Crimson Lily Blog

I promised you a link to my new sewing blog, so here it is:

Crimson Lily Designs

Please feel free to "follow" me and tell your friends as well!

New Blog?

As I have recently been pondering the idea of an actual business and new name for it, I have also been pondering the thought of a new blog, just for my sewing and crafts. The Dancing Mom began as a way to showcase what I created while also talking about my everyday life. However, since Crimson Lily is coming to fruition I feel that Dancing Mom would be a better place for my everyday musings. Crimson Lily will then be the business blog. I am also comtemplating Etsy as my springboard for sales of my wares. Since I tend to be somewhat pessimistic, though, I have a fear that no one will be interested in what I have to offer since there are so many other more-talented-than-I-am artisans out there.

Why this is such a hard decision for me is beyond my comprehension. It's what I really want to do, but my insecurities are holding me back. Maybe if I knew that there would be a definite market for what I make, then it wouldn't be so bad. I know my friends and family appreciate it, but would the average handmade-items-buyer buy it? I guess I'll never know if I don't try, right?

So I guess at this point my next blogpost here on The Dancing Mom will be a link to introduce the all new Crimson Lily blog. Give me a few days to work it out, though. And thanks for reading!

Long Time

I guess it's been a while since my last post. I hate when life gets in the way. At least for not-so-great reasons. I recently left my job and now I am half-heartedly looking for something part-time. I feel that it is unnecessary to spend $300+ a week on childcare for the summer when I wasn't bringing home much more than that to begin with. Bobby is also on the lookout for a new job as well.

However, I have done some sewing recently. (Pictures to be posted later because they don't seem to want to post right now.)
I made a lap quilt for a friend's birthday, a wallet and clutch for my mom (for her motorcycle), a yoga mat bag for myself, and a shopping bag (prototype), as well as a cute little sundress for Emma. I've been trying to keep busy while figuring out what I can sew to make me some money at craft fairs this fall.

Happy Easter!!! And A Little Sewing...

I hope everyone out there in Blog World has a fabulous Easter!!! I know we will! It's going to be around 80 degrees where we will be, here in Maine. I know, crazy, right?

But yesterday I did a little sewing. After walking around beautiful downtown Bath, Maine and visiting the Bath Book Shop and Mariner's Compass Quilt Shop, I came home with some lovely purple & green batik fabric for another birthday throw quilt for a coworker. Again, I have decided to use my new favorite white Kona muslin to offset the deep colors. This is only the center panel of the quilt top, but so far I think I'm liking it. One it's complete and quilted I'm sure I will be loving it. It does have a name already, Magic 39 Quilt, but I'll disclose the reason behind the name once it's finished.

Have a great day!

A Sew-lful Weekend

Finally.... another weekend full of sewing. Gramma took the kids overnight on Friday so I was able to
a) Go to JoAnn's for some fabric,
b) Sleep in Saturday morning - or not...
c) SEW!!!!! I had the day to myself until about 3:30.

Brittany had recently asked me to make some bibs for her little cutie pie, Zander. As I was waiting in line at JoAnn's with the fabric for said bibs, I saw a copy of Quilts & More Magazine with a bib pattern. One 40% off coupon later I was out the door with new fabric and a magazine full of new ideas.

On Saturday I made 3 bibs and today I made 2 more, plus a new purse that has been floating around in my head recently. Moda + Muslin = Love.

It's funny how once I started making purses about 2 1/2 years I haven't bought one at a store. Every once in a while I just feel the need for something new, as do most people. But instead of shopping around at the nearest TJ Maxx or Coach outlet (I wish!), I head to the fabric store. This particular Moda fabric was a member of the "discontinued fat quarter bin" at Mariner's Compass before Christmas. Jeanne bought it for me because for some reason it just whispered to me "I want to be a purse..." So today I pulled it out, grabbed a 1/2 yard of muslin that I found on clearance for $.79, found a few scraps of sueded blue fabric and a bit of canvas strapping. Voila! My new bag! I even used the floral Moda to make a matching button. I guess I'm kind of liking triangles lately.

So that's that for today. I really need to get the backing done for my mom's Christmas quilt as well as the borders and backing for my own Moda quilt. Maybe next weekend...

Shannon's Book-Writing Quilt

This weekend I was finally able to sew something from start to finish.

I made a lap quilt for my friend, Shannon, at work for her birthday. She is an aspiring novelist and has been working diligently on her first novel which we are all hoping will get published.

Shannon's favorite color is pink, so I used Moda fabric in the Boutique Line by Chez Moi for the squares. The white fabric is my favorite discovery of all time: Kona White Muslin. This is the softest, most lovely feeling fabric ever. I'm talking Egyptian Cotton Sheets quality. Yumm! The backing is a basic bubble gum pink flannel for warmth and coziness.

Since I don't have a darning foot or a nice quilting machine (ssshhhh, don't tell my Singer) I am forced to improvised when quilting. I actually sew the 3 layers together inside out, flip it right side out, then I sew along the edge about 1/2 inch in. I usually have a little bunching when I connect the end to the beginning, but I'm learning to accept that for now. On this quilt I added a pink wavy border all the way around and a pink wavy line down the middle. Again with the bunching where the stitching meets up with itself, but, ah well.

So this quilt is named Shannon's Book-Writing Quilt because I want her to cuddle up in it while she writes her novel. I'm not quite sure how inspirational a pink floral quilt can be when writing a murder-mystery, but at least she'll be warm while she writes :)

Edited to add: Oops!!! Sorry! It was the Charisma Collection by Chez Moi, not Boutique.

Paige's Birth Story (From Missie's Perspective)

At 5:56pm on Friday 2/26/10, 7lb 5.8oz, 19.75in long Paige Sophia came into the world.

She is the first child of my cousin, Cally.

She is beautiful and perfect in every way.

I had the amazingly good fortune of being there, right there, when she was born. Aside from the usual medical staff, Cally and Matt invited both me and my aunt Becky into the room with them. It was a very long day for all of us, but it was an even longer 2 days for Cally as she started having contractions at 7am on Thursday. By 8:30am Friday she was having contractions about a minute long and 5 minutes apart. After heading to the hospital she decided on the epidural around 11:30. This was definitely a good choice for her, as Paige seemed to be sunny-side-up at the time and back labor sucks! Cally rested throughout the afternoon as Becky, Matt and I tried to keep the humor going while we all waited.

At about 3pm Cally was fully dialated and almost ready to push. At 4:25pm the pushing began. The epidural worked quite well as Cally was in fairly good spirits throughout her labor. Finally, around 5:30 Paige seemed to turn herself into proper position and things moved quickly after that.

At 5:56pm we had the pleasure of welcoming Paige Sophia into this crazy world. Cally did a fantastic job and I am so proud of her for her strength and ability to push through the pain and produce a perfect little girl. Within 10 minutes, Paige was nursing and Cally finally had a chance to relax.

Matt, although a little (ok, a lot) nervous, was amazing as well. We were all surprised that he remained upright throughout the delivery process. He gave Paige her first bath and dressed her for the first time (first time for both of them!).

I am so lucky to have been a part of this incredible experience. I love Cally so much. I have always considered her more of a little sister rather than a cousin and now we can both experience the joys of motherhood together. We have wonderful role models in our own mothers, grandmother and aunts.

It's funny how becoming a mother really does change you, but experiencing childbirth from the other side really makes you realize how totally incomprehensible it truly is. A life is created and a woman, who may otherwise consider herself not strong enough, has the ability to bring that life into the world. Simply amazing.