Growing up, I don't remember being a very girly girl. I intentionally avoided anything pink and frilly, didn't care much about clothes or makeup. These days I feel like I'm making up for lost time - I love pink, and all things girly, like getting my hair done and shopping and wearing skirts. All this is really just to say the younger me wouldn't be caught dead with the bag I just finished, but the (somewhat) grown up me loves it!



As soon as I got the body of the bag done I knew I wanted to make a couple design changes, but since I used some of my hoarded Amy Butler fabric I made myself finish it the right way anyway. And I'm glad I did, I think it's adorable!



I do want to try out a couple changes to the pattern though, so I guess it's back to the sewing machine!

Labels: bags, sewing

I have been seeing yellow all over the place this spring, on craft and design blogs.

Granted, I'm a little late to the party, but looking around my house I have caught the yellow bug. I have multiple boquets of yellow flowers and I actually bought something yellow to wear despite my usual misgivings.

I also made these earrings:



I have been doing some sewing as well, a spring handbag - but spring is rapidly disappearing here in Texas, so I'd better get going!

Labels: jewelry

One of the unexpected side effects of my dad's blog is a lot more people I know in real life have found my blog. What's especially fun is that this has given me the opportunity to make some things for friends and family.



A close family friend emailed my mom to ask about some of the earrings I'd made, wondering if I'd be able to make some for her... Well, of course!! She didn't have a specific request on colors or style, so I got to just pull out my supplies and see what looked nice.



The first pair is a bit of everything - vintage glass, pearls, labrodorite, and swarovski crystals. The second pair is just vintage. I love the combination of red and champagne glass. It's fun to be able to put things together from my (still growing) stash of beads.

Labels: jewelry

On my Friday trip into London, I got off the Underground at Oxford Circus specifically to stop at Liberty of London. And I am so glad I did! First, I just loved the whole store, and if I ever win the lottery I'm skipping Harrod's and buying my new wardrobe at Liberty.



Then I made it to the fabric level!



Everything was displayed so well, and there wasn't a single print I didn't like.



Isn't this a wonderful way to organize small items? Beautiful glass containers with a simple binder clip holding on the label... I may have to adapt this in my craft room! And I loved the button display:



I didn't actually buy anything this time - I suffered a little bit of sticker shock, and couldn't bring myself to shell out that kind of money when my treasured fabric usually just sits on the shelf looking pretty. Maybe next time I won't be able to resist!

Labels: fabric, travel

I have been exploring England for three days now, and I have had gorgeous, cool, sunny weather. Isn't it supposed to rain in England?

Friday I went back into London, and walked around all day. I went to Kensington Gardens, Harrods, Buckingham Palace, Liberty of London (a post of its own!), St. Paul's, and the Tower of London. I broke down and used the underground towards the end of the day because my feet couldn't take anymore!



Yesterday I took the train to Oxford. It really made me wish I'd looked into the study abroad programs available at my university... It would have been so much fun to be a student there. Everything is in bloom, and I seem to be getting into the habit of taking pictures of flowers in front of things!





Today I braved the roads and drove about 200 total miles to see Wells, Bath, and Stonehenge. I did well on the roads if I do say so myself, only hitting the curb once. I did walk up to the wrong side of the car every single time, though, how embarassing!



(See, more flowers in front of things! I can't help myself!!)



One more day to explore, and again the weather is supposed to be amazing... I feel so lucky!

Labels: photography, travel

Thursday my boss came into my office, asked me what I was doing this week. Umm, nothing. Do I want to go to the UK for a week? Of course! Then Friday, he asked what I was doing the week after that, if I could stay an extra week. Okay...


Trafalgar Square

So here I am, about 40 minutes outside of London. I got in yesterday morning and immediately turned around to take the train into the city.


Big Ben

The weather has been perfect, sunny and cool. I get two holidays while I'm here that I wouldn't get at home, and I plan to put them to good use exploring London and maybe some of the surrounding towns.


View from the Eye

Jetlag is catching up with me, and I'm racing my dying laptop battery, so I'm off to bed!

Labels: photography, travel