a bit of retail therapy

My favourite local quilt store had a sale... actually, is having a sale all this week... tables and tables full of bits of fabric. Manufacturers sample books originally, so the pieces are at least 8"x10", and all sold by the pound. I went a bit crazy. Here it is all laid out on my ironing board.
There's a few quilts there, and some bags. And something for a giveaway too... more on that soon.

See?

Did I say those sheet bits would make nice purse linings?


Linen with silk applique...
... and a pretty floral sheet for lining.

Blue linen wristlet...
... with more pretty floral sheet lining.

And the smartest thing I've done all summer??? That would be when I bought the Wristlet Three Ways pattern from Elizabeth. Not so much for the pattern's sake - I've made enough lined pouch type things already to not need another one - but for the zipper instructions. FINALLY I know how to sew in a zipper so that it doesn't look all gimpy at the ends. Hurrah!!!

And a teaser to end off with... I'm almost to my 6 month blogiversary. I know, small potatoes compared to some, but still. I wasn't sure if I could maintain a blogging habit any better than I did with journaling... and I've got the stacks of half-done books to prove it. So keep your eyes peeled, there'll be a give-a-way coming soon by way of a small celebration :)

Busy Mama

It's been a good summer so far.
A bit unusual, but still nice.
More driving around, now that the kids are older and have jobs.
And things are a bit quieter, with one of them off at camp for a month. And I've spent a lot of quality time with my sewing machine.
Unfortunately, I don't always remember to take pictures before I loose things into the world. I did manage to catch a few things though...

A purse for a friend of mine... it's half purse, half messenger bag...

...with a really busy interior and lots of yummy pockets...

Ellie's dress, made from a shirt...
(I take no responsibility for the hat... that was her own idea!)

And a brown wool blend purse...
...with it's own equally busy lining full of pockety goodness...
And this pretty package didn't leave my house, but entered it. I won a package of vintage sheet bits from Regina at Creative Kismet.

Aren't they lovely? I'm thinking that they'd make lovely purse linings... or quilt squares...

Woodland Bloom Giveaway Contest!!!

Woodland bloom giveaway

Check it out!

Tales from the garden

Once upon a time there was a tomato plant. It grew and thrived. Flowers appeared on its branches, and soon there were little green....gooseberries???


Well, that's what Ellie told me they were, after she picked them all...

Beach day!

If you ever get a chance to visit Hicks Lake in BC, take it!!! It's a little lake in the mountains near Harrison Hot Springs... small (you can walk around it in about 90 minutes) and perfect for swimming or canoeing. Today was a wonderful day. Except that I forgot to put sunscreen on my shoulders. They burnt.

Oh, and I didn't take a single picture. Shoot me.

A story and a Yarn Raffle

I found this at not martha ... a story of some selfless, giving people and a way to help them out now that they are in need. Also, a chance to win some really nice prizes, but really, having read their story, that's beside the point. You have til Sunday the 13th to get your name in the hat... please donate.