jane's apron

crazy time

 

It's that crazy time of year.  I consider myself an organized person but even that falls apart among the hundreds and hundreds of teeny tiny things I have to get, do, buy, and fix in preparing the kids and myself for school.  

And, in the middle of it all, I had a strong urge to sew a duvet cover for my king sized bed.  I know.  I'm not even sure where it came from but it was all-consuming for a few days.  Trips to the fabric store, searches for tutorials, plans in my head.  All that I have so far is a panel print (see above photo) unrelated to the duvet cover project.  I hope you are laughing with me and not at me on that one.  

And just to throw in something totally random...I saw Mary Engelbreit in her car the other day (I'm a passenger in my car now that my son has his permit...amazing all of the stuff you see when you aren't driving).  

note: the insanely cute panel print says "Spring Street by Carolyn Gavin/Lilla Rogers Studio for P&B Textiles".

simple stitched journal

I've assembled some handmade journals before and love them.  It's fun to see the colors together and fun to add lots of goodies.  And fun just to have them around.  This is how I make them:

• gather a group of papers and pick out 6 of your favorites (double-sided scrapbook paper works really well because you get to see both sides).  
• cut the paper to 8.5x11
• fold the paper in half (so they are 8.5 x 5.5)
• stack the papers until you like the color combo 
• punch about 5 evenly-spaced holes along the fold lines (through all 6 sheets of paper).  A needle works well.
• thread a good-sized needle with twine and, starting on the inside of the journal, stitch together with a big running stitch up one side of the journal and then down the other side. Tie off the last stitch with the first using a cute knot.  

now comes the fun part...

add stuff...stuff you have in your craft space; envelopes, ribbon, buttons, stamps, etc.

This one is off in the mail today to a friend but I'll be back with a few more later this week (after I find a better way to take pictures of them).