Tara Miller Designs

Put your name on it

I have been intending to put Devon's name on her door at the new place for a few months now. I even bought some really neat vinyl at TJ. Maxx (contact paper) for $4.50 for 2 rolls! The plan was to cut it with my cricut and then install it on the door. However, I didn't have any transfer tape. I hate buying cricut brand supplies because the price is outrageous so I researched alternatives. Apparantly you can use clear contact paper (which I purchased from Wal-mart for $5/roll) and used that. Her name cut like a dream. Once I had isolated the letters, I cut a piece of clear vinyl a little bigger than her name and placed it sticky side down on the name and pressed hard to get good contact. Then I flipped it and pulled the backing off. I was left with the clear contact paper with Devon's name backward on it. Then I lined it up on her door and pressed. You want to make sure you use a credit card or hard squeegie for this. You want the letters to really adhere to the surface so you can pull the contact paper away without the letters coming too. 

She loves her name on the door! Once #2 is born and ready to move it with her big sister, I will add her name as well. I am tossing around the idea of labeling the bathroom downstairs for guests....hmmm

Shop updated!

Hi All, 

Just a quick word to let you know I have added new Out of Print patterns to my Etsy shop! I am cleaning out my sewing room trying to get organzied for baby. Patterns range from $1-$4 with shipping low!

First Quilt

And boy am I proud. I make my daughter's bed every morning just so I can lay it out and touch it. 

I started this back when I was pregnant with Devon in 2008 and then, of course, I had a baby and put it away and forgot about it until we moved recently. I started it up again. I toyed with giving it to #2 since the quilt is approx crib size. However, I started it for Devon so to Devon it would go. After a well-earned pressing I made my quilt sandwich. This is no easy task when you have a 3 yr old moving all her toys from her room to the sewing room, competing for floor space and a 8 mo pregnant belly down on the floor trying to get the wrinkles out. But I did it and then pinned and pinned. It was only after all this pinning and keeping 3 yr old toes away from my pin that I re-read Denyse's book and discovered that I should have used safety pins. This would have also eliminated pins slipping out as I quilted. I just stitched in the ditch around each charm square and it turned out lovely. Next I made my binding, cut to 2.5 '' as instructed by Denyse but I can't figure out why she asks you to cut it so wide. My binding is much wider than I would have liked. It doesn't look bad but just too wide for my taste. I matched my binding to the backside of the quilt (a Flea Market Fancy Pattern) because I had planned to machine stitch my binding on and if there were any imperfections if would blend right it and they did. However, I also threw in a blue Flea Market print just because I love the contrast.  I definitely need more binding practice but I am looking forward to it. 

Oh, I forgot the best part. Right before I made my quilt sandwich, I wrote Devon's name out and embroidered it. I love that is is in my handwriting so she will always recognize it. When I gave her the quilt she said "Oh, Wow!" and my heart melted! I can't wait to get started on #2 small quilt and this time it won't take me 3 years! (I hope)

Etsy Mini

A busy day of nothings

So here is a picture representation of my day today. A lot of this:

Some of this:

Not nearly enough of this:

But plenty of this:

More this weekend when I have rested. We are dealing with separation anxiety in the form of sleep issue with my 3 yr old. Oh and only 8 more weeks till Babe #2 debuts! (insert squeal!)