Tulip Bag

Mom and I leave soon for our yearly Field Trip so I had to make myself a new Messenger Bag. It's an Amy Butler pattern that I think is no longer available or I'd post a link for it. This is the best bag for traveling or anytime you're going to be walking around all day and I absolutely love this pattern! The fabric was a 2/3 yard remnant of some upholstery fabric and has a lovely subtle sheen to it. I laid it out and started looking at the pattern and was instantly aware that I wouldn't have quite enough, but I remembered I had quite a few yards of some reddish canvas in The Stash. It's actually kind of a cranberry color, but it matched perfectly and I quite like the contrast. The only thing I'm worried about is that it might bleed or rub off on my clothes, so I'm washing it right now in some very hot water. Now that that order of business is finished, I'm off to go and pack! ;)

Dinks

Melissa and I have been having Crafty Fun Night over at Deedee's house along with her kids. Recently we've made embroidery floss friendship bracelets, glittered Martha Stewart craft kit greeting cards, and ShrinkyDinks! Deedee has the perfect source book for tracing and we all took turns sitting around the table working on our designs. I am always impressed with how vividly plain old colored pencils turn out on these. We used up almost an entire package and must have baked 4 or 5 pans worth of different pieces. We have really had a good time constructively doing something all together.

However, I cannot believe how many people I've come into contact with who have no idea what ShrinkyDinks are! What kind of schools do they have in this area?!? I remember as a kindergartner, after we'd memorized our address and phone number, we were sent home with a pre drawn and colored ShrinkyDink with our name, phone number, and address on it with baking instructions. After it was baked, it was a zipper pull for your coat. I can remember growing up, Mom kept the cardboard envelope of ShrinkyDinks up in the high cupboard next to the kitchen sink.

Warsh Rags

I've been knitting a lot of garden variety dishcloths here and there trying to destash my variegated cottons and just get them out of the house, yet somehow I keep buying more when I see a fabulous colorway of the stuff... Anyhoo, I found some solids I'd had and made a few Warsh Rags from Mason-Dixon Knitting. I'd seen these here and there on other blogs but had never gotten around to making any and I'm quite taken with this little project. I also found some solid Martha blues and greens I'd had that will be perfect. Included is a picture of my parents' dog using my yarn as a pillow! ;)