Time Flies..

Spring has been so slow to arrive here it hasn't exactly put a spring in my step.  I have a long list of WIP's, but they aren't so exciting to write about or take pictures of.  Slowly, slowly I have been checking off some of those WIP's and getting the project list down a bit in size.

I have a number of lovely sheets picked up from various thrift stores over the years, and I finally decided they would be perfect for making into cottagey looking pillow slips.  The cotton is so thick and soft, and I was able to make them longer than ones I would buy in the store. Three straight seams is all they require, and often I was able to make use of the already-hemmed edges.  On two sets I ventured into crocheted edgings, and love how they finish them off.  The third sheet had such a lovely border I thought it was enough to use it as is.

Someone else thinks they're pretty too:

(Don't tell Mr. Crafty World but that's his side of the bed!)

After a month of not doing any cross stitching I decided to get back into it and start 'Casting a Spell' by Blackbird Designs.  I am anxious to stitch this: I even have the box for it.  

What was holding me back was the linen:  I had to dye my own, which is really quite fun, but for some reason I kept putting it off.  Finally I got the dye packages out and turned the linen a soft grey.  So far this is where I'm at:

The heat from the water shrunk the linen a bit, so it's a little slow going!

I used to have a very good rule when it came to cross stitching:  don't start anything else until the first project is finished.  For a couple of years I was very good about following this rule, but in the last few years I have made too many starts and not enough finishes.  So, I am determined to be more disciplined with my cross stitch, starting with this piece.  

This is a French design I want to stitch next:

I think it's so pretty and I'm dying to get going.  It's really good motivation to get 'Casting a Spell' finished!

This weekend seemed to bring a wave of  energy to finish off some other things on my 'to do' list.

I stitched up some new pillow covers for our family room.  French seams and zippers too no less!

I put a refresher coat of creamy yellow paint on the walls in my breakfast area and hung some thrifted curtains I bought in the winter time:

I have made all my family their own set of prayer beads and last night I finally made some new ones for myself.  I had bought the beads with birthday money last year, so this was a long time in the waiting stage!

It's a little difficult to see, but the freshwater pearls are a lovely lavender colour.  I would like to find a Celtic cross charm, but for now this one looks just fine.

It feels good to cross those projects off!  Of course there are many more waiting to be finished (and about a bajillion waiting to be started!), but at least things are moving up the list!

Thanks for visiting!

Jenn