Hoopty Hoop!

For those of you that read my blog regularly, you know I took part in a hoop swap with our misfits group a few months ago. I waited and waited for my hoop to show and I began to give up hope that it was coming. I heard it had been sent, so I feared it was perhaps lost in the mail.

Over the kids winter break from school we went out of town for two weeks to visit with friends and family. We didn't get home until after the New Year, and imagine my surprise when I came home to an unexpected package! I opened the envelope from Tasmania (that's right, I said Tasmania), and inside I found a bunch of awesome goodies!

A DVD to teach me needleturn applique (which, to be honest, has scared me for the longest time), an adorable little stitch pattern, a book of crochet flowers and embellishments, AND... the most gorgeous hoop EVER!!!

There are thousands of tiny french knots that match perfectly with the polka dots on the fabric to form a beautiful and subtle letter 'S'.

This lovely hoop was made by Belinda Shreeve (@AusBelle on twitter) and I just love it. It was definitely worth the wait. Our family plans to move soon so I will have a new space for sewing - even if it is just a corner of a room somewhere. I plan to hang this hoop there to make it feel more like home.

Thank you so much Belinda. It is perfect!

A Break From Sewing and Back Again

I have been in a serious sewing slump lately. Until yesterday, it had been over a week since I had even sat at my machine. I had been absolutely uninspired.

During that time I did teach myself to knit. My daughter, Alice, wanted to learn so we watched a few videos on YouTube and within the hour we were knitting.

I still can't actually make anything in a shape other than a square or rectangle, but I'm working on it.

Over the weekend Ben was in a play at school called 'The Wiz of the West'. It was put on by the Missoula Childrens Theatre. The kids all have an audition on Monday, and if they get a part they practice all week long and have their performance on Saturday. They don't allow you to take any photos during the performance but I got some cute ones afterward and I bought a DVD copy of the play. Here's Ben in his tarantula costume hanging with his sisters after the show:

I have my first craft fair coming up in a couple weeks, so this break from sewing was really poor timing. Yesterday I still didn't feel like it, but I decided I needed to force myself to just make something. ANYTHING. Pinterest is a really great place for finding inspiration (and wasting several hours on the computer) when you have lost your mojo. I got on, determined to find something simple to make, but wasn't feeling the urge to make any of the things I found. I ended up making my own pattern and these are what I came up with:

They are cases for iPads. I thought they might sell well at the craft fair, especially as Christmas gifts. The first 3 I made were from beautiful fabrics I received from my lovely friend Rebecca. They reminded me of fall. Originally I was going to make placemats with them for my thanksgiving table, but I couldn't find a coordinating background fabric I liked to go with them.

The fabric line is called 'Swoon' designed by Melissa Averinos. I just LOVE it.

After I made these I made a few more. I was kind of addicted after I made the first one. I guess you could say that my mojo has been found.

Also, my Misfits hoop is Finished and has been sent to it's new home. I want to show it SO BAD, but I don't want to give away any surprises. I hope my partner loves it (and the special extra goody I made to go with it). As soon as she gets it, I will definitely be posting pictures for all to see!