Recess! {In Which We Honor the Playful}

Posted on April 12, 2012 by christygill

This past Fall, I found myself once again combing etsy for DIY gift-giving inspiration. My eldest niece is both a chemist and artist in her spare time and I discovered a wonderful way to combine her interests. This witty shop sells labels for crayons, pencils and markers that tell you the chemical formula to make each color. Brilliant, right? My inner science geek resurfaced for the first time since high school.

After I got my set of 50 colored pencil labels, I stitched a crayon roll-up in which to carry them and got a few of my favorite Doodle Books. Here’s to a clever and creative gift!

I was on a roll (teehee) and made a few extra of these handy traveling cases. There are a few in the shop now, with more on their way!

This next new item I could say was inspired by either of my nieces, but in reality, it’s something I would have loved to keep had there been enough fabric to make a larger size. I found this adorable blue dot fabric in the holiday section of my local fabric store, and while it evokes thoughts of snow days, it’s to charming to keep stored away only for winter. Since I had a limited amount of fabric leftover from my holiday gifts (and the crayon roll you see above), I decided to make these into child-sized placemats perfect for a tea party. There are matching coasters, which can be for grownups (I want to keep a set!) or used to accompany the placemats if you or your kiddo prefer.

Finally, each of the gals (my nieces) I so frequently mention had birthdays this past month. For the elder, I felt a full-sized apron would do her well during her frequent chemistry experiments. There is no reason we all must wear white lab coats, after all. This was my first attempt at an apron this size without a pattern and I am quite pleased with it. Sure, it could be a tad shorter, but as far as kid things go, I figure things that are bigger just get to be kept for longer, right? Note, the younger niece is actually modeling the apron that is for her elder cousin. Normally very camera-shy, the Little Miss wouldn’t hold still, hence the action shots. Yes, her cousin’s name is embroidered below, and my brother promises to get a photo of the actual apron owner experimenting away for my own benefit and smiles.

Little Miss (above) requested a purse this year. I made her one a year ago of which she was quite fond, but this time wanted to look for something that could be easily transported. The DIY goddesses were working in my favor, as the very next day I spotted this tutorial on Pinterest. It was so cute and sized so well for a wee one, that I couldn’t resist making two. I am not sure what a 7-year-old carries in her purse, but I gather the size will be sufficient for the majority of her appointments.

Of course, each of these voracious readers was also given a book or two for her birthday. What kind of Aunt would I be if not? And just because I don’t have a photo of the tad older Little Miss in her apron, I do have one from her birthday week. She’s quite a rock star, no?

Finally, I have not forgotten my most awesome nephew. However, he’s hit an age (middle school-yikes!) where homemade gifts that interest him are few and far between. That said, I’m determined. So if anyone knows of any cool Playstation/Steeler/aloof preteen themed DIYs, please send them my way!

Your Table is Naked! {In Which We Update the Shoppe}

Posted on February 29, 2012 by christygill

As I’ve stated, despite my absence, I have been sewing for you all and here’s the evidence. I bought some wonderful fabrics in the fall which were *finally* made into charming tea wallets and linens for you. While I have adored the ribbon-lined placemats in the shoppe (examples here and here), I thought I’d make a few casual sets for every day use (and to keep more money in your pocket books.).

I was drawn to the fabric in these first two sets of placemats as the dark hues do not immediately offend an overly masculine eye, yet the swirls and twists of the branches keep the tone natural and warm. The placemat sets are pairs of a sort, with the main and contrast fabrics swapped in each. Now those of you with larger families or hosting tendencies can put them all together for an 8-piece set. You were waiting for that, right?

But wait, you want napkins as well? Lucky for you, I have two coordinating sets: one in cocktail size and one for the dinner table. Plus, either size packs well into your lunch for an environmentally friendly wipe!

I have more, my dears, include some country chic tea wallets and new items for your young’uns. Visit me in a few days for more on each. Or, if you just can’t wait, a few are already in the shoppe.

A New Year {In Which We Recap Our Months of Silence}

Posted on February 24, 2012 by christygill

Hello my dear friends!

At long last, how have you been? I am quite well, thank you. As you may have noticed, fall (and winter, for that matter) got away from me. The thing is I *was* sewing and crafting, I just failed to tell you all about it. For that, I am sorry and I will venture to make up for it here.

To be brief, I was spending much of my time in the fall prepping for Christmas. Not only did I try to hand make as many gifts for which I had time, but I also was in a sewing and embroidery frenzy to prepare for my first ever vendor fair. I’ve included a few pictures of my little table set up with some of the holiday goodies I made.

The fair was generally a success and a wonderful networking and learning opportunity. Vendors from Northern Virginia came to sell their goods and to support local businesses. I ended up being the only purely craft table in the bunch and found it a great occasion to introduce new people to the world of Etsy, let alone my shoppe. While I can’t say I sold a great deal, I am happy to say I got over my jitters of first time vendor-ing and am eager to participate in another community event.

Fall also was a busy season of weddings both for me and my lovely customers. As you’ve seen before, I love to embroider antique handkerchiefs for brides and their grooms. Some like to carry a hanky with their bouquets or as a pocket square, while others may just tuck it away in as a keepsake to share with their children one day. When I embroider a one for a friend, I have no intention for her to use it in a specific manner, but only hope it will act a personal token to show my elation at her happiness. I’ve had the pleasure of embroidering handkerchiefs for very dear friends and lovely customers. Some have been for brides and grooms, some for honored attendants, and some to note the anniversary of the day that love was first pronounced. I’ve included a few of my favorites for you. If you know someone getting married, approaching a significant milestone, or if you’d just like to give your father personalized handkerchiefs because he’s awesome (that’s what I did), I would love to work with you. Feel free to contact me or read more about custom handkerchief orders at my etsy site.

Welcome Back {In which we update, at long last}

Posted on September 15, 2011 by christygill

I’ve been silent for quite some time, and I apologize to the few of you concerned with the well-being of my blog. I do so appreciate your reading and commenting and sharing with kindred spirits! Now, I’ve said it before, but I have multiple blogs on the docket, so you can expect updates at a steady speed.

To start, (or to finish, in a way), I hope the last weeks of summer found you relaxing, enjoying a lovely novel and time with friends and family. I was happy to partake in the above with Teddy R. and DB3, The Help by Kathryn Stockett and March by Geraldine Brooks, and a trip to California for the wedding of two dear friends. Shout out to my sister for providing me with the fantastic reading material!

Relaxing for me generally includes crafting on the couch, with perhaps a bit of Buffy or the BBC (Thank you, Lauren C., for introducing me to Downton Abbey!) to keep me company. I recently went through a Mod Podge, paper crafting mania and came up with new sets of ceramic coasters.

Cute, eh? There are more in the shoppe, but for those of you feeling crafty, you can find a fantastic tutorial at Style Me Pretty. They really are quite simple and just require a bit of patience during the cutting and sealant stage.

I can hear my Dad thinking, wait, that’s *all* she did this summer? Don’t worry, I had custom orders (hankies, mostly), to keep me stitching away and gifts for some lovely brides. Also, at long last, I did a bit of baking again. Check out the yummy goodies that will be featured in an upcoming post:

I also had the chance to restock in wonderful autumn fabrics, which will be making their way into the shop in the coming weeks. And let’s not forget that Halloween will be kicking off my favorite holiday season very soon! Last year, David and I dressed as George Michael Bluth and Maebe Funke from Arrested Development. I think it’ll be hard to top that one this year. Any suggestions?

And because everyone loves a beautiful bride. xxxo

My Baby Love {Baby Bibs}

Posted on July 21, 2011 by christygill

Hello my friends! Is it hot enough for you yet? Teddy and I have been doing our best to stay cool, which generally means keeping all of the blinds closes and hiding indoors. It is not the most fun way to spend a day, but we do enjoy our popsicles!

In the meantime, I’ve worked on a few custom orders and new baby bibs to get in the shop. With a friend due any moment and another one just announcing her pregnancy, I am ready for these kiddos!

Each bib has an embroidered embellishment to make them more special for your little one! They also close with a pearl snap so tiny hands don’t pull them off mid-meal.

I love that this one can be used for your cowboy or cowgirl. It would go great for a child who loves Toy Story as much as me! Like Buzz better? So does my niece, and if she still needed bibs, I’d send her this one.

Though we’ll all love my friend’s baby due next year no matter what, I so hope she has a girl so I can stitch her one of these. For as long as I’ve known her, she’s gone banana for monkeys (yes, I just wrote that). Though, if it’s a boy, I’ve got plenty of options as well!

As for those custom orders: a vender apron for Hearts On My Sleeve – If you are in the DC area, Cate frequents the Silver Spring crafts fair, look out for her booth! — And two vintage hankies embroidered for a dear customer’s in-laws. I love that they have a special phrase that has lasted all these years.

Now I’m off to the Isle of Palms for Ms. J’s bachelorette! It’ll only be 100 degrees, rather than the 115 we’ve got in D.C.

High Tea {Tea Wallets Galore!}

Posted on June 29, 2011 by christygill

Well folks, it seems y’all like the tea wallets. I’m just so pleased with this news! They’ve made great gift card holders, business card keepsakes and of course, tea protectors already. And I thought they were just so great, I made a plenty more.

hiding a gift card?

Check out all of the fun florals and colors! I haven’t been able to decide which is my favorite. Can you? Oh-and there is at least one that can act as a more masculine card holder if you know of some hesitant male tea lovers. There are many more in the shoppe, but you’ll have to check for yourself!

This past weekend, I also had the great pleasure of doing a reading at my dear friend, Kate’s, wedding to her charming Adam. Below are the hankies I embroidered for them as a little extra offering on their special day. You can order you own personalized handkerchiefs (vintage and new) by convo-ing me on etsy!

And for the groom, I veered away from the lace . . .

xox!

When do we tea off? {Tea Wallets at the Open}

Posted on June 22, 2011 by christygill

A long overdue update!

I am so glad to have just added tea wallets to the shoppe. These little accessories are perfect for those like me who drink tea incessantly and are often hoping for more options than the restaurants have to offer. Each wallet has four pockets that can hold your tea bags, sweetener, or even credit and business cards. I can also attest they are great gift card holders! ;-)

Don’t worry guys, I’ll have some more gender neutral designs up there soon, and maybe one in this fabric?

Let’s not forget the *intentional* typo in the title of this post (so you can relax now, Dad). Dad and one of my big bros were in town this past weekend to go to their favorite sporting event, The U.S. {Golf} Open. And in case you missed it, an adorable Irish lad won and this fantastic *UCLA* freshman was the top amateur! Way to represent, my peeps!

Table Top Art {Coaster Sets}

Posted on May 24, 2011 by christygill

Hello friends! It has been far too long. I’d like to blame my absence on something fabulous, like a trip to Greece, but in reality, I’ve been working on some custom orders, and working with the kiddos at my other job (teaching).

I’m back now, and with some brand new products! I first made coasters like these last Mother’s Day and hadn’t gotten out the Mod Podge since. When getting this site running, my mom reminded me of the coasters I’d sent her and I’ve finally made more! So far, there are three sets up on the etsy site, with more to be added soon. With these first, I’ve tried to hit various personalities to bring us into summer!

As a nearly native Californian, this surf themed card stock caught my eye. And if you have moved from the beach like me, the coasters can help bring it back! With the unofficial start to summer less than a week away, they make a perfect gift for your friends with summer birthdays.

This groovy set reminds me of the floral dresses I’ve seen on my mom in pictures from yesteryear (or our similar suitcases). The flowers bring a bit of sunshine to your living room all year.

This final set reminds me of my time negotiating my way through the EuroRail back in 2003. Oh, how I love to travel by train! With old ticket stubs making up the card stock, these coasters are great for fellow travel lovers.

Do y’all have summer travel plans? I’ll be hitting up the beach in South Carolina (a first for me!) and visiting family in Boston and California, with maybe a weekend trip to NYC thrown in.

I also added a new hanky to the shop, but you’ll have to go there to see it. ^ ^

Lovely Lace {Vintage Hankies}

Posted on May 3, 2011 by christygill

In between a few Mother’s Day and bridal orders, I stitched up a few more vintage handkerchiefs last week. About five years ago, I was lucky to receive most of my Grandma Kirchner’s (Cassie) old handkerchiefs from my mom. I adore each one’s unique pattern and story. I think my favorite of that collection is the one my dad got her on a TDY trip to Paris years ago. It is made up like a little box chart with each restaurant of the Champs D’Elysees represented by a drawing and its name. I often wonder if they are still there and vow on my next trip to Paris, whenever that may be, I will hunt them down. Since I’ve received my Grandmother’s collection, I’ve added more hankies from various antique shops and even a few friends have made me. One can never go wrong with a hanky in his or her pocket.

First, I made this dainty floral design for this lovely antique lace hanky. French knots are by far my favorite embroidery stitch, and I did my best to blend two colors in the two outer flowers to create colorful centers (or stigmas, if you’re picky). Really, I am loving how this one turned out.

Then I was able to use of my favorite Sublime Stitching patterns, Darling Dachshunds for this cute green 1950s hanky. Jenny Hart is one of my very favorite ladies who stitch and has inspired so many of my projects. It is so fortunate she allows some of us to license her patterns! Now if only she’ll make a Pomeranian set so Theodore Roosevelt (our dog) can be represented. Or maybe I’ll work on one myself??

After much machine sewing, it was comforting to get out the needle and floss for a little hand work. I always feel very accomplished after finishing hand embroidery. I’m sure we all have projects that give us this feeling, no?

A Gift for Mom {Lavender Placemats and Napkins}

Posted on April 26, 2011 by christygill

Did everyone enjoy Passover and Easter (and Spring Break, as it were)? I had a wonderful time celebrating both holidays with family and friends. And I’m still savoring the goodies! Inspired by the blossoms in our courtyard, I also took the extra time from the *day job* to make a new set of table accessories.

While late for the prior holidays, they are just in time for Mom’s Day and are now in the shoppe. I have to admit, I just adore these colors and not-so-secretly wanted to keep the goodies for myself. But I’ve relented and realized they’d be much better suited to all of you!

The placemats are made with designer Fabri-Quilt cotton and have a flannel interior to add bit of thickness and softness to the table. Each is also lined with a violet ribbon to bring out more of the purple hues.

With the remaining fabric, I made matching napkins with the floral print on one side and the lavender on the other. What a great set!

xox

Cassie Quinlan

Hand Crafted Works of Whimsy

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