new kitchen towels

I had to put my sewing machine away while the house is on the market and I've been longing to sew something! I thought this would be a good opportunity to teach myself how to English paper piece with hexagons. (I learned to machine piece hexagons last year which I think is fabulous for quilts, but I wanted a handstitching project.)

I bought plain white dish towels a couple of years ago with the intention of embellishing them. They were hiding in the back of my sewing cabinet and finally saw the light of day again a few days ago.

I was concerned that the fabric would shrink a lot in the washing machine and pucker the towel, but it only puckered a little. This was a great scrap busting project and I've already reused the paper hexies to do some more paper piecing, although I have no idea what I'll use them for!

I better be careful... this could be addictive!

emma {ten months}

My sweet baby is ten months old today!

This was the most challenging photo shoot yet. Once I put the sign down near her, she couldn't get enough of it! Oooo, a new toy! Thanks, mama!

Turn it around and around...

Emma has learned some amazing tricks! She can clap her hands together, which is absolutely adorable. She's learned to feed herself and is finally rolling from her back to her stomach (she's been rolling the other way for months now). Her legs are getting strong and her balance is improving, too!

It seems like over the weekend she started moving around more and she's slowing figuring out how to army crawl. She can scoot backwards but not forwards (yet). Pretty soon I'll turn around and she'll be gone!

And, last but not least, we have our first tooth! Finally! It's on the bottom in the front, and only just peeking out of her gums, but it's a tooth nontheless. Good job, Emma!

a lovely gift

My friend Nancy sent a totally awesome package for Emma! Mr. Seaschell came in after checking the mail a couple days ago and I spotted the box immediately.

"What's that?" I asked.

"I don't know. It's for you," he replied. I jumped up, trying to remember if I had ordered anything recently. I didn't think so... then I spotted the return address and knew where it came from!

People, totally awesome doesn't even begin to describe the fabulous things in this box! It was stuffed to the gills with handmade fun. Every time I pulled something else out I squealed... Mr. Seaschell did a lot of eye-rolling, haha.

A sweet hat..

A set of awesome bibs...

A set of stuffed letters!! Love the eyeballs, lol...

A spiral scarf for mama in a color I love!

Adorable animal cards...

I seriously *love* everything so far. But I've saved my favorite for last. Check it out!!

A rainbow mobile! With a sun! And raindrops!! I just can't stop staring at it. I love the little faces and rosy cheeks! :) So, so sweet.

Nancy, you are the best! Thank you so much for all the work you put in to make this gift a great one!