Girls World

A recent browse through Borders had me bringing home Jennifer Paganelli's Girls World.  It's a great little book with patterns and ideas for several girls dresses, decorating a girls room and general girly girl fun.  The first project I tackled was Mary's Fancy Sash Dress.  I made the sash twice because I didn't like how the first one turned out.  You be the judge...I think it turned out rather festive!

I would have liked to put the grain of the fabric on the diagonal but I didn't have enough fabric in the stash for that.  The sizes may run a bit large (or my kid a bit small).  I sized my daughter for the small but she probably would have fit better in the XS.  The instructions were easy to follow with the whole project easily completed in 2 hours. This will be a go to pattern in the future.  I look forward to exploring the rest of the book. If you feel like you need to be inspired check out Jennifer Paganelli's blog.  Her fabric makes my head spin with ideas!  Happy Independence Day to you all!

Insect Damage

One of my very favorite places to go camping is in North Park Colorado.  It has been nearly 5 years since I have been up in that area.  During that time the pine beetle has pretty much decimated the area.  I had heard stories but what I saw for myself was shocking.  Hard to believe a tiny bug could do so much damage.  In some areas I would estimate the hillside to be 90% kill.  It is clear to me that the forest will never be the same in my lifetime.  Fire will come, succession will occur, and I will be forced to embrace something very different from the forest that I grew up with.  

Peach Promises

Two summers ago I took a chance and bought a peach tree.  When I purchased it, dainty little peaches lined its limbs.  At the time, it was a bit of a leap of faith.  I wasn't sure I would get peaches again but decided to take a chance.  When living in an urban environment, you have a better chance that someone nearby will have a pollinator.  Peaches are self fruitful, but having a pollinator is always a better bet.  I am proud to say my little tree is loaded with little fuzzy fruits.  If this wonderful weather holds and violent winds do not blow them off, I will be eating peaches this fall.

Trying to Motivate

Trying to get motivated to think GARDEN.  Doing some seed sorting, clipping, mulching and bed cleaning.  I don't feel very ,motivated this year.  Maybe its because the other project list seems a mile long.  It looks like this:

• Rebuild the Chicken Coop (I don't like that I cannot see them doing their chicken things.)
• Finish the deck
• Seal the deck
• Finish the arbor
• Paint north side of house
• Put new plastic on greenhouse
• Finish rain barrel system
• Finish guest bedroom(this project is over 2 years old)
• Fix Garage door
• Make yard furniture

It seems to go on and on and on.  When leaving things to the weekend it always seems difficult to accomplish anything in a reasonable amount of time.  My husband thinks my goals are too lofty.  I think I just need an assistant!

Did you make that?

I must confess I have mixed feelings about this question.  If it is a cute toy or something I have made for someone else as a gift I am flattered to say "YES" because to me, nothing is more flattering than to get a hand made gift.  I want you to know I went the extra mile and took the time to do that for you.  On the other hand if it is a piece of clothing and someone asks "Did you make that?"  I immediately wonder if my seaming skills are so bad that my clothes hang in some funky manner and the question is more like "Oh dear, honey did you make your clothes?  You really shouldn't."

What do you think?  How do you feel about someone asking if you made it?

Cherry Bomb

Is a thirty nine year old women going to look ridiculous in this?  I don't care!  I love it!  The fabric has a little vintage flare to it and the cherries scream summer!  I bought this fabric at least 5 years ago with a strawberry selection.  The strawberries made it to a nice summer dress too but this one sat on the shelf.  I picked up Simplicity 2209 and thought the two would go together nicely!  This is another Lisette pattern.  I can't tell you how much I enjoy that line of patterns.  Usually pretty easy to put together and the results are always nice.  Now I just need to find a summer party.....

Short Season

Have you been watching all the cute short trends for summer?  I have!  So out I went looking for a really great shorts pattern!  This one is from the Lisette line of Simplicity(1879) patterns.  They have the cute little cuff, small pleats in the front and a side zipper.  Supper wearable.  I plan to have one in every color by the end of summer....seriously.  Have to make sure I get in on the cute print and color blocking trend this season!  Some great variations on this pattern would be to take out the pleat in the front and to leave the cuffs straight.  Try some denim, bottom weights, decorator weight cottons.....the options are endless!