Collections on display - Fat Quarters

I am what many people may consider a "keeper." I keep most things that come into my house, I am bad at getting rid of things and I have a tendency to start collections all the time. During my craft room organization I started to realize just how many collections I have. I have my collections displayed throughout my house and I love to see how others display their various collections. So I think this will become a reoccurring topic over the next few months as I show some of my collections with you and find some other displays that I find fun. I love to collect so this could end up being a bit dangerous as I might find some new items that I need to start gathering.

To start us off here are a few photos that you may have seen before but it is one of my favorite collections. My Fat Quarters!

Strange Purses #4

These are some strange purses but I think they are very cool. I love when designers use unexpected items for purse handles, I think it is often a very overlooked part of the purse. Both of these purses come from empire33.

The artist used a Civil War sword handle to make this purse - amazing!

This purse has a Japanese Katana sword handle as its handle - fantastic!

Tutorial Tuesday!

This week on tutorial Tuesday I bring you to a site that has a huge list of free patterns. One of my favorite fabric designers and more recently one of my favorite designers of just about everything else (bedding, towels, desktop accessories, rugs, the list could go on and on). Amy Butler's website has tons of free patterns for quilts, small sewing projects and paper crafts too. And after a peek at her new button it looks like there are a few new ones on their way too. Here are a few examples of the free patterns you can find but there are many more than I have listed so take a jump over to Amy's site and check them out.

Great estate sale find

I am so excited about my recent find at an estate sale I stopped at over the weekend. I have always wanted a shelf like this, I always see them in people's house, antique shops and envy the owners greatly. But, now I finally have one of my own. I haven't decided exactly where I want to place this shelf or what I am going to store inside but I am excited to figure all these things out. The top is my favorite part, all the intricate detail is beautiful.

For now it sits in my dining room waiting for the light bulb to go off in my head when I think of the perfect spot/purpose for my wonderful new shelf. To be perfectly honest I have dreams of this in my studio to hold all of my fat quarters and other fun sewing notions but I think it is just too pretty to be hidden upstairs where nobody will ever see it. I will have to find a better spot for it, possibly in the dining room...we will see.

I had to add this picture since my cat snuck in the background.

I have officially converted!

It's official! Today I came home to a brand new Mac Book laptop computer waiting for me. I am so excited I can barely contain myself. I have been playing with it for a few hours now getting everything all set up and it is fantastic. I have a Mac at my job so I have learned to love Mac's over the past year and I finally have one of my own!!!!

But, this comes with one big condition. I must use my computer to build my blog and my business. I need to start writing more and work on a few book ideas that I have. I can't wait to get started!

Garden days

I can still barely believe that the weather is finally warm enough to start working in my garden. I spent a few hours outside today and am so excited to see my ferns are starting to sprout up and even my hostas are starting to peek through. My husband and I are planning a big backyard makeover this summer with a patio extension and hopefully a new built in fire pit and maybe even a water feature too. I can't wait!

Impulse Buying!

I always get excited when Target gets ready to release a new designer collection. Unfortunately, I usually go to the store look at all the cool stuff and somehow convince myself that I don't "need" any of the items. And then without a doubt a few months go by, I see the products all over blogs and in magazines and I decide that, in fact, I do need those items. But by that time the product is long gone and can't be found in any store in town. This happened with the Orla Kiely collection and I was pretty bummed.

So, when I first heard about the Liberty of London collection at Target I made sure to note the date of release and promise myself that I would buy some of my favorite items. So the release came along a few weeks ago and I followed through on my promise to myself and got some goodies!

I got a set of journals, a candle, two storage boxes and a tunic!

Win your own copy of Martha's new book!

If your a sewer then you know the name Singer as a very trusted brand of some of the best sewing machines on the market. They have an awesome contest going on, they are giving away a copy of Martha Stewart's new book Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts every day the entire month of April. And you, my lucky reader, can enter to win your very own copy! The rules couldn't be easier just become a fan of Singer Sewing Company on facebook or sign up to follow them on Twitter and you will automatically be entered to win. Visit their website to find out more!

Tutorial Tuesday!

It's Tuesday again and I have searched through every blog on the Internet to find you another wonderful tutorial to feed your DIY needs!

This project is great for gifts or storage in your office. I love how you can completely make it your own by using any combination of paper and embellishments. Leah is the owner of Life of Lou where I found this wonderful project. The Magic Box tutorial looks pretty easy and has numerous uses throughout the house. Check it out and get working on one today!

PS. Can you believe it - I made it two weeks in a row!

It has arrived!

Of course I had to order Martha's new book, I have the crafting encyclopedia so as a sewer of course I must have the sewing and fabric crafts encyclopedia too! So it arrived yesterday and I dove in as if it were a pile of warm cookies and I was a fat kid at dessert time. Yes, you could say I was a bit excited.

So on to the review. I have a subscription to Martha Stewart Living and I am also subscribed to the Martha Stewart Craft of the Day emails so I have seen LOTS of Martha's projects. As I flipped through the pages I will admit that I recognized many of the projects from previous issues of the magazine or email blasts. There were many projects that were new to me so it was still a lot of fun to take a look through the pages. Although there are some projects that can easily be found on many websites and other projects that I had seen before I still always love looking through Martha's publications. They have wonderful photography, great directions and I am always inspired after looking through the projects.

Overall I am really happy with the book and I can't wait to get started on a few projects!