Lasso The Moon

Craft Break...

I'm taking a tiny break from crafting to do some real work. 
Some fun (sketches for a client)
And some awful (receipt filing...ugh.)

See you around here again when my chores are all done
Ciao!  --Anna

Long Distance Runner

I have a big dining room table.  Really sturdy and really long.  Ever since I made the curtains for that room, I've been meaning to sew a runner for the middle of the table.  I had scraps of the olive green from the curtains, so I wanted to use those to coordinate everything (in a non-matchy way, I hope.)  I used the curtain scraps for the center of each block.

I did an improvisational log-cabin pattern, which basically means that I didn't plan it out, and I cut the strips as I went.  Each block has the same fabrics in it, but in different lengths and widths.  I didn't batt it, which might have been a mistake, because it doesn't lay quite as flat as I'd like.  But over all, I love it.

I've been really into the combination of olive/drab green with clear/aqua blue.  I also didn't buy anything new for this project.  LOVE THAT!  And it's giving me some practice for the challenge I'm giving myself again this year.  Only a few more days left in February!

That cool artwork on the dining room table is a lino-print.  A gift from one of the kids in the youth group.  Thanks, Brittney!

Almost like Oscar Night...

A big thank you to everyone who took the time to comment on my last post!  It was really fun to meet some of you for the first time.

I put all the names in a bowl, so that my assistant could pick one out.
And the winner is...

Congratulations, Blaze!  Send me an email and let me know where to send this little guy.  Everyone else, sorry I didn't have more to pass around, but I had so much fun that I'll definitely be doing this again some time.  Thanks so much for playing!

And Abby, here's a picture of the haircut. 

Such a ham!

The big 100 (and a giveaway!)

Well, it took me over a year, but I have finally posted 100 times.  I thought we could have a little virtual celebration with a fun giveaway.

I am officially not sick, and I've been burning that energy late into the night working on some fun new things to offer in the shop...

This little guy's big brothers are in the shop, but he is looking to go through a less conventional adoption.  Just leave a comment in the comment box for this post, and on Tuesday, February 26th, I'll draw a random number to find his new home!  I want everyone to have a chance to get him, so friends and family are totally welcome to play along!

Also, I was recently tagged by Katelyn to list 7 random facts about myself as a kind of get-to-know-you, and I thought this little party would be an appropriate time to do so.  So here goes:

1.  I love Annie.  I want to be her.  I'm too old to try out for the musical, but I fully intend to make Emma try out.  Even if I have to be a stage mom for the purpose.

2. I would really like to have a 'fro.  I used to have really curly hair. I hated it. Then I had kids, and the curls grew out.  Now I want it back.  Of course.

3. I like peanut butter and pickle sandwiches.  (Bread and butter pickles.)

4.  I am attracted to really unusual men in Hollywood.  My favorites include Jeff Goldblum, Vincent D'Onofrio, James Spader, and Chris Walken.  Cannot get enough Chris Walken. 

5. I am a huge Grammar Nerd.  My biggest peeve is a sentence that starts with "How Come...?"   If a tv commercial uses bad grammar, I will boycott the product.

6.  I love to sing, and I sing a lot in church.  But I hate to be the center of attention.  I don't like people to even acknowledge that I did it.  Is this going to hurt me when I try out for Idol this summer??

7.  I once was attacked by a turkey.  No details.  I'm still emotionally scarred.

Okay, Phew!  Glad that's over. 
Oh, and because I promised someone, here are a few things I'm interested in for my birthday.  You know I hate making lists, but for you, here it is.
I think this is really cool.  Kinda fits with the theme, huh?
One of these would be great.  Love blue and orange!
I love this print.  (Actually I love everything she does!)
Basically, anything from here or here.
Of course, anything from here.
And if I have just overwhelmed you, you could always just help me save up for this...
Jeani, you have created a monster. 

Okay, I thing we've had enough self-absorbency for one post, so I'll get going.  Have a great weekend everyone.  And, check out the shop.  I've added some vintage fabric, but it's going quickly already.

Before you go, don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win the birdie!

Bunny Boy

Hey, look who hopped into the shop this afternoon.
And just in time for Spring.  Well, a little early, but I'm hopeful.

More shop updates coming tomorrow.
And this is my 99th post.  I'll be having some give-aways for the big 100, so keep watching.

Sniffles

Well, they finally took me down with them.  Just poking my stuffy nose out long enough today to say that I'm  here, but still under the weather.  I hope I have more interesting things to say when I return.  Happy President's Day. 
He's kinda weird.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Shop Update 2-13

Well the coasters are all lassoed up, and I'm loading them into the shop as I type this.  (There is a lot of waiting to upload each picture, so I'm writing in the between time.   This can take some time!)

I have packaged them up in sets of two.  There are two sets of each color group, so if you need more, you have the option of matchy-match or you could get other colors.

I bundled them up in some twine "lasso" so they might even make a sweet gift for someone who enjoys morning coffee or tea.  (Or, lets be honest...a daily fountain Diet Coke.)

Anyway, they are in the shop, so go check them out!
Later!
-Anna

Scrappy Coasters

Well, here they are:

It is so satisfying to make something from practically nothing.  I had been throwing these remnants away for so long, until I thought of piecing them.  Now I keep similar colors in glass jars so I can see them and be inspired.

I backed these with linen (also salvaged--pants!) and they have cotton batting between the layers to help with the absorbency.   I am hand-embroidering some tiny details on each one, to add to the scrappy quality.  They look pretty cute from the linen side, too if you are in a minimalist mood.
I'll add these to the shop tomorrow around noon. (EST)

Waste Not

I really hate to waste.  Whether it's money, food, and especially fabric.  I'm always ripping off strips of fabric to find the grain line, and I end up with piles of scraps in gorgeous fabrics.  The question is what to do with them.

So this weekend I spent some time turning this:

Into this:

I'm almost finished, so I'll share pictures of the final product tomorrow.
Oh, and it was a tough weekend, but we got through it, and the little ones are feeling much better.  Thanks for your sweet comments and get-well's!