Figure 8 Scarf

This is my first sewing project of 2011: The Anna Maria Horner Figure 8 Scarf. Yes I can't believe it's almost APRIL and I'm just posting a sewing project. I looked back in this blog and I used to be a sewing machine!

I'm pretty happy with how this turned out though I'm not sure I'll ever wear it. I love it but I'm not one for flowers. I bought the fabric to step out of my grey box so we'll see. Mark thinks it looks too big, as in puffy.

It was pretty easy to sew, but I did have a few hiccups considering the fabrics are kind of shiny and I'm more of a 100%-cotton-no-swearing-while-cutting-and-sewing type of girl.

(don't you love the side look look? I figure if I look sideways it will make me look less tired... did it work? :P)

Mini-Me Apron

So I had this weekend all to myself. No offense to my husband, but it was great. I went to yoga, had a latte, went shopping for books (I got this one from my all-time fav author), ate left over homemade Indian food, and then I sewed for the afternoon. I worked on a little tote for one of my favourite soon-to-be 2 year-olds (she'll be 2 on Wednesday!), made another mini-tote and then kept with the mini-theme with a mini-apron. I got such nice compliments on the last one I made, I decided to use up some fun fabric I had to make one for the shop.


I didn't put a pocket on this one because I didn't have enough of the fabric and I didn't want to use something else. I think it's so sweet. Get it here if you like it too.

What did you do this weekend?

star trek, a bike and a blanket

Howdy y'all! Today is a holiday in Canada...a cold holiday so far (6 degrees!) so while I wait for the weather to warm up (yes I know I'm a wimp) I thought I'd show you a couple pics of the blanket I finished off yesterday for C.

It's a pretty simple blanket. C wanted a stroller blanket for her daughter so she gave me some fleece she picked up and I had a left over yard of this Anna Maria Horner fabric that went well. I had a bit of a fight with the fleece and after I was finished I relized that home dec fabric probably isn't the best fabric to use for a child's blanket but at least it looks pretty :)

So that's that. As soon as it gets a bit warmer I'm heading out for a bike ride along the lake shore and then to see Star Trek...yes I'm excited to see Star Trek. Hmmm maybe I'll ride my bike to Star Trek...

What are you up to today?

zippy

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! I was at a wedding -- my "little" cousin tied the knot... really I can't believe he's married now!

I also dropped off a few things to a good friend -- I made her two of these zip pouches and a paris bag for her little sister. I hope they enjoy them!

On the task list this week are some placemats to match my napkins for a friend here in the city; and a tote bag for my Mom's neighbour -- she likes this one! I'm pretty partial to it too.

Happy Week!
~lealou

a tisket, a tasket...

Aren't these the cutest little things you ever did see? Well I think so. C gave these to me last night as a thank you for making her so many things over the past while. Little does she know I actually consider her my quality assurance manager, so I call it even. These are from Jenn Maruska Design -- the bag is a little sweetie called a "tasket" and then there is a pin cushion and a needle book. I just love them. Thanks C!


On Monday, I managed to get some napkins made -- something I've been meaning to do for a while. I'm calling them The Gold Leaf Napkin set for some reason -- really it was the first thing that popped into my head. I tend to do that a lot. I love this fabric -- it's Anna Maria Horner's Shadow fabric in Ivory from her Drawing Room line, which really looks sharp (yes I just used the term 'sharp') with crisp, white dinnerware. They're in the shop as we speak.




Oh did I mention that I did a spinning class today for the first time in say, four years? YA.... I almost died. The class started at 6:45 and I was one timbit away from leaving at 7 - no kidding. I honestly don't know how the hell I managed to get through it. I think the fact that Obama won kept me going. I kept telling myself that if Obama beat all odds to become President of the United States... I can do this measly spinning class. Anyway I finished it and now I'm not sure I can get out of my seat.

Great, now I have that song in my head....

the kate bag

Another sister tote! Named after my other sister Kate, this tote is a big one (Kate is only big in height I assure you!). I used more of the same fabric I used on some of the napkins I made for Christmas last year.


I love this fabric and really I was thinking of keeping it but I realized that I can't keep them all. The Kate Bag has one big strap that sits across the chest and has a cute little button on the outside. There are two pockets on the inside. This one is in the shop.


Happy Sunday!
~lealou

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

mmm beer.

Has any one else noticed it's getting colder earlier?? I'm not a big fan I have to say. Really, it's still so nice to go outside but I find myself staying put indoors for some reason. I think it's because I need to get some new fall clothes... yes need and I need some socks.

Yesterday at lunch I went outside for the first time in weeks (ok I'm exaggerating) to do a little photo shoot with my latest tote: The Taylor Creek Tote. I'm so obsessed with this fabric and it's perfect for this weather. This one isn't going in the shop though.



A couple weeks from now we're having the 45th reunion for our unversity residence - O'Keefe House . I lived in this small little residence downtown Toronto that at one point in time, was owned by Eugene O'Keefe (ever heard of Carling O'Keefe beer??). I lived there for four years, as did my husband, so we're heading there for the reunion. This little tote will go into the silent auction to raise money for the Ted Brock Recognition Award. Ted was a stand-up guy who was asked to look after the house for a year or so but ended up staying there for 35 years or something crazy like that...



This weekend is one of very few that I'm doing nothing! I'm excited to get back to the gym after my dumb soccer back and hamstring injuries, and I already have a nice list of sewing to get done. What are you up to?

Happy Friday everyone and I'll see you soon...
~lealou

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