I think my dream job is to be a photographer. Any kind - nature, portrait, wedding, etc. If I could somehow incorporate scrapping and sewing into that job, I'd be in heaven. So it has become kind of a hobby of mine to "collect" links to photographers I admire. I just found a new one today through Tara's blog. I admire Tara's photography so much, I couldn't wait to see who she linked to! And I wasn't disappointed.

I don't think it's cool to post Audrey's pictures here, so I'll just link to my favorites...

Adorable Girl

Blue-eyed Teenager

Father and Son

Observing a Tea Party


(These all are from her blog since I couldn't get her main site to load at home for some reason. Check out all the photos on her main site if you're a fan of portrait photography!)

Some other portrait photographers I love: Tara (of course), Janet (my wedding photographer), and Rebecca Martin who took some photos of a friend's baby that came out great.

I've committed the cardinal sin of blogging... I made something without taking a picture of it!! This is the result of a very busy weekend and not enough sleep. Sunday I had a bridal shower to go to, and I got the gift (set of Corningware, since I use mine so much!) a long time ago. Of course, I had to make something to go with it! My day Sunday went like this: up early, make dessert for husband's birthday, sew towel apron for shower, run to brunch with parents for husband's birthday, finish skirt for shower, crap! I'm late! Out the door... So in the process, I didn't take a picture of the apron. But it was really cute! I used this towel in white and black and a red ribbon to tie. The skirt was this pink one that I finally got around to lining and hemming.

For some good news, though, I did whip up another towel apron that I remembered to photograph!



Imagine this in the colors I described above and that's what I made for the shower. I love these aprons because they are so incredible easy, but so useful!!

A few bloggers in craft-land have been taking blogging breaks lately... and here I go and do it without announcing it, with just a lousy vacation picture to sit on my front page for over a week! How embarassing. I can't promise things will pick up - although I have some projects in the works, they are big, and not postable (is that even a word?) since they're gifts. Anyway, I do have one picture I can share, with a scroll down. Katy, this is on its way to you, so don't look if you want it to be a surprise! (I know, you're such a faithful follower of my blog, and I finally post and you can't look! I'm so mean!)












With bead suggestions from my sister, I made this (in my opinion) beautiful necklace!



I ran out of chain making it, but I have more beads, so I'm going to my favorite bead shop to get some more chain so I can make this for myself, too!

Labels: jewelry

What does it say about my free time when I just now edited and printed my pictures from a trip we took at Thanksgiving?? I really don't think it is because of lack of free time, but I need some reason for my procrastination!

We have the day off today. I love three day weekends when I get to just stay home. I feel so productive, even though I got to sleep in, because I would normally be at work right now!! Peter is brewing beer with a friend today, so I have several hours of guilt-free craft time. Now I just have to pick a project!

I can't believe I did it. I cut into my Amy Butler!! I am so proud of myself. So many good things are coming from this using what I have!

I really love the useful size of the totes I've been making, but I also really like the look of the quilted fabric, so for this one I combined the two.



There is one large separated pocket and a cell phone pocket on the inside, in more Amy Butler.



See more people using what they have here.

This tote is for sale on Etsy, since I don't really need another one!!

Labels: sewing

Thank goodness it's Friday! This has been an exhausting and emotional week. We had bad family news, then good family news, then some dear friends moved across the country... I'm so glad it's the weekend!

Beki has been doing gratitude Friday and I just think it is such a wonderful idea. Here are just a few of the things I'm grateful for today:

• Having my parents close by - my dad let me borrow his big truck today to run an errand, and it was such a treat to see them this morning!


• My close relationship with my extended family - we're going through some tough times right now and I appreciate more than ever the time I had when I was little living close to all my extended family!


• Good friends - I'm going to a local craft show tomorrow with a good friend and her 10-month-old son... I can't wait!


• That it's Friday! We're going to do things around the house, get together with friends for a wedding shower, and have some time to relax. It will be a great weekend!

Take some time to think about what you're grateful for today...

In the spirit of using what I have, I finally cut into the vintage fabric I got all the way back last August to make this tote. The denim is from some old, super soft jeans that don't fit anymore.



I lined it with some of the fabric leftover from my brother-in-law's birthday apron.



I also got myself to cut into more of the Japan fabric to make this tote.



It is paired with some chocolate brown canvas leftover from the Christmas totes and has some grosgrain ribbon detail. It is lined with some turquoise dot fabric I had in my stash.



Click here to see more people using what they have!

These are both listed in my slightly redesigned Etsy shop, so tell your friends!!

I couldn't resist Dawn's offer to buy my first quilted purse, and I also couldn't resist sending along a couple extra goodies! In the spirit of trying new things, I made a little coordinating quilted pouch and a quilted card!



I could make so many things with this fabric, I love it so much! Thanks, Dawn, for motivating me to try more new things!