Dress the Nest: Rachel's Nest and Bird Themed Shower

 Hi! It's Sarah, here. And I'm back to share a little bit of my sister, Rachel's baby shower with you. A few Saturday's ago we celebrated her and her little baby-bump with a shower we called: "Dress the Nest." I used all found materials to create the decor: cardboard, scraps of fabric, left over binding tape, paint chip samples and more. The only thing I purchased were the fresh flowers, which came straight from the grocery store and were very reasonably priced.
Here'a a look at the invite:

I've blocked out the address so you all don't show up at her front door:-P

Here's a look at my parents house, all decked out:

These letters are cut out from cardboard: dressed up with yard, fabric and mod podge and paint. 

The mantel with the bunting from scraps and left over binding tape. 

These little birds were cut from paint chip samples, free from the local home store. To make the template I used the bird graphic from the invite and just increased the size, printed it and made a tracing template.

The buffet centerpiece.

I put the book pages in the centerpiece to echo the library/book theme that was also a part of Rachel's shower. In the invitation we asked guests to bring their favorite children's book as a gift to Rachel, to help her build her children's book collection. We had a separate table set aside for the books:

I cut about thirty little birds and scattered them throughout the house in different places. It created a nice affect and solidified the whole theme.

The guests of honor.

Fresh flowers are a MUST for any party! These flowers came from the grocery store. I selected colors that fit the 'yellow and gray' palate. 

The shower started at 10am and we served brunch. Here are a few of the items we served that corresponded with the theme:

Bacon Egg Nests

Cupcake Nests. 

My beautiful sister and her beautiful belly.

Sophia, loving her baby and waiting for her baby cousin!

Helping Auntie Rachel open presents.

Breaking in the bathtub for her cousin.

If you interested in more details about this low-budget decor be sure to email us your questions or post them in the comments.

--Sarah

Sophia's Bedding

I realized in all this time blogging and talking about Sophia's bedding that I have never actually  blogged about it.  So here goes...

Sarah wanted to go non-traditional, she loves pinks, oranges and greens, and we found these wonderful fabrics at a few local fabric shops.  Crib skirt, bumper and quilt.  

This was our inspiration fabric, Alexander Henry's Mocca.  The main fabric in the bumper pad.

I made the bumper in four separate sections,  I love all the pattern, really stimulating for little Sophia!!

The quilt

The Quilt front

The back

 Sophia, seems to like the quilt!!  The label on the back...making a quilt?  ALWAYS put a label on it!!!!  Someday, when memories fade, you will always know who made it, when it was made and who it was for.

Then there was the chair, this chair was very ugly, painted white and it had a really ugly orange covering the cushions, so Sarah painted it black to match the crib and  I made slipcovers from the Mocca fabric.  The fabric was decorator weight so will be sturdy.

So that is the inspiration and the start of Bumblebee and Sophie!  

Coming soon, Grandbaby #2, here are Baby E's fabrics

See you soon,  

Cindy

Aprons

I have made several aprons in the last few months, they are quick and easy and make great gifts!!

The Scrabble apron was for my daughter Alissa's  mom-in-law, (who is a good friend of mine).  Alissa wondered when she would get an apron, something she did not get as a shower or wedding gift. More about the Scrabble apron here. 


I had bought some fabric at Ikea a while back, without any plan...story of my fabric stash, and it was just the right fabric for Alissa.  Not too frilly, but still feminine. 

Ribbon makes great ties, quick and easy.  

The lining was left over from Sophia's bedding.

Alissa's best friend Deborah is getting married in a few weeks, and I made her an apron for a shower gift.  She loves blue.  Her response, "I was hoping you would make me an apron, but I didn't know how to hint."  I love it when that happens.

Deborah's Shower

And I couldn't resist; Debs' Mom, Sue (in blue), next to me, and all the other ladies and Debs' Dad helped make this quilt for a wedding present.  Isn't it beautiful!!!


Stay tuned for an apron tutorial coming soon!!

Cindy

Let the Vacations begin!

We (my husband John and I) are doing a lot of traveling this summer.  Not usual for us, but, I will take it!!  I love to travel.  See other parts of the country and world, how people live and where they shop... I think I have realized most places are a lot like around little old New Hampshire.

My husband had a trade show to attend, in Vancouver, British Columbia, he thought it would be a great idea for me to join him.  I thought so too!!!!  He left early on Tuesday, and I followed on Wednesday. The Trade show lasted till Thursday afternoon.  Which meant I got to wander around Vancouver for the day!

Here are some photos of my wanderings.

 The bridge from Vancouver proper to Granville Island

I wish I could shop here every week!!

A short water taxi ride to another part of Vancouver

I told hubs this would make a nice birthday present!!  Fun to dream...

When the trade show was over we were off to a "secret" location... I did not know where we were going to spend the rest of the 4 days???  We drove to the ferry and ended up here.

A 20 minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay.

  We had a cute, cute studio,  a short walk from water, town, and trails for hiking.  PERFECT!!!

The scenery was stunning to say the least!!  

Beaches "littered" with driftwood, huge logs, trees... amazing!

This is a log!  Too bad for the helmet hair, we were on bikes.  Oh did I mention the HILLS!

Bald Eagles 

Took me a while to set up this shot, he is so patient!!

The base of a burned out tree, absolutely HUGE!!!

Really cute tug boats

Sailboat races

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!!

Cindy

Where O Where...

Most of you are probably wondering where I have been in the last couple of weeks... busy...traveling and making some custom orders.  Just want to give you a peek at what I have been doing and hopefully will blog more about my adventures in the coming weeks.

More aprons

and boy rompers

a sewing machine cover

Visiting Vancouver, British Columbia

Oh and I started the patternmaking course over at Whipstitch, and I am already behind...

Hope you are well, be back soon.

Cindy