Getting ready for holidays...

Creating a bit with a few minutes here and there, sigh, wishing for more time.

Did I tell you I wanted to be an architect as well?

Inspired by autumn rain

As if to compensate for the summer drought, the autumn sky is steadily sprinkling rain for us. I took in some creative inspirations from my front yard.

I am sure my garden feels as refreshed as I am thanks to the autumn rain...

Tie Dye for Little Toes

I found an unused tie dye bandana in my stash and thought it would be fun to make a pair of baby shoes.

It seems to go well with a bunny made from Mad's leftover tie-dye shirt. The shirt was too big for her so I ended up with the bottom part for a bunny. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Yearning for the ocean...

Our power went out on Sunday afternoon, due to gusty 70 mph wind that swept across the county. Thinking it would come back as swiftly as it went out, I didn't think much of it. So naive of me, sigh. It came back on Tuesday and we were considered lucky since there are still many without power. Not having air conditioning in this heat, you yearn for the ocean breeze and hope for no summer for a few years to come...

On one of the Metro stops from work, I could see the Discovery Channel building with a shark looking at you.

It made me think of other sea creatures...

Black cats, anyone?

Mad bought a black T-shirt that is too long for her. In her innovative endeavor, Mad cut her T-shirt short and modified it to fit her better. I was thrilled to have her remnant. But what to do with it? Black cats!
In the shop...

Goodies from tinyhappy!

I have been admiring works of Melissa of tinyhappy for years now. I couldn't resist ordering a pair of baby shoes before her move to a new house. I know, my daughters are way too big for them but when the pair came and needless to say we all loved it. She included a card made of her watercolor drawing and some mending threads. Sigh, they are all lovely!

Scoutie Girl's Zoomed Local

I was so thrilled get an email from Linda of a la mode stuff , who writes for Tara Gentile's blog Scoutie Girl. She featured my small embroidered pillow for her Zoomed Local segment. It was great way for me to see others who create from my area! Thank you Linda...

Hearts, everywhere...

It started with one, the red berries on crisp white heart, to add to the previously made ones...
And then I got carried away.

A FoundHandmade feature!

Thank you FoundHandmade.com! It was a pleasant surprise.

Inspiration:: Delftware

I have always loved blue and white color combinations. Especially in housewares.

I have Spode Blue Italian collection and have always loved the Delftware, the blue and white tiles. Unfortunately, I don't own any Delft tiles...

Roy Kirkham Bone China pitcher and small blue and white egg, bought at the Sugarloaf Craft Festival... Thinking about blue and white Delft tiles inspired me to make embroidered felt pins with Dutch motifs. Now at the shop.

A feature!

I have been too harried to mention that Corra of the Mayberry Sparrow featured my small red bird ornaments! Considering how excited I was having it included in her beautiful layout with other selected items, I couldn't let it go unmentioned... thank you Corra!

Crafting mood...

Spending long nights crafting away...

hoping for clear skies...

do chase away the moon covering clouds...

Holidng on to the fall

Walking around the neighborhood, to my delight, I noticed remnants of autumn still lingering.
Took some photos with Mad and was inspired to make a holiday garland for the shop.

Thinking of spring

Due to the fair [considering it's still February] weather, the daffodils are trying for air. Our daffodils are among the latebloomers in the neighborhood. I didn't notice them until I searched for their tips, less than 1/4 of an inch above the ground. I searched for them only after I overheard a lady before me at the supermarket line talking to the cashier about how much her daffodils came up.

I want spring to be here soon... really soon.

In that vein, I made two pincushions for my shop. One with an iris to bringforth the spring and another of a basket, inspired by a similar one in a Japanese zakka magazine. Perhaps the thought of a basketful of irises prompted it...

Getting ready for Valentine's day...

Having cleared away the Christmas decorations just last Sunday, I wrote a few new year's resolutions. Among items which I see as chores and burdens, I added one item that would be fun! I would love to give out more presents and try to make them. I hope to create, unique, pretty, and functional things...
The stores are already setting out their Valentine's wares. I see the usual chocolate boxes, stuffed animals, faux flowers [personally never liked them], and heart plates. I have spent a few nights making some pincushions with Valentine's day twist... to give out as gifts and to add to my etsy shop.

I was up until 2am last night, reading the New Moon. I am not usually young adult novel or vampire novel fan but I ended up reading the first book of the saga, after my daughter saw the movie. She complained that the lead actor didn't fit with Edward she had envisioned in the Twilight. She thought Hayden Christenson would have been better Edward. So out of curiosity, I read the first book and I must agree with her. The second one is rather tediously slow in the beginning but eventually becomes interesting. I can't say that the quality of writing is awesome but it's very imaginative...

After Christmas

After spending two mornings looking for bargains, I was ready to settle down to some hot tea. Frankly, even as I venture out like others thinking that there will be real good bargains, I don’t usually find much. I fared better this year than others… I bought a suit, if you know me, you’d say, another black or gray? Black. I bought a sturdy looking bag from Talbots that looked functional; it could probably hold a couple of hardbacks, lunch and more. Yes, black again. In the practical things for home category, I bought two ice tongs in the shape of autumn leaves from

Pottery Barn. Cool. Much better than the run of the mill ice tongs I have. I know, it doesn't take much to make me happy. From Crate and Barrel, I bought some ornaments Gem wanted. As the department stores clear away Christmas decorations discreetly, I am ready to wrap this year and get ready for the new one. Working on my New Year’s resolutions list…

As my photography skills are still wanting, Mad, taking advantage of a sunny day, took some pictures of pincushions I have made. Here are some of my bottle cap pincushions.



Clothesline, music note, trees, cupcake and raindrops...