"I wanted to go bowling!"

For the last week I've had my head buried inside statistical computer software and data and averaging close to 4 hours sleep per night. In that short period of time work created the perfect storm and took over just about every inch of my life. And as challenging as that was {felt like I was back in college trying to cram for a test}, it is also the most interesting and rewarding parts of my job. I wont bore you with the details - the report is {for now} complete, I have a moment to catch my breath and things are getting back to normal.

When my late evenings and weekends turned into lots of this...

we thought it brilliant to make use of a Groupon we'd been sitting on and go bowling! For what felt like free {funny how that works with Groupons} we rolled a couple games. My scores were pitiful, but not once did I think of work. A welcome break because work had pretty dominated all my thoughts even when I was trying to take a break - even sleeping.

So here's to jobs that challenge us and fun past times that give us a little break from everything right when we most need it. {I see a three day weekend on the horizon!}

weekend hiking

August has been a month of relatively free weekends. We haven't traveled anywhere or had any art shows. So we've been doing what we've been meaning to do for a long, long time - do some regular hikes. Who knows... maybe we'll even get in shape.

Two weekends ago, due to my inability to read directions, we ended up at the wrong trailhead for the hike we were doing. Seven miles turned into 9 and a half. The last two were spent walking up, up, up along the ungraded path. The first few were spent angry and so, from that hike there were no happy pictures like these. And it took all week just to start feeling normal again - umm, yeah... need to get in shape {and learn to read directions}!

This past weekend was much more successful in the enjoyable category of hikes. We did an easy 3.5 miles. I read the directions correctly. There was no storming off. And we weren't monumentally sore the next week.

We hiked Portola Redwoods State Park. Very pretty, but in the end we decided it wasn't worth the over an hour drive and $10 entrance fee. So, this coming weekend we'll probably stick closer to home. And we might be up for a challenge - all in the spirit of getting in shape.

Happy hiking! {the goofballs!}

bath time for baby

Sewing for a new baby is so much fun. Projects are little, they go quickly and I get to think happy thoughts and wishes for the new baby all the while. This little hooded towel set is for the new baby and the soon to be big brother.

The parents are planning to be surprised by the gender when the baby makes its official appearance into the world. And they're not even sharing names they've picked out - those stinkers! Really, I kid. But that certainly made sewing for baby a bit challenging.

So, I went gender neutral with a cozy terry cloth towel with a little hood. And big brother gets one too so he doesn't feel left out. I found the perfect binding at Hart's - white with dolphins, star fish, fishes, ect. Super cute! These really are as simple as they look, but feel free to let me know if you'd like to know how I put them together.

Happy sewing!

Heather meet Martha {a napkin tutorial}

Well, Heather Ross might have already met Martha Stewart but I thought a little napkin project would be a great way to reintroduce the two. Actually we were in Harts the other day picking up fabric for a different project. Wouldn't you know it, they put the cutest fabrics right up by the cutting table. This just jumped off the shelf and begged to come home with us - couldn't say no to a request like that.

So, when I made these napkins the first time around I followed Martha's instructions to a T. And let me tell you there's lots and lots of pressing involved. I thought I could do this with a few less steps of pressing. With just one little hiccup I did find a way to simplify the process and I even took pictures a long the way. Sit back and relax... here comes a napkin makin' tutorial...

For starters I cut two 17" squares from my yard of fabric {some day, I'll make another two with the remaining fabric}.

Fold edges over 1/2" and press all the way around.

At the corner, fold so that the pressed edges meet up. It'll look something like this:

Using your ruler line up a perpendicular line with the folded edge of fabric at the top. Place the ruler so that the distance from the line to the pressed edge of the fabric is 1". Draw a line here with a pencil. {repeat for the other 3 corners}

Sew along the 1" line you drew. Repeat for all the corners. Then trim the corner off, leaving a 1/4". Trim at an angle as shown below:

Using your finger, push out the corner you've now added to the napkin and press the seem open.

Holding two adjacent corners, pull gently in opposite directions to straighten out the napkin. And press {just a little more pressing to go. I promise this is a lot less pressing than the original way}.

Flip the corners right side out and press again. The last step is to top stitch around the entire napkin. I did this 1/4" {or so} from the finished edge and than again another time around 1/4" from the top stitch line.

The End. {or repeat till you have enough napkins for a dinner party}