Today.

I am finally trying to craft things with felted sweaters after being inspired by her for quite some time. I'll be back with pictures. And, a tea towel apron tutorial!

Denial.

I am totally in denial about the end of Blueprint. I was quite shocked when I discovered it was going away, actually, because I had heard nothing but praise regarding the magazine. The crafty/artsty/design-y blogs I frequent were equally raving over its content and design. I even renewed my subscription and bought my sister one for Christmas. (BTW, is anyone else out there looking for a refund? Because I certainly am.)

Anyhoo, I recieved my last copy a few weeks ago and left it lying on the kitchen table, unopened, because I couldn't bear to face my last issue. And I finally read it, and it was just as lovely as ever, and now I am sad. Oh dear Martha, I am a twentysomething that loves paper magazines! I just can't see how this loveliness is going to be recreated on screen. Rest in Peace, dear Blueprint. Your back issues (I was there from the start!) will now be lovingly filed away.

Color Lovin'

I got a new Pottery Barn catalog in the mail a few days ago, and I am seriously loving the new colorful look. Seriously good stuff. (Seriously out of my budget as well.) I sometimes rip pages out of catalogs for inspirations, but I found that in this case, I just kept the whole catalog. I've been lusting after this table for the past year or so, but I have neither the space nor the money. Oh to have a studio!

My husband and I spent a chunk of the day rearranging my art supplies closer to the dining room, which is my usual workspace. It made a big difference, though some of the supplies are still spread among various rooms. Overall, it made my space more usable, which is always a good thing.

Beret Update

Remember when I told you that I was on a search for the perfect beret? I found it at CraftyOma's etsy site. The beret fits perfectly and is soft and lovely. I just had to post a quick link to her lovely wares.

I suck.

Two whole months without a post? Really? So, when I jumped on the whole crafty blog train, I had grand visions of just how easy keeping this thing updated would be. But, in between settling into Charlotte, traveling back and forth to PA so many times, starting a business (not the etsy one, which hasn't actually happened yet, but another) meeting people, etc. etc. I've let things go. And I apologize. So here are a bunch of things I've been up to lately.I've actually starting scrapbooking my wedding pictures. I thought I wouldn't do this, since I have a beautiful leather album from the incredible Leslie of Sullivan Studios, but I have found that I would like to do something else that includes my invitation, all the projects I did, the way I felt, and all of that. So, I'm trying to remember what I felt 18 months ago. That pic above? I was feeling blissful. Matt and I had just been announced at the reception to Beautiful Day by U2 (I love me some U2) and I was quite giddy. So there.This is Peanut from Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts (see review below) and his matching quilt. A gift for my beloved niece's first birthday. Peanut was a little hard for me. In fact, this is Peanut #2 because #1 had a dimple-y back and a small inexplicable hole beneath his trunk. Peanut was the source of many bad words from me and Peanut #1 was thrown across the room. But he ended up so darling that I forgive him for all the trouble he caused around here.
Did you know that Hallmark has a 2007 sewing ornament? Quite appropriate to commemorate The Year in Which I Rediscovered Sewing. Thanks, husband!And here is some Christmas crafting. Well the top isn't so much crafty as it is good eats. Chocolate Covered Pretzels. Sweet, salty and delish. Need I say more? I made a bunch of these for the couples in my small group at church. I packaged them in the most adorable (sorry, no pics) little red felt buckets from the dollar spot at Target. (I love me some Target dollar spot goodness!) The purse is a gift for a special someone that I just love (I love both the purse and the person). Seriously considered keeping this for myself. Both the outside and inside fabrics are Amy Butler and the pattern is from Amy Karol's Bend the Rules Sewing Book. (Which rocks.) The original pattern called for a velvet ribbon bow, but I think the grosgrain looks quite sweet with that fabric. Seriously, I love this bag. (By the way, these pictures are seriously blurry when you zoom in.)

And seriously, I will try to post more often.

Fall is Here!

And I made some mini cupcakes to celebrate!

I'm the last one on the train

I know pretty much everyone in the blog world has already gushed over these two, but I have just finished admiring Joelle Hoverson's Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts, as well as Amy Karol's Bend-the-Rules Sewing. I was completely blown away by both. Karol's down-to-earth writing style (which I've long admired at her blog) combined with detailed descriptions and illustrations makes BTRS a great read for seamstresses of any skill level. I have a habit of reading crafty-type books and skimming over the front sections, because I just assume it's stuff I already know. However, since I've recently returned to my sewing roots, I was pleased with and greatly appreciated Karol's first three sections. (To give you an idea of how thoroughly Karol explains sewing techniques and basics, the actual projects do not begin until page 49.) The book is delightfully written and the projects are great, even for more advanced sewers.

Hoverson's Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts presents a variety of projects, thoughtfully arranged by the time it should take to complete them. (Thank God for the person that suggested this arrangement!) I appreciated Hoverson's explanation of quilting techniques, especially since the projects in her book will be my first foray into quilting. While aimed at a more experienced sewer than BTRS, Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts is filled with accessible projects for the beginner who can then advance onto more complicated ones, like the color wheel quilt pictured above. (Which I am dying to make, by the way. FYI- Hoverson's shop, Purl Patchwork, is offering a color wheel fabric bundle which would make this quilt's construction much less stressful!) The book also includes a huge sheet of all the pattern pieces for the projects, which makes their construction so much easier. (Really. Enlarging and reproducing patterns is such a pain!)

If in need of a little crafty pick-me-up, you can't go wrong with either of these great books. Both would be great for handmade inspiration for the upcoming holidays as well.