I have lists and more lists of things I need to finish, projects I want to start and self-imposed deadlines hanging over my head.  I am feeling a bit overwhelmed and find myself in a bit of a funk.  And as I was reading this post of Eren's earlier today, I realized that it's time to find a new rhythm.  The girls are settled in school and adjusted to their routines, but I am walking around not sure how to handle my new found time.  I need to get my act together.  So, it's photos posts this week.  I am starting with my most recent Flickr favorites.  You can click on the mosaic to see the individual credits.  Happy Monday all!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes for my mom.  I think she had a great day.  My dad flew all the adults in the family out to Telluride to surprise her.  It was a quick trip....22 hours door to door which is a bit shorter than my last journey out West.  It was great being able to celebrate with her.  All that eating and drinking and not enough sleep has left me completely worn out.

Moving on....craft swap was on Monday night and, as always, was just great!  One of our group is recovering from major surgery and decided to sit this swap out.  Well, we really couldn't let that happen!  We all made an extra craft for her and, with her husband's approval, held a surprise craft swap at her house.   We swooped in with food and drink and handmade goodies.  What isn't there to like about that?

Inspired by Amy and Courtney, I made coffee cozies.  My original intent was to make them patchwork using fun fabrics from my stash, but when I found the chocolate brown linen on sale, I decided that it was better.  This way all little coffee drips will blend right in.

I embroidered everyone's name with a running stitch and chose fabrics to compliment the floss.  There is one layer of batting sandwiched in the middle.  I wanted to quilt each one differently, but in the end decide that less is more and went with two simple lines.  Each cozy closes with little fabric loops and two buttons.

My friend Laura pointed out that these would make great teacher gifts....sew up a cozy and pop a gift card in the cup.  I think she's right.

Every one made such wonderful items at this swap.  I haven't had time to photo them all, but I will in the next day or two.  I am also working on the pillow zipper tutorial....I had hoped to have it up this week, but it may be a bit longer.   After our quick trip, groceries, laundry and rest are at the top of the agenda.   Back soon.

Today is my mom's birthday....it's a big one.  And I so wish I could be there to celebrate with her.  So Mom, my hope for you is that this year is filled with happiness and love, friends and family, good health and good times.  Have a great birthday!  Don't forget to eat a piece of cake for me.  I love you.

With all the alphabet posts finished and the kids in school, I actually managed to make something.  This is a craft blog, after all.

It's my first quilted bib and I am pretty happy with how it turned out.  What is there not to love about patchwork and bias tape after all?

I scooped up that chocolate brown linen on sale about a month ago and I am just crazy for it.  It is a pain in the you-know-what to embroider on, though.  I have a white pencil, but it doesn't show up too well.  Anyone have other suggestions for transferring images or text onto dark fabric?  I have a fairly large embroidery project in mind that I want to use dark blue linen for, but don't want to start unless I know I can transfer it successfully.

Thanks for all the back to school love - both girls had great first and second days.  We all love school.  Phew!  OK, the craft swap is on Monday.  I am about 75% finished...better get cracking.  Have a great weekend.  I will be back next week with some lovely show and tell.  The mailman has brought me some lovely packages in the past few weeks.  Oh yeah.

The girls started school yesterday and they were ready.  Kate seemed a bit nervous the night before...kindergarten at a new school will do that for you.  I bought them each an alarm clock with a cd player.  Jane was up at 6:30 complaining that her alarm didn't wake her up.  Well, hon, that's because it is set for 6:45.  Oh.  Kate was awake in bed waiting for hers to beep.  So cute.  Kate asked me to put her hair in pig tails which I just love on her, but she doesn't ever want (be still my heart!).  They barely ate any breakfast and were ready to leave about 20 minutes before we needed to.  That left us plenty of time for the photo shoot.

We hopped in the car and before we pulled out of the driveway, I told them my expectations:  do your best, be nice to your classmates, use your manners, listen to your teacher and say good-bye to me every day before you get out of the car.  They almost forgot the last one.

The principal greeted us at school and asked Jane if she was going to help Kate.  Sure thing, said Jane.  They jumped out of the car with big smiles on their faces.  And me, I was smiling, too.  I was almost as excited as they were.   As I drove away, I looked in the rear view mirror and saw Jane holding Kate's hand.  That's when I got teary.  It was the kind of moment I wish I had on film.  It was so sweet.

The tears didn't last long.  I got home, put on my running shoes and got some exercise.  Then came home and drank coffee, read blogs, flicked around on flickr and sewed.  And today, I am doing it again.  And tomorrow, more of the same.  Back to school never felt so good.

Today, this blog is one year old.

When I look back and see all that has happened in the last year, it is pretty amazing to me.  I am so grateful that you take the time to check in and see what's happening over here.  I truly appreciate it.  I really do.

And because I value all of you, I am giving something away.  I am not sure what and I can't promise when you will get it.  It will be made by me, out of fabric or yarn, or both.  Kind of vague, huh?  But, if that doesn't phase you, comment and I will put your name in the hat.  Or the random number generator thing-y.  I will cut it off Thursday at midnight.

Wish I had a cake to share with you.  Instead, here is my current work in progress pile.  Happy Birthday House on Hill Road.  Here's to another crafty year!

And now, back to our regularly scheduled program....which I guess is the encyclopedia of me.

Are you all as sick of the alphabet as I am?  I don't know if I have it in me to finish - I am tired of talking about myself.  Please share your thoughts.

Our mailman has been busy.  Yesterday he brought me a wonderful package from Blair.

It is all so lovely!  I adore the bits of Japanese fabric and the "E" card is already hanging in the studio.  The log cabin sachets are just gorgeous - and they smell divine, too.  Did you notice that one of them is mostly green?  She must know me!  And do you see Blair's little label?  Ack!  It is so cute and positively perfect in every way.  Thank you, friend.  I love it all!

This is our first CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) allotment!  Hooray!  It made me incredibly happy to find a group we could join this late in the game.  So until the end of October, we will have fresh, local produce.  We ate the cucumbers, the corn and a couple tomatoes last night.  The squash and the peppers will probably make up part of our meal tonight.  I used this website to locate a CSA in our area.  I know Cristina used it, too, and found a CSA on the other side of the country.  Take a look if you are interested.  Tonight I am hitting a small farmers' market in search of local meat.  Wish me luck.

And if this post weren't random enough, there is more.  I read Cassi's blog and decided to join her meme for August.  So beginning tomorrow, for the rest of the month, I will be posting an Encyclopedia of Me.  This summer has flown by and I am hoping by doing this, I can accomplish some things around the house and in the studio, play with the girls, relax and enjoy what is left of summer.  I plan on posting photos, too.  I can't promise that they will have anything to do with the day's topic as I seem to be caught up in photographing food these days.  It's the combination of good afternoon light by my kitchen sink and having food on the brain, I think.

Back tomorrow with the letter "a".

As good as it is to get away for awhile, it is always good to come home.

I started reading this book in Telluride.  I like it.  I enjoy reading someone's actual experience mixed with information instead of just information.  It has given me a lot to think about.

We returned home to an empty refrigerator so a trip to the grocery was first on the to-do list.  (Well, second, really - I had to get a new car battery first.  Nothing fun about coming home to a dead battery for the fifth or sixth time).  I was happy to see some local cucumbers and yummy summer squash.  I'll have some of those, thank you very much.  Asparagus from Peru.  Hmmm....not today.  The organic kiwis looked good, too.  From New Zealand?  OK, maybe not.

Now, for many of you, this may be second nature, but for me, it really isn't.  Now I am thinking about buying produce and meat (if I can find it - any ideas on that, Serena?) that comes from close to home.  I want to support my local economy.  I want to have healthy food around for my family.  I want to make some kind of an effort.  Not to say we won't buy our fair share of California berries or Georgia peaches - I am being realistic, here.  I am thinking before I buy, though.  That has got to be a start.

So for lunch today, I had locally grown, organic heirloom tomato with homegrown basil on a whole grain bagel with a tiny schmear of cream cheese.

Yes please and thank you very much.