Tuesday, May 3, 2011

I'm b-a-a-a-c-k!!!

Actually, I haven't gone anywhere; I've just been burnt out by work and the last thing I wanted to do when I got home was get on the computer. Instead, I've been doing my best to finish up some projects, relax, and watch Brothers and Sisters, my new favorite show. I'm still in Season 1, episode 20 or so, and I am already dreading when I run out of episodes and have to say "goodbye" to my new friends. Seriously, I felt like my friends had moved away when I finished the 7th season of Gilmore Girls, so I know this one will affect me, too.

One project I started and finished since my last post is a pair of ragged edge placemats. I had seen some done with this method in a magazine, and decided to design my own and see how they came out. I drew a deisgn on paper, laid it over three pieces of fabric pinned together, stitched on the lines, tore away the paper and then snipped away one or two layers in each section with a quarter inch seam allowance to make the design appear, then snipped all the seams like a rag quilt. After washing and drying to get the fringed edge, I was thrilled with them...


...until I noticed that I had accidentally cut a hole in one of them. (Can you see it there on the right side of that yellow square?)

It is a hole that defies fixing (I know, I've already tried). Don't you HATE that, when you work so hard on something only to see that it wasn't a success? Oh well, I can still use them - I don't care if my placemats are hole-y, but there goes my idea of giving them as a gift. I think I may just purchase some SNUB-NOSED clippers and try again.



In the meantime, swim lessons have begun for my boys. For me, that means 30 minutes of hand stitching time three times per week while they splash away in the pool. I'm committed to completing my 4th of July tablerunner this week, and hopefully my martini girl, too.


That's all for now. My stomach is calling - it would much rather I eat than blog during my lunch break. Hopefully, I'll find a chance to catch up on all the blog posts I've missed in my two week hiatus soon - I've missed you guys!!!