It is upon us! The spring quilt retreat is this weekend!! yay! My sewing at home has been thwarted by trying to sell our house so I'm really looking forward to getting some serious quilting done. I've also heard from some of the other ladies and I'm excited about the group that will be there this time around. The weather probably won't be very spring-like but I guess It's a good thing we'll be indoors. When I think back to the end of the Fall retreat I recall thinking to myself that I would have so much done between then and now. Looking at what still needs to be finished, it's safe to say that not much has gotten accomplished, at least not in my quilting world. As much as I wish this weren't the case...it is. I have done much knitting tho so I can't be entirely defeated. I was also able to make another purse (for myself). This is has fabrics that I like much more so I decided I had to make it.   

I had seen the fluer-de-lis fabric in the clearance section at work for weeks so when it went on double sale I knew I had to have it!! It was clearly meant to be. The purple fabric I found in the clearance too so overall it was quite a steal! I can't wait for this winter weather to go away so I can carry this around town! I was also able to finish another project but it's a birthday present so I have to keep it on the dl for a little while longer. 
There are also some future projects that I can't wait to start. I got my hands on some new patterns and fabric a couple weeks ago and I very excited to get back into clothes making. The patterns are a lot more modern that the patterns I inherited from my aunt and grandmother. So much of their stuff was from the 70's and not very attractive haha, sorry ladies.

FINALLY

I finally made it back into my sewing room and boy did it feel good! Monday I only worked half a day (a much loved treat) so I was able to commit myself to getting behind my machine. First thing on the To Finish list, the Christmas pants. At this point they might as well be called 2011 pants! Since there wasn't a lot to do on each of them I was able to finish Roy's and Cassie's before heading to the gym. That night I finished my own pants and immediately put them on! They are a little long in the crotch(a minor detail) but beyond that they are perfect! Roy's fit  him wonderfully and I'm so glad to have finished them. Note to self(AGAIN): start next years pants BEFORE November!
Tuesday night I get out of work a little early and I was entirely unmotivated to go out in the tundra to the gym, so to the sewing cave I went. My next project that needed to get done was another Christmas gift. I know, I know, clearly being on time during the Holiday's isn't my strong suit. This gift needed to be mailed anyway so I didn't feel TOO bad. I guess at this point I can reveal what the mystery gift is. I made purses for my girlfriends. I had been wanting to make a boho-esque sack purse for a while and searched high and low for a pattern, to no avail. Eventually I decided that I would have to take matters into my own hands. With craft paper and pencil in hand I drew up a pattern and hoped for the best. This is the first purse I made.(big thanks go my sister for modeling!)

  When I was finished I had a reversible cross-body sack purse! I couldn't have been more thrilled with the end result.  The front pocket was a little too small so on the rest I adjusted that. Also, I decided to put a pocket on both sides so no matter what, there was on inside and outside of the purse.

  I can't believe that it turned out as well as it did. And as an added touch I put a super cute decorative stitch along the top 

This purse has become my knitting project bag at the moment. I like the fabrics but I found others that I like much more so I plan to make that soon haha. I picked out specific fabrics for each of the girls and went to sewing. For some strange reason, I only took pictures of 2 of them (something the girls can remedy for me hopefully).
 

I hope the ladies that received them enjoy them. Each was a token of my true gratitude for their friendship and love. I love each of you dearly.