5, 4, 3, 2...done.

Ever sew a marathon? Whew...I AM TIRED. I can honestly say I had no idea what I was going to sew for five teachers when I started sifting through the piles of fabric scraps. At this point I have nothing more than 1/4 yard of any of my good fabrics. So, I starting picking prints that I like, and sorting colors...until finally I decided to make a pot holder out of a small scrap of Tina Givens fabric.

(PRESENT 1) It felt like it needed a tree, so I went with it. With that done, I needed to move on to the next present...so I started with some Amy Butler scraps (and I mean scraps) and started quilting until I had a big rectangle...then came the pocket, and the sash...and an apron was born (PRESENT 2).


I actually really liked this one, I made the sash long enough to wrap around the back and tie in the front. (Similar to Amy Butler's half apron design) I actually wanted to keep this one, the bright and cheery colors, and the little leaf...it just seems like a happy apron.

The next apron came from the one piece of fabric big enough to actually make something without having to quilt. I've always liked this print, though I've only use it once to line a bag. And I like the way light blue and bright red compliment eachother. Truthfully, red is not my favorite color, but muted with the blue I like it. (PRESENT 3)

This is where I stopped for the night. I shouldn't have, since I knew Monday night was the only time I could get it done before Wednesday, since I have school Tuesday nights. But, sometimes you just can't do anymore...so I stopped. This left presents 4 and 5 still unknown. (I love a good mystery)
I figured I'd go the apron route with these two as well...or maybe one more apron, and one more potholder. Is a potholder a lame gift? It might be...but I actually really love my mini-quilt pot holders. I really see them as mini-quilts, and they make me smile when I use them. (But maybe others just see a potholder...hmmm...never thought of that) Too late to second guess now...
So total change...I decided to make bags for the last two gifts. I was looking around at some of my favorite blogs and I came upon a bag that looked like these. But, you had to pay for the pattern. Since I hate patterns, this was fine, I just looked at it and figured out what she did. I sew like I cook; I read for inspiration, then wing it from there. Not bad, eh?


I actually LOVE the fabric for the second bag, and had been hoarding it for myself for a year...now it's gone. It was hard to give this bag away, I really wanted to keep it. The fabric for both of these bags cost me a total of $2. Yep...that's what I said. They were scraps left over from a decorator who cuts out the pillows and drapes and leaves gobs of wasted fabric. Her sale scraps are awesome. She decorated Neo's house (apparently he's a rapper...I should have googled it because I don't even know if that's how you spell it).
I am done...I have no more fabric (that isn't a tiny scrap...or really ugly fabric that I only use for prototypes). Wow. But five free teacher presents...I can't complain. (Hopefully they can't either...but I guess I'll never really know whether potholder=lame) I hope not!

Herriot Grace

I HAVE to sew this week...I have 5 teacher gifts, and one birthday gift. No time, and yet it must be...

In the meantime, look at this picture.

Did you look at it long enough? It is so beautiful. It has so many elements that I love, old wood (table), hand crafted wood pedestal, hand decorated cake (beautifully decorated I might add).

This is from Herriot Grace, and I think I'm in love.

I had found them before through Heidi Swanson's "favorite things" posts. Last week she revisited them with some Quinoa Cloud Cookies, and so I flipped over to the site to see that they are completely out of stock...of everything. Can you imagine? That must feel good (though good mixed with the stress of restocking 100% handmade items). Check them out. I think I'll try a variation on the cookie. We do ducky cookies in our house typically, and while I generally use oat flour in my mix (mild and sweet) I will definitely try Heidi's suggestion of toasting the flours first. As a cajun I understand well about browning flours, as it's the base of just about all our dishes...Gumbo in particular. But I've never browned a dessert flour before. I'm anxious to try it...maybe I'll never use untoasted flour again!

No Time

While I don't have time to do much sewing, crafting, baking or breathing right now...I read about them instead on other peoples blogs. I have to say, I was slow to see the point of blogs (though I do enjoy keeping one myself...obviously), but now I actually prefer the format to almost any other. I like to hear (read) the voice of someone elses life, especially someone I admire (for some reason or other). I actually get a snap shot of another family's reality. That's pretty cool. So I figured since nothing to show for myself these days, I'd showcase the cool ladies who seem to find time to do cool things all the time. The new blog I read (which I check every day) was sent to me by my SIL who has almost the same interests as me, which is pretty awesome. And she was right, it is one of the coolest sites:
I am going to make this coffee table one day...and I'm painting it the same color.
www.knock-offwood.com/

I love the style and tone of this blog. She's also got some all natural beauty product recipes, which I love. And some real recipes that I love more. Whoopie Pies...I live in the south and I've never made one. Guess I should try...
www.angrychicken.typepad.com

Amanda Blake Soule...seems to live the perfect life. And that's why I read her blog. The first one I ever read was a birthday party they were getting ready for...the baby of the family. And all the other kids were busy hand making their gifts. Need I say more?
www.soulemama.com

And I almost forgot! The very first blog I ever found...before I even knew what a blog was...or that I was reading one. I have been following Heidi Swanson for years...(not like a stalker)...I love her approach to cooking. I love her recipes and her photographs. I have had her cookbook on my library list for 6 months...6 MONTHS. And it still hasn't come yet. (But at least I get my weekly dose) In fact I printed out this recipe and will make it tonight since I have a fridge full of greens from this weeks CSA box.
http://www.101cookbooks.com/index.html