Paper Pie

Weekend Finds

Ryan, Rylie and I had the great pleasure of hitting up some yard sales this past weekend. We never seem to get out as early as we should, but we found some pretty great stuff regardless. Like this red folding table for $10! I'm not sure what we are going to do with it yet, but hey, it was 10 bucks!

I found multiple yards of all of these great fabrics:



I love this one above and I can see it as a birthday dress for Rylie, with a matching skirt for Mama, what do you think? Can you believe it is time to start thinking about Rylie's birthday? It's only six weeks away! My baby is going to be one year old! Ah, but I digress, back to my weekend treasures. I also got this beautiful butterfly fabric. On the selvedge it says: Alfred Shaheen Hand Printed in Hawaii.

I got these vintage Butterprint Pyrex bowls that match the refrigerator boxes that I already have.
And last, but not least, this bold floral tin!

All, in all a pretty good haul!

Strike Offs

A few weeks ago these beautiful strike offs for my new fabric lline with Moda arrived at my door. The line is called Domestic Bliss and was inspired by all the comforts of my home. It will release in December. I am beyond pleased with them . . . I love the colors in this line.

And look how nice they play with Sugar Pop! I should be receiving my sample fabric soon and I can not wait to mix and match. I see lots and lots of summer dresses for Rylie!

New Curtains

A long time ago, I want to say it was last summer, our standard rental apartment mini blind fell out of our front window. Yep, it just fell right down and try as we might we could not get it to go back without driling new holes and it all seemed a lot of work for something that we didn't like in the first place. So we went without a window covering for many many months. At Christmas, we thought we would put our tree there to lend some privacy. Christmas came and went and we were back to feeling exposed. That was until one fateful morning walk! A few weeks ago I was walking home from my eye doctor appointment and I happened to notice the curtains hanging in the window of a house I had passed by many many times. I really noticed these curtains because before then, all of this house's windows had been completely bare, and being the voyeur that I am, I would always peek in to see the details of their interior design (do you ever do that? I do it all the time, that's one of the many reasons I love to stroll the neighborhood - because I am nosey.) Anyhow, they suddenly had curtains! And I noticed them! And I had to get my own for my bare window that was broadcasting my furniture arrangement, wall colors, and art choices to all of the other neighborhood voyeurs. So, I first thought about going straight to Target to BUY curtains because I wanted it done that day. But, luckily, I came to my senses and realized; hey, I've got all I need right here, why not make them? So, I did, and here is the result:

I love them! They are fun and light and match the overall vibe of our apartment very well. I used unbleached muslin for the base fabric and used an assortment of vintage, modern and my own fabrics for the circles. I also added a little running stitch along the bottom. And look what else:

Tulips on the dining table to match!

Fabric Giveaway ** Sugar Pop! Two 1 Yard Cuts

::GIVEAWAY CLOSED - Congratulations to Carol in E TN with comment #29.

Carol, if you could please email me your mailing address I will get the fabric to you right away!

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Now that Sugar Pop! is out and about in the world, I think a giveaway is in order, don't you? This time it might be nice to offer up a meatier cut, like a full yard. And because two yards are always better than one, I'll offer up two 1 yard cuts in coordinating prints. How about Mod Buds and Summer Flowers in the pink colorway?

Sometimes the pinks and plums get lost in the collection because aqua and chartreuse are such camera hogs. But I love the pink color way with the plum and orange accents. Just think of all you could cook up with a yard of these. Maybe a simple spring-y summer-y frock for you or a little girl in your life. 

Ryan told me this morning that he likes my fabrics when they are applied to projects for kids. There you have it—from a husband of a fabric designer, and a dad—these prints work well for the wee set too!

I will be giving away 1 yard each of Summer Flowers and Mod Buds both in the pink colorway to a randomly chosen commenter. And from now through St. Patrick's Day, I will be offering 15% off at the WonderFluff shop. Just enter "paperpie" in the notes to seller at checkout and I will refund the discount via PayPal. Oh, and I think I will keep the comments open on this one until St. Patrick's Day too. So check back at this post on March 17 for the winner.

Sugar Pop! By Liz Scott For Moda

Back at my corporate design job, I would spend my days in my cubicle dreaming about sewing and starting a family. I thought it would be amazing to be a work-at-home mom designing fabric. Almost two years later, I am doing just that! Back then I had no way of knowing what a colossal juggle it would be, and it truly is, but each day I put one foot in front of the other and somehow it all comes together. My first fabric collection, Sugar Pop!, is in stores now.

WonderFluff (I had so much fun curating a few precut fabric bundles)

Fabric.com

City Craft

Pink Chalk Fabrics

Sew Mama Sew

Your local independent fabric retailer

Cutting fabric while eating heart shaped red velvet cake. Just kidding! Ryan and I are saving that cake for tonight!

It is a dream come true to be surrounded by my very own fabric collection in my very own studio. It was hard work and quite challenging at times to put it together while pregnant, but now as I see it all before me, I know that it was truly worth my greatest efforts. It is hard to remember what it was like to work so intensely with such determination and focus. That was the way I used to work, but for the last six months I have slowly learned a new way. My days are broken up into lightning quick work sessions, never knowing when I will get the chance to come back to my task. I use a lot of notes and lists to keep myself on track and to stay semi-organized. Weekends have now turned into marathon workdays when I can enjoy a little extra concentration because Ryan is here to help out. But this new way of working is very welcome and it is inspiring to find out that I have choices in which tactics I employ to reach my goals. Motherhood requires that I invent all sorts of clever ways to get things accomplished. Multitasking, delegating and becoming more selective in my endeavors are just a few of my newest and most sharply honed skills and strategies.

A bouquet and valentine from my beloveds: Ryan and Rylie.

I feel so blessed to have this place to blog everyday, or at least to blog as often as I can. I would love to blog everyday, but somehow there is about a three week gap between idea creation and blog completion. But I am ok with that for now. Thank you for reading my words and for all of your thoughtful compliments about my fabrics. Your support means so much to me. I hope that you enjoy sewing and playing with this fabric as much as I enjoyed designing every little bit.

It is truly thrilling to see the creations that have already been made with Sugar Pop and the kind things that people are saying about the fabric. Stay tuned for a little round up of some of that good stuff.

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Any orders of fabric from my WonderFluff shop will ship within two business days. So start planning your spring projects!

P.S. Happy Valentine's Day!

Liz & Kalli Food #14

Liz * Mousse Fantasy Bakery 

Yesterday I took some photos of fabric that I recently had printed at Spoonflower. I thought a cake would be the perfect prop. Not just any cake though. It had to be the one and only Strawberry Shortcake from Mousse Fantasy Bakery in West LA. Way back when I was pregnant (seems like eons ago) I discovered this cake when a friend was raving about her Birthday cake. With my pregnant appetite, I was all questions: what bakery? where is it? how do I get there? how late are they open? what is the frosting like? fresh strawberries? That night Ryan and I were out to dinner and I asked him to stop by the bakery for dessert. We each had a piece of this cake and from that moment, this has been my go to cake for birthdays, holidays and all manner of celebrations. If you are in LA, it is in Beard Papa's Cream Puff Bakery on Sawtelle between Olympic and Santa Monica Blvd.

The photo shoot, the fabric, and the cake are all part of a little WonderFluff tweaking, reorganizing, streamlining project I'm working on. I'm excited to share my progress with you very soon. It is shaping up nicely.

That's what I'm up to this weekend. Oh, and even though the weather has certainly been unseasonably warm around these parts, I have been knitting Rylie a pair of these.

Kalli * Roasted Chicken and Butternut Squash Soup 

I just made this and it's pretty good, though I'd suggest a couple minor tweaks. I think my idea of "medium dice" sized squash chunks was a little too large, so they needed longer roasting time (about 35-40 min) and weren't that easy to mash - I'd go with about half to 3/4 inch cubes. Adding one small chunk of peeled ginger (removed before serving) and a little extra cumin and lemon juice to the simmering broth really enhanced the flavor.

This recipe was the first time I've actually cooked a butternut squash (though I've been served dishes with it before) and in doing so I learned that a lot of people have an allergic reaction to some liquid in the squash skin when you peel it. It's a pretty weird feeling, like your hands are rapidly drying out with the effect of a chemical peel or something, but I guess it's common so I'll just wear rubber gloves in the future! I just wish I'd heard of this possible reaction beforehand.

That soup looks mighty tasty, Kalli! So weird about the squash skin. I have never heard of that either.

Mama Time * Stitching By Hand

Its been one of those weeks.

On Monday, Rylie's doctor was pushing us to start sleep training with her. On Tuesday, I spent the whole day paying bills, submitting claims to the insurance company, renewing my parking permit and driver's license, and submitting invoices. On Wednesday, I had to run around town on several errands with baby along for the fun. Yesterday, I picked up the guitar because I've been thinking that I would really love to learn to strum a Christmas tune before December 25th, and while tuning it, I broke a string. DRAT!

It's not all bad though, really, I should mention that Rylie is so content to hang out on her tummy on the mat. For the longest time she was fervently against tummy time, so this is a big accomplishment. She also rolls with ease from tummy to back and she is trying like mad to get from back to tummy, it's just her head that is slowing her down. She also is steadying herself while sitting up for a few moments at a time. And vocalizing . . . wow, is she ever vocalizing! High pitched squeals, grunts of concentration and lots of raspberry blowing is commonplace around here lately. I think the squealing is hurting Zipper's ears as he promptly leaves the room whenever she starts in.

Since Rylie is too little to read this blog, I thoight I would let you in on one of her presents we are planning to get her for Christmas. Won't this be just adorable in her nursery and a wonderful keepsake for her? I don't think it will arrive by December 25th, but I don't think she will mind all the same.

Despite all of this December busy-ness, and after I broke the guitar string yesterday, I decided some hand stitching time was in order. Remember my quilt? It is now available as a free download on Moda's website here. Just click on the first circle under the Suagr Pop! logo.

Here's to a little fun and relaxation after a busy busy week!

Fabric Giveaway ** Sugar Pop Jelly Roll

Are you ready?

For another fabric giveaway? This time I'm giving away a Jelly Roll of all of the fabrics from my Sugar Pop! collection. The Moda Jelly Roll consists of 40 2.5" strips of fabric rolled up and tied with a sweet little bow. Each fabric strip is 44/45" wide and 100% cotton. Just think of all you could do with this delicious bundle.

Leave a comment if you'd like to win this Sugar Pop! Jelly Roll. Good Luck! Comments will close at 8 pm PST on Friday, October 15. I will update this post with the winner's name, so be sure to check back after 8 pm on Friday.

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Comments are closed - congrats to Samantha, comment #62!

Fall Pattern Sale!

Oh my, since Rylie arrived on the scene things have been nonstop and action packed. And before she was born, there was all of the excitement about Sugar Pop! You might be curious if I am ever going to update my little Etsy shop. Well, the answer is yes. I have managed to write a few patterns for some projects I was working on before baby and even before my fabric line. The Hexie Pin Cushion and Oopsy Daisy Pillow patterns are now available in the WonderFluff shop.

So, to celebrate my inaugural sewing pattern effort, I'm putting them on sale! Buy one pattern, get one free through Sunday October 17th! When you purchase a pattern, enter "PAPERPIE" in the notes to seller and I will send you both patterns for the price of one. Easy Peasy.

So, get to sewing!

Sugar Pop! Fabric Giveaway

I am so delighted to be giving away a Sugar Pop! Layer Cake. If you are not familiar with the Layer Cake by Moda, it is a package of 42 different pieces of fabric, each measuring 10 inches by 10 inches. On the back of the package, they give you an idea of all the ways that the fabric can be cut. Doesn't that get your creative motor running?

I am currently using a Layer Cake for my quilt. Here is just a small sample of what you'll find inside!
To win, leave a comment before Wednesday, 8 p.m. PST. I will announce the winner on this post so please be sure to check back for the update with the winner's name. And because I am feeling extra generous, I will also be offering a 10% discount on all items in the WonderFluff shop now through Friday, August 27. Just enter "PAPERPIE" in the notes to seller and your discount will be refunded through Paypal.

Good Luck!
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UPDATE: Congratulations to Judith Blinkenberg, comment number 39! Remember that all items in the WonderFluff Shop are 10% off through Friday. Contact me if you would like a quantity or a different type of fabric than what is listed and I can create a reserve listing for you.