labeling, good or bad?

When labeling people, probably bad.  Unless the label is AWESOME!  What about projects?  Do you label yours?

I didn't start labeling things until I started selling them.  And now I like to put labels on everything I make.  But I don't like them to be totally obvious.  So on my bags, I used Penny's tutorial to make the labels and then I attach them on the inside pocket.  I never get a good picture once they've been sewn up, so I thought I'd show you these on some WIPs.

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Someone told me A friend's facebook status said the other day it was important to put seed out for the birds.  With all this snow covering the ground, it's harder for them to find the food they need.  So I threw some of my seed out on the back deck yesterday (I can't get to my feeder) and I successfully lured some birds out there.

The cardinals are a little elusive and don't like seeing me behind the window, but I caught this one in the tree.  I'm in love.

Not a bad view from my sewing table.
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You'll have to excuse the blog - I'm in the middle of making a few layout changes, but I'm stuck on something.  I'll have it fixed soon.  I hope!

motivation!

nothing like a lot of this:

keeping you snowbound, to feel extra productive!  We've been getting a lot of snow this year.  It's nice when I don't feel like I have to go anywhere!  I put dinner in the crockpot and had the rest of the day to do whatever I wanted!

So I got a little cutting done:

a long lost project finished up (this had been languishing in my UFO pile for years):

Really, why do I wait so long, it took me less than 30 minutes to iron this up again and stitch up.  I forget how tricky rayon is to work with, though.

and this little guy turned 2 on Sunday!

That cake was delicious! Duncan Hines Lemon (made with milk instead of water), lemon curd filling, homemade cream cheese icing. Mmmmmm.

At the moment he's really into trucks, Elmo, Veggie Tales, cake, smarties, and well, food in general.  He's also talking up a storm, having an opinion, and has learned to crawl out of his crib.  Uh oh!   He's such a happy guy, he's always excited to start the day. Makes it easier for me to want to get up too!  He is our sweet little guy and a true snuggle bug.  We are so lucky to have him in our family!

What do you do all day when you are forced to stay at home?

i've been a little busy . . .

I've been pretty busy vacationing and all.  It's been rough.

Feet in the sand.

Seal watching.

Pelican gazing.

Soaking up the salt water spray.

and that was just last Saturday at La Jolla cove!

Now that I'm in cold and gray Utah it's time to brighten up the days with some fabric shopping!!

My daughter spied a sample bag at the shop and wouldn't let it go.  I finally convinced her that it wasn't for sale and I bought the pattern:

it's interfacing printed with the pattern and instructions on it - I'll let you know how it goes!

and she picked out these fabrics! 

Are you surprised?  I'm in love with LOVE.

I bought enough to back and bind the baby quilt I'm going to make with the LOVE fat quarters I won from the very shop we visited today!  Material Girls is one of my favorite stops when I come to Utah.

I also picked up this darling skirt pattern!  I can't wait to make one!

I have more to share about my visit today - but that will have to wait until Sew & Tell!

autumn colors and pumpkin bread turned muffins

This is my favorite tree in the fall.  I drive by it every day on the way out of my neighborhood.  I had to stop today and get a picture.

There are so many different colors in there - I just love it!

I bought this mum last spring.  After it bloomed and died I kind of neglected it for a while.  Then my mom suggested I put it in my flower bed.  It kind of just sat there all summer and early fall.  A couple of weeks ago the buds started coming out on it.

They really are pretty, unassuming little flowers.

I have yet to get my sewing area back in order.  I have a project I can do by hand for sew & tell tomorrow, but I'll keep it a secret.  Instead of sewing I've been baking today.  I used my SIL's (Laura) recipe for pumpkin chocolate chip bread and turned them into muffins (Go bug her to post her recipe and to finish her Amy Butler yoga bag for sew & tell this week!)

But let's be serious.  They aren't muffins - they're cupcakes.

Especially when you make pumpkin cream cheese icing to put on top.

And I'm perfectly okay with that.

You can pretty much use any pumpkin bread recipe.  Mine made 12 regular sized muffins (20 minutes @ 350), 1 mini muffin pan full (13 minutes @ 350), and two smaller loaves (probably should have been 3.... still trying to bake through the middle, it's been 45 min.  Final time: 50 min.)

I had some pumpkin cream cheese from the deli and added a little butter and powdered sugar to make the icing.  Delish.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Icing
1/3 C pumpkin cream cheese (whipped or softened)
2 Tbsp melted butter (makes for easy hand blending, no hand mixer required)
1/3 C powdered sugar
dash or more cinnamon
Blend together with a fork and dip mini cupcakes directly into bowl and eat immediately spread on cooled cupcakes.

i heart spring!

The peonies.

and the berries.

Just to name a couple reasons. The peonies I cut from my in-laws yard. They are out of town and missed their bloom. I couldn't bear the thought of them blooming over there with no one around to admire them and take in their intoxicating smell. I've decided I will have peonies every spring!

We went to a local pick-ur-own berry farm today. This is what approximately 13 and half pounds of berries look like! In true kid fashion my crumbsnatchers came home with happy strawberry stained smiles and empty buckets. It's okay though - I picked more than enough and we had a great time! Jam making to follow. And probably some crepe and waffle eating too! Oh and maybe this all-in-one Strawberry Shortcake.

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The lovely and talented Dana asked me if I would be interested in doing a little swap with her - a bag for some of her delicious handmade goatsmilk soap and sugar scrubs. I love handmade soaps and was flattered that she would like one of my bags!

I did a rescaling of the Paisley Garden Signature bag - this is the Paisley Garden Mini-Sig! It's basically cut in the same shape as the larger carry-the-kitchen-sink sized bag and hangs from the shoulder so you can hug it under your arm.

It has a cute little zipper pocket on the inside, (I used this tutorial from Sew, Mama, Sew.)

which features another surprise fabric! Oh how I love Sandi Henderson's Farmers Market. I told you that you would see it on here again! Remember my procrastination problem? I stalled on the zipper pocket - apprehensive to try it since it was my first one, but that tutorial made it a breeze!

I'm happy to report that it arrived at Dana's safely and she loves it! Whew!

Speaking of Dana, you have heard about this haven't you?

I'm getting ready to cut my fabric for week 2!

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Are you still with me? Gee, you're nice! I've also been working on the sashing for my A Notion or Two quilt.

If it turns out like I'm envisioning it, I think I'm really going to like it!

Which reminds me, I've got to get this month's block finished! (or started, whatever....)

how many pictures of tulips do you really want?

I have lots of things I want to write about, like some fabric orders I got, a few bags I've been working on, etc. But I went on a breakfast field trip with my friend Megan and her daughter to D.C. yesterday. I wouldn't have even known to go see the tulips if it weren't for this post on my friend Charlotte's blog. (if you like photography, she is amazing!! - and don't compare our pics - she's a professional, for obvious reasons!)

Have I mentioned how much I love this city and how beautiful it is?

The Netherlands Carillon by the Iwo Jima Memorial was a gift to the U.S. from the Netherlands in thanks for the aid given during and after WWII (didn't know you were going to get a history lesson today, did you?)

Next to peonies, tulips are my favorite flowers. So if you tire of tulip shots, I won't be offended if you leave now. . . .

oh! You're still here? Okay then. I don't know the names of all the varieties, so I came up with my own.

Blood Oranges

Lemon Creme

Blackberry Sorbet

Frilly Pink

Dutch Master (the Dutch liked to paint flowers)

And just in case you made it this far, here's a non-tulip shot. These red bud trees are lovely - they bloom near the end of the cherry blossoms and carry us through until the dogwoods are open. They are so shockingly purple from a distance and pink up close.

and this has nothing to do with flowers - we just had a foggy morning the other day and I wanted to see how a pic into the sun would turn out, kind of cool, huh? I'm always fascinated with the silhouettes of the bare trees in my backyard.

I promise, the next post will have something to do with flowers on fabric. Most likely with a gratuitious Amy Butler shot.

earth day!

That mother earth. She's pretty amazing. I love gardening. I don't do much except put seeds and plants in the ground. Rain, sun and dirt - they do the rest. It's a fun cheap experiment that you get to eat!

This year I'm toying with spring veggies. Like peas.

And red lettuce and broccoli.

And lucky me! My tarragon from last summer came back! It's my new favorite fresh herb.

Mother nature, she's pretty too.

at last!

Spring!

When I was young I remember seeing a contest on the back of a Cheerios box to win a trip to Washington D.C. Living so close to the city I wondered what the big deal was. As I've grown older - I understand. After living away and moving back - I understand. I love this city!! It's beautiful and has so much to offer. One of them being the Annual Cherry Blossom Festival. It's gorgeous! Will you join me on my walk?