"I Made it Myself!"

I grew up thinking I should be able to make things. You know, be crafty. This is because my incredible mother is the original Martha Stewart and can make anything from scratch (really, she just whipped some home-"incubated" yogurt in my kitchen this morning since last night we were talking about ways to save on groceries). See? She just goes to work!

My three sisters, Nancy, Katie and Angela have inherited this tremendous gift from their mother & show off their works regularly on their crafty blogs/websites. So I should be able to make things, too, right?

This is how my thinking goes. I hatch a cute idea, spy something perfect for it at the store, get all my supplies and go to work. I work and work and work until I get about 80 % done and then I lose all interest and the darn project sits. Or I hit a road block and don't even know how to proceed. OR I get interrupted by one of my many little children who needs help with A, B, C on down to Z and I never pick up my project again for days, weeks, months, years. DECADES! Yes, I've had one delightful project I've been "working" on for a near 10 years.

I just can't seem to finish a project. I am a starter. That is the fun part, the exciting, energizing part. Finishing? That poses the problems. (You can psychoanalyze this in the comments if you wish, but please . . .be kind).

So with my mother in town this week "we've" gone to work on finishing. "We've" completed many a project--some of them things that have literally been years in the making. So for once I've got a little "craft blog" in my blood and I will even share the pictures with you.

Hung this above Sunshine's bed. Paper crafts I can handle! Bring on the modge podge.
I did this in a mere two sessions and hung it up in a third and all with in 2 weeks of purchase.
This could be a record for me.

(okay, this doesn't count as a true "craft" because I just bought it on Etsy. But Etsy is a "handmade" site, and I applied this vinyl sticker with my own two hands,
so it's being included).

Crafty Nancy talked me into buying this fabric 2 summers ago. The top has been done for one year. The back has been done for 1/2 a year. Now with my mom in town it is finished! Hand quilted even!



And this delightful pink and red quilt has been near a DECADE in the making! I bought the fabric for in the year 2000 in February for a "Valentines Day" Quilt. I can still remember picking out the fabrics and wishing I could afford the Moda line, but I couldn't! I finished the top within a couple months when I had 3 kids under 2 years old. It has traveled unfinished through 3 states with me!
I finally gave in and tied it--like a year ago--instead of having it "stippled" since that was obviously not happening.
And my crafty mother bound the edges two nights ago.
FINISHED!

This homemade undertaking took 9 months to complete.
Unlike my other projects I was doing everything in my power to get him done in a timely manner,
even ahead of schedule.
He came three days early.
Some of my better work, ya think?