So Long 2009....Hellloooooo 2010!

I can remember a time when New Year's Eve meant all the "usual" things: parties, drinking, kissing at midnight....

This year, not so much! It's been a long few weeks, and I'm still recovering from having the flu (right before Christmas! I lost so many shopping days. grrrrr. Not that I'm still bitter.)

Which means that last night (NYE) while getting Leith to sleep, I also fell asleep. My sweet husband tried to tempt me with Christmas cake and Champagne, but I was having none of it. Couldn't be bothered to get up. He also came in at midnight to give me a kiss, and says that we had a little chat, but I don't remember it at. all. Poor honey. He deserves so much better than that!

Honestly, the past six months have been a little trying. Cooper was born prematurely. In and out of hospital for *weeks* -- poor guy. He's doing so well now, though. Then GiGi died. Not really unexpectedly, but still very sad. December was all about stomach bugs, snow days and flu. Suddenly, it's the new year.

Lots of possibility for good things this coming year. We're planning a vacation in Scotland (with visits to Wales and Ireland!). I've gotten several requests for more aprons/sewing. Leith continues to amaze us every day. That girl is smart as a whip and too clever by far. She'll be four in a few weeks and I am constantly wondering where has the time gone? Where's my *baby*? lol

Here's hoping that 2010 is a good year for all of us.

k

Grocery Bags for Peace

Well, sort of...Sew, Mama, Sew has had several "Quilting for Peace" blog posts, and now they're challenging you to make re-useable grocery bags. Make at least five and you're eligible for one of their prizes!



I've made so many of these "uglytotes" -- using upholstery samples! They're quick and easy. Maybe 15 minutes, including cutting...pockets add a couple more minutes, but not much!

Grocery bags are super easy to make, and there are dozens of styles. Loads of free tutes, as well, so you don't even have to buy a pattern! Grocery bags are a great way to improve your speed and skills, and try out new techniques.

Whether you make one or fifty, whether or not you enter Sew, Mama Sew's giveaway, you'll be helping keep plastic bags out of the landfill. Plus you'll be having fun!

k

Autumn Quilt Swap

Sure, it's just a few days until Winter, but I wanted to post the Autumn Quilt I made for a Sewing Mamas swap. It was a little late, but not this late. Just late posting it here!


It's called "Turning Over a New Leaf" -- because of the fabrics, but also because the binding is made with the back side of the leaf fabric. I'd wanted something that complimented, and didn't just blend into, the backing.




The backing fabric inspired the zig zag design of the front.

The quilting is simple: just four lines inside each zig-zag, using a varigated thread called "Autumn Leaves" (or something like that). It's a doll-size quilt, about 18" x 20" or so.

k

Crafting on the Radio

Want to hear a fun radio interview? Check it out!

Christy, Korinne and I recently got together and chatted with Jerry Johnson of NETradio. He was interested in how etsy brings together crafters, and of course we were happy to talk at length! We even encouraged him to put his music in an etsy shop!

I do believe that hand crafting will be more and more popular as people take stock and realize that mass produced doesn't mean "better" -- it just means "not unique"

My hope is that we'll become less "big box" thinkers and more of a "unique is beautiful" society.

k

Christmas Tote

It's been an exhausting week. My tyke's been "sick" -- not terribly, just enough to have her stay home from Montessori. Which means that crafting time is just not there. Don't get me wrong, we do crafy/creative things, but I don't have the ability to do my cutting/sewing/ironing while she's underfoot.

Last night, in spite of the exhaustion, I had an idea for this tote bag. Granted, it's probably not terribly original; what is truly original anymore? But I digress. It was too late to start it last night, because I know better than to try cutting/sewing/ironing while it's late and I'm exhausted. So it had to wait.



But not for long! My sweet husband put off his Saturday office time just so I could craft! I managed to draft, cut and sew up this tote within a couple of hours.

I totally love this bag! The applique. The size (huge!). The *look*. Even that crazily-shedding silky "fun" fur didn't make me curse (much)! It's made with bright red velvet and is fully lined with a Santa "vintage postcard" fabric.



What a blast! I'm soooo looking forward to doing some Christmas shopping now!

I'm thinking about doing a tutorial for it. Would you be interested?

k

Quick Selvedge Project

Whether you spell it selvedge, salvage, or selvege, you've probably seen some really lovely projects made with those printed fabric edges. (Like this dress. Wow!! She really does some amazing projects, check out her blog Ric Rac.)

I do not, however, have the patience (or skills) to save up so many selvedges and put them together in such a fashionable way. I do have crafter ADD, and this project is well within my short-attention-span capabilities. (Okay, I'm not really that incapable, but I do like to see the fruits of my labors sooner, rather than later.)



A few close up pics:





Cute, eh? I totally love the little sewing machine!

k

PBK Style

Let me start out by saying I love Pottery Barn style and quality. Those prices, though. uh uh. But their catalogs are are free and sooooo pretty. Lots of inspiration in those pages.

Several months ago I was flipping through a PBK catalog and totally fell in love with this desk, but seriously hated the price (sure, *now* it's on sale! lol). But I'm thrifty and crafty. Figured there had to be a DIY way.

Probably the next day, kid you not, I was in a thrift store and found this:



It's a little shabby, someone half-heartedly painted it white, but has some pretty bones. Plus it's a true roll top desk. For a kid. Best part? It was only $10! Of course I took it home. Where it sat on the porch for about two months. (Where's the shame faced smiley?)

Then the weather started to change. There's snow in the forecast. Snow. It's hard to paint furniture in the snow. Yesterday, however, was windy and sunny. I got out my spray paint and the drawer pulls I got at Target a couple weeks ago.

Now my shabby, thrift store find has become a gorgeous, PBK-inspired piece of furniture:





Now it happily resides in my tyke's bedroom. I'm ridiculously happy with how this one has turned out.



Cost comparison:

PBK - $249 (okay, it's $149 on sale, but still), plus delivery

Mine - $10 desk, $12 spray paint, $8 drawer pulls, elbow grease


Bonus: the book rack above the desk is also inspired by PBK. They wanted about $99 for theirs, mine was $1 at an auction, plus some spray paint.

What do you think?

k