Cabinet of Natural Curiosities (Weekend Reads)

For years now I've been treated to pictures of butterflies by The Monster. She's happy, she draws a butterfly. She's sad, she draws a butterfly. She's apologizing, she draws a butterfly. We often find pictures hidden under pillows, stuffed in bags, and not so furtively placed on the table while working.

Lately, the butterflies are getting more detailed and they are evolving into fantastical bugs and birds that she invents, then names. It is quite awesome to see.

I pulled out this book this week, in hopes of feeding her imagination. It was purchased just before the baby was born, but it didn't take. Now it is a different story. We had a discussion about inspiration and catalogues, then I let her loose. I see a lot of apology snakes in my future.

Custom Pillowcases

The first slip of paper out of our Summer Fun Jars under To Make was Pillowcases. I gave the girls 3 choices:

... Pick fabric and we'd sew pillowcases.
... Write then embroider their names on pillowcases.
... Go to town with fabric markers on plain pillowcases.

Shockingly, they picked the colouring option.

(That's a drawing of a tiger quilt on your right.)

Over the course of a week they drew, they coloured, the signed, they went crazy on two cheap pillowcases I picked up at a big box store. The fabric markers I already had, leftover from the days when I would colour all my quilt labels. Like most of our crafting I let them be, with little direction. This was their project, not mine. I believe in setting them up and letting them do what they want.

 Now, at night, they curl up with their personal artwork. It's pretty darn cute.

For the love of textiles

I can't resist sharing this.

Quilts are wonderful things.

Things to Come

I hate when people blab about the work they're doing but can't share. Sounds like bragging. But here I go.

Folks, there are some very, very fun things coming down the pipe. More classes, fun posts, lots of quilts. And I hope to share it all with you. What? You thought I was resting on my post-maternity butt? 

Up first is a fun review later this week.

Then I've got big plans for those Liberty Charms up there.

We've got more behind the scenes peeks at Sunday Morning Quilts, and more giveaways.

Oh, and more quilts to share, of course.

Along the way I will engage in more than a few water fights, sidewalk chalk art sessions, and porch swing reading. It is summer vacation, after all. I plan to embrace the vacation part of it as much as possible.