Some new t's I made...

The sun is out and the birds are singing.  Come on warm weather, we are waiting for you.

Way back in the beginning of February, the artsy-crafty babe herself sent me this adorable patchwork pouch.

As the weather has been getting nicer, this pouch is seeing lots of use.  It is perfect for a bit of cash, drivers license, lipstick and keys - and it fits in my coat pocket!   Perfect for springtime walks.  Thanks Beki!   I love it!

And along the same heart-shaped lines, here is my Tie One On apron for January/February.

When I made Jane's apron, I promised Kate that I would make her one too, so this is for her.  It's a mini-version of the Adorn Tea Party apron (full size pattern here).  Honestly, I am not too happy with it.  I find it a bit, um, boring.  I would have liked to use some other print on the waist/sash and neck ties, but when a five year-old wants all pink, she gets all pink.  So there, an all pink apron with a conversation heart pocket.  Cupcake...appropriate for the kitchen and a term of endearment for my littlest valentine.

And speaking of cupcakes - check these out.  I want one now.

Meet my bird pillow:

I made this in my sewing class yesterday.  On Friday morning, I was unsure where I was going to put a new rose pillow.  I thought about making it for the window seat on our staircase landing, but couldn't find any fabric I was crazy about.  I thought about making it for one of the girls, but I was pretty sure the ribbon roses wouldn't hold up to being thrown on the floor and jumped on.  So the guest room it was.  It's all a bit humorous seeing that the guest room isn't even painted and has nothing in it that looks good with this pillow.  But when I get finished, I am sure it will fit right in.

I decided to embroider the bird to add a bit of interest to the insert.  I had planned on framing the image with some gingham ribbon, but my instructor suggested the Freshcut bias tape. Perfect, I thought.  I then added the ric rac.  The little ribbon roses and leaves set it all off.  I am thrilled with the end result.  I love my new pillow!

Here's a peek at the back.  Since the day I learned to put a zipper in a pillow, I haven't done it any other way.  It is surprisingly easy, looks professional and allows me to change it or clean it without any hassle at all.

So now that the pillow is finished, time to paint the room.  I'm off to spackle some holes before the Oscars!

After I finished procrastinating on Tuesday, I got busy.  I started cutting fabric, laying it out and actually sewing.  By Tuesday night at dinner time, I had one of seven crafts finished.  I was a bit concerned that I would run out of time, and briefly thought about changing course, but forged ahead anyways.  Once I figured out how to do them in an assembly line fashion, it went much faster.

Notice the wool floating in my coffee?  I don't recommend that - not so tasty.  I was in such a frenzy that I was throwing things without knowing or caring where they landed.  I was up at 6:30 crafting until I had to get the kids ready for school and did not stop until 7:30 p.m. with the exception of a 1 1/2 hour break to work on the playground at Jane's school and about 40 minutes for dinner with the family.  At 7:32 I got in the shower and was at the restaurant by 7:55 with wet hair and completed crafts - only 25 minutes late!  I couldn't have done it without Fatty's help, either.  He rescued me by taking the kids to soccer - what a guy.

I made patchwork scarves from Denyse Schmidt's Quilts.  I've been wanting to make this project and was finally able to when the wools at my local fabric store were on deep sale - about $4 to $5 a yard.  Woo hoo!  I paired them with some cotton prints from my stash and some bits of leftover silk.  Ta da!  Scarves.

I didn't get to take photos of them individually (no time for that!), but here is one.

I will share the goodies I scored sometime soon.  I need to take the pictures, clean up my mess, do the laundry and squeeze in a nap.  Not necessarily in that order.

Do you ever have something you really want to make, but can't get yourself to make it?  That is how I have been feeling the last few days.

I sorted my wools, piled them up and there they have sat untouched for several days now.  It's like I am afraid to cut.  I don't have much fabric to spare so I guess I am just scared that I will mess up.  But, I have to get going - the craft swap is tomorrow.  Tomorrow, people!   I've had three months to get the job done and I only have myself to blame.

Do you think procrastination is genetic?  I'm beginning to wonder if I have some small, unknown gene that won't allow me to get things done with time to spare...

Enough chatting.  I have work to do.

OK - I am back with more words.  Thanks for bearing with me as I posted photos last week.  I actually enjoyed looking at my life and seeing how all the little things come together and make up my day.  That said, I did not get as much accomplished as I had hoped.  Life itself just got in the way.  The unexpected happened, you know.  Like that broken furnace....who plans for that?

I did get some crafty things done.  I made this t-shirt for my friend Lynette's birthday.

Those flowers came straight from a fat quarter of Heather Bailey's Freshcut.  I did not set out with this idea in mind.  It just kind of came to me.  And I like how it turned out.  So much so that I am going to make one for myself.  In fact, I already have the shirt.:)

I spent the weekend in Birmingham visiting my good friend Shannon and celebrating her birthday.  We had so much fun!  Shopping, movie, pedicure, dinner, and lots of chatting.  Many thanks to her husband, Andrew, who took their girls to visit his family so Shannon and I could have some good girl time together.  Fatty gets a big pat on the back for manning the home front here.  You guys are the best!  I made her a bird shirt (similar to these), but forgot to take a picture (email me one, Shannon, ok?) and I am working on a knitted bag for her too.  She picked out the yarn while we were shopping and it'll be done later this week. I'll post a photo then.

Today's birthday girl is my sister-in-law Heather.  Happy Happy Birthday to you!  I made her a bunch of gifts for Christmas, and although I think she is probably handmade gift-ed out, I couldn't resist throwing another one in with her birthday package.

I sent hats to the rest of her family for Christmas, so I figured she needed her own.  The flower is from Blair's fabulous tutorial and the hat was made using Sarah's flapper hat pattern.  I wish I could say putting them together was my idea, but, alas, I swiped that and the pinked edges on the flower from Sarah, too.  Thanks Sarah - they are perfect together!

I have made some progress...

I still have a long way to go.  Hope you all have a good weekend.  I'll be back Monday.