turkey feathers

Beach Bag

I was up into the wee hours last night working on site updates and typelists. As you can see, I did finally add some blog links and it took forever and that was only one-third of my list. I don't know if I have the heart to keep going. My poor brain did not explode, but my ears were ringing when I finally flopped into bed, and I woke up, still thinking about it this morning even though I clearly have more important things to do today than to mess around with how this blog looks.  But I'm still compelled to work on it, and as with so many creative urges, I've found it's best to just let it lead the way and see what happens. Otherwise, I could end up spending an insane amount of time just thinking about it and doing nothing. Overall, I'm pretty happy with it. I may tweak it a few times before all is said and done.  So, just as the wizard told Dorothy..."pay no attention to the man woman behind the curtain", you can picture me frantically pulling levers and turning dials behind the scenes as images come and go.  I guess you could say that this bag was responsible for my blog make-over. I just finished it, and I'm really loving these color combinations. The style is exactly like a vintage summer beach tote I used to have. Looking at it makes me think of golden sunshine, and riding to the beach in my sporty convertible with the top down.  Just a passing memory that makes me smile, remembering.   

Here's a peek inside. I used buckram instead of a synthetic interlining, and covered a little cardboard piece to fit in the bottom to give it stability. I've been thinking about these woven handles for ages, and finally tried it with some raffia. Ginger held the ends while I braided it together. They came out surprisingly sturdy.  Love the organic element as well. The finishing touch was my favorite vintage button, one I'd been saving for just the right piece and this was it.

Happy Mail

On with the show with some swap news.  First, there was this wonderful surprise waiting in my mailbox last week; a thank-you present from Glenn for sharing some of my doll-making supplies with her.  She's making 'Little Blossom' for spring. (Doll pattern formerly from Magic Cabin--now out of print.) I am already using the fabric; pink and red--perfect.  Thank you!  I love everything.

 
Another surprise from my Gifty 3 swap partner Sarah (Hip To Piece Squares). A gorgeous felted bag filled to the brim with sweeties!  LOVE it.  Thank you again.

And thanks to Leslie (Paper Princess) for giving her time and organizing the fabulously fun Gifty 3 swap.  Photo pool of Gifty swappers here.

Pass the Smelling Salts

Oh my heart is all a-flutter over these; from a current issue of Cotton & Paint magazine.

Egads, is there no end to Japanese craft cuteness? 

Click on image to enlarge.

 

Yo-Yo Pillow

How about this for some eye-jolting color.

Behold the Yo-Yo!

If some of you are not familiar with yo-yo's pull up a chair and take a closer look. These are easy and fun and can be made in any size. One of my quilt teachers introduced me to them years ago and occasionally I go on an all-out yo-yo binge.

Yo-Yo quilts were popular during the depression too when materials were scarce. All you needed was a jelly jar and a pencil to trace circles onto fabric from your scrap basket. After the circles have been cut out, fold over 1/4" along the edge (finger pressing as you go) and take a running-stitch all the way around. Draw it up; flatten and pull your thread through the center hole and tie it off on the back.

Congratulations you have just made a yo-yo.

Make a few for practice, they get easier as you go. Did you know that there are all kinds of things that can be made using yo-yo's? Things like, dolls, animals, quilts, and pillows. Yo-Yo's are a kid friendly project for those who can handle a needle and thread.

 
Anyway, my yo-yo pillow began innocently enough early this morning when I decided to clean out a drawer full of odds and ends, mostly remnants from quilts and other projects. Not enough of anything to do much with, except for this rainbow assortment of yo-yo's I made eons ago. Too long ago actually to even remember what my original intention was for them. (I'm having too many of these moments lately and it is not amusing.)

In fact, there are many similar ufo's (Un-Finished Objects) hiding in nooks and crannies all over the place around here, like boobie-traps ready to spring. I never know when one will confront me and demand a place on the craft table like these did this morning. "Either do something with us, or throw us out once and for all", they cried.

(It is probably wise and good to have a wee bit of "crafting accountability" happening now and then, if only for one's sanity.)

Plus, now I have an empty drawer to fill.  Woot!

Love Letters

Another Monday morning. 

I'm on my second cup of tea and flipping through my idea scrapbooks.  Valentine's Day is tomorrow.  That sure snuck up fast didn't it? Some things to share for inspiration . . .

Click on images to enlarge.

How I love this wire tabletop tree. It's from Country Home magazine 2004 (Jan-Feb issue).   

Next picture.  Love this: Toile glued to the top of a heart-shaped candy box.  Takes it to another level.  I wish someone would come out with a plain heart-shaped box we could decorate or decoupage and fill with cookies or candy.  You know, like the brown craft hat-boxes and other things you can buy now.  I can think of quite a few things I could do with them. 

Lavender filled heart sachets are always fun to make and give. And the cake decorations! Just paper hearts on beaded wire. You must have to bend the ends up to hold the beads on, no directions but easy to figure out.

Wish I could find a vintage ruby-red cake stand like this one though.

And speaking of cake stands...I'm still pining away for this one. 

All from Martha By Mail.  Yes, I do confess to saving just a "few" of those amazing catalogs.

This one, from 2000; is STILL a source of inspiration and painful longing.  

 

Enjoy the eye candy.

Petal Top Sachet Peeps

I want to tell you about my new Sachet Peeps!                                                                                                                                              This happy bunch are filled with dried lavender from my summer garden and smell wonderful.  Each one is different, fashioned from colorful cotton scraps and embroidered faces.  The felt flower caps have a handy loop for hanging up.  My little peeps make fun token gifts for kids or friends.  These have sold out quickly in the past and I'm not sure when I'll be making more, so if you want one, better not wait too long. Update:  All sold--thank you!