Fun Hairstyles

I've found some fun tutorials for hair that I've been using lately... especially since it's so long  it's nice to pull it up in cute ways.
This one from Casey's Elegent Musings: Romantic Updo.  I've done it just like the tutorial and I've also just done three buns in the back:

These next three are from a Japanese girl I found on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xRPhy26x2k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LVC07WsZvM&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/user/binosusume#p/u/38/8et8urwW44k

This next one is from Princess Hairstyles - it's meant for mom's to do their daughter's hair, but I can do this one myself: http://www.princesshairstyles.com/2011/01/knotted-braid-hairstyle.html
I want to try this one next:
http://www.princesshairstyles.com/2010/12/how-to-french-braid-4-strand.html

Book Exchange Invite

 Les Bonnes Idees just gave us a wonderful award for our book party - check it out here.  Also Michelle created this invite template because of all of the requests and interest in said Book Exchange Party for anyone to use!  Thanks Chelle.
I hope to get another party together this spring with these two creative geniuses!  I have a laundry list of cute ideas...
Book Check Out-Template

quilt top accomplished...

notice each corner has a star. i know it's different than i've ever had.

i really like the bright colors and vintage appeal in the embroidery.

i almost wish i hadn't added the brown border. i wanted to calm it down

a little. i'll do red for the backing and let the quilter have creatvie

license on the quilting. i always trust her. i will make pillow shams

while the quilt is being quilted. i'm not sure i want to make another

large quilt. and this one was easy.

the quilt so far...

i put blocks on the corners. hope you can see them. now i will do borders

i also made some star blocks to add to it or maybe on the pillow shams

it's really bright, huh? let me know what you think...

quilt blocks

here are the ebroidered quilt blocks i am using in my quilt.

Family Tree Silhouettes

I gave one of these to each of the families on  my side for Christmas.  I got the idea from here. I took a picture of everyone's profile at Thanksgiving and then turned them black in photoshop.  I used Paisley Press' oval frame kit, which helped make sure everyone's silhouette was the same size. Underneath is each person's full name.  Don't worry in-laws of mine, I hope to be doing one of these for us soon!  (Anna your family's is in the mail!)

Christmas Sewing

I sewed my nieces and nephew's gifts this year but I forgot to take pictures...This is one of the aprons I made for my niece from this Mccall's pattern.

I'm also in love with vintage clothing right now - mainly the late 30s through the 50s - so for Christmas I wanted a plaid tafetta dress like this one... but I couldn't find one that I could afford.  I decided to sew a circle skirt instead:

(sorry about the bad pictures).  I used this poodle skirt pattern and Made's circle skirt tutorial to make it.  Super easy, especially using wide elastic at the top.  I threw together a netted slip to wear underneath, but have since ordered a vintage one for my summer dresses.