Hey there. Remember me? This post was meant for last week, while I was camping, but is being brought to you this week (since I forgot to post this craftiness) this week whilst I am tromping around London with my sweet J. We are having a fantastic time, but I’m almost, nearly at that point…the one where it is just time to come home already. And I’m definitely at that point where I’m ready to wrap my arms around my girls and give them great big hugs. I really, really (no REALLY!) miss them.

So one more day here in jolly ol’ England – we are off to see a cricket match – and then we are on our way to Michigan to pick up two weary travelers and then head home to LA!

BUT, before I am off, a few birthday presents I finished up before our travels. I’m caught up through June…only July birthdays to work on now. (Yes, I’m well aware of the fact that it will be nearly August by the time I return. Thanks for pointing that out, though.)

FINALLY finished a little lickety-split bag that has been cut out and on my ironing board since – and I’m not even kidding! – MARCH! Happy Birthday, Vic. I hope you like it. I actually made it a little larger than the pattern in hopes that she could slide her laptop in there when she needs to traipse off to U of M…or just stuff it with diapers for Sarah and dry clothes for the Z. man.

And I finished up our sweet little friend Henry’s cape. He wanted a green horse birthday party when he turned three a few weeks ago. Green is his fave color…and his initials are H-H-H, hence the H3 little logo and his green cape. He loved it. I’ll have to grab some pics when we return.

And finally finished up a little messenger bag for my sweet niece who turned 7 when she was visiting California a few weeks ago. She requested a pink bag. And that is what she got.  Excuse the poor photos, I took the photos literally a few hours before I left the house for our vacation.

I promise I’ll be back to whittling down my blog reader in a few days, so let me know if you have some crafty goodness today!

I’ve been on a mission to get my backlog of birthday presents completed.

Before we leave this Saturday.

Hmmm. Yes. Well, we will see how that works out for me as the week progresses.

I did get a bag done that I had promised a friend many, many moons ago. It has been sitting on my ironing board for oh…let’s just say…a few months. But, it is on the way – finally and (don’t fall off your chair, Vic!) it will be there by the end of the week. I seem to have this “out-of-sight-out-of-mind” problem. If it isn’t on top of the stack, or I’m not going to see the person the gift is for…it just doesn’t seem to get done.

So I made a project list. And now the list sits right next to my sewing machine, so I can focus up a little bit. We’ll see if it works.

Oh, and the bag…well, since Vic hasn’t seen it yet, we’ll have to wait for the big reveal until next week.

But, here is a birthday present we did get to deliver this weekend to our lovely soon-to-be Aunt JB!

Not one, but two little burlap buckets.

This was my first attempt at these buckets. I bought the maya*made pattern a long time ago and have been halfheartedly looking for some old coffee sacks to use. But, I finally ended up just using ordinary burlap material and lining it with a patterned canvas. They are a definite first try, but I think I’m going to like making them – they are fun and handy and I keep thinking of uses for them all over the house.

Addie is insistent that JB use her new buckets to organize her makeup. Makeup? Should I be concerned that that my 7 and almost 5-year olds are fascinated with makeup already? Especially since I rarely wear more than mascara and lip gloss?
Sigh. And so it begins, I guess…

I also completed a little dress for one of Em’s friends and one of my Brownie scouts.

I have a backlog of pillowcases so I’m hopefully going to get caught up on my project list and actually make some dresses for our etsy shop. Again…we’ll see ’bout that.

I had this pair of matching pillowcases that I’ve been saving for something special and I found it! A friend took me up on my plea to donate to my sister’s walk. So I made matching dresses for her two sweet daughters. You all know how I feel about sisters…and I have a feeling that this pair is going to be aDOORable in their new dresses.

There is still time if you would like to donate. Meesh is about 1/2 way there with only a few months before the walk, so any donation would be appreciated. And make sure to come back and let me know you donated so I can send you something!

Alright, I’m getting off the soapbox and I’ll save the rest of my goodies for next week. Do you have anything fun and crafty to share this week?