Burlap and Linen

I have been drawn to burlap for a long time and have yet to do anything about it! Then the Urban Home swap came along and I had to be prepared! The partner pairings will be handed out today, so the timing for my new package of linen and burlap could not have been better timed! I have been loving the Maya*Made baskets and have had the pattern for awhile. Now I have the burlap so nothing should be holding me back. I am thinking that once I make one, perhaps I can do a little something for my partner.

Linen is also something I love to use and receive in swaps. Especially linen paired with patchwork. I have been getting linen at JoAnn's and then using Essex cotton as a faux linen, but decided it was time to have some in the stash in fun colors. I just needed a little nudge and this flickr picture and recommendation from Penny at Sewtakeahike. Looking in Penny's photostream alone has me in linen project heaven. I think it is going to be fabulous!

Finally I have been busy getting ready for Ellie's birthday and Easter . . . convenient this year because she turns 3 on Easter Sunday. I am making all her gifts except the American Girl Bitty Twin that her grandmother picked up for a joint gift to both kids. I almost have a matching dress made for both girl and doll and will share a photo soon, they are too cute! I did finish off a little sample stitching piece I have been working on to hone my skills a bit and thought why not make it into something. So here is another gift for Ellie and her bunnies!

The pattern is a Sublime Stitching Pattern from the designer Black Apple. It is a great pattern and I hope to stitch them all up! Ellie was given a pink snuggle bunny as an infant and it quickly became her comfort item, she doesn't go anywhere without bunny. I searched many a store and finally found a second bunny or as we called it "back-up bunny". Which turned out to be a bad plan. She quickly caught onto the two bunnies and has to have both bunny and "udder-bunny"! Everynight and many times during the day, she puts a hand towel on the bunnies and puts them to bed. I thought that making the stitching into a bunny blanket would make a great birthday gift. We will see, Miss Ellie is a creature of habit and might just not give up the hand towel!

Finally I was able to ship off a box with some project kits today for my SIL's upcoming birthday. She has been sewing up a storm since the holidays and her gift I was making her for last year's birthday is in a UFO pile somewhere, I thought perhaps she would enjoy a gift she would actually see! So she will have a coaster kit, a needle book kit and also an apron panel with the directions and pattern pieces coming her way. I think she will love them. The apron panel is available at KC Custom Fabrics.