Whirlwind Weekend

I planned to have a crazy May, but this month has turned out to be more action-packed than I could have predicted.

Steve and I ran around frantically earlier in the weekend, trying to come up with some respectable outfits for a cocktail party (and also prepared for many upcoming formal events this summer). After three or four trips out to different shopping areas, we came away victorious. I was able to coordinate all of my accessories, not a bad feat for me! And Steve found some super-dapper outfits, which help disguise his usual jean-wearing self.

Our Modest Garden

We also got our hands dirty in the garden, planting annuals. I am am excited too because we bought a hanging basket (something I have wanted to do for awhile) and hung it over a garden eyesore.

Finally, we’re redoing our kitchen (on a small scale, at least)! We spent some time scouting out our projects yesterday and hope to start and finish the project in the next three weeks. Needless to say, it may be awhile before I get back into my sewing projects.

And in a few hours, we’re off to the Phillies game!

With June starting tomorrow, I hope that June and July can calm down a bit so I can make it through my final graduate school class. We’ll see!

Project Prepping

The Crafty Planet Booty

Last night, in an attempt to get my sewing projects started again, I cut out tons of fabric and ironed all of the new fabric I bought at Crafty Planet in Minneapolis over the weekend. Taking on this small part of my sewing projects helped me refocus my energies, and I look forward to getting behind the sewing machine again. I can’t wait to make things out of all of these fabulous fabrics!

On some other notes: school starts again next week (last class though) and we’ve got another packed-in weekend. I’m hoping to have some down time to rest, since I am still recovering from the last few weeks of fun. Also, Steve and I are hoping to go see Star Trek, since everyone is giving it rave reviews.

New Bobbles

One of our first excursions in Minneapolis was Bead Monkey. When we get together, my mom and I always like to work on a project. Beading is nice because it’s pretty portable and fairly easy.

I’ve been eyeing up lots of bracelets lately, so I made several over the weekend. I am excited about these because they’ll dress up a casual summer outfit (not that tank tops and shorts need a whole lot of dressing up!). I am trying to wear more gold for variety, so I am very excited about the colorful stretchy bracelets I made that have gold accents.

We’re Home

Happy Memorial Day!

After a wonderful weekend in beautifully sunny, temperate Minneapolis, Steve and I returned to full-on summer in Philadelphia, with temperatures in the 80s and with a hint of humidity. We had a great time in the Midwest city. Though I had been in the Mpls airport many times for layovers, this weekend marked my first time visiting the city. Between an attractive skyline, lots of lakes, and extremely nice people, this is a city I would like to visit many times again.

The weekend involved lots of catching up with friends and family, eating, drinking, touring, and all of the great things that a vacation involves. We visited downtown Mpls, and I have included some pictures of our trip. I also had the chance to go to a few really cool craft stores, which I’ll talk about more later in the week.

What a great unofficial kick off to summer.

Two of Our Hosts for the Weekend, Sophie and Maddie

A Famous Work of Art in Mpls

The View from the Old Gold Medal Flour Factory

The Gold Medal Flour Sign

Finnish Pastries at the Farmers’ Market

The Guthrie

A Twins Game

Off to . . .

The month of fun continues! Tomorrow Steve and I leave for Minneapolis for the holiday weekend.

Looking forward to good times with friends and family . . . and good pictures!

More Napkins . . . This Time as a Thank-you Gift

Organization is Bliss

After, let’s say, three or four months of working on projects in chaos, I finally got my work space organized. It involved a lot of tossing, recycling, and labeling. Given that my love for sewing has reached new levels this year, I started to accumulate a lot of stuff and my sewing basket that was broken was really not doing the trick.

I am really excited with my storage solution for all of that stuff. Thanks Ikea!

I like this little storage chest because it’s compact. I can store each little sewing item in a separate drawer, like colored thread, neutral thread, zippers, scissors, etc. I do wish Ikea had sold it as a constructed piece because the “assembly required” almost killed Steve.

Here’s to a few months (at least, I hope) of organization!

Taking it Easy

After an amazing day in New York, which included a great brunch at the Cornelia Cafe in the West Village, a browse through Purl and Purl Patchwork in Soho, and a walk over the Williamsburg Bridge to Brooklyn to visit the Brooklyn Brewery and a beer garden, Steve and I came home pretty tired. Thanks to all who made our brief visit memorable!

This week we’ll try to take it easy to rest up for our upcoming trip to Minneapolis. Can’t wait to explore a new place!

Retro Mom’s Day Gift

My mom loves food from the 1950s and 60s. In fact, she’s mentioned her recent obsession with pineapple upside down cakes to me several times in the last few months. Other foods she likes that come to mind are: beef stroganoff, meatloaf, and jello salad with fruit mixed in. I have nothing wrong with her fondness for her childhood food, and it helped inspire me when I put together her Mother’s Day gift a month ago.

During my decoupage day, I made this tray for her:

The Tray: Notice the Pineapple Upside Down Cake

And then I followed it up with napkins:

Fun Retro Napkins

Finally, I found some cute outdoor glasses from Target designed by Orla Kiely:

Orla Kiley Glass

Needless to say, I spent many hours thinking of Mom when I put this gift together!

At Last: My Quilt Pictures

Steve, the household hero, fixed the computer today. Thank goodness! The virus was starting to make us both very crabby. He is continuing his role as super husband by building this little storage container I bought at Ikea. Steve, extra love for you today!

The Summer Quilt

As mentioned this week, I finished my summer quilt on Sunday. I ended up tying the quilt, which took a lot of time. I may have been better off learning how to machine quilt for this one. Anyway, it’s now done and I love it! I used extra thin cotton batting  so we can sleep under it all summer long.

Glad Orange Fur Doesn't Show!

I am learning that each large project I take on takes me about four months to finish. I could get them done faster, but this timeline lets me take my time so I don’t get sloppy and/or sick of it. I am in love with the fabrics for the quilt, I like the nature theme of leaves and flowers. Pink and green have been the bedroom color scheme since we got married, and I am still in love with the colors in our bedroom.

Adjusting

It’s been a pleasurable week, despite a few setbacks. We’re still working on fixing the main computer, which is a major drag, but I am adjusting to life without school pretty well. The weather is much nicer here, which has been perfect for evening walks, and I have been reading for pleasure and slowly beginning my summer projects.

My main focus at the moment is relearning how to relax. I had a great mid-week conversation with one of my brothers tonight, and it was great to be able to do something important like that in the middle of the week. I’ve become so accustomed to having to cram all important activities in on Saturday and Sunday.

I need to line up weekday activities in the fall. I am trying to decide on an art medium to pursue and debating whether I could succeed at a yoga class once and for all. In past experiences, I have struggled with the calm breathing. It’s just not my thing.

Anyway, I hope to share my summer quilt pictures tomorrow.