The winter blues have hit pretty hard. I suppose I should expect it, but it doesn’t make it any easier. And having been through two major depressions already, it is really scary to feel this way. I just really don’t want to go back to where I have been. My main symptom is a complete lack of motivation to do anything. I am still getting up in the morning, so that is a good sign. I just had to schedule an appointment to spend $1000 on a root canal. Ugh! After watching Daniel wait patiently (and not so patiently) for a new camera it makes me feel sick to have to spend so much money this way. I know he doesn’t want me to think about that, but it is hard not to since I wish I could give him everything his heart desires… including a happy wife.

Thank you, everyone! Red wine was nice, but I had to drink too much of it to make the pain bearable. Before my prescription I did resort to some rum sweetened with orange juice so that it would work faster. That is the tipsiest I have ever been, besides the one time I was drunk in high school. So the other night, even though I could still walk in a straight line, I decided that I really don’t like feeling that way and I definitely didn’t want to have to maintain it until Monday. Ack! I did go right to sleep though, and called the dentist first thing in the morning. He prescribed an antibiotic and Tylenol with codeine. After taking the Tylenol twice and not feeling any relief, I started to freak out a little bit. I couldn’t get a hold of the dentist to ask for something else. But I did get a hold of my doctor and she phoned in a prescription for me. She asked what I wanted and I had no idea what to tell her. I realized I have never taken anything but over the counter pain relievers except for the Tylenol with codeine which I realized didn’t work 12 years ago either! So the Vicoprofin actually worked, though I feel like it took a long time to actually kick in. And I think the antibiotics are starting to reduce the infection and I was able to go back to just using plain Tylenol this afternoon.

The other relief I found was actually getting to make something out of that fabric. Yippee! So here is the pillow I made.

The fabric is just a quilted print pattern, I didn’t actually piece all these prints. But I did quilt the fabric on the front of the pillow using a slight zigzag stitch over some navy satin ribbon. Here is some of that detail.

The back is not quilted. I used an envelope closure, but I set it at a diagonal following the lines of the fabric. The edge of the pillow also has this thin navy satin cording.

I was planning on making two of these. I find the designing the fun part, but sometimes I like having the design figured out already so that I can just do something with my hands without thinking too hard. I might need that soon. Pain has a way of making it hard to think clearly.

Two sunny days have gone by that I would have loved to put to good use doing something creative. This fabric has been sitting out just waiting to be shaped into something useful.

The circumstances were all set for doing just that, except that I have been spending all that time doing pain management. I think I have a tooth that is abcessing and I want to die! I only remember experiencing this kind of pain four times in my life. And two of those were childbirth! I have a dentist appointment Monday. The only thing creative I will be doing until then is coping with the pain.

Every time I want binding, piping, ribbon, beads, elastic, or a myriad of other trifles I am constantly using for my projects I have to go rummaging through 3 or 4 semi-organized containers. I knew my system needed to be revamped and was starting to feel like I was only going to make a huge mess if I started another project before I got those things under control. I had been eying this shelf in the garage for 6 months thinking I could probably put it to good use. It is one of the many fascinating things left in the house from when my grandfather lived here. It was a huge mess to clean up. I found 3 muddy wasps nests tucked into the corners. But it has been really fun to dig out my supplies and arrange them in a way that inspires me. Hopefully, seeing them will help me put them to better use.

This is the label that is in the center of the top shelf that I thought a few family members would find interesting.

After the holidays I was so happy to not have the deadlines of getting gifts in the mail or under the tree. I wanted to just make something and make it fast! So here is my latest instant gratification project. I have seen some very cute log cabin quilt pillows and thought I would try making one just for fun.

I think that mine is rather boring. I like the texture of the fabrics, but I think that I will have to do another one soon that uses more fun and funky fabrics. The first fun log cabin pillow I ran across was here at Nikki-Shell. It was a gift from Lisa at A Bird in the Hand, who has made so many of these fun pillows. As I was doing a search I found a few fun pillows made by Hillary back in March. I liked the added whimsy of Sarah’s pillows since she used random fabrics, and it looks like lately she has added a twist to her quilting stitches that is fun and adds interest. And it looks like Mary made a few as Christmas gifts. I am really loving her orange and light blue/lavender color combo. So after all that inspiration I think I will have to dig a little deeper into my fabric closet and do something a little more funky, just for fun!

I had a great time in Chicago. I am totally fascinated with big city living and thought that maybe walking around downtown in January would cure me of it. No such luck! I am still fascinated and I was so delighted when Daniel didn’t shoot down that idea when I came home and told him. I don’t actually want to do it with kids, so maybe when they head off to college we will find some reason to move downtown in a big city! I should say that the weather was wonderful for January and I know it probably isn’t that fun when it is way below freezing, and windy with snow and slush everywhere. I left the camera at home with Daniel so I don’t have any pictures yet. I will have to get a few from my sister and put them up.

But the sun is shining here today and I was able to get a few pictures of some of my projects from last week. We have been needing a few extra pillows on our bed since we have taken to watching movies in bed on the laptop because the rest of the house is too cold. So I made these. I am still loving these color combinations. But since I used the same fabrics as the quilt I made they sort of end up looking camouflaged. I could probably add some solid colored pillows to reduce that effect.

I also made a log cabin quilt pillow. I will post that with links to everyone else’s much better creations as soon as I have a bit more time.

I am not a wrapping paper saver! I hate clutter and have enough of it without saving Christmas wrapping paper. But when a gift came wrapped in this delightful combination I couldn’t throw it out. I knew I could make something out of it so when I started to realize I needed a calendar for this new year and didn’t have one yet, I had just the thing. It took a very short time to make and an enormous amount of time (5 separate attempts and about 40 shots) to get this lousy photograph. Still no sun, but a few slivers of blue sky up their so I am hopeful.

Note: The sun is out today so I was able to replace the photo with a slightly better shot! That makes 6 separate attempts and 45 shots to capture this silly thing.

And as you can see I am off to Chicago today. My sister and I will meet up with my brother and his girlfriend from Minneapolis. It is sort of a halfway point although I think they have a little farther to drive than we do. I am very excited to meet her. I can’t wait to know the face behind all the great emails!

After I posted about gifts I realized that I have another creative sister in law that didn’t end up getting mentioned. She is a fabulous gift giver and we are always delighted by her thoughtful gifts. This year among other gifts she sent a fun photo album of all twelve of the grandchildren on my husbands side of the family (my kids and their cousins.) Since it wasn’t wrapped and we have been enjoying it since her package arrived, it slipped my mind when I was photographing the others. We all sent her pictures of our kids. The picture of my son on the right scratching his head was odd, but seemed the most appropriate of all the images we could capture. I was worried about it not looking like a formal portrait and was so delighted when I saw the rest of the pictures that were sent in, and realized we are all part of the same big quirky family! So much fun. I love the way this captures cousin Ellie peeking around the corner of the page with a mischievous little laugh.

Last Christmas we received from this same talented sister in law, a bottle of wonderful homemade port made of blackberries and blueberries and aptly named “black and blue port”. I guess it has been treasured because we could never seem to come up with an occasion that warranted the opening of our one precious bottle. So finally on our 11th wedding anniversary, December 30th, we decided to enjoy it. It was very tasty and inspiring. I might have to see what I can concoct out of all the black raspberries we have growing around here when summer arrives.

I must add a small disclaimer so I don’t feel so old. I always feel shocked to realize that I have been married over 11 years now and don’t nearly feel old enough for it to be true. I was only 19 at the time, but still haven’t regretted it. It’s just been getting better every year! Daniel reminded me that his college photo teacher had told him, “It won’t last!” About 8 years later when she had one of my husbands former students in class she was surprised to hear we were still going strong. So I guess it pays to marry a man with a stubborn streak, if his stubbornness is about the right things.

I have quite a few posts waiting in the wings. Unfortunately, this gloomy Midwest weather is making it nearly impossible to take any good photos. This is what it looks like around our house.

I haven’t seen the sun in 22 days! Can you believe I am actually counting. I didn’t start counting until I realized it had been more than two weeks. Yesterday, I was out running some errands and had lunch with Daniel. After he headed back to work he called my cell phone to tell me he actually saw the sun peeking through the clouds. Excitedly, I went outside to see for myself. I was only greeted by the streetlights, still on at 12:30 in the afternoon! They, apparently weren’t even sure it was daylight!

I feel so blessed to be from a wonderfully creative family and also to have married into another wonderfully creative family. I was so excited about some of the amazing handmade stuff we received that I had to photograph it and share it. One talented sister in law made these fabulous felt wallets. Very cute and not expensive to post (something I have to keep in mind for next year!)

Another talented sister in law made this super fun party table topper. I am going to have to steal her idea for party banners and make one to match.

The same sister in law sent these fun wrist cuffs for the kids:

This morning my husband caught me smiling and asked what I was thinking about. My answer was “candied ginger chocolate truffles.” They came in this box from yet another talented sister in law. They have been gone for almost a week, but they still make me smile.

And from my very talented mother I received this beautiful handmade beaded necklace:

She also made these cuties for my daughter:

I should also acknowledge my sister who took our request for no gifts seriously and creatively gave gifts on our behalf at World Concern. If I remember correctly she gave a goat, some hens, and snacks for hungry school children on our behalf. Thank you, Amanda, for remembering those not as blessed as we are.

And thank you to all the family that blesses and enriches our lives daily!