Well, it’s official. My best friend and I are going to a yoga retreat in western Massachusetts for a few days in June.

I can’t wait!

It’s costing us around $530 each for lodging and food for three nights and four days. Since that felt a little hefty, we opted not to take any additional classes. We’re just going to attend the free yoga and mediation classes.

Since I like making something for myself before going on a trip, I decided to make myself a bag for my yoga mat. I’ve never had one before, and I figured it was time to stop carrying my mat under my arm.

I … Read More

Photo (and tutorial!) courtesy design*sponge

My friend Katie and I are planning another crafting date. I find that crafting is so much more fun with friends. We’ve only had two crafting dates so far, one to make holiday presents and another one in January (I made a purse and she started working on a quilt).

I should keep an ongoing list in my writer’s notebook of everything I want to make, so I could just consult the list instead of trying to think of a project every time. I started one awhile ago, but then I finished that journal and forgot to transfer the list to my new writer’s notebook.… Read More

I had so much fun making picnic placemats for my friend’s birthday. I couldn’t find a pattern in any of my sewing books, so I decided to wing it. The process was very simple (even though I was going to initially make eight of them and decided to make two…).

First, I cut two pieces of fabric for each component:

• 2 pieces of 16″ x 22″ for for the placemats (canvass material from IKEA)
• 2 pieces of 6″ x 6″ for the napkin/knife pocket
• 2 pieces of 4.5″ x 6″ for the fork/spoon pocket
• 2 pieces for the napkin

I followed the same steps for sewing everything:

1. Put right-side of