felt flowers and monograms

i finally had a chance to create a new little something and am so excited with the way these cute felt clips turned out! hopefully once we get used to our new schedule i will have a chance to make some for the shop.

and if you are looking for great gift ideas or need something monogrammed, check out my cousin's online business, the monogram girl. she put lucy's name on this cute lunchbag from gymboree!

the nadine

named after my grandma nadine who started this quilt top. i turned it into a large tote and lined it with heavy cotton fabric. it is listed in my etsy shop but if it doesn't sell it's going to be our summer park/pool bag!

totes

i have recently started writing for tastebud magazine here in kc. it is a free publication about all things food, drinks and local people and places. my first article was about setting a table for special occasions and how it doesn't have to be over the top to be unique. i used the tabletop from my mom's birthday i wrote about on this blog a few months back. tastebud is on the stands now and you can find it at local hen house markets, whole foods and lots of other coffee shops, etc.

my second article for the may issue is on reusable totes. here's a little preview:

paper and plastic are no longer the only options when shopping for groceries at the store or farmers’ markets. according to the EPA, last year Americans consumed more than 380 BILLION single-use plastic bags. the production of these plastic bags requires a great amount of oil and the majority end up as littler or in landfills where they break down into toxins that pollute our earth. an easy solution: bring a reusable grocery tote. this simple action is a way to spread the message of environmental sustainability and show off your ‘green style’ while shopping. there are the simple bags now offered by most stores but I thought I would search KC and the internet for some fun options.

the first pic is a selection from stuff: blue raddish appliqued canvas tote, a recycled plastic bag tote made from crocheting over 65 plastic grocery sacks, and a recycled rice bag from indonesia. the second pic is from bad seed farm: a local urban farmer's market that grows heirloom veggies and has a small shop in the crossroads. third pic is onw of mine that i will hopefully be making more for my etsy shop. the last pic is from it's only natural: printed logo on an organic cotton tote.

Where to find reusable grocery bags:
Locally
Stuff, 316 w.63rd, KCMO, http://www.pursuegoodstuff.com/
The Bad Seed, 1909 McGee, KCMO, http://www.badseedfarm.com/
It’s Only Natural, 407 W. Gregory Blvd., KCMO, http://www.itsonlynatural.us/
Bijin, 71st & Mission Road, Prairie Village, http://www.bijinsalon.com/

On the Web:
http://www.reusablebags.com/
http://www.melissavest.etsy.com/
http://www.delight.com/

also, check out my new blog @ www.designbotanica.blogspot.com. i will be adding photos from past weddings and gearing up to start doing flowers again! i would love for this blog to include inspirations for entertaining and weddings. lots of fun ideas and hopefully someday the time to create them!

good day sunshine

this new design makes me smile! i can't wait for the sun to come out here.

ice cream

a new design for summer! it's coming, right?!

more onesies with baby's initial. i'm really liking the way these are turning out and having fun using new fonts and fabrics.

flower clips

there will be a small shop update today!

mama made a brand new bag

i have been wanting a new purse for awhile now and hadn't found one that i loved, so last night i stayed up too late and made this one. it's a kind of pink velvet-y material on the outside and linen on the inside. the material is fitting for winter but the pale pink color and flower pin is a reminder that spring is not too, too far off. and as an added bonus it actually fit everything in it this morning including a book, the diaper and wipes case, a checkbook with a new matching cover, wallet and burt's bees chapstick!

i think lucy may need a bag of her own soon.

here she is modeling her new appliqued shirt and first haircut. all of the whispy baby curls are gone and she looks sooo big. another reminder that time does go so fast.

today's creative blog

hope everyone had a great holiday season. we did but it was very busy, so sorry about the blogging break! i have been trying to finish up orders and working on new projects. i have had several requests for adult sizes and i am working on some fun designs. i will let you know when those are ready. one of my new years resolutions is to make more time create and grow this business. i've never been a good organizer, so we'll see how this goes. i promise to have some etsy updates soon!

last weekend (yes i'm that far behind) i was a feature on today's creative blog! thank you, thank you kim! thanks also for your kind comments, i feel like a real blogger now and am encouraged to keep creating!

the pictures above are from a new bag that i made to replace all of the plastic bags from the grocery stores, target, etc. (another resolution was to be more 'green') i have a few different sizes and versions and hopefully will be able to offer these for sale, too!

apron

this is the first apron i have made and i think it turned out so cute. i can't wait to make lucy and the boys their own (this is an order for a friend). oh, how i wish i had time to make all of my neices one. perfect for helping mom and dad in the kitchen or working on art projects.

new designs

fun for the big birthday.

soft and comfy soy onepieces personalized with baby's initial and a little flower or star on the back.

this snowflake with a little mountain scene on the back went to colorado.

open house - fiddly fig nov. 2-4

clothespins

these little clothespins are so happy! i've been wanting to make some for lucy's room and here they are, some packaged for the open house in two weeks.

giddy up

well it is a soggy day here. henry's field trip to deanna rose farm was canceled, so i had time to stop by harper's to pick up some new fabric including this cowboy print and dots in lots of colors. and long naps for the two little ones meant some time to sew!

peace and love

creating new designs for the open house. i love working with the different colors and styles of the soy clothing. i also have an order for letters and 'art' for a children's store in pennsylvania.

baby soy

i am so excited about a new line of baby clothing that i have to applique! it is from baby soy: style + nature's softness for eco-babies and sassy mamas! there are long sleeved onesies, kimono onesies and onepieces, kimono tees and pants. they come in fabulous color combinations. i had to take the picture of them outside because it is gorgeous here today.

love, love, love fall!

other exciting news is quince and clover will be featured at the fiddly fig for their open house november 2-4. this is the flower shop i worked at and they have a great retail area as well. the open house is lots of fun, a ton of beautiful fresh flowers and great holiday decorating ideas!

better get to sewing...

peanut

a new little work of 'art'.

hip to be square

new onesie design.

funky finds

a custom letter for a little one named willa (such a cute name!) and a new flutter appliqued art for my etsy shop. also, does anyone have another good name for these little works? they aren't really 'art' but i can't think of anything else to call them. any ideas would be appreciated!

and i'm very excited to be featured on funky finds today! this blog is so neat because it features items that you might not find anywhere else. she is also part of a really neat group of creative girls. thanks jessica!

quince and clover

my name is heather, or hetty to some of my friends. i have three crazy, creative, funny, winey, sassy and sweet children (henry, charlie and lucy). i love creating whether it is with fresh flowers, fabrics, papers or whatever inspires me on a particular day. for the past five years i have been designing flowers for weddings and events but now i'm looking forward to my new creative adventure, quince and clover.

the name: it is hard to come up with a unique name that for me had to be a little organic with some meaning. i chose quince because we have a flowering quince bush in our backyard that the boys have picked the fruit from and we have made "quince soup" and "quince pie". clover because of the great bouquets of "flowers" that they pick for me because they know i love flowers. anyway, it just kind of came together and it will always remind me of this time in life when their imaginations are so big and they are just happy playing in the yard or going on little adventures.

what it is: i learned to sew from my grandma nadine when i was a little girl and have been creating ever since. the picture above is one of the first things she taught me to embroider. right now i have so many ideas and not enough time to make everything, so i'm trying to focus on sewing. i have started making appliqued onesies, burp cloths, blankets, bibs, etc. these will be for sale at my shop on etsy. i'll keep updating the shop as i make more things. please let me know what your favorites are or if you ever want to have something custom made! thanks to all of my friends and family for their encouragement!

blogging: i've been so inspired by all of the craft and design blogs and have listed some of my favorites. i'm hoping this one will be filled with new ideas that i'm working on, family life and inspirations!