Spring Projects

I have almost finished another collection of hats for Rex Hospital. I only have to weave in a few ends and find ribbons for the drawstring hats, like the ones I did last time. I decided to do this photo shoot outside in the beautiful, budding garden. The red buds and dogwoods are some of the most faithful heralds of spring every year on my street. What more fitting place than a garden in spring to take pictures of baby hats, which will cover the heads of infants who will each have a unique role to fill?

I also have been delving into my other crafts, primarily sewing, in the past few weeks. I am working on a spring dress made out of 100% cotton. It is a lovely coral and pink floral, rather fitting for spring. 

As I still have to finish the armhole binding, hem the edge, and finish tailoring the dress, pictures of me wearing the garment will be shown later. Below are a few pictures of the fabric. A friend of mine made a purse from the exact same fabric. Having only one JoAnne’s in our area makes it not uncommon for duplicates, but that will be fun. I’m only hoping that once I finish, my dress will look as professionally crafted as my friend’s. 

For sewing details, it is a pattern from Elegant Stitches, a cute and creative shop in Cary. When I saw the pattern, I thought it looked absolutely perfect. However, I have so altered the dress in order to make it actually fit me, I don't know that I would be able to reproduce another one of these dresses. This is partially my fault, because I chose to go with the larger size when I was in between sizes. Hence, I have learned how to sew darts. Because of my alterations, the neckline won't be perfect. That bothers me (though I'm almost sure no one but a seamstress would notice), so I'm already planning a project to sew a light-weight scarf with it in one of the corals or pinks from the fabric. This may prove more difficult than expensive; pinks can be so difficult to match.

What are your spring projects? Are there certain crafts you tend to do more of in the spring? 

Happy Spring and Happy Crafting!

Rose

Signs of Spring and Poetry

When spring begins to come, I always have this great expectancy for the daffodils. The daffodils and snowdrops in my garden are primarily from my paternal great-grandmother’ and my maternal grandmother’s gardens. Both women had incredible gardens, always bursting with life when the weather began to warm. The daffodil bulbs we got from my great-grandmother’s garden, we dug up from her garden which has been abandoned and free to spread rampantly for the past decade or so. I’m so grateful to have that connection with both these women in my garden. 

I wrote these haikus in response to my slowly awakening garden. The pictures were taken in my garden this afternoon. March probably is my favorite month of the year.

6

Leaf unfolds, bursts open,

Breaks its seal, feels the sun rays

Fresh wet dirt and rain bring spring.

7

Warm sunshine tingles

Through icy boughs thawing for

Fresh life and blossoms.

12

Yellow daffodil,

Herald of resurrection

Dancing in new hope.

A craft update: I am still busy crocheting baby hats to donate at Rex Hospital. I will post pictures of them when I finish this bunch and find ribbons for the girls' hats. In the meantime, I hope to get to take a nature walk in my local park. Happy Spring!