Makeover Monday 5/11

I love, love, love the unique and beautiful texture created by, and embodied in, fabric crochet. Take a relatively "plain" pink cotton sheet, for example...

...cut it up, and voila!, a shabby chic pencil pot for your cottage office! The dimension and interest of the pink sheet is FAR from plain now, isn't it??

A tip about fabric crochet: to get a better feel for how a fabric will look once worked up, be sure to look at the front AND back of the fabric. This pink sheet, for example, is much lighter on the back, making the overall effect even more mottled and heavily textured.

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On a different note, I have been out of the blog loop for a few days...lots going on around here for the Mother's Day weekend. So, how are you? What's new, and what have I missed? Fill me in by leaving a comment, please!

Super Size

Welcome to the super size cotton bowl! My usual nest bowl sizes are 3", 4" and 5" wide and 2" high. This one measures 6" wide and stands 3" high.

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This was made for a customer who is decorating her powder room in shabby chic style...with pale lilacs and oh-so-subtle greens. She requested some larger sized bowls, and this is one of the ones I have finished. This color is so BEAUTIFUL!!

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This took quite awhile to make, and was tough on the fingers with those bitty stitches, but the result is worth it. You can see more photos HERE. Can't you imagine a whole bunch of these in varying heights containing all manner of lotions and soaps? I think I need a trip to the spa now!

A Brand New Look

This gorgeous vintage rose fabric was the inspiration for the final version of my fabulous new Etsy shop banner! Jessi of jessijewels.etsy.com worked tirelessly and SO patiently to get it just right, and I can't thank her enough. Look for the trivet made from the same fabric in my shop soon!

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Have you changed your shop look lately?

Custom Nursery Basket: Check!

Last week, a new customer wrote to me asking if I could make a handled basket for her daughter's nursery. She wanted it to match this rug, and to measure 18" wide by 8" deep.

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I finished this item last night, and I am SOOOOO proud of it! I love it when I feel like I got something just right, don't you?! Mmm, just look at those handles!

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This nursery basket is so soft, sturdy, and versatile- what a great gift it would make for a new parent! It could fit a newborn baby at first, then be used as a diaper/wipes container, then a toy basket, then...who knows?

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Even more exciting? I get to make one for the brother's bedroom next. Stay tuned for that one next week :)

Makeover Monday: 5/4

This bright, bold sheet became...

This bright, bold lidded clutter keeper! Look for it in my shop this week!

It reminds me of Trix cereal...what do the colors make YOU think of?

And Then There Were Blue

Happy weekend! I am knee deep in several large projects, and tag making is a great break from the fabric crochet. It is so relaxing, and I'm still loving the result. These sweet blues will be listed in my shop today or tomorrow.

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Stay tuned for photos of my latest big nursery basket coming soon! It is being made to match this rug: click HERE to view.

What do you have on tap for the next couple of days?

Friday's Favorite: Maple Hill Farm

OK. So, I've heard people say "Oh, that looks good enough to eat" before. And I kind of rolled my eyes, thinking, "Um, 'scuse me- you're talking about SOAP!" I take back all of my eye rolling right now. In fact, I took it all back as soon as I first stepped foot into Maple Hill Farm's Etsy shop!! Prepare to want to eat soap. Or at least bathe decadently for hours on end.

Lynn, the shopowner and soapmaker extraordinaire, shares interesting tidbits about herself and her history in her shop announcement and profile. For instance, her "fascination with creating soap and body care products began fifteen years ago when [her] family moved into a little stone cottage with many heirloom flowers and herbs...What began as a hobby evolved into a passion and has now become a cottage industry."

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Maple Hill Farm's soaps feature Grade A olive oil and exotic butters like shea, mango, and cocoa butter. To make her soap extra special, Lynn often adds her own farm-grown or wild-crafted herbs. Each batch is hand-stirred in her historic farmhouse; I can only imagine how yummy that smells- I'd love a tour, wouldn't you?




I have personally had the immense pleasure of receiving a batch of soap from this wonderful shop. It not only smells as good as it looks, it leaves the skin super soft and gently scented.

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From the moment I placed my order, I knew my business was important and appreciated. Lynn is not only a talented artisan, she has top-notch customer relations skills. Her communication is amazing, and she had my order out in record time. Each bar was even bubble wrapped lovingly- final evidence of this seller's care of her product and pride in her work.

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In the mood to spoil yourself? Look no further than Maple Hill Farms! Please stop on by the farm by clicking on any of the photos, and come back here to leave a comment...which bar would you be most likely to take a bite out of? Not sure which one to choose? I highly recommend the "get the skinny" selection...6 slightly thinner bars of this phenomenal soap for the STEAL of $18. A shower will never be just a shower again!