weekend sewing and gardening

Do you ever get so many projects going on in your head that you can't keep organized the projects you are actually doing - not to mention fixing meals, keeping the toys picked up, the kitchen cleaned and children happy? Oh man, I've been feeling a little more than disheveled lately. It's gardening season and I have all these sewing projects I want to finish too. But I find that I really can only do one project a day - and I have to figure out how to squeeze that in the middle of being a mother and homemaker. Does anyone have the secret? In the meantime, until I get it all figured out, I guess I'll just continue on in my happy creative messes!

And really, aren't these just happy fabrics!? I keep checking my reader for Week 3s instructions for Dana's Quilt-along. I finally got the strips cut out last night. Can't wait to start putting them together!

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A friend of mine asked me to help her make a bag for her oldest daughter who just had her first baby. I love the fabric they chose.

We spent a nice afternoon together chatting and sewing. And she made a beautiful bag! I love working with other people on projects. The way everyone sees things differently I get to do things I wouldn't have typically done myself.

You may have noticed that I'm drawn to bold patterns and bright colors - but I love this simple polka dot in a subdued turquoise and brown. So classic.

I have a bag problem. I really do want to keep every. single. one.

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Lastly - the garden. I was really tired of looking at this when I came home.

It used to look even worse - with clover and NO plants. I'm looking forward to those hydrangeas, gladiolas, and dahlias blooming.

But I needed some instant color. So one trip to the nursery and I came home with this!

And now that sad little patch looks just a little bit brighter. And who knew plants went on clearance? I got petunias for 25 cents for a 6 pack! Nice! And only because they were OVERwatered. I've let them dry out a bit....

This is my favorite spot. I love the bright orange and pink zinnias!

I can't wait to see it all as it grows and fills in! It's making me happier already.

how many pictures of tulips do you really want?

I have lots of things I want to write about, like some fabric orders I got, a few bags I've been working on, etc. But I went on a breakfast field trip with my friend Megan and her daughter to D.C. yesterday. I wouldn't have even known to go see the tulips if it weren't for this post on my friend Charlotte's blog. (if you like photography, she is amazing!! - and don't compare our pics - she's a professional, for obvious reasons!)

Have I mentioned how much I love this city and how beautiful it is?

The Netherlands Carillon by the Iwo Jima Memorial was a gift to the U.S. from the Netherlands in thanks for the aid given during and after WWII (didn't know you were going to get a history lesson today, did you?)

Next to peonies, tulips are my favorite flowers. So if you tire of tulip shots, I won't be offended if you leave now. . . .

oh! You're still here? Okay then. I don't know the names of all the varieties, so I came up with my own.

Blood Oranges

Lemon Creme

Blackberry Sorbet

Frilly Pink

Dutch Master (the Dutch liked to paint flowers)

And just in case you made it this far, here's a non-tulip shot. These red bud trees are lovely - they bloom near the end of the cherry blossoms and carry us through until the dogwoods are open. They are so shockingly purple from a distance and pink up close.

and this has nothing to do with flowers - we just had a foggy morning the other day and I wanted to see how a pic into the sun would turn out, kind of cool, huh? I'm always fascinated with the silhouettes of the bare trees in my backyard.

I promise, the next post will have something to do with flowers on fabric. Most likely with a gratuitious Amy Butler shot.

at last!

Spring!

When I was young I remember seeing a contest on the back of a Cheerios box to win a trip to Washington D.C. Living so close to the city I wondered what the big deal was. As I've grown older - I understand. After living away and moving back - I understand. I love this city!! It's beautiful and has so much to offer. One of them being the Annual Cherry Blossom Festival. It's gorgeous! Will you join me on my walk?