Hope everyone had a most wonderful holiday. That you were surrounded by the ones you love. That laughter filled your ears, good food filled your bellies and family and friends filled your hearts.

Yesterday was a pajama day here. A relax, breath, and exhale type of day. While everyone was holed up on the couch with runny noses, curled up in front of a western movie, or huddled in the corner with a new play pretty. I went off by myself and pulled out this quilt, I’ve been working on. I have to admit this quilt has caused me a bit of stress…or at least it did. It started out with excitement, which turned into fretting over the design layout, the over all size, backing. If it could be added to the list of panics, I did. You see, its a gift for a little new addition to our family. No, not my household, but in-laws. This little guys is special and I wanted the gift to be special…but the gift it was late due to this emotion tidal wave. Late to my personal deadline…Christmas day. I was so deflated. But over the weekend, I pulled it out and just let go. Negativity really gets you no where. I thought what really is a handmade gift? One made for my heart to another. A piece of me, my creativity, my love, given to them. Made with thought and kindness, not fretting. So I sat down in front of my machine and stopped thinking. I just did what felt right, no questions asked. Gave myself over to the process. I choose brown thread and the quilting turned into squares design. I loved it. And it all felt good as the machine hummed away.  Now, it feels like I meant it to be. Handmade and quilted with my love. I still have the trim to finish, but I’m excited to see it come together. Complete. Whole.

I’m not trying to rush the autumn season..oh no not at all. But soon the gift giving time of the year will be here. If your thinking of making handmade gifts, a little before labor time is needed. It’s a bit stressful to try turn out several little handmade goodies the night before…I know, procrastination at it’s best.
These bags are simple totes, but can be turned into a “green” gift bag. I think it’s a great idea. Making the gift wrapping & container even usable.

This little guy I machine stitched on a canvas bag. I’m liking his silly little self.

You know how I love the machine stitching, quilting thing. I seem to always find ways to add it into a project. Hot pads no different. Machine stitched kitchen accessories on them. I’ve been getting ready for another attempt at a craft show, so not much cooking is going on but when I do…these will be ready.

The new school year is here and we are trying to settle into our new routine. Finding a little more structure than the free lazy day summers. So, here’s what we have been up to these past couple weeks..

Calming our minds and noticing the small details around us.

Crafting…..

Kids getting in on the crafting too..

Thinking of future ideas…

And the ever present cleaning…

Thank you Anna for letting me know about my blog being set on members only. I don’t want anyone to think I’ve gone into hiding with only a handful of friends.  How it happened I’m not sure but I’m so glad it’s fixed. Well, I think it’s fixed. I unchecked the members only option??? If your having any problems please email me and let me know.

Watching This. Seen it quite some time ago on Amanda’s blog but it’s worth revisiting.   Sparked my creative inner child. Making want to play and so I did…. The above picture is a self portrait. I’m a day dreamer. I’ll save what the kids are working on for another post.

Inspired by my kitchen chairs.

Inspired by watching a little bird pick seeds from the flowers weeds in my yard.

Hand sewing, well some hand sewing. My machine is still on a lame leg. I borrowed one from a sweet family member. It’s sews just fine but doesn’t handle quilting to well. Just when you think it’s doing great, the tension does this little crazy thing. So quilt tops sit undone. I was hoping I’d be able to take them to the craft show this weekend. So I’m trying not to get myself worked up about that and just have fun. And stick to small quilts. That’s where the hand sewing comes in. Along with the altered pouch. I’m finding myself liking it a lot more than I expected. There is something special in those little works of art.

Embracing Life…….

And Stay Silly…..

Does your kids ever do the knock, knock jokes? Ever since my youngest one heard them, she repeats them over and over.  Well, repeats one joke over and over. I try to act like it’s funny but seriously after so many times well..even a fake laugh is hard to muster up. I’m sure you’ve heard this one….

Em:Knock, knock

Me: who’s there?

Em: Orange

Me: Orange who?

Em: Orange you glad to see me!

The quilt I’m working on was inspired by of course orange. I’m really liking the colors. The freshness of the white, orange and a little touch of green. It speaks to me like sunny days. The large orange blocks are made out of a vintage fabric. I’m excited to use it finally and feel good about the outcome of it. It’s always such a bummer to use vintage fabric and not be pleased with the end result.  Feels like a sad lose. A betrayal to the fabric print itself. And you can’t run to the store and pick up a couple more yards. It’s gone. This is not one of those times. This quilt is made with the requested measurements of my husband. He’s pretty tall so when laying on the couch after a long day he sometimes likes to cover up with a blanket. Throws are way to small. Cold Feet. Large blankets usually get drug into the living room. Then left in large heaps at the foot of the couch. On really cold days, a large quilt is a comfort. To snuggle up under the heavy weigh of someone hand work but not every day. So this one is made to cover you while you lay on the couch without all the extra bulk. I’m feeling pretty orangy or peachy today. Lame but had to say it.  

Orange less intense red. Yes!  Orange curtains? I did that a while back but after seeing this print and this one. They look so blah! They were made out of the same print as the small orange blocks in the quilt picture above. I’m wanting a bold new textiles and huge pops of color in the house. What I got now sort has me feeling the grape in sun effect. Not good! I’d love to have this peacock illustration in fabric. Can’t really tell if it’s red or orange? But I can see it as curtains. That would definitely add a little conversation in a room. Helen does some of the cutest illustrations and I just love her blog. I think my favorite part is how she embellishes the pictures. They can be quite comical.

This print. Found it on Etsy. Orange and blue always a nice combo.

I so so so love the smell of me or anyone near me peeling an orange. I think that might be one of my favorite things.    Yes, today I agree.

OK…I’m sounding like my daughter. Repeating. Wonder how many times I said Orange.

The sewing machine still sits silently waiting for me to mend it. The lady at the store gave me a repairman’s number, I’m hoping when I stop by he’ll have the one part I’m needing. Till then I’ve been filling my time embroidering. Not tiring of them at all. The girl blowing bubbles was inspired by this. The rest are taken from my own pencil doodles that I’ve done over the years. They’ve been sitting amongst those journal pages, inspiring nothing for way to long.  It been nice to see them become something. The lady is myself or any mom holding their daughter as she slumbers in your arms. I always loved watching my children sleep. I still do and I’m sure I’m not the only mom.  I remember my own mother talking about watching us. I didn’t think much of it until I had my own. Then I understood. The innocence, those lashes dark on the cheeks, relaxed and calm that is rarely if ever seen during the day.  Watching their little chest rise and fall with every gentle breath. Memories of there actions run through your mind. Thinking about what they will be like when their older and these days of gone. I wonder if I’m making the best choices for them. What I can do to help them be a better person. If I’m hugging them enough. Loving them enough. If I’m letting them know how truly special they are to me. Then I kiss them and hope that I am. Pray that I’ll be given a chance to spend another day with them.

 With my embroidery supplies out a lot lately, a new container to hold them was needed. Needed maybe not but definitely wanted. I keep them in a plastic bin. It was sufficient but not very pretty and most definitely uninspiring. I pulled a gift I had bought my husband out of storage. Yes, it was in storage. Several years back I found this cute green metal vintage tackle box. My husband loves the outdoors stuff. If it was up to him we’d be sleeping on camo, sitting on pine branch chairs, while a light fixture made from antler sheds lite up the room. Scary to me. So I bought it hoping it would make him feel a little more part of the house but I still could live with it. I got tired of dusting the box as it sat there being of no real function. So away it went. He didn’t even really notice. Now days, I want something that not only appeals to the eye but functions within my little home. Two birds in one stone. The tackle box works nicely. My new threads are up in the top. Looking pretty.  Then the big open spaced bottom holds my rainbow colored wad of threads. I can’t keep mine looking like what Candace has done. It all ends up a chaos of threads.  It seems to fit. I love chaos of color.

The bunny thing started off with making this pom-pom springtime animal tree. It has been something I’ve wanted to do with my kids for a while. It was something my mom did with us growing up. Each Easter she would get out the pom-pom animals and we would hang them on her pussy willow branch tree. My childhood ones where much bigger and fluffier as they were handmade pom-poms. We didn’t get these made in time for Easter but next year they will be ready to pull out and hang up to bring in the season. They are a very simple. Glue a couple large pom-poms together. Take 2 small pom-pom and glue onto the face for the rabbits cheeks. Cut the ears, eyes, nose, feet out of felt. I used Fabric-Tac to glue them. My favorite glue. Take a needle and thread and put through the middle of the pom-pom, tie a good knot. Leaving enough string to hang the little cute critter up with. If your making homemade pom-poms make sure the yarn that ties all the pieces together is extra long so that another knot can be tied at the end, leaving you something to hang him up on. I almost forgot, another pom-pom for the rabbits tail of course. When making the duck or chick it’s just 2 pom-poms glued together and felt parts. The kids really enjoyed this project and it’s funny seeing how each comes out unique.

Then we had the real baby rabbits thing happen. The kids were so so so excited to have found them. Rescued them from the chicken pen and a hen pecking at them. They so wanted to keep them. I completely understand how they felt. If you have ever held one that fits easily into the palm of your hand, you’ll know what I mean. Part of me even wanted to keep them. They begged, while I sat there looking at them. Then I gave them a little information, even went online and showed them. Gently highlighting the “they are wild, hard to hand raise, easily stress out and the out come is not usually good” part. They finally agreed that the mommy should raise them and back to the barn they went. This was not done without tears. These sad feelings of having to let them go brought back memories of past pets that had passed away. More tears. None the less, I was glad they made the right choice and all on their own. A good lesson to learn. Being spontaneous and taking on something can be a great things in it’s place. Sometimes you need to think things through, weigh your choices and then make a wise decision that is good for everybody. They did that.

I started making a little quilt for my youngest, who really wanted to keep the rabbits. It’s not fully done as my sewing machine tried to eat the fabric. Tearing up my bobbin holder, I think that’s what it’s called? The quilt will be small enough that she can wrap up her easier to take care of stuffed rabbit. Stuffed toy rabbit.
If anyone is wondering,  the bunnies are doing fine. They come out at night jumping and running around.  They seem to be getting faster and bigger by the day.

Working on……

A space of my own is working out as I had hoped. I can work a little, take a break, work a little more without having to clear it off to eat supper or when family and friends are coming over. I just can just leave it and come back, all there as I left it. Quite nice!  The only dilemma I’m having now is that I want to do so much all at once. I think I have 5 separate projects going. All left in their little piles waiting to be completely finished. No more out of site, out of mind with these. Things are getting done around here.

And then we have this. Not the first time and I’m sure it won’t be the last.   A fresh plowed garden, 2 soaking days of rain, one dry late afternoon, kids unsupervised for 10 minutes while mom folds a load of laundry. I guess this is what I get for bring home a book called I love dirt. Who can resist the feel of mud squishing between your toes?  That’s the next best thing to warm sand.

I thought I was going to post about my little duckling next. I guess the fox eat my chick post.
He needs a little fixing, a few threads here and there but I’m loving him. More in the works.

The other day I was trying my hand at quilting circles and I had a bit of trouble. They started turning very lumping looking.  I had to put the piece down before I lost total heart on it. It’s something I really really want to finish too.  So, I was a bit weary when yesterday I decided to do curvy stripes and circles.   I attempted the curves first using two different fabrics. A common muslim and thicker vintage fabric that is a gorgeous muted red. Everything went smooth. I just took my time and I was pleased with them. One hurdle jumped. It gave me a bit of confidence and determination to tackle some circles again.  These turned out so much better. I used 3 different types of feedsack fabrics and hand appliqued them on. I’m definitely going to pick up my other piece and finish the circles. No more lumpy bumpy rotten peach shapes here.

A sneak peek at another quilting piece I’m working on. Made with little red riding hood vintage fabric. This one has been slow going. I’m trying to patched it together without it looking to choppy.  I’m also on the search for some blue fabric that matches closer to the tree color. If I can’t find it, I’ll be using the blue you see in the background. It’s not to far off.