Fruity - successful molt.

Good Job Fruity!

Take care,

Things I did today.

Started with this dress.

Removed the top. Added waistband and elastic.

Got this.  Very happy girl with spinny tutu skirt.

 Then I made this to help with the Kaiya "room gut- redo".

Can you tell what it is?

How about now?

Had Brody buy a Hula hoop on his way home from a job.

Sewed some tubes  added some elastic around the top and hung it from a swivel  hook in the ceiling.  Instant Princess tent. 

Take care,

Kaiya.

Take care,

Hey...

 I have no real reason for neglecting my blog lately.  I'm not going to make excuses and say I was too busy.  I was but could have taken a few minutes to update and show off some pictures.  My lists of to dos just kept getting longer and longer and I was overwhelmed.  My fight or flight response was flight...  oh well, I'm here now and have some finishes.

 I was hoping to join in the fun at i'm a ginger monkey in the "scrap vomit" quilt a long, but the perfectionist in me couldn't wrap my brain about using so many different colors of 2.5 inch squares that may or may not look good together.  I couldn't take so much time working on a quilt only to hate it in the end.  I did still , and still am, using the scraps but in a way that I can deal with the chaos, yet still have some control.  both of the above quilts are quilted and tied.

 I also utilized my scraps in making quilted journal covers for Christmas gifts this year.

 I recently got Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts: and  have most of the supplies listed in this book for various projects, but I really enjoyed the chapter on patchwork quilts.   I especially like the tied quilts as it reminds me of my childhood.  Growing up we had many blankets, some quilts,  and afghans that were made by my dad's mother.  It still amazes me especially now that I'm making them myself, that she did it blind.   I can't imagine how she was able to manuever though and complete some of the smallest details, but she did.  I never paid attention to those things when I was a kid or when she was still alive, I think I could have learned alot from her had it not been for my snotty disposition and my teenage angst.

 We still have few of those blankets, my son has one on his bed and has loved it an and cuddled it and picked at some of the tufts, so I was happy to have a very detailed diagram thanks to Miss Martha, on how to execute  the  perfect  French knot.  In doing so I realized how much I too loved those tied blankets and picked at those same tufts as a kid while I read  in that big  overstuffed chair at the old farm.  I decided to follow the pattern for the basic patchwork quilt on page 66, but using all of those 2.5 inch squares I had cut.  I first arranged them in a basic nine patch and then sewed them together and just kept going.  I have been following my " Use what you got rule"  and have come up with some great variations, forcing myself to think outside of the box.

 More finishes that were gifted:

                              

Seriously, no pictures.

Take care,

Please excuse my absence

Life has been busy and productive between the garden , hanging out with friends , revamping  wardrobes for the kids and myself, my work out schedule, and just enjoying each others company that i haven't been around.  We are leaving for the Good Trade Farm  for more fishing fun, gardening,  good conversation and some much needed recharging with the folks.   I'll be back next week and post pictures.

Kaiya unfortuanately found out the hardway that we can't play with rubber bands.  thank goodness she had her glasses on and things turned out alright!

  In the meantime we are off to get the "one that got away" and put up a good fight!

Take care,

"Don't set sail on someone else's star”.

Or so it is said in an African proverb.  When reading this quote I had an a-ha moment. I'm sure you've had one of your own at some point during your journey. This is precisely what I have been doing for a long time now. 

I have recently started to reevaluate my life and the things that are important to me.  I am closer to 40 than I ever thought I would be.  You see my mother always said  I  was lucky to live past 16 because I  was such a smart ass.  I still am by the by and am fine with that thankyouverymuch!

 Many of the things that I  thought were  important over the years have slowy faded away and become clutter.  Lots of clutter.  Clutter in my computer, my closets, my head, my relationships and  really in every aspect of my life and home and I have been facing it all head on.  I have collected  so many different things in my crafting quest, and life in general, if i were to be honest;  I lost sight of the things that were important.   My family, my children , myself...

I have been trying to make myself step out of my comfort zones and try new things and in doing so I have found so many things that I actually enjoy doing such as quilting vs. garmet sewing, hand sewing vs. machine sewing and even embroidery.   None of these things were ever a point of interest before.  During these moments of quiet stitching I have started to listen to myself and to my surroundings.  I'm not perfect and I will never be the perfect person , mother, crafter, blogger... insert any other appropriate title here, and that's okay.  Just doing it  and living my life day by day with laughter and love  is enough.

Trying to figure out a design for the star, finally decided to use a variation of 3  different patterns and adding my own twist.  ( Old table finally gone!!!!)

This table, as crazy as it seems has really changed the flow of our house and I am in love.  It was a garage sale purchase this past week and made me really pair down my "craft" excess in this room.  No more clutter.  No more folding chairs.  No more fighing for space No more trying to "make it work.   Real family dinners and gatherings at the table have been lovely.  Kaiya calls the arm chairs the "king and queen thrones" and only grown ups can sit in them.  It's good to be queen. 

 

These stars a part of my first ever "quilt as you go" with a hand quilting extravaganza!

 lots more of embellishment and more quiet and reflective moments with my kids as they too try their hands at sewing and embroidery

The clutter is starting to disappear.  The bluebird of happiness has come to roost here once again  and I'm looking towards my own star these days.

Take care,