goody-goody

I dream of sewing..

I know. I get back on the blog wagon and guess what? I roll right back off. Sittin' in a cloud of dust as the wagon train leaves me behind. We are in week #2 of trying to sell our house. Things are going pretty well. I still have a few hairs that aren't grey from the constant cleaning, nagging, scenting, wiping and hiding that comes with having to leave at a moment's notice and praying that whoever it is, please, please don't look in my closet. Something will fall on you. A lug-soled boot, most likely.

Tonight I pulled out my scrap basket to iron some pieces for patchwork and not five minutes later there was a call from a perky agent wanting to be here first thing in the morning. I jinxed it. I've unpacked my new sewing machine and anxiously await the time I can fire this puppy up. It's waiting.

Yup. Still here.

I knew it would happen.

I've been away from blogging so long that Typepad up and changed everything. This is what transpires while I'm away thrifting, logging mommy time and baking cupcakes. (And eating cupcakes.) Okay, so I just give it a push, swing my leg over and start pedaling, right?  Here goes.

A repeated thank-you to those who are coming by via other websites and magazines. I promise I'm not usually this lame.

A sneak peek at some dishes I bought the other day at Goodwill. After 12 years of marriage, I finally gave myself permission to replace the clunky ones I registered for.  No offense, Pfaltzgraff "Ocean Breeze". It's not you. It's me. I've changed. And you wouldn't break. I tried...many times.

They seem happy and sunny, no? 

Happy Fall! Let the candy corn gorging begin.
 

Winding down..

We spent the past week in secluded bliss in the Sierras. This is the view from where I sat on the beach at the lake most days. No phone, no computer. Just books, puzzles, beads, swimming and floating. Lots of floating. It was wonderful.

I was so happy to come home to my own copy of Megan Smith's Sewing 2010 Calendar in the mailbox! You can find my projects in February (Matyroska tooth pillow), March (bow-tie hair clips & robot pocket pillow), May (easy business card case), November (fat quarter purses), and December (patchwork eye pillow). You can find these projects on my sidebar, too, but this calendar is chock full of wonderful ideas from all over the web. Megan did such a great job compiling them. I'm already starting a mental list for gift giving this year. The most exciting part is that a pic of my bow tie clips made it on the cover of the box! Woo-hoo! (Bottom right..I know, you might have to squint a little...)

Hey y'all

Summer is here and my blogging has been temporarily replaced with swimming, drippy popsicles, loungy days and giggling girls. And, oh yeah, napping. Lots of napping around here. Hot days are made for it. I'm hoping to have a new tutorial for something fun soon. But the hammock keeps calling me...

I have a few new things in the shop. I'm saving a lot of my creations for Renegade, which will be here before I know it. So many big crafty types are on the vendor list..I'm a little intimidated.

Hope you're keeping cool wherever you are.

xo

It's coming...really!

I've been procrastinating on my free pattern, but it's coming, I promise. It was a crazy-making week--what with having to put my kitty Earl to sleep to celebrating my baby turning 5. The circle of life. Plus, to be honest, I am having some crafting jitters..and trouble getting back in the saddle. So..instead of doing what I promised, I'm dorking around with my blog layout and making a new banner. Eh. Same goes for the pile of laundry in the bedroom. Time to get to business! Thanks for keeping with me.

MIA

As you may (or may not) have noticed, I took a mini blog break to clear my head, enjoy my family, and hang at Indie Sac earlier this month. It was nice, but I've missed you. Okay, that sounded weird and stalker-ish.

I'll be back this week with another cutie-ptootie tooth pillow freebie and tutorial. Say you'll join me? 'Til then...

xo, Lauren

Waiting patiently...

 

for inspiration.

Happy New Year to you all.

New beginnings. New purpose. Creating deliberately. Those are some of my aspirations. What are yours?

New Holiday music..

 

I love this new Christmas album. It has some sweet sadness to it, which suits me just right.

Because if I have to hear Bruce Springsteen tell me about Santa Claus coming to town or Mariah belting about how all she wants for Christmas is me one more time, I'm going to puncture my own eardrums.

And the sun goes down..

 

San Francisco. Beautiful city. Beautiful sunsets. Took these  after setting up for Bazaar Bizarre while waiting for dinner at Pier 39 (I know--how horribly touristy!) But we were starvin', kay?

Just another shout out to thank you for your hugs during this crappy time. I tried to find a better word, but crappy just seems to work for me. A few of you have commented on how well I seem to be doing, how I can possibly find the energy for shows, etc. The blog, like a lot of things in life, is a personna--a projection. And I like to share the best of my days. Don't get me wrong, the 23 hours, 20 minutes a day I'm not blogging, I'm a complete mess. I feel like I have a horrible illness with symptoms that no medicine or treatment can alleviate. But hearing about that gets old..I annoy myself, even. And my mom wouldn't like that either. She'd tell me to make some tea, take a deep breath and keep going.  I'm trying, mom.

Why do I shop thrift stores?

Because you never know what you're going to find. I love this $12 coat. I love red. Mmmwah. A little scratchy for making out with, though.