… also known as “oh shit she’s moving everything/painting/changing everything again”.

Only not really, because I can’t move anything. And I don’t want to paint. So it’s mainly reorganizing and even then only in spots where I can kneel or stand. So, you know, not a whole lot.

But look! New pillow covers for my couch:

And, in action:

And where there are new pillows, there must be new curtains. It’s a rule.

I’ve managed to organize my fabric stash a little better, so it no longer looks like the behemoth beast that it is and I therefore feel entirely justified in buying  more fabric. There are bare spots people. Bare. Just begging for a gorgeous linen cotton blend with poppies on it. Anyway, with all this reorganizing, I found a bunch of fabric squares, already cut out for patchwork goodness.

Speaking of patchwork, I must say it is the ultimate sewing zen. If you are in between projects, bored with whatever you are working on or just feeling antsy, there is nothing better than sitting down and turning a whole bunch of little pieces into one big piece. I like to do that, a lot. It requires minimal brain activity and even if you do nothing with the piece for years, one day you will happen upon the perfect complementary fabric and viola! Instant beauty.

I was very excited to come across this site the other day: Craft Haven Collective. I’m definitely signing up for their serger class, since I can just manage to thread mine but have yet to make it actually work without breaking all the thread and jamming  it up yet. And draping classes! And fit classes! Watch out, you just might see me on Project Runway soon. Ok, not really. But a girl can dream!

I’ve been plopping myself down at the sewing machine every chance I can… with the intention of whittling down my fabric collection to a reasonable amount. (Must have room to store more should I find the perfect piece! Which I will. I always do.) I’m also trying to work on some inventory to put in an etsy shop and list here. At the moment I’m still working on patterns and mock-ups, but I’m hoping to have everything up and running mid-summer. It’s hard to try to force perfectionism when it doesn’t come naturally, but I’m getting better. Here are a few of the fruits of my labors:

A word about making your own clothes.
I’m fully aware that it would probably be much, much easier to just go shopping. (And believe me, I still go shopping.) But like anything handmade or homemade, I think the love and creative spirit that goes into something you make for yourself or a loved one just has a little bit extra. I know I take better care of our handmade clothes, thinking twice about dumping something in the washer that I had to rip seams out of and restitch 10 times.
So I guess its more about the process for me, although the end result is lovely too.

Especially with a nice rosemary garlic rub.

These 70 Cornish Cross chicks will be my first attempt at raising birds for meat. If all goes well we will be ordering a second round within the next few months. Do I love thier sweet puffballness? Yes. Do I feel at all bad about eating them? No. They will have a happy life with plenty of space, fresh grubs and weeds and then they will go gently into that good night. And my belly.