Christmas Faire

We just completed the 36th Annual Friends of the Loomis Library Christmas Faire. It was awesome how the local community came out to support this great fundraiser for our library! Had a booth with some of my upcycled vintage linens and handcrafted items for sale.

My friends Coleen with her adorable knitted kid hats and Kathy with her cool repurposed sweater beanies also had booths - wish I had pictures to show you. Ok, next time... I did manage to take a few photos of my booth.

I ran into old friends and made some new ones! This was my last craft show for 2010 and must say I had so much fun! Now it's time to get ready for Christmas...

I Love Chenille!

Had an opportunity to pick up more vintage chenille lately. Here are some of the things I've made thus far. More pillow covers... Made from a vintage baby quilt.

The second photo shows the back of the larger pillow cover. Added sweet buttons on this one. The chenille is in great condition!




Here's a little baby quilt - I used vintage soft pink star chenille, new white chenille, and pink minky fabric. I've backed it with new pink chenille. Super soft! Next to the quilt is a vintage soft pink star chenille pillow cover with fringe from the original vintage chenille bedspread.



More projects are in the works so I'll post later. Do you see hints of a beautiful vintage chenille bedspread under these photos? It has wonderful colors and is in great condition. I'll show ya later...

Vintage Chenille Pillow Covers and Bib

My latest kick is making things out of my stash of vintage chenille. Pillow covers and bibs! Here are a few of my latest designs from a cutter bedspread. The pillow cover opening in the back has vintage chenille too. No, it's not perfect chenille, a few places are a bit thin but it doesn't take away from the wonderful colors and softness of these pillow covers and bib. Wish I had more chenille...dreaming...

Vintage Linen and Chenille Bib and Burp Cloth Set

My vintage linen and chenille scraps have been talking to me lately, yes I said talking to me. They want to become something...and most of the time they tell me what they want to be! So, I've been making up baby/toddler bibs and burp cloth sets. Makes a unique and very cute baby shower gift!

This baby bib has vintage yellow chenille on one side with a vintage linen on the other. The toddler bib and the burp cloth has new white flannel on the back side.

The next set has been repurposed from a bed sham (not vintage just really nice fabric) and I've used new white chenille for one side. The burp cloth has a new blue strip flannel on the back - super soft!

I've lined them so they will be super absorbant too! There are either pearl snaps or sewn in old fashioned snaps so you don't have to worry about the little one's hair getting stuck (unlike velcro closures)...

These will be added to my designs for sale at my markets and upcoming craft shows. I also will be adding baby and lap quilts.

Vintage Sheet Lap Quilt

I have quilts on my mind - guess it has been the cooler weather of late that caused this...Who knows. I'm excited about my first vintage sheet quilt just completed. Next in line will be a quilt using some vintage chenille and other reclaimed linens. Oh how fun...

On this quilt I used 4 1/2" blocks made from my fat quarter bundles I sell at my markets and on Etsy. Then I used a layer of Warm and White and backed it with a reclaimed Martha Stewart coverlet I scored at a thrift store. I brought the backing around to the front and machine sewed. I have tied the quilt with yellow embroidery floss here and there. The vintage sheets are a poly/cotton blend and are extremely soft to the touch.

I know I made this to sell, but do I really have to?

Vintage Sheet Lady's Top

I have been so busy caring for my Mom this past month, but did get a chance to complete a custom order for one of my favorite customers...a vintage sheet lady's top! Yes, it's just like the little girl's pillowcase dress style but made from a sheet. Not that she is big mind you, it's just that my lady's pillowcase tops only fit up to about a size 4 and how many of us are that small? Right? So here it is. I made, as a surprise to her, a matching baby dress out of the corner of the fitted sheet. Turned out super cute! Here's a picture of both...

My Daughter is Engaged!

Brianna and Sean are engaged! Sean proposed on July 4th while on a weekend getaway in Monteray, CA. With all the focus on my mother's recent stroke I didn't get a chance to post this. We are so happy for Bri. Sean will be a wonderful son-in-law. They've decided on a wedding venue which will be so much fun! November 4, 2011 is the date. Here's the happy couple...

My Mom is home from the Hospital

I brought my 85 year old mother to her home from the hospital today. She had multiple small strokes on the 18th. She is doing better each day. Between myself and my siblings we are caring for her 24 hours a day as she cannot be left alone. Here's a picture of Oma, as she is called, with my son (taken approximately six months ago). Thanks to all my dear friends for their prayers and well wishes.

New - Vintage Mom Top and Daughter Pillowcase Dress Set

Well the new line of mom tops with daughter pillowcase dress sets are a hit! Here is one of my custom orders for a sweet gal and her eight month old darling daughter. I've made the mom top's ties to match the daughter's dress. Way cute if I say so myself...

Vintage Chenille coming my way...

All this recent talk and viewing blogs about vintage chenille made be excited about the pink chenille bedspread I recently purchased. It's in the mail! Oh I can't wait. The photo isn't too good, but you get the idea of the design. Not sure of the condition or what I'll make with it just yet. Got any ideas for me?

Chenille Bunny Made by Selina

Selina over at Selina's Vintage makes these adorable bunnies and quilts from vintage chenille. I had to share with all you other chenille lovers out there. Are these too cute or what? Go check out her wonderful blog at http://selinasvintage.blogspot.com/ to see more.
(I have a link under "Blogs I Enjoy" on bottom right hand side of my blog)...

I've been accepted!

Warm Hugs Design's vintage lovely's have been accepted to be part of the Foothill Farmers' Market Association - the folks that run the market at The Fountains (fancy new mall across from the Galleria) in Roseville on Tuesday mornings from 8:30am till 1:00pm, the market in front of RC Willey in Rocklin on Saturdays from 8am till noon,the market in Auburn on Saturday mornings, and a few others. I'm honored to be part of this association.

My first market with them was this past Saturday morning at RC Willey. What a wonderful group of vendors, farmers, and customers, so nice! I'm hoping to get a space soon on Tuesday mornings when one opens up at The Fountains too - it is so pretty there!

Warm Hugs Design has also been invited to have a booth out at Thunder Valley Casino for their summer outdoor concert venue on Saturday evenings. Yes I'll be tired doing two venues in the same day I know... The vendor area opens at 5pm and the concert starts at 8:30pm I believe. Smokey Robinson played on Saturday - he's still got it! Go check out their web page to see all the other exciting acts coming! There are food vendors, handcrafted items, and a variety of other vendors - nice to just walk around even if you aren't going to the concert.

I post on www.facebook.com/WarmHugsDesign and on my Etsy shop at www.WarmHugsDesign.etsy.com where you can find me each week. So go check out one of those sites to find out where I'll be. Then plan to come by and say hi!

Vintage Pillowcases become...

Patricia over at Vintage Linen Treasures http://vintagelinentreasures.blogspot.com/ was so kind to send me two lovely vintage pillowcases she picked up. They are the sweetest prints and so soft. Patricia said she hoped they are ones I can create my pretty designs with. Sure can, and did. Thanks so much!

I decided to make one into a little girls dress:



and one into a ladies top (a small lady up to size 4 can most likely wear this as it is approximately 40" in diameter at widest part and less at bust area - notice the arm holes are much bigger than the little girls dress):














I'll be taking these with me to the farmer's market this coming Saturday for sale. So come see me at my booth between 8am and noon in Rocklin at RC Willey...or if they are still available, I'll have my booth again at the Thunder Valley Indian Casino's summer out door concert venue between 5pm and 9pm. I'll have my vintage lovely's at both venues!

Ladies Vintage Pillowcase Top

I was inspired recently by a sweet buyer of one of my little girls pillowcase dresses who purchased one to wear as a top! It was the print she had when growing up so it is very dear to her.

She is quite small - a size 0 she says and only 5'2". The dress fit fine as a top, however the arm holes are a bit snug she said. Hearing this I just had to adjust my dress design to fit small women with these vintage pillowcases! Why should little girls get all the fun?

Here are my first three in the new design. One top (the last photo) has a matching little girls dress listed in my Etsy shop too. How cute would that be to have a matching Mommy and daughter set? Hope you enjoy!

Pillowcase Dress Upcycled from a Vintage Pillowcase

You all know I love vintage linens - so am working on making something from them all the time! Here's my latest vintage pillowcase dress. Does it remind you all of the 70's or what?

Vintage Pillowcase Purse, Market Bag, Tote Bag

A sweet vintage pillowcase gets upcycled into a soft summer purse - or is it a market bag, or a tote bag? You decide. I've lined the bag using a second vintage pillowcase that has a darling embroidered flower design set on solid white cotton - makes for a fun surprise every time you open your bag to see the embroidery! To stay super organized there are four pockets on the inside too (bottom photo). This one of a kind bag is available in my etsy shop...

Wow what a week it's been - and in a good way!

I had such a fun week just have to share. First, I week to Lake Tahoe with a good friend and two others joined us the next day. We were in North Lake Tahoe area in Kim's parent's condo. It is so lovely there. Thanks Kim! We took walks down to the lake (which really isn't far at all), sat by the pool and played cards, and had some great visiting time. Here's a few photos of our three day trip (I'm in the middle in a blue top in one photo)...










Then on Thursday night I went to Bunco at Barb's new place. Had a great time with all the gals...always fun to get together.

Saturday rolled around and was up early to get ready to go to San Francisco to see the play Wicked with my daughter, her future mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law. My sister came up from Santa Cruz to join us. This was my second time seeing this production as I had taken my daughter for her 21st birthday three years ago to see it in Los Angeles. We were so happy to find the same actors playing Glinda and Elphaba that we saw in Southern California! Amazing performances. I recommend you catch this treasure before it closes in September. It is playing at the Orpheum Theatre.

We all arrived safely and parked together (which is an amazing feat in SF) then walked to the shopping mall housed in the old emporium building on Market. Had some lunch at the food court which was surprisingly delicious, then went to our matinee. On our walk back to our car we got an eye full as there was a naked man walking down the street with pink crocks and a pink visor on. Pretty funny. Only in San Francisco...

Now it's Sunday and I am doing a few things around the place - watered my garden as it is so hot today! Catching up on blogs, taking pictures of a new purse I made for my Etsy shop, and now plan to jump in the pool. Hope you all had a great week too!

Another Giveaway I need to tell you about...

Oh my - another giveaway I really want to win...
This time it is for a beautiful vintage pillowcase quilt made by Deb on her 'Works in Progress' blog. She is so crafty and the blog is lovely - you really must go check it out. To learn more about the giveaway that ends this Friday go to:

http://deb-robertson.blogspot.com/2010/06/today-is-day-i-giveaway-quilt.html

VS Ruffled Quilt Pattern Giveaway

I really want to win the pattern for this adorable ruffled quilt made from vintage sheets that Jen is hosting over at http://vintagesheets.blogspot.com made by Melissa. Check out the blog post for more pictures and details!

Vintage treasures to share...

I come across so many wonderful vintage treasures while out hunting for my vintage pillowcases and bed linens to create designs in my Warm Hugs Design shop on Etsy. So I decided to share them with you by opening a Vintage shop: Warm Hugs Vintage (link at bottom of page under "links"). Hope you enjoy!

Great Horned Owl Family as new neighbors!

Well, we've been pretty excited these past few months watching our Daddy and Mommy owl sitting on their nest and hunting for food. They moved into a nest in the big pine tree next to our property. The owlet was born and the fun increased. I got to see mommy feeding her owlet one day, more about that in a minute, and the nightly events leading up to baby being born has been fun to witness. Daddy flys at dusk from the tree where he usually was perched higher than the nest - I suppose to be a look out. He'd swoop around and then land on top of the telephone pole on our property and hoot to his mate. We can hear them after it becomes dark "talking" to each other but no longer can we watch them as they take flight looking for prey.

The photos are of Daddy owl in the top portion of the tree, then Mommy sitting on the nest before the owlet was born, and then baby owlet. They look like large cats because of their "horns". I also was blessed to witness mommy feeding the owlet one morning so I took a short video and uploaded it to YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdZCviMZFBI (I've added a link that you can click on at bottom of this blog under the Links tab).

The owl family are still living nearby as we see them during the day sometimes in different trees that surround our property. They still perch on top of our telephone pole after dusk and fly all around. We enjoy hearing the different hoots each family member has too. It sure is fun living in the country and getting the opportunity to see all these wild critters!

Vintage Pillowcase Tote Bags

Say NO to plastic or paper bags with this super cute reusable vintage pillowcase tote bag! Is it a market bag, a tote bag, a purse? You decide as it has so many uses! Great for the trip to the farmers market, grocery store, library, beach, or as a diaper bag. Eco friendly!

I finished making these tote bags today so wanted to share. You can find them in my Etsy shop (link on side of blog). Next on my list to design is a lined tote with pockets out of vintage linen. I made one out of a curtain that is really cute and I'm using it as a purse. Will have to take pictures to share...