I'm a guest!

It's a few days late (sorry!), but the lovely Mollie of Wild Olive, had me as a guest Friday to share a tutorial.

Check it out here and let me know what you think!

Finished Projects!

Hooray!  Some finished projects to share with you...

A sneak peak at my Craft Hope project!

All that's left for this project is the store bought stuff!

This is a pin cushion using a baby food jar.  Another idea I got in my head somehow and have been looking and looking for something to put in the jar.  Found these little birds at Michael's and they are perfect!

I'm semi-happy with how it turned out.  Needs some work on the top portion.  I think I'm going to try to make a felt pin cushion top for the next one and see if that goes better.  This top is just some stuffing in a circle of fabric that is gathered at the bottom into a big poof.  Then I had the problem of covering up the rim of the lid.  I think felt will be better over all.

And this poor apron was started over a year ago.  It is for a friend and was supposed to be a housewarming present.  She's been living in her apartment for over a year now!  I was working on the ties when my last sewing machine seized up on me and I got so frustrated I went to hand sewing for a long time.  I had already started this with machine sewing, so I wanted to finish it that way.  Better late than never, I guess.  The base is half of a pillowcase that my mom found and the pocket is made from a vintage sheet (I embroidered the A for Ali on it!).

My friend Andee (that is doing Craft Hope with me) has a little interview with me today, you can see it here.  I'll be interviewing Andee in April, so look for that here soon!

Blessings!

Craft some Hope

Hello all!  If you haven't heard of Craft Hope yet, head on over and take a look.  Here is a little snippet about them:

Craft Hope is a love inspired project designed to share handmade crafts with those who need them.  It is our hope to combine our love for crafting and desire to help others into a project to make a difference around the world.


I have participated in several Craft Hope drives and have had wonderful experiences each time.  For project 11, my friend Andee and I, are creating birthing kits for women in Haiti.  I'll have pictures of my project soon - in the meantime, please join us in crafting some hope and find more information here.

Bus Stop Stories - Part 2

I've noticed I like contrast (see this post).  The following story transpired in early January, and I jotted down what I saw and felt when I saw it (at the bus stop), but it didn't feel like the right time to put it down as a story.

Until now.

So, there I was, sitting at the bus stop, when two nuns (in full habits and all)(oh, and if I am using incorrect terminology 1)please excuse and forgive me-I'm not Catholic and 2)please correct me!) and a gaggle of high school teenage girls crossed the street in front of me.

Now, talk about contrast.  These aren't just any high school girls; these are Southern, city, wealthy, can-afford-a-private-catholic-school, stylish, well dressed and made-up girls.  And at the front and back of of the group, was a nun.  White robe (?), habit, and what looked to be a wooden cross from my distant vantage point.

The teenagers each had the "latest" fashion trends in jackets and boots, long hair, make-up, etc.

The nuns were dressed simply and uniformly.

I realized that as much as the girls probably all wanted to be "unique" and stand out, in the end and certainly from a distance, they all pretty much looked the same.

Just like the nuns.

The nuns have chosen and are on their path in life.  A life devoted to God.

The girls haven't even begun life yet.  What must be on their minds: boys? fashion? college? careers?  Will any of them become nuns?  Devote their lives to God in that way, or perhaps in others?

As I said, I am not Catholic, but sometimes I find myself wondering what it would be like to be a nun.  I see it as being as simple as: Devoted to God.  I am quite sure I am over-simplifying things, and while I am not a nun, my life should still be devoted to God.  Too often, though, I let the "things" of life get in the way of that relationship.

Inspiration

Here is a little bit of what has been inspiring me lately...

Folksy music 

(if you like Ruth, check out Heather Masse and the Wailin' Jennys also!)

Ruth Moody

The beautiful, dreamy photography of Samantha Lamb

"Putting the Peach in my Cheeks" 

from her series Lion*Light*Lamb: The Perpetual Picnic

(doesn't that look like the best place in the world to read a book!?)

"The Sea, The Surge and the Seamstress"

from her series titled the same

Rolled up jeans

(and this awesome rug!  Lion Brand has the pattern here for free!)

What's inspiring you these days?

Blessings - Daphne

Up-date and stories coming soon...

So stay tuned!