Using my son's monkey sharpener and fish pencil. Shhh, don't tell him Please....
Reading the post it "love notes" from my son Liam:
Every Christmas my mom sends gifts to our relatives in Germany. We try to find local items from Seattle, at least the U.S. My mom asked me to make a sachet similar to one I gave her years ago. I was thrilled with the idea as I have lots of scraps to use. I'm really happy with the way they turned out. The gnome and ice cream truck fabric are Munki (so cute!) The Matryoshka doll fabric is from Heather Ross.To Make them you need:
Arrange the squares as you like.
Stitch the two left and then two right squares together with a 1/4" seam. 
Stitch the center seam using a 1/4" s.a.
Flip the front over to the Right Side. Cut a piece of organza to fit the square and pin each corner.
Stitch around the perimeter using a 1/4"
Make a funnel out of paper and fill your sachet.
Slip stitch the bottom opening and add a button and optional ribbon to front. 
Don't forget the stay bttn on the back!
I started collecting this version of toiles - transferware plates - about eight years ago when my husband's grandmother gifted us reproduction red and white Spode dinner plates for our wedding.
More of my ever growing collection. I found the plates on the right at my local T.J. Maxx for $1 a piece!
I recently finished these pillow covers. (Yay, 1 more thing to cross off the list!) The white swirl printed fabric is actually napkins I bougth at Anthropologie some time ago. The toile was purchased at Jo-Annes.
I used three self fabric covered buttons for the back envelope closure in contrast red toile with red toile binding in the same pattern. I had never made covered bttns before. They were so easy and I'm really happy with the look.
So this is the tree. At first we were a bit worried since it is much barer than the perfectly dense and shirred Xmas trees we usually get. It has grown on me and I'll have to say I rather love it. It is how nature intended. You can actually see the ornaments on the tree!
The romance of the boys having a wonderful time in the snow diminished rather fast. Luc was pretty miserable after dropping his gloves in the snow.
Liam was a good sport and wants to go back and make a snowman.
We were up on a ridge and the views were breathtaking.
We must have seen dozens of trees and after hiking about a mile......
I think these beaded snowflakes are absolustely lovely.
I found this super cute skirt pattern here.
I think I will use this flower as inspiration for the flowers on this skirt.
These days I LOVE freebies. We are keeping costs down in our household as I'm sure many others families are in these trying economic times! So when I saw this link on one of my favorite blogs, I was quite excited. They have the cutest calling cards as well as free downloadable gift and thank you cards. I'm especially excited about the calling cards. I have business cards but they are out of date. It is pretty embarassing to be a freelance designer and jeweler and not have a card to give to new contacts!
My other recent favorite freebie is this pattern on the Burda website. It is from the new book Twinkle Sews. You may be familiar with Wenlan Chia's fabulous knitting books. You can print the pattern at home and even though it is 50 pages it is still cheaper that buying a pattern. I have this wonderful green double knit that will be perfect for this skirt. I plan on buying the book when $ aren't so tight. It really is wonderful and the designs are adorable!
Maybe it is because I have a dedicated place to sew. Luc is sharing a room with Liam now so I have the third bedroom to use as my office and studio space. I've been back to the jewelry studio at Danaca Design but I'm not feeling the love for the jewelry thing. I'm sure it can be attributed to not having a jewelry studio at home. I did at the old house and it was so nice to start a project, leave it on my bench, and come back to it at my leisure. I do love the overall relaxed and creative energy as well as the adult interaction and friends that I've made at the studio. Maybe I'm creatively fickle. Maybe I've just been enjoying making things for myself and the boys?!
I did figure out what to do with this. This is the beginnings of a quilt made with small squares all out of vintage fabric from the 30's.
I saw this image and had an aha moment. The squares I have are small (approx 3" x 3") 
The technique is English paper piecing and the pattern is called Grandmother's flower garden. It is done entirely by hand which speaks to my love of intricate details and handcrafted items.
I'm also working on some p.j's for the boys, new pillow covers for our bed as well as some clothes for myself. I can't complain, life is good and I'm looking forward to finishing some projects!!
I finished my very first block lastnight!
I've been collecting these Munki pj's that have the most adorable prints by Heather Ross.
I went looking for this lastnight. I found it at a yard sale years ago. It is the beginning of a quilt and looks like the squares are made from vintage fabric. For years I've been trying to figure out what to do with it. I think I'll be taking it apart and using the pieces for a future quilt!
Two of my favorite prints!
