A Proliferation of Pillows - The Addiction Continues!

I was so excited to be asked to create these special pillows for an upcoming wedding. Aren't they a great way to remember a special day? Selecting that perfect gift for a special occasion can often be a challenge, and you really want something that will be cherished for years to come.  I think personalized pillows are just the thing, don't you? These sweeties will be residing on the bride and groom's couch post wedding and I hope they will be a continual reminder of a very special day in their lives. These pillow covers are made of a durable cotton front and a linen backing. This customer wanted to have envelope closures, but a zipper closure would also be just fine. I love the neutral colours and simplicity of the embroidered monograms and dates. The larger pillow are 16X16 and the smaller date pillow is 12x18.

I heart weddings!

Visions of pillows are swirling around in my head - Oh! The possibilities are endless! Wouldn't it be adorable to embroider a pillow with baby's name, date of birth, weight and all those yummy details for a new nursery? I'll bet a new mom would be smitten with such a thoughtful gift. How about Christmas gifts for cousins, nieces and nephews? Embroidered pillows are going to be making an appearance in my Etsy shop very soon. Check it out at:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheBryerPatchDesigns. Maybe you have a unique idea for an embroidered pillow? Let me know, I am always available to help your vision come to life. It is quite possible you too will soon have a pillow addiction!

Have a happy Friday and a wonderful long weekend. Pop by for a visit to see what is on my sewing table over the weekend - I think you might find it "woof"-tastic!!!

Wordless Wednesday

On Birthday Parties and Loot Bag Love : )

My girls are well beyond loot bags, and birthday parties for that matter . They recently informed me that they don't "do" birthday parties anymore. Although I logically knew this to be true (they hadn't gone to a traditional birthday party for a while) I was still a bit sad to realize that this season of parenting has evaporated. They still seem to love the whole gift thing though! My twins will be turning 14 next month, and I have wonderful memories of creating themed birthday parties for them. I really enjoyed preparing for the parties, and would plan elaborate and themed activities for a couple of months before the party. I realize this puts me into a category possibly called " Twin Mom Insanity", but hey, I was happy in that zone!

All that to say, that I must now indulge my birthday party loot bag love by helping other moms create tiny totes to add to their celebrations. Oh, what fun!  Recently I was asked to create some pink and purple loot bags and they turned out to be as cute as a bug's ear!

Tiny Totes all in a row...cuties!

On the cusp of celebrating a couple of 14 year old girls, I am very aware of many changes to come. My dollies will be starting high school next week, and I am very proud to say that I feel they are ready for the responsibilities and adventures they must navigate. Every single birthday marks an opportunity for the girls to gain more independence. It is so much fun to watch as personalities and talents emerge with the passing of time. So, to those moms out there suffering from that very specific condition called, "Birthday Party Stress', I urge you to step back for a minute and revel in all the fun. Before long, you will be reminiscing about the birthday parties. And believe me, you won't remember the stress!

Just a few more pictures of the tiny totes, a bit of eye candy this morning! Enjoy, and have a happy day!

All ready to party!

What is cuter than gingham???

Latest Creations from my Sewing Studio

I haven't had a lot of time to sew for myself lately, but when I saw this pattern from IThinkSew, I just had to make it! It has a flat bottom and side panels so it is super roomy for hauling lots of stuff. It would be a great beach bag too....

Monogram Weekend Bag

I just love the colours of these medium sized bags. I know the sisters who are receiving these totes will get plenty of use out of them!

Floral Frame Initial Tote Bags

Non Stop Sewing!

I just love being in my little sewing room, and lately I have had plenty of excuse to do so. I have been creating all kinds of totes and a few kitchen goodies. I have also really enjoyed making these baby blankies. They are so cozy, and just the right size. Have a look at the latest creations - I hope you like them!

Baby Gift Sets

Personalized baby blankets approximately 20x20 - $35.00. Larger sizes available upon request.

Bib/burp cloth/soother clip sets - $30.00

Set of three burp cloths, terry cloth backing and fabric front. $15.00

Tutu bags $35.00

Personalized towels $30.00

Contact sjbrunette@gmail.com for additional information.

Set of three personalized bibs - $35.00

Some new baby items

Here are a couple of new baby items that I have been working on. Stay tuned for a few more special things!

Merry Christmas!

Things are crazy here as we prepare for the holiday season. I have had several custom orders for Christmas, and they were such fun to make! Here at our house, we are still awaiting snow even though a green Christmas is likely. We have lots of family arriving at the end of the week and it should be plenty of fun. Above you will see some of the orders that I prepared - so many fun colours! Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

Baby Shower Bliss

I just love baby showers! They are such happy times, full of laughter and excitement. Yesterday we celebrated with my cousin and her husband, who are expecting their first baby in February. We had a family luncheon and it was so nice to connect with everyone.

Now that my own "babies" are getting so big (12 years old - wow!), I am forced to get my baby fix elsewhere. Luckily, we will soon have a couple of new babies in the family. I remember when my own babies were tiny, and despite the exhaustion they were magical days. I wish this joy for my cousin and her family and was thrilled to be able to host a party for them. I made her a tote bag to take to Grammie's house  along with some other goodies. I am really excited about the bibs that I have made for her. They are "milestone" bibs, so that she can put them on Logan at one month, two months, and so on for a great year of pictures as he grows. I think the biggest hit with both young and old was the candy bar. Filled full of blue and green treats it made an adorable display and it was "sweet" of everyone to come.


Have a happy week!

Pillow Addiction

I just love pillows! I think that they add the perfect touch to any room. It is so fun to make pillows for children. It is always so nice to have something personalized with a name, isn't it? Recently I have made lots of pillows but my favourite has to be the "L" pillow made for my cousin's baby room. She has chosen such lovely colours for the room. I also whipped up a frayed flower initial pillow for my daughter. She has a vintage bedspread so we chose lovely retro fabrics. Have a look!

Welcome!

Well, hello! Welcome to my brand new blog. A little about me...my name is Shannon, and I am in love, truly and madly, with my sewing/embroidery machines. Really, I think I might have an addiction. I wake up at night thinking of all of the things I need to make! My true passion is bags and home dec stuff. I have always loved purses (ask my long suffering hubby about that!) and tote bags. Personalized stuff is also a fave. So, I have combined the two! I can lose entire days whipping up bags and pillows. It all started when I decided to take a sewing class. I have always wanted to learn and I was hooked by the time the first lesson was even over. I loved all of the different stitches and lettering on my machine, so when I discovered that there was such thing as an embroidery machine, I just about lost my mind! So, I am now the proud owner of both machines. I am mom to identical twin girls who are just the best!


I am thrilled to finally get this little business venture off the ground. I hope it's not cheating, but my wonderful mother-in-law was my very first customer! She ordered four tote/library bags for her sister's grandkids as Christmas gifts. I embroidered them with applique and we will add a corresponding book for a great gift that can be used time and time again.

Please grab a cup of tea and have a look around. I am attaching some pictures so that you can get an idea for what kinds of things I create. There really is no limit to what designs are available. My favourite thing to sew is the tote bag. I have always loved purses and all manner of bags. I also adore home dec stuff and especially like personalized pillows for kids. Thanks for joining me! If you have any questions, drop me a line!