Catching Up!

In an effort to catch up with all that I've been up to, here are just a few of the projects/swaps that I've completed recently.

Top left: A Birthday set for my MIL. Made using Fandango by Kate spain. The tote was the first of its type that I've ever made and I was pleased by how it came together. I used a tute from FilmInTheFridge for the tote and a Sew-Fantastic tute for the eyeglass case.
Top Middle: I made this box pouch for the Pretty Little Pouch Swap through Flickr using It's a Hoot by Momo.
Top Right: Echino bag for me! The first real handbag that I ever made and I love it!
Bottom Left: Made by me using some great Home Dec fabric that I got from Joann's. It was the perfect fabric to make this Everything Bag from Heather Ross's, Weekend Sewing.
Bottom Middle: Sewing machine cover made for the Sewn Spaces Swap on Flickr. This was a hard one to give up, I love theGood Folks fabrics from Anna Maria Horner!
Bottom Right: I was thrilled to get into Doll Quilt Swap 10, it was my third DQS and my quilt turned out just as I had envisioned. I lov eit when a plan comes together.

Okay, so now you've seen some of what I've made, next I'll show you what I received!

Chickens!

Chickens!, a photo by craftingmomof1 on Flickr.

We have chickens! Please meet Faye (the brown one, a Salmon Favarolle) and Samantha (the white Delaware). We were thrilled when both laid an egg the first day in their new digs. We've gotten two eggs a day ever since! Such good girls :)

The front yard at our new house is fully fenced and dog free (the doggies get the backyard) so this was the perfcet opportunity to get a chicken coop set up. We bought a small shed from our neighbours and converted it into a great raised coop with a flap door, roost bar and nesting box. Being at the edge of a National Park wilderness the are a LOT of predators in the area so a secure chicken run was a must - right now it's a bit janky but within the next couple of weeks, we'll build a larger more permanent run.

I hope to add at least two more chickens in the next month!

My Morning Cup - A beautiful day!

My Morning Cup - A beautiful day!
Originally uploaded by craftingmomof1

Mwaaaaaah!

When we decided to move I was soooooo excited because there was enough space that I could have a sewing room all for myself! My last creative space was great but I shared some of it with my son's toys - believe me when I tell you that Lincoln Logs hurt just as much as Legos when you step on them!

Now that his new bedroom is big enough for all of his stuff, my new room is all for me, me, me, me, me! I found my new desk on Craigslist and it's a lot bigger than my old one, and finally I'm putting my Eames shell chair to good use, I swear it's the most comfortable desk chair ever! My desk looks out onto a large wraparound deck and the beautiful trees and hills beyond.

Most of the furniture from my old space has fit perfectly into the new one. We loved our last house but I find it funny that I never actually put any pictures on the wall. I must have "known" that we would probably not be there for long. But look, one of the first things that I did here was put up some little paintings by a local artist.

This hutch barely squeezed into my new room! There were literally just inches to spare in getting it around the corner! This is one of my favourite pieces of furniture and I would have been heartbroken if it hadn't fit. But it did, and doesn;t it look great?! :)

One of my other hutches is now being used in our kitchen so this one is now filled to overflowing! It's straining at the seams but I can probably find room to fit a few new tchotckies.
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M.I.A

Life has had me Missing In Action in blog land recently. With my 9-year old starting at a new school and an unexpected move to a new house, my blog has definitely been silent lately. Let's recap, starting with some recent craftiness:

This is the amazing Doll Quilt Swap 9 quilt that I received! Isn't it amazing?! It now has pride of place in my new sewing room. I absolutely adore the birds, it's just perfect :)

Next, we have the DQS9 quilt and goodies (camera strapcover & scrappy mug rug) that I made. They went all the way to the East Coast and I am pleased to report that my partner loved her package of goodies. Yay!

This is definitely one of the BEST swap packages that I have ever received. This was for the Urban Home Goods Swap on Flickr and when she posted pics of it (before I knew it was for me) I loved it and knew that it had to be for me! When I opened up the box I was so excited. It had been a rough week for me and this package eally put a smile on my face and brightened my day. The pillow is amazing and made with some of my fave Heather Bailey. I absolutely adore the embroidered gnome and pieced fabric wall hanging, it is also now adorning my sewing room wall. It's so funny that she made one of those little baskets for me because I had just made two for myself before I received hers. Can you tell that i love it?!

These little lovelies were my submission for the UHG Swap. This was a big deal for me as it was my first time making a pillow cover, making a dresden plate, making hexies, using the aqua/red combo and trying my hand at applique! I have to say that I was very pleased with the results and my partner was too!

Please welcome Henrietta! This gorgeous pincushion was what I recieved in the Pincushion Pass Swap on Flickr. I absolutely adore her and cannot bear the thought of piercing her with pins (although that's what she's for!) so for now she decorates my sewing table.

And last but certainly not least is a peek of the pincushion that I made for the swap. It is made of wool felt and hand sewn/embroidered. I did not use a pattern, just made it on the fly and I love how it came together. I don't have much experience with embroidery stitches and techniques so it was a really fun project.

my first knitting

my first knitting
Originally uploaded by craftingmomof1

Finally I have learned how to knit!

Abundant..............

......is the word I would use to describethe blackberries in our yard. At the end of last year when it was time to prepare the garden for Winter my husband very carefully cut back the blackberry bush in our yard. It looks like the work that he did paid off because we have an excess of berries right now! Every day we pick the ripe berries that we can reach and the next day we seem to pick even more.

I've been saving up all of the extras (and there is a LOT) to try my hand at canning this year. Canning has always been something that I have wanted to try, but did not have anyone to learn from. Yes, I know that I can just get a book but I would much rather learn first hand from someone who knows what they're doing. Lucky for me I recently discovered West Marin Free Skool. A kind local volunteer is graciously holding a class on canning both savory and sweet foods! I'm crossing my fingers that my blackberries will be put to good use!

While picking blackberries I discovered a little rosebush that was being swamped by some Jasmine. Another chore to put on my list............................