sequinK

craft apron -- aka sanity saver

For the longest time, it was so stressful to even try and get any type of sewing or quilting accomplished in my house.  With a toddler running around, pins and scissors and seam rippers and rotary cutters (shudder!) were tools I just couldn't have sitting around. I do have a dedicated office/craft/guest room, but the "no kids allowed" approach doesn't work for us -- it's too difficult and frankly, just isn't our parenting style.

So enter the craft apron. Why did I not think of this sooner??? I noticed the girls at the fabric stores sporting a variety of aprons, poked around a bit for different options, then cobbled this one together from stash fabrics -- Robert Kaufman Carnaby Street, and an old lightweight canvas curtain. I particularly love the slanted pockets which allow me to sit down without impaling myself on any pointy tools (I picked up that idea from seeing this pattern).

This live model shot is courtesy of my almost 3.5 year old, hence the blur and subsequent refusal to reshoot it. The apron measures 20 inches wide by 10 inches tall, and the ties are a ridiculously long 110 inches from end-to-end, tied jauntily over at the side. It makes me super happy!

busy Wednesday and Valentines love

Today is my only day at home before we leave for vacation, so much to do, So Much To Do!  I have my list, I have my daughter all primed to "help" this morning.  She's sporting a lovely ensemble of a seafoam green hooded rashguard, green tights and flippers (I kid you not!), so all is well,...

I did want to share the paper cut Valentine I made from my husband this year -- I'm quite proud of it, actually.

On the back I wrote: "Valentine, I'll share my acorns with you anytime!"  Silly, but totally true.

I downloaded the template from A Little Acorn (no, I did not design this myself!), and cut cut cut away.  I do think I'm going to design my own soon, at least it's on the list, for my Ma for Mother's Day.

cuckoo for,...

A sale!  Offhand Design bags on sale at Stitch Diva until October 27.  I caved and ordered a ginormous Zhivago bag in Ruby Splash. 

Cute AND Happy.

I also got a bee in my bonnet when my daughter mentioned (among about a bazillion other things that two year olds chat about) that being a butterfly might be an option for Halloween.  And with our orange and black mariposa friends fluttering all around our town these days, what else but a Monarch would do?

She had a pair of regular wings, but broke the frame in those in no time flat, so I decided something softer and flowier would probably be a better option.  I had some silk blanks from a KoolAid dying bender we had a few months ago and ran down to the art store for supplies.  I just finished the painting last night, and still need to iron, wash, and sew them into actual wings, but here's our progress so far (excuse the giant mess in the background):

The plan is to gather the scarf up the middle, and sew ribbons to key places in order to keep the wings on and flapable.  Can you feel it?  I'm new to this diy costume thing, but I think this might actually work!  Fingers crossed.  I'll post finished pics in a few days.