GIVEAWAY WINNER:$75 credit and 5 patterns to Honeybear Lane

Today we are announcing the winners of the Honeybear Lane Giveaway, but first let's have Heidi tell us all about her gorgeous design...

I started Honeybear Lane on a whim when I was just getting back into sewing. I saw a puff quilt on my sister's bed years ago and I always wanted to make one. Now I've made dozens of puff quilts and love designing them! I also love to share what I've learned and help others learn to expand their sewing skills, which is why I have made the Puff Quilt Tutorial Pattern. I also share all my other crafts and projects on my blog, Honeybear Lane.

Find out who are the lucky 5 Honeybear Lane Giveaway winners and how to get the code for %15 off everything at Honeybear Lane after the jump.

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Shirred Maternity Tunic Top

If you love Anthropologie and you love sewing you will love this tutorial by Megan from DIY Maternity. Megan has come up with a plethora of ideas for sewing up your own maternity wear. She has told us about some of her favorite Fall/Winter posts such as How to Make a Wrap Cardigan, Maternity Maxi Skirt, and even her Fall/Winter Sewing list, where she assembles weekly outfits and provides you with 13 do-it-yourself sewing pieces. For all of you with your little bun in the oven, make sure to check out the Maternity Calendar Shirt post to start the big countdown.

Now, let's get to sewing. Megan will tell you all about how to make this adorable top after the jump...

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FABRIC FRIDAY!

Tina Givens' Lilliput Vintage Take Orange fabric has such a beautiful, timeless look with bold and modern colors. I can just imagine myself resting on a window seat, made with this fabric, in the middle of my French cottage. Oh to dream...

To enter for a chance to win one yard of Tina Givens' Lilliput, Vintage Take Orange leave a comment telling us what other country you could imagine yourself having a home in. Leave your comment anytime between now and Friday, November 4th. Tweet, Stumble, or share on Facebook and leave another comment letting us now. Come back every day for new entries. We'll randomly select a winner and announce right here next Friday.

Find out who won last week's Fabric Friday after the jump...

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Link Love

Instead of buying decorated garlands use those fabric scraps to create a garland with unique and homemade charm.

Glam up your Bugaboo stroller by following this tutorial to create your own Bugaboo canopy.

I have always bought a cinnamon stick broom when the holidays come around. Now I think I will add making this Winter Citrus potpourri to my favorite holiday scents.

If you love to make your special apple cider every year, try spicing it up by serving it inside a real apple.

THE IDEAS KEEP COMING...

Next time your kids take a bath have them whip up these waterproof finger puppets. Before you know it they will have perfected Romeo and Juliet.

Our friend Rachel from Handmade Charlotte creates the cutest Anthropologie Mini Line for little ones.

Kids grew out of their winter coats? No problem. Follow this pattern to make a coat as adorable as this.

Halloween costumes are almost done, good job mamas. Treat yourself by making this stylish winter shirt dress.

The Hatch Collection is brilliant now you can have maternity clothes that you can wear before, during and after the pregnancy.


Looks like an expensive coat, right? Click this link for the free pattern, yes I said free, and start sewing.

We all love our children's artwork, but every day they come home with new stuff it's hard to find new places to put it. Jan Eleni has created a new way to shrink your children's artwork and compile it into framed collages. Check out what I mean on her page and click on collages to see the mini masterpieces.

Now that you have the patterns needed to make your winter coats, learn how to make a coat rack to hang all of them.


We love to Babble...
Out with Evergreen and in with Mint.
A beautifully tiny world.
GIVEAWAY for those potty training mamas.
What do I do with these fabric Christmas panels?
Print out these Free Treats for your Halloween party.
GIVEAWAY: 5 copies of This is Your Book.

Giveaway Winner: Wiley Book Lauch Party Invite... and books!

The winner will join me at the Wiley book launch party this Saturday evening, meet the authors of Make Stuff Together, Sewing for Boys and Sewing with Oilcloth and take home a signed copy of all three books is... #6!

denise gisele said...

Oh how flippin fun! I really wanted to go!!! I'm pretty new to quilting but I'm soaking up all the info I can and I already love it!

Congrats Denise! I can't wait to meet you! Send me an email using the CONTACT US form and we will coordinate. xoxo Jacinda

Love: Handmade Charlotte for Anthropologie

Have you ever seen such an adorable collection of kid's clothing? We had to share this with you because it's all HAND SEWN by our friend Rachel Faucett, mother of five and author of the beautiful blog Handmade Charlotte. She spent all summer sewing this collection for Anthropologie in her house, and now Handmade Charlotte for Anthropologie is available online! What a dream come true, right? Our faves include the Little Plume Coat (above) and the Merrymount Dress...

and super sweet Love Letter Bloomers...

This is one time we totally recommend a splurge. So pretty!

Nail Trend Take One: Whaddya Think?

Earlier this week I posted a round up of 25 Fun & Flirty Nail Trends to Try, so I figured I'd give one a shot at my monthly visit to the nail salon. I went with the apricot and one-gold-ring-finger look spotted at Cupcakes and Cashmere. What do you think? I think I'm kinda feeling it, but the toes...
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GIVEAWAY: Quilt Market Book Party Invite!

I'm off to Quilt Market in Houston tomorrow and I'm sooo excited. I love to see all things new in fabric but also, I must admit, I love seeing all my lovely sewing world celebrities! There is something about being in the same room as Anna Maria, Amy, Sandi and Heather that makes me all warm and happy. Or is that just the free champagne? That was the scene the last time we rubbed elbows at a Wiley Publishing book party. Someone even literally set themself on fire. It was THAT much fun. Don't worry, she's fine.

So who wants to be my party date? If you live in Houston or in town for Quilt Market, leave a comment here today. One winner will be randomly selected and announced here tonight at midnight. The winner will join me at the party and meet the authors of Make Stuff Together, Sewing for Boys and Sewing with Oilcloth and take home a signed copy of all three books!

Winner must be present to receive books. If you stand me up, I'm keeping them. And I'm drinking your champagne.

Event is Saturday, October 29th, 6-8PM in the George R. Brown Convention Center area.

GIVEAWAY WINNER: 1 Free Month of Advertising on Prudent Baby

The time has come to announce the winner of 1 Free Month of Advertising on Prudent Baby but first, check out our fantastic sponsors below. We are so thankful for all of our sponsors because they have helped so much in making Prudent Baby possible.


Time to toss that old bag you have been using for years and replace it with a durable handmade Luckycann handmade bag. As they say, these bags are made for function and fashion.

Storkie.com is a one stop shop for invitations, announcements, you name it. Did I mention their custom baby postage stamps?

Sew Fun features lovely PDF patterns like their Special Occasion Gift Tote, Boho Shoulder Bag, Baby Puzzle Ball and Grab & Go Diaper Clutch. Plus they share excellent tutorials like Perfect Baby Blocks, Table Scrap Coasters and How To Line Up Stripes or Designs.

Keep reading to see more of our amazing sponsors and find out who won 1 free month of advertising on Prudent Baby...

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Making Your Own Pattern

We often hear that new sewists are intimidated by drawing their own patterns, so we were thrilled to see Katy from Sweet Verbana made a fantastically easy Make Your Own Pattern Tutorial that everyone, yes everyone, can do!

Make sure to stop by Sweet Verbana's to check out many of Katy's other tutorials like the adorable Maxi Dress, an infinity loop scarf (perfect for winter) and even a learn how to do reverse applique (I'm seeing Holiday gifts!).

Don't go anywhere just yet, keep reading for the Making Your Own Pattern Tutorial after the jump.

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GIVEAWAY WINNER: This is Your Book

The time has come to announce the winner of This Is Your Book but first let's do a little recap of our favorite baby journal: This Is Your Book: A fill-in journal for all the things that happened when you were a baby was designed by this dad and graphic artist when he couldn't find a baby book that captured all of the things he wanted to share with his newborn daughter about her start in this life. You can check out the author, Ryan Maconochie's site, for more glimpses inside.

And the winner is...
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25 Fun & Flirty Nail Trends to Try

Calling all Hot Mess Mommies - manicures are such the little luxury, no? Personally, I've never been one for fancy nail art manicures, but after a recent trip to London I think I may change my mind. It seems that across the pond it's become a bit of a craze to turn the tips of your fingers into ten tiny artworks. We are not talking the bedazzled acrylic talons of yesteryear -- the new look in nail art is short, sweet, and just plain fun. Maybe a detailed rainbow on each finger is a little over the top for you, but would you try doing just one nail in a different color like the manicure pictured above? I've rounded up 25 fun & flirty nail art looks, from over the top patterns to subtle chic styles. Many even have links to tutorials teaching you how to recreate the look yourself using things as unexpected as patterned paper, stamps, and tape.

So check out 25 Fun & Flirty Nail Trends to Try, and see if you aren't tempted to give nail art a try.

Silhouette Cameo is Here + A Special Deal

If you hang out with us on The Facebook you know that I spent last weekend sweetly caressing the new Silhouette Cameo that I was invited to try out. Jaime and I have been fans of Silhouette for a long time. Their cutting machines are amazing tools. The Cameo stands up to the quality and precision of the SD (the previous model) but introduces a larger cutting space (hello 12"x12"), an adjustable cutting blade with deeper cut options and more.

So I tried a few little last minute paper projects for Halloween (more on that later) and also dove into the Fabric Ink Starter Kit and made this little horse stencil on a piece of Anna Maria Horner Lou Lou Thi Needlework. Clare has already called dibs. Horses are her fav. Read on to see the process of fabric stenciling with the silhouette and an exclusive code for a special deal from Silhouette?

And I just have to mention this sweet pattern for baby shoes cut on the silhouette. Just download the pattern, let your Silhouette cut out the fabric covered interfacing and sew up the pieces. Amazing! Honestly, what will they think of next?


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The Easiest Halloween Decoration: Old West Haunted Graveyard

We love Halloween here at the Curtis household. I thought I'd share some pics of our haunted graveyard. There's a sweet story behind these decorations, if you can believe it.


I have four siblings, two of whom are much younger than I. When I was a teenager, before they were born, I'd visit my dad's house around Halloween, and a house down the street always had the coolest old west graveyard decorations taking over their lawn. Around the time that I went off to college, it seems the kids from that home also left the nest. When my brother and sister were toddlers, the owners of that home passed along the decorations to my father & stepmother so they could keep up the tradition on the street. Now my siblings are almost in college themselves, so the decorations were passed on to me to share with Scarlet.


So these tombstones have history. We've also added a few new ones. I love the "old west graveyard" theme because it's inexpensive and easy to execute! You just take scrap wood and paint silly halloween tombstone sayings on them, then use a mallet to drive a stake into your grass and lean the tombstone on it. Rain, sprinklers, and the elements only make the tombstones look more old and authentic.


And of course, some skeleton limbs, zombie arms, and light-up brains only add to the fun.


My favorite addition this year was Scarlet's selection of rubber centipedes, which of course had to be placed on skulls.


And my husband's finger-on-the-doorbell brings me endless joy. I knew I married him for a reason.


Check out some more pics of our easy Halloween Old West Haunted Graveyard after the jump, and tell me, do you think it's too much?
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Last Minute Halloween Costume: Tippi Hedren in The Birds

Not sure what to be for Halloween yet? Here's a last minute costume that's easy to pull together and totally awesome: Melanie Daniels (as played by Tippi Hedren) in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds.

My friend Erin went as this one year, then I stole the costume from her a few years later (right after baby was born and I hadn't quite pulled myself together yet). It took about three minutes to get the elements together and I had a great response at our annual halloween bash. This year my friend Anna (mom of adorable Niko that you've seen featured on Prudent Baby before) asked to borrow the get-up, so I forced her to pose for pictures as payment. All you need is an old dress, a blonde wig done up 60's style (or your own hair), and some dollar store black birds.  Stick a few in your hair...


Glue a few to your dress...


Accessorize with some drips of fake blood (or a lip liner works just as well) and act spooked out all night long!


Think you might give it a try?

FABRIC FRIDAY!

Doesn't this Catch of the Day fabric just take you back to those days spent fishing with dad by the river? Not me. I was always too grossed out by the idea of slimy and icky fish flopping around. What was I thinking? The idea of sitting in a boat all day long in silence to catch some little yummy fish, sounds pretty fantastic!

To enter for a chance to win one yard of Catch of the Day by Hoodie tell us of a fish related memory you have. It can be your memory as a kid all the way to something that just happened yesterday. When I was little my mom thought it would be a good idea to let our goldfish swim with the Koi in our pond. About 5 minutes went by and Goldie was gone. Apparently the Koi preferred to eat her than play. Leave your comment anytime between now and Friday, October 28th. Tweet, Stumble, or share on Facebook and leave another comment letting us now. Come back every day for new entries. We'll randomly select a winner and announce right here next Friday.

Find out who won last week's Fabric Friday after the jump...

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Link Love

This is an adorable tute for DIY "boot socks" but what's even better is the name of the blog... Oops I Craft My Pants. HA!

This caught my eye since I'm currently in lovely Mexico. Learn how to make mini-pinatas with Jordan at Oh Happy Day.

What a cute and simple way to make a Halloween wreath - with mini umbrellas. Learn how to at Design Editor.

This room is entirely knitted and entirely amazing, at Beyond Beyond.

As I mentioned, I'm lucky enough to currently be in San Cristobal de las Casas, in Chiapas, Mexico for a tweet-up sponsored by the Mexico Department of Tourism as well as the Adventure Travel World Summit. I think you all know that we adore Mexico. This trip has been an especially amazing experience and I can't wait to tell you about it. But in the meantime, follow our adventures on twitter at hashtag #WeVisitMexico, and check out some of these wonderfully inspiring sites written by some friends I've met here...

The Planet D - Dave & Deb have been on the road for 11 years and have some truly awesome stories to read and great advice to give.
Off Track Planet - This site is particularly good for the young & single set. Their new magazine has some interesting headlines...
Matador Network - Awesome community site for adventure travelers
Ken Kaminesky - oh, the photos. THE PHOTOS!
Solo Traveler - Janice is a kindred spirit, she traveled solo in her twenties like me, but now she's doing it all again. Def. check out her adventures.
Girls Getaway - Dian runs this online magazine covering exactly what you think!

Babbling about...
25 Totally Clever Storage Tips & Tricks
9 Creative Books to Share with Your Kids
15 of the Coolest Chore Charts for Kids (with free downloads)
Giving away $50 Gift Cards!
The prettiest (& splurgiest) storage for kid's rooms.
20 Free & Utterly Unique DIY Rug Tutorials
Giving away a luxurious set of towels, enter here.

Off to have a margarita or five!  See you Monday!

Introduction to Cheater Quilts

Cheater is such an ugly word for such a beautiful thing. Cheater quilts are a perfect project for new sewists or folks with little time for craftiness. Featuring fabric designed and printed to look like patchwork or applique, a cheater quilt allows you to skip the huge task of doing piecework on a quilt. All you have to do is quilt and bind. I quilted this lovely baby quilt in about 30 minutes. All that's left to do is bind it, which can be done quickly on the machine or heirloom quality by hand. Stay tuned for upcoming posts on the different ways to bind a quilt.

But I know the big question, right? What is that gorgeous fabric? It's Jay-Cyn Designs Storyboek for Birch Fabrics - Field Stroll Cheater and the back (which I think would be so cute for Christmas) is Field Friends Coral. Both are on sale right now at Fabricworm.

And the baby... is Gordon, who is totally man enough to pose with a pink quilt. Thanks buddy, I owe you the boy version.

Read on to learn more about how to make a cheater quilt.
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GIVEAWAY: 1 Free Month of Advertising on Prudent Baby

We have some lovely new sponsors this month. Have you taken a peek? Best part is you could be one of them!


Time to toss that old bag you have been using for years and replace it with a durable handmade Luckycann handmade bag. As they say, these bags are made for function and fashion.

Storkie.com is a one stop shop for invitations, announcements, you name it. Did I mention their custom baby postage stamps?

Sew Fun features lovely PDF patterns like their Special Occasion Gift Tote, Boho Shoulder Bag, Baby Puzzle Ball and Grab & Go Diaper Clutch. Plus they share excellent tutorials like Perfect Baby Blocks, Table Scrap Coasters and How To Line Up Stripes or Designs.

Keep reading to see the other amazing sponsors that help make Prudent Baby possible and learn how to enter for a chance to win 1 Free Month of Advertising after the jump...

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GIVEAWAY WINNER: Sewing for Boys: 24 Projects to Create A Handmade Wardrobe

Mamas of the males, this one is for you. Sewing for Boys: 24 Projects to Create A Handmade Wardrobe is filled with projects to make for your little man... snips and snails and puppy dog tails not included. This stylish book with full-sized patterns, spiral binding and a nice array of projects for sewists from beginner to advanced is created by the authors of Patterns by Figgy's. Read on to see more of this excellent book and who won a free copy!



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How to Make Tea Cup Candles

Almost two years ago now we took our first try at making Soy candles in baby food jars. Today we will take it a step further by making soy candles in beautiful and unique tea cups. With Christmas quickly approaching these are perfect to give as a gift or use as party favors. You could even make them inside coffee mugs for those manlier guests. It's way easier than you think...

Find out how to make tea cup candles after the jump...
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