artsy-crafty babe

refocused

Ahhh, a nice long weekend was just what I needed, well, half a week + a weekend was more like it.  Truthfully, I could use more - these last two days back to reality have been brutal!  Over my holiday weekend, all I had on my agenda was dinner at noon on Thanksgiving Day.  That’s it.

Not having anything to do is truly a luxury to me.  I value my time at home to simply be.

There were days where I didn’t get out of my pj’s or leave the house.  Though it wasn’t my intention, much purging and organizing was accomplished.  De-cluttering always makes me feel better.

I watched movies, played with my kids, read, and ate way too much.  I’m pretty sure I gained a pound for each day I was off.

After feeling burnt out and empty for way too long, I’m beginning to feel like myself again.  I still have a ways to go, but I’m getting there.  I discovered that the minutia of every day has been wearing me down, for quite some time now.  I hate that.  Lucky for me, I've learned that the cure is being home with my family. 

From here on out, I am vowing to keep my priorities in order, stay in the present, stress less, and count my blessings every day.

for mallory

My weekend 'make time' involved whipping up a little something for our friends' the latest addition.  I took inspiration from miss pink picket fence and went with a baby blanket, made with my vintage sheets, of course.

Oh gosh, I had forgotten how much I love to make baby things!  The last time I made a blanket like this was in preparation for Ava...almost 5(!!?) years ago.  Back then, I didn't know that she was a she, so there no pink lovliness to indulge in.  After she was born, I didn't have the time to go back to make her anything like this (I'm pretty sure I bought that flannel I used on the back for her back then).  I have to say, this is much more fun!

I simply pieced the front by sewing strips of sheeting & dots, then backed with flannel by placing them right sides together, sewing around the sides leaving an opening for turning, flipping the blanket right side out, then top stitching around all 4 sides.  Easy peasy.

Oh, I embroidered the name first, before attaching the backing.  I also did some top stitching along the seams of the strips, though that step isn't necessary because there is no batting.

With that striped flannel as my inspiration (could it be any more perfect?), it was pretty easy to pull my prints together.  I couldn't believe how well those sheets went with the flannel stripe.

Much to my delight, the blanket was well received - love that!  

a rainbow of inspiration

Happy Friday!  Oh yes, a happy Friday indeed.  Not only is my class over and the kids are off for a week, but a great big heavy package was on my door step when I arrived home.

As you can see, I went a little crazy with the solid color stash building.  I don't know what came over me, but I kept popping color after color into my cart.  Now my problem is figuring out what color is what, should I need to order more.  Oops.

I think Fabric Shack is to blame.  Their extensive selection of kona cottons put me in a tizzy!  If you click the link, don't say I didn't warn you.  I'm not sure how I found them, but I've been ordering from Fabric Shack for years.  I've always been pleased with their customer service and speedy shipping.  In case you're wondering, they're not paying me in any way to say that, I'm just a happy customer.

With not much on the agenda this weekend, I think some creating will happen.  Get ready Miss Kitty, we've got some sewing to do!!

Have a great weekend, friends!

i need this

 

 

Hey Santa, if you're reading this, I wouldn't mind finding this book under the tree.  I think it could change my life. (okay, maybe I'm being a little dramatic, but it does look like an interesting read )

Sorry for my lack of presence here this week, but the ole day job has been holding me hostage.  And hurting my brain.  I've been in a training class all this week that it taking it all out of me.  That elusive balance that we all strive to achieve is WAY out of whack around here.  I don't like it one single bit!!

After some much needed decompressing I'll be back, I promise - hopefully with something crafty to show, or at least talk about.  At this point, I'll be thrilled just talking about it (variables, scripts, blah blah blah - enough already!!).  

Have y'all made or seen anything interesting lately?  Do share, I'm in NEED!!

dang it!

There I go again, I jumped right back in. 

Another reverse applique skirt á la Alabama Stitch is in progress.  Same skirt pattern, new stencil.

 

I couldn't decide on the stitching - blue, gray, or white?  Every skirt I've made in this fashion has a little section of different colored threads to aid in the decision process.  I tell myself that I'll go back and pull out the non-chosen threads to restitch in the chosen color, but I never do.  On this skirt, gray won. 

Finish one project, start another, abandon said project for yet another beginning or an in progress project - that's how I roll.  I don't think it is possible for me to work on one thing at a time.  I need various knitting, hand stitching, quilting, crochet, bag making, painting, whatever-craft-of-the-moment projects to choose from.  I can't help it.

 

Variety is the spice of life, no?

from summer to fall

Remember way back in early summer I started the slow summer stitching challenge?  It was so slow, that I pretty much forgot about it.  Well, I was hot & heavy in the beginning, but as summer went on, I pretty much dropped the ball.  Determined to finish something, I pulled out my skirt panels and have been working away on them.

This weekend (tonight, actually) I finally finished it!  I love it!!  Even though I started this with summer in mind, I think it works just fine with this fall ensemble (and my new boots!). 

I can't tell you how much I love these skirts.  This is my third one (first and second).  The two layers of jersey is so, so comfortable.  The skirt pattern is from Alabama Stitch.  The stencil on this one is my own design, you may recognize it from my first slow summer stitching project.  I have a PDF of this design for you somewhere - when I find it, I'll post it here (gosh, I just remembered about that!).

It only took me 5 months to finish it, and now I'm ready to start another one.  On second thought, I should probably let my sore fingers rest a bit :)

quilting on my mind

Perhaps it's all the talk about Quilt Market, perhaps it's the small project I just finished, or perhaps it's the change the seasons...no matter the reason, I've been in the mood to start a new quilt. 

But before I can start something new, I MUST finish some that I already have in progress.  I counted 4 right off, but I'm sure there are more. 

I've decided to concentrate my efforts right now on one that I started more than a year ago as a wedding gift for a friend.  She celebrated her first anniversary last month (oops).  

Yes, I need to get on that!  Better late than never, right?

shop news - SALE

 
Everything in the shop is on sale.  Every bag has been marked down 50% and all patterns are $5. It's time to clear it out to make room for some new stuff.  Happy shopping :)