Tara Miller Designs

Dog Daze of Summer

Treats are not an uncommon occurance in my house and when the word goes out, all dogs come a-running. All except Brittany, who at 15 runs more than she should then makes up for it with marathon naps. Far be it for her to miss out on treats just because she happens to be unconcious. She is after all being good and not getting into trouble and so by the losest definition should be rewarded for such upstanding (upstanding while napping...hehe) behavior. So we (and by we, I mean me) sometimes play tricks on her. My favorite is to put the treat as close as possible before she wakes up. This morning, I won. As you can see, I was able to prop the treat on her nose while she slept for at least 2 min, then I poked her to the other monsters would not steal her treat whilst she dozed. She then proceeded to sniff the entire house, just in case there was another hidden somewhere (which I have never done, but her mind works in weird ways).

I am the proud own of dining room chairs! Hooray. It seems like such a minor accomplishment for most, but I have been lugging chairs from the kitchen to the dining room since Sept. It feels good to have another deed checked off my list and a real place to feed friends and family. Oh, I should mention that I only had 4 kitchen chairs, so Garrett and I would sit on stools when we had more than 2 over, Not comfy. I scored these beauties at the North Ga Outlets, in which is housed one, Pottery Barn Outlet!!! Which also owns West Elm, double score. I have had my heart set on the square chairs for over year but the price tag made us star-crossed lovers. When I went to the outlet to pick out chairs, I had no idea these guys where there. How excited was I to see my chairs in my color! Though they didn't have any arm chairs, I have been in lust with these {let's call them school house chairs} since my last visit to the outlets, but at that time that didn't have these in arm chairs. There must have been some sort of planetary alignment that conceded the exact chairs I would love but hadn't considered putting together till then. Now, I must make chair pads.

Lastly, I have starting knitting for my baby or rather given the size of the finished product, my almost grown child. This bonnet could easily fit a 6 year old and would swallow the head of any baby. Though Garrett did have a big head, so maybe there is so good to be said for big headed babies. Otherwise, I might lose it before it fits.

It is blocking right now, but knit from Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk in Celery and Denim. I don't recommend this pattern from LMKG. It was pretty easy but the directions are poorly and the knit on I-cord made no sense in the pattern but I finally figured it out, once I closed the book and experimented on my own.

Quick N Easy Baby Gifts

Do you ever feel like everyone and their mom is pregnant and guess who is invited to every baby shower. Like the vast majority of Americans and contrary to popular belief (sometimes my own) I am not made of money. I do, however, have a unnecessary amount of fabric and the inclination to use it. So if you find yourself without the desire to take one more trip to Babies R Us to drop an inflated amount of money on something you could probably make yourself, if you weren't so tired from all the baby related games played at these so called fun showers (Trust me ladies, I would rather be at home playing Wii than guessing how many toilet paper squares make up the circumfence of my poor friend here and P.S. she is only going along with it for the free stuff). Here is something to help you out. Next time you are at your local super store pick up some boring essentials (Wash cloths, burb rags, bibs, blankets, or even cloth diapers). Stick with the theme color, if there is one, or go with classic white. I picked up a set of bibs and wash cloths from Ikea and they come in outlined colors that are really non-gender-specific. Next I loaded up my embroidery machine with some thread and chose my design. My friend doesn't know what she is having and has asked me to sew some other items with her last initial "S", so I went with that for her presents too. If you don't have an embroidery machine, you can definity hand embroider something since these appliqués are only about 2'' in diameter. Once you have you design stitched out, cut out your applique in any shape you want, attach it to your item with a glue stick (any children's glue stick is fine) and using satin stitch, attach it to you item. Voila! You have a personalized baby gift that will be the hands down favorite and you won't have to worry about someone else with the same present. This can be a keepsake for years. Pat yourself on the back!

Another Sad Goodbye!

I am adding another fabric in my shop. I have had this for a while and planned to do...well... something with it, but never found the right thing. Oh and there was another minor factor, Garrett hates it and doesn't want it in the house. That doesn't rule it out but there are only so many things a sewing room needs. So I am gladly parting with it to a good home. It is from the Better Homes and Gardens Collection and is called Manolo Spice. It just looks like such fun. I have a little over 5 yds (16 ft) and have listed it on Etsy and Ebay, if there is anyone out there with an open heart. The chenille flowers and the retro design are just to die for. 

Charlotte

 

I am proud to announce a new Knitting Pattern, named after one of my beloved Grandmothers, Charlotte. This scarf, like her name sake, is one cool chic. Designed for the scarf-knitting-haters. Scarfs can be so boring to knit: they go on and on and are usually straight and boring. Charlotte is non of those atrocious attributes. She is short and feisty, but easy to knit. She is easy but not loose. Charlotte is sure to keep you warm when you need it and make you look good to boot. I knit her up in my fave, Cascade 220, but I bet the sheen of silk or cashmere would only enhance her beauty. Check out here on my new knitting patterns page.

Finally got my head out of the toilet!

I must apologize for the long delay in my posting. It all happened about a month or so ago that I found out that I was pregnant (hooray!). Instantly, morning sickness got the memo and was on the job. Now this fellow working for morning sickness must have been new and full of zeal to show the boss man that he was on the job, because this kid didn't stop. One morning I woke up and my walking friend told me, when I answered the door to croak that I would not be walking, that I looked green. Vit B-6 was very helpful but most days I was out for the whole day. There were weeks when Garrett came home to a swear storm that usually ended in "And never come near me again". But, I suppose the morning sickness crew is settled into their new position and have decided that, indeed, coffee break is an all day endevor. None-the-less, I am feeling much less sick and more prone to this walking and talking idea. Eating is still something I must ease back into, but I do have the occasional cravings (which means whatever it is is the only thing I will consider putting in my body this day) usually Taco bell and mostly tomatoes.
Don't worry about the baby, I have already decided that he/she will recieve no allowance from me till he/she has properly apologized. A proper apology has yet to be determined.
I am busy coming up with design ideas for the baby's room and so far we have settled on blue. No word yet on the gender but this blue was the only one I could tolerate when we went to Lowe's the other day.
I have been knitting and sewing some while sick but mostly knitting, as that is easily done while flat on the couch. I am working on the Dollar and Half Cardigan from Interweave Knits. It is slow going since everything makes me tired these days.
Oh- I am cleaning out my fabric stash some to make room the murphy bed we plan to put in the sewing room so we won't lose a guest room when the new one comes. I will be posting my stash on etsy, slowly, so check often. Here is my first listing so far.

Oh- I forgot I am 10 weeks- Go finger nails!