Stitches in Play

day after spring break

The kiddos went back to school today.  We had a great time and spent nearly each day at parks, museums, beaches, and chuck e cheese's.  We played a lot, laughed a lot, got a lot of clothes very dirty, and ate out way too much!

But today it rained all day long.  And I had to spend my few hours alone volunteering at school and running errands.

At 11:30am I pick Abigail up from school and the real fun begins...

After lunch and playtime we do our chores.  First we vacuum all the mulch and dirt that the dogs drag in off the kitchen floor...

Then we wipe off the kitchen table... (what, you don't do it like this at your house?)

Next, we fold towels... (multiple flower pins in hair optional)

Enough with all the cleaning!  Mama's got to sew herself a top... more on this tomorrow.

And I impulse bought some yarn from WEBS that arrived today.  I have no idea what these will become, but I 'just had to have them.'

Finally, I leave you with this out-of-my-filthy-window shot of my dog using one of the new shrubs we planted yesterday as a pillow!  arghh!

Have a happy pre-tax day and I'll see you all back here tomorrow.

short-term solution or four new pillows

Dilemma -  Super dark corner of family room AND ugly orange couches purchased years ago by deranged pregnant woman in nesting mode (that would me)

Solution -four large pillows...

Sewn from absolutely gorgeous Anna Maria Horner fabric, these need no further embellishment. 

Fabric chosen specifically because it needs no further embellishment, thus making this project super quick. (2 1/2 hours to make 4 covers)

Kiddo approved.

The back is sewn with two overlapping flaps. 

To make super-quick, super-simple pillow cover:

1.  Cut front piece of fabric the exact size of the pillow you want to cover - when it comes to covering pillows bigger is not better.

2.  Cut 2 pieces of fabric for the back.  These should measure the width of the front and about 3/4 of the length.  (for example, my front measured 25 x 25 inches and the back pieces measured 25 x 18 inches)

3.  Fold the long side of each of the back pieces under 1 inch and then turn under 1 inch again and press.  Topstitch along the edge of each hem.

4.  Lay pillow front fabric right side up and lay 2 back pieces on top, right side down.  The back pieces will overlap by about 3 inches.  Pin and stitch down all four sides, reinforcing the corners.  Trim corners and turn right side out.

5.  Admire.

Do not skip step 5 - this is the most important part!

 

These pillow covers were so quick, I had time to strip-piece a bunch of nine patch  blocks for a fun lap-sized quilt requested by my very persuasive daughter.

yellow week - i will miss you

I have always loved the color yellow.

I recently painted my sewing area yellow (see photo below) and i enjoy yellow food - think lemon meringue pie, saffron rice, and Lay's potato chips.

At an art auction last year, I bought this fun art piece titled "man walking chicken." It sits in my sewing area and reminds me each day to enjoy all that I have and not take myself too seriously. 

This reminds me, yellow also makes me smile.

Smiling comes in handy when picking up the kiddos toys from the floor...

  

And I'm positive that yellow week had a lot to do with my choice of binding for this quilt...

I've even been sipping my favorite beverage - Lipton Spiced Chai - out of yellow teacups...

Thank you Erin for hosting yellow week!

 

Note:  Home is a beautifully written novel and I highly recommend it.  However, you should probably read it's prequel Gilead first - also very good.

these 5 acres

It was freezing cold, but the sun shone bright.  Snow flurries came and went throughout the day but none stuck. We bundled up and went outside.

Some of us skipped down the road...
 

and then skipped back up again...

some of us played fetch with a stick...

some whittled away on a stick...

me - I took photos of the shed (and my shadow) for no reason whatsoever...

some of us played chase with others of us...

some times I truly love the country....even though my LYS isn't local at all.

for 10 years we have lived on these 5 acres...

in a warm home full of love.