pink picket fence

Sew inspired these days...

Work is very busy this week... something not completely unexpected after the impromptu break we took last week...

But I'm so ready to CREATE!  DO!  MAKE!  I'll have to placate myself with the pretty stuff on flickr and around blogland, I suppose.  So... in no particular order,

• I continue to marvel at the ladies at sugar city journal... (Have you SEEN this?? Heaven in a tiny dress.) 
• And Rachel's little pattern review in lovely tangerine...
• And the sweet little tops and things that Lera seems to whip out on nearly a daily basis...
• And this darling little pillowcase dress (or these) at chikaustin...

Can you tell where my mind is wandering these days?  :)

Oh, and lest I forget.  No, I did not make the sweet little granny square blanket pictured in the doll cradle above.  Ha ha ha!  Remember how my last crochet project turned out??  No, this isn't my handiwork, dear friends.    It was a lucky thrift find a few weeks ago.  I love the daring use of color!

Sweet.

Hosting parties this holiday season like I am?  Don't want to get left with tons pies and stuff stacked haphazardly on top of your butter dish and salsa jars in the fridge?  I saw this cool make-your-own to-go box at Martha last week and I'm going to keep it in mind for other sweet leftovers as well this December...

(I wasn't quite on the ball with Thanksgiving, so I still have two cheesecakes, a pumpkin pecan pie, gravy and some cornbread dressing in my fridge.  But I'm going to cut myself some slack considering the coughing-pneumonia-asthma-baby-er-trip and everything...)

Of course, being Martha, there are templates and instructions over there.  But I'm thinking you could also make some cute square ones for cookies or fudge and you don' t have to mess with cellobags or tins or whatever.   You could even get fancy and decorate the sides with holiday messages or original art by the little ones....

I'm going to put it on my gosh-I-really-wish-I-had-time-to-do-list and see what happens. 

This weekend might kick off my holiday cookie bonanza.  We like to make sugar cookies every year and this might  be a good weekend for that.  (This picture is from a couple years ago...) Could be a good thing to do while watching the game. 

I might also tackle some vintage-sheet pajama bottoms.  I have several sheets that would work, and since I missed out on Joann's big 99cent/yard flannel sale last weekend, I figure 'free-because-it's-in-my-cupboard' is an even better deal.  Added bonus: this could be a perfect opportunity to use some more of that velvet ribbon trim I bought on a whim a few weeks ago... 

Inspiration Thursday

• Tote Bags: I always like seeing how other people make theirs. And line them.  Which always looks great but I never seem to want to do. Mariko explains it all with pictures.
• Using Elastic Thread to make those smocked tube top dresses - the girls are gonna get some of these.
• Fabric covered button thumb tacks  (I ♥ this blog and visit daily!  Orange love.)
• Super easy tank top - Someday I will make something for myself.  Like this.

And how is THIS for inspiration from hostessblog.com???? Gorgeous!  I have a preggo friend who is having a shower in August, and we had already planned on these colors, but WOW!  Now I know exactly what direction we're gonna go!

photo by Jennifer Skog Photography

Be inspired!

getting around to it

Well HELLO!  I'm so glad you stopped by to ask what I've been up to.  Because, see, I haven't been able to post on my own without a little nudging...

So first off, here is a wonderfully practical yet totally impractical door stop.  Doing what perfectly fine bricks and door wedges have done for years with ease, I present:

7.5 lbs of pinto beans in a bird sack.  Thank the Lotta book for this one.  I couldn't help it.  And to be honest, my pre-teen daughter's door does slam a bit when the windows are open.  (It is just the wind, isn't it honey?) 

Also, the littlest daughter was the lucky recipient of my first-ever 'oatmeal can/box stool'.  7 Oatmeal cans, some felt and rick rack, and voila!

I have to admit, I really like that one.  She can sit on it, because it's only like 10 inches high... and she's not much taller than that at 15 mos....

Lastly, my cheap-o antique store table and chairs graduated from the workshop (ie my garage) to the inside of the house by way of new paint and a lovely antique faux finish.

These will look great in my soon-to-be sewing and piano room when the basement is FINALLY done and I can move all my not-as-pretty-but-pretty-necessary work stuff into my new space downstairs.  And a big HA to the guy at Lowe's who laughed at my need for a 'smoky blue paint' for my chairs.  I think they look so sweet with the satin curtains.  They are showing up a bit baby boy blue here, but I assure you they are not!  :)

too cute to pass up

I am so going to make one of these soon....

design is from diynetwork.com, Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza.  Love it.