Allyson Hill

Treasure Hunting

Helpful Hint:  When you want to go antiquing, call it Treasure Hunting instead!  (***warning*** I would not recommend this type of outing with more than one child!!!).  When Micah's soccer game was canceled on Saturday I asked him if he wanted to go Treasure Hunting to which he replied "Can I wear something nice?"  I love when he says that because it means:

1.  He will come up with something creative to wear which will usually make me smile.  Thankfully, he is getting to the point where he will listen to a little bit of gentle styling advice from his mother, though I only give it when absolutely necessary.

2.  There will be no -getting dressed- struggles.  In his words, he will "be initiative".

Here are Micah's treasures:

And mine:

I think the above will go nicely (though needs to be painted) with this.

 

Vintage wrapping paper!  Hmmm, I wonder if there is a vintage wrapping paper Flickr Group?  (**Update - of course there is a Flickr Group!)

Tea towel and apron!

Riverstone Screenprint

I was so excited to be able to purchase the second-to-last piece of this screenprinted fabric by Kirin and Co from Melbourne.  Here's her blog.  Lara Cameron professionally screenprints her fabrics by herself.  This was my first handmade piece of screenprinted fabric and I wasn't sure how it would look and feel in person.  I was so thrilled to find that it is very, very soft and the paint is not stiff at all.  She printed it onto 100% cotton drill, so I'm sure that helps to keep it soft too.  I got it in the mail yesterday and cut into it that very night after Micah went to bed.  I knew I couldn't let it sit and get more valuable by the minute!  So here's what I made:

It's a wristlet with a nice padded handle.  You can see more pictures in my shop.   

My weekend Hope-To's are to spray paint, finish vintage PJ pants and make a new skirt.  Hope you all make something fun this weekend too! 

Orange you Glad?

This lovely necklace which is now in my possession was made by TotusMel.  A pair of matching earrings also came along with it and I love them both equally.  They are soft and pliable and can be ironed if they get out of sorts.  You know, sometimes your outfit calls for a necklace and sometimes it just needs earrings.  So I guess I'm all set in the orange floral department, for this month at least.  Notice my arm warmers below, made by Dyno of Ultra Deluxe.  These are essential for me in the summer months when the cellar (my sewing location) is very cold, brrrr.  Her shop is closed so I am going to have to figure out how to make some for myself (cut up some knee highs?).

And I finished the skirt!  I have made plenty of A-line skirts, but this was my first full skirt.  It's ok.  What top do I wear with it though?  And what shoes?  Something to think about before making my next skirt (which is already pinned and staring at me on the dress form).  Well I had fun this weekend booking through the mall trying to find a shirt and shoes to wear with it.  I found a rusty orange shirt, but it might be too much orange with the skirt.  I love the shirt either way and the new earrings go perfectly with it.  Besides, it was only 4.99!  No luck with shoes, I'll keep looking though.  Ho hum, what a drag (just kidding of course). 

         

   

How odd, I've been tagged by Beebee Mod who claims I make her think?  Well it's not odd that Beebee Mod thinks, we all know she's a smarty pants.  I guess it made me stop and think about what I say around here.  Does my blog stimulate the brain?  I don't feel like I have a lot of profound things to say.  I think I'm more about eye candy and look-at-what-I-did's.  But I guess all of that can cause thinking, so OK I'll accept this award.  Thank You!!!

 

Here are the rules:

1. If you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.

2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.

3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote.

Here we go in no particular order:

1.  I am going to have to tag Beebee Mod back.  I know I'm probably not supposed to do that, but afterall she was my inspiration to start blogging.  I had a blog that just sat...and sat...and served as additional Car Litter Bag info for my customers.  Jen (Beebee Mod) was one of the first people who took notice of it and made me realize that someone out there is reading and might actually enjoy a post here or there.  Aww, thanks girl!  I love her spunky personality that she shares more and more with each post.  She also inspires me as a self-employed-stay-at-home mother. 

2.  Vanessa from A Fanciful Twist.  This girl is a blast and her posts are packed with good thinking and eye candy!

3.  Lindsay from Run Lucas Run.  She's got a way with words!  Go take a read and you'll see what I'm talking about.

4.  Amber from Polka Dot Daisies.  Makes me strive to be a better mommy and housekeeper!  And she's a big sweetheart!

5.  YOU.  I know that's cheating again.  But really, I wouldn't be here sharing my life and thoughts and creations if you guys didn't pop in to visit.  period.  period.  period.  (((Hug)))  I really love to visit you back, so leave a comment so I can visit your blog too!!   

How?

How can I be expected to concentrate when this unfinished skirt sits in front of me while I fill orders?

And this waits patiently for me to make into vintage PJ pants?

And if I could just whip up an A-line skirt in this fabric, it would match my shirt perfectly today.  Do I have time?

 

And what will I do with these?

fat quarters:

fat quarters:

half yards:

Well thankfully I HAVE been productive and got to cut into SOME new fabrics:

which will be appearing in my shop in the form of car litter bags. 

Oh and I did make up some new zip cases (some are already in my shop and some still need to be photographed):

Wait, there's more.  This can of pea green spray paint keeps staring at me too!

Will it end?  No, because these spring days bring neverending inspiration and I love it!

New Goodies

Here are some new goodies I whipped up, Jumbo Dot - Zip Pouches.  Though the only thing Jumbo about them is the dot.  I created them with feminine products in mind, but they also work great for other dodads you need to keep gathered in your purse.  They are made with chocolate brown silk and the dots are raw cotton fabric with pinked edges.  A little fraying will occur, but I think they are fun and unexpected.  They remind me of yummy tacos!  I have four more of them coming out with a raw muslin instead of silk, but who knows when I'll finish them? 

I have so much to do and the time flies by so quick.  I wish I were more disciplined with my time.  But nooo, I end up breaking rules, procrastinating, following a whim.  Well I guess those things aren't that bad, it's just frustrating when I get back to the studio and my mind is bursting with creative ideas and my studio time ends in a snap.  That reminds me of a movie I saw this weekend, Meet the Robinsons.  I resisted going to see it because I figured it would be full of bathroom humor like so many kids movies rely on nowadays.  I was satisfied to find tears in my eyes at the end of the movie and of course looking over at my sister there were tears in hers too.  We are such saps!  Both of us secretly wiping our tears away and trying to hide them from Micah.  Well, it inspired me.  Oh and it inspired me in 3-D too!  Good clean fun, I recommend it.      

Oooooo and Ahhhhh

Finally, some spiffy business cards!  Leslie from The Paper Princess whipped these up for me.  She also referred me to Overnight Prints which is where I'll be having these professionally printed with a satin finish.  Oh and take a look at the back side:

I think I'll get the corners rounded, but I'm not sure yet.  It's 20.00 extra...

Thanks for all your nice comments on Cocoa Bear!  Micah is snuggled up with his right now.  He named him Abraham.  I wish I could go snuggle up with them right now but I've got seams to sew!