Java Mug Rug Challenge

I wanted to share my entry for the Burgundy Buttons hosted Java Mug Rug Challenge.



I am under no illusion that this will win anything, but I sure did have fun putting it together. This is my best binding yet! Only one corner and the entire back part were messed up. lol

The last day to enter is the 28th, so there is still time to enter if you want to give it a go.

Style Stitches Monthly Challenge - Month 2

Hi there,

I wanted to show you all the finished February bag of the month from the Style Stitches Monthly Challenge. I WILL remember to get them into Flickr this month. ;) Click this link if you want to check out all the other participants.

The bag is called the Reversible Everyday Shopper. I suppose mine could be reversible...but, when the fabric requirements said Home Dec, I went seriously Home Dec. I call this bag my Mary Poppins Carpet Bag. ;) The interior fabric would be right at home on an Edwardian Wingback. Yikes! It is thick and heavy. The whole bag is heavy. Fill that with groceries and you better hope you have a sturdy bike or at least that you work out regularly. Live and learn!

You will also notice that I added some of my own style this time. I added the cream ribbon flower and border to the front pocket. I thought it was seriously drab and kinda boring otherwise.

Anyway! Without further ado:

This is the back:

Interior with huge blurred pocket:

Basic Charity Challenge

Hi there,

I wanted to pass on a really cool challenge thought up by Cara over at Cara Quilts.

From Fat Quarterly:  "Cara is challenging all of us to step up and help out in our local communities ... and have the chance to win fabulous prizes in the process. Cara's Basics Charity Challenge is simple in its premise: make a small donation of personal essentials -- like paper towels, toiletries, underwear, and socks -- to a local organization in need in your community. Let Cara know that you did it. Win great prizes. It's that easy."

I have personally been struck recently by seeing homeless women begging for money on my street corners and have been contemplating what I can do to help. I have given cash, but in my heart I know that is not enough. These women should not be standing on street corners asking for help. There has to be another option.
So, this challenge is really speaking to me. I hope you take part and continue to take part, even after the deadline (and yes, there are amazing prizes for crafty and sewy types. What the heck!!??).  Here is Cara's post explaining her motivation and the rules of the challenge: Basic Charity Challenge.

Thanks very much, and please spread the word!

Finished Cosmo Bag

Wanted to share my finished Cosmo Bag from the Style Stitches Monthly Challenge.
I finished it many days ago, but didn't get pictures or upload it to the Flickr stream in time to be illegible for prizes. I honestly totally forgot that there even WERE prizes. Oh well.  Now I know that next month I have to post it as soon as I finish it!

Now on to February's project...!

Date Night

So, the hubby and I have incorporated a new thing. Date Night. We have never set up a regular, set night for this kind of stuff. But, our lives are so busy now that we realized we needed to schedule some time to be together and just focus on each other. Sure, we eat dinner together and talk sometimes. Or we eat dinner in front of the tv. But after that we go our separate ways into our own rooms (craft room for me, office for him) to work on stuff until it's time to say goodnight. And this is the routine. And we like routine. And it's hard to shake out of routine.
Enter: Date Night. The challenge: Our budget is $15.00 Yup. That's it. Gonna have to get creative here!
We decided that we would each take one date night a month to plan and tonight is the first one. I offered to go first and this is what I have come up with:

The Hit the Books Date Kit

I know I probably could have come up with something on my own, but, please see description of extreme busy life above. If I can pay someone $10 to come up with something for me? I'm totally there.
The best part is that we are both book nerds, so this is not arduous in the least and I'm still $5 in budget, so we can each get a small coffee to drink in the cafe while we go over the stuff we've found.
There are 5 phases or groups of stuff to find. We are only doing Phase 1 tonight, so we have 4 more phases that we can do on 4 other dates throughout the year. Score!!!! So, I actually have now planned 5 dates for $2  each. Beat that, hubbykins! ;)

I will let you know how it goes. Don't pass out from excitement in the meantime. ;)