bundle with an accompanying color. It is so pretty!

 It all started as a mission, one day I was reading on the internet about this amazing floss. First I called all the stores here in my area, I do believe in purchasing local, but none to be found. Next I went to the internet then called this shop. I wanted an assortment and thinking that they would only have a few of each color I said I would take 'one of each color you have'. I had been on Lecein's website and they have an amazing color range. The lady on the phone hesitated and stated that they have over 400 different colors....I laughed at myself. So we came up with a plan to send me a light, medium and dark of each of the primary colors adding peach, aqua and brown. 33 colors all tied up.

Hope your day is full of color