September 26

My gorgeous baby girl, now 21 years old, has come to stay for a few months, and we are having fun, fun, fun.

I can't tell you how good it is to have her around.

September 17 ~ Sisters Day

My big sister and I invented Sisters Day a decade or so ago. We semi-arbitrarily picked this date, as being not-too-close to other family celebrations. We exchange small gifts, as yet another way to say "I love you, and I love being your sister."

Lucky me! This year she indulged our mutual love of tea towels, to treat me to some wonderful hand screen printed linen cloths by {her} local artist Megan Jackson, "inspired by the unique shapes, textures and colours of the rural Australian landscape." I love that the top one seems to depict an enlarged dental xray. After all, isn't the kitchen all about what goes into the mouth?

September 16

A new day. Glad to be alive.

September 15

Buffy and her BFF, the catnip plant.

September 12

Today Lauren and I did some serious decluttering, she in her bedroom, and me (with her help at times) in the kitchen. Even my freezer is cleaned out and arranged. Ooooh yeah.

Tomorrow, the studio. Maybe.

September 7

OK, OK, I know you're sick of seeing my potholders, but these ones are special, made from vintage sheets and rick rack. I promise to get over my obsession and sew something else soon. Lauren wants a ballet bag (she starts class next weekend) and I'm jonesing for some new pjs made from one of these vintage sheets.

September 6

Sunday Dinner Menu:
Chicken Pot Pie Lasagna
Roasted Vegetable Lasagna
Lime and Peanut Coleslaw
No-Knead Dinner Rolls
Lime Squares with Pistachio Graham-Cracker Crust
Lemon-Zucchini Cornmeal Cookies
Plum Galette
Yum, yum.

September 5

I'm a bit of a one-trick pony at the moment.

September 4

I decided the kitty wasn't enough for Little Miss One, so added a chenille-backed bib to the mix.

September 3

Needing a gift for a one-year-old's birthday, I had a crack at the Cuddle Kitty Toy from Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones. I'm not loving it. I think it's because of the eyes. I should have made them black, and that crooked one on the left is turning me off. I'm not really into softies; my last foray in this realm was in January 07 when I made a swag of stupid sock creatures. I could get into them because they were pretty much meant to be ugly. I guess I just don't do cute very well.

That said, I hope the recipient is not as critical as I am!

September 2

My fourth set, and these ones are for ME. I finally cut into the precious Pippijoe fabric sister gave me for Christmas. I'm not sure if the heavier home dec-weight fabric is going to be as nice to use as the softer versions I've made to date, but we'll see.

September 1

I'm loving these little potholders, made from instructions in Amanda's new book. This set is to be gifted, so I'm getting off the computer right now to make some for myself. And maybe some more for gifts, too. In fact, everyone might be getting these for Christmas.

August 30

The thrift gods have been smiling on me lately ... I've found some cool vintage sheets and pillowcases.

And I finished my picnic tablecloth/blanket! I'm going to add some ties to the ends so that it can be secured to the table legs if needed.

I backed it with some heavier home dec fabric I also found at the thrift store last week. So, it's 100% from stash. Woohoo.

Now I need to go on a picnic!

August 28

Sometimes my prop man brings home dismembered bodies. Sometimes, model trains.

August 25

Last day of summer vacation. Backpack, clothes, and school supplies have been purchased. First-day lunch has been planned, bought, and baked. Hair has been cut. What's left to do but go out blazing with an adventure day?

Hoo-boy. We're pooped.

August 24

('Scuse the crappy photo; I keep forgetting to shoot this in daylight. When it's finished I'll take a pretty shot.)

I'm attempting to turn my overflowing crate of fabric scraps (I keep every little piece) into something useful. To wit, a tablecloth-cum-picnic blanket.

It's a project I can work on when I have only ten minutes at the sewing machine, which makes it ideal for my lifestyle of late. I'm figuring I'll need 60 blocks; I have half of them done.

What I haven't figured yet is the color to frame each block, and tie it all together. White would be an aesthetically pleasing choice if this wasn't destined to have ketchup and curry spilled on it. I don't really want a dark color, because I want this to feel summery.

Maybe a sunshiny yellow. We'll see. When you indiscriminately throw every color and hue into one project, it's bound to look all over the place like a mad woman's breakfast.

But I think I'm OK with that.

August 23

Joy the Baker threw a downtown rooftop picnic. And we went.
It was yummy. It was fun. We made new friends, whom we hope will come to dinner some Sunday soon.

Thanks Joy! You rock.