Sew much to do

I've had a few comments on my new header so I thought I'd share a bit of where it came from. It's actually a photograph of a mess on my dining room table. A pile of fabric that I'll share more on later, some stamp stuff that I had out from making cards and my Singer sewing machine, compliments of my mom. It's such a handy machine. Just pop the cover on and it can be carried anywhere I want to sew. I took it out around Thanksgiving to make some bags (like this one) and my MIL and her sister loved them so much I figured I'd make some for my 4 friends and our late holiday celebration. When I went to JoAnn's to pick out fabric I discovered that I have the same fabric bug as my mom....I must have wandered up and down, picking up different designs, mixing and matching fabric for an hour. That's where the pile of fabric in the picture comes from.

As for my friends' bags, here's the two bags I finished....yes only 2, not 4:

I love pink (as you can tell from the new blog look) and I discovered some fun black, chocolate and teal fabrics to go along. For anyone keeping score as to my New Year's resolutions, Procrastination:1, Caryl:0. I bought the fabric ahead of time but somehow didn't start sewing the bags until the morning I was supposed to go out with my friends. No one ended up bringing gifts (sometimes we exchange, sometimes we don't and we never decide ahead) so it worked out okay that I ended up bringing nothing. And now I have these two bags ready for the next time I need a gift.

I also have the fabric cut out for the other bags so I hope they'll be finished by the end of the week. Then I can put the sewing machine away and maybe have a dining room table again. Plus, I have a fun Christmas gift to set up so I can sew a bit more often without making such a mess.....Mom, I'll call when you can come over to help! I'll share when it's ready, but no promises because procrastination always wins out.

Smiles,

Grandmother's Flower Garden

While away, I thought I'd share another cross stitch project with you, from the same book this one came from.

This one hangs in my bedroom because it goes with the blocks on a quilt my mother gave us for a wedding gift.

My mom found the flower garden blocks at a yard sale many years ago and created a bright flower garden just for me and DH. My cat loves curling up in the sun on it, or hiding amid the pillows in his own little cave--just like on my blog header!

Smiles,

Purple!

I happened upon Crafty Creations this week and they posed a challenge to use purple. I don't think I use purple much so I ran with the idea! I ended up with two cards.

The card on the left uses Almost Amethyst cardstock and Lavendar Lace ink for the Celebrate sentiment. The card on the right is on a Pale Plum base with Lavendar Lace ink again. I love the purple sparkly ribbon however! Both of these cards will be going to my Aunt Greta in the days leading up to her 106th birthday which you can read about HERE.

Smiles,