October Is The Best Time Of Year!

Happy FALL! The leaves have changed to some beautiful colors and the air is crisp and cool {I would say a little too cool, but I won't complain! In a few months it will most likely be -30 and my brisk -5 mornings will be a dream!}. The days are also flying by, and it seems there just is not enough hours in a day! I have been, temporarily, working at a local farm dealership owned by my cousins for the last 6 weeks {this is their busy season, so extra hands are welcomed and needed!) This is the first time I have worked nearly full time since starting Bluebirds + Lemondrops Designs, and it makes me thankful for all the hours I normally have at home to design and sew! 

So, what have I managed to whip up in my 'spare time'? Well, first of all, Christmas threads are in and I know September was kind of late to just be starting Christmas designs, but it's so hard to jump into the Holiday mindset in July! I am so excited about the Christmas fabrics I have for 2015 and I'll let you have a little sneak peek at what's coming...

I also finally have some of the long coveted Sew Caroline AGF Happy Home line!! Check out these beauties!

Now, what I'm really excited about are these zippered pouches I've been stitching up! I've been a huge fan of these pouches for ages {literally years!} and almost always have one floating around in my purse! For those of you that aren't sure how I could possibly be so enthused about a little zippered pouch, let me give you 10 awesome uses for this bag :) 

1. They hold all that chaos in my purse! I don't know about you, but I usually have lip balm, Advil, travel sized perfume or mist, face wipes, antibacterial solution, sunglasses or contacts, essential oils, gum, mints, feminine products...the list goes on and on! I love having all my cosmetic-like items in the pouch instead of floating through my purse! 

2. Perfect to hold snacks for the little ones, pacifiers, teething toys, and all the paraphernalia that comes with babies and toddlers. 

3. Travel sized sewing kit. 

4. DIY First Aid Kit. 

5. Holds your smartphone and all the extras {charger, car charger, ear buds, ect.}

6. Make up bag! Whether traveling or storing at home.  

7. Ideal for holding Passport, ID, Cash, Wallet and Travel Documents. 

8. Snack bag - because not just the kids need snacks on the go! 

9. A great way to keep track of business cards, day planners and organizers. 

10. And for all you mama's out there: this makes an awesome diaper/wipe holder! 

I love finding any excuse to combine pretty and practical - so here is one of the testers I've stitched up lately! 

And now for the big news in our home... We adopted a dog!! I finally have stay-at-home sewing company!! We adopted Cooper from our local SPCA shelter, and completely fell in love with him! Cooper is a five year old Beagle Hound Cross and after years of saying I would NEVER have an indoor pet {other than our fish Winston, of course!}, I finally caved! He is excellent company for me when My Guy is working away in the North for weeks and we adopted him when Phil was home for a few weeks so that Cooper and Phil had lots of time to get to know each other. Check out our first week at home with Cooper below: 

                                                 LOOK AT THAT FACE!! He is seriously the sweetest! 

                                   And there's your cute dog fix for at least a few hours :) 

Keep Calm and Find Your Creativity

   I have just been soaking up summer the last few weeks! It's been so incredible having my husband home for the last 10 days, and we have had non-stop family gatherings, lake trips and a few rainy days that were perfect for hosting housefuls of guests :) As wonderful, fun and relaxing as August has been, there hasn't been a whole lot of productivity! {I mean, honestly, who feels like being anywhere other then the lake when it's almost 90 degrees and humid?!}. However, I can't meet deadlines and keep orders shipping on time when we are living in the sunshine, and recently a friend and I were discussing the various ways we stay focused, committed and creative, even when we aren't always 'feeling it' :)

   Needing some inspiration to tackle that DIY project or rev up your handmade business this Summer? Here are some of my tips for staying on top of everything when it's hard to maintain any sort of schedule:

-"Early to bed, early to rise, makes man healthy, wealthy and wise". Yes, this is incredibly difficult! When Philip is home, we have no reason to go to bed before 1:00am and can sleep in as late as we need, it seems pointless to stay structured, but if I am going to have a productive day, whether sewing or performing other tasks, I need to get a solid night of sleep and start the day early!

-Organization: I cannot express how important this one is for me! Not everyone thrives on or needs organization to express creativity, but I do! This does seem odd, since anytime I am working, I destroy any semblance of organization :) However, I find the days I am the most productive sewing, I have the house tidy and generally organized, some easy to grab meals in the fridge and can begin my day without any distracting messes.  

-Comfort: I perform my best when I have a comfortable, practical, and lets be honest, somewhat cute outfit on, my hair done and not just raked back into a messy knot {or worse, not combed since the previous day! Yikes! You know you work from home when...} and I also love starting the day with coffee or tea, and a one of my favorite playlists! 

-Inspiration: Surround yourself with what inspires you! Does an early morning walk, breathing in the fresh air and taking in your surroundings help you kick start your day? Perhaps an inspiration board helps you visualize your goals? Maybe you are like me and need a to do list with an action plan! I also know networking with likeminded individuals who inspire and challenge you can be a huge asset! I am still working on this one as I tend to shy away from big groups and 'putting it out there', but I am starting to meet some amazing handmade artists and find I feel so motivated and excited to tackle new challenges after meeting up with them.

-Just Do It: Nike might say it best :) Sometimes I can think, think and THINK about all I have to do, plan, make lists and what it always comes down to is just doing it! Sometimes, life doesn't cooperate, the house isn't organized, I don't feel rested and put together, but I still have to make stuff happen! Sometimes I just have to force myself to sit down and get to work, and before I know it, I'm on a roll! 

-Know when to quit: Ah! No one wants to use that word...quit. But I don't mean permanently :) One day I was busy working at the sewing machine and nothing {and I do mean nothing} seemed to be coming together! My husband walked in to find me yelling at my sewing project {please tell me I'm not the only one that does this?} and frustrated beyond measure! He kindly reminded me that what I was frustrated with probably wasn't really so difficult, but that I needed a break. I stopped what I was doing and tried not to think about it until the next day, and amazingly, a fresh new day brought a fresh new outlook on everything! It really does pay to take a break, so that we are refreshed and ready to take on the world! 

   So, whether you are growing a handmade business, or are looking to tackle some fun, Pinteresting projects this Summer, hopefully a few of these ideas will help you! I would LOVE to hear some of your ideas for finding inspiration and keeping the creative juices flowing! Leave comments below or on the Facebook page :) 

"Create what sets your heart on fire and it will illuminate your path"

   

Crazy Town: Our Ever Changing Wonderful Life

Hello Lovlies!

   I have been away from the blog and updating pretty much everything lately, so it's time for some major catch-up! So many big changes happening in our little home! My husband began a new job mid-July, very unexpectedly, after receiving an exciting job offer! He has worked for an incredible local Aviation company for the last 10 years, and I think he expected to stay there for the rest of his life, however, he received a great opportunity to fly to the far North and work two weeks at a time on bigger aircraft, charters and move into management {yay Hubby!}.

This is Philip's sweet ride up to work and back every two weeks, as well as one of the many aircraft he inspects and services.

   Of course, this involved a lot of major changes for us, such as leaving his much loved local job along with the incredible people there, and probably the biggest change, living away from home every other two weeks. The exciting part? Great new career opportunities, exciting travel and getting to spend every other two weeks home with me :) So, the last 6 weeks have been a frenzy of new job meetings, organizing our life to arrange for Phil to live half the year 600 miles away and cramming in as many fun outings together as possible {lake time, air shows, weekend getaways and family BBQ's to name a few}.

  We are now 13 days into his first 15 days away, and I am finally getting caught up on sewing, emails, and yes, blogging! I knew it would be an adjustment having my Sweetheart gone so much when I am used to having him home so often, but I am so thankful for both our amazing families! Everyone has gone out of their way to check on me, take pity and have me over for meals, family time and offer endless Summer fun! I am truly blessed to have our amazing families live around me!

Beautiful Fond Du Lac River where Philip works!

  So, now that we are all caught up on the crazy that's been happening, guess what fabulous designs I have whipped up?! Have I confessed yet to my deep adoration for Art Gallery Fabric? I don't think I have ever saw an AGF design that I haven't fallen completely head over heels in love with! These Gleeful fabrics by Sew Caroline are no exception!

Best of all, this cheery apron was a custom order for one of my sweet sister-in-laws, so it was stitched with just a little extra love :) 

Vintage Finds + New Fabric

So, I'm back in full swing, sewing up a storm lately, and I still can't manage to keep up :) Such a busy week, but first, time to share my new fabric from my favorite quilting shop!!

Color Therapy by Vanessa Christenson

Birch Farm by Joel Dewberry 

So excited to get stitching up these new designs, but first, I need to finish all those custom orders and get them shipped :) And now for my wonderful garage sale find from last weekend...

 I have been on the hunt for a gorgeous vintage hard shell suitcase, that I can re-model into a large sewing kit/decorative piece for my shows! Practical and pretty! So, I finally found  exactly what I was looking for! Isn't this piece gorgeous?

Originally I was told it came from the early 1900's {how cool would that have been?!}, but we finally did find out that it is actually from 1940 {still pretty neat!} and it is in near perfect condition! So, this is how the case came, and I will have to post photos in the next few weeks, showcasing my suitcase remodel :)

I want to put some pockets on the inside part of the lid, as well as make some fabric dividers for organization! Can you tell I am just a little excited?! I can't wait to show you what I turn this fabulous case into! Oh, and it comes with original keys to the locks...how amazing is that?

So, last Friday, I decided it's pretty pathetic that I make all these aprons for people, and I don't own one of my own unique creations! I had bought some linen canvas earlier in the week with intentions to make an apron for myself, so Friday was the perfect day to stitch it up! Besides my little handmade business, I also cater all summer for the company my husband works for and small events throughout the year, which is the perfect place to wear my handmade designs! So, here is the apron I made, which I then posted on my Facebook business page and ended up selling :) So, I still need an apron for myself!

I did find it a little funny that I chose colors that although are very beautiful, aren't typically my style, so I think this apron was meant for someone else from the start :) However, it was so fun to design and stitch up, and I love the ruffled scoop pocket on the skirt!!

And...I FINALLY attempted my first throw pillow!! I actually used some leftover fabric from the apron I made {I am really loving that fabric!} I was quite happy with how it turned out and I can't wait to tackle a few more styles!

I really love the twisted flower on the corner, and I think a row of those running diagonally across a throw pillow would be gorgeous! So many ideas to try!  

Happy Thursday Everyone! 

Summer Livin'

Can I just say that I LOVE June?! To be honest, there isn't one month that I dislike, but June has to be one of my favorites! My husband is an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer and our busy season of Aerial Crop Spraying begins late June {typically} and sometimes runs until August-September, so June is the month we pack full of the summer fun {and laziness} that we typically don't get the rest of the summer. June and September are the two months we cram all of summer into, and for those reasons, I adore June! Also, the weather is usually delightful here in June and the lakes are made for living at! Just a few reasons I am silly about summer...

Now, there is this urban legend that sewing and crafting happens only in the winter {especially in our area of the country, where winter lasts forever and if the cold doesn't get ya, you will get snowed in}, but since sewing is a way of life, my machine plans to stay busy all summer long {it will just be working double time so that I can have those lake days as well}. So, let's take a look at what's been on my worktable:

So, most of the time I just wing it when sewing {I'm instilling confidence, I can tell:}, and usually I'm VERY comfortable with that, however, I was commissioned to sew an apron that is really more of a dress {I am not even joking}, so I felt the need for a pattern! You know the whole "Measure twice, cut once" saying, well in this case it was "Measure 5x, draw 3 patterns and cut once"! So, I sketched my own pattern, and let me warn you, I CANNOT draw! I have tried, I have really, really tried, but I bomb even at Pictionary - I can hardly draw a straight line to save my life! So, no, I will never be a pattern designer, but thankfully I can make it work for my own personal use :)

I am SO excited about these new labels! I designed the graphic online and found a super affordable shop in France to print them up for me! Now every item sold will have this unique {and can I say, adorable?} fabric label attached! This is the crazy dress-like apron I have been working on, more pics to come soon! 

Oh, and just for a cuteness factor before I go, check out this adorable baby MINIATURE calf that I got to play with, cuddle and feed the other night! Just when I think all the farm girl in me has disappeared, I spend a day at the farm, get to tromp around in the pastures and corrals, and I feel like I'm back home again. A move to the country might be up for discussion sometime in the next few years :) 

Ok, that's enough cuteness to melt anyone! Happy Thursday everyone! Enjoy this gorgeous June!

Charity

May Brings The Fun

I have been pretty quiet on the blog lately! It feels like summer has arrived and we've been on the road constantly!  We were so happy to be headed to the lake last weekend, and despite the cooler temperatures, as usual, we had an amazing time! My husband and I spent a few days with my parents and then the rest of the family drove up to spend a day with us all. We have our favorite spot that we always camp at and I am always amazed at how quickly I start to feel relaxed and carefree once we head to the lake. Some quality family time is always good for relaxing as well!

                                 

     

May Long Weekend usually marks the first weekend at the lake for the summer season, unless the weather is terrible. Thankfully we had several enjoyable days there, and we are already planning the next weekend we head up there {and looking forward to a few weeks there later in the Summer}.

Last week was a full week with the family! My mom and I enjoyed a wonderful lunch together at one of our favorite restaurants, and it's rare to get a quiet one-on-one chat together!  I spent a day at the farm catching up with my sister and helping my mom plan our huge family gathering we have every summer and my husband and I spent Friday night trucking with my brother as he hauled Anhydrous to the local farmers putting in their crops!

So, after all that excitement and much needed family time... it's back to work today! 

First, I wanted to share a project I wrapped up right before we left for the lake! I made two matching half aprons from vintage 70's fabric and I like to call these aprons Keepsake Aprons. The fabric came from my customers Grandmother who had passed away and they wanted to have this memorable fabric made into aprons to remember her.

Keepsake Aprons are so special to me, as we lost a very special lady in our family two years ago and after she passed away, I received some of her fabric {she was an avid quilter} and we started making aprons out of her fabric to remember her by. So I am always incredibly touched when I get to do a keepsake item for my customers - and the fabric always seems to have a special story that comes with it!

My projects for this week include a retro 60's style apron {I can not wait to finish it and get it up on the blog!}, a gorgeous Japanese-style apron and I am also working on a keepsake apron for my mom {because she's just so special that she deserves one}! Also on the worktable are a few new items I'm playing around with and hope to have up in the shop soon :)

So, hopefully I can make myself stay home and get some sewing done, and when I do get my orders done, the weather is so gorgeous, I plan to sneak off to the lake later this week !! Enjoy that sunshine! 

A Weekend Full of Learning + Fun

Happy Monday, Ya'll! I am feeling so good about this upcoming week! As I mentioned before, I have been under the weather for several weeks, as well as having some back problems, but I have a good feeling about this week and things are looking up :)

First of all, I had an amazing weekend! It was a bit of a struggle with my back, but I made it to the Artisan Entrepreneur Workshop, and the afternoon was jam-packed with loads of great information! It was a good balance of some topics I already felt comfortable with, and some great new ideas to further Bluebirds + Lemondrops Designs!

After the workshop I  met up with a couple friends and went out for a great supper and then headed to Prairie Chicks for their Magazine Release Gala! It was such a fabulous night - great food and drinks, amazing sales, a few fun games, and meeting up with a great group of women that I have gotten to know over the last year! I am so grateful for a group of women that share my passion for handmade designs and fabric!! I came away with some fabric and a few quilted goodies, so it was a successful night :)

                             I seriously can not get enough of these gorgeous colors and designs!!

Sunday was a wonderful day spent with my amazing family {all 27 of them - and we were missing a few!}. Mother's Day is always a big deal for our family, and we enjoyed a nice lunch out together and then a beautiful dessert buffet at my sisters home {she is amazing!}. And finally, Sunday evening brought some much needed down time with My Man :) I think he deserves a little shout out! He is the most supportive and encouraging husband, he pushes me to succeed and try again when I fail. He genuinely gets excited when I talk about my little handmade business and he enjoys helping me plan and dream - what more could I possibly want or ask for! 

So, this week, I am finishing some custom orders I have been working on, shopping fabric for the next big set of custom orders, and I am excitedly awaiting the arrival of a huge fabric order for the Evergreen Artisan Market in November! I have never done a show this big or that brings in this many people, so I have made a plan so I get to enjoy my summer and also get my stock built back up again :) Time for me to get busy!! 

Mother's Day Tribute

What a crazy, but wonderful week! I have been busy in the studio getting the last of the Mother's Day orders finished, packaged up real pretty and delivered! Not only have I been busy with Mother's Day orders, but I have been working on a few bridal shower orders as well, which has been loads of fun:)

Since we are heading into Mother's Day this weekend, I thought I would make a little tribute to the woman who has helped form and mold me into the person I am today.

My mom has three daughters (including me) and one son. She has lived a sacrificial life, always putting the needs of her children and husband before her own, and in the more recent years, the needs of her parents before her own. She is not a perfect person. I have watched her make mistakes and question her ability to be the mother we needed, but she is quick to right her wrongs, she is humble and hard working, and a true Christian mother who always points her children to Christ and lets the love of Jesus shine through her. And she is the perfect mother for us! I have so many fun memories and heartwarming stories I could share, but the best thing I can tell you about my mom is that she raised each one of her children to love The Lord Jesus, she taught us right from wrong, and dedicated her life to raising us to be the best versions of ourselves! She also instilled a love of learning, a love for the arts and the confidence that made us realize we can accomplish whatever we put our minds to. As each year passes, I realize what a gift and blessing my mom is in my life, and I am thankful for who is she is and for the family she and my dad have created. I believe Abraham Lincoln said it best when he stated, "All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my mother".

So, as Mother's Day quickly approaches, I want to celebrate my mother, and celebrate my family, as I would truly have and be nothing without them! If you have someone in your life, whether it's your biological mother, a motherly figure or just a special woman in your life who has influenced and help shape your life, let them know and celebrate them this Sunday and everyday!!

So having shared a little of what's been on my heart this week, now I'd love to share what has been on my work table :)

        The fine art of embroidery is rather new to me, so I enlisted the help of my talented cousin! We spent the afternoon catching up, working on needlepoint, and yes, a lot of giggling! I so enjoyed doing the embroidery on these sweet mother/daughter aprons!

And the topping on this beautiful week, is the amazing weekend ahead! I am so excited to be attending an Artisan Entrepreneur Workshop this Saturday, and I am looking forward to meeting up with other handmade business owners, learning how we can better brand and promote our businesses and generally get more inspired to make handmade designs happen!! After the workshop, I am meeting up with a few friends and heading to one of my favorite local quilt stores for their amazing Magazine Release Gala!! I think this Gala is going to be such a fun ladies night out, and I hear the swag bags they are handing out are going to be ridiculously amazing! And of course, Sunday is going to be a family filled day, and I could not be happier about that!

Enjoy some time with your families this weekend, and remember to give thanks for your mother this weekend, after all, she is the one who gave you life! Happy Early Weekend, Ya'll!

Hello May

Well May has arrived and I have all sorts of happy going on in my life!! 

I adore May! The buds are on the trees, my yard is green, it's time for BBQ, family cookouts, late night fires, star gazing, evening bike rides and never eating inside again until September :) The list could go on and on! Also, May has already brought some excitement to our lives!

I have a new niece that arrived this morning, and she is a doll! As gorgeous as can be, and I can not wait for those precious newborn snuggles!! I also am booked with orders into June, and that is always exciting and good news for me!

However, the most exciting business news that May has brought me is being accepted by the Prince Albert Council of the Arts into the Evergreen Artisan Market this fall at the E.A. Rawlinson Center!! The market runs Friday, November 13th, 4pm-9pm and Saturday, November 14th, 10am-5pm. There will be fabulous artisans featured from all across Saskatchewan, a great selection of live music, and a delightful food Bistro! I am just so honored and excited to be a part of this event, and I encourage you all to mark it on your calendars! I will be working hard from now until then to create some of my best and most creative designs!!


Also, a fabulous event I am fully supporting and having a small part in is Bloom's NICU Gala! The Gala is May 8th, and tickets are available at http://www.obrianseventcentre.ca/ or if you can't attend, donations can be made at http://www.nicuannualfundraiser.com/. This fundraiser is near and dear to my heart and I can't think of a more worthy cause to support!

This week my projects include some hand embroidery on some sweet mother/daughter aprons, finishing all the Mother's Day orders, shipping and delivering them, and basically locking myself in the studio for the week! Hopefully I'll have some fun new designs to share in a few days :)

Happy Saturday!

Trade Shows + Fundraisers

Wow, what a week! Not only have we been under the weather for a few weeks, but I had a Trade Show on Saturday that I really wasn't feeling! However, I worked my tail off all last week, and come Saturday, I didn't feel too horrible. Also, I have this amazing husband who helped me haul everything and set up for the show, so I was able to take it pretty easy and enjoy my day {yes, he's pretty much owning this husband thing}! The turnout at the show was amazing and I just love meeting and connecting with new handmade business lovers! So grateful for such a supportive town that shops local and supports local businesses! It was a fantastic day, meeting new people, connecting with some I haven't seen in awhile and of course catching up with friends that always stop by to offer support {love ya guys!}.

Not only did the show go wonderfully, but we also made it to 200 likes on the Bluebirds + Lemondrops Designs Facebook page! YAY! Ya'll know what that means, right? Giveaway time!! Yes, I hosted my first online giveaway! Hopefully we will have another one down the road when the page has grown a bit more :) Everyone of those likes and follows I get on Instagram and Facebook just help grow my business, so there really would be little or no business without all of you! Thank you!

One of the new designs featured at the show this past weekend. I find most of my enjoyment {and sometimes frustration} comes from the fine detail in designs. This apron was so much fun to design and put together.

I am so pleased that the new reversible receiving blankets {Little Lovlies} I am now offering have went over so well! Hopefully this week I will have more up in my Etsy shop! I am hoping to expand the Little Lovlies line with more products and items for the Littles in your life! I will share more details when I can!

Also, I just want to mention a wonderful, heartwarming fundraiser that I am so happy to have a small part in this year: Bloom's Annual NICU Fundraiser in support of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Royal University Hospital. NICU at RUH has saved so many little lives, it's often something we don't think about until we are in need of their services and equipment, but if a little one has to fight for their life, they deserve the best medical equipment and attention possible. I have family that has used the equipment and services of the medical teams at RUH's NICU and I want to do all I can to support this amazing fundraiser! Tickets to this event can be found at http://www.obrianseventcentre.ca/ or if you aren't attending this amazing event, you can donate at http://www.nicuannualfundraiser.com/.  I know they appreciate all the support!


And I just can't resist sharing this apron - I'm so in love with the vintage feel to it and for some reason teal and aqua have been the colors I am drawn to lately!

                                   Happy Thursday, ya'll and here's to a fabulous weekend ahead!

April Brings Exciting Changes

So many fun spring designs and fabrics are on my worktable this week! I love that even though our Spring weather has been erratic at best, everyone is over winter, and the Spring custom orders have been pouring in!

 So, this month I have been busy working on custom orders and home renovations - never a great combination! Our home has been covered in drywall dust (the bane of my existence !), but thankfully we have made great headway with the renovations! We completely dismantled and updated one of our guest rooms, and finished knocking out a wall between the kitchen and living room! Oh happy day! After 1.5 years in this house, we are finally starting to see some serious changes!

  In the mean time, I have managed to sneak a few projects in this week! I just love these beautiful fabrics I ordered from Raspberry Creek Fabrics (check out her Etsy shop - stunning selection)! The fabrics I used are Priory Square by Katy Jones for Art Gallery (and anyone who knows me, knows that I have major weak spot for all Art Gallery Fabrics!).

I call this colorful little half apron, Pouring Rainbows, and the mix of sweet and bright colors just makes my day! Yes, I am aware not everyone gets as thrilled at looking at fabric as I do :) However, I think just about anyone would feel happy when rocking these gorgeous colors in their kitchen (doesn't it make you want to mix up a pitcher of sweet tea ?) Anyways, after the gloomy snow that was coming down last week, I needed to work on something bright and cheery! 

So, next up on the work table? A little bit of a new project for me! Well, not new to me, but it is new to Bluebirds + Lemondrops Designs! It has always been my desire to expand into products other then aprons and that time has finally come! No worries, the aprons are not going anywhere (I love making them too much and I have some fun new fabrics on the way that will be making their way onto the blog in the next month), but I am also expanding into baby blankets! I have always loved making receiving blankets, but with a little more to them then just the basic receiving blanket. These reversible baby blankets are soft quilting cotton on one side and a fun flannel print on the other side!

Interested in a sneak peek? Check out a few photos below of the sweet prints I've been stitching up for the Little Lovlies in your life.

A handful of these new blankets will be for sale at my local show this weekend! So, for you local people, head over to Birch Hills Civic Center between 10am-2pm, and check out all the goodies I will have set up there! CuteClip Soother Clips will also be there sharing a booth with me, so double the fun happening at our table! After the show is over, a few of these blankets will be hitting my Etsy and Facebook shop, so if you aren't local or don't get a chance to come check them out, you will still have a chance to pick up one (or a few) of these! 

Hello, Spring!

   It's starting to warm up a bit, our yard is free of snow, and I can't wait for everything to green up! So, in honor of Easter and all this lovely Spring weather we have been having, I have been stitching up some fabulous Spring designs! Most of the aprons I have been sewing lately have all been custom orders, but I will be working on some new additions to my line up for our local Spring Craft and Trade Show in town! I enjoy being a part of this small town show as it's a great way to get involved in the community and I am always surprised at how many people come from bigger areas to our small commuting town to check out the local vendors! The Spring Craft + Trade Show will be April 18th, and unless my schedule frees up considerably, this will most likely be my last show until late summer/early fall.

  I am also busy whipping up some fun Mother's Day custom orders! I love all my custom orders, because each one is unique and sometimes quirky and always challenges me to try something new. I love seeing what ideas my customers come up with for custom orders, and it is so much fun working with them to make a design unique to them!

Custom orders can be a challenge, but it's a challenge I enjoy :) This week, besides Mother's Day orders and the Spring line-up, I am working on a 1950's retro style apron, complete with a circle skirt, pearled button, and a gorgeous vintage red and white fabric! 

   Of course, I can never just focus on one project! So, I started attending a quilt class! I made a simple Log Cabin style quilt years ago with my aunt, and she is the person who first inspired my love for sewing and design! We had plans together to make another quilt (the Log Cabin quilt was made 14 years ago!), and after my aunt passed away before we could start our quilt, I became determined to learn to quilt and hopefully one day carry on her quilting legacy!

Let's just say, I am far from being the quilter she was, but I am loving the first two columns of my quilt! There will be four more columns, (the columns are longer then shown here) and then I am contemplating a double or triple border and doing the back in grey minky. 

Philip and I enjoyed a wonderful Easter weekend with our family! It was so enjoyable having his sister and her husband come for a visit and stay with us for a few days, and we also had three days of family gatherings with his family! When a family as large as my husbands is all together in one place, we have to make the most of it with non-stop family time! It was so wonderful catching up with family from afar, and now we are looking forward to yet another family gathering today with my family! Our lives definitely revolve around our beautiful families, and I feel so fortunate to have the people I love the most living so near to me! 

Happy Easter Weekend + Happy Spring to all of you from us! 

The Weather Outside Is Frightful, Making The Sewing More Delightful

Hello!

   It may be cold and wintery outside, but I've been staying toasty warm inside, and keeping busy between home renovations and preparing for my upcoming small business show! Over the long weekend, we managed to get a lot of renovating done on one of our guest rooms, and I have to say, it's looking pretty incredible! However, it's not hard to improve upon Finding Nemo wallpaper and a horrible combination of dark teal and forest green! So, with the guest room coming along, I decided to let the Husband finish up the flooring in there, and I got to work sewing!

Over the weekend I finished all my custom orders for February, leaving me two weeks to prepare for my upcoming show! I finally designed and created a ruffled mother/daughter apron set, and I kind of fell in love with these Heart Day themed aprons!



Here is the adult version, and I have to confess, the ruffles for this full size women's apron took longer then I care to spend normally, but the finished product was worth it :)

Here is the children's version, and of course everything in miniature is even more adorable! This fits Girls ages 5-7. 

Today is such a cold chilly day, and honestly, going back to bed for the day was sounding really good somewhere around 9am, but I do have a lot to get done for this small business show, so I dug out some of my cheery, spring inspired fabric, and of course, it just brightened my day working with this fabric for a few hours! 

This beautiful fabric came from Raspberry Creek Fabric on Etsy (oh how I adore her shop, and the service is top notch I tell you!). This is Miss Kate fabric by Bonnie and Camille for Moda. 100% high quality cotton, and I really like this fabric, as it's slightly heavier the your typical quilting cotton and it makes for a nice finished look. 

I keep thinking once this show is over, everything will settle down, but I am so blessed to be nearly completely booked for orders for March and I have a mid April show to get ready for as well :) All I can say is, this sewing is sure helping this horribly cold winter pass by a little quicker :) 

  HELLO! Thanks for taking time to stop by and check out my little corner! For some time now I have had really good intentions of getting this website up and running, however, it has taken the back burner. Somehow, I did manage to find some time to get the basics set up, and hopefully you can all bear with my as I get everything running smoothly:) 

   So, a lot has been happening with Bluebirds + Lemondrops in 2015! Not only have I been swamped with custom orders (for the record, 'being swamped' with sewing orders is not a problem, it's really REALLY wonderful!), but I have also been busy getting ready for my first small business show of 2015. Last year I did several craft fairs/trade shows, but I am very excited to be a part of this small business Winter Market on February 28th. There are going to be about 60-70 vendors, and I am looking forward to a day full of meeting new people and talking about my handmade designs! 

   Right now I am booked for custom orders in February and am already booking through March! Winter can be such a long and dreary season, especially after our decision to not head anywhere warm this winter (what were we thinking?!), so my sewing has been helping to make the days (OK, the months:) pass very quickly! 

  In January, I started a new little project that I have been wanting to attempt for quite some time - felt quiet books! It's not my main focus right now, but it's a fun little hobby and I hope to have one on display at the Winter Market this month. Eventually I may put some mini felt books on my Etsy page. Check out my DIY/Tutorials page to see how my felt book projects are coming along. 

  And, last, but not least, I have some handmade nursing covers for all the lovely mama's and mama's-to-be out there!! I've observed my sister-in-laws and friends over the years when it comes time to feed their little one; whether it's the blanket that keeps slipping off or the active baby that keeps throwing their cover off while feeding, sometimes it's downright frustrating. So, one day while visiting with one of my sister-in-laws, we got onto the topic of nursing and nursing covers. She told me what she looked for in a nursing cover and also how much she was paying for them (plus the over-the-top shipping costs!) and I realized I could so easily whip up a nursing cover that works for them, without the exorbitant price! So now I am making them available to the general public! Oh, and of course they come in the cutest, most darling designs and fabrics! 

  As I book shows for the spring, I will post the info here and of course, I will be posting the new projects I am working on!