the latest

I've finished another clutch from Bend-the Rules similar to the last one except this one is bigger still and I included an additional embroidered circle on the back. I don't know what I'm making these for. I mean I think they are adorable & I love them but what the heck am I going to do with all of them? I wonder if I could sell them? Who do I know that would buy one?

(back)

Oh, reminder to self...my husband sold ALL of my remaining (after my stashed was raided)tissue holders to Falcons Landing for "give-aways" at a Tea Party. How cool is that? Such a good idea.
Annnnnd, here is the current state of my ripples. Less then 10 color/rows to go. Lord help me.

julia

My niece Julia will be 14 on Monday. My sister Charlotte has a family party for her kids birthdays every year. Usually she makes all the food too, from appetizers to cake & other desserts. She has been known to do themes. We've done a Greek theme, with Pastitsio, Dolmades, Spanakopita & Baklava. Food heaven. And I can say we because I helped. All...ALL from scratch. And yes, we are Greek (part Greek) We had a Papou on our Moms side. We also did a Hanukkah theme one year simply because my nephews birthday happened to fall on the first night of Hanukkah. It's fun & delicious & I enjoy it every time.

Anyhow, I usually give them cash these day because that's what they ask for. But this year I made Jules a little wristlet. I hope she likes it.

(bad pics)

She had mentioned to my sister that she wanted a Sock Monkey a while back, so I thought the fabric would be appropriate. Again this pattern is from Amy Karol's book. Bend-the-Rules Sewing. I plan on attempting quite a few of the others shes come up with. Although I admit didn't quite follow it exactly only because I got confused on a few things. For instance...I used this tutorial for the zipper...well I thought the tutorial came from here , but I don't see anything of the sort. Hmmm, maybe I've lost my mind. Sorry, and thank you to whoevers instructions I used. It's not the best work I've ever done, but Charlotte sprung the party on me kindof last minute, so I was a bit rushed. I hope she likes it anyway. 14 year old girls like this sort of thing right?

P.S. My fondest memory of Julia is when I held her in the hospital for the first time I couldn't stop petting her head. Her hair was the softest thing I had EVER felt. I think my sister was afraid I was going to run off with her. I love you Hoopa-loo!

sparkly pumpkins

For Halloween

it's a prickly pear!

Who knew? Not me...obviously. A very nice woman on flickr, that I found through the Bend-the-Rules Sewing Pool, had a picture of one of these too as well as a shot of the ripe fruit. She says it's yummy. Her kids think it tastes like pear.

bend the rules

I made a couple clutches from Amy Karol's fabulous book Bend-The Rules Sewing. I'm trying to work up the nerve (and find the resources) to try other thing.

This one is exactly the size the pattern dictates. Both fabrics for the bag I bought at Michael's & I had the button fabric in my stash from the tissue holders

This one is clearly a bit larger. The outer fabric came from a table cloth my sister Charlotte was selling at a yard sale. The inner. polka dot fabric was a napkin, on clearance, at Target. Vintage button & hand embroidery. I like it.

Holiday in Corolla, North Carolina

1 week with extended family. It was nice. Beautiful weather for most of the week.

The dogs seemed to enjoy it.

This was in the neighborhood as we headed to the beach...2 HUGH ones. I had never seen anything like it in real life. I just thought they were beautiful. I only wish they had been blooming.

I don't know who these people are, they just got married RIGHT behind us.

too much going on

I can't bring my self to write it all down, maybe someday. Both good and bad. A lot that brings tears to my eyes. And a lot that, for now at least, I can't share. I'm feeling very overwhelmed & sad today. I'm also heartbroken. It sucks.