I'm just getting in on the tail end of the June Whiplash Competition, but I made it! I agonized over what to enter that would be appropriate given the guidelines, and then settled on this little tissue holder that I made a couple of weeks ago. It represents my return to crafting for the sheer enjoyment of it; the re-discovery of my muse and reclaiming the impulsiveness that isn't always a part of the process when you craft for a living.
I apologize in advance for this ridiculously quick post. My little ones are waiting patiently upstairs for me to say goodnight and time is getting away from me!
Thanks for all of your nice comments on my anniversay post! It's nice to know that we're not the only homebodies in the world. There are some in our family that would like us to think that there's something wrong with us for being this way. Oh well, if we can't please everyone then we may as well make sure we please ourselves!
I got a chance to make some pretty new fabric-covered cards this morning- they're up on my site and etsy shop. I think I have found myself a new crafting addiction...
Well, better go before there's a mutiny. G'nite everyone!
Today, we celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary, though we have been together over 11 years now.
This little bit should tell you a lot about us: My parents offered to take the boys overnight. OVERNIGHT! We have not spent a childless night in well, what seems like forever. And yet, after dinner, all we wanted to do was go get our little boys, tuck them in, and spend a quiet night at home. Some people may call us hermits, some may call us anti-social.I'm sure some call us boring. I call us happy- extremely happy just to be together. Nothing wrong with that as far as I'm concerned.
My husband- the mildest, kindest, most patient and accepting person I have ever met. I feel so, so incredibly lucky to be married to this man who has never once in all these years made me feel badly about who I am- never told me I should be or act like anything but who I am. Seriously, how many people in the world can I say that about? Nobody. Nobody but him. A pretty rare quality I think, and an incredible one in a husband. I love my quiet, simple, secure life, and I wouldn't trade it, or him, for anything.
This morning I did get a chance to complete the sewing I had planned for this week- four new wristlets- to be posted on my site and my etsy shop this weekend.
Where to begin?
We had a nice, relaxing Father's Day, just what Daddy wanted. No big plans, just time to relax and spend time with the boys.
Tuesday my mom had the boys for the morning, which meant I got several wristlets and two wrist wallets all cut and ready to sew. Yay! These will probably show up on my etsy shop and my website later this week.
The day all went downhill, however, when my mom and I took the kids shopping for the afternoon. We made it through the first store just fine, but when we got to our next stop I realized I had left my wallet on the car! I was trying really hard to be calm about it. After all, everything in there was replaceable except for the money, but what a hassle!
I retraced my route the 20 miles back to the first store. No wallet the whole way, not in the parking lot and nobody had brought it into the store. I had given it up for stolen and had resolved myself to filing a police report after dropping my mom off. Well, it occurred to me to call the police station first to see if I even needed to file a report, or just contact my bank. I told them my name and they said that someone had turned my wallet in!
It's a little worse for the wear, apparently the change compartment got sprung when it fell so it doesn't close correctly any more (Am may be able to fix it, he has a way with those things), but everything, including the cash, was still in it. I want to thank that angel for reminding me that there is still goodness and decency in this world.
So after all of that excitement yesterday, today is a stay at home day with the boys. So far we have been outside playing in the sprinkler (great fun and especially funny when Mom gets wet!) and then doing some small crafts projects. This is a quick photo of some of our jungle boxes with glue still drying:
I did get a bit of time to try a new design out for a pleated bag. Unlined, just a quick try-out to see if my pattern would work:
Please excuse the poor composition. It's harder than you might think to model a bag while simultaneously focusing and shooting a digital camera at yourself!
I'm happy with it but it will have to be a bit wider at the top. It just barely fit around the end of my sewing machine!
Ugh. I spent the entire day today trying to perfect a new wallet design. Three prototypes later, I think I've got it. Too bad I won't have any time tomorrow to try again! Unfortunately it is now too dark and late to get any decent pictures so I won't be able to post any Work in Progress photos this week, but maybe next week!
Anyhoo, here's my final contribution to color week:
I've planted tons of these flowers, which around here we call Sweet Williams. We have a history, Sweet Williams and I. When I was a young girl, my grandmother and I found some growing wild on the side of the road and dug a few up to plant in our garden (She lived with my mom and I when I was small). She will be gone eight years on June 26th, but she is as close to my heart as ever.
I love you Gram!
My contribution to Blue Thursday-
I had a very nice surprise this morning- One of my new bags was featured on Etsy's home page! I really never expected that, especially so quickly after I added it. So thanks to the folks at Etsy!
Today was Kody's last day of school for the year. I'm looking forward to a fun summer with craft and science projects, if the boys can stop fighting long enough to enjoy themselves, that is!
Speaking of color... Do you go through phases with your color attractions? I have my favorites- purple is my ultimate- but I also go through periods where I need to surround myself with certain colors. A couple of summers ago, it was bright orange- I still have the bright orange beach bag, beach shoes and beach umbrella to show for it! After that, it was gray, I have no idea what could have been going in in my psyche for that to happen, but there it was.
More recently, I have developed a love for brown. But just in the past couple of weeks, I have found myself utterly obsessed with turquoise blue and peach. Don't ask me why. At least they're happy colors, right?
I couldn't leave the craft store without these the other day:
It's black/gray Wednesday for color week, and I thought it would be appropriate to take a photo of my mom's old Singer, on which I learned to sew. It's a lovely little travel model that lives in a little black case. They don't make them like they used to, for sure.
Today I'm filling jewelry orders, so no creative new stuff. But I do have a pile just waiting to be made into something pretty. I found this GORGEOUS eggplant purple canvas at a local closeout store, 5 yards for $6.99. This stuff usually costs that much for one yard. Needless to say, I just about shouted my delight in the store. I think it will look beautiful with this pretty floral fabric that has just a hint of the same shade of purple in it.
It's Brown Tuesday, and I had a hard time choosing just one photo. But I generally like to play by the rules, so I choose...
I like how the dark brown of the pitchfork and the light brown of the weathered wood contrast with each other.
Somehow, despite having a dentist appointment this afternoon, I still managed to finish the mini-tote I had been working on. I saw this fruity fabric last week and although it's not usually my style, it called to me. It's especially appropriate that I completed it today, as it's my aunt Georgann's birthday, and she loves all things fruity. Happy birthday auntie G!
I love this little bag!
