diversionary tactics

so i really don't have time to be blogging today, and yet here we are anyhow.

just wanted to share a few snippets of handmade gifts...

i've been making bunches of these chenille-backed patchwork scarves:



this one's in a lovely brown/peach/cream colorway and has already been gifted to my most excellent mother in law. i have to say that old school amy butler fabric makes me want to flap around in a happy dance.





i actually made this here crayon roll for elle's birthday, but it would make a fantastic holiday gift for any little person with artistic inclinations. in my opinionated opinion, it's the bestest sort of gift because it's simple, utilitarian, and pretty.







alternately, you could make a colored-pencil roll for an older child. these rolls are ubiquitous, i know, and it's quite likely y'all have made them before, but here's a tutorial in case you'd like one.




next up: patchwork placemats. i made a quartet of these for my gorgeous friend and bride-to-be sara. again, a very simple project--here's a tute if you're interested.


and in the spirit of blogging when one should be cleaning one's house, here's a somewhat desultory list i came up with yesterday:

top ten best movie characters (off the top of my head and in no particular order)

raymond babbitt (dustin hoffman) in rain man
captain jack sparrow (johnny depp) in pirates of the caribbean (all 3)
lloyd dobler (john cusack) in say anything
forrest gump (tom hanks) in forrest gump
red (morgan freeman) in the shawshank redemption
marty (natalie portman) in beautiful girls
harry (billy crystal) in when harry met sally
john silver (voice of brian murray) in treasure planet
professor john keating (robin williams) in dead poets society
rockhound (steve buscemi) in armageddon


wanna play? i'd love to hear your top ten (only rule: it HAS to be off the top of your head...no scouring the internet for all-time-best-character lists). if you do this, leave me a comment or shoot me an email so i can view your picks.

happy tuesday!