Pink's the new pink

My grandmother's had a rough go of it the last few years. Diagnosed with several forms of cancer, she battled back against each one, and we're all thankful for every extra moment the Lord has let her stay with us. Until this fall, she lived with my mom in Texas, but when my mom had to get a new job with less flexible hours, we all knew it was for the best if Grams moved to Georgia to live with my aunt, who's a stay-at-home mom and would have more flexibility to get Grams to things like doctor's appointments and to be around if she needed help during the day. It's been hard on everyone. I wanted to cheer Grams (a fellow sewer) up and help her feel more at home with a few little gifts I thought she'd like. It started with this little tote, which my aunt thought would be nice for trips to the doctor's office or just out and about. It's big enough to hold a book, her doctor's folder, and plenty more. Plus, Grams always has a purse full of wadded-up tissue, so I made a little tissue pouch to match.

For Christmas, I wanted something a bit bigger. My aunt suggested a runner for the top of her dresser. Grams LOVES color, so when I saw Dena Fishbein's Tea Garden collection, I knew it would be perfect for this project. I bought five of the prints from the fuchsia color palette: Darjeeling, Honey Bush, Ming, Oolong, and Meditation (purchased from Hawthorne Threads and Sew, Mama, Sew!).

Based on the size of the dresser, I worked out my measurements for the final length and width. I knew I didn't want to use each fabric in the same size, so I calculated out the five pieces in varying lengths and then switched them up for the back (same fabrics, but in different lengths).

Putting it all together was super easy. Once you have both sides put together, lay them out right sides together, then place a piece of batting on top (I used cotton flannel cut to the size of my put-together strip.) and sew around the outside, leaving a hole for turning. Turn right side out, topstitch around the edge (closing up the hole you turned it through), press, and you're done.

I love the way it turned out, and so did Grams. Plus, I gotta say I was happy to have fabric left over; these colors are just screaming to be used in a little clutch or something pretty. Add it to the list.

And this must have been the year of pink in my sewing room because this guy popped out using the same pink fabrics I used in my wine bag tutorial, Joel Dewberry's Herringbone in Berry and Dogwood Bloom in Berry from the Modern Meadow collection (purchased from Hawthorne Threads).

I was inspired by the outside ruffle on this bag from The Sweet Life by Design and used Noodlehead's makeup bag tutorial for the rest.

This one headed to my friend Nicole's casa in Texas loaded with beauty goodies.