Things have been a bit hectic around here lately, allowing me to live up to my oneplyshort name. I’ve been out of town, playing catch up, and getting ready to leave again…the fun just doesn’t stop! So I took a couple of days out of my busy schedule earlier this week for some me time.  A Crafty Mini-Vacation.

On my last trip to the bookstore, I picked up Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts and fell in love with the little stuffed birdies on the cover. I can think of several people for whom I can make these as Christmas gifts this year. So while my mom and I were at the quilt shop over Memorial Day weekend, I picked up some fabric to make a small flock. The perfect project for my Crafty Mini-Vacation.

Hah.

As you can see, I made all of two birdies.  I got hung up on piecing the wee birdies together.  I think their bellies were just a bit to big for their bodies.  I may need to adjust the way I cut out this piece.  Or maybe I’m just a little clueless about how to piece the two together.  They are not shaped in such a way that a novice softie maker such as myself would find logical and the instructions leave much to be desired.  No illustrations. Nothing. I need all the help I can get, please.  I managed to get them together, my little bird frame looking like a straight pin stegosaurus; but what was called a 45-minute project was more like a two hour, two Excedrin project.

So, two birdies don’t quite make a flock.  At least not a flock that can defend itself from this predator…

(The distraction was short lived, I’m afraid – I found a birdie in the hallway not too long after this shot)

P.S. I’m off to Seattle in a couple of weeks for a conference (SLA) and then to Victoria, BC, to visit my friend, Dilly, so it might be awhile before I’m back with another action-packed post.  Busy busy summer!