Gifts and spiders...

I finally got some pictures of all the things I've been sewing last week and this week. First, Mom's birthday gifts...a tote, a wallet, and an apron (which I don't have pictures of yet).

Brown with pink polka dots and coordinating lining fabric. It also has a pocket and magnetic closure. Don't you just love polka dots? Sewing this made me want a polka dot skirt or dress or something.

Matching wallet. I wanted the snap tab to be the same fabric as the outside, but wasn't paying attention. I put the snap on the wrong side, so here's how it ended up.

By the way, in making this wallet, I had my first experience with a bent and broken needle. It was rather interesting...I still have the needle (because I'm a dork like that), so maybe I'll get a picture of it and tell my harrowing tale.

Today I made wallet for my cousin to give as a birthday gift (don't have a picture, but it's the same fabric as my first big wallet). I also made this adorable purse and wallet for Miss Maya, who turned two yesterday. She's on vacation, so I haven't got to give it to her yet. I'm so happy with the way it turned out, especially since I had to make some adjustments to make it toddler-sized. It's a version of the Buttercup Bag, and the pictures just can't show how adorable it is. Maya is such a girly girl, and I think she'll really like it. I'm also making her a Fancy Nancy blanket tomorrow (hopefully...I'm sort of making it up as I go along).

Showing the pleats. And the mini matching wallet:

Spiders really freak me out. I don't know if this comes from Aragog or the spider that nearly eats Frodo (can't remember its name...what is it with huge, man-eating spiders in books, anyway?) or what. The woods around here are infested with them, as are the brooder houses. This morning in the kitchen, I was in socks and stepped on something sort of soft that crunched. I looked down and was horrified to see that it was a spider-a big one, and even worse, it wasn't completely dead. Then I felt guilty because I didn't mean to crush it and my grandma had to put it out of its misery (I don't hate spiders, I'm just scared of them). That nearly scarred me for life. So where am I going with this gruesome spider talk? Well, the other week, me and Mom were going to the thrift store when a spider dropped down at me from the ceiling of my car. This is the second time this has happened ("You know why?" my dad said. "Because it's a Bug." Joke of the day.), and I handled it quite well as we were already in the parking lot. I tried to knock the spider into the floorboard, and thought I did, because I couldn't see it anywhere. So me and Mom went into the store and looked around for a few minutes. When we're walking toward the door to leave, I notice something on my shoulder. Guess what it is? The same spider from my car. Not a little spider either, and it's sitting on my shoulder for a free ride like it's my pet or something. I managed to brush it off without causing a scene. Maybe I'm like Spidergirl or something, because they're drawn to me.

I'm trying to remain calm about starting college in a few days. I'm okay until I realize how quickly the days are slipping away, and I don't feel so prepared. I need God to breathe some courage on me, like Aslan gives to Lucy.

Lucy buried her head in his mane to hide from his face. But there must have been magic in his mane. She could feel lion-strength going into her. Quite suddenly she sat up.
"I'm sorry, Aslan," she said. "I'm ready now." -Prince Caspian