Retail therapy

I always thought retail therapy was stupid. But then I realized I've been doing it wrong. First, find the things you actually want to buy (hint - for me that is NOT shoes). Second, don't feel guilty. If you're going to get it, get it. It's no fun if you spend the whole trip worrying and picking bits and pieces because it's too expensive. Wouldn't do it all the time of course (there's my thrifty nature panicking again) but I feel a lot better now...

Throat Soother for me, in anticipation of many colds to come. Fox Trot, which has mint and chamomile and smells soothing. Strawberry truffle, because it smelled good. And lots of almond and chai for my tea of the month club for my mom and sister.

Mmmm. Watermelon water, Texas grapefruit, winter plums, two kinds of granola, avocados, a really good honey crisp apple, and tasty grapes. I got some olives, bread, and cheese too.

LOTS of seed beads for my bead curtain. I love the way they feel all silky and slushy in my hands. I am going to need a lot of strands to finish my curtain.

Having figured out you can get mats in whatever color you want and cut to size, I purchased a mat for a poster I got at ALA. Yes, I know most people put frames around them. Until about a month ago I always thought of these as "the affordable frames in pretty colors" until I had a sudden realization...I see no reason to change that viewpoint.

There is a small Joanns where I live, but it's....not very good. I like to go to the BIG one with lots of options. I got solid blue to go with a yellow print that I'm making into a quilt, and some others just because. Also two skirt patterns. I haven't made clothes in years, maybe I will try again...

A closer look - I love this fabric with cats and flowers, makes me think of Miyazaki for some reason. I'm thinking of using the solid red as an underskirt and the print on top with the skirt pattern I got.

Winter is the time for hair cuts

I cut off about 10 inches, got the blue from last August redyed, and added a layer of purple. Lovely.

Painted Pots

I painted a whole set of pots to add to my bedroom garden. They're drying here - that's not where they will stay.

Quilts in progress

Quilt tops mostly finished. I might put a green and pink border around one though.

Hair style achieved

I always wanted to put my hair up in a coronet, peasant-style, whatever you call it. But it never worked. They always slipped or didn't stick and there were bits everywhere. But I finally figured it out! First, you have to use one braid instead of two (this does require very long hair). Secondly, clips not pins! I actually got the idea for trying it this way from a picture of an author on Publishers Weekly Children's Bookshelf. I can't remember her name at all, but she's got very thick, dark hair and had it up in a braided crown with bright pink clips that looked like butterflies. And I thought AH HA!! and it totally works. It's really comfortable and easy. I think it looks much better from the front than the back, but why are you staring at the back of my head anyways?

And all the four year old girls are drooling in envy of my hair. 

My life is complete.

It is not easy to take pictures of the back of your own head

and this is a horrible picture. whatever.

Quilts in progress

One section laid out

It probably won't look like this when I've actually sewed it together

So I took lots of pictures now!

If the squares don't match, I just chop off the edges. That's how I sew

Lots of quilt tops - still deciding to put them together or make separate mini quilts

Quilts in progress