handmade book exchange

A while back I signed the girls up for the Handmade Book Exchange hosted by Annie of Bird and Little Bird. Since drawing and storytelling go hand in hand I thought this was the perfect snowed-in-again-so-let's-get-those-creative-juices-flowing solution to the days when we've had more than enough time playing in the snow. Each day there were new ideas discussed, pictures drawn and colored, and story lines revised. I am happy to announce that the books are finished and in the mail to our Handmade Book Exchange partners in Oregon. Here's a peek at the books with the very proud author/illustrators!

Of course, both girls spent time enjoying each other's books as well as their own before we mailed them off to their new owners. Now the excitement is building as they wait for the books being mailed to them.

***before I could even hit the publish button their Handmade Book Exchange books came in the mail!***

The books arrived! The excitement was almost uncontainable! The package was snatched from my hand and paraded around the house! Once I opened the envelope the books were read and reread.

The pictures were admired and studied and discussed. Then they traded and did the same thing. What fun! Perfect for a cold, wintry day. A grand idea...and the start of a grand, little, bookmaking factory...right here at the Clothesline. I think next we'll try Regina's book idea because I love it...er, I mean, they love it! :o) happy wednesday xo ang

a project of firsts

As you know, I joined the Thankful Things Swap hosted by Adrienne from Some of a Kind. My first swap...great fun! Well, one of the things I sent to Emily, my swap partner, was an apron that I made. I loosely followed this tutorial for the style of the apron. But I couldn't stop there. This apron has my first attempt at gathers. Easier than expected...and cute. Then I thought, well, I've been wanting to try french seams, and Adrienne said it was super easy, so I found this tutorial and gave it a try. Can I just say...I love french seams. It was so simple, yet the outcome is beautiful. I know, I hear you...What's the big deal? It's a seam for crying out loud, no one will see it. Oh, it does matter. I've made things without a serger, without pinking shears, without french seams, and although the finished product is good (in most cases), the inside, where the seams are, has always looked kinda, well, messy. French seams are THE, er, my solution. The other new thing I tried on this apron was the reverse applique on the pockets. An apron has got to have pockets...at least for me, but plain ol' pockets just weren't doing anything for me this time around. Then I remembered seeing some reverse applique work here and here, so I gave it a whirl. Love it! So now, after making a new apron with gathers, french seams, and reverse applique pockets, all of which were successful, it was hard to give it away. But, the whole point of the swap was to share tangible things we enjoy. I sure hope Emily enjoys the apron as much as I enjoyed making it!

Okay, so I couldn't stop there. My dear friend Theresa had a birthday so I made an apron for her while I was making the swap apron. Yea, that's right, I was working on two projects at once. I used the same tutorial for the style, but I changed the pockets. I made large, square, lined pockets then folded down one corner and added a button for detail. I also did the gathers (even better this time around) and french seams. Still loving those seams! I also made her a matching travel tissue holder. As a mother of little ones I know how important and helpful it is to have tissues on hand at all times....especially this time of year. Okay, so I was so excited to give this gift to Theresa I forgot to take pictures of it first. She was kind enough to bring it to the library so I could snap a few shots in the picture book section...hence the bad lighting, but you can still see the finished product.

my first swap, school, and a stack of books

I have always been intrigued by the idea of a swap. There are a lot of swaps in the blogging community. There are apron swaps, book swaps, craft swaps...well, you get the idea. Well, Adrienne at Some of a Kind decided to host a Thankful Things Swap. I just couldn't resist...I tried, but it didn't work. The purpose behind this swap is to gather some tangible things that I am thankful for and mail them to my swap partner, and she'll do the same thing. Exciting! I know! There is a little more time left before the deadline and my stash is nearly gathered and ready to mail...but I received the swap box from my partner already! Yippee! Oh, there were so many things crammed in the box like...an oven mitt stuffed with recipes that I can't wait to try, a journal, some book beads, fuzzy, warm socks, a stash of fabric, beads, and ribbon, a pumice brush for beautiful feet, birthday party coasters, clever and cute recycled envelopes made from magazines, a beauty of a bird ornament, and a couple of pinwheels which the girls quickly claimed! Oh, Thank you Emily! I am enjoying ALL of thankful things! I assure you, you're swap box will be in the mail very soon!


Now for the school stuff. The girls have been doing very well with their school work. Miss O is a hard worker. She's like a sponge I tell you...always reading, remembering just about all of the details, and sharing what she has learned with anyone who will listen. Oh, I love her sweet spirit. Now, Miss E is still 3 years old but is eager to do school work, too. I've been finding great preschool things for her to do...like working on opposites, counting, letters, using lacing cards...but there's one thing that she has been waiting for...SCISSORS! I have always been hesitant to let her have her way with scissors. She's very energetic and carefree...and I've seen bad haircuts and heard horror stories...I just wasn't ready. Well, yesterday was the day. She got to use scissors for the first time. She did a great job. She concentrated and focused and furrowed her brow with serious dedication to the task at hand.

Okay, now the stack of books. Last week at the library I actually found quite a few books for my own personal enjoyment. Don't get me wrong, I always enjoy the books that I choose for the girls, but these...oh, such good finds, such yummy recipes, such fun sewing patterns, and oh, the story of Annie Londonderry...I am really enjoying that one! Read anything good lately?