Hibernation Is Over

I've been hibernating in my cave, but I guess it's time to come out. Sunny weather makes such a difference! I finished little girl's class costumes. All twelve of them. Now on to oldest daughter's. Although theirs are going to be much simpler. I was hesitant to pack up the Valentine's decorations, and bring out the Spring greenery. Partly because I don't really trust that the weather will actually cooperate and partly because I can't believe it's actually March, and nearly the end of it!

About a month ago, I went through a quick tour of Decorator's Imports with my mom and sister. My mom came out on top and spent a whole 50 cents on a glass trinket. I came in second with about five dollars, and my sister spent the most! Although I think some of her finds were for the Studio. I hadn't been thrifting for a while. As I said, I've been in my cave.

I found these dishes in not only my favorite color, but in one of my favorite shades of green.  Perfect for March.

I'm also partial to black and white. I found this on that same trip.

Here are some of last Spring's end of season items, I've added to this years Spring collection.

I made this last summer from my "pretty maids" design I produced last Spring.  It was a bit trickier since I used paper for the background. I just liked the paper, and didn't have fabric that color.

I used a thrifty frame. I didn't even have to paint it!

If the dates and weather would cooperate Spring would feel more official!

Retro Twilight Pillow

When I saw this fabric, I had to have it!  My intention was to possibly make a border for a tablecloth or table runner. But there was only about a yard left on the bolt. So, I purchased the yard and ordered some more.

I like fabric, and sometimes I buy it, not knowing what I'm going to do with it. I thought this would make a fun purse, or purse lining. I needed a quick project. I just wanted to display it in my home. It would even look fun, simply framed. I decided to use the yard I purchased to make a pillow. I find it is a quick way to change things up a bit.

I've also been having fun making these simple blooms into pins, hair clips or accents. I think I'm still hibernating my energy for sewing Spring costumes for my girl's dance classes, furniture painting, and perhaps a Spring or Summer quilt. So the key here is, my latest projects have been quick ones.

Some quilt doodling . . .

 a little accent . . .

and my Retro Twilight Pillow is done!

                                                             Back into hibernation I go!

My Little Valentines

 Seems I always have a tune in my head. I think "Beatles Rock Band" had something to do with this one. I had this idea lurking in my brain since last year.
From brain to paper:

A thrifted frame ready for the spray can-

Designed to embroidered -

Happy Valentine's Day!

Friendly Find

The quickest cross stitch yet!

I found this at the thrift store for 50 cents.  It did come in a cherry frame (sorry, no before picture). I simply repainted the frame and antiqued it. Much better!

I just thought it was appropriate for Valentine's Day. Afterall, My Valentine is my friend first.

Sonata Tote

One of the few things I created for the Christmas Season, was a small decorative pillow out of this fabric.

It needed a slight upgrade. So I decided to quilt it.

Drew a few lines on the backing, and sewed along. Perfect quilting project. If you've never attempted this, it's an easy way to add quilting into your life!

I was quite pleased with the end result!

 I used the same method and made a tote for my daughter to carry her books to piano lessons.

Made a little flower embellishment.

I made it into a pin

Because the tote is also reversible.

So it can be embelished . . .

Anywhere!

This Was Halloween II

I'm still here!  Since school started, things have just gotten so busy. Frankly, blogging has obviously not been at the top of my list. I don't even think it was on my list. I haven't been much in the creative spirit. Maybe things will change.  We'll see. Last couple of months pretty much came and went. I don't consider myself to have a stressful sort of life, but the last couple of months have been stressful, filled with unexpected series of events (that were beyond my control) that I won't get into. It's over for now. We also managed a sort of last minute trip to the West Coast, since the kids are off-track. Now, I'm dealing with the last stages (hopefully) of your typical Autumn cold. As for the cough, I'm sure it'll stick around for a while.
I'm not the procrastinator I used to be back in my school days. (Some of my best work was accomplished in the wee early morning hours!). I guess those were the days my body and brain seemed to handle it well. Now, I like to have a plan, have things done ahead of time, so I can avoid the stressful feelings . . .
I waited to decorate for fall until September 23. I was determined to have as much of summer as possible! While I would normally get the Halloween decorations out October 1st, it did not happen. I wasn't even going to get them out this year. But on Saturday morning (Oct. 30), when I saw oldest daughter, and youngest boy, cutting out Halloween shapes out of construction paper and sticking them on the window, I figured I better get the Halloween box out. I guess sometimes we revert to our old ways...

I know Halloween is over, and the few that wonder through my blog are more than likely over it too,  I decided to post some of it anyway. While I did not make a single Halloween decoration this year ( I have some ideas stored up in my brain for next year), I did make most of them in years past.
This was Halloween:

 I made these up. Hubby cut them out for me and I painted them.

 I made these basketful of kitties, a few years ago.

 This one I made, sits on the ledge.

 This cross stitch took me about 3 months of "spare time" (when our family consisted of 4 instead of 6).

 I made a couple of bat garlands to hang on the windows.

 The pattern was useful for other projects.

 Another quick pillow.

 These are little wood cut outs I just painted.

 A couple of thrifted plates.

 My last Halloween cross stitch.

 And last of all, my handpainted 2 X 4 wood sign.

 Hope you enjoyed the spooky tour, because all this is going back in the Halloween box tomorrow!