It's Spring Time!

Well, it's supposed to be spring time. Saturday was the first day of Spring. We had snow in Kansas. Not that we're not used to bizarro weather in Kansas, but really? Snow? I'm over the snow. I'm ready for daffodils and tulips. I have seen a few ladybugs lately, though! This one came in my mailbox as part of a swap. Isn't she adorable? And her maker has an Etsy shop here. I'm finding Swap-Bot to be a fabulous way to expand my softie collection!

As I said in an earlier post, I hosted my very first swap - a pincushion swap. This is the little cutie that I sent to my partner. I made it using this tutorial. I made mine a little bigger than the one in the tutorial. Very, very easy little thing to make. Somehow, it took me four tries to get it right. I was ready to throw ladybugs across the room! Seriously, this in no way reflects on the creator of the tutorial. This was just me and my sewing mojo!

Anyhoo! Enjoy your Spring, wherever you are! We have sunshine today, and I hope you do, too!

St Patrick's Day Treasure Hunt

When I got Lil' Kay up on Wednesday, we were discussing St. Patrick's Day. He told me that he wished I would make cookies so that he could go on a treasure hunt for them. Well, I knew I couldn't make cookies, because I would be at work all day, but I'm a total sucker for those big brown eyes and innocent requests! So, I came up with some clues and a bucket with quarters in it and rushed home from work to hide the clues while Mr. Kay picked up the kids from daycare.

Upon arriving home, Lil' Kay found a big green folder sticking out of the mail slot on our house. Inside was a letter from "A Leprechaun" and the first clue. He had a great time figuring out each clue and finding the next one. When he found the treasure, he put each coin into his piggy bank, but he still "wished there would have been cookies!"

Fishies!

Stuffie, plushie, softie, whatever you call them, I have become a total junkie! If it's soft and handmade, I love it! I'm currently in a Stuffies Galore swap, so I'm making these little guys for my part. I get to send out five stuffies and get five back. I've already received a ladybug and a trio of strawberries.

These little fish are made using a pattern from Funky Friends Factory. I love the way that repositioning the eyes gives them a completely different personality!

I'm finding the process of stuffie making frustrating, rewarding and magical! It's amazing to me that when I follow the directions, no matter how weird, I end up with a little creature! I've been trolling the internet for patterns and tutorials so I can join more swaps! LOL! Not sure when I'll take time to make new stuff for my own shop. Right now, I'm having fun doing stuff for me!