Custom Order-Bench Slipcover

My SIL just sent me this picture of a custom order I did a while back. They were given a piano (!) but the bench was apparently in less-than-perfect condition. She picked out fabric, sent me the bench measurements, and this is what we came up with. It was a challenge because I didn't have access to the bench to make sure the cover would fit along the way, but I just went by the measurements and trusted that it'd work!! I think it looks super!

What we've been up to...

Although I love filling orders, I love sewing for my family and home even more. The first few months of the year were busy-busy-busy for 31:18 and, for that, I'm thankful. But I was also thankful for things to slow down a bit business-wise, just in time for spring: baby showers, gardening, my little sister's wedding, lots of dresses and clothes for Ansley, and some home decor projects. I'm hoping to post on Ansley's clothes soon. I'd also like to finally post on all the custom orders I completed (now that every one has received and is enjoying their stuff).

For now, though, I'll write about our living room re-do. We were kinda getting tired of our living room and wanted something "fresher". We decided to slipcover the couch...I guess the "3rd time's a charm" is true. The 3rd cover we ordered finally worked. I decided to make a slipcover for this chair so it'd coordinate. I finished this cover just now and am hoping to get some throw pillows finished this afternoon as well (so, perhaps I should be sewing instead of blogging). I'm very pleased with the cover--it's a little looser on the back than I'd like, but the back is curved, so I think that's the best that's gonna happen. A pillow will help it immensely. We splurged on fabric for the pillows/accessories, so I'm excited for it to come together. Here's a sneak peak!

Poll

I've added a poll to the sidebar. PLEASE (yes, I'm begging) take a second to answer the question...

What are you most interested in seeing on this blog?
-giveaways (continuing with the monthly giveaways)
-tutorials/tips (posting step-by-step instructions for projects or small, helpful tips)
-pics of projects (pictures/descriptions of projects that I'm working on either for the store or for my home/family)
-new products (getting new products made and posted to the store and telling about them on the blog)

Honestly, my priorities are my family and home and then filling custom orders. "In-stock" products and keeping up with the blog come when I have *extra* time. So, I want to make sure I'm wisely using the time that I do spend on this blog, posting things you actually care about.

Thanks!!

Giveaway Winner

Giveaway Winner:
True Random Number Generator Result: 3 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Congratulations to

Henria O. said...
I'm a Facebook fan! (Henria O.)sazzyfrazz at gmail dot com
April 3, 2010 1:09 PM

I'll be emailing you to get your address.

Eh hem..March Giveaway!

-THIS GIVEAWAY HAS CLOSED-

Sometimes I find my personal motto being "better late than never". I HATE being late. But... late IS better than not at all. Don't you think?

Honestly, March totally got away from me. My 1st baby turned 2 years old! I turned *gasp* 29. March also holds my little sister's, my dad's, and my father-in-law's birthday. I had a handful of BIG custom orders. And I'm still trying to get my kids' Easter outfits made. I'm in charge of decorations for a baby shower in less than 2 weeks. My sister is getting married in a month. And I'm considering doing a craft show in May. Am I crazy?

Enough for all the excuses (although, they're good and valid, aren't they?)...onto the giveaway. This is a new product that I'm going to add to the 31:18 store. I figured I'd *introduce* you through a giveaway.

It's a pillow cover. It fits a standard 18" pillow and if your house is anything like mine, you already have a handful of these pillows laying around needing a makeover. Walmart and most craft stores carry them, too. The front has chalk cloth in the middle and a gorgeous black and white floral cotton fabric for the border. Chalk cloth! Yes, like a chalk board...but cloth. Cool, huh? The back is solid black with overlapping edges--just slide in your pillow. Use regular chalk to write your own personal welcome message. Perfect for any room of the house!

I hope to have a handful more of these puppies made and posted soon. Yes, I say "soon". It's so purposefully noncommital!

OK...onto the "rules" (only US addresses, please):

And a twist--please blog/facebook/email to tell others about the giveaway. BUT...you only get EXTRA entries if someone comes and enters because of you. So, if you're entering because you saw info about this giveaway on someone's blog/FB/email, be sure to give them credit on your comment/entry and I'll give them an extra entry.

1. Post a comment to enter--make sure to include your email address so I can contact you.
2. Become a follower (or tell me you already are) of 31:18 and post another comment.

3. Become a FB fan (or tell me you already are) of 31:18 and...well, you get the idea.

4. For an additional 2 entries, leave comment about something you own that was made by me (either by purchase or gift).

The giveaway closes on Monday, April 4th at noon (Eastern time). The winner will be announced Monday afternoon. Good luck!!

Big Boy Quilt

I finally finished my son's quilt. He'll be 2 years old this weekend and we thought the bright colors on these fabrics would be perfect for his big boy bed (which he's been in, quite successfully for over a week now). This is the first "real" quilt I've made. (I'm unsure if the Car Quilt counts as a real quilt. What is a "real" quilt, anyways?) On the front I used "Rail Fence" blocks in a completely random pattern.

For the back, I used navy blue (actually a flat sheet!) and just one row of the rail fence blocks. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about using white thread since you could see it on the back. Oh well, I'm over it and actually think it's kinda funky looking.

I did this project entirely on my new sewing machine (my Janome Professional Memory Craft 6600, which definitely deserves it's own post). But, the new machine has lots of features that made thing a little easier. It enabled me to free motion quilt, just meandering around, and I was also able to sew the "for Caedmon March 2010" on the back. (I did hand stitch the binding around the edge.)

Pretty cool, huh? Dan (my hubs) is at work now, but dropped off the quilt to be washed in their huge washers (without an agitator)...so, I'm excited to see how it looks after it puffs and squishes and softens.

I know at least 1 or 2 people have been eagerly awaiting the grand revealing of this quilt, so thanks for your patience. The quilt came together rather quickly when I actually was able to work on it.

I am SO pleased with how it turned out. It's far from perfect, but it's quite special to us. It is, after all, for our big boy!! Happy (almost) Birthday!!

What do you think??

Appliqued Shirts

The first 3 pictures are onesies I appliqued for a custom order. They are for a baby with a fall due date. Aren't the apple and the tree ideal for a fall baby? I think they're precious!!

The last picture is a spring tree onesie I made for Ansley. Since her onesie was much bigger than a new baby's I could make the tree and its leaves bigger. I just love the polka dot fabric for the trunk and think this will be perfect for the spring. I may add ruffles to the bum or make a skirt to match.

I love appliqued onesies! I'm in the process of switching from using the Gerber brand onesies to using Carters or Just One Year (Target brand); I feel they are better quality and their sizing is much better!

Remember I can also applique toddler sized t-shirts. Caedmon's favorite shirt is a long sleeved shirt that I appliqued an airplane onto (for when we went to the airshow in the fall). He requests it almost every time he gets dressed. It's totally stained with ketchup, but I'm OK with that. He is a kid, after all.

Contact me with your order for an appliqued onesie or t-shirt!