My Favorite Things

valentine ornament swap and other swap goodness

Just yesterday I successfully sent off my little valentine snowman army (as my husband refers to them) to Alanna who is so graciously hosting yet another swap.  I know that snowmen are not notoriously thought of as "valentiney", but I felt like I appropriately dressed them up for the occasion :)  I also made these little bags to house them in.  I just love combining blue, red and pink for valentines.

I know we are well passed the Christmas season (although, you wouldn't know it if you came into my house, which is still decked out in all of it's Christmas glory!), but I wanted to tell you about an amazing swap I did with my fabulous friend, Jen this past December.  We had our 2nd annual Christmas stocking swap.  We each design and create a stocking for the other one and then fill it with all sorts of goodies. Imagine filling your own stocking with things you know you will love and then opening it on Christmas morning.  Well that is what this exchange is like!  

One little funny happened as I was unwrapping my treasures in the stocking Jen had sent. Before I tell you, first look at this fabulous creation that Jen knitted for me.

Isn't this absolutely adorable?!  What do you think it is?  Well, when I unwrapped this, I immediately oohed and aahed as I slipped it on my wrist.  I thought it was a beautiful wrist cuff.  Needless to say, during a very funny phone conversation with Jen, I soon realized that my wrist cuff was actually a coffee mug cozie!  I know, probably a mix up only I would make :)  And yes, if you are wondering, I do use it as a wrist cuff.

For more pictures of our swap, please go over to Jen's blog.  

The next project that I am off to work on is a Valentine decoration swap that Jen and I are doing.  I already know what I am going to create.  I have been mulling ideas over in my head for a couple of weeks now.  Once the project is completed and we swap, I will post pictures.  

till next time,

melissa

 

 

 

 

 

a new year brings productivity

I am so excited ... my first new year's goal was to finally finish a duvet cover for my daughter Julia's dorm room bed.  And just in the nick of time, I completed it one day before she left to head back to Virginia.  Mind you, I started on this project back in August, but then it got pushed to the side :(  I have to say Julia has been quite patient.  However, the not so subtle remarks about the quilt I had promised her for her 13th birthday that never came to be, certainly spurred me on towards completion before another birthday came to pass!

She and I were both pretty pleased with the final product.  Julia wanted the duvet to be made from a variety of vintage bed sheets.  So, etsy served as my go to vintage sheet source.  I topped off the enclosure of the duvet with a mixture of vintage buttons.  Now what to do with all of the leftover vintage sheets ... hmmm ... I'm sure I will think of something!

Maybe I will use some pieces in my Valentine's projects that are next on my list to do.  I'll keep you posted on my progress.

till next time,

melissa

a new year

This is a package of fabulous Happy Tape that I received for Christmas this year.  I am in love with the colors!  These colors are a good representation of how I am feeling as I begin this new year.  To me these colors are very fresh and vibrant.  I am very excited and hopeful about the fresh start that the new year can represent.  One area that I truly need a fresh start in is in my blogging.  This year I plan on being much more diligent about posting!  I also want to begin journaling.  That is where this wonderful tape will come in handy ... in helping to decorate my journal.  I haven't quite decided what the focus of my journal will be.  Will I use it as a place to write down my thoughts,a place to doodle, or use it as a more formal art journal?  My guess is, is that it will be a little bit of this mixed with a little bit of that!  I will keep you updated on my progress.

This month I am working on a Valentine Ornament Swap, a one on one Valentine Decoration Swap with my dear friend Jen, finishing a vintage bed sheet duvet for my college freshman, and embroidering images on a tablecloth.  Whew ... there is a lot of creating to be done and not nearly enough time!  I will post pictures as I progress on each of these projects.  I have a deadline on several of these projects, so I know that they will indeed get done :)

till next time,

melissa