Covert Robin gift! :)

I received my beautiful Cover Robin gift and here is the lovely Allison to tell us about herself and the gift she so kindly made for me:

Hi there!  I'm Allison, wifey, mom of two, crafter, sewer, wannabe cook, fabric hoarder, and blogger over at My Raina Sunshine!  I'm a stay at home mom, currently trying to balance the needs of an energetic 3 year old, a 6 month old who thinks night time sleeping is optional, an amazing hubby, and a lovely sewing table that wishes I could spend more time with it.  (The feeling is mutual!)  While being a mom has always been my dream job, I studied elementary education and art in college, and have always looked for a career that would allow me to balance all of my loves.  While I wouldn't call a blogging SAHM to be a career, it definitely allows me to combine my love of children (and they're my own!  bonus!), art, and learning.  I feel pretty lucky.  Most days :).  My favorite things to make are gifts and accessories for tiny humans!  Some of my favorite projects have been my personalized rainbow taggie (best seller in my etsy shop!), this rapunzel hat I made for my 3 year old, this dress I just finished, and these awesomely adorable dino hoodies.  Really though, anything I make for my kids is my favorite project of that minute!

 My little loves, my biggest inspirations....

When I first read about the covert robin, I was super excited.  I'd never done a craft swap before, and was up for the challenge.  I was NOT expecting the crafter's block that followed!  Finally, after a few stalls, I came up with this lovely pillow, which I was tempted a few times to keep for myself.  In the end, I decided it deserved a home where it was safe from mac and cheese fingers!

Like I said, I had some stumbles here with this swap gift.  Making a gift/craft that was not meant to please a child/baby or said tiny human's parents was a huge challenge for me.  I made a few things - a ruffled scarf, a decorative picture frame - but what I settled on sending is this bright ruffly pillow!

My first thought was that pillows are an easy way out.  But I NEVER make pillows!  And there are so many fun ruffly pillows that I would love to make... but that would be destroyed in my toddler and baby inhabited household!  So I settled on it. 

The front is made from a home dec weight fabric - the same one I used to make the baby snuggler for Miss Lucca last fall.  I love the bright floral but not too girly pattern.  The ruffles are made from the main pillow fabric, a strip of bright pink flannel with white polka dots, and a light pink ribbon with white polka dots. 

The trim is actually bias tape - and instead of rounding it at the corners, I folded it, to give it a little more interest.  The back is pink minky.  You might think minky is my favorite fabric, since it is always appearing in projects and as my backdrop.  I'm not sure I'd call it my favorite, but I make plenty of things from it, and I always have plenty of it on hand!!

Some day, when my couch is not a magnet for dirt, crumbs, spit up, and ketchup, I'll make a few more ruffle pillows to keep for my very own self!  :)  

...So there you have it!  A finished gift, that I was very happy to send off in it's giant box!  :)  Hope you love it, Cecillia!  

My little blog is always looking for some love, and some new readers... so please come on over and take a look if you get a minute!  I have some great giveaways in mind for the future... but I need some followers before I can make it happen!  Show me some love!  Please?  :)


Thanks again Allison!  Your daughters are so cute!  I really enjoyed visiting your blog and seeing the adorable things you make for your etsy store!