Salmon Alley: vintage buttons

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Little Pink Houses

Yep, you're singing that song - so is the entire neighborhood. We kinda like the color... even though it's temporary. The siding will start soon and then the Easter Egg color house will be a thing of the past.

And while the outside of the house is getting a makeover, I've been a busy bee here at Salmon Alley. (Love the bees buzzing around the redbud.)

Can't get over this warm spring.

Still only March!

Here's what I've been making:

Banners for babies or weddings.

I've designed several styles. Some that hang and others that drape.

I've also made a Christmas one "tis the season" which feels really out of place right now.

Close up detail with vintage buttons

Birthday Banners! I combined this with a paint chip banner for some really festive birthday celebrations.

100% cotton banner- very festive

And lampshades! Some sweet shades for some sweet girls.

A small lamp shade with just enough room for an initial... perfect!

Another small shade, this one goes with the Amy Butler ottoman/puff shown below.

I made this cute puff for a client with her Amy Butler Pattern... so cute!

A perfect size for the nursery.

Took a quick trip for work... gorgeous skies!

Here's Mungo traipsing over the new pavers. He's pretty happy. It's been warm and sunny. The hydrangeas are coming up and a dandelion is already to seed.

If you've got a smart phone check out Retro Camera.

I just love how images look.

These were taken by a 5 year old with my iphone.

You just can't go wrong!

Love my scarf! It's been my favorite accessory this year.

Perfect weight. From the Gap.

Ok, I've got several lampshades and other projects in the works and

I hope to get back on track with the blogging really soon. Really!

Enjoy the beautiful spring!

Friday, March 18, 2011

Busy, Busy, Busy

Well, I've already broken a NY resolution...

but I've been busy making things while I've been off-line.

headbands, bags, quilts to name a few things.

Meanwhile, we are surrounded by babies on our street!

Just this year, two new arrivals one boy and one girl.

Both super cute and healthy.

To celebrate we are making some quilts.

We'll have a few tutorials and show the finished projects soon.

For Joey... a sweet baby, new this week! He was born Monday. I attended my monthly quilt guild meeting and we had a guest speaker, Kathy Loomis. She has some AMAZING art quilts. I came home inspired and when I found out Joey was born that evening I just had to get started on a quilt with Kathy's quilts as inspiration. Here's the fabric we selected for the back...

With the fabrics for the top.

I cut a strips in various widths and sewed them together randomly.

I am still tring to decide exactly how I want this to look. But this is as far as I got Monday night.

Also, Allie created an adorable giraffe... from start to nearly finished!

Here's the initial muslin she sewed together using her pattern. This looks a little more like a horse. That's why you should always sew a muslin first, I explained to her!

I helped her expand her pattern to lengthen the neck using the same principles of lengthening any clothing pattern. I am recreating it in this photo as I didn't stop to snap the photos while she was working.

And voila, a super cute, one-of-a kind giraffe stuffed animal. She embellished this cutie with some vintage buttons for the spots and the eyes. I think she was inspired by Robbie Porter, a fellow guild member and participant in Arts Alive a few weeks ago. The giraffe isn't quite finished... but it's close.

I love fabric flowers... I search on-line for ideas all of the time... love them. I have tried my hand a few recently... here's a few of my attempts.

Muslin

ribbon and button


cut off from upcycled shirt

home dec fabrics

I just received a box of vintage buttons in the mail today. Perfect for a gray, rainy day. I have some sorting to do to put into the jars... Can wait to get started!

Enjoy!