Happy New Year, All!

hope everyone's Christmas celebrations were as happy as mine! I had a ton of fun visiting family and enjoying the festivities. I've been sort of off the radar, but hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things.

Until then, I hope all your New Year's are happy and joyous! See you in 2010!!

Wrap it up!

The title applies to both the year and the few Christmas presents that I have left to wrap.

I love the cute gift wrap that you can buy at Target, but it really doesn't hold up well. But it's too late for this year's bunch. Next year, I'm just going to buy some heavy duty kraft paper, or use brown paper bags, and accent with the cute paper and bows. If only I remember during my Christmas frenzy in 2010!

Sadly, this should be my last post before the holidays, and I just might be able to squeeze one in before New Year's, but I can't make any promises.

But until then, I leave all you last minute wrappers with a little gift wrap inspiration, and a lot of FREE downloads!

Gift Wrap, Anyone?

• free printable gift wrap from Creature Comforts
• gift card wallets via Screen Prints
• fabric gift envelopes from Paper n Stitch
• monogrammed letter gift wrapping on Design*Sponge
• snowflake pillow boxes on Creature Comforts
• printable holiday packaging via How about Orange...

Bows and Tags

• a gift bow from a magazine via How about Orange...
• free printable gift tags via Creature Comforts
• brooches as bows on Bugs and Fishes
• bows from felt on Twig and Thistle
• adorable deer tags on Creature Comforts
• button tags and bows from Bugs and Fishes
• twist tie pom poms on Craftzine
• vintage photo gift tags from Nice package
• free gift tags via Creature Comforts

Holiday Cards

• free printable holiday cards via Creature Comforts
• another free printable on Creature Comforts

Something for Your Sweets

• a sweet holiday tag available on The Long Thread
• a goodie bag topper from Love.Obsess.Inspire.
• revamped hot chocolate mix from Lolly Chops

Ten and Counting...

With only ten days until Christmas-- Yay!!-- I thought I'd go ahead a share these before time runs out! I made these Christmas stockings a while back, but it's been so busy lately, that I hadn't gotten a chance to take photos.

The story is... I absolutely fell in love with a stocking set and tree skirt at Pier1, and since it was pretty simple materials, just felt, I thought, "why couldn't I make that?" So, I did!!

1 I drew up my pattern for the stocking and appliques-- I had to simplify a lot from what I had originally planned, but I think it looks better that way.

2 I cut out the pieces from felt and fleece, and the stocking are actually made from fleece, and glued them to the surface to keep them in place as I stitched the edges.

3 I stitched around the edge of the stocking, making sure to leave a half an inch edge. Then I scalloped the edges, just with my scissors, for a cute finishing touch!

4 The cuffs were just two rectangles the width of the top edge. I stitched the trim on first, then stitched them together, and stitched them on to the top, where I added a loop of ribbon at the side seam opposite the toe.

Sadly, the accompanying tree skirt that I had planned to make will not be joining us this Christmas. All that hand-stitching takes time.

I had also planned to put up a template of the design with this post, but it's not here. It'll be up sometime though!!

Deck the Halls

[left to right, top to bottom]1Design*Sponge 2Scissor Variations 3Scissor Variations 4Thompson Family Life
I've definitely been in the decorating mood. Not only have I made three adorable paper trees, but I've also got my tree up and decorated, and I made a wreath for the front door! I feel very on top of everything, which probably won't last very long.

But since I have a bit of free time, I did some searching. And I found some beautiful holiday decorations!! But I don't have enough energy to do all mine over again... So, this is for you:

• adorable, and quite retro, felt scalloped trees from Thompson Family Life
• ribbon-wrapped tealights on A Studio with a View
• a wrapped rope wreath--try saying that three times fast-- via Design*Sponge
• a retro-inspired holiday wreath from Cathie Filian
• hand-cut snowflakes on Make it Do
• a cute pine cone garland via Scissor Variations
• a crafty, thrifty wreath from a t-shirt on Smile and Wave
• an adorable paper Christmas wreath from The Read Thread
• this lovely bottle brush tree display from Scissor Variations
• and a pom-pom wreath tutorial via Twig & Thistle

Giveaway!!!

The lovely Tell love and chocolate is sponsoring a giveaway!!

The giveaway features adorable products from two different Etsy sellers, The Gilded Bee--a new favorite of mine-- and Pretty Tape. So... check it out!!

Sleepy Sunday Christmas Craft

I'm really excited about these adorable trees! I worked on them today and a bit yesterday, and I am loving the way they look. I might move them from the mantle to the table... but really, they look good anywhere.

I started with three Styrofoam trees, two smalls and a large, and several different scrapbook papers in greens, browns, blues, and a red. I tried to pick smaller prints so that they would be visible when I cut them.

For the large tree, I followed this tutorial from Thompson Family Life, but used paper instead of felt. The larger tree is the one toward the back, but I'm rather shorter than the mantle, so the scale is just a bit off.

1The smaller trees are made from leaves cut from the paper. The first row is one strip of paper, to cover the bottom edge of the foam.


2Pin the leaves onto the styrofoam with flat head straight pins. Each row should overlap the preceding row in order to hide the pins. I let my colors alternate rows, but it would also be cute in diagonals or randomly placed.

3For the snowy top of the tree, I cut a cresent shape-- like the tops used on the tree from Thompson Family Life-- then scalloped the edges. I glued the sides into the cone shape, then pinned it atop the tree!!

This project was so easy, and the results are so cute! Another addition could be a bell or bow to the top, or maybe use decorative head pins as ornaments for your tree. No matter how you do it though, this craft is definitely one to get you in the Christmas spirit!

Christmas Ornaments Unleashed

ell... I'm starting to get into the Christmas spirit, and this is definitely my favorite time of year!! I think my Christmas spirit has increased in the last few years, especially since I've gotten my own tree to decorate!

And since it's after Thanksgiving, and I've got my tree now-- I even put lights on it tonight!!-- I'm in the mood for some ornaments!! So here are just a few fun and easy projects to get me-- and you!-- in the festive spirit!

• a felt circles ornament tutorial from Craftzine
• retro, disco-inspired mirrored ornaments via Handmade & Homebaked
• a half-eaten gingerbreadman pattern from Elsie Marley
• another free pattern for a cute mitten on oliver + s
• yet another free felt mushroom ornament pattern via The Long Thread
• and perhaps my personal fav, a argyle applique ornament via So September

On a break...

kay. I can't lie. It's a fact. So... I have to say that there probably won't be a lot of projects posted this month from me.

I can't believe that Christmas is almost around the corner, and I'm just starting to craft my Christmas gifts. And, of course, I can't just put them online for all the recipients to see!

There is one shareable project in the works, but I'm having a time trying to finish it! So, for now, there might not be too many projects, but not to worry! The crafting never stops!!

Drink Up

Winter is one of my absolute favorites times of the year, mostly because of all the delicious things to drink. Hot chocolate, coffee, tea, there's no better way to enjoy cold weather.

I'm not so sure how grown-up I want my hot chocolate to be... But here are a few quick recipes and crafts to help enjoy this chilly weather!!

• Grown-up Hot Chocolate via Craftzine
• knitted cup cozies on Meet Me at Mike's
• to top off your coffee, a coffee stencil from How About Orange...
• apple cider... in apple cups via Craftynest
• felt cup warmers on The Small Object
• a free tutorial for coffee cup cozies from mmmcrafts
• and to top off the deliciousness Cookie Cream Sandwiches on Design*Sponge

Retro Patterns???

I have just died and gone to heaven again. I didn't notice when pattern makers began republishing old patterns, but I have to thank them.

I went into my local crafting store to look for the pattern for a pencil skirt, and I found way more than I wanted to, as is my habit! But how could I resist retro patterns?? Plus, this pattern worked much better for my purpose than did any of the others that I saw; although, I think I am going to modify it by adding some kangaroo pockets in the front...

I think the sizing is a bit different in older patterns. Has anyone noticed this? I am having to make a size 12, where I am usually an 8...

Alas, I have so many projects and so little time, that I'm not sure when I will get this fabulous skirt done...

Inspired by Penelope

So, this has to be one of my favorite movies, period. It's not necessarily about the story or the acting, but just the sheer beauty of it.

The sets and wardrobe are a perfectly crafted mix of handmade and retro, and I love the vibe it gives. Plus, just about every part of the movie reminds me of fall. Honestly, if I could live in any world, it would be the one in Penelope.

In a Ode to Penelope, of sorts, here are a few fun links to begin the week!

• crochet wrist warmers via attic 24
• an adorable flower brooch from Crafty Pod
• pretty much everything on the lovelyNest Decorating
• a beautifulshirt redesign via Etsy's How-Tuesday

And for my fall and winter, Penelope inspired wish list, check out some of these fine Etsy sellers and products:

1The Frill of It 2Silvia66 3Jennifer Lauren

1Mi Bazaar Latino 2Necessity is the Mother 3Bagonia


1Nest Pretty Things 2Catbooks 1940s 3Lirola's

Tee 'Em, Boys

I saw this wonderful T-shirt tutorial on Etsy's Storque. It's super cute and definitely a good way to recycle old tees.

And this made me wonder about other ways to recycle old shirts. So, I did a little research.

• turn an old men's shirt into a cute ruffled dress from Chic Steals
• revamp an old tee with some beaded flair from Still Dottie
• weave your tees into a beautiful pillow
• add some ruffles to a tee like Wardrobe Refashion
• check out this video on how to turn a t-shirt into a dress

Or, if you'd like to buy upcycled fashions, check out some of these Etsy sellers:

1Peeko Apparel 2all the numbers 3wonderwear 4Peeko Apparel

New Beauties

I've been working on a few new things this week. Some earrings that I can't quite figure out, and this super cute necklace!!

I found this adorable sea-faring pendant from one of my favorite Etsy suppliers, mksupplies. And I've made another of these necklaces to go on sale.

It's a pretty basic necklace, but I got quite a few compliments on it today, which is a great feeling!!

Softies for Mirabel

While reading my RSS feed, I came across this post on Meet Me at Mike's.

Softies for Mirabel is an event for an Australian charity, The Mirabel Foundation. The Foundation supports children orphaned and abandoned due to parental drug use. The softies made will be matched up with each child.

Submissions for Softies for Mirabel must be sent in by December 10, so if you wish to participate, now is the time to start!

For the address and more information and regulations, click here.

And here's a list for some awesome softie ideas!

• cute one-Hour Softie people
• an adorable soft doll with a free pattern
• a simple and easyfleece snail tutorial
• an adorable mouse softie pattern that reminds me of my mom!
• this whimsical donkey softie with instructions
• a knitted monster softie that's not in the least bit scary!
• or draw and make your own unique creation!

And if you do make a softie, post a link or a picture and let me know!!

Ambition

This is my problem. I get too ambitious with my projects, and this leads to half-finished and literally half baked ideas.

My ambition this time led me to buy a monstrosity of a pumpkin to carve into a haunted house, like Martha... But alas, I am neither Martha Stewart nor any of the people who work to carve pumpkins for her.

I started by hand drawing my design on my pumpkin, and it looked pretty good. I was psyched. Then, I started cutting into the ginormpkin, and that is when the problems started. That sucker is thick.

By the time I got too tired to carve, all I had done was a few small bits, mainly some windows and the tiles on the roof. I may never finish this thing, but at least I tried, right?

Next year, if I blog about some harebrained pumpkin scheme, someone please refer me to this... But until then, here are a few things that I probably should have been doing first.

• salivating over these caramel brownie bites
• stitching a cute felt leaf garland
• tracking down the pencil skirt pattern from Angry Chicken
• carving out apple cups for apple cider
• freaking out about the spiders on Bakerella
• chewing on the eyes of some Halloween monster cupcakes
• or carving any of these other, easy pumpkins from Martha Stewart

OH MY LORD! It's the end of the world as I know it...

It's FINALLY here!! The first of the Penguin Classics clothbound series come out in the US tomorrow--at least according to Amazon. These books are beautiful and classic and WOW!!

I first saw these books on Design*Sponge. Some still aren't available in the US, but my favorite book, Pride &Prejudice--cliche, I know-- is available! I can't wait to get these tomorrow!!

h my! Tonight was Halloween Cookie Night, and I must say it was a smashing, yet messy, success!

These cookies look like something that arose out of the ashes of Chernobyl, but I think they have a certain kind of 8-eyed charm. I'm not super happy with my cookie recipe, so I'm on the lookout for a new one, if anyone has any suggestions.

I really didn't get around to much of anything this week, but hopefully I'll make up for it this weekend! And I'm definitely getting in the Halloween mood! I already have a beautiful pumpkin, and I'm thinking about what to carve on it!

But for the weekend, here are a few ideas. Have a great one!

• One of my favorite fall staples, apple butter on Curiositys
• Inspiration in this cute bag on artsy-crafty babe
• A cute and cozy ruffled shirt from Craftzine
• Halloween town treat bags from little. lovely.

Weekend Project Idea:Ruffled Headband

Okay... I have to admit, I've tried this one before, and it just didn't work out quite right. I wasn't happy with the results, and I'm determined to get it right. So, my mission this weekend is to try again and see what I can come up with.

Some other good weekend project ideas:

• these delicious looking scones from Design*Sponge
• faux milk glass bottles from P.S. I Made This
• super cute printable mailing labels from How about orange...
• tank top totes from Craftynest that would be great for shopping
• twist tie pom poms from Craftzine
• a zippy wallet tutorial from noodlehead to use up all your scraps!
• and lastly, a beautiful sunprint corkboard tutorial from Design*Sponge

Wednesday needs...

A little bit of link love. Just to break up the mid-week slump. I'm definitely in the funk, so here's a few things that cheer me up:

• Snickerdoodle Duo cupcakes from Bakerella
• Embroidered book corner from Craftzine
• rubber stamping from Sweet Tidings
• paper dolls from Martha Stewart
• shortbread cookies from Make it Do
• easy screenprinting on Angry Chicken

Weekend warp

I know, no excuses, but this weekend has been something out of a surreal realm. Not only did I get to see Zombieland, but my wonderful boyfriend also bought me tickets to Andrew Bird, which was this weekend. So, I do know that I should have no excuses for not crafting, but this weekend was too, too exciting to concentrate!

I'm leaving a few links to commemorate the Andrew Bird-ness of the weekend. Enjoy!!

• A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head LIVE
• Imitosis video (with jewelry bugs!)
• videos on Andrew Bird's website

The only baking supplier you'll ever need

courtesy of bakeitpretty.com

Bake it Pretty is literally the ONLY baking supplier a girl could possibly ever need. Sure, the grocery store is great for quick supplies, but baking with intention to cuteness is much better.

Bake it Pretty offers a wide selection of cupcake liners to suit everyone, and I, of course, just bought three. It also helps ease my conscience that these liners aren't much more expensive than the ones at the grocery store, but they offer SO much more personality.However, these liners go quick, so you have to be on your toes to catch them in stock!!

Covered cork board jewelry frame

I did it! Okay... I half did it. I actually had two picture frames that I wanted to finish, but the second has staple problems. The first had its problems too, but I overcame, and the finished product is pretty nice!!

I started out with a slide-in picture frame that's back was completely grimey. But take a picture frame and patch your pieces of cork board to fit the frame. So, I replaced the back of the frame, with just a cardboard folder and glued the cork down to that.

Next, simply cut your fabric a couple of inches around the board. --I chose a jersey knit so that it would stretch around the board.-- Peel up the cardboard from the back of the cork and stretched the fabric around. Tuck it in between the cork and the cardboard, then press the cardboard firmly back in place.

After it's glued, let it dry!! I probably didn't let mine dry long enough, but it's working pretty well.

The last step? Just slip it into your picture frame and voila!! A beautiful and functional jewelry frame. Just pin your jewelry on the frame, and let it decorate your space as a multi-functional piece of art!

Sunday Morning Link Love

These are just a few things that I liked as I was going through my reader this morning.

• Antique Singer decals
• Cardboard tube wall sculpture
• Vacation picture postcards
• Gift bow from a magazine page
• Day of the Dead shrine

Weekend project idea: Jewelry Display

This weekend I'm hoping to finish some boards on which to display my jewelry. Hopefully, they'll be as beautiful as this one from Craftynest.

I've already found a few unused picture frames from my grandmother's attic, and I have fabric and paint in mind. So it's coming along swimmingly, and I'm hoping this weekend will be a nice one to do some painting!

So, check back Monday for a hopefully complete and completely beautiful project!


For a few more wonderful jewelry display ideas, check out these wonderful links:

• Craft Magazine
• Creature Comforts
• and another one from Creature Comforts

My, oh my, baking and pie

It has finally cooled down here, and I am really enjoying the weather... and the clothes... jackets and sweaters. Yum yum. And along with the great fall weather, baked goods galore!! Here are just a few recipes and an icing tutorial-- oh, joy!

• milk chocolate cookies-- yum, yum-- from Martha Stewart via Heart of Light
• delicious-looking popovers from angry chicken
• A tutorial for Magnolia Bakery's icing on Cupcakes take the Cake
• Pumpkin Pie Bites from Bakerella
• adorable pie tins from LollyChops
• and last but not least, recipes from the new book The Happy Baker:A Dater's Guide to Emotional Baking

9 Days Left!

Hey everyone!! I don't know if you've seen it, but there is a poll to the right, so you should look there now! And then VOTE!!

I'm trying to get back into the swing of things, and I am thinking of doing a little restructuring, so all feedback is important. So, please, please, please VOTE!!

If you would like to leave me a little note, comment on this or any of my other posts!

A boy and his Star Wars plushie

So, despite how deceptively simple I though an R2D2 plushie-- for a certain special birthday boy-- would be, I couldn't abandon true Star Wars geekiness for ease and less stress.

My mission: to make one very correct plushie for a very discerning seven-year-old.

I think it turned out pretty well in the end. I left in as much detail as possible, although I did abandon the legs--or arms--or whatever. But I don't think he cared too terribly much.

I loved seeing him open his R2D2 pillow, and although it was a lot of work, it was a lot of fun too. It was a challenge to freehand this robot without a pattern, and I think it worked out pretty well.

Finally moved in!!

I am finally moved in, mostly!! And to commemorate my great achievement, I made some house-warming-- oven-warming-- cupcakes! And they turned out beautifully!! Nicely mounded and cracked on the top, and perfectly golden brown, but still moist. I might be a little bit too proud of them...

Honestly though, I cannot consider myself entirely moved in. I don't have a cake tester-- or a single toothpick-- in the entire apartment. So, the perfectness of my cupcakes relied entirely on chance. But that still doesn't burst my bubble!

Just a few new things...

So, I found a lull in between all my running around that happened to coincide with a bit of good light in my living room. In honor of such a momentous occasion, I took a picture of the few pieces that I have managed to get done while watching Top Chef-- to which I am addicted.
(side note: Hooray for the Georgia boys!!!)


Also, please, please let me know what you think, because these are going to be the foundation for what will hopefully be my line sold in a small boutique called Sugaree's in Murfreesboro, Tenn.!

A little bit of lovin'

Although I have not yet begun to explore my new city, I am relatively settled into my new apartment. And as I settled into the task of catching up on my reading yesterday, I found more than 700 posts in my reader.

I can't help but be overjoyed with all this new information, even though I haven't found the time in which to use it. But I feel the need to pass it on to my readers, in hopes that you will do something with this collection of ideas.

• a wonderful, huge poppy boutonniere from CRAFT magazine
• this nifty and neat-o rolling pennant rubber stamp from Just Something I Made
• some beautiful, inspirational Clara French cake plates on Twig and Thistle
• and a wonderful tutorial for printed hankies from Meet Me At Mike's

Moving Week

I have finally moved to a brand new city. And while I am still getting into the swing of things, my blogging is going to be in the range of infrequent to nonexistent. Hopefully I can adjust quickly enough to work out a few new ideas for this site. But until then, I'll keep crafting, and I hope you do the same!

Headband mania

We all know how I love a creative and beautiful headband. So as I opened up my google reader--bursting with nearly 500 messages-- I found two wonderful headband projects. These gems are enough to make me not regret the two days I spent decluttering my reader.

The first are several ribbon-wrapped headband techniques from May Arts. I've never tried this, but those flowers are to die for!

And from Heart of Light comes the lovely rosebud headband. I really can't wait to try this one!!

Simply Sublime Bags

Another library find, Simply Sublime Bags has piqued my interest. The bags are "low-sew, no-sew projects," which is very intriguing to me, considering I sewed my first purse at the tender age of seven.

Although I don't really know how I would handle stapling and duct-taping a project together-- I am very old school-- the bags are beautiful. And they seem really simple to make, provided that I could get over stapling my seams instead of sewing them...

The land of many

I realize how lax I've been in blogging this recently, but it seems to be a month of chaos and big projects. Not always necessarily large, but simply time-consuming.

Not only am I preparing to move, but I've taken on refinishing a table--my first, and I'm pretty excited!! I'm also recovering cushions for a friend, and a very important 7-year-old needed a Star Wars related birthday present...

So, I ask forgiveness for my neglect, but I can promise that I will be back online soon! Hopefully next time I will have another project under my belt to share!

Six days??

Has it really been six DAYS since my last crafting extravaganza? I feel really lazy. I could have an excuse-- I have an ongoing cold that I cannot seem to shake-- but I know that it is still just laziness. Hopefully, I can make some time in this busy week to finish a project or two. As soon as I do, it will be up here for you to peruse and critic and do with whatever you would like.

Tartan anyone?

I love plaid. That is all. It must be the Scottish in me. And when I saw this Tartan Designer on Sweet Tidings, I had to play with it. Of course. If you love plaid, just click here to create your own!

An origami success!

I saw these beautiful folded (and glued) paper flowers on Curiositys and decided to make my own. The directions come from t does wool, which does a wonderful job of explaining to a paper-folding-failure like myself. I made a few of these for a neighbor and, of course, a few for myself!

My true love gave to me...

Two turtle doves... aren't they cute?? I found this adorable vintage pendant on Etsy, and I knew I had to buy it. The colors are so vibrant and lovely that I could not resist.

And with the contrasting aqua beads and the antique raw brass chain, the necklace is delicate, beautiful and eco-friendly. It's one of my favorite new pieces to wear, and I have a few of these pendants to spare, so perhaps more turtle doves are in my future...

Mission upcycle

I love the idea of taking something old, like a t-shirt, and refashioning it into something new. I have been attempting this miracle for many years, and until recently, I never knew that it had its own word, upcycling. I must just be behind the times, because Etsy house tons of stores dedicated to upcycled clothing.

However, buyers be wary. The quality of some of the upcycled pieces leaves much desired. So, my mission now, try to upcycle something in my closet--because I know there are a ton of things that I love, but won't wear again. I hope some of you will join me in my mission, but if you cannot be persuaded, check out these fine Etsy retailers for the best of upcycling:

• Heidi & Seek offers a bit of everything, but the hodgepodge is definitely cute!
• Labudde won't be back until September, but her shop was definitely on the top of my list.
• wonderwear has some beautiful appliqued t-shirts that are a model of upcycling.

Little Swiss Girl

I made this doll as a belated birthday present for a very sweet little girl in my neighborhood. I put a lot of work into it, and although it isn't perfect, I'm proud of this first attempt. The pattern came from Stitched in Time, the book from the lovely writer of Posie Gets Cozy.

I, of course, made things a bit harder for myself and altered the pattern from the directions. Instead of gathering the ends of the arms and legs with a whip stitch, I sewed them closed on the machine, to make them more sturdy for a small girl. The effect is not as smooth-- the feet and hands are a bit square-- so perhaps I should have rounded the ends as I sewed.

The pattern also called for the skirt to be gathered and sewn to the doll, with the ribbon added simply as decoration. I made the skirt interchangeable by making a casing for the drawstring and bringing the ribbon through two buttonholes in the front.

I also felt that the pattern directions were not as clear when it came to adding the hair, but I did my best. In retrospect, I should have almost overstuffed the head, or added the hair before I had sewn on the legs, so I could have added more filling.

However, the expression on the little girl's face when she saw her doll was enough to erase any fears about its appearance.

Preoccupied with P&P and zombies

Gladly, my lack of blogging is not due to illness or death, but to a very interesting book. I can't decide if this book is genius, or sacrilegious (for a true Jane Austen girl, such as myself). But I do believe I like it none the less. Scenes from Pride and Prejudice are interjected with world-class zombie fighting by the Bennett girls, quite entertaining and definitely funny.

Guatemalan Gold

Okay... well, technically silver, but I love to alliterate.

My family just got back from Guatemala, and unfortunately, I did not get to go. However, I did get back some great goodies in the form of jewelry and a few other things. I love the shade of this lavender jade ring, which has not been well-captured in the picture.

Also, joy of joys, my thoughtful sister brought me back an ever-handy chicken oven mitt and fabric!! I haven't come up with a plan for the gorgeous fabric, but I'm sure I'll find something...

Perhaps a pillow, or a car-visor-sunglass-holder for my ever-growing collection of sunnies?

{Untitled Randomness}

I looked out the window a few minutes ago and saw this beautiful sunset. It took my breath away because of the unexpected beauty. It is not something I consider every day, but it is always that is there, waiting to be seen at just the right moment, when the colors blend and merge and contrast their perfect hues.

Birthday Quilt

This quilt, from my mother on my 20th birthday, has been in the works for years. This quilt is called "Turning Twenty," and uses twenty fat quarters. It's easy to cut out and piece together, and it is finally done-- almost... I have always loved these reproduction vintage fabrics, and this quilt, although a bit crazy-colorful, is pure happiness for me. The colors and prints just lift me up, and although they don't necessarily match, I think that it's the spirit that counts.