Inspiration Everywhere

Emma took a walk along the Susquehanna River this weekend and came home with pockets full of rocks. But this little shell was hiding in there too, when she unloaded her stash on to the living room floor for me this morning. Each rock had a unique characteristic that attracted her to it: chocolate brown, looks like an egg, shaped like a "pickle", flat and smooth, shaped like a little bowl....Of course, now she wants to paint on these naturally beautiful little rocks, but we'll see. I've got her into water colors right now, hoping to fill that "painting need" for one more day and put off painting this little collection.  But if she's so inspired, what can you do, really?

My mini-boden catalog came in the mail yesterday. I LOVE this catalog. I get so many ideas from it. I have a little folder on my desktop that I dump tee applique ideas into. These fish and teacups are definitely going into that file.

I love these pleated skirts and they remind that I really need to brush up on my sewing skills. I feel like what I really need to do is just start from the beginning--you know, take it from the top! I want a stronger foundation to my sewing skills.
I remember when I was younger, in my 4-H days, I used to go to Mrs. Diefenderfer's house every Saturday morning for sewing lessons. We were making a drop-waist jumper out of light blue and white striped fabric with big pockets on the sides. I'm sure the stripes were going the wrong way, but I do remember turning them the opposite direction for the pockets. So fancy, I know. You can say it.

Unfortunately, I didn't retain much from those lessons except that I remember her glasses made her eyes look really huge, and my jumper got a second place ribbon at the fair.

These tees are enough to make me want to start woodblock printing. Although I'm feeling spread a little thin these days in the craft/blogging for "clients" department. Maybe we could duplicate with potato-printing at the kitchen table? No extra purchases or skill sets required.

Basically, I want all of these things in my size. One for the girls, one for me, please?
Flipping through the catalog last night reminded me of another project that's been on the backburner. I've been wanting to do my pillowcase dresses again. But this time I want to do a short blouse version that the girls could wear over a long sleeve tee.
Alright, time to push back from the laptop and go do some damage control--Emma has art supplies strewn all over the floor and Mary is attempting to wash dishes at the kitchen sink. "I need a new shirt!" Could be getting messy, I presume.