artsy-crafty babe

thinking about

Okay, so I'm not quite ready to go through the 300 pictures I took on vacation, though I probably should before I forget what they're all about.  Maybe this weekend.  Instead, I'd rather focus on the creative energy that's been renewed within me (and I'll throw in a few vacay pics because that's all I've got!). 

Right before I finished my last quilt I played around with a few designs for another one (never-mind that red & white one I was working on).  The colors I wanted to use are on the masculine side, so I thought Alex would be a good recipient.  I showed him the schematics, which he didn't really care for (what did I expect from a 5 yr old?), but once I explained that the colors would be actual printed fabrics be seemed to like it better.  His only request is that I use polka dots, so polka dots it is.  Along with an appliqued elephant pillow made in polka dots as well.  I think it'll be darling, I can't wait to get started.  Now I need to get busy hunting down the various polka dot fabrics (fun stuff).

Also occupying my brain power had been more spoonflower fabric.  I hadn't thought about it since I printed that last batch of fabric, but the Phoebe bag renewed my interest.  I don't know if I'd have any of these printed, but it's fun to play around. Go on now, sign up, create a profile, you know you wanna :)

Last, but not least, my thoughts have returned to bag making.  I need a new bag.  I carried my Phoebe bag for a while, but it's too darned small for me, especially now that I always have a knitting project with me.  I'm thinking about revisiting this design, with the pleated pocket, but roomier.  Hmmm, maybe not, I don't know, but the wheels sure are turning!

Being renewed and refreshed is a good thing!

win, win, win!!!

Without further adieu, here are the winners of my pattern + random goodies drawing:

28 Michelle of Greeting Arts

96 Amy of Park City Girl

215 Tiffanie of Three Peas in a Pod

If you could please send me your mailing address, I'll fix up some goodie packages to send your way.

Thanks everyone for playing!  You all sure know how to make a girl feel good!!

Guess what?  I've been feeling the urge to sew!  I have a few ideas rolling around my head that I'd like to try out and I'm in desperate (well, maybe not exactly desperate) need of a new fall bag.   This weekend I WILL sew,  - pinkie swear ;-)

ready

more Kool-aid dyed yarn - I love this batch!

• water - check
• batteries - check
• non-perishable food - check
• wine - check
• chocolate - check
• clean laundry - check
• tidied up house - check
• gassed up cars - check
• arts & craft supplies - check
• new magazines - check
• knitting projects - check

We're waiting on Gustav, and we're ready.  We don't plan to evacuate, but we may ride out the storm at my SIL's house, mostly for the company.  We'll probably not have electricity for a while, so things may be quiet around here.  Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers - they're much appreciated!

all quiet on the sewing front

I got nothing.  My sewing maching is in the shop.  They told me it would be 7 business days, so that puts me getting it back at the end of next week.  Yes, I still have Richelle to sew on, but getting to her isn't so easy.  At the moment, my sewing room is mostly my fabric storage room.  My broken sewing machine let me sew in the kitchen, right in the middle of our family hustle and bustle.  It's not so easy to sneak off all by myself to the sewing room.  These days, by the time I can go up there to sew, I'm too tired to make the effort.  And now that I've begun my love affair with knitting, I'd rather lay in bed and knit instead.

I do have some new ideas in my head that I'd like to try out.  Lily needs a new bag for her dancing gear, so that needs to be made.  I'd also like to make a few fallish bags for the shop, maybe try out some new designs.  I don't know.  There always seems to be so many ideas with so little time to execute them!

That mushroom has absolutely nothing to do with this post, I just thought it looked neat.

yellow

I've decided to take part in Tracy's Yellow week.  I fully planned to start yesterday, but it slipped my mind.  I guess a surprise dinner cooked by my MIL and two new books arriving in the mail will do that.  I was so thrilled to have a little extra time on my hands I decided to show off my weekend handiwork instead (though I don't think it was really blog worthy).

Turns out there is a bunch of yellow around my house, but it isn't too interesting.  That will be the challenge, I supppose.

Looks like my boy got the memo.

play

I've decided that for the rest of the summer I am going to play.  When I first started this blog 3 years ago (yes, I managed to miss my blogiversary a few days ago) I did a lot of playing.  It was fun.  I experimented with different crafts and it was all new and exciting.  Somewhere along the way I lost that.  You may not have noticed it, but I have.  Yes, I am still creating, but I think the playfulness has disappeared.  As more people started reading this little ole blog, I became more self-conscious about what I put out here.  My perfectionist side overtook my playful side.  Right now I'm declaring an end to that!

I want bright, bold colors, imperfection, and childlike themes.  If I mess things up, so what.  It's time I stopped being so worried about what other people think and let the little kid in me out to play.  It's all about the process, right?   

In all honestly, things might not change all that much on the outside, but I have high hopes for changes on the inside.  No rules, no pressure, just fun.  I plan to take my kids along with me on this journey for inspiration and companionship, I think we'll all benefit.  Yes, this is going to be fun :-)

thinking about...

These are the types of things that go through my head at night before I go to sleep.  I should have been sleeping when I wrote this, but for some reason I couldn't (I'm blaming the sinus medicine).

• color washing an armoire
• what color should I go with - white?  taupe?  something else?
• slip covers
• monogramming pillows
• white twill or natural linen?
• should I buy that secondhand wingback?
• how can I make an ottoman for my living room?
• painting my rocking chair
• Ava's birthday in a little over a week
• how is she 2 years old already?
• should I do a taco bar for her party?
• how about margaritas?
• summer dresses for Ava
• a tote bag for Alex
• will Lily still wear clothes I make her?
• the exposed selvages on my dining room curtains are bothering me
• how should I hang those plates on the wall?
• do I have enough to hang?
• I really should get those River Road prints framed
• I want a table skirt made out of burlap
• do I have time to paint the kids bathroom this weekend?
• rugs for the kitchen
• will we ever get around to tiling the counter tops?
• will I ever make my table quilt?
• I like having real flowers on the table
• daisies sure last a long time
• what kind of pillows should I make for my dining table bench?
• will I have a bench in time for the party?
• where did April go?
• should I work on publishing my purse patterns?
• will anyone buy them?
• do I have the technical skills to make them?
• where in the heck is my ID badge for work?
• is there a load of laundry in the washer?
• why am I not sleeping?
• why am I watching the Real World?

*sigh*

P.S. I bought the wingback today, next on the agenda - a slipcover!

impulse buy

When I saw these shoes I couldn't resist them.  Green patent (comfortable) flip flops - perfect!

Too bad I didn't make this in my size :)

new shoes

Is it wrong for one to want to plan a whole spring wardrobe around one pair of sassy red shoes?  Man, I wish I had more red in my wardrobe because I want to wear these every single day!!

uninspired, sort of

I haven't been uninspired to create, but I have been uninspired to take photos, blog, and answer email. What's up with that? Just last week I deleted over 300 messages, and now I'm already back over 100. I feel bad deleting, really I do. I'd love to respond to every one of them (most are your lovely comments), thanking you for your kind words, but there isn't enough time in the day.  Having said that, if you asked me something, please email me again, I promise I'll answer!! 

I don't know why I'm not in the mood to take photos.  I was really getting into it, participating in a 365 self portrait challenge, but that has fallen by the wayside.  I just don't feel like it anymore.  Maybe I'll pick it back up with a 52 weeks challenge.  Right now that sounds much more manageable, or maybe I'll just turn it into a 365 anything goes challenge.  Yeah, I've got it together...

Since Monday I've been trying to come up with something to blog about.  I think this may be one of the first time I've had blogger's block (is that what it's called?).  I've not come up with anything interesting, so I just decided to pick up the camera and take a few photos of the things that have been keeping me busy and blather on about nothing.

Even though I haven't been feeling "right", I have accomplished the major feat of having all my laundry washed, folded, and put away, I am all caught up on the dishes, the house is fairly neat, AND I've been sewing for at least an hour every night.  What???  Where is the Beki I used to know?  Oh wait, take a look at that sewing room...

One more random tidbit - I think people use the word amazing too much.  If you've made it this far, I think you're amazing.

**more buttons

**the easter egg themed short & sassy pleated bags

**my messy sewing room