Hello, my dears!

Just in case you're in the mood for a little handmade goodness, the shop is stocked. :) I'm off to bed now....busy day tomorrow - breakfast at Panera's with Nana, shopping at Target, and then planting veggies with Grandma & Aunt Sandra. It doesn't get much better than that, right?!

Tomorrow will be fun!

Why, you ask? Because tomorrow is when I'm updating my shop with some lovely art quilts. I hope you like them as much as I do! Visit me at my Etsy shop Wednesday, April 29 at 9pm EST. I'll be the one with the quilts. ;)

Need

Have you ever SEEN such cuteness?!? They're a tad expensive but I seriously do need them. And the fact that the color is Ketchup makes them even better. I'm having a yard sale this weekend - guess where some of the profits are going?

Oh, I could just squeal!

Let me first say that if I don't win this giveaway, I will most certainly be buying some prints from the lovely Tollipop! I adore her blog - how have I not seen it before?!? It is hilarious - I mean, really, laugh-out-loud funny. Her stories are deeeelightful - and I'm off right now to peruse her archives. Go over there right now and have a look around - I promise you'll love it!

So I've been....

So I've been quite the prolific sewer during the last week or so. I've cut out 4 bags to sew, made an Indygo Junction Tribeca Tunic, an Easter skirt for Delaney, and 3 kidlets. Oh, and 4 wallhangings. I've been in a groove - don't you love it when that hapens?!

First up - the tunic. I was a little apprehensive about this pattern, thinking that maybe it would be too frumpy for me. I love the tunic style, though, so I thought I'd give it a try. I made the size medium, and I must say that I love it. It fits perfectly and was so super easy to make. And fast! It cut out and sewed up so quickly! I'll definitely make it again, but with a deeper v in the yoke. I also wish I would have chosen a smaller print for the yoke and contrasting bands, but oh, well. I found some earrings at Target that match it perfectly, and I have some great Ann Taylor off-white linen capris to wear it with.

We go to estate sales almost every Saturday - it's our little family ritual in the spring and summer. We hop in the car - kids still in their pj's - grab some breakfast, and cruise around town. It's a fun way to see old houses and find some treasures. I came across this gorgeous tablecloth a few weeks ago for $6 and I couldn't pass it up. It has the most amazing emboidery on it, especially on the corners, and I knew it would be great incorporated into Delaney's Easter outfit. I didn't use the corners on her skirt so I have to figure out what to do with them. Any suggestions?

I used some Michael Miller bias trim, and let me tell you - it is SO nice. It's silky and smooth and sews on so easily. I also used the last little bit of my Amy Butler Lime Full Moon Polka Dots - that has to be one of my favorite fabrics of all time - it just matches everything!

Delaney had this pink cardigan that was missing a button so I just went with it - I took off the other buttons and sewed on mismatched buttons in yummy candy colors. She loved looking at all the different colors and shapes - and it looked adorable!

I haven't lined the kidlets yet, so no pictures of them. I forgot to buy the cotton webbing for the handles, but once I finish them I'll upload pics. Hmmm....what else.....I'm excited to finish up some pillows and bind my wallhangings - I'm hoping for a shop update sometime in the next week or so.

That's all I've got, friends! Mwah!

Recovering from a cold. Sitting here with a box of tissues, a fresh cup of coffee, and wearing my favorite LLBean cardigan. Sounds attractive, doesn't it? But I do have makeup on, though. I went to the MAC counter this past weekend and got some much-needed goodies. I brought home some loose mineral foundation, some blush, Viva Glam lipstick, and lipglass. I'm definitely going back for more - the makeup artist was super knowledgable, so sweet, and took me out of my comfort zone to try some new colors. I think I'll get some pressed powder and a couple more glosses next time I go.

I ordered the kids' Easter gifts from Amazon this morning (Tinkerbell & Kung Fu Panda) and slipped in a little book for myself, too. I found a copy of Quick & Easy Slipcovers at Books-a-Million the other day and lo and behold, the first pattern was for a slipper chair slipcover! Sold! (I had to order it from Amazon, though, because it kills me to pay full price at a chain bookstore.) It looks like a great book, so we'll see how it goes.

I had a couple of comments/emails about my butcher block countertops. They are from IKEA - actually, our cabinets are from IKEA, too. Let me tell you, I LOVE them. I actually use them - I set hot pots/dishes on them, use them as a cutting board (not for meat, just fruits and veggies) and generally abuse them. They were unfinished for the first two years that we lived here and did just fine. A few weeks ago we sanded them down and put 5 coats of this sealer on them and they look wonderful. We should have done it long ago, but it's kind of a pain. You have to open the windows and you can't use the countertops for 72 hours. Josh and I have decided that all future kitchens that we build/remodel will have butcher block instead of pricey stone - it is beautiful, cheap, and we would much rather have one of these tables instead of a slab of granite. ;)

And I'm coveting one of these old subway directories - I LOVE them. Maybe one will make its way into our next house.