Thank you all for your sweet comments on yesterday's post. It always good to hear that we are not alone! Our day was much nicer and went smoothly - with any luck it will continue through the weekend.

I made a second Swoon quilt square last night. This one has a pink and white Alexander Henry print that has been in my stash for a very long time. I love this print so much that I only ever used it sparingly - I think the one yard cut has lasted me for 6 years! Anyhow, it's gone now, except for the scraps. I am so happy that I will see it on Jane's bed being used instead of on the shelf, just sitting there. Thinking about that makes me smile.

We've got a busy weekend ahead. Hope you enjoy yours.

Yesterday was a parenting fail. I feel like acknowledging that because I don't want you to think it's all rainbows and sunshine here. I'm human, after all. And I know that we all have those days. Well, I know that I do. And if you don't, then please tell me your secret. I could use some help from time to time.

My biggest hope is that the girls don't remember every single moment I fail them. I certainly don't remember those times when my parents mucked it up. And along that line of thinking, maybe seeing me lose it with them from time to time will teach my kids that we all have our moments, good and bad. And as we make our way through these pre-teen and teen years, it'd be good for me to remember this lesson of empathy, too.

At the end of the day, I had this quilt square. I sewed it while they were at day camp. It's huge - 24" - and the first of nine. The pattern is Swoon by Camille Roskelley. All of the fabric is from my stash and the white is Kona Snow.

If all else fails? I hope my kids remember that I made them things. And that I did all of it, good and bad, the praising and the yelling, because I love them so much. Surely they will know that.

I finished stitching my Daisychain Sampler this past weekend. I enjoyed every last stitch! This project was a great reminder of how much I love handwork. I am on the search for my next take and go embroidery or crewel work. I also might just design my own!

The sampler will be framed and hung in Jane's room which is undergoing a bit of a makeover. Two summers ago, I painted it and made her new curtains and then moved onto other things. I'm back to finishing her room - we've added a bookcase, sent fabric out for an upholstered headboard and bought new bedding. There is a bedskirt to make and furniture to paint. Still, I couldn't resist starting a quilt for her. I hope to finish cutting it tonight and start sewing tomorrow.

I promise to show and tell when it's all finished. I'm also sprucing up some other corners in the house. More on those later.

The random number generator has spoken:

Accordingly, the winner of 1, 2, 3 Sew by Ellen Luckett Baker is #145, Luisa!

And the winner of a Mouse Pincushion made by me is #142, Bridget!

Congratulations, ladies. Look for an email from me soon!

If you are not familiar with Ellen Luckett Baker and her blog, The Long Thread, take a moment and go familiarize yourself. Please. You will not be disappointed.

Back? Great.

Ellen's book, 1, 2, 3 Sew, Build Your Skills with 33 Simple Projects is one of the best beginning sewing books out there. It's also fantastic for intermediate sewers, too. It's organized so that you can increase your skill set project by project. Brilliant, no? The projects are divided into 11 groups, each with 3 different entities.  The first project teaches you one thing and the next project builds on the skills you've already learned. For example, in the first chapter, beginning with tea towels, you learn how to hem and make folded corners. The next project is napkins which add mitered corners to your repetoire. Then it's on to a table runner and seamless pockets. It's so wonderfully presented and organized that it is easy to gain an entire skill set just by following the projects in order.

The book includes a wide-range of items to make. There are things for the dining and the kitchen, totes and pouches, children's and baby items, softies, pillows and more. The instructions are very succinct, the photography is straight-forward and gorgeous, the projects do-able. I read a lot of craft books every year and 1, 2, 3 Sew is among my top picks for 2011. I'm so impressed with the range of projects, the simple and easily-followed instructions as well as the great format in which it is all presented.  The pattern pieces come in a envelope at the front of the book and are easy to copy/transfer and do not overlap like many others. It is a great resource for any sewist, regardless of experience. Some of my favorite projects are:

Lawn Cosmetic Bag - this, and a few other projects in the book, include the use of stencil/fabric paint on plain fabric. What a great detail!

Change Your Mind Skirt - A reversible and simple, elastic waist skirt for young girls.

Bunny Softie - A cute, squeezable animal for any young person you know.

Circles Floor Pillow - A wonderful project that showcases special fabrics (think Liberty!) and teaches you reverse applique.

Totes - there are three in the book and all are fantastic!

And here are my interpretations of the Mouse Pincushion. I whipped up two - one for Kate and one for Jane. I loved making them - fairly quick with interesting, but easy construction. The girls are excited to have a pincushion of their own, too. I'm psyched that I no longer have to share.

Chronicle Books has generously offered a copy of 1, 2, 3 Sew to one of my readers. AND I am offering a mouse pincushion to one of you, also. That's right - you have 2 chances to win! To enter in the giveaway, please comment on this post before Sunday, July 24 at 4:00 p.m. EST. Tell me what your first sewing project was and how it came out. If you don't sew, tell me why you want to learn. I'll pick two names using the random number generator - one will get the book, the other a pincushion made by me (to be specific, it will not be one of the ones pictured above).

Other stops on the blog tour include:

Monday, July 11 – CRAFT
Tuesday, July 12 – Sew, Mama, Sew & Oh My! Handmade Goodness
Wednesday, July 13 – Handmade Charlotte
Thursday, July 14 – Everything Etsy & Not Martha
Friday, July 15 – Modern Kiddo

Monday, July 18 – Crafty Pod
Tuesday, July 19 – Indie Fixx & Patterns by Figgy’s
Wednesday, July 20 – Papernstitch
Thursday, July 21 – Coquette
Friday, July 22 – Bolt Neighborhood & True Up

Get clicking. I'll announce the winner next week.

Some scenes from my workspace in the family room yesterday afternoon. Fabric scraps work well for an impromptu coaster, in case you were wondering.

I've just re-opened the House on Hill Road Shop. It's newly stocked with patchwork camera straps in six different colorways. I had a lot of fun putting these colorways together. It had been over six months since I last sat down to make camera straps and I had forgotten just how much I enjoy pairing prints and colors. And as I was getting the shop ready to go, I was amazed to see that I have now made 40 different fabric combinations into camera straps. It seems so crazy - 40?  My god- that is a lot! Please take a look, if you are so inclined. I appreciate all of your continued support. My blog readers and customers really are the best. You know it.

I've been busy sewing up patchwork strips for camera straps. Consequently, there is a shop update planned for Monday, July 18th, the exact time to be determined. Most likely I won't be able to make any additional straps until after my kids are back in school. I mention that in case you might want one as a gift.

All righty. Back to it. See you soon.

I forgot just how soothing hand stitching can be.

I bought the pattern a few weeks ago before Fatty and I went to New York and immediately transferred it to a fat quarter of aqua quilting cotton. (I didn't mention that, did I? New York? It was a quick and fun trip - one of our favorite places to go.) I took the pattern into Purl Soho and the super patient and kind gals there helped me narrow down the choices when it came to the Appleton crewel wool. There are so many beautiful colors!

I started the letter "a" in the terminal in LaGuardia while waiting for our flight. The "b" came the following day. And so on. I've been carrying my hoop, wool and pattern in a gallon sized ziploc bag, toting it to the pool, piano practice, tennis lessons and more, just hoping to get a few stitches in as every free moment arises. I've mastered the stem stitch, the satin stitch and the lazy daisy. My french knots are getting better. My chain stitch isn't too shabby and I really like the long short stitch that I had never done before. Every letter brings something new and keeps me interested, still stitching along.

I had forgotten how my mind rests when my hands are at work. Seems silly, doesn't it? That I could forget such a fundamental thing? I did, though. In all the hub bub of summer, of running kids here and there, packing and unpacking for trips, staying up late and getting up early to beat the heat, I shoved my creative time to the side. And I've missed it. And really, I need that creative time. I'm a better mother, wife, friend, geez even a better housekeeper, when I take the time to make things. So I'm moving sewing up higher on the priority list. It's now right up there with a good night's sleep and exercise each day. I'm going to keep stitching all the way through "z", reveling in the deliberate and quiet way that needle and thread quiet my mind and energize it at the same time.

Do you enjoy hand stitching, too? What other creative pursuits give you peace of mind?