Excited is an understatement!

In two days Spring Break will officially start.

Yes, I realize that I'm not a student, but I do work in a school.

No, I'm not pining for a chance to lay out on a Daytona or Siesta Key beach, but I am pining for some different things.

Like sleeping in.

Yes, totally like sleeping in.  Past 5am that is.

So, without further ado, here are some of my "to do's" for next week.

I've got a good 16 hours a day to get busy getting all those things done I've just been dreaming about finishing.

I've got seedlings to replant since they'll need to be in the ground sooner rather than later (with all this crazy weather we've been having.)

I've got some meals to make and freeze for easy pull-out on softball game nights.

I've got Etsy.com stock to start and maybe finish for my up and coming "store" opening this summer.

Things like fabric flower pins...

 vintage looking bulletin boards...

cabochon flower rings

and maybe some cute aprons if I so desire.

 After all that's done, I might rearrange the living room (since it's been a couple months...), sweep out the registers, and get rid of the clutter in the bedroom.

I need to take some more clothes to the resale shop and Goodwill. 

At the end of the list...more work in the flower beds.  More weeding, and the addition of some duck mulch. 
Ah, the joys of country life.

The end result...the feeling of something accomplished.  A great feeling!  What will you all be doing?

For the love of a flower

Have you noticed how flowers are all the rage now?

Maybe they always have been, and I've just been outa the loop.

But they seem to be everywhere you look.

They are in home decor

and blankets.

They are even on front doors, (wreaths are mine)

They are on bags

and jewelry.

They even appear on swoony craft projects.

I've made many myself.  Including bobby pins (tutorial here) and flowers for wreaths and purses.

It's addicting.  You can use all sorts of media like material scraps, denim, felt, etc.

It's the new fad.  I didn't think at my age I would be back into the "in fads" but I guess this is a little different.

Go ahead, search all over Google, Etsy, Pinterest, and any blogs you may like.  Everyone is all about FLOWERS.

You know you want to be in the "in crowd" again.  Go for it!

Look for a GIVEAWAY in the near future.  It's coming.  I'm working on it now!

Sewing Fettish

I'm in love with my sewing machine. Really.

I got it way back at Christmas time, but I've used it a gazillion times since then. One of the best gifts I've ever gotten.

I'm also in love with Pinterest.com, which gives me plenty of ideas for me to sew.

So, awhile back I came across this pic (and now I can't find it, so I don't have a source for you...)

I loved this purse on the spot, and knew I could sew one myself. I already had the fabric in mind that I would use.

It was some I got at Goodwill awhile ago. I also had an old curtain to use for the lining.
I bought these belts at Goodwill for $1/piece (to use inside my handle to make it stronger.)
Because I couldn't find grommets big enough for what I had in mind, I found these in the curtain department at Hobby Lobby. They snap together. Perfect.

I started by cutting strips for the ruffles...
and sewing pockets (LOTS of pockets) onto the liner.
I figured the ruffles would take a little bit of time to make, but when I started hemming one side of the material, it started gathering all by itself. What a great surprise, and much easier in the long run.

Then I dropped the finished liner into the outside of the purse, which was already sewn together on the sides, and sewed the two together.
I added the grommets last because I had to make holes in the sides of the purse. They were pretty easy to install.
The ALMOST finished product.
Every purse needs a flower, so I added a pin I already had. Much better.

The easiest purse I've made so far....and I've made a lot. I just can't get one perfected...this is close. I'll use it and see how it works.

Linking up to DIY by Design today.

My new best friend

I've been trying to "become one" with my Christmas present.

That's right. You heard me. I'm trying to cozy up to my sewing machine.

This one is SO much better than the 60 year old one I was using.

I don't cuss as often (in my head) when using my new baby.

It runs so much smoother, and it has a back stitch feature. My other one did not. Oh the horror!

So, today with another snow day under our belt, I decided to whip up some things I had been only thinking about.

A couple weeks ago, Grace and I went to a scrapbook sale and bought several pieces of fabric.

She told me she wanted a purse. I guess that was a hint I was supposed to make it, and I told her I would get to it eventually.

I wasn't quite sure of what my design was gonna be until I came across this $1 purse at Goodwill last week.

I didn't like the design OR the colors, but I did like the handles. I knew I could replicate it for a "tween" looking purse for Grace.

First I sewed in a pocket. (She informed me she needed one for gum, etc.)

Then worked on the handles.

It was going great till I had to deal with some poor working conditions.

Namely, our cat Oreo who thought it would be a great idea to lay directly BEHIND the machine and not move. Each time we'd pick her up and physically move her, she'd come right back.

So, after all the cat shuffling, and the pocket making, and the sewing it all together, this is the final purse.

With a fashionable bow, of course.

She liked it. It's not too big, and not too small.


It'll hold her packs of gum, and her wallet, and even some other small items.

I was feeling a little revved up after this project, so I decided to make a quick pillow cover too.

About a month ago I won a freebie on the Painted Home's blog, and part of the prize was this IKEA kitchen towel.

I had the perfect sized pillow form, so I just sewed up the cover for it.

Works great in my red living room.

That's about all I did today with my "friend" the sewing machine, but I wanted to show you a couple of the other purses I've finished in the last couple of months. Each time I tweak something a little bit more. Maybe the pockets aren't so deep inside, or maybe the sewing job is a little better. I'm sure the more I practice, the better I'll get.


I'm also linking up to Freckled Laundry's textile Friday today as well as crazy domestic (click on button below). You can either click on their link in my sidebar, or right here to come see me, and visit some other talented people showing off their projects.



In the next couple of weeks, I'll be a sewing fiend if I get the time. I'm trying to grow a supply of pillows, purses, etc. to start an etsy shop.


Stay tuned and have a great weekend!