Happy Fourth of July!
Completely unpatriotic post to follow as we haven't done any celebrating yet.  Hopefully I will have some photos to share tomorrow.

Projects::Knitting and Color week::Yellow

Remember this?  Well, it is a knitted purse for a friend lined in vintage fabric that I received from Hannah.

I used the leftover yarn to make this little clutch for Cristina and our moo card swap.

The clutch was supposed to be a zippered pouch.

I sat down one afternoon while hanging out with my friend Jodi and knit up a cabled rectangle.  I made it up as I went along so I am not sure if I can recreate it or not.  Anyhow, fast forward to the part where I want to line the pouch and put in the zipper.  Um, big problem.  I didn't think that to line it and put in a zipper, the knitted piece would need to be two pieces instead of one.  I tried it anyhow - I made a double lining and put the zipper in.  Crap, I tell you!  I ripped the zipper out and tore the lining apart and threw it to the side.  Then it hit me - a flap!  I grabbed the needles, picked up some stitches and knit the flap complete with button hole.  I finished it up by reworking the half of the original lining and hand sewing it in.  And you know what?  I like much more than I would have liked the zippered version.   Cristina likes it, too - phew!

Hope you have a nice holiday!

I had a crazy busy day yesterday - the kind where you barely have time to eat.  Swim team practice, swim lessons, errands, sewing for deadlines, rush to the post office, shower, hair cuts for me and the girls...hectic, but in a good way.  So here is part one of my mail post, just a day later.

Kirsty is a gem.  I saw a photo of some plastic belt buckles that she thrifted over on flickr and wouldn't you know, she sent me the ones I like.

She also sent the fabric they are sitting on - so charming and well, green.  You know I love my greens.  These goodies have been in the house for awhile now and I have been remiss not to thank her sooner.  Thank you Kirsty!  I love them!  Some little things should be showing up for you soon.

Cristina and I had a little moo card swap.

She sent me an aqua tray cloth with beautiful edging.  I now have two aqua tray cloths, the other one from Kirsty.  Coincidence?  Hmmm.....one more and I'll have a collection.  There were the adorable moo cards with her gorgeous photos and some vintage sheeting scraps, too.  Perfect!  I have just the project in mind for these.  Thank you Cristina!  I adore what you sent - it really couldn't have been any better!

I sent Cristina a little something along with my moo cards.  There is a big story behind it so it'll have to wait for another day.  As will the other goodies I have received lately.  I told you - lucky me.

Here's the loot from the craft swap last week.

paper lanterns by Laura

necklaces by Suzanne (I was wearing mine on my birthday)

ribbon and pom pon trim dish towels by Brenda

night lights by Shawna

stick people by Carolyn

oilcloth party flags by Marcia

beaded dip bowls by Lynette

chalkboard clock by me (super easy to make - plywood square, chalkboard paint and clock kit).

Good stuff all around!  Thanks ladies.  I love swapping with you.

I have all the photos uploaded for the tutorial - I just need to write up the directions.  That is the longest part.  It is easy to sew and snap pictures as you go - matching the photos to words is more difficult.  Bear with me....I will get it finished soon.

This is the pile of shirred garments (two dresses and one top) sitting on the kitchen chair waiting for my girls to agree to a photo shoot.  It didn't happen yesterday so keep your fingers crossed for today.  I may have to whip up another little number, just to make the kiddos happy.  We are busy today:  school, Kindergarten check-up for Kate, birthday party for a friend and craft swap (woo hoo!) tonight.  (Just a side note, I finished my craft yesterday unlike last time.  Feel free to pat me on the back because I am happy not to be having a craft-a-thon today!)  Tomorrow is an entirely different matter - not much planned, but Fatty has the day off and I can't wait to spend the day with my man.  And those teacher gifts.....Kate's out on Wednesday so I had better get cracking on that.

OK - off to tackle a bit of the tutorial.  Thanks for being patient with me.

Did I mention a giveaway?  No?  Oh, well, just stay tuned....

...but a lot of swapping!  Let me tell you, I love good mail!

The box from my mellow + yellow swap partner, Amy, has been here unopened for over a week.  I finally got my swap package off to her on Tuesday.  Once that was done, I ripped open the box and found this:

Isn't it great?  My very own ice cream bowl and spoon!  I know two little girls that would love to get their mitts on this, but, no way.  This one is for me.  The color is a wonderful turquoise topped off by a lime green daisy.  My two favorite colors together again.  Thanks Amy!  It's wonderful.  And thank you, Marta, for organizing this swap.

I am sure tomorrow's mail will be of the ho hum, ordinary variety.  Too bad - I like the extraordinary kind much better.

...for Kirsty's vintage button swap package to get here from Australia.  Only 7 days!  That amazes me.

What also amazed me is the supreme goodness in the package.  Take a look:

Can you believe all that yummy stuff?  And the colors...greens and aquas...swoon!

I love this sweet pincushion with the layered yo-yo's.  It is sitting on a beautiful tiffany blue tray cloth.

See this vintage green ric rac (eek!) and a moo card, too?  I am so lucky!

Saving the best for last.....the buttons!  If pressed, I would have to say the big green flower is my favorite.  Or maybe the green one that is on the envelope.  Or maybe the white oval-y one.  OK, I can't pick.  They are all so fabulous!

Thank you Kirsty from the bottom of my heart!  Your package made my day!

 

I dumped my box of vintage buttons onto the kitchen counter a couple of days ago so I could find the perfect ones to send to my swap partner, Kirsty.  The girls have been fascinated by them ever since.  They are sorting them constantly and get very excited if they find a match.

With all the trashing out and organizing going on in the sewing room, I got the great idea to put my kids to work for me.

My willing apprentices are putting them in jars, sorted by color.  I've been wanting to do this for awhile, but they want to do it even more.  The way I look at it, it's a win-win situation:  fun for them and lucky for me.  Now if they would just wrap the swap package and take it to the post office....Oh well, I will do that tomorrow.  I promise, Kirsty!

Happy Wednesday!

I couldn't stop with just one...

Isn't this fabric great?  I received it from roseandpie last month in exchange for a patchwork belt.  Super swap if you ask me.

I used bias tape on the hem and for the tie this time around.  I also increased the length of the skirt a wee bit to have a self-casing at the waist.  So easy.  Really, it was.  If enough of you want instructions, I can add them to the twirly skirt tutorial.

I forgot to fold in the ends of the bias tape before I sewed it together for the tie.  Instead of getting the stitch ripper out, I decided to tie little knots and pink the ends.  And you know what?  My mistake wasn't a mistake after all.  I love this little touch.