A little bit of crafting

These days projects must be short and sweet.

These earrings fit the bill nicely.

I love instant gratification projects.

I kept the first pair for myself and my sister looks pretty snazzy wearing the other pair.

[All pieces were purchased at Hobby Lobby and are brushed bronze.]

Fat Quarters and Insul-Bright

My sister and I discussed a new set of potholders for her kitchen. She wanted something bright, simple and functional. No grommets, no hoops to hang from, no frills. Just hardworking square potholders that could double as a trivet.

2 fat quarters and some Insul~Bright later...success.

A perfect pair of potholders.

First big item for babies!

Our baby furniture has been ordered (about 4 weeks ago) and at that time they told us it would probably take 8-12 weeks to arrive. We ordered these beautiful oak handmade sleigh cribs from an Amish family-owned furniture store while visiting the Amish Country. We have had the babies room painted (thanks mom!) in a very neutral color (Dusty Trail - a khaki color) and had new crown molding and baseboards put up in the room. The room has been very empty since then...containing only the rocker that my mom rocked me in when I was a babe and our hibiscus tree which was brought it for the winter season. Well now, thanks to my sister, we have something new for the babies to add to the room!

My sister and brother-in-law got us a pack-n-play with the changing station for Christmas!!! I was so super excited!

My sister picked it out...doesn't she have great taste??? I think the pattern is so cute and very boy/girl appropriate!

And the mobile that came with it is super adorable.

Slowly but surely we are getting ready for these babies...next step...I need to pick crib bedding (so hard! do I get 2 matching sets for their cribs or coordinating sets...there are so many to choose from!!!) and complete a registry!!! So much to do!

Mark another off the to-sew list...or not...

I've been wanting to make a camera strap for my sister (the awesome photographer) for quite some time like those of Adrienne and Jade. For whatever reason though, I just couldn't imagine cutting up the strap that came with the camera. Plus, I wanted this to be a surprise so I couldn't exactly steal her camera strap...I mean she uses it every day. So, after studying my own camera strap I figured there must be some way I could make it all on my own. After a trip to JoAnn's, I figured I had all the supplies to give it a try. Now, like I said, I've been wanting to do this for a while. My trip to JoAnn's was back in July. So, it was quite comical last night when I decided to actually sit down and figure this out. I couldn't find the pleather (fake leather - vinyl stuff) I had purchased. After much whining and searching ("DH have you seen my pleather?" - ask your husband that...it gets quite a reaction), I found it and settled in. The result...

Not to shabby. I used buckle fasteners so that the straps that attach to the camera are fixed in place and the strap itself can be removed and exchanged. It is much easier to remove the camera from the strap with this setup than the strap that came with my camera. Now...I'm addicted. I feel like I need to make 2 -3 more different straps so she can interchange them based on mood. Or maybe holiday ones. Ooo, the possibilities. Now, I gotta make one for myself too...so I can't exactly mark it off my to-sew list just yet.

Lazy holiday weekend...

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend!
Happy Easter everyone!

*Awesome photo above taken by my sister, Leap!*

Tagged (a different one) and such

My sister & I recently went to see MercyMe in concert. It was awesome! We had GREAT seats and it was a GREAT show! Love the new CD...which was only $5 at the concert!

Adrienne tagged me...so...in case you all were wondering about the mystery behind my blog...

Why I started my blog...
When my grandmother passed away, I inherited her Kenmore machine. My grandma taught me how to sew when I was about 9 years old (or maybe I was younger...) and I did it off & on when I would be at her house while I was growing up. My whole family really is a bunch of crafters so I have always been involved with crafty things...but during college & med school I never had time to get very involved with crafting. When my grandmother's machine was moved into my house I couldn't resist the urge to tinker around with it. I would stay up late (even though I had to be up at 5am for work) trying to figure out patterns and stitches. Finally, all the basics my grandma had taught me came flooding back and I've been addicted since. I recently outgrew my grandmothers machine (I realized it was making it very difficult to do things I wanted to do) so I purchased a new machine. With my new machine I began searching the Internet for new patterns/sewing ideas. That is when I found all of these beautiful blogs. I knew after reading them I had to participate because it involved so many of the things I love...the Internet, sewing, photography...and I felt a great sense of encouragement from this community of people who are a lot like me!

How I came up with the name of my blog...
It combines the two things that I love and those things which define me most...sewing and surgery...my name just describes me...the Stitching Surgeon. There aren't too many jobs where you can sew (suture) at work!

Do my friends and family know about my blog? What do they think of it?
My friends don't know...they don't understand my insane love of sewing anyway and would probably be bored with all of this stuff. My family does know. My sister reads my blog and my husband does too (and they like it...I think)!

How do I write my posts...
I don't really have a certain way I write my posts. I usually just write about whatever inspires me that day.

Ever had a troll or had to delete unkind comments...
Nope. Everyone who reads my blog is really nice and complimentary (am I jinxing myself???)

Do I check my stats? Do I care who/how many read my blog? Do I try to increase traffic?
Nope. I do love to know that people are actually reading my blog though...so I love to read your comments!

What I like and dislike about blogging...
I like being able to share my photos and my projects. I really like hearing from all of the people who read my blog and enjoy even more visiting their blogs and being inspired by all of the their talent. I can't really think of any dislikes...otherwise, why would I be doing this?

So...tag completed.

Hope this didn't bore you to death!

As for who I am going to tag...well I don't want anyone to feel obligated or left out...so if you read my blog and want to be tagged and answer these questions on your blog...well consider yourself tagged by me!

Vintage Finds

I have been working A LOT lately. So today (my day off) my Sis, So & I went to the antiques district and just look at what I found! I love vintage buttons and linens. The two white buttons are actually glass buttons...how cool is that? The blue linens are actually napkins and the little jar of blue buttons was just too cute to pass up. I can't wait to find the perfect project for these little cuties. Rummaging through all the antiques got me in the mood for some good yard sales. I can't wait for spring...blooming flowers & yard sales!

Laundry room makeover is almost done...finishing touches are going up. Probably will be posting it later in the week.

Also, Adrienne from Some of a Kind thinks my blog deserved the E award you see over in the right column. Thanks, Adrienne! Everyone should check out her blog which I think is excellent.

Yippie!!! The exam is over!

DH & I are off to my sister's house for a fun-filled night packed full of good eats, board games and maybe even a little crafting while the men play xbox 360. We picked up a yummy looking peach torte yesterday at our local french bakery...I'll have lots of good pictures to share tomorrow. For now, enjoy this one of my cute little Chloe. It was taken yesterday during one of my study breaks. Yea!!! No more studying (well this weekend anyway...)

I am all into softies right now. I made the most hilarious softies for So. Can't show pictures yet because I am giving them to her tonight! Also, I made another little zip pouch (just like the one in a previous post with the alexander henry fabric) to take to my sis as a hostess gift and just because she is so thoughtful (see yesterdays post!).

Now, time to go have some fun...

My sister rocks!

I have to say...I have the most awesome sister. Just look at what I got in the mail today! Perfectly timed to arrive the day before my big exam and just to let me know that she and my niece are thinking of me and praying for me. How great is that ?!? She is always so thoughtful & encouraging. Thanks Leap & So! Back to studying for me...

For my best friend (my sister)

During our recent trip to the mountains we visited the Cherokee Indian Reservation and I picked up these all leather moccasins for my sister. She loves different, artsy-crafty things (and flats!). They were just too cute. Thought I would share with you all!

Still working on Mommy elephant (during my study breaks)...