Using this tutorial -- http://www.modabakeshop.com/2009/05/picnic-for-two.html -- we made a placemat today! I had another project I wanted to work on so kept my boy busy cutting out his sharks!

Sewing on the plastic/vinyl was a little tricky, but it was also very fun! The second picture shows a bit more of the sewing/stitching detail.

Using the basics from the easy peasy wallet tutorial and adding a few inches, I made two hipster purses today -- one for my sister and one for me! (The easy peasy wallet tutorial is here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=187229.0.) I used a couple different sized Tupperware lids for the curves. I like them -- what do you think?


This last picture is an "in the process" shot, but it shows the Tupperware curves!

I had a great time sewing a dinosaur cut from dh's old jeans onto a card today. My boy has a new friend and wants to give him a note to wish him a happy first day of school on Monday.
I also made a holly leaf one -- practicing for Christmas -- but I'm not nearly as thrilled with it. Maybe a blue leaf just doesn't look right to me.
Comments and help on my holly leaf are most welcome!

Using some great tips and ideas from Angry Chicken (http://angrychicken.typepad.com/angry_chicken/2008/07/5-minute-skirt.html), I made myself a new skirt! It took longer than 5 minutes because of circles and rickrack at the bottom, but it was worth it!


Two things I'd change -- make it wider at the hem so it's more "a-line" style and place the circles in a more random design. (I'm not very good at "random" but I keep trying!) Also, next time I'll take pictures before I wear it! And one more note, I couldn't find fold-over-elastic here, so just used what the craft-store lady called lingerie elastic.

I have 8 nieces & nephews on my husband's side and here's what they're getting for Christmas this year:

The covers are without books at the moment....I'll pick those up when I get to the US in a couple weeks.
The two oldest ones will get a "roly nester" filled with pens/pencils.

And the rest of them will get either a marker case or a colored pencil case. Here's a pic of one with markers.

I used the basic idea of the easy peasy wallet (tutorial: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=187229.0) for the marker case, just changed the measurements to fit what I wanted to put inside.
Roly nester instructions are here: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/freepatterns.htm
Hope you like them -- even more, I hope the nieces & nephews like them!

My FIL turned 70 today and this is the cake I made for him. It was a big party so a big cake was needed!

Each layer represents a decade of his life and what he was doing at that time. I can post close ups if anyone wants to see more.

* Close ups added near bottom of page 1 *

I made cinnamon rolls today and my kids LOVED them. I would have loved them more if the bottoms hadn't been so crunchy. I'm sure it's the sugar baking onto the pan -- right? Does anyone know how to avoid this or is it just the way cinnamon rolls are?
Here's what they looked like after baking:

Help me with some ideas for gifts that can easily be tucked in with Christmas cards. The only idea on my list so far is these little owls - http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=211630.0 - made as ornaments instead of the garland. What else can you suggest? If you have a link or a photo that would be great!

This year for Father's Day my dh is getting his "name" in chocolate cake! The idea came from here: http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50245.
I didn't frost the cut edges of the cake -- that never works very well for me!

do finished quilt squares count as a "completed project"? 

my real question is this: is this considered a kaleidescope quilt or a stack-n-whack quilt? and what is the difference between the two -- is it the technique or the finished look?
here's how mine looks: