The project for this weekend, when I should have been finishing the laundry and vacuuming up all the dog hair:

I needed a bag to haul stuff to and from work-lunch, unopened mail, knitting, magazines, books-you know, all that stuff that doesn’t fit in a purse. I picked up these curtains at a thrift store a few months ago, not knowing what I would use them for, and this was the perfect project. I lined it with some natural linen. If I had a signature fabric, linen would be it. Maybe I should have a signature fabric! I now declare and state that linen, especially natural linen is my signature fabric. What is your signature fabric? Please share!

I also made a flower from the Japanese book. It was very easy, and I like the way it came out. I used a vintage button (from the 40’s, according to the card it was on) for the center. I think it needs some friends, it would probably look even cuter if there were 3 flowers.

I’ve been wanting to make some art for our walls for a long time. I was thinking that it would be fun to make some yo-yo’s the other day, and then I thought that they would be cute as little flowers in a tiny wall quilt. So I decided to take a break from the great decluttering project and make a new mess and do some sewing:

I also took a trip to the Japanese market, which has a pretty good sized bookstore and found a few fun craft books, the one on the lower right is called "Flower accessory" and has some really great, imaginative fabric flowers-perfect for gifts, I think. I also got one on teddy bears and another about felting. They are really well illustrated, so I don’t think it will be hard to follow the instructions.

I’ve been wanting to participate in the Month of Softies, so this is my last minute contribution:

I’m afraid she looks more like a mouse than a cat. But her little eyes are tiny vintage beads, and her bow and sash are vintage rayon ribbon, so at least I got the vintage part in there, even if she isn’t very cat-like. I wanted to try something tiny, so she is about 5″ tall, and my fingers are sore. I sewed her completely by hand, and I’m not the best hand sewer. She doesn’t have a name yet, I’ll have to work on that. Next month my softie will be much bigger, I think.