I am super behind in my blogging.  I’ve had quite a few shows these past two weeks and work in general has been really busy.  I am so proud of my students.  Their performances have been top notch and they get a little better each time.  Oh yeah, and I completely underestimated the time it would take to work on a swap for Petticoats and Parasols (or is that Parasols and Petticoats?).   Have I told everyone that Mom and I are headed to Savannah, Georgia on April 22nd?  We’re going to Jenn‘s event and I can guarantee you it is going to be incredible.

This was my Christmas gift to Mama Puff.  I’ll fly in to Asheville on the 21st and then we’ll drive down the following day.  It’s been since Christmas since I’ve seen her and I sure do miss my mamasita!

Anyway, I finally got all my swap stuff shipped to Rosalyn-Sue today — yes, two days late.  Sheesh.  Mom was a teacher’s pet and got hers in a few weeks ago.

About a month ago, I purchased a beautiful fabric flower from Leslie at Frilly Frocks in downtown Phoenix.  I decided to try my hand at making one.  It was much more complicated than I thought it would be.

I wanted to use only supplies I had on hand.  I have enough lace, ribbon and fabric to last me a lifetime.  Well to be honest, I actually don’t have enough fabric to last a lifetime, but I’m working on it.  😀

I created a template from card stock and then went to work cutting up old dresses, petticoats, vintage lingerie and old swatches of fabric.  After having cut out about 10, I noticed that my fingers were going numb.  Yipes!  I’m not sure what that was all about, but I still haven’t regained all the feeling.  Crazy.

It took me a moment to find my groove, but once I did, I thought everything would be smooth sailing.  Hah!  I was wrong.

I had to figure out the centers of the flowers.  Thank God for hot glue.  I seriously have no idea where I would be without my hot glue gun.  It is definitely this girl’s best friend!

I even had to recruit Chucklebutt to help me cut out swatches of white felt for the backing.  Eventually, I had hoped to use fabric stiffener to give the petals a more realistic feel.  This was NOT such a good idea.  Yes there was cursing involved.  It worked out, however.  After I snipped off the edges that I had mutilated, I realized they looked 100 percent better.  Funny how good things come out of mistakes.

Quick like a bunny, I wrapped those puppies up this morning and shipped them postal express.  Hopefully they will arrive without incident tomorrow.

I’ve been lurking on the other gals’ blogs and the creativity that oozes off of them is amazing!  Mom and I are going to feel like Brangelina at the Oscars — you know, SWAG!  Now I just have to get my butt in gear and make some southern belle paper dolls — for another swap.  Thank goodness the weekend is coming up.  Hope everyone has a great one.  Thanks Chucklebutt for the great pics!