#54, #55, & #56

After being sick in bed for a good three days, and having my messy house driving me crazy for the awake hours, I got in a busy cleaning mode this weekend.  Just the usual... laundry, piled up dishes, cleaning out forgotten items in the fridge, etc.  However, the usual turned into a pre-Spring cleaning of my wardrobe.  It was great tossing some in the trash-- If I shouldn't wear a pilled shirt, then someone purchasing at AmVets shouldn't either-- and adding to my donations bag.  Of course, I came across a couple items that need to be added to The List.  

#54.  Brown striped pants.  The hem had fallen out a couple of years ago, and so they just need to be mended.

#55.  Green & white striped T-shirt.    I bought this shirt at a cheapy store, and it held up OK, but now it is really beyond wearing.  I will be cutting it up to make a pattern, and sew a new one.  It was such a good fit for me.

#56.  Baby Quilt.  I proposed the idea to my Mom that we start meeting to quilt once a week... just a little project to help each other use up our piles of fabric-- we are only allowed to use fabric we have on hand-- and to have a set time to meet once a week.  I am planning on making a bow tie quilt similar but not exactly like this.  Oh... and the reason I am making a baby quilt is not in anticipation of growing our little 2 person family, but because I am trying to start out with a manageable project... so that I will finish it!

#46 Yanessa's Birds

Again... another project that took way too much time.  The pattern was by far the most complicated part.  I probably made about 8 different patterns, and I still feel like the final pattern could use a little tweaking.

Luckily, I had a little helper... aka The Husband... Here he is at the main event... The Wedding that the birds made their debut.  He really can take credit for getting the slope of the back and head right, as well as bending the wire legs.  The design of the legs was referenced from Peonies Blog.  She had good insight and ideas on how to build these cute little creatures.  

The Husband also made a pattern of his own that I am very excited about making up... it looks more like a pigeon... a cute pigeon.

Here are a few shots of the little guys.  They are, of course, styled after the Ann Woods Birds, at the request of the Bride.   Actually, she really only asked me to help her figure out the pattern, but it took way too long, so I just said I would make them up for her.

The night before the event, I called on another helper... my Mother (not pictured)... and I am so glad I did, as Yanessa would not have had her birds... I am most certain about that.  My Mom is much more crafty than I, and so had all the special glue and know-how.  We wrapped the wire legs in brown floral tape and then covered them with this bronze glitter glue.  We used glass head silk pins first just as place holders for what would become the eyes, but then decided we liked them better than any other options.  The noses were shaped from clay, and baked.  She made about 8 noses, and broke 6. Ughhh!  I know all that doesn't sound like a lot to do in an evening, but it took 4 hours to complete the legs, make and apply the nose, flowers, and wings, and glue in the eyes.

So... at 12:45am, on the morning of the Wedding day... the Birds were COMPLETE.

They really were pretty fun to make... once the pattern was complete that is....  I now want to make a couple just for myself.  

I'll add that to the bottom of The List.