Sunshine and stitches...

Hello, sunshine

It's been too long since I

Felt your beautiful warmth

Upon my face...

(lyrics by Barlow Girl)

This has been a lovely week. My only complaint is that one week of spring break isn't long enough. I'm not ready to go back to classes and assignments and general stress. The weather has been so nice, especially today. My family was supposed to go on a day trip Tuesday, but Dad was really sick (and he never gets sick). So Mom took me, my brother, and his girlfriend shopping in a nearby town instead (our day trip is postponed until Saturday). I was rather proud of myself and came home (after being in dozens of stores) having spent only about $8. And that was at Barnes and Noble, on this book:

Which I finished reading last night and loved. Maybe even more than "The Magician's Elephant." But it's not necessarily a children's book, even though it's marketed as one. It includes some tough issues (like death and despair) but in a good way. I'm not too awfully ashamed to admit that I cried at the end. Also while at Barnes and Noble, I was repeatedly drawn to the Alice in Wonderland display. No, I haven't seen the movie yet. And I already own the book, so I couldn't justify buying another copy just because it was pretty. But I was drawn to this one. It's the original story, but in a sort-of picturebook format, and the illustrations are gorgeous. I was really geeking out with this. But I could not bring myself to spend $20 on it when I had a hunch I could get it much cheaper on Amazon (and, as you see, it's over $6 less there). So I might be ordering it sometime.

So, yesterday and today, I've been cutting out fabric and sewing! I've been digging through my plastic tub of fabric/scraps, using some stuff that I've never used before. And I've made three large wallets and three small ones (plus an iPod holder for myself and a coaster for my room so I can finally throw away that old index card I've been using as a coaster), which is a new record for me (in two days). Actually, I haven't completely finished them, because I'm waiting on my labels, which were shipped yesterday. I've gotten as far along as I could without the labels, and I'll have to finish putting them together when the labels arrive. I don't want to post them until they're finished, but here are some previews:

Applique is so much fun! This is my new iPod case I made. It's mine, so I didn't have to add a label and thus can post it now. =)

I was originally going to embroidery some music notes, but I saw a picture of this in "Doodle Stitching" and decided it was pretty and reminded me of spring. Remember, I'm new at this embroidery stuff. This is made with a split stitch (I used to never get it right, but now I love it!) and an attempted satin stitch. Sorry for the bluriness.

My little old iPod looks so tiny in here! I used dark denim (with a slight stretch) that I had bought yards and yards of for capris once-I never made the capris, this is a much funner use- and bright pink gingham.

So I've been going a little crazy with the embroidery. This is a slightly sloppy/quirky attempt at another picture from "Doodle Stitching." Please ignore my loose French knots. I think I've decided that it's a dandelion.

And this is very spring-inspired:

So, what does the finished product look like? You'll just have to wait and see. =)

Until next time,