A LITTLE FALL GIFT IDEA

One of my favorite things about fall is getting back to bible study at church.  We have just started Beth Moore's Entrusted study and I can already tell it's going to be a good one...convicting in all the right ways.

I wanted to give the ladies at my table a little something to encourage them to hunker down with the

HOW TO PUT TOGETHER A GIFT BASKET - creatively inspired

I love putting together gift baskets for friends birthdays or other special occasions.  They are so easy to tailor make just for the individual and it's easy to tuck in a couple of handmade items which is something I love to include.

I will usually start with a theme for the basket and then start shopping from there.  Once I have the

SATURDAY MORNING CHAT - Life

Hello there, feel like chatting a bit?  I've got a list of this and that to talk about so I thought I'd just lump it all together and have a good old fashion coffee and... morning conversation.

I realize more now than ever how important relationships with other women are and how important it

OTHER CREATIVE HAPPENINGS...

Before the gardening bug took over I was having a fling with my crochet hook and now that the temperatures are on the rise I know I'll find myself heading inside and up to my craft room searching for inspiration and a creative outlet once again.

An awkward hello...

Hello there.  It seems this year is flying by at break neck speed and despite my best intentions I have just not been able to establish a regular blogging flow.  It's not like there hasn't been plenty to share, it's just one of those out of the habit things I guess, and now that it's been so long I'm struggling with where to start.

My hope is that like with any long time friend, once the awkward hello's are over, you just start talking and the ease and flow returns.  So here goes...

That darn squirrel - let's chat

The sun is shining on what promises to be a spectacular day and weekend for that matter.  I woke up fully intent on going out to do a little garden clean up this morning but unfortunately I walked passed my craft studio and the pretty projects I have been working on were hanging on my design wall and just drew me in...so here I sit.  That darn squirrel, always taking our focus off what we should be doing.

Is it my imagine or has distraction been a bit of a theme for me lately?

a new year...a new post

Well hello there.  To say I had no intention of going so long without posting would be an understatement.  If you are still checking in on blogs in general and my blog in particular than a very Happy New Year to you!

You'd think I'd be full of tales of my exploits while I was MIA but no such luck.  Let's just say that

My top 5 craft posts - Whatever Wednesday

It's Wednesday and that means it's time to post on whatever non fashion related subject I choose.

Today I want to talk about craft posts.  Specifically my five most popular craft posts.  I know this is primarily a fashion blog now but I have been crafting in one way or another my whole life and deep down I will always be a crafter at heart.  As much as I love fashion, (and I do love fashion) I will always love to make pretty things.

So here's a peek at the top 5 posts I have written on crafting...

How to make hand made hearts - Whatever Wednesday

If you are stopping by expecting to see a fashion post, you have actually stumbled on to Whatever Wednesday, the one day of the week that I use to post whatever it is that I'm working on other than fashion.

Today I'm sharing how to make these sweet fabric hearts to give away or keep for yourself.

I wanted to make the ladies at my bible study table something to remind them of our time together so

Inspiration Saturday

If you're here expecting to see Shout Out Saturday have no fear it will be back.  I just thought it would be fun to mix it up with a new Saturday offering called Inspiration Saturday where I share some of the things that are inspiring me at the moment.  I hope you enjoy it.

I took full advantage of some recent free time and got busy in my craft room playing with paper and paint.  It had been a long time since I allowed myself that luxury and it was much needed.  I don't know why I wait until I'm creatively parched to quench my soul thirst?

I knew full well the world would be calling soon enough and I would lose that little

Spring craft ideas - creating paper nest pins - a tutorial

Last spring as I was trying to think of something special to give to a few friends for Easter I came up with this sweet Spring craft idea, paper nest pins.  They were such a hit that I thought it would be fun to do a quick tutorial so that you can make some for your friends, too.

The supply list -

how to make mini fabric flags

Edited: This giveaway is now closed.

I was feeling kind of crafty yesterday so I decided to gather some pretty fabric and see what came of it.  As I started to pull out various prints and colors and laid them side by side it occurred to me how cute they would look waving hello as sweet little fabric flags.

And since it's been a while since I did a tutorial I thought this simple project would be perfect to

October in review

Sometimes it seems I have so many irons in the fire that I just need to stop a minute and take stock. Maybe make a few lists and breathe a sigh of relief and gratitude for what I've come through and note the progress I've made.  I'm sure you feel the same way.

Today's post is just a little catch up, a recap of things that I shared in October and what progress I've made.

- I am still walking nearly every day.  I have been taking Tuesday and Sunday off mostly because they are the days that I have commitments fairly early in the morning.  I've even come to look forward to putting on my walking shoes and hitting the pavement.

- I went through a bit of a dry spell creatively last month but finally sat down and whipped up these little Christmas ornaments for a swap I'm involved in.  I think they turned out cute and may even offer a few in my Etsy shop later in the month.

- In continuing my intentional living I decided to purge one bag of stuff every day for the month of November.  I'm thinking a plastic grocery bag is a good size to fill.  It will either be trash or give away.  Wish me luck with this one.  I love the idea of less but am not always so good with the follow through.

- I have put myself on a personal spending freeze for the entire month of November.  Ouch, it's only the second and I'm feeling the withdrawals.  I think I finally have to face the fact that no matter how much purging I do, if I keep bringing stuff home I will never clear the clutter.

- I shared how I want to be more intentional in the time I spend with my husband.  We have decided to read the bible together.  We have chosen the book of Galatians and will each read a chapter a day and then discuss it the next morning over coffee.  This is huge for us and something I've prayed about for a lot of years.  (I'll share more on this another time.)

That's about it here.  How was your October in review?

xo, Patty

a new project

I know, I know, I have more than enough projects going already but I was browsing through Mollie Makes Crochet book and this granny square blanket stopped me dead in my tracks.

It is one of the things I have on my want to make bucket list (you have one of those, don't you?) and this one is so pretty and in just the perfect colors for my home.  They even match my pretty coffee mug which was a gift from my sweet sister in law for my last birthday.  I think she got it at Home Goods.

I used to crochet many moons ago but haven't picked up a hook in a very long time.

I am hoping it all comes back to me and I will be stacking up those squares in no time at all.  There is no pressure or deadline on this one.  My goal is late winter/early spring and since I need to make 120 of them that means roughly a couple a day for the next four months, give or take.

Obviously I did the math just for fun.  My creative outbursts at night vary greatly based on how tired I am, what's on TV or if I had one or two glasses of wine while I made dinner.

This will be a fun project just for me so when it's done, it's done.  My goal is just to finish it before it's too warm to use it next year.

I thought I'd take a minute and share a couple of pictures of my summertime mantel before I start transitioning to autumn decor.

I finished the big reorganizing project I started on Monday and now I know where all my Halloween/fall decorations are.  I think I'll wait another week or two to get started, right now I just want to take it easy...and sew.

Have a great labor day weekend!

xo, Patty

needle books and life

I read this quote over on Natalie Creates blog this morning and it really struck a chord with me.

"How we spend our days, is of course, how we spend our lives."  Annie Dillard

Isn't that so true?  We can wile away our days waiting for all our ducks to line up and before we know it we have waited years away.

When I think about all the days I've lived doing just that I can feel such regret.  What I could have accomplished or the places I could have visited or even the mountains I could have scaled (metaphorically not physically, of course) if I had lived each day like it was a vital part of my life story.

But then I realize that how I've lived my life, each productive and squandered day, has been an important part of my story.  Each one has helped me to be ready for what has come next.  Each day has shaped me into the person I am now and am becoming.

Does that mean I just coast through life willy nilly without purpose because it's worked for me so far.  No, I don't think so.  I think it's important that I look back at what I could have done better and do it better the next time.  What regrets do I have?  What would I like to change in my life?  What is in my power to do to move me in that direction?  What do I need to just accept?

As long as there is air in my lungs there is time to change.  I can't go back and undo but I can do my best to set things right, whether others choose to accept it or not, and move on hoping to do better in the future.

Like these little needle books I make, each day is but a stitch in what it is to be a completed project. Each one is a vital part of what the end of my story will be.

xo, Patty

finding my niche

Dare I say that it's Monday again...already.  We had a quiet, uneventful weekend around here and I am coming to think those are the very best kind.

I had hopes of taking everything out of our sunroom/storage shed and reducing, reboxing and reorganizing it but instead I pretended it was just too hot to tackle and put it back on my to do list for when the weather cools down.  (That list is quite long now and includes painting our master bedroom and sanding the stairs.)

Instead I ended up in my happy place behind my sewing machine.

I keep waiting for my hubby to walk up the stairs and say enough already but so far he has let me while away my time cutting and sewing all the live long day.

I'm thinking he knows my crafting phases pretty well and figures this one will pass just as quickly as it came but I think he'd be wrong this time.  I could sew pretty much every single day, hour after hour and not grow bored.  I think I've truly found my niche.  The ideas still seem fresh and many and goodness knows I have enough fabric to keep me going for the next year or so.

I often get asked about my pretty mugs so I thought I'd share my favorites with you individually and since they match my fabric so perfectly, why not pair the two.

This is truly one of my favorites.  I got it at Anthropologie a few years ago.  There are not many things that I own that I would be upset if they broke but this is one of them.  It is delicate but big enough for a decent cup of coffee.  I love the floral pattern and do I even need to mention that delicate little flower under the handle?

That's it for me this fine Monday morning.  Now let's see what wonderful adventures this week has in store for us.

xo, Patty

what comes in must go out...

I had every intention of writing this post this morning but then one thing led to another and before I knew it, here I am contemplating dinner and typing away.

Every time I blog in the afternoon or night I wonder if anyone will read it?  I usually do my blog reading in the morning with my coffee before I start on whatever housework or errands I have planned for the day and I wonder if you are that way, too?  Every once in a while I will open up my laptop in the afternoon to see what new posts there might be but mostly I'm a morning blog reader.

Well that was little off topic, I guess I should get back to the post.

A couple of weeks ago I pre-ordered Erin Cox' (from Why Not Sew) book called Sweet Tweets.  I have been anxiously stalking the postman waiting for its arrival and was so happy to see it in my mail box today.

I love her whimsical style and the book does not disappoint.  There are so many sweet projects in it that I want to make.  As usual the issue is time, specifically not enough of it.

But that's okay, I like the dreaming and planning stage as well.  For now it's stacked on top of my growing collection of handmade books.  These are my current favorites.  I have a few more that are not pictured but for now these are the ones that keep me up at night.

Between books and fabric it looks like it's going to be a handmade Christmas just to justify my purchases.  I'm thinking I'll be doing a give away here on my blog soon, too.  Mostly likely to coincide with the reopening of my Etsy shop in a few weeks.  (My husband says if I keep having fabric come in then I better have some way of getting it to go out as well.)

I think it will be fun to share a peek into a few of my other craft books in the future as well and maybe even show you a glimpse of my ever growing collection of fabric, too.

Better get on dinner before the hubby gets home.

xo, Patty

ants and other random thoughts

We are battling ants here big time.  It seems like every time I gain control of the them in one area of the house, they pop up somewhere else.  They are tenacious little critters I will give them that much. I have really been trying not to spray poison in the house but I must confess I have resorted to it these last few outbreaks.

I am open for any natural (or at this point, unnatural) suggestions on how to keep them out.

In other news, I was able to spend nearly the entire weekend in my sewing room.  I caught up on a few ongoing projects and started a couple of more.  I know I said I was going to try not to start anything else but at my age when the ideas come you better get on them toot sweet or they may never return again.  (Can I get an amen from the mature crowd?)

The garden is a hot mess right now.  It is just so darn hot and even with morning and afternoon watering things are really wilted.  Even the tomatoes have given up the ghost.  At this point I'm really just trying to keep the perennials alive for next year.

I did manage to declutter the living room by removing any unnecessary toys, rearranging and organizing book shelves and fluffing up the pillows.  It's amazing what a difference just that little bit of effort can make in how you feel about a room.  Now I can't wait to get it ready for fall in a couple of weeks.

I guess that's enough randomness for one post.  Anything fun going on where you are?

xo Patty

in my studio right now

As you can probably tell I have been obsessed with sewing lately, mainly piecing quilts and small projects.  Every spare moment finds me running upstairs to my studio and flipping on the power switch to my sewing machine.

My biggest problem is deciding which of the projects I already have going to work on, or if I should start on one of the many ideas I have swirling around in my head at any given moment, like this cute little tote bag I sketched out.

Unfortunately, more often than not the new idea wins out...which is why I have so many unfinished projects!

I think it's time to make a list of those WIPS (works in progress) and start tackling them one by one. Maybe when school gets back in session next week and my days have more order.  (Read into that, when I actually stay home long enough to get anything done.)  Most of them will be Christmas presents, some will go in my Etsy shop and a few will stay here with me.

One day I hope to be a good finisher...

xo, Patty

feeling settled

I had a dream (okay, a nightmare) last night that the water heater burst and we had hot water flooding the upstairs.  In my dream we were all sitting on the floor playing a board game, very Norman Rockwell like, when I saw smoke rising from the floor boards.  My husband pulled back the throw rug to find water buckling the wood.

I am not a person who dreams very often or at least I don't usually remember them, so waking up with this vivid memory has me thinking about what my dream was trying to tell me.

I started thinking about my life feeling pretty settled (in a good way) right now and realized that I don't trust the calm.  Given the changes in the last year, the ups and downs of this season in my life must have me waiting for the proverbial other shoe to fall or water heater to burst.

I don't like living that way because it squanders the time of peace with worry about the future.

"So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.  Today's trouble is enough for today"  Matthew 6:34

So today, I'm going make a conscious decision to appreciate the calmness of life right now and if (and when) trouble comes I'll deal with it then.  Today I'm heading back up to my craft studio, closing the door and sewing the day away.

xo, Patty