I have been busy...

Brace yourself for a lengthy update! First up are these cute little bags. I saw them on my cousin's blog when she did a give away and followed the link she provided to the free pattern.I couldn't wait to try my hand at one and whipped out the teal lined one for my sis-in-law's birthday (...that's why it is stuffed with fun little indulgences for a soon to be mother of 5... you are amazing Mandy!)

Then a week or so ago my friend Haylee had a trunk show at her house for Matilda Jane. I had never heard of this girl's clothing company, but thought their line was super cute and way outside my budget...
So I came home and created a knock-off for Evie that only cost me about $3! (Although to be fair I got the fabric at a great sale at Jo-Ann's, I think I paid about 75 cents for each 1/2 yard.) But it was a lot of fun to go and look and get ideas for cute summer play clothes, especially since Evie is such a girly girl and would wear her church dresses every day if I'd let her.

I have also been working hard on the Easter dresses. It is always nice when the idea in my head starts to take shape in real life... (and actually looks like the idea in my head...) So the under dress is ivory eyelet, and then the pinafore/jumper is pieced strips of different rose printed cottons. I haven't decided on all the finishing details just yet, I guess it will depend on how long I procrastinate.

And here are some of the cute hair bows that I did at the party a week ago. The really sad part is that my kitchen table is still buried under ribbon. Every time I get 20 minutes and start to pick it up I get sucked into making just one or two more. That is why I have an entire shoe organizer filled will flowers, bows and other hair candy hanging from my bathroom door (and sorted by color because we all have to embrace our inner Monk from time to time...)

And when I was at Wal-mart with Caite buying buttons for making the hair bows I decided that I needed to make me some knitted washcloths.
This is actually how I learned to knit the first time when I was 11 or 12, and it has been fun to recapture the memory of my mom teaching me. (I know! She knit, who knew?) The reasoning behind the need for these is that my stupid washing machine has a tendency to eat socks and washcloths and leave big ragged holes in them. I am hoping that the thicker cloth of the hand knit ones will keep them from getting eaten. I will keep you posted on that.

Also on the knitting front I am slightly more than halfway done with Jacob's sweater. (I couldn't very well make them for the girls and not for him, now could I?) I added the stripe to keep myself interested, as I have discovered that I am too ADD for plain knitting. Two sleeves to go... I can do it...

Last but not least is this fabric I picked up last weekend to make some kitchen curtains. I am not overly fond of chickens or roosters, but I was having a devil of a time finding the right colors for my kitchen that didn't have a wine or coffee motif to it. I have literally been looking for months and this actually goes really well with another project I am contemplating to decorate my kitchen. I am going to dissect an old calendar and glue the pictures onto plaques to make an arrangement on the big blank wall over my stairs. If it turns out well, I will be proudly posting pictures soon. (Nice alliteration there, huh?)

So there you have it, some finished projects, some UFO's and some of what is on tap for the near future. Now I have to be good and go clean my house so we can have friends over tonight and not lose their toddler in my mess...