Breathing

I made some time for a little bit of crafting in the last few days, and I feel so much happier. I just looked up the origin of the word "inspiration," and it is quite appropriately from the Latin spirare, which means "to breathe"! I really do feel like I have new life breathed into me when I am inspired to create. It's so hard to make the time for it sometimes, but I am just realizing that doing small projects or adding on little details to WIPs can be just as satisfying as tackling a huge new project.

I added a few more details to the cashmere softie Dala Horse I started a few months ago. I sewed the trim from these three thrifted trims.


I was reading a blog about organizing one's fabric stash, and the author suggested only having enough fabric on hand for projects that can be completed in a few months' time. I'm sure that's very sensible, but it's so very foreign to how I get inspired. I love having all sorts of odds and ends on hand to cobble together into something interesting. How would I have known that the three trims above would be what I needed for my Dala Horse?

Earlier this week I also painted some simple wooden dolls to add to my (very late) Lucykate Craft's Toadstool Swap package. I used Martha Stewart's self-adhesive ribbon tape for the outfits on the wooden game pieces* I found at Michael's. Then I painted the faces and hair like Alicia Paulson's beautiful clothespin dolls.
Two small, simple projects that helped me breathe!

*UPDATE: You can order the undecorated wooden girl/game pieces at Lara's Crafts.