A Cold and Crisp January Day

(Downtown Tampa is just between those two trees)

Sorry I have been MIA for the past couple of weeks. I've been very busy trying to get so many things organized. I was on my way to sign up at a local gym this evening and made a quick pit stop for my camera. The gym is by the park so I took a couple of pictures at around five this evening. Yes this park is "Down By the Bay" like the kids song (hence the reason there is so much water in the pics)~;o) What an extremely frigid day it was today! My hands went numb after a couple of snapshots! I really enjoyed this quiet time to myself. Life can get rough at times. Then there are those truly magical moments where you run into familiar friendly faces. You know, when the room is busy with chatter, and your just stopping to take it all in, then a pair of eyes glance up and the chatter becomes faded until it comes to a full stop that lasts almost half a minute. And then this incredibly huge smile comes across their face that words can't even express. What joyous and rare moments to lose yourself in...

My First Handsewn Baby Blanket!

Practice makes perfect right? Well after practicing quite a few squares (which eventually became coasters) and place mats, I decided to kick things up a notch and sew a blanket. Today I sewed my first double-sided flannel baby blanket and I think I'm hooked! I am thinking about adding some satin trim to this receiving blanket too so we'll see~;o) Although I am clearly still amateur, I plan on making more of these. Stay tuned!

A Placemat and some fabric squares.

I tried to make a handmade mini tote out of the lovely fabric squares shown at the top, but it didn't turn out that well. Guess the next pair will be made into coasters~;o) I really love the way my double-sided placemat came out though, I think I'm going to make a whole set using Michael Miller fabric~:o) The pictures came out real light for some reason this time, I took these in the evening and will try and take them in natural lighting next time so that they come out better. I also sewed some practice squares using some baby flannel fabric, I made a little doll pillow using the same fabric, I'll try to list pictures soon. I LOVE SEWING!!!!! I love my new mania~;o) Stay tuned!

A Little Pin Cushion

(I think I'm addicted...this wasn't even the hint~;o)

I call her Betty.....

(Blackberry and Strawberry Tart)

No not the tart, that would be the sewing machine lol~;o) I hope everyone had a wonderful New Years Day celebrating with family and friends! I spent the day cleaning shop to make room for one of my new best friends! So then today after waiting for a week, I went to Walmart and got my new sewing machine! Complete with how to cd and everything! I actually surprised myself at how quickly I was able to thread the bobbin and all that good stuff...I was able to even sew a couple of things! A tote strap and in the picture above, a little pouch with roses on it! Although both came out totally amateur, I was just thrilled to be able to work the thing! I have a couple of works in progress and I'll drop ya'll a hint soon~;o) For those of you wondering how the tart fits into this post I just thought I'd share with you what I recently baked for our company New Years Eve potluck. My blackberry and strawberry tart was a huge hit at our luncheon! Want the recipe? CLICK HERE. Until next time darlings~:o)