artsy-crafty babe

more curves

I've been working on my curves.  I'd call this a close cousin to this and this.  You know, another one of my little obsessive streaks.  There are two more versions in the works in springy colors (surprise). I don't know what it is about these curves, but I want to keep making them.  I guess these bags are satisfying my patchwork/quilt/bag desires all in one.  No complaints from me, though my unfinished quilts and the virtual quilting bees I'm participating in may disagree.  This weekend I'll make my blocks, I promise (after I finish those bags :))

Oh, and these will eventually be in my shop, as soon as I sew on the buttons (they're only pinned on right now), take the photos, blah, blah, blah.  But right now I have laundry coming out of my ears, ugh.

for Yulisa

Here's the other project I managed to finish this past weekend.  (wait, what day is it?  i'm thrown off due to mardi gras.  as much as i like holidays, they sure do mess up my schedule.  today feels like a monday for me *sigh*.  i suppose the good part is that the weekend is almost here)

The first project  for Craft Hope  was to make a pillowcase top/dress/shorts for children in need. This is for 9 yr old Yulisa.  I was asked to make her a top in size 12.  Well, I don't really know what a size 12 would look like, but I think this will work.  My almost 8 yr old Lily wears a 10/12, so I'm guessing that they're pretty close.  I never did get Lily to try it on because that might cause some, uh, problems.  I bought that fabric to make her and Ava matching outfits last spring and never got around to it.  You know how that goes.  I'm sure she has long forgotten about it, so there was no use bringing it up.

I had forgotten how quick and easy these are, even if you don't use a pillowcase.  Like I said, I used fabric.  This one was already partially made, so it was even easier.  I don't know why I never finished it!  Well, a top for Lily is about the same size as a dress for Ava, and there's still another piece left, so she may still get that top after all.  I'll be sure to tell her that she and a little girl named Yulisa in a different part of the world have twin tops.  She'll like that.  It's way more cool to match someone your own age than an annoying little sister.

happy mardi gras!

It's been a long weekend around these parts.  We ended up not doing anything mardi gras related, opting to stay home and veg.  Matt has school work up to his eyeballs, so getting out to party is the last thing on his mind.  I've been doing lots of sewing, but feel like I have little to show for it.  I have a half finished dress, a half finished bag, and  a less than half finished quilt.  I've also been working on my sewing room when I get the chance.  I did finish a pillowcase shirt for Craft Hope and I made that little piece of art work above.  It feels good to finish something when there's so many unfinished things all around.

It's mixed media - sharpie, acrylics, oil pastels, and magazine cut outs.  It was fun.  I love the color and texture.  The combination of watching the kids work on their ATC's and my 'sewing room in progress in need of artwork' inspired me.  I've had the idea to do something with that fleur de lis punch for a while, but never got around to it.  And what better day to reveal it - happy mardi gras!!  I plan to spend the rest of the day relaxing, possibly sewing, working on my sewing room, and enjoying the things I plan to give up for lent (sweets and junk food).

yellow :: day 5

 

I finished the  yellow quilt top I mentioned on day 1.  Well, at least I think I'm finished.

I'm not sure, I may add a border...or not.

I started with yellow strips, sewed on some white and some scraps, then assembled my "blocks", which were more like rectangles.  I like it.  If I'm lucky, I may get to work on it this weekend, but it is Mardi Gras weekend, so there may be some Mardi Gras-ing instead.  Either way, I'll have fun.  Happy weekend, friends, and thanks to Erin for hosting yellow week :)

yellow :: day 4

It was a beautiful day here today.  The sun was shining and the air was cool and crisp.  It was the kind of day that makes you want to stay outside all day long to soak it up.  Right now these yellow weed flowers are in bloom all over the place.  My mom always called them "pissy weeds", telling me that if you picked them you would pee in the bed.  Anyway, I think they're pretty.  My kids can pick all they want.  Seeing these pissy weeds line the road sure brightens my day.

yellow :: day 3

Yellow in the bathroom.  Imagine my surprise when I spied this little yellow collection on the side of the tub - how did they know?  Funny how that happens.

Then in the kitchen, I found this yellow toothbrush on the windowsill.  I don't know why it's there, but it's yellow.

yellow :: day 2

Some of the roses Matt sent me on Valentine's Day (there were also red, peach and pink roses).  He gave me a potted orchid in the morning.  I told him that I was happy he didn't buy me any cut flowers.  Late that day the roses arrived.  Oops.

P.S.  Happy Anniversary Matthew & Brenda! How many years is it?

yellow :: day 1

I'm participating in Erin's yellow week this week.
I started a new quilt, one with lots of yellow.  I'd like to finish it by the end of the month, so I'm sure more than one photo this week will be of this quilt.  February Sunshine, yes, I like it.

The Help, a book review

I don't normally do this sort of thing, but when I received an email from the folks at Mother Talk to do a review of the book The Help by Kathryn Stockett, I thought 'what the heck'.  I really do like to read and wish I had more time to get lost in a novel, but honestly, I'd rather knit or sew.  I knew that if I committed to review this book here, I'd make myself read it.  I'm glad that I did.

In a nutshell, The Help is about 3 women in the early 60's in Jackson, Mississippi.  Two of the women are black maids, one is a rich white girl.  Together, they write a book about the experiences of domestic help and the complicated relationship between the help and the families they work for. 

Yeah, this is a LOADED book.  It was quite eye opening for me.  Jackson, Mississippi is not all that far from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, so I can't help but think that things here weren't all that different.  The characters and descriptions were so real and familiar to me.  I struggled with what to write about this because I'm so full of emotion.

Early in the book, my heart broke for the maids.  These women took care of white babies, raised them, loved them, but then one day those babies stopped being color blind and a line was drawn.  So, so sad.  This is something I never thought about.  On the flip side, there were some touching stories as well - not all rich white ladies were bad.  It was the ignorance of the society that was most infuriating.  We've grown so much since then, but I can still see some of that ignorance today, which I guess is why I was so touched by this book.

Ultimately, the message in the book is of hopeful change.  These woman were courageous in such a dangerous time.  My favorite quote in the novel regarding the point of their book is 

"Wasn't that the point of the book?  For women to realize, We are just two people.  Not that much separates us.  Not nearly as much as I'd thought."

When I read this, I dog eared the page.  Later, in the acknowledgments, the author stated that was her prized line.  I suppose this was the point of her book as well, at least that's what I took from it.

Though this novel is fiction, it makes me want to know more.  I'd like to read some autobiographies of people who lived through this.

Yes, I recommend this wonderful book. I laughed, I cried, I'm still thinking about the characters today.  I think it'd make a great book club book because there are so many topics to discuss.  In the near future on the Mother Talk website, you'll be able to see a collection of excerpts of reviews from all the reviewers. This book is available in book stores now.  If you'd like a gently used uncorrected poof of this book, leave a comment, I'll draw a winner at the end of the week, Friday Feb. 20.

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Comments have been closed and the winner is #47 - Tracy!
 

*hearts*

Happy Valentine's Day!
Today I plan to smooch on my little loves, eat lots of chocolate, and cook my big love a fancy dinner.  I *heart* Valentine's Day, really I do :)