We made it back from the Northshore in one piece! Vacation was amazing, so relaxing. I hardly took any pictures because I was too busy decompressing from the "real world." Tonight will be all about unpacking, laundry, bills, that sort of thing, and then hopefully it will be back to business as usual! I have some pre-vacation projects to post, so hopefully this picture-less post won't stay at the top too long...

The week didn't crawl by like I expected. In fact, I am at work with a million things to do, and a long to do list for tonight, including packing. At least the laundry is done. We leave at 5:30am tomorrow.



This is where we are staying for the second part of our trip. Two years ago we chaperoned a church trip, taking six 15-year-olds on a canoe trip in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. Our pastor (and close friend) who we are visiting next week has this family cabin where we stayed the night before entering the lakes.



We have no plans on this trip other than switching from the Wisconsin lake house to the Minnesota lake house, and that is so wonderful to me. There will be so much to do both places, and we are just going to see what we feel like each day. I can't wait. I will be back August 1st invigorated and relaxed and ready to get start on some of the exciting ideas in my head. See you then!

We leave for vacation on Friday. I am so excited. We'll be up on Eagle Lake in Wisconsin, and then on the north-west shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota. I plan to come back tan and completely relaxed.

Before I leave, though, I have a few things to get done! I got the crocheted baby blanket done for my friend from church...



I'm very happy with the stitch pattern - since I'm new to crochet, it didn't get boring for me, though it was easy to memorize so I didn't have to keep checking the pattern.



It turns out her shower is Saturday, our first full day up in Wisconsin, so I'll be missing it. I will have to deliver the gift to the shower hostess one night this week.



I also have to get the wedding album I didn't finish in time for the actual wedding last weekend finished and in the mail before we leave. All I have left is an insert for the cover, so it should be no problem. Then it's time to pack and hopefully, before I know it, I'll be relaxing on the lake!!

I have been getting such wonderful things in the mail! In addition to my fabric and craft book I already posted about, I received the little painting I ordered from little dear's Etsy shop.



It's only 4x4", so I plan to frame it with a pretty wide mat for in my new craft room. She also sent along this wonderful little owl pin. It matches the owl I ordered from her a few months ago, and I just love it.



Finally, I got my wonderful vintage wrap skirt from bugheart's great Monday give-away.



Now I just need to think up a clever postcard to send her in accordance with the rules! I'm sure I can think of something...

I now own two Japanese craft books! I feel so behind compared to some people, but I love my two books. The latest one I got is all about bags, and I scored it when Alexia was selling off some of her stash.



There are so many great ideas in this book, including a new way to construct a basic tote that I'll have to try. Here are just some of my favorites:











In addition to the book, Alexia sent on some wonderful fabric. Baxter wanted in on the photo shoot!



Thanks, Alexia! I can't wait to get started.

I have trouble working when things are a mess. I know I've mentioned this (a long time ago), but things just seem to get out of hand. So this week I am dedicating to finishing up projects and getting my crafting space(s) in order.

I do know someone who will be sad to see me clean up...



Speaking of crafting spaces - if you were able to design a craft room from scratch, what would you be sure to include? I'm still trying to convince Peter that my craft room won't be a total eyesore, since it's a very visible room at the front of the house. This means I need to plan it out so everything has a place to be put away. Tell me your ideas!!

I received my tags from Dacia's tag swap!



I love getting snail mail, and it was so much fun to see which tags I received from the assortment made by all the contributors.



It will be so hard to give these away with gifts, even though that's what they're for. I think I'll have to save them long enough to display in my new craft room, and then start sharing.



I might have to keep one or two for myself, though...

Labels: swaps

Because this bag is bright!!



I just had to try the tutorial over at tiny happy for a wonderful floppy tote. I only had half a yard of the bright floral so I made due, and the strap came out a little shorter than really works.



I still love it, it's all my favorite colors. I'll have to get a lot of use out of it before I run out of summer. Of course, with my zillion JoAnn's coupons I had somehow this month, I picked up some fabric in great fall colors to try again, with slightly better proportions.

I finally got pictures of my tags from Dacia's tag swap, I am such a lucky girl. I can't wait to share!

Labels: bags, sewing

Autum's post the other day about "fitting in" really struck a cord with me. I had been thinking about a lot of similar things in recent days. Most of the time this blog is a wonderful thing - it inspires me to finish projects so I have things to post, it is a way to share my ideas, and it has helped me "meet" great new people. Other times it feeds my already significant insecurities. Mostly this relates, like Autum said, to feeling on the fringes of this great craft blog community. I am so inspired by them, but I often feel like I am just copying the wonderful things I see and not coming up with anything on my own. Will I ever have a great idea that inspires people, that returns in kind what they have done for me?

Sorry to be coming from a little bit low place today. No particular reason for it - not even hormonal. That's why I posted a picture of something that makes me happy. We went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium in May, one of my favorite places. I grew up going there, and for years I wanted to be a marine biologist. And my favorite place in the aquarium is the jellyfish exhibit. Another exciting development - I think I've convinced my husband that we don't really need an office and it should be my craft room. Woo! So, on to happier things...