{yesterday}

Yesterday was disappointing for many reasons. Something that I had thought was a "sure thing," didn't come through, and it threw me back into stress that I had thought I was finally breaking free of.

Of course, my natural coping method was to window shop, of sorts. So, I looked around to all my favorite bloggers-- and other places-- for inspiration.

• Clutter is cool again on paper n stitch, which I wish meant I didn't have to clean my various sewing instruments off the dining room table
• I wanna learn the essential life skill of toilet paper folding from How About Orange...
• This place mat clutch tutorial might be the perfect compromise with Mr. Cupcake on my getting a new bag
• Wallpaper inspired cookies are almost too beautiful to eat, but look delicious anyway
• Urban Outfitters adorable cupcake set-- pictured above-- is so beautiful that something similar might be my next project... whose birthday is soon?

{breezy}

Okay... Not the most flattering picture, but the skirt is so comfy! I made this easy, jersey skirt in under an hour the other day.

I had just gotten One Yard Wonders after failing to make a jersey skirt without a pattern. I suddenly wished I had had the book just a day earlier, because it would have saved a lot of math and seam ripping.

The skirt pattern and instructions are really simple and straight-forward. I also used a trick that I learned from my mother to make the waistband, without a seam showing!

It goes a little like this:

1. Cut two waistband pieces the same length as the width of your skirt and double the measurement you want the waistband to be finished.
2. Fold the waistband piece in half lengthwise with right sides together. Tuck one of the pieces of your skirt in between the edges of the waistband. Line the edges of the waistband with the top edge of the skirt. Pin.
3. Sew.
4. Pull the skirt piece out of the little roll, and this will automatically turn the waistband right side out-- like magic!
5. Do the same to the other piece, then sew both sides of the skirt together!

*If that didn't make much sense to you, this tutorial might be helpful!

I'm already planning two improvements to this skirt: maybe a little embroidery at the bottom and next time I might not do jersey.

I'm also thinking this might be a cut way to make a dress and salvage an old t-shirt or tank. Just cut off the bottom of the shirt and stitch the skirt to the shirt. Cute?

Cherry Blossom Fake-Out

While I love all the beautiful spring blossoms, my nose feels entirely different. So, I appreciate any little way to bring spring inside that doesn't involve a lot of pollen!

There were also a lot of fallen branches in the front yard from all the snow, which were extremely unsightly, but I hadn't gotten around to cleaning them out. So, as I cleaned them up, I had a flash of inspiration!!

This project, which I modified from the current issue of Martha Stewart Living, is simple and almost methodical. The hardest part, especially for me, was cutting out all of the flowers.

I found that if I folded the paper four times, then cut, and then folded each of the petals individually that I got much crisper, cleaner looking flowers. Like this!

1. Cut two to three-inch squares from cardstock-- you can also use vellum, but I didn't have any on hand. Fold the square in half...








2. And fold in half again. Make sure to crease it well, because this will make the flowers look much better.









3. With the folded corner pointing down, cut out the petal. For this one, I used almost a heart shape to make the cherry blossom petals.









4. After unfolding your flower, simply pinch the petals in the center to create a wonderful 3-D effect. I also used a felt pen and dotted the center to give a bit more detail.

5. To attach the petals to the branches, poke through the flowers with a large needle-- or something else sharp. Then dot some craft glue-- it needs to be on the thick side-- and slide the flower down to the glue-- not too far!! Let the branches dry standing up overnight, and you're done and ready to decorate!

{preview}

{clockwise from top left} havenvintage, redhotpottery, whitneysmith, haven vintage
The weather has been so lackluster here that I haven't been able to get any really good photos of my latest project. Hopefully, tomorrow I can get home early and get the good light!

So, by tomorrow afternoon, start looking for a tutorial! Until then, I'm leaving you with a little sneak peak and a few things on Etsy that just perked me right up!

{spring things}

These hair pins and ring are just a few of the new pieces I have made. I'm really loving the colors, aqua and coral, and I just wish my new haircut was cute enough for those pins.

I used EcoGlue this time because I was tired of getting headaches from the awful stench of the glue. So, I tried this one out. It worked really well, despite all the problems I had in the beginning.

This glue is water-based, so it is much thinner than the other glue. The cabochons kept sliding off of the bases on the pins.

In the end I just kind of propped them up with other objects. I'm not sure I can use it to glue earrings to posts though because it is so thin.

However, I really appreciated not suffocating or feeling like I automatically had cancer while I was gluing my pieces together!

{posters}

I've been working on a little decoration for my theoretical craft room. I took a little inspiration from the New York Public Library's digital gallery, which I absolutely LOVE, as well as my favorite spring colors.

I also included a few of my favorite quotes-- two from Jane Austen because I'm on a bit of a kick after re-reading Emma.

I've designed the four prints shown above to hang in a square above my bookcase. I'm thinking black frames, but I'm not sure. What do you think?

{soundtrack}

Right now, I'm slightly obsessed with She & Him, Volume Two. It's the perfect soundtrack to go with the beautiful weather even though, surprisingly, it's full of heartbreak.

I also love the beautiful cover art! I've been waiting to buy the album, but luckily, it's free on npr's "First Listen" for a little bit longer! Which is lucky, because I love to listen while I work!