FABRIC EASTER EGGS

My swap eggs are done!  I kinda like 'em :o) 

Wish I'd made more so I could have some for myself.  

I'll be mailing them off to Cindy over at Thimbleprims, and I can't wait to see what I get in return.

I used a pattern I've had for years.  Back then, the pattern company was called Farmyard Creations.  Karla Eisenach was the owner/desinger.  Now the company is called Sweetwater and has branched into designer paper crafting items along with their fabric and patterns lines.  They also have a lovely blog showcasing many of their items.  You should check out both their website and their blog.  Oh, and they have an Etsy store too.

The pattern actually has you create little "creatures" out of the eggs.  A cute ducky and bunny.  I made these little guys . . . oh . . . I bet 15 or more years ago.

For this swap, I made just the egg shapes using some of Amy Butler's fabrics, and embellished them with rick rack, fabric flowers and flat pearls. 

If you would like to try making some of these cute fabric eggs,  Kim at Retro Mama gives you a free tutorial and pattern.  

I can't wait to share the eggs I receive from the swap.  I'm sure they're all going to be fabulous!

A little gift for the Hostess ;o)

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IT'S ALMOST HERE

The official start of

Spring!

I, for one, am soooo ready for the new, fresh rejuvination that comes with the start of Spring.  

Bet quite a few of you are too!

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PILLOW PALOOZA!

Well, maybe not so much a real palooza, but I have been on a bit of a roll making some new throw pillows for the family room.  And, I couldn't wait to get them all finished so I could do this post and use that post title ;o)

 I know, goofy, right?!

Mind you, most of these projects have been in wings for a riduculous amount of time, and it's not like they're really "all that" as far as facniness or even originality, but they're done.  

YAY!!!  

And considering for the past few months, I've not been the least bit motivated to do anything around the house, I'm just thrilled I finally got 'em done!

The two above were inspired by my bloggy friend,   Lisa from Pickles and Cheese.  That girl stencils everything.  I mean everything!!!  Her family better keep one eye open . . . she may stencil them if they sit still too long! LOL

I used painter's canvas dropcloth for the stenciled side.  I  stenciled the design using fabric paint and a cheap stencil from Michael's.  Super-duper easy.

Couldn't decide which fabric to use for the backs of those two senciled pillows, so I used both.  Aren't they great?  I love them!  Sewed in some black cording when I pieced the front and back together, and in     quick work created two pretty cute pillows.

This next fabric I purchased almost a year ago to make pillows.  I know you've all seen this script fabric all over, but I think it's neat.

 These next couple pillows were made using decorater/upholstery fabric samples that Son No. 2's girlfriend's Mom {phew. . . could you follow that???} rescued from the cutest little home decor store she works at part time.  The store's owner was going to toss them in the trash, and she saved them knowing I sew.  What a fabulous score for me! Thanks, Dawn ;o)

 The larger button pillow was pieced using one of the fabric samples and more painter's canvas dropcloth.  

Above is just a smidge of the fabric samples she gave me.  There are so many great patterns and textures. The sizes of these samples are 13"x17".  

I have in mind some great projects for many of these sample pieces.   However, with my track record lately for starting and completing projects, who knows if any of them will get done!

Now, I will have to tell you that living in a house full of men, all these pillows I just finished and others that were made over the years, end up all over the floor.  When they want to stretch out and relax on the sofas watching TV, they use one for their head and all the others get tossed on the floor.  OYE!!!  So all day I'm picking pillows up off the floor.

 Men!!!

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AN IRISH BLESSING FOR YOU

Wishing you a rainbow

For sunlight after showers—

Miles and miles of Irish smiles

For golden happy hours—

Shamrocks at your doorway

For luck and laughter too,

And a host of friends that never ends

Each day your whole life through!

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MONDAY RANDOM RAMBLINGS

Hi there :o)
Hope ya'll had a fabulous weekend!

Thought I'd post a little summin' to at least let ya'll know I'm still alive.  Can't say I've mustered much more motivation to get things done . . . I'm trying!  

I have the day off today, and I'm home alone, so I'm planning on getting some stuff done.  Guess we'll have to wait until the end of the day to see if I've accomplished any of it!

We drove Son No. 1 to the airport last night :o(  His Spring break is over, and it was time for him to return back to school in Charlotte, NC.  

He won't be home again until the end of the school year in the middle of May.  

For John's last days here this past weekend, I baked some of his favorite sweet treats ~ banana bread {using this recipe} and chocolate chip cookies.

Planning on spending some time today relaxing and getting caught up on a pile of magazines.  There's three months of Country Living that I haven't even glanced at.

The latest issues of Victora and Romantic Homes.

And two issues my new subscription ~ Phyllis Hoffman's Celebrate.

I'm also going to try to, hopefully, finish up work on my eggs for the Easter Swap I'm participating in at Thimbleprim's. 

LOVE Amy Butler's fabrics!

Oh, and I have to share Hubby's new toy.  We've been having some slight vehicle drama 'round here the past month or so.  Poor Son No. 2 was in an accident about a month ago.  His beloved red hot Monte was totalled. Thank God he was not injured, but naturally he was devistated the car was beyond repair.  It was his first car, and he loved it.  It was truly a sweet ride.  He's been driving our pick-up truck which pretty much never gets driven, except in the warmer months when I'm running around buying mulch, manure, plants, etc.  And because it doesn't get driven much, a few fairly major {and costly} repairs had to be made.  Needless to say, Colin's on the lookout for a new car.

Hubby decided this was a good time to get a new second vehicle.  He found a pre-owned Cadallic CTS {2005} in immaculate condition with super-low mileage, and a very, very fair price. 

It's one of his "dream cars".   Not sure how much I'll be driving it.  I think, for now, I still prefer my Honda Pilot SUV.  It'll be nice, though, when we want to go out,  just the two of us, for date night and ride in a nice, shiny luxury car ;o)

I'm hoping to be back tomorrow to share some fun things I've been working on the past few weeks!  In the meantime, have a great Monday!

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A BIG THANK YOU

I wanted to take a quick minute and thank those of you who left kind words of advice and encouragement on my last post regarding my total slumpiness lately.

I was able to respond to some of you personally via email, and a few I was not able to reach.

 {a few of you have not activated a return email address attached to your blogger profiles}

I'm sure you all have gone through those times when various things going on in your life just seem to weigh you down.  I think I'm at the tail end of some of that right now.  Things are getting better.   It's just a matter of dealing with them as positively as possible. 

It is reassuring to know, though, that we're not alone in dealing with the blech in our lives, right?!

So, again, thanks to each of you for sharing and sending positive thoughts my way :o)

A BIG BLOGGING SLUMP

What do you do to get out of a big blogging slump?

cork board message center on front of frig - cool!

 Or just a big slump in general.  

Not only has it been hard for me to find something to blog about, but I haven't even been motivated to visit in blogland. 

AND . . . I just got a brand new shiny computer.  A new Mac.  It's bigger and purdier and faster than my old Mac.  You'd think that would motivate me to play online more.

Maybe it's "that time of the year" for me.  That time of the year when I get restless, yet unmotivated at the same time.   I'm done with the short days and cold temperatures.  My birthday's just around the corner ~ yet one more year closer to joining the half-century club.  I'm having to work on that winter bulk weight.
Just plain feeling like blecchhh.

how 'bout a pink frig???

As for getting stuff done around the house here, a few small projects have been completed.  But, for the most part, I just can't seem to get it together.  

love this pantry door!!!

Seems the days I don't work, I'm keeping up with the housework, then I'm pooped in the evenings.  Well, whatever it is, I hope I can snap out of it.  I'm tired of being tired!  

chalkboard paint on a pantry door

Son No. 1 is coming home Thursday for Spring break.
Maybe his visit will help lift me out of this slump a little.

But, I did manage to share some web-found kitchen inspiration.
All these shared photos are from Country Living.  

I couldn't just yammer away about how unmotivated and blah I've been, now could I???  

I had to offer something pretty to look at!

more chalkboard paint on a door

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