Friday.  Yeah!  I am so happy.

This week has been crazy - the birthday, work, volunteer at school type of crazy.  The kind of crazy that leaves me with little time to myself and very cranky.  I started the week with nothing on the calendar for today, but have already volunteered at school and am going back in about an hour to have lunch with my kindergartener.  (Why do they eat so early?)  I am going to squeeze some sewing time in there somewhere.  Yes, I am.

The most frequently asked question on the blog:  Where are the labels from?  So, let me tell you.  I bought these labels from Namemaker.  I like them a lot.  They come in sew on or iron on and in many different sizes and colors.  The downside is that they take about 4 weeks to arrive.  Linda just got hers and she wasn't very happy.  Go read what she has to say.  But, for me, they work well and when these are gone, I will most likely re-order.

There is so much good inspiration out in blog land and on flickr.  I want to make:

Lounge pants out of vintage sheets - that brilliant Amanda has done it again.

The gum drop pillow - I love the fabric Blair chose.

A patchwork blanket out of old sweaters like Leslie's - got any discards to give me, Dad?

P.J. pants for the girls and matching appliqued shirts like the ones Jen made.

Gnomes - maybe for the nephews?  Any thoughts Heather, Georgia, Rosanna?

Quilt squares with Amanda Jean

Christmas cards on my print gocco (which kind of scares me).  Did you see Jen's?

How is that for a random post?  Off to sew....later, folks!

I have been sewing when I have big blocks of time at home

and knitting when there are just a few minutes or when I am on the go.

Barnyard waffles for breakfast

The birthday shirt

Favors for the pool party - my sewing machine has an embroidery unit.

And birthday cake, of course.

I have been tidying the studio, starting new projects, knitting at break-neck speed and taking some outdoor coffee breaks.  I love this feeling of accomplishment - I just hope I can keep it up with the busy times ahead.  We have three birthdays coming up in this house and the holidays to boot.  Things may be quiet here on the blog.  Photo posts, probably.  Maybe some words.  We'll see what develops.

Happy Thursday!

I actually quilted something.

My patchwork swap partner, Jenny, likes rainbows.  I went through the stash and found suitable colors.  (Note to self:  buy more yellow and purple.)  I cut, pieced, quilted and then cut some more to make it into a little pouch.

I lined it with a scrap.

I had fun making it although the zipper gave me troubles.  The green one is the second one - the first one was orange and I somehow managed to screw that one up.  The quilting, however, made me giddy.  I just love that walking foot.  I cannot wait to give it another go.  And maybe even try my hand at free motion.  Maybe.  Free motion quilting kind of scares me, you see.  Maybe this will be the weekend I face my fears.  First I have to clean up the studio, though.  Really.  It's bad.

Happy Friday!

Here's my Tie One On submission for the local pride theme.

The background fabric is a tiny brown and white polka dot.  The pocket and ruffle fabric came from a dress that used to belong to Kate.

I trimmed the pocket in some vintage green ric rack that Georgia and Nolan gave me for Christmas last year.

It didn't turn out as I had originally pictured, but I am still happy with it.  The photos are crap, but what do you expect from the supreme procrastinator?  I literally just finished it and the sun is almost down.  And my photographer is 7.  Hmmm....do you think that may have something to do with it?

Thanks for all the well wishes yesterday.  I am feeling a whole lot better today.   Still tired, but better.  The weekend is looking good already.

Last week I received a great package from Linda, who organized the Patchwork Swap.  When I found out that Linda was sending her swap package to me, I got very excited.  I knew it would be wonderful.  Boy, oh boy, was I right!

Look at all these gorgeous fabric scraps!  Lucky, lucky me.

Then there was this house.  Can you even believe that?  It so perfect for me.  A house!  The idea was definitely inspired - every little detail from the window to the colors is perfect.  I have it hanging over the kitchen sink, right next to the model pick-up.  It fits the spot perfectly and I love that I see it many times each day.  Here's a little closer view:

Thanks for putting together a great package and a great swap Linda!  You rock!

I'm a bit under the weather today so just some quick photos as promised on Friday.

I found the perfect basket - it once held fruit and more recently, a bunch of squash.  I got my copy of Bend the Rules Sewing out and started working.

I traced the bottom and added a couple inches all the way around as a pattern.  I made a pillow insert out of flannel and poly fill.  Then I took the found fabric and made a cover.  The back side opens - I used hook and loop tape for my closure.  It fit the basket well and looked comfy, but it still wasn't quite right.

A couple of coats of black spray paint later, I had a cat bed.

Much better.  It looks great in the kitchen - the green matches the walls perfectly.  Now if Scout would just use it...