Let's catch up!

There are so many things I want to share with you! I have been on an unintentional blog hiatus but I'd really like to get into a good blogging rhythm this fall.


We celebrated our 7 year anniversary by going to the Country Living Fair in Columbus, OH a couple of weeks ago. It was fantastic. We went last year too but it was SO super crowded - the venue was beautiful but just not big enough. It was held at the Ohio Village this year and let me tell you, it was the coolest place. It felt like we had stepped back in time. AND, I got a super cool show poster and got it autographed by the editor of Country Living, Nancy Soriano.



My far and away favorite booth at the fair was the Earth Angels tent. I lost count of the thousands of imaginary dollars I spent there. It was jaw-dropping, gorgeous, funky, incredible ART. I was so inspired and I walked through there a few times. I ended up bringing home an awesome penny rug (sort of) framed in barn wood. I'm in the process of putting up fall decorations so I'll post a pic as soon as it gets hung up. It's awesome.

I had spotted this pattern on Country Threads' website and hoped that they would have it at the Fair and sure enough, they did! I can just see it in solid Kona cottons with a coordinating print back. And the nice gals there even let me practice on the sample punchneedle! It was awesome (I know, everything was awesome). But it really was! It was so easy - I am definitely putting it on my Christmas list. (I also grabbed this Daisy Kingdom pattern to make Delaney a fall jacket.)



My good-ness order came last week too....I am in fabric heaven right now. And would you believe I found this gingham at Joanns?!?



I had stocked up on velvet ribbon at McMaster & Storm at the fair last year and I was hoping they would have some great ribbon again this year. Man, did they! I lost count at 20 yards. It is delicious velvet ric rac. Someday I dream of going to their actual store.

Relieved

So I have decided not to do the Pumpkin Festival. I can't tell you what a weight this has taken off my shoulders. I was feeling so pressured to make such a huge amount of STUFF that I wasn't enjoying just creating. I was thinking in terms of what other people would like, what was easy to sew, what would be popular. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but that just not ME, you know? I don't want to sew because I feel obligated to. I want to sew because I want to, because I feel energized by it, because I get pleasure from it. Not for something that I know I don't love and will have to underprice just to get it to sell.

I decided, instead, to do an open house at the beginning of November. I think I'll do a Friday evening and Saturday with snacks and drinks. I want it to be as much of a social thing as a shopping thing! I hope that it will be a good chance for people to pick up Christmas gifts, and I am really looking forward to making things for it.



I've been working on this little throw blanket for a few months. I cut scraps into 1 1/2 inch, 2 inch, 2 1/2 inch, and 3 inch strips. I pieced them randomly and I'm just putting a strip of white Kona Cotton between them. I also found some awesome vintage fabric at an antique mall the other day - about 1/2 yard for $2 and I also got some awesome pink wool. I have been wanting to try J Caroline's monogram pillow and I think I'm going to use it for that.



I have about 5 million friends that are pregnant (!!) which is exciting in and of itself, but even more exciting for me because I get to make baby gifts! Woo hoo! I LOVE making baby things. I got these Clover embroidery patterns at JoAnn's, shockingly, and I ordered this hedgehog fabric from Crybaby's Boutique. I'm going to try my hand at embroidering them onto this shirt and make a little blanket with the hedgehog fabric and some solid cottons.

***Oh, and I haven't forgotten about those of you who asked about the shirt pattern. I think it's been discontinued because I can't find it on the patternmaker website. I need to go dig through my sewing room and find the actual pattern.