potting bench

My new spring collection was inspired by a potting bench.  Not a specific potting bench, but the general idea of a million different ones that I've seen and swooned over.  Southern Living, Better Homes and Gardens, the Pottery Barn catalogue- they all tempt me with their clean, yet outdoorsy, organized, yet full, practical, yet oh-so-impractical potting benches. 

It's easy to get caught up in the magic.  The aluminum bucket, balls of twine, rubber boots, mossy clay pot magic.  It just makes me feel like I could be a better gardener, if I could somehow create a space like that at my house. 

I think I love the idea of a perfect potting bench even more than I'd love the actual bench.  Which is why I decided to let that be the theme for my spring collection.  I took the burlap, muted color, leafy shaped goodness and translated it to fabric.  I made belts that have that "I've accessorized, but in a way so casual and cool you'd barely notice it, but it's there, baby, it's there" feel to them. 

And since those benches always seem to have the perfect containers to organize everything, I made zipper pouches in three different sizes that can organize, well, everything.  Last night, we were testing them out and made the exciting discovery that the largest pouch is the perfect size for magazines.  You know how hard it is to keep a magazine from getting all wrinkled and torn when you put it in a bag with other stuff?  Never again. 

If I had to pick a favorite though, it would be this pillow.  It's one of those things that I had no idea how much I would love it until I held the finished product in my arms.  It's chunky and cute and classy and big and matches everything and if you need any more confirmation about its greatness, how's this:
After Steve got home from work yesterday and saw this pillow, he asked how much I was selling it for and then pulled out his wallet to buy it from me. 

What a blessing to have a husband who enjoys my work. 

Today I am working on the final (I think) product in the collection- the blog exclusive.  It's going to be awesome.  With a little luck and a lot of sewing, everything will be up and ready for sale next week!

I'm sharing spring recipes on Friday- see you then!