Handmade laundry bags

Since my son is in cloth diapers (as was my daughter), we do a LOT of laundry. I like to keep all the parts (shells, inserts, etc) of the diapers sorted, so I wash them in those laundry bags made for delicates....but they keep wearing out, and frankly aren't really big enough for my diapers. So my amazing mother made me 4 of these bags. The fabric is the same netting used on the drawstring bags used for soccer balls (yes, she's a soccer mama!!) so they are super durable. The string is a nylon which won't easily succumb to knots.....and the rainbow of colours just makes me smile.

Thanks Mom!

Beads and bedding

Yesterday while the kidlets were napping my mom and I hit the local Sally Ann. The prices were a bit higher than my Toronto Goodwill, but I still managed to scoop some deals: 3 vintage necklaces and a funky patterned Eaton's  bed sheet which will be transformed into fabric gift bags. Paired with some decadent ribbon from Mokuba, they will be gooooorg.

Today we are headed to a thrift store run by the airport that sells all the lost and confiscated goods (firearms and drugs excluded, I'm assuming). Word is that it's $5 for as much as you can put in a shopping bag!

1, 2, 3, 4...

...tell me that you love me more...isn't that Feist song addictive?

After sewing the new pillows for my living room (blogged about here), I was left with a little bit of left over fabric...just enough to make 4 little bean bags that will fit perfectly in a toddler's hand.

Currently my husband and daughter play soccer in the living room; I'm hoping they'll take to tossing these babies instead...not that these can't do damage, but at least there is a lower risk of rebounds smashing my lamps. ...and they match the decor, to boot! (my husband accuses me of sucking the fun out of childhood with such comments, but I can't help it!)

PS: I used beautiful dried white navy beans inside...they look like little perfect little pearls and are just the right size to make a delicate feeling bean bag....not dense or heavy. ...am I seriously writing about bean bags in such detail? Ohhh mat leave, what have you done to my brain?

In praise of pillows

I have always lusted over the exquisite pillows that Sarah Richardson uses in her designs. So when we built a window bench in my daughter's 'big girl' room, I decided to make some of my own. I am not an expert sewer by any means, but I do have a sewing machine (a very inexpensive Shark brand machine that my Mom bought be at Canadian Tire) and once and a while the spirit moves me to make stuff.

I headed to Designer Fabrics on Queen West to purchase some fabric, pom pom trim, piping, and ribbon. The extra sentimental part of these pillows is the vintage buttons that came from my Grandmother's sewing kit, as my daughter has Grandma's middle name as her first name.