Drawstring Circle Bottom Pouch Tutorial

I'm so excited to announce that we have a new pattern up in the shop, as well as a TON of bags (there maybe more coming....you know us and our bags!)

 This bag is SO fun to make. The tutorial includes pattern pieces for 3 sizes of the bag. 

 So many possibilities for uses. 

I hope you check it out - be sure to tell us what you think!

Oh Dear, We've Done It Again

Apologies all around..... Stuff goes on and we loose all track of time. 

Begging for pity, I must say that Florida may in fact be trying to kill me. 

Allergies.

 Oh. My. Goodness. 

I am getting my voice back, sort of, after a couple of days of laryngitis. 

Anyway.

We've brought back our popular random number generator. He takes his job seriously. He and I were having an important pistachio eating meeting in the last bit of this evenings sunshine, but he was willing to take time out to choose our winner.

Without further ado but several pictures to build up anticipation. As if waiting and extra five days is not enough build up......

This sweet boy wanted to choose a second place winner....

Jennifer of Parrishplatz you our winner!

 Since you also won Jenny of Pearlswirl Journals giveaway, you should probably buy a lottery ticket or something. Let us know what you choose from the shop and we will get it out to you. I promise we are better at mailing than we are at blogging. 

and

Five Year Blog-A-Thon!

It is hard for me to believe but we have been blogging for five whole years! Way back when I worked at the most wonderful shop with the most amazing people, I was talked into starting a blog. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I in turn talked Jessica into blogging and when You Know Who and I moved back to the states, Jessica and I combined blogs.

Something people may not know, I would never have started working at the craft shop if Jessica hadn't talked me into taking a class. Oh the things I would have missed!

So to celebrate this monumental event several of those awesome people and us are doing a blog-a-thon give away! Please visit each of the blogs and leave a comment for the chance at some really awesome things. 

Jessica and I are offering a $30 certificate to be used in our shop. All you have to do is go over to the shop, look around, come back to this post and tell us what you might choose if you win.

 Here are the links to everyone else's giveaways! Just click on the pictures!

 Comments will  close at 10pm on the 16th of March and winners will be announced on the 17th of March.

Thanks for playing along!

Warning - Giant Orb Spider

This is my front yard at night (duh) and something's out there. I know the title of this post gives it away but I also know that several of my family and friends abhor spiders and needed to be warned. I'm not a huge fan either but when a harmless, beneficial comes along I just can't help but be interested. If you've been to FL you know bugs here are big. This spider eats some of those bugs. 

Gotta love her.

I just wouldn't want to mistakenly walk into her web because even though I know she won't bite,

 I. Would. Be. So. Freaked. Out.

Can you see her now?

She is covered with very reflective hair! 

This spider builds her web just at sunset and then removes it before dawn. 

It wasn't easy for me to get pictures. It was a bit windy and, well, dark. So, I'm sorry to have  not done it justice.

The webs are close to three feet across.

Is it only me or does any one else find this amazing??

I'm sharing this at Sidewalk Shoes Garden Tuesday.

Hot Pads

I had this idea for hot pads... it's been a while ago so I am not sure where I saw it but this is what it morphed into.... Mum had the cork circle hot pads from ikea and I decided to make a covers for them. 

It was an awesome way to use up scraps 

But the major thing I wanted to do is have them be removable for things like washing 

or so you could grab things from the oven

I need to work on my binding skills for circles. But so far I am super happy with the design. And fun thing I realized after is that I can use them as a mini ironing board in my craft area- for those tiny things you don't want to yank the ironing board out for. Awesomeness!

Wedding gift

I made these for a very sweet girl who got married a couple of months ago. (Yes, I am that slow posting things.) I found out she liked these colors and made her a simple bag. She is going to be a teacher and I think teachers always need some sort of bag or another... right?

I had to add a pocket for small things of course. It hangs free from the casing at the top so a zipper seemed in order. I couldn't resist the opportunity to mix it up with color.

Next up are washcloths. I believe you can never have enough. 

I had fun knitting these and playing with the stripes. I had no plan to make them this way. I think that's part of my problem when it comes to knitting. No plan. I can read all sorts of other patterns but knitting patterns can make me cross eyed.

I love the cream and red together. I might have to make some like this for myself.