The house is still a total disaster because we've moved on to the floors in our main living area, but luckily we have some progress to show for it. Our dining room is done! It only took two months...



It's hard when we only have time to really dedicate on Sundays, and not even every Sunday...



When I look at this room, I dream up plans for the walls, the windows, recovering that couch... Someday, when we finally finish all the other floors! Luckily they should go faster since we learned so much doing the dining room.

Relay for Life Drawing - I can't believe I forgot to pick a winner of the RFL drawing! I am so excited to announce that my cousin Megan won. I can't wait to make a bag for you! And thank you for supporting the American Cancer Society.

52 Nights Update - Night 9 has come and gone! I followed what is becoming my routine - got a little exercise (mowed the lawn), worked on a project, made dinner, did some chores... Of course, I was especially motivated to sew, since my sewing machine is away for a tuneup! The novelty of getting so much done on a work night hasn't worn off! In fact, even on non-Mondays, I'm getting more done, often not getting on the computer or checking Tivo until just before bed, for a much shorter amount of time. After only nine weeks! I'm excited to see how my habits will change after the full 52.

Labels: 52 nights, homework, me

As the weekend winds up I hope you all had a good one! I got in my first swim of the season yesterday - not that it hasn't been warm enough before now! No April snows for us like for our friends up north.



Pete's birthday was last week and we went to my mom's tonight to celebrate, so I spent a little time this afternoon making honey peanut cupcakes. I must be on a peanut kick right now.



The honey taste came through wonderfully, and the cake was a little spongy and very tender. Love these recipes.



And of course I had to take my camera since I knew my nephew was going to be there...

Hope your weekend was good, too!

Labels: cooking, family

In addition to her bag, my grandma requested a colorful necklace. I hope this qualifies!



I was able to do something I've always wanted to do to make this - just rummage through my containers of beads and pull together ones I love. I'm not sure I could do this with other colors yet, I do seem to be drawn to blues and greens!



Of course, something also happened I've been expecting but not looking forward to... One of the cats jumped up onto my desk while I was working and knocked my entire divided organizer of tiny silver beads and pins off, onto the carpet. It's all picked back up but it will be a while before I get it resorted! The craft room is off limits to kitties until future notice!

Labels: family, jewelry

A few weeks ago I got a very special call from my grandma - she wanted to buy a purse and necklace from me! I insisted on making them as a gift, she insisted on being a customer, we still need to reach a compromise.



I got everything for this bag cut and almost ready to assemble during a no-tech night, which made me feel quite productive!



Her only request was that everything be colorful! The bag is similar to the last auction bag except it has an outside pocket for her handicap tag and it closes with a magnetic snap instead of a zipper.

It is SO much fun to make projects with a specific person in mind. I still have to finish the necklace, then I'll get everything in the mail soon, Grandma, I promise!

52 Nights Update - Night 8 showed that my productivity is related to how busy I am at work... I had a long day yesterday, and ended up taking a nap after work! I never do that!! But I redeemed myself by helping on the floor project, making dinner, and editing photos from a fun "session" I had on Sunday. I don't count using the computer for "to do" items like that as breaking the rules, since my intent is to get more done. So, overall, yay!

Labels: 52 nights, bags, family, sewing

I know I've bragged on here before about my mom. But I just can't resist another chance to show off how talented she is.



I saw this bowl at her house and pleaded until she sent it home with me - I love everything she makes, but I am so smitten with my new birdie bowl!



I really admire the way my mom has used her pottery to express some of her grief since we lost Dad, and she's made some amazing pieces, but it made me smile to see something so cheerful.



In the bottom of the dish is melted glass from my favorite glass blowers, and it melted just right to look like a little birdie reflection.



What a bonus, to get to spend time with my mom and come home with such a beautiful birdie bowl!

Labels: family

I mentioned yesterday that I got a new car... I can't resist showing off my new baby!



It's a 2008 Nissan Altima, and I think we stumbled into a perfect time to buy a new car because we got an amazing deal on it. I went around for about a week feeling very smug about my negotiating skills!

My favorite feature... This is my whole key, and I get to just leave it in my purse:



Magic Key, as we like to call it... (On my new vegetable ivory key chain from Costa Rica.) And I get to start my car with a button! So cool.



Okay, I'm done showing off. Back to our regularly scheduled craft blogging...

Labels: me

I can't believe it's already April - it's almost time for the church auction! I agreed to donate two bags this year, this one and this one:





After all the zipper totes I've been making, and the pleated bags, it was only natural I'd combine the two! Amazingly enough, there are only a few tweaks I'd make if I did this style again.

Relay for Life Drawing - I reached my goal!! Thanks so much to everyone who contributed. I passed my fundraising goal, and as a team we raised over $11,000 for cancer research and as an event, we raised over $800,000! I'll do the drawing tonight and notify the winner. Thanks again!



52 Nights Update - Night 7 was fantastic! The weather here is amazing, blue skies, sunny, bright so late, and in the 60's in the evening. I got out last night and washed my new car (!!!), went for a run, then cooked peanut chicken with pineapple salsa before working on a very special project... I can't recommend strongly enough stepping away from technology for a night! I love it!

Labels: 52 nights, bags, me, sewing

Cleaning up last weekend I found my shoe tags from a few past races - it's a little tag you put on your shoe that records your time when you cross the start line, and then at a few split points and the finish. "Memorial" shoe tags are a new thing, and I kept mine (because I keep everything), but you can't reuse them in other races. So what are you supposed to do with them??

My solution - magnets!


Isn't that an adorable birth announcement? Having crafty friends makes for good mail...



A little E6000, a super strong magnet, a "useless" race trinket... leads to a ridiculously happy runner!

Labels: quick fix

52 Nights Update - Night 6 went well. It was my first true test in a while since our internet is *finally* working again. I took the dog for a walk, got the filing together for our taxes (procrastinator? who, me?), made dinner, and read my book for a while... Not as productive craft-wise as some nights but still a nice break!

I have one more auction bag to share (my favorite!) but I thought we might need a little break from all the bags... Since there was a debate among my friends at work about whether a handbag or jewelry would do better in the auction, I did both.







Above is my first attempt - pretty green beads, bali silver. I really like it but decided green wasn't a versatile enough color to appeal to everyone.



So I copied the exact design in gray pearls instead. It's funny - the work auction just ended, and the purse and jewelry were won for the same amount, so that debate ends up moot!

Labels: 52 nights, jewelry

There is just something so restoring about a good weekend... Relaxing night Friday and morning Saturday, first soccer game of the season, dinner last night with friends...

Today my in-laws came over and while the boys worked on the floor, us girls worked on sewing, it was so much fun! My awesome mother-in-law finished the valance for my kitchen window - I ran out of steam after the three I did almost three years ago and never finished the last one for the window above the sink! How embarrassing - thank goodness Karen came to the rescue! She's actually *excited* to do the valances for my sewing room next weekend, wouldn't that be awesome??

Ooh, I also wanted to show off my new hardware:



Half marathon #4 under my belt this morning... only missed my personal best by 3 minutes, not too bad!!

Labels: me

Those of you that have been reading for a while might remember last year when we found out my dad had cancer. A few months after his diagnosis, we all participated in our local Relay for Life benefiting the American Cancer Society.

I am participating again this year, without my dad. It is going to be a very emotional event for my family, but it's a cause we believe in strongly, since we want to do anything we can to prevent other people from going through what my dad did.

To help raise awareness of this event I'm having a giveaway!



Here's how it will work:
1. For every $5 you donate at my RFL page or via PayPal (email me for details), you will get one entry in the drawing.
2. If you link to this entry on your blog (send me an email to let me know), you will get five entries in the drawing.
3. If someone donates based on your referral, you will get a bonus entry in the drawing.

The winner will receive a zipper tote made just for you! Color suggestions, pocket requests, etc, will be welcome. I will draw the winner on Sunday, April 13, the day after Relay.

Please consider helping - in memory of my dad, and so that others might survive. Email me if you have any questions, and thanks in advance for your support!

Labels: me

So last night was technically Night 5 of my 52 nights. I feel a little like I cheated for nights 3 & 4 since I was on vacation, but last night was back to the real intent of the project! Our internet is still out, so that wasn't a temptation, but we still have a lot of catching up to do on our Tivo, and I didn't get sucked in! Instead I did some chores, and got a very good start on a project, all before some friends came by to visit after dinner! Success!

I also wanted to share some new burprags. I wanted to use fabric again, and I considered doing a strip down the middle like I've seen (here for example) but decided to do something a little different.



A strip of fabric folded around the bottom... Probably not totally original, but enough to break it up a little!

Another fun idea - I save everything, including those long skinny strips that result when I straighten a long edge of fabric, so I used one to tie this bundle of rags.



Recycling and cute packaging, all in one!

Labels: 52 nights, sewing