Apologies for the late post, my friendies- technology was not on my side yesterday.  I hope to make up for it with a wonderful Crush today, this time a Fabric Crush!  I recently found So So Vintage and it was an instant crush.  I’ve always been a fan of vintage sheeting, and So So Vintage has a collection that is most in tune with the beats of my heart.  It certainly helps that So So Vintage carries fat quarters from sheets that I personally own, or that my grandparents did.

Oh how I love this print- pink wildflower mini bouquets.  This was actually the one that caught my eye.  The many shades of pink, paired with that perfect green . . . oh to have a hundred yards of it . . .

Now, this print is tops.  I have a pink and lavender version of it posted in my dressing nook, wallpaper style, and it really is magical.  Those little diamonds add the perfect amount of structure and formality, but the flowers and leaves are casual and light.  I love the juxtaposition.

This beauty is also at the top of my must buy list.  I love pale flowers with dark centers, plus super faded pastels just make my heart skip a beat!

Okay, now I honestly debated whether or not to add this one to my post, because if someone buys it before I do I might cry.  But I figured that it is just too wonderful to keep to myself.  I’m still intimidated by quilting, but this shabby chic charm pack would be the perfect way to get started.  Is it wrong for me to say please don’t buy this one, buy another one!?  Well, I said it.  There are plenty of other adorable charm packs in the shop . . .

I just must leave off with this vintage lamb planter.  In addition to some amazing vintage sheet fat quarters, So So Vintage also carries a whole slew of other vintage cuties, like this lamb.  He looks so happy!

You can find more wonderful fabrics and vintage treasures at So So Vintage’s Etsy Shop.

All photos were borrowed from So So Vintage.

I’m over the moon excited to host a project contest!  I’ve seen some really wonderful projects using my bias tape and buttons over the past few years, so I thought it would be great to get them all in one place and give a little lovin’ to the creative people who make them!  Find the contest details below:

Click here to email a submission.  Have a question?  Drop me a note at Contest@PollyDanger.com And as always, you can find supplies for your projects at the Polly Danger Flagship Store or the Polly Danger Notions Etsy Shop

Ever since I first laid eyes on Chet and Dot’s cashmere plushies at the Crafty Wonderland Shop last year I was in love.  I’ve posted about this soft, pretty, kawaii, floral fantasy before, but I just must do it once again!  Visiting the Etsy shop reminds me an awful lot of my favorite boutiques in Tokyo- it’s filled with precious and luxe items in ridiculously adorable form.  Jenn makes healthy use of wool felting, cashmere, pastels, florals, and sweet details.  From sweet plushies to dainty charms, to bear potholders to aprons, totes, and even sweet little baby shoes. I think one of the things I love most about the items in this shop is the perfect blur between something you’d buy as a fabulous baby gift, and something you’d keep for yourself.

Meow.  These pretty plushies are almost too pretty for baby’s hands, but I’m pretty sure when the time comes my little one will own an army of them.

I’m also in love with these beautifully felted flower brooches.  I’ve bought myself a white hydrangea, which is currently adorning my pink cardigan.  Too pretty.

This adorable potholder is almost too cute to use.  I love the retro fabric, and the face.  It’s like he’s saying, I’ve got a job to do- let me at that hot pan!  Yosh!

And the very dainty illustrated charms are just the thing to wear to a tea party, don’t you think?  I love that they come on silk ribbon.

But the very next thing on my must purchase list is this tiny woolen kitty.  Just look at that pouty embroidered face!  I think I have a little display cabinet that is awaiting a little woolen animals collection as a matter of fact . . .

If you want to see more of Portland’s own Chet and Dot, check out these links:

Chet and Dot on Etsy: http://www.chetanddot.etsy.com

Chet and Dot blog: http://chetanddot.blogspot.com

Or stop by the Crafty Wonderland Shop in Portland, Or (on 10th Ave. across the street from the library).

I’m pleased to announce that Polly Danger bias tapes are now purchasable by the yard through the Flagship Store.  This means that you are no longer limited to purchasing just 3 yards, and if your project requires just a bit of bias tape, well, you can buy just a single yard!  Need 7 yards?  14 yards?  Purchase what you need!

I’ll still carry 3 yard packages in my Etsy shop, and for the time being I will also carry them in the PD Flagship Store. Yay!  You can find the bias tape yardage by checking the “New in the Shop” section, the “Bias Tape” section, or the “All Sewing Notions” section.  Enjoy!

A small pillow for my back is just what my big sewing chair needed, so I decided to share this tutorial for anyone who has ever wanted to make a super easy but super cute pillow.  I love this project because traditional pillow trim can be tricky for the beginning sewer (and for me, too!), but bias tape trim is cute and super duper simple!

Materials:

• Fabric- 2 pieces 12″ x 12″
• Bias tape- 1 1/2″ yards
• Button- 1 cute button of your choice
• Stuffing- Use your choice of filling (this is a great way to reuse stuffing from tired pillows!)

Step 1. Use a coffee can lid, or glass, to mark rounds on the corners of the fabric with a marker.  Turning the corners round will make applying the bias tape even easier!  Repeat for all corners.  Cut with scissors.

Step 2. Fold each piece of fabric in quarters and mark the very center with a tiny dot.  This marks where your button will be attached in the last step.

Step 3. Place the fabric squares right sides out and baste all the way around, leaving a 3″ opening for filling.  Now you can begin pinning your bias tape.  Start the bias tape about 2″ before the opening, as shown in the photo (the pin in the picture was just so that I could keep the tape open for the photo).

Step 4. Leave a 3″ opening in the same place as the opening in your basting.  Pin all the way around the pillow. To go around the corners: Hold the fabric flat with the non-working hand, pull the tape slightly, and pin as you go.  Once you get to the end, leave about 2″ extra and snip the excess bias tape.

Step 5. Fold the end under about 1″ and pin right on top of the raw edge of the starting bias tape.  Press the corners with an iron to help seal the curve.  Now you can begin stitching your bias tape closed, starting after the opening.  It might help to use different colored pins at the opening to help you keep your place. Make sure to back stitch at the beginning and end.

Step 6. Press your stitches in place and start stuffing your pillow with small clumps of fiber fill.  Fill your pillow until it feels right, or until it looks like this:

Step 7. Pin the opening closed and stitch it with the machine, overlapping your previous stitches about 1″ in each direction.  It can be tricky to hold the pillow, full of stuffing, in place, but with a small 3″ opening it shouldn’t be too difficult.  The main goal is to try and match your stitches as closely as possible (patterned bias tape helps hide any funny stitches!). Now you’re ready for the button!  Simply start stitching at the dot you made in Step 2 and make sure to pull tight, and make a good knot!

All done!  Now you can put your pillow on your favorite chair and get to work making one for everyone else in the family!

Visit the Polly Danger Shop to purchase some of the materials used in this tutorial:

Blue Faux Patchwork Bias Tape

Field of Tulips Buttons

I’m pretty thrilled that there’s snow outside today, because it means one more day of this:

Happy Monday!  Today begins my promise of posting Monday, Wednesday, Friday, starting with a Handmade Crush on Yes Jess knittery!  I think it was her dainty bow headband that first got my attention, but once I peeked into her shop I understood that this was no ordinary knitter.  Oh no, my friends, this is something very, very special.

In addition to this Bow Headband in Mustard, I found all manner of winter accoutrements that look like they came straight from Alice’s Wonderland.  Hats with massive pompoms, gigantic bow ear warmers, leaf motif headbands- all just so cheerful and wonky!

There is truly no cuter way to warm your ears than with a bow as big as your head.  Big ol’ Bow Ear Warmers in Cherry Red are just the thing to keep your ears warm, hide bed hair, and make you the star of the show every where you go.  I’m pretty sure these would make Minnie Mouse jealous as heck.

If bows aren’t your thing (in which case this probably isn’t the right blog for you), or if you’re just too shy to wear a giant red bow on your head, how about a massive pom pom instead?  This Massive Pom Pom Hat seems like it might be a feat of gravity, but I’d say the cuteness factor is strong enough to encourage excellent posture!

In addition to head wear, Yes Jess also carries some lovely accessories that can be worn in other ways, like this Dapper Knit Tie, perfect for fancy office dress up.  Makes me miss my secretary phase.

Yes Jess also carries plenty of toned down, but still stupid cute slouchy hats and accessories. One of my favorites is the Bows and Bows and Bows Slouch in Baby Pink!  It’s subtle and outrageously adorable all at once.  LOVE!

Added cuteness are the photos- coy looks, stripes, and anything with mustard always wins.  Plus she looks and awful lot like my good friend, Rhea, which adds to the crush.

You can find Yes Jess here:

Yes Jess on Etsy

The Yes Jess blog

and follow  Yes Jess on Twitter