whew! and some link love

Can you believe it's mid-October and I still have these lovely flowers in my garden? I hope they brighten your day as much as they do mine.

It's been a busy and productive few days. It's nice having my mom here to keep me company and to entertain Alison. She's gotten kind of bored with good ole mom! I painted my table - just working on the seats for the chairs now. I love it so far and can't wait to see how it all pulls together.

I finished the binding

on Andrew's quilt

and made a matching crib sheet!

Who knew you could do that? And it's pretty easy. I used this tuturial. Joanna does these tutorials for the Michael Miller blog, which I love. I just found it a few weeks ago. There's a good one for baby shoes, beach balls, and bean bags chairs too. Oops! that beach ball one is from The Purl Bee. Another great place for tutorials - also a new find.

My mom and I got to go her my friend Karen play Barber's violin concerto with the Richmond Symphony. It was amazing. I can't even begin to explain how cool it is to see her up there playing. I'm in awe. Here is a video of the 2nd movement - just to give you an idea.

We've also made some spooky pom-pom spiders (idea courtesy of Make and Takes.) They are now hanging in our doorways and lurking in unexpected places *like grandma's purse*! I have a crafter in the making. Alison loves cutting, gluing, playdoh-ing, etc. I better find a mini sewing machine. . .

We had this soup for dinner tonight. A totally EASY good soup - you throw stuff in a pot and simmer for 3 hours! It's a great recipe from the Smitten Kitchen - which is another blog that is new to me, I'm sure most people know about, but I've been a little slow around here. I am planning on trying this one - in honor of apple season and this one too. I have a problem with recipes. I love them. I read my Cook's Illustrated before bed. I love the possibility of good food.

One last thing, remember the dream my friend Allyn had? Well, here is her bag! It is so adorable, I think I need her to make me one. And check out her sidebar with pics of her latest projects - some adorable baby outfits. Did I mention how creative and amazing she is?! It was her birthday Saturday too - I'm sure she'd love some birthday comment love!

Oh yeah, don't get me started on the scarf I am crocheting - it is lovely, but I've had a hard time getting it right! Maybe I'll write about it when it is finished.

So we've been busy - luckily we've also managed to get a few naps in.

some down time

My mom is here! YAY!! She got here late last night and today was post-travel recovery day. It's nice to have her here while my husband is out of town. Alison loves her Grandma Suzie and was on top of the world today having BOTH grandmas at dinner.

I'm working towards my Etsy shop opening (how many things do you really need to have to have a grand opening?), a giveaway, organizing my ever-growing fabric stash, a comforter cover, a crocheted scarf and the table above is about to have a makeover (it involves paint, Heather Bailey fabric and iron-on vinyl). It will be shock and awe, I tell ya.

I plan on posting more pictures of some projects we are going to be working on. My mom has a beautiful quilt that I need to photograph, and I have some other pics of things I am working on and a few things I've actually finished. But alas, as I am now "entertaining" I can't sit at the computer and blog all day, I actually made dinner and another pie tonight (Pear Apple Pie, to be exact). But don't worry, I'll be in touch.

P.S. remind me to tell you the discovery I made re: potential energy and fabric

P.P.S. what are you working on right now?

art dreams

My friend Megan, an artist and graphic designer (who now has 4 cute kids), told me she had a dream the other night about a painting she wants to do. She was so excited about it that she is ready to go buy a canvas and get back into it. I think that's so cool - have a dream about something and then be able to make it? Wow.

My friend Allyn, a creative genius and my sewing muse (who has 5 cute kids), had a dream about a bag she wanted to make. A night scene with a tree and an owl. "Huh" was my intial thought. I didn't really get it. AND THEN I SAW WHAT SHE MADE. Oh my! It was so amazing! It's not done yet and I can't even explain how amazing it turned out. When she finishes it, I'll be sure to link to it.

Since I've gotten back into sewing this year, I've decided that I missed my calling in life. I want to be an artist and fabric designer. Instead, I admire everyone elses art and make stuff with the beautiful fabrics that people are creating. AND THEN, I had my own art dream. The other night I dreamed that I got out the play-doh for my daughter. But it wasn't just any play-doh. IT WAS AMY BUTLER PLAY-DOH!!

Um, yeah. If that's only as arty as my dreams get, I think I know why I'm not an artist.

my end of the swap and a bag

This is what I sent to Penny.

If you are interested in seeing the little parcels unwrapped you can see it here.

I almost forgot!! I sent Julianne her bag. I think she likes it as much as I do.

I had a nice weekend. I got some more fabric, visited with several friends, and finished the binding on Andrew's quilt. I will post pictures after I take some!

a thought on the economy

Anyone need some new jeans? Be sure you have the money first! Thanks, Carla, for sharing!

today was a good day

The autumn weather was perfect - slightly cool, clear "I-can't-believe-it's-that-blue" blue skies, a nice stroll down historic Caroline Street in Fredericksburg with a good friend, burritos for lunch, daily chit and chat with Carla, washing a bunch of fabric and falling in love with it all over again, teaching a yoga class, and the MAIL. Oh yes, the MAIL!! Did you know when you win giveaways and make friends that you have reason to get more in the mail besides junk mail?

My book from Bakerella came today - it's gorgeous. SO gorgeous I am a little intimidated by the techniques and supplies required . . .

But Oh, the piece de resistance (pee-ess duh ray-zee-sance, with thick French accent) was my swap package from Penny at Sewtakeahike.

A little story: First off, Penny has been one of the super friendly, helpful, experienced, crafty bloggers that has answered a lot of my questions the last few months - and inspired me creatively. She commented on my Jalapeno Pepper Jelly post that she loved the stuff. I told her if she were my neighbor I would give her a jar, just for knowing what it is. Then I said - hey! I'll just send you a jar! A few emails later and we've set up a swap (her idea, so nice!). I got her super sweet package today and I am speechless. I knew I was in for a treat when my mail all smelled of lavendar. I hope the mail lady had a relaxing day with the free aromatherapy!

Look at how dressed up each little parcel arrived. Great use of the slevedege! And that little tag? Made of fabric! So cute!

Are you kidding me? There were more little packages wrapped in the bigger ones! It was like opening my stocking on Christmas morning! Clockwise from the top - darling apron, with a monogrammed A on the pocket, silk strawberry sachet - source of intoxicating lavendar, cute tag, satin eye mask, darling pink linen bag, and some cute handmade bias tape!

And these little lovelies were inside the little bag. YUM!!

I opened the apron last and was totally speechless. I mean really, it is so cute. Alison's take on the apron was, "It's dorable[sic], mommy! I want to wear it." So she's my model - I guess since her name starts with an A too, I'll have to let her wear it. But only sometimes. . . .

Thank you so much Penny for making a great day REALLY great! Since this was my first swap ever, I'm not sure I matched up with the challenge. I just mailed it off today, so I can't tell you what's in it. I will say that this swapping thing is totally fun!

I'm feeling pretty blessed lately. Thanks to everyone who makes me smile, I think we are all blogging for a reason - to stay connected even though our lives are so busy. Your posts and comments and friendships brighten my day, every day.

bag wanderlust

My friend Karen said to me one day she was having bag wanderlust. You know how it is, you have a perfectly usable bag, but you just need a little something new. I knew she had a sewing machine, I knew she was talented, I figured I could help her make her own. So a fabric ordering session, 3 tete-a-tete's (or machine-a-machine) later, she has a wonderful new bag!

Sewing the lining to the exterior, turning it inside out, almost there. . .

Topstitching, the inside!

and the finished product!

Way to go Karen! Can I borrow it?

It was really fun helping her with this - although I realized I need to write down what I do when I make them. Because I made up the pattern I just do it in my head, but it was hard to translate that to someone else. . . thanks for being patient with me!