I definitely have my weaknesses...
and fat quarter stacks just happen to be one of them.
Ginger Blossom by Sandi Henderson and Swell by Urban Chiks both from the Fat Quarter Shop.
No school for the girls today. We got about three inches of snow with freezing rain on top of that. It doesn't take much to make them close the schools here. The bummer of the whole deal is that the snow isn't even good enough to play in. I guess we just have to admire it from inside.
We live in an old neighborhood with lots of mature trees. It really is beautiful to see them all covered with white. It won't last long, though. It has already begun to melt some.
When I took these photos, it reminded me of my newest piece of art.
This is "I like the trees outside my window" by Jennifer Judd-McGee. This is the original. Yes, lucky lucky me. When I saw it on flickr, I had to have it. We live in a yellow house and have the crazy Japanese maple right outside. So it was perfect for me. The drawing is so beautiful, much more so in real life than in photos if that is at all possible. Right now it is sitting on a chest of drawers in the kitchen and I get to look at it many times each day. I love it, Jen. Thanks for helping me get in touch with those fine ladies at Edith and Edna so I could call it my own.
OK - back to making snacks for the girls and more x's. Ta ta for now.
Good surprises are just that: good. And getting an unexpected package in the mail is more than a good surprise - it's great.
I could go on and on about Sarah. I am just going to say she rocks. She sent the girls and I some lovely handmade items as a thank you. A thank you for a thank you gift I sent her this summer. She wasn't supposed to do that. But she did. Isn't she nice?
She made me this t-shirt with toadstools. Eeeeee! I love it! It is the PERFECT shade of green and fits me wonderfully. It will be in heavy rotation. I know this. I have already worn it. Twice.
She made the girls an apron. I wish it were my size! It is beautifully made with gorgeous details - the buttoned ties, appliqued AND freezer paper stenciled toadstools (just like on my shirt), lime green stitching. (More photos here.) The girls love it and have agreed to share. Jane wore it on Saturday while we made zucchini bread. Kate gets her turn later today when we make cookies. They were entirely reasonable about the sharing part, too. Another good surprise! They must be growing up.
Look at how happy my kitchen pegs look now.
Thank you Sarah. Thank you so much.
I took that fabric and made a belt.
I have some other plans for those scraps, too. I hope to get more sewing in this afternoon. I might get sidetracked, though. The mailman just brought these:
Oh boy. Which one first?
I feel like August just came and went. That was fast.
Last month I received two lovely packages.
Autum sent me a sweet little bundle of all things green! She wrote that she saw this charm on etsy and thought of me. Is that not the nicest thing?
She also sent me some lovely Amy Butler scraps and lots of pretty ribbons. I love it all! Thanks Autum!
Heidi sent me a box of goodies, too. She put together a great pile of scraps and made me the sweetest wristlet. Darling!
And inside the pouch? Lots of vintage notions....ric rack, trims and buttons! Oh my! Thanks Heidi! You were so sweet to share your thrifting loot with me. My end of the swap will be on its way this week.
You can see what I received at the craft swap over on flickr. I got some great stuff! I am lucky to be part of such a talented group!
And up this week, the zipper tutorial. Yes, procrastination rears its ugly head again. I have it almost finished, it just needs fine tuning. Wednesday is looking like the day!
Happy Labor Day!
Dawn and I had a little swap. One of her Love Creatures in exchange for a twirly skirt. Well, imagine my surprise when I opened the package and found Gloria
and Brady!
Oh my! TWO! Indeed, I am a lucky girl. I knew I was getting one made out of the green floral fabric, but the little patchwork guy was such a great surprise. They are both so adorable - I just love them! Of course, the girls thought the rabbits were for them. Ha! Well, I guess I should share. I just don't want to! There were some other little goodies in the package including some different teas and Pocky sticks (all gone - I did share that!). Thanks Dawn! You are so nice and extremely talented. You really spoiled me.
While I was in the thick of the encyclopedia of me, Dawn tagged me for eight random things. Although I feel that there can't be too much more to tell, here goes:
1. I was a History major in college. If I could do it all over again, I would study graphic art.
2. During the school year I work five hours a week setting up and printing invitations at a very nice stationery store. Yes, only five hours. I have been working there since I was pregnant with Jane. When the kids were smaller, I would work one Saturday a month.
3. People pay me good money to address invitations and write out place cards. I used to do calligraphy, but now I mostly just use my regular handwriting. It's a great gig because if I am busy, I can say no to a job and heck, I get to work while in my p.j.'s.
4. My freshman year college roommate is now on Saturday Night Live. I lost touch with her, but she is a great person, very fun and nice. She totally deserves what she has worked hard to get.
5. I eat the same thing for breakfast every day. Right now I am on an oatmeal with nectarines kick.
6. It annoys me to no end when drivers don't use their turn signals.
7. I go to the grocery at least four times a week. At least. I am not a good meal planner so I find myself shopping for one or two days at a time. Sometimes I do big shops to get all the basics, but more often than not I just pick things up as we need them.
8. I have seen Breezer in the back yard. I wasn't convinced before, but now I really do believe in ghosts.
Our mailman has been busy. Yesterday he brought me a wonderful package from Blair.
It is all so lovely! I adore the bits of Japanese fabric and the "E" card is already hanging in the studio. The log cabin sachets are just gorgeous - and they smell divine, too. Did you notice that one of them is mostly green? She must know me! And do you see Blair's little label? Ack! It is so cute and positively perfect in every way. Thank you, friend. I love it all!
This is our first CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) allotment! Hooray! It made me incredibly happy to find a group we could join this late in the game. So until the end of October, we will have fresh, local produce. We ate the cucumbers, the corn and a couple tomatoes last night. The squash and the peppers will probably make up part of our meal tonight. I used this website to locate a CSA in our area. I know Cristina used it, too, and found a CSA on the other side of the country. Take a look if you are interested. Tonight I am hitting a small farmers' market in search of local meat. Wish me luck.
And if this post weren't random enough, there is more. I read Cassi's blog and decided to join her meme for August. So beginning tomorrow, for the rest of the month, I will be posting an Encyclopedia of Me. This summer has flown by and I am hoping by doing this, I can accomplish some things around the house and in the studio, play with the girls, relax and enjoy what is left of summer. I plan on posting photos, too. I can't promise that they will have anything to do with the day's topic as I seem to be caught up in photographing food these days. It's the combination of good afternoon light by my kitchen sink and having food on the brain, I think.
Back tomorrow with the letter "a".
