Really Stinkin Cute

Hi (12 days left).

I've been trying REALLY hard to be a SUPER patient teacher during these last days of the year. Oh wait, I mean, I'm always 100% patient. (ha!) Everyone is really ready for summer vacation. But we have been working hard and studying Africa. I had the kids make a bulletin board of an African wildlife game reserve. A little scary--leave the entire thing up to them? I wasn't sure what we'd come up with. Well the little rascals made a pretty stinkin cute bulletin board! They were super into it, too. Part of the assignment was to photograph the game reserve and make a scrap book. Adorable!

Giraffe, Owl, Warthog

Hyena

Rhinos

Lions

A salute to budding artists!

Apron Day

Monday was Apron Day!

The two outside aprons are for gifts...but the middle on is now in my Etsy shop. More aprons to come! It's funny that I love making aprons because I don't really like cooking. Well--I love baking, but I hardly do it anymore...too much sewing to do!

In other news, I got a fancy new phone and it was lovely outside last night. So here is a Lovely Evening at Greenlake pic taken by my new phone!

15 more school days until summer vacation!

Rearranging

The new shelf is up! I didn't even have to assemble it myself (thanks to Jamie). I spent a good chunk of the day cleaning out all of my junk & rearranging the good stuff. Yay!

I'm a little obsessed with making my space efficient and organized (this also applies to my classroom)... Apparently, though, there are other like me out there. Check out these sweet Flickr groups if you share the love:
Craft Rooms

Show Me Your Stash

Operation: Sewing Room Organization

Craft Supplies

Love it!

Is it the weekend yet?

Have I mentioned that I am a teacher? Have I mentioned that there are 17 1/2 days of school left?? ...not that I'm counting or anything. I'm SUPER excited for the summer because I've never taken a summer off before. I always get some other job. So this summer it's just going to be 24/7 crafting. Gaaaa...I can't wait!!

I had a bit of a shopping spree the other day. Look what I got!

Also I went to Ikea today (torture) and got a sweet new set of shelves so I can organize my fabric chaos. Seriously, it looks like a fabric bomb exploded in my apartment. Good thing I have such a KIND, LOVING, and UNDERSTANDING sister/roommate (are you reading sissy?)! The weekend to-do list is full of sewing, organizing, and cleaning projects. Perhaps a more appropriate title for this post is "Is it SUMMER yet?" 17 1/2 more days. 17 1/2 more days.

Projects

I have been crazy busy working on several projects! I'm trying to learn the finer points of streamlining my production. :) You would think that a slow project like embroidering would be tedious for the "get it done fast" girl, but I love it! I embroidered 6 monograms for a set of jewelry cases (bridesmaid gifts!). I need major practice though.

Finished product:See all of the jewelry cases here!

A Button Story

Once upon a time, there was a girl who loved buttons. She liked to talk to her co-workers about how much she loved collecting buttons, especially those of the vintage variety. One day a spectacular present was delivered to her! Sweet, huh?! Apparently our school secretary found this at some antique shop and got it for me. Awesome! If you think it looks nice and old, you're right, and it smelled nice and old too. :) So I took them home and washed them up...check out my new treasures!

These are my favorites:

There was even one just for Jamie!

And I can't end the post without a shot of my existing button collection. Sometimes I like to just open up the box and look at them. It doesn't take much to entertain some people!

Another Talented Sister

Now a word about one of my biggest crafting inspirations...Emily Ann! Good thing she's my sister and I can pick her brain whenever I want. :) Emily is a pretty talented gal...an actual artist, where I am merely a crafter. Her cards and magnets have been on the scene for a while, and most recently she has started creating super-cute onesies too. Take a look...

Custom Birth Announcements

Personalized Notecards (These she made for me!)

Appliqued Onesies

All this with a job and a sweet sweet baby boy. Amazing. Go see her shop!