Signs of Spring

I have been working on this table runner, which hasn't taken much work at all. It was part of a huge bag of partially completed projects that I bought at Goodwill. In this case, the entire top was already pieced, so I just made a sandwich and quilted it. Next comes the binding and it will be done!

Do you see that dark object in the background? It's a knitted scarf of mine that my cat made into a nest. I just leave it like that because it concentrates all the cat hair into one area. A great tip that I thought I'd pass on to you all. It isn't easy to trick a cat.

The woman (or man) that pieced this top really had some talent. Her corners are perfect. 

Here is the bag of scraps. Only after I purchased it ($6.99!) and got it home did I discover that all the scraps are either cut into shapes or sewn into blocks. They aren't true (messy) scraps like I have that are all random sized pieces.

Whoah, what's this? Looks like somebody is anxious to plant his onion sets! 

He will also plant radishes (I'm not a huge fan, but he is) and this year we are trying spinach. Last year we grew leaf lettuce and just kept cutting it and cutting it and it kept coming back for a long time. We ate it for quite a while until it started getting bitter.

Crocus. Is the plural crocuses, croci, crocus? Googling produces differing opinions on this matter. I'll go with crocus. 

Nice shadow; somebody needs photography lessons.

Don't know what these are (below). 

They bloom early with the crocus and they are much tinier than they look in this photo. 

That's all for now. 

Wisconsinites get pretty excited about springtime, hence the post full of signs of spring!

If the fleece fits, wear it!

Just had to share. Jamie loves his fleece. Remember, he threw out all his other shirts, so he better love it. Ha, just kidding.

Doesn't he look cute?

Look here for details of the construction process. Make a Pattern from a Readymade Shirt

Ohhh, I had some fun today!

First I started with some mending. Then I shortened the sleeves on a couple of blouses. 

Ho hum. When does the fun start.

Well, I began with the dress that you see above. It was from Goodwill, just a simple back zip dress. 

I bought it with a plan in mind.

I cut off the bottom of the dress to make it into a top. 

Then I cut that bottom piece into two long strips and narrow-hemmed the long edges and gathered them into ruffles.

I like how it turned out, but it just needed a little bit of something. I scavenged through my trim box and came up with this beautiful trim. I hesitated, thinking the trim was too good for this blouse. Then, I told myself that I've had this trim stuffed away for years, bring it out and use it! (you all talk to yourselves too, right?) Anyway, it really added a nice touch and I'm glad I put it on this garment.

Funny thing is, I'm not a pink girl and I'm not really a ruffles kinda girl. But hey, this blouse will spruce up my spring wardrobe for cheap, and I'm looking forward to wearing it.