lark

I was just checking out the fabric shoppe on facebook and noticed some new Amy Butler fabrics. They're so bright and cheerful! Here are some of my favourites:

I'm picturing a pillow for this one! I would love this for the basement to add some colour.

This would be so pretty as a headboard for the bed in my sewing room.

The blue version of the first fabric. Would love to see a pillow our of this too (or perhaps a pin board cover??)

You can never go wrong with some cream and black. Not sure what I would do with this one since I'm trying to add some colour into my house!

Check out more beautiful fabrics on the fabric shoppe and amy butler's website.

J Stands for Jolly 'ol Friends

Weew what a week it has been so far! I can honestly say my brain hurts. I've been crazy busy with my day job, so I haven't had much time to do much sewing. I know, I know saying "I'm busy" is SOOO je ne sais quoi -- dumb? Everyone is busy these days.

I DID get a chance, however, to finish a custom order from November. Yes I said November people (I'm sure my friend Scott is reading this thinking about the bag I said I'd make a mutual friend over a year ago but I digress...;)).

So my good friend from work, Rana, wanted me to make a tote for her daughter, and really Rana has been all too kind in waiting for this order. I really did take my sweet time finishing it and all I can blame is her second order which is a laptop case for work (I've been staring at the fabric trying to figure out how to make it because Rana is VERY particular... in a good way of course ;)).

Anyway, I finally got her daughter's tote finished and trekked over to the office today to give it to her and to see my favourite work clan.

Rana loved it of course, but the first question out of her mouth was "Did you take a picture of it for your blog Stephanie???" Well no because I was too "busy." So Rana whips out her camera and proceeds to have a photoshoot with my friend Shama as the model. What good friends I have, really; they're always looking out for me. I mean Rana DID pay me with Baskin Robbins gift certificates after all -- how does she know about my love for mint chocolate chip ice cream???

Alas, here are some pics of the tote and the photo shoot. Made with some lovely Amy Butler fabrics and a nice denim "J" for Rana's daughter's name.





Now that Rana has her hands on the tote, I'll be back into the sewing room trying to figure out her lap top bag and trying not to pull my hair out But I do have some ice cream motivation, so I'm sure I'll get it done soon... I promise :)

the stacey tote

She probably wouldn't want to have her name on the 'net but I needed a name for this tote, so I named it after my sister Stacey. Oh well! ;)

This tote totally didn't set out to look like this, but I think it turned out rather cute if I do say so myself. It has Anna Maria's Branching Out fabric on the outside (you know the one I'm obsessed with???) and Amy's green Full Moon polkas on the inside. There's a little pocket in there too to keep all your small goodies. This one is in the shop .


Has anyone ever been to Accent on Toronto? We went last night and it was really funny. I was crying, I was laughing so hard. I kinda felt bad for the woman beside me... I think I noticed her every so politely inching closer to her friend and away from me. Anyway it was a good laugh so you should go next year.

later lovelies!
~lealou

bon

Well it seems people love the frenchies! And although I can't sell them according to the fine print of my frenchy pattern, I made one for my friend's sister out of some extra fabric I had from the other frenchies I made this year. I also made one for my amazing photographer friend who is out in BC so Jenn I'll be shipping it out to you on Monday!

Have a great weekend y'all. I have a busy day ahead of me. Right now I'm waiting for the fabric store to open so I can get a zipper for the zip pouch I'm making to go with my tote for the secret auction at the reunion tonight. I've already delivered the tote so I'll have to sneak in with my action moves and slide the zip pouch into the tote before anyone bids (hopefully someone bids!). At noon we're off to see some friends who had a baby a little over a month ago and then the reunion!

later gaters
~lealou

oui, oui à paris!

C is off to London and then Paris this week with her family and needed a bag to bring all the essentials with her. I made this bag...I'll call her Paris... out of the same grey fabric I made my first Frenchy. It's lined with Amy Butler's grey Lacework fabric.



I brought it out to the movies for a test drive the other night (has any one seen Tropic Thunder?? I think I have a little crush on Ben Stiller now...) and it held up quite well... even with my water, wallet, snacks, camera & lip balm, so I think it'll be perf for the big trip!


~lealou

bump up the jam

The title of this post is dedicated a bit to my goodlife class that I miss dearly. I've been out with a bad back for a few weeks and haven't been able to go. I went to the gym for the first time today and gazed into the classroom longingly at all the bodypumpers pumping away to pump up the jam (gotta love that hair and green spandex...)

But I suppose the title is really about the latest project that I did for C a few weeks ago. She really does keep me busy, that girl!



C wanted a bumper pad for her daughter's crib and I took the challenge. She didn't know what fabric she wanted for the longest time, but she knew she wanted something to match her Dwell bed skirt. She decided on Amy Butler's Lime Full Moon Polka Dots after she threw the bag I made her into the crib one day and liked the look. (It also looks pretty cute with the coriander pillow I made her awhile back).



I'm really happy with the turn out -- but I likely won't be making another one until the time comes from my own little ones... these things aren't as easy as they look to make! But it was fun and I'm happy that C keeps me sewing for practice.

welcome to lealou's house

Well it's up! I spent the past month or so sewing, taking photos and writing descriptions for each item and had lots of fun doing it. Even if no one buys anything I had so much fun getting back into sewing I can't wait to get back to the sewing machine to make more.

I have to say I had the most fun writing the descriptions... people might think I'm a bit crazy naming my pillows and totes after parts of East York where I live but that's ok... I like it here and why not promote it?

For this first batch of sewing I used a lot of Anna Maria Horner fabrics... her new Garden Party line is so bright and vibrant and really I can't stop looking at them. I just LOVE her Drawing room volumes print which I used for my tote. I also used a couple of Amy Butler's print's although they're a bit springy! It's so dreary here today that a little punch of pink is just what I need to tell you the truth.

Thanks again to my sister for creating my very cool banner and to my cat for staying away from all the stuff I sew... also thanks to M for vacuuming up the little threads he finds all over the house every week...

So here we go! here's a little taste of what you can find in the shop:

The Taylor Creek Cushion
Named after the little creek near my house - this pillow reminds me of the crispness of fall...

The Relish Cushion

Named after one of my favourite places to eat in East York, Relish Bar & Grill... it gives people in the area something different than the every-day mundane.

The East Lynn Cushion

This cushion reminds me of a park with it's bright colours so I named it after East Lynn Park down the street from me...

Springtime in the City Cushion

Sure it's not springtime, but I know I will be wishing for it once the first snowflake hits the ground, so I made this bright pink pillow to add a touch of spring to those cold winter months.

The Stacks Tote

This was my favourite project -- I LOVE this fabric and want to keep the tote for myself... I made the handles a bit too long but I tied them up and think they look kinda cute now...

I'll be updating the shop as I figure out what to up up there next so keep a look out... also I have a cute baby project I made for C and Rowan a couple weeks ago... I have to get C to take some pics when she gets it set up...

Happy weekend! I'm off to the in-laws and then to visit some good friends tomorrow north of the city.

~lealou