There's a big pattern sale this weekend for the three people who are interested

I know, most of my readers aren't into sewing. But for the three or four who are, I wanted to be sure you all know that Hancock's is having a crazy huge pattern sale this Friday through Sunday.

Kwik-Sew patterns are going to be 20% off. That alone should bring you out of the house because they only go on sale when hell freezes over or when someone threatens to change the name to Quick Sew as it should be.

Vogue patterns will be $3.99. Folks, when a pattern costs $30, you wait to buy them when there's a sale like this.

And not to be outdone, Butterick, McCall's and Simplicity are all going to be 99 cents. Not even a dollar. Butterick!

I can tell you where I'm going to be on Black Friday. At Hancock's, waiting in line with seventy other people for the one lady who is working the cash register to check me out with my patterns.
- H

Why does J Crew want me to look like a ghost?

Have you seen the newest J Crew catalog? It's called the Very Merry gift guide. It has some very merry items, indeed. Such as the Timex watch with the white face and interchangeable colored bands? I prefer it in pink or dark gray, just in case anyone is wondering. Santa.

Too bad the sad models don't look very merry.

Take this girl, for instance. She has a darling little coat on. And she's coming down with the flu.

They all look like this. Asian, caucasian, Latino, they are all blanched out with chalky red lips. It's not a good look.

I think their makeup artist needs to stop watching Edward Scissorhands and start pulling out the blush brush.

- H

Fail

I can't keep up with NaBloMoPo or whatever it's called. Every day?! Are you kidding me? I only have one or two good thoughts a week, let alone a day.

I wish I was prolific enough to be able to wax poetic every day about all sorts of things. But most days the only thing I can think about it my latest tension headache (I never knew I could get a headache in my neck) and the cool new underwear I bought.

By the by, in case you are like me and have trouble finding underwear that doesn't ride up or show VPL, check out the offerings at Soma. It's the lingerie/loungewear counterpart to Chico's. I know, I'm a tad young for their demographic (Chico's, not Soma) but anyone who offers underwear with little rubber strips to keep them down where you want them and not halfway up my butt is a winner with me. They have a beautiful name...Vanishing Edge. Like they belong on the cover of a Harlequin romance.

Don't even try to convince me to wear thongs. I've had one too many graphic conversations with an OB-gyn during an unguarded moment in the O.R. lounge to ever go back to wearing thongs again. I could elaborate, but you might be grossed out. I will leave you with two words, and hope you can understand.

Dental floss.

There, I said it. So back to my new underwear, the ones that fully cover my bum and have rubber strips keeping them from riding up? I love them. Love love love. Worth every penny when you have a bad butt like mine that doesn't like to keep panties down. And you can't see the lines! Even in leggings and tights.

So. How great was that? See, I need to go back to posting every so often when I've got something really good to say. Like how I need green cowboy boots to go along with my pink ones, Santa. You hear that? Huh?

I wear a size 10.

- H

Hello yello

If you like gardening, and you know you do, then this time of year can be especially frustrating. The flowers are pretty much over, especially if you've had a vicious hot summer like we have. We started with 100 degree weeks back in May. Nothing has grown properly this year, except maybe the grass fungus?

By now, this is all that's left of my garden. Coneflower seeds. Uuuuuggly.


Every year at about this time I start to think "oh, I should just cut those stalks down, they're hideous." And then I step outside one day and I'm reminded of why I leave them up.

Cause I love these little guys. And they love the hideous stalks of seeds. It's like a smorgasbord for birdies.


I don't know where Yellow and his ladyfriend Slightly Muddy Yellow live during the rest of the year, but in August they live at my house! Oh, and you know what else is awesome about leaving up the coneflower seeds for the Yellows? Now there are a lot more coneflower plants living around here. In my neighbor's yard, for instance. Where the word "yard" is a stretch. Where it could be called "barren nuclear wasteland with weeds." Or something like that.

- H

Saltwater sandals rock

This is a shameless plug. I have no financial interest in Saltwater Sandals or the people who make them. I just want to tell you all how much I like them, and show off my new shiny purple pair.

I'd never heard of Saltwater sandals a few weeks ago. I know, I know, I live in a box. But I don't have girls, you see. I have boys. Boys don't wear Saltwater sandals. They wear Keens. At least mine do.

I was reading some blog post by the talented ladies behind Sugar City patterns, and came across some mention of the author's new Saltwater sandals - for herself. My interested piqued, I started a-Googlin, and found the adult version in snappy new colors.

I picked shiny purple. They came today.

I luuuuuurrrrv them.

This is a blurry photo of my new shiny purple sandals reflected in my dirty kitchen porch door. The puppy is not included in sandal purchase.

And here's a top-down view. They look just as good with pants as sans pants.

The best part is they're really super comfy, and this is coming from someone with a painful distortion of one of her feet with the ugly name - bunion. Yes, friends, I have a bunion and it hurts. And these sandals fit me and my bunion, and they do not hurt.

I know, I need a pedicure.

Now, be forewarned. They are flat. I wish they came with a little wedge, maybe something made out of cork for sponginess? Just a suggestion.

Otherwise, they're a total hit.

- H

my ideal

I was looking at my son's face the other day when it hit me. The poor child has inherited my translucent skin. His undereye area is as clear as clear can be. I think I saw his brain through it.

White doesn't even begin to describe the skintone. It's more of a pinky peach. Sometimes little baby birds fall out of their nests and when I find them on the ground, they have this kind of skin. Their blue veins show through. My blue veins show through, and so do Cooper's. Especially in the winter, when the sun decides to move to Mexico or something and completely forgets that there are people living in the Midwest who need to see you, you SOB!

I don't know if it's because of my coloration - pale on pale - but I've always been captivated by those who do not have my coloring. My mom is one of those people. How is it that I was born of a woman with olive skintones and dark glossy hair, and I come out pink? With pink hair? That was pinkish yellow until I aged and now it's just mud?

Because I'm my father's daughter, that's why. Stinking Dutch heritage!

Anyhow, I noticed something while I was doing some online shopping recently. I think J Crew and Banana Republic are both in some sort of contest to make me feel ugly and therefore buy more of their clothes. I don't know if this is the same girl or not, but she certainly looks similar.

This is her in the J Crew clothes. Beautiful.


These people are no dummies. They know that if I see these pictures, I'm going to think I have olive skin unmarred by acne and freckles and crepey texture. They know I'll think "oh, if I buy that coat I'll look as stunning as she does."

And I totally would, too, if my coat closet weren't already bulging with options.

And this is her in the Banana clothes. Banana and I aren't getting along lately, but this sweater thingy is cute.

*sigh* Oh, well. I got what I got, right? There's no full-body skin replacement surgery available so I guess I'll live with it.

Gotta go, a tanning bed somewhere is calling my name.

Just kidding, mom!

- H

Twinkle Sews cuz Heather needs positive goal attainment

Ahem. It is slightly possible that my mood, and thus my blogging, in the past um two to three days, has been less than, shall we say, positive.

I'm ok with it. Sometimes I'm just a bitch, that's ok.

But I don't want to wallow because that makes my skin look really bad, and I'm intrigued by two different ideas running around in my head.

The first one is a challenge I read about somewhere (if it were earlier and I wasn't so stinking lazy I'd look up the link for you guys) was a challenge to start 2010 without spending any money. I can't remember if the challenger was doing a whole year kind of money cleanse, or just the month of January. The point is, no discretionary (or is it indiscretionary?) spending. No frivolous spends. Not even grocery shopping unless you don't have three freezers and two refrigerators plus two shelving units full of food from Costco. Nada.

I'm thinking about it. There are a few problems with the idea for me. One, I handle all the money matters in the household. I pay all the bills. Does that count for spending? Second, I often work out on the road where it is convenient necessary to eat out for lunch. This has cost me a great deal of money in the past twelve years.

I wonder how much money I'd save if I either didn't eat lunch (oh, and imagine how much weight I'd lose!) or packed something? But oh my god that sounds awful, packing a lunch every day. And I'm a lunch eater. I can do without dinner, but I needs me my lunch.

And then there's the whole task of fixing my oldest son, who has been spoiled. There, I said it. he's spoiled and I need to fix that problem. Not spending any money might help. No McDonald's. No trips to Target that inevitably include a toy or a new movie. Nothing! We might even start turning out the lights and reading by flashlight or something, we'll be so Little House on the Prairie.

The second idea is kind of a challenge to myself. I have this book called Twinkle Sews, and there are a couple of patterns in it that I'm really interested in making. I even have fabric for a few of them. Add that book to the growing collection of vintage patterns in my sweatshop and I'd like to start some sort of monthly sewing diary. Like a personal goal of working through the dozen patterns I want to make the most? One per month.

Only problem with that second goal is it might interfere with my first goal. I have a lot, ok a ridiculous amount, of sewing paraphernalia so I might be able to do the first few months without buying anything, but you never know.

So, that's it folks. I'll post up my first monthly sewing project on Monday, after I decide what it's going to be. And I'll let you know whether or not I decide to do a NO SPEND JANUARY. Yeegads, it's scary when you type it out like that.

- H

j'taime etsy V.2

As promised, I've compiled an eye-candy post for you. This is a mix-tape of a bunch of cool and pretty and unique and cool things I've lusted after on Etsy. Some I may buy someday. Some I have no use for, but the pictures or the ideas or the colors are just too much for me to handle and so I must linger on the item's listing for way too long, just absorbing its awesomeness.

For legal reasons, and so no one thinks they should sue me [you can't get blood out of a stone, people], all photos are property of the shop owners and Etsy and should not be misused or whatever it is that lame-ohs do with other people's pictures. If'n they aren't yers, keep yer mitts off.

First up, I think I may have to buy these some day. Sonja is the lovely shop owner of Soduel. She makes these amazing hand-felted lovelies for wedding cakes and wherever else you may want to stick them.

I really like these mushrooms. I want to do a succulent terrarium for my kitchen window and stick these in it.


Which brings me to my next fave. The succulents from The Succulent Garden. I have a thing for succulents and plants that have very cool architecture like euphorbia.

This is an echevaria called Topsy Turvy. Me likey. It's blue and orange. Mother Nature is some kind of wicked genius, isn't she?

I love this little hand-knit toddler sweater from evagodeva, and I love her shop name. I wish my boys were mild-mannered and wore sweaters inside. They aren't and they don't.


I have lusted after this dress since last summer. It's not like I couldn't make it if I wanted to, but somehow it wouldn't be the same. The shop is called Pretty Birdie. I think she has a great eye and apparently she also has a really super skinny model?



I love the shop Love and Knit. She's in Istanbul, Turkey. I can't really narrow down one item in her shop that's my favorite, but this is a good one.



From down under, this skirt. I love it, it's perfectly quirky but in a very conservative shape and length! I have to get my tape measure out and see if it would fit me? If you like retro fabrics or recycled oddities, you'll like her shop.

Amanda Archer is another clothing designer I love on Etsy. I haven't bought anything from her, but I admire her style. I love the color of this dress. And the tuxedo styling. And the pockets.

Remember Cari, from Peacock Garden? How cool would this painting be if it were like 4' x 4' and took up an entire wall in my kitchen?! I like it.

OK, I'm too tired and overwhelmed to go on, and it's naptime. To be continued....


- H

j'taime etsy

It's no secret, I love me some Etsy. It's become a dangerous pastime, browsing Etsy at night while Cooper watches Scooby Doo.

Here are some of my most favorite recent buys from Etsy.

I started to title this post mi amo mi cielo but I wasn't quite sure of my Spanish, and then I decided to add some love for a few other artists, too. But seriously? Mi Cielo rocks! I ordered two shirts for Griffin during a BOGO sale she was having. Her communication is phenomenal. The shirts were shipped within a few days of ordering, and they got here before Christmas. I didn't mention, she lives in Hawaii. So I kinda love her a little more for that. And for the sumo wrestler shirt.

Next up is Fuss Jewelry. The night before the night before Christmas I spent a little too much time shopping online. Clearly, these were not meant to be Christmas presents. But seriously? The artist shipped them on Christmas Eve! I got them Monday and I love them so much.

I ordered these long blue and green lovelies.

My close-up stinks, sorry.

And these shorter pretties with purple beads in the center. LOVE.

Next up, some fine art for the walls. A few weeks before Thanksgiving I contacted Cari of Peacock Garden and asked her if she could paint a rural scene with a red woody. She delivered an awesome painting along with a fine art card of the same painting, in a matter of weeks. I love her work. I'm contemplating doing a custom order of a gigantic cow face painting for my kitchen.

I ordered this funny guy a while ago. He's called a foks. How cute is that?! He hasn't gotten here yet, but I'm waiting very impatiently.

I hope you'll take a few hours minutes to look through what Etsy has to offer. Some of it is amazing, and it's certainly nothing anyone else is going to have. In the next few days I'll be putting up a post with some super fantastic finds from Etsy. Stay tuned.

- H

Gone fishing

I have a toy recommendation. I realize it's a little late and all, but surely someone out there has a child whose birthday is in January or February and maybe could use some suggestions?

I bought the Go Fishing game at TJ Maxx shortly before Christmas, thinking I didn't have enough for the kids to unwrap. What?! What was I thinking?! My children are in such plastic and wrapping and presents overdose they jonesed all day today due to the lack of presents.

I digress. This game, this battery-operated fishing game, is awesome. My two-year-old can play. Kind of. He cheats a lot, but the beauty is that even at my advanced age, it's really kind of hard to catch those stinking fish! Luck plays a bigger role than skill, so all are equal at the game table.
See? Notice what is not in his mouth in this shot?

You can see cheating about to happen here. Those little fingers are working. And then notice what is in his mouth in this shot? There was maybe a two second delay between the two shots. That child can spot his wayward binky from a mile away.

Here are some Christmas photos for you. I played around with Pioneer Woman's actions in Photoshop. The first one was Boost. I don't so much care for it online.

But this one is called Fresh and I kind of like it? Our coloring looks better in this one.

I took down most of my Christmas decorations today. Looking forward to getting back to "normal," whatever that looks like.

- H

Cute is as cute does

I found a super cute thing. It's called Clothkits, and it's genius and cute, the perfect combination.

Clothkits is a British company that sells, well, cloth kits. Pre-printed fabric kits for things like kid's clothes and women's skirts and pillows and all sorts of fun things. The Magic Tree skirt is my favorite.

Seriously, if someone were to introduce that in the States it would go over like gangbusters right now. If I had any gumption or desire to work ridiculously hard to start up a business, this would be it. Or maybe something different, but still - a very good idea.

I've totally downsized my fabric stash after clearancing out my Etsy shop and you know what? The sewing bug isn't gone. She's just living a lot more quietly in my head. Stewing and brewing and cooking up new ideas. My Etsy shop isn't gone for good, just for now. It's probably good timing, since the seasons have just dramatically changed. Now I can dream up cozy warm winter clothes for little girls.

The downside to not selling as much on Etsy is I've spent far too much time shopping on it. I recently caved and ordered a bunch of stuff that I'd been stalking all summer from gaiaconceptions. I can't wait to get them and hopefully I'll be all svelt and buff from my new exercise routine. I hope I'm still exercising by the time they come. In two weeks.

- H

Is anyone having technical difficulty?

I've had quite a few problems accessing my own blog these last few days. I'm just wondering if anyone else has had an error message pop up that says "website unavailable" or something like that?

Sometimes when I'm on the blog, or I have the page open, it'll suddenly abort and die.

Please let me know if you too have suffered from this abrupt severance of our internet relationship as I will mightily complain to people who probably could care less.

On a different note, I bought a totally awesome dress at Target this week and I simply have to share the good news with you. It's by Converse One Star, black stretchy lycra knit, strapless with an empire waist and a-line skirt. I can't find a link on the Target site, I'm so bummed!

It's the most flattering strapless dress I've ever tried on! There's something about the fabric that makes it drapey and not cling to my belly or butt. LOVE IT. So if you see it out there, snatch it up.

I bought this tunic a few weeks ago on clearance (like fourteen bucks or something!) and it too is superb. Highly recommend it, except I don't wear it with the belt.

- H

Sunday Confession - Oh look, some wind just broke!

Yikes, I may have had my most embarassing public moment this week. It's my confession for the week, although I have a doozy lined up for next Sunday.

I went in to The Scholar Shop for the first time in my life. I mean, I went in the front door. I go to their back door where they accept donations at least once a month, but this time I decided I needed to shop the store for a purpose, to repurpose a rugby shirt into cool shorts for my sons.

I found all sorts of great things, including a brand new unworn pair of plaid J Crew flats for $12 that didn't fit me (crap!), and I carried my stash up to the counter to check out.

The young girl working the checkout was an interesting character. She had on traditional Muslim gear - the headscarf, the wrap or cloak or whatever it is, and a floor-length skirt. And she was a talkative little bird! With a loud voice. That carried. That part is important, the Muslim garb really isn't except to give you a visual.

So as I stood there, my stomach started to churn and burn. The delicious lunch I'd eaten an hour earlier started to make its way through me and my body was protesting a little.

I knew what was going to happen. We all know what was going to happen. I was powerless to stop it! That's one of the lovely side effects for me of having gigantic boy babies. They've wrecked my insides and the toots won't be held in anymore.

So I tooted. I poofed. I passed gas. Broke wind. Farted.

And not just once, oh no! That would have been ok, but no. My body decided that was the time to let all the pressure out. I knew as soon as it happened that it wasn't going to go unnoticed. I just prayed this girl was too busy working to notice, and the smell of OPC* would overpower it.

It didn't.

And then...she said it.

"Do you smell something?"

"Uh, what?"

"Do you smell something? I'm always smelling things. I don't know."

"Oh, well, maybe a little." And then I did something I'm not proud of. An older lady was browsing near me. I nodded to her. "It could have been her."

I could tell the girl wasn't buying it, she knew who had foofed and she busted me on purpose! Then I just decided that if she was so brash as to call me out on it, I would just let her suffer and she deserved it. Which isn't really true. But it made me feel a little better.

And then I grabbed my stuff and ran out of the store, never to ever show my face in the front again.

- H

*OPC - Other People's Clothes. You know, they have a smell. I don't like it.

Do you like Lilly Pulitzer? And skinny legs?

I've totally sunk to a new low. I ordered Fit Flops from Piperlime and they came today. I have actually resorted to a flip-flop to help me get in shape. Except they're not flip-flops, they're Fit Flops, it's totally different.

They're kinda weird, too. It's like walking on a big semi-circle paddle or something.

I'll let you all know what I think after wearing these paddles around for a few months, whether or not my legs become toned and thin? I would take a before and after shot, but the sheer blinding whiteness of my legs today might make your monitor explode or something, so I won't. Plus I didn't shave.

And can I just say, to the ad agency who works for Fit Flops, that nobody walks their dog in a long-sleeved shirt and swimsuit bottoms? In the city? That's just weird. Everyone stopped doing that in like 2003.

In other news, do you like Lilly Pulitzer's clothes? All the pink and green and flowers and Key West preppy cuteness? Well, I found a bunch of cute Lilly dresses at my nice TJMaxx store (but not at the yucky ones) and rumor has it you could probably find some at yours, too. So that means you can get a dress that retailed at Nordstrom's for $328 for $59.99. Not too shabby, eh?

Now that's what I call getting the maxx for the minimum.

Lilly must be super short because her dresses all hit me just below my underpants, or somewhere near where the girls in the Fit Flops ads are wearing their shirts. But I still think they're cute and if I wasn't 5'11" I would totally wear them in the summer!

But not with my new ugly Fit Flops. These bad dogs are only good for khaki shorts and t-shirts.

Why am I cranky when I have these?

I forgot to post my favorite thing from this morning's shopping excursion at Target. I really was in a hazy fog of funk this morning, I tell you.

I got these adorable wedges! They were $19.99, isn't that ridiculous? If I wear them twice I'll be fine with it. They are perhaps not the most comfortable sandals I've ever bought, but for that price it's ok.

You can also see the new red pedicure here.



It's really hard to take a picture of your own foot when you're trying to capture the shoe.

If it says anything about how I was functioning this morning, I'll tell you this...I got lost on my way to the Bread Company I drive to every single morning.

I dropped the boys off at daycare and was driving through the residential neighborhood that leads to my Bread Company, when I realized I was lost. I had missed my regular turn, kept driving and didn't recognize anything and had to turn around. It was the most confusing thing to find myself lost on a street I drive every day of my life.

I had planned on driving to Springfield but after that I changed my mind and headed into my local Target store.

By the way, on a completely different note, there are a few things I can honestly say I never thought I'd be saying as a mother.

For instance:

"Don't stick anything in your pee-pee, honey."

"Take your finger out of your butt. That's yucky, now we're going to wash your hands."

"Are you picking a winner?" - reply - "No, boogers."

When I'm in a bad mood, Target cheers me up

I don't know what it is about being in a Target store that makes me feel good, but it does. Maybe they pipe something into the air circulator that goes straight to my brain and works on my mood?

I was feeling exceptionally crapbag this morning so I entered my nearest Target and wandered around until I felt better.

On the way, I noticed their genius designers have stocked the shelves with more cute things.

Like these sandals. I was in Dillards a few weeks ago and they had an entire display of sandals with beading on them, at much higher prices than these. Like hundreds of dollars higher. So I bought these at Target and I'm happy. I'm not one to scrimp on shoes, but in this economy... hah! I just had to say that. It seems like the thing to say these days, in this economy.


They are also carrying sandals by Miss Trish of Capri, at a super great Target price. I believe you can't have too many pairs of sandals. Well, I believe you can't have too many pairs of shoes in general, but sandals are so cheap and small and take up almost no space, so why not buy what you like?
And then this pillow? Birds are everywhere. Maybe too many places, but who am I to try to swim upstream against the current of bird motifs everywhere? This pillow is also employing the super trendy, super cute robin's egg blue/chocolate brown theme also found everywhere you look. So for $24.99 you can kill two birds with one pillow. I didn't buy this because I don't have a new house to decorate with a new theme, but I would have if I did.

So if you need a little pick-me-up, and you're as ticked off as I am about the extremely cold weather (high of 38 today), maybe Target would have something to cheer you up, too.

White dress pants are the bane of my existence

I love white dress pants. There's just something so white about them, so clean and sharp and pretty, plus they make whatever you're wearing on top pop.

The problem? They show absolutely everything under them. Pantylines. Cellulite. Everything. The girls who think wearing a thong will solve the problem are just kidding themselves. I see thongs showing through white dress pants all the time, too.

Every year I'm on a quest for a white dress pant that doesn't show all that stuff. And you know what I've finally figured out? I just have to wear Spanx under them. I bought a pair at Nordstrom the other day that I really like, but once again with the pantylines and pockets showing through. They were lined, and it's not like lining can resolve the problem on white for some reason.

So I bought those Spanx that don't have feet, and today I wedged myself into those. Then I put on my fancy pants. Voila! No VPL. No cellulite. No air flow, either, and I felt like I was trapped in a net surrounded by fancy pants, but whatever. It's the price I was willing to pay for being able to wear them!

And when I got home? The hems were dirty.

Lovely.

Maybe my love of white dress pants is a little like loving pumps with six inch heels? Pretty, but not really made to be worn.

By the way, remember my bravecrazy post where I showed my actual weight (as opposed to, say, a driver's license weight that we all know is false)? Well, I'm happy to report that I am down to 151.2 as of this morning. The day after I posted that picture my scale broke. Can you believe that? What are the odds?! Anyhoodle, I hauled myself down to Costco and bought the Conair Weight Watchers scale that actually measures you in tenths of a pound. I love it. Seriously, I recommend it for anyone looking for a new scale.

So that's my update. I will have to take a picture because of my cute new pedicure with flashy red toes. Gotta get my money's worth!

I've gone and gotten myself into a pickle

I could kick myself.

I've done it again. I've gone and gotten myself into a fine mess. Well, it's actually not a fine mess, it's more of a nuisance, but it's print-worthy nonetheless.

I've gone and screwed up my funds for this month. Drat!

I am someone who operates on one simple premise. My philosophy in life is WING IT. Seriously, it works for me. I know how to do lots of things, and the things I don't know how to do, I wing it. I also don't tend to sweat too many tiny details. You know, little things like balancing your checkbook or whatever it is the kids call it these days. I wouldn't know because I don't do it.

Then I get myself into pickles like this.

I got all excited during my online banking session a few weeks ago and scheduled a bunch of payments to go out at the same time. Many of them were early! I even overpaid a few bills! Yes, I was on a Bill Paying High.

Too bad I forgot about two gigantic CHECKS I had mailed out a week earlier. I always forget about checks because who writes checks anymore? Well, the older lady in line in front of me at Target. And me, two weeks ago, apparently.

So now I sit. Twiddling my fingers, waiting for payday. Because I've overpaid bills. I've overspent. And I'm broke. Not "can't eat or put gas in the car" broke. More like "don't go to Target until payday" broke.

BALLS!

I wonder where I can get this bed?

I don't really need a new bed. I have a lovely black king-sized bed in my master bedroom and I sleep on an antique full-sized bed downstairs.

But I recently came across this headboard in the 2009 Country Living House of the Year and I'm in love! I need to know where it came from, or how to buy one. Not that I'm going to buy one.



I just want to know how I could go about doing that if I ever am in need of a new bed again.

I found the resource guides for the house, but they don't include the bedroom!

Anyone know where this lovely piece came from?

Uh-oh. Obsession alert. Obsession alert.

Yep, it's official. I am officially obsessed with making something again. Last summer I went through a serious baby-carrier phase. What is it this time, you ask?

I'm obsessed with Amy Butler fabrics and patterns. I just ordered six patterns and a few more of her fabrics online and I will sit by my front door twiddling my thumbs until they come.

It's not like I don't have seventeen other things to do before dusting off the sewing machine again. It's just that I don't want to do those things. I want to sew.

Being in warm weather has me totally excited for spring and summer and I want to make cute things to wear! I'm going to do it, too, because I haven't felt like sewing clothes in a long long time.

Like, years.

Many years.

I ordered the Barcelona skirt pattern online after an exhaustive search of all the local fabric stores. I think I'm going to do it in this print. It's called Ice Optic Blossom.

I also ordered the Anna tunic, although I'm going to make the mini-dress version. I think I may make it in this print called Tangerine Martini (how cute is that?), although I have a ton to choose from in my stash.


Then again, maybe the dress would be better in a big print and the skirt in a little print?

I'll surprise you.

If you want to see how a different blogger made the Barcelona skirt, read her post here. It's really pretty! And there's even a Flickr group that has a bunch of pictures of different Barcelona skirts, both the apron and the A-line. I'm making the A-line first but the apron looks cute so I'll probably do that one second.

I can't wait! I wish I didn't have to work today. Oh, wait. I have to sit by the door and wait for the pattern to come. Shoot!