knit a square

Last Tuesday, I attended the monthly Knit for a Cause event with two coworkers (thanks for coming with me, gals!). I haven't knitted for quite a long time (maybe ten years?), so I was definitely in need of a quick tutorial. Once I got started though, I couldn't stop. 

This month the group is donating 8" x 8" squares to the charity Knit a Square, which stitches the squares together to make blankets for AIDS orphans in Africa. I've been knitting away since the meeting, and I'm working on square number five now (four are pictured). I used a combination of new multicolored yarn (which I really like working with) and red and teal yarn leftover from a crochet class I took last summer. I'm super happy with the results, and am glad to know the squares will be put to good use.

birthday goodies

For my birthday last Wednesday, my fabulous family and friends showered me with lots of fabric and crafty goodies.

I received more super cute fabric from Japan...

 

 

...a pack of coordinated fat quarters from CityCraft, my favorite fabric store in Dallas...

...pretty fabric, vintage buttons, and darling straight pins...

...a rotary cutter and mat...

...and a patchwork pin cushion and sewing tool holder to drape over the sofa armrest (made by my mom!).

 

All in all, it was an excellent birthday. Thank you, everyone, for the thoughtful gifts!

diy fabric flowers

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I really love fabric and felt flowers--both making them and wearing them. In December, I used this tutorial by Heart of Light to make myself a ruffly headband from a black grosgrain ribbon and cream lining fabric.

as seen on

Remember those napkins I made for friend back in December? Turns out I wasn't the only one smitten with the pattern of that vintage sheet. I recently spotted this on fredflare.com:

happy valentine's day!

 

In preparation for today's holiday, last weekend my husband (he's caught the crafting bug!) and I made a set of valentines from construction paper, doilies, and Elmer's glue using this tutorial from Avie Designs.

The valentines were super easy to make, and I was really happy with how they turned out.

I also used some of the leftover doily scraps to decorate Valentine's Day presents.

To celebrate today, we ate cupcakes from Sugar Mama's Bakeshop--my favorite bakery in town--and chocolate-covered strawberries from the Godiva kiosk in the mall. Did you do anything special for the holiday? 

seattle

Pike Place Lights by Ambient Stills

In March, my husband and I will spend five days in Seattle, a city that neither of us have been to before. We've booked our hotel--we're staying at the Ace Hotel, a former halfway house (!)--and are now starting to compile a list of activities.

Here's what's on the to-do list so far:

*Check out the architecture of the central branch of the Seattle Public Library (former home of Nancy Pearl, the model for the librarian action figure)

*Stroll through Olympic Sculpture Park

*Eat at Lunchbox Labratory (check out their milkshake in a beaker and one of their ridiculously tall burgers) and Trophy Cupcakes

*Shop at Venue Ballard and some of the design shops highlighted in Design*Sponge's Seattle city guide

*Sip on lattes at the original Starbucks in Pike Place Market
*Browse the toy selection at Schmancy, a store highly recommended by a friend

Have any other suggestions about what we should do? Anything craft-related we should check out? Let me know in the comments!

christmas loot: tote bag

A handy-dandy tote bag by doe-c-doe. (Thanks, Husband!)

skunkboy creatures swap

Last month, I participated in a crafty swap hosted by Katie of Skunkboy Creatures (a very cute blog!). For my swap partner Laura, I made a pair of felt flower brooches in yellow and gray, her two favorite colors (and colors for her upcoming wedding!). 

In return, Laura sent me an excellent assortment of scrapbooking and crafty supplies (I  love the doilies). 

recent thrifting finds

Pastel-colored aida cloth

Metallic (!) aida cloth

Coverable buttons and a 4" wooden hoop

christmas loot: fabric from japan

From my brother and sister-in-law, who live in Japan:

Four lovely yards of cotton fabric.

quilting project: little trees quilt, in progress

This past weekend, I finally finished cutting and piecing the top of my little trees quilt. 

Next up are the batting, backing, and binding.