Burlap Love

You know that when things get quiet around here it is because I am doing things. Of course the hope is that the quiet precedes the giant flood of here's this thing I made, or just a little something I whipped up there, or oh, ah, look what one can do with.... But the not so romantic side of the real world is that sometimes things like inventory and major web system overhauls hold precedence over creating. Hmpfh! So since I have more unfinished projects on my desk than one could imagine, how about if I share what I would like to be doing if I weren't doing boring computer work.

I've always had a certain fascination with burlap. Somehow even though it can be a little rough and scratchy to the touch, it has always held a certain charm to me with a rustic simplicity that I find really appealing. Come on now... this stuff isn't just for feed sacks anymore.

1. What a great idea to print on burlap... oh, wow! What can one do with that?!? 2. This "Love" banner would be just perfect gift with Valentine's day just around the corner. 3. Sweet handmade gift tags just to say thank you are a great edition to any gift. 4. Burlap bird ornaments can be used in so many places.

1. Let's not forget about the home with this awesome DIY headboard. 2. Burlap corkboard is simple and classic. 3. For that special party or wedding event, burlap can also add a romantic touch. 4. A simple band, simple flowers, and a simple candle is a super table decoration, perfect for all year round.

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Blend Fabrics

When I heard that Anna Griffin was launching a new company at the last Quilt Market, I just had to sit up. Anna Griffin has been known in the fabric industry for quite some time, but even longer in the wedding industry. This lady has her hands in quite a few pots, and it makes sense that she would also have her hand in a company that embraces well known artists and designers from around the world. Her co-founder, Joe Spiegelberg, brings just as much experience to the company having also founded Maude Asbury, a luxury gift company that carries everything from photo albums, picture frames, and magnet boards.

So I guess it would go without saying that I am really excited to add three new collections from this newly launched company called Blend... yes, that's right three! When I say excited, I really mean it.

Photo Source

The first collection is from Sarah Watts, illustrator/pattern designer, who describes her work as "quirky-southern-gothic-victorian". As interesting of a description as it might sound, Sarah's fabric collection "Feather n Stitch" will not disappoint.

Keep your eyes open for other new collections from Blend, found here.

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In the Bag

You may remember the sweet little mini bag/pencil cases I made using fabrics from Aneela Hoey's "Little Apples" collection. I ended up stuffing them with colored pencils, beads, "Hello Kitty" lip gloss, and other small trinkets for my other two nieces for Christmas. All girls just seem to love bags to keep their treasured keepsakes in.

As a coordinating present, I decided to put a little twist on the "shopper totes" that I had been turning out just a few weeks before. Simple sewing, simple lines, silver grommets accents, with sweet fabric made these matching drawstring book bags ultra cute.

Just in case you're looking... here's a really easy how-to video on how to make a drawstring backpack. Happy sewing!

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All Grown Up

Now that Christmas is over I can actually show a couple of presents that went out to some loved ones this year... I just couldn't spoil any surprises ahead of time with showing things off here.

When my oldest niece saw the collection from Lizzy House, she immediately fell in love with the cute foxes and adorable hedgehogs. For my younger niece I knew that pink would be the color of choice, but I wanted to do something a little more grown-up for my oldest niece... those pre-teen years can very much be a revolt of all things pink, purple, and ultra feminine.

I thought that a bold contrast of rich purple and vibrant orange was grown up enough without over doing it. I really want to delve into this collection a little deeper, but I've got several things in the works that might keep those project ideas on the backburner for now.

So, how many of your Christmas presents were handmade? Did you make them or did someone make something handmade for you?

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Das "Ja" Wort

It was a clear, crisp, and bright day in January... which is extremely unusual for weather in Northern Germany that time of year. But it was the perfect day to say "I do".

It seems a little hard for me to believe that it was just five years ago, and then on the other hand, it hardly feels like five years at all. Not that it has been difficult for me to stay with the man that I said "yes" to those few short years ago.... somehow he makes that easy for me. Perhaps it feels like an accomplishment, a milestone for having stood beside the one I promised the rest of my life to. As with every couple we have had our fair share of ups and downs, highs and lows, and many in between points... but I cannot think of another person in the world that I would want to share my "forever" with.

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Transition

It would seem as if I have been having a hard time transitioning into the New Year. It is as if I almost skipped the Christmas season and all of its creative possibilities and now am searching for a springboard into 2012. Things had been moving especially slow since being repeatedly under the weather put me so behind on all my holiday preparations, and now I have been trying to recover from the whirlwind of ending the year.

My family and friends have been the center point of the last weeks, which leaves me somewhat at a loss for words. Not that the moments have not been wonderful enough to share, but perhaps I wanted to savor them, save them for myself, and enjoy them without the pressure of writing about how wonderful those small, but meaningful moments have been.

I've been way to busy to think about lists, goals, or contemplative and reflective moments about the previous year... but there is, thank goodness, no time limit on when these things must be done. So for now, just a simple hello coming your way.

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The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

friends
hugs and merry wishes
yumminess shared
naps
spicy apple cake savored in the dim candlelight
candles glowing, crackling, and dancing
the story where it all began
songs of rejoicing
smiles and laughter from loved ones millions of miles away brought to us through the wonders of modern technology
the joyful anticipation of discovering new things packed in bright paper
dinner by candlelight with my two favorite "boys"
nice wine in a nice glass
melodic tunes bringing back those special childhood memories
snuggly pajamas
snuggle time with the little guy
snuggle time with the big guy
surprises
deep sleep

taking it slow
five star breakfast
lazy day
family

ahhhh... Christmas!

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Something Missing

So have you noticed that something has been missing here these days? Perhaps a little red and green?

I've been following what's going on in "Blogville" these days, pretty Advent calendars, sparkling Christmas decorations, tasty baked treats, and fun and creative projects for the "most wonderful time of the year"... and then I stop and think about my last five posts. Tja, and thinking about it, one would probably never even notice a color or season change.

Putting aside the fact that I have been a rollercoaster ride of being "under the weather" for the last months, there is a part of me inwardly that has said enough is enough. The past several years for me have been a gradual, but significant scaling down. Mind you, I come from the land of explode your credit card until the mountain of debt surpasses the mountain of toys that are given to happy little boys and girls. A place where, despite the fact that working moms are stretched on every side, there is still the pressure to provide the magic... the whole atmosphere, the candles, the presents, the cookies, the perfectly decorated home, the things life-time memories are made of. Each year I evaluate what I am doing that pertains to Christmas and if it actually makes sense. Don't get me wrong... I love to decorate, I love to make things pretty, I love to add that extra added touch, I love it when I find that present that makes that someone special squeal with delight... who doesn't? But I've been asking myself at what "cost" am I doing these things? Am I getting so caught up in the doing, the buying, the running, the wrapping, the decorating, the stress, the self-inflicted expectations that I have of myself that I totally miss it... miss Christmas? Am I overlooking the needy, the hungry, the hurting, just to run in the mad rat race?

But my motto for this season has been... keep it simple. The little guy actually gets only a few things for his second Christmas. Most of the gifts that I am giving are handmade. There will be food dropped off this week at the food bank. And a simple manger will be just about the only decoration that will be put out for the holidays... but isn't that the simple and humble display of love that should take the spotlight of Christmas?

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Scrap Love Links

So, I thought I would wrap up my fabric scrap theme with a few "put your scraps to good use" links. If you don't have the patience to sew a million little quilting squares together, perhaps you could find a little inspiration here:

1. Gathered Clutches, are the perfect gift giving idea 2. Whimsical Key Chains from Living with Punks would be great as a gift tag to add an extra something special to simple gift wrapping.

3. Turn those fabric scraps into a decorative accent to perk up any corner in your home with trendy garland. 4. "A little birdie told me"... as found from the inspirational magazine Molly Makes.

5. Paper bags using fabric scraps as a cute closure, just right to fill with special treats for any occasion, from Scissor Variations.

6. From needle cases to zippered bags, notebook covers to scissors cases, covered tape measure to handmade cards, a cup and a catch up will leave you with a whole lotta scrap inspiration.

7. Sweet and fun from the birds and the bees to quirky little critters than one finds just below the knees from Pop-i-cok.

Do you have any fun fabric scrap links that you care to share? Or just leave a link from a recent blog posts showing one of your own "scrap love" projects... I would love to see what is inspiring you these days.

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Great Minds Think Alike

... or at least that's what I've heard.

So, this week we had a knock on the door from Mr. Postman, and guess what he had for me? A sweet little package from Juliette with a few handmade Craft It Forward gifts inside. And let me just say that it is super fitting, since I've been rambling on about it for days, that one of her gifts was made using fabric scraps. Aren't these "thank you" cards great?

I love it when there is that extra added detail to things. I'm really loving the hot pink flower stamp that she used on the back of the cards. I'll share what else she sent me later... good things come to those who wait, right?

Gee, I wonder how she knew that I'm a huge fan of Heather Bailey fabrics?.... hmmmm.

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Bookworm

I'm still sorting through and having lots of fun with fabric scraps these days, not to mention that I had to try to find some creative outlet while my sewing machine was being repaired. My husband was actually laughing at poor, little ol' me, who was almost pacing the floor not quite knowing what to do without it. I'm super glad that the repairs did not take too long and I was able to put the finishing touches on these sweet little bookmarks.

Several years ago my parents got me a Cuttlebug embossing and die cutting machine for Christmas (link für Deutschland), and I have to say that I have really put it to good use since then. There are all kinds of cutting and embossing patterns from simple to very ornate.

Originally inspired from this post, I thought I would try my own version, and since the weather has been so cold and grey these days, I just had to pull out a few fabrics that remind me of warmer weather.

Perfect for suggling up next to a warm fire with a nice book, don't you think?

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Craft It Forward Countdown

Just in case you have forgotten about this, let me just send out a quick little reminder, and hope that you will pass it along too. It seems as though I often tend to be quite revealing about myself, including many of my bad habits and shortcomings... so what's one more thing to admit? Here it is... I'm a procrastinator. Yep, and I am very aware of this tendency about myself. Somehow, it's like I need the pressure of a deadline to get me going. At university, I always waited until the last minute to finish most of my assignments, and I have to say that some of my best writing was always done right before a due date.


So I knew when I "signed my name on the dotted line" for Craft it Forward, that it would not happen until the very end of the year. But I have to say that I'm pretty proud that I have sent out all but one of my handmade items before Christmas. (come on, give me a break... I signed up for this on Facebook AND my blog... twice the work!) So, now there is only one month left until we bring in 2012... yeah, hard to believe, huh?

Have you sent out all your Craft it Forward gifts? Do you have a link to share about one of the items you sent or one of the items you received?... please share!

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Just to Say "Thank You"

So how is it with you... do you find that when you get on a "kick" that it's hard to get off? Sometimes for me when inspiration hits, it often comes from the same place and I have to work an idea completely through until I've gotten it out of my system. As you might have noticed from my last two posts, I've been working a lot with fabric scraps these days. Recently while wasting a little bit of time on Pinterest, I found a sweet little project combining paper and fabric that inspired me for my latest "I should be doing something else instead" project.

I don't know about you, but when I buy something online and it shows up in a pretty packaging, or with that special added touch, it makes me feel like I'm not just another random person whose only purpose is to make the company's bank account a little fatter... but that my business might actually be appreciated.

I've been adding little "thank you" cards to orders that I send out for quite a while now, but I've had a lot of fun working on this non-sewing way to say "danke"... just my little extra to make an order feel less like an order and more like a present.

What, did you really think that I could put the Anna Maria LouLouThi fabrics down for long? I have to say that this one is my favorite... somehow the fun color combination and the intrigue of seeing just a small little snippet of this fabric makes this one for me kinda special.

What do you do with your fabric scraps? Do you like to combine fabric with other mediums?

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Scrap Sampler

Some time ago I stumbled onto this on Pinterest and briefly shared it when I was on my "button kick". But I think it's such a fantastic project for some of those fabric scraps that you might have lying around that I wanted to share it again. Here are two downloadable "sewing notion displays" from Design Sponge, just right for showcasing your favorite fabric collections. I still have to say that Anna Maria Horner's Garden Party is still one of my all time favorites.

Also from the fabric and scrapbooking paper designers, Basic Grey, offer a bit more elaborate variations of these fabric sampler boards on canvas found here... oh, the possiblities!

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Bits & Pieces

I just love it when I get a chance to use up some of the fabrics scraps that end up on the cutting floor, don't you? Since I've not really gotten into making quilts (yet), I find it hard to throw those little pieces of treasured fabric away... but quite frankly, sometimes I'm totally overwhelmed with them not quite knowing what do with them either. I had a tip that was passed on from Susanne recently of what she does with some of her fabric scraps (seriously, I would love to give you her link, but her blog is still in the process)

I have always loved covered buttons, and really like some recent projects I've seen with them being made into jewelry, push pins, magnets, and even gift wrap accents. Aren't these Aneela Hoey fabric covered button giant paper clips super sweet?... perfect for a bookmark or even getting yourself organized, and who doesn't need a little more order in their lives... right?

So, what do you do with your fabric scraps... any fun fabric scrap links?

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Where the Heart Leads

Five years ago today, I got on a plane and left everyone and everything I've ever known... leaving behind my family, my friends, my house, my job, my way of life, my language, my culture, and yes, even simplicity. All for love. Of course it might make the story a little more readable, leaving one with that sense of an inner sigh, if I were to fluff it up by saying that "Prince Charming" and I lived happily ever after. But aren't such things exactly the kind of things that make up a fairytale?

Moving to another land, another culture might be much more complicated than meets the eye. On the surface, there are so many times that I think that there are really not that many differences between Americans and Germans. We all laugh, we love, we have families, and we share joy over the same kinds of things, and sorrow over just as many. The same sun rises and the same sun sets on both of our lands... just at different times. But what my soul has come to find joy in, and sometimes sadness in, is that while these surface things might make one feel connected, they can often be a painful reminder that this is not what I once knew as home. They often say that it takes more than a house to make it a "home", and that is true, but it takes so much more than that... more than just people that you love living in it.

In recent years when traveling "home" to the U.S., I have found myself quite disconnected. Things had carried on without me there to observe them and take part in them. I felt a little lost... there was familiarity without being familiar anymore. But that sense of being lost was not just on the part of returning to the place of my roots... it was also the absence of things that I have had to learn and embrace as my "new home". Some of these things came easily for me, while others I still struggle with.

But five years later finds me fairly fluent in my "new language", so much so that sometimes I have to ask my German husband the English word for "wxyz". Having a command of the language has given me a sense of freedom that I did not have at first, which makes simple things like shopping, going to the doctor, taking the train to a new city, or whatever you might find "common", not as scary as it once was. Sometimes it almost feels surreal that while I interact with others on a daily basis, whether I know them or not, that on the surface I might appear as just a normal girl making her way through life. But what they do not know is that I am actually looking out from behind my disguised cape of "anonymity", secretly relishing in the fact that they may never know that I as an "Ausländer" (alien/foreigner), view their world and see EVERYTHING they see with completely different eyes... and often they may not ever know it.

It’s kind of funny that just this past week, I was thinking about my old house... the one I bought on my own, fixed up on my own, and dearly loved. The interesting thing is that it was brick with some faux "Fachwerk" accents, with climbing ivy growing on it. You see, I've always loved this style. Something about it has always spoken to me, and when I reflect upon this and take into consideration that all these elements are quite typically found here, it makes me wonder if my soul knew ahead of time just where my heart would one day end up.

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Christmas, Apples, & Introductions

Have you already started working on any Christmas presents for this year? I'm proud to say that I've started, and have plans for lots more. Oh, I would so love to say that this Christmas will be a total handmade holiday for me... well, perhaps with the exception of my husband and a few other men in the family. (seriously... what can you make someone who is excited about tractors, wine, a good cigar, and grilling?)

Aside from the new Lizzy fabrics, the super sweet collection, "Little Apples" from Aneela Hoey, was the other fabric collection that I have been waiting on since last spring to get my hands on. If you think this collection is sweet, wait until you see the new fabrics that she introduced at Fall Market (to be delivered in spring)... blues, pinks, reds, greys... little red riding hood, foxes, flying mushrooms, all in the perfect shade of adorable.

With the fresh mix of reds and turquoises, I knew this would be the perfect fabric for my two nieces. I have another project now in the works, but I thought that I could use a few scraps to whip up this mini bag, found in Amy Butler's Style Stitches book. Really easy to sew, and don't all little girls love such bags to put their treasured what-nots in?

So, has your sewing machine started to hum before the holidays, or do you need a little last minute pressure to get things going?

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