broccoli bag

Remember this bag?  Well, sadly- I have still been carrying it around.  Do you know how horrible it looks with my black wool coat?

Everyday when I fetch it from the hooks by the door I think, "ugh- I really need to make a new bag."  But I was struggling to find some inspiration. This thought of a new bag has been intensifying as I look forward to a girl's weekend away in the big city.  Overnight.  Shopping.  So, what's a country mouse to do?  

For a long time I have loved this. 

So I made this:

(This bag was so difficult to photograph on such a gray day.  I finally had a measure of success after I hung it from the dining room chandelier)

The pattern is found here.  I modified the straps.  The bag body is made out of wool, the applique from wool felt.  I am in love with the fabric that I used to make the straps.  It's made from silk linen and came from a skirt that I picked up at Goodwill.  (It was a size 2...the lady at the counter looked at me like, "yeah right lady!") 

When they woke up this morning, I proudly showed the girls what I had made.  Hannah bluntly blurted out, "Looks like broccoli to me" and returned to her cereal.  Emma agreed in a disinterested sort of way and of course Laurel copies whatever anyone else says, "Boccy" she giggled.  They are usually so encouraging!?! 

Better don't you think?

Quilting Along

So 3 weeks ago Amanda had this great and very generous idea to host a "quilt-a-long".  I have been itching to try making a quilt, and couldn't resist this opportunity for week-by-week help and inspiration.  After 3 weeks of procrastination/fear and fussiness over fabric- I jumped in. 

Square from Week One

 

Square from Week 2

Square from week 3

I am using fabric from my stash- which is hard for me.  I would rather have gotten new...but for the first go around- using old scraps will have to work.  My background color will not be uniform as the directions suggested. Instead, I have a little collection of vintage sheets which will hopefully give it some character.

What I have learned: I hate measuring.  Linen is squirmy on the cutting mat. Lots of thread tales to trim! I really rely on pictures in the directions.  I could never be an architect.  It was easier than I expected (especially the triangles).  Perfectly matching corners are not that important to me :)  Making a quilt is really not so overwhelming.  One square at a time. 

8 random things

I was tagged by both Cindy and Jessie to list 8 random things about me.  I have done a post like this before...it is so hard for me to think of things to write!  None the less, I gave it my best shot.  My list was pretty boring, so I decided to spice it up with some pictures.

#1.  I think that you can learn a lot about someone by looking in their refrigerator.  Here is mine:

What did you learn?

#2. I purchased and prepared Brussels sprouts for the first time ever today.  I have eaten them before (at restaurants or at other people's homes) but never known how to fix them.  I made this salad.

Pretty darn yummy!The recipe is not on line, but it comes from Everyday Food, the 11/07 issue.

#3. Earlier this fall I backed into the garage door from the inside.  I don't know what I was thinking.  The back door of my van was open as well and I started backing out before the garage door was all the opened. 

It wasn't too noticeable, and the door still worked-- I thought I had gotten off.  Now that the weather is much colder it is acting up. Only opening half way.  I had to come clean.

#4.  I wear this lipstick.

#5.  I hate folding laundry.  It usually piles up until we are so sick of searching through it to find something to wear- that I break down and tackle it. I saved this movie to help me through.

#6: I also think that you can learn a lot about looking inside at the contents of someone's purse.  Here is mine:

Huh, usually there is at least one pair of children's socks and a half-eaten banana or something. Guess you caught me on a good day.

#7. Whenever I get on a health kick (which I will get on as soon as I eat this last chocolate truffle) I go back to this book:

 

New workout clothes help too.  Did you know that is the number one reason that I don't make it to the gym every morning?  Because I don't have anything to wear!  Pretty pathetic I know. Well, no more excuses- the clothes are ready and the alarm set.  Tomorrow is the day!

#8. I love ironing.  Isn't it great to make all the wrinkles disappear.  Don't you wish that you could do that to your face?  When I was little my mom used to let me practice ironing pillowcases.  I usually find something to iron everyday.  I can't remember where I learned it, but I like to iron my pants inside out.

That way, you can get under all of the pockets and stuff.

Okay, well, that wraps up 8 really non-interesting things about me.  Hopefully Melissa, Grace, Erin, Amanda, Tiny Happy, Laura, Morgan and Alisha will have something more exciting to say!! 

Here are the rules:

*link to the person who tagged you
*post the rules
*name 8 things others don't know about you
*link to 8 other bloggers