You Go Girl!

Positively Blushing!

I'm blushing from the top of my head to bottom of my toes... 

First, your response to my giveaway has been amazing.  I had my fingers crossed that someone would leave a comment I was hoping for maybe 25 comments, or so.  Well, last I checked, I had 75 and the comments are still coming!  Thank you for your response.  I feel special.  I can't wait for the drawing on Monday.  I'm also excited to investigate the blogs linked to the comments.  I'm going to have to carve out some computer time soon!

Second, Tonya, of Puddin' Pop, gave me the Arte Y Pico blog award. She is such a sweetheart and the amazing mom of seven children.  Check out her newly remodeled blog if you haven't already. 

I think this award has made it's way around blogland.  Most of the blogs I stalk have already received it.  Suffice it to say, any of the Blissful Blogs in my sidebar are certainly worthy.  If you have not received this award, consider yourself nominated!

Finally, I have been asked to teach a bag-making class for a mother/daughter summer arts series.  Well, I am flattered and excited.  The director of the program always calls me a fabric artist.  I giggle every time she says that because I do not consider myself an artist.  I'm a goofball that likes to play with fabric!  Anyhoo, I digress. The participants of the workshop will have varying levels of sewing experience.  I need a project that can accomodate a range of skills.  This is the prototype of the bag I am thinking about using for the class.  It can be as simple, or as spanky, as the participant wants to make it.  It is also reversible.  On this bag, I made one side plain.  The other side has an appliqued 'patch' on it. I think I will make a couple more bags using different embellishment techniques.  Hopefully, that will spur some creativity for those with more advanced sewing skills. 

 

As a parting shot....

 

Does it get any better than this?  Ahhh, summer!

Flip-Flops or Uggs?

There is a saying in Montana...If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes.  It's true. We do have crazy weather that can change quickly!  This morning we woke up to SNOW...wet, heavy, slushy, white snow.  Lucky for me, most of my bedding plants are cozy and warm in the garage.  Usually I would have planted them  well before now.  Sometimes it pays to be a bit behind.  My perennials and self-seeding annuals are not so lucky.  They will have to dig out from under all this wet stuff.  The trees and bushes are also struggling under the weight of the gianormous snowflakes. I'm hoping that when the sun comes back out, everyone will stretch their little arms up to greet it.  It is a crazy opening to summer, for sure.  By Friday, our temperatures are supposed to be in the mid-seventies. 

The weather is putting a bit of a damper on end-of-the-school-year festivities for my girls.  But the year will come to a close regardless, I suppose.  In fact,  Hailey is done today.  Paige and the triplets get done at noon tomorrow.  Another year has danced by before my eyes.  I am pleased to report that it was a good year for all. I am ready for a relaxed summer schedule. 

My sister ordered a bag to give to her daughter's teacher on the last day of school. It's a little Ginger Blossom love.

I adore Ginger Blossom.  It looks fabbity on most any project.  Sandi's new line, Farmer's Market, looks yummy, too.  Hopefully Jona will have some in her store soon.  I can't wait to get my hands on it.

Happy Day,

Cassie

Bird Brain

I don't think I'm a bird brain??? I continue to have birds on my brain, though.  Maybe it's because spring is so S L O W getting here.  Our temperatures are still well below normal.  I haven't even put my cozy polar fleece sweaters away yet! 

My little flowers are trying to bloom in spite of the cold weather.  They had to peek out from under three inches of snow last Sunday! That's Flat Stanley in the picture.  He belongs to my niece, Lyann.  He came to stay with us for a few days.  He usually lives in Florida.  Stanley thinks it's WAY cold here!  In fact, I had to make him a coat and a hat. Spring, spring, I need you to sprung!  Please!!!

I made this very spring-like bag today.  Heather Bailey and Amy Butler...YUM!

I put a little birdie on it. I couldn't help myself.  I'm kinda new at applique (other than simple circles and squares).  I'm learning as I go.  On this project, I discovered that if you applique a light fabric on a print, the print will show through a little.  I know...It probably should've been intuitive. Perhaps I am a bird brain? Nah!

This was also my first attempt at drawing my own applique shape.  This simple little bird took me forever to draw.  Not my forte, for sure.  But it was fun.

I hope the sun is shining down on you in your corner or the world.

XOXO,

Cassie

Digging in the Archives

Happy Friday.  Today, if all goes as planned, I will be visiting Shamu and his friends.  Since I've been goofing off all week, I don't have anything new stitched up to share with you. I decided to go digging in the archives.  It was lots of fun to browse through pictures I haven't looked at lately.  I pulled out a few pictures of bags from days gone by. I've been making custom-order bags for a few years now.  There were more pictures to choose from than I thought!  It feels kinda wierd to just put my stuff out there for all to see.  I'm going to do it anyway!  I hope you enjoy my selection...

XOXO,

Cassie