WIPs for this week

January Birthday Swap, part 3

A new bag design for a sweet birthday girl:

I used a fantastic reclaimed skirt for the outer fabric, and some cotton quilting fabric for the lining. I like this size -- about 10" by 13", and 4" deep.

Very roomy. . . .

Winter's wonders: First Snow embroidery pattern

We've been blessed with more snow this year than I've ever seen in a single year. Particularly odd for this region of Texas. I love to watch my little ones' awe, amazement and wonder at the quiet beauty of snow falling. I was inspired by them to create this simple embroidery piece.


I entered this embroidery piece in the January Design Challenge for Etsy Texas Crafters. . . .

January Birthday Swap, part 2

I can't believe it's been a week since I last posted! And I was doing so well. I suppose there wasn't much to post (or much to look at, anyway.) We were just busy -- I had a lovely birthday last week, a very sick baby this week, a clean barn yesterday. That's about it.

I do have something to share today -- I received a lovely package in the mail from timpani~jax for the January Birthday Swap! A bagful of new and vintage buttons. . . I can't wait to use them:

My partner made this lovely embroidered bird for me. . . so cute. . . .

January Birthday Swap, part 1: crochet hook roll

I know I said I was done with swaps. I'm weak. I signed up for the January Birthday Swap. . . hey, my birthday is in January, so it's a legitimate reason for swapping. Isn't it?

It's a neat swap -- you post a wish list, and other crafters choose items from your list and make them for you.

My newest art acquisition

Priceless.

Another catrina pincushion

One last pincushion in this style. . . .

. . . with the storage jar beneath the skirt, and a needle-keeping removeable apron. . . .

My sewing room is finally unpacked AND clean!

A little tour of my little space (because someone asked!) We'll start at the doorway, and look to the left, then we'll turn right:

A rescued-from-the-trash wood hutch, some of my fabrics, thrift store storage cart, an embroidered tunic to disguise the hot water closet a little.

Blue thrift store chair, denims and WIPs below, black & whites and tans above, on found-wood shelves (collaged with vintage book ephemera.) I need to hide that breaker box!

Lost and found

A few years ago, I dabbled a bit in jewelry and beads. . . actually, that was what reignited my love for arts and crafts. I had lost that passion for many years. In 2007, we packed up our home in Texarkana, and moved to the Dallas area. My beads and findings were lost in the move.

Until today! I just unpacked a box marked "home decor" that had been packed since the Texarkana house, and look what was at the very bottom, wrapped in a nondescript plastic bag:

New bag design -- finally!

I've had this design in my head for months. OK, for over a year. Yeah, I'd say there's quite a backlog in there. I used a vintage wool skirt for this bag's exterior, and a beautiful handmade button from thebuttonshop, run by my lovely friend, Jenn. She's about to close up her shop... so if you want some for yourself, well, you know what to do!

Freezing fog

We had some freezing fog yesterday morning. This is what freezing fog does: ice crystals cling to everything. The photo above is our front yard/field, in desperate need of some good fertilizer. It's overrun with goathead stickers -- nasty things! I'm hoping the Dirt Doctor will be able to help me with this. He says that the stickers are there because the soil is deficient. Interesting. Anyway. . . .