in the pink

tap, tap, tap ... hello?  Is anybody there?

Geez, it's been so long since I was here I feel like I forgot how to do this!  Apologies for my too-long absence.  I've written two posts over the last little while explaining why I'm not around as much as I used to, but both turned into ramblings that bored me to tears.

The Coles Notes version is that I'm not a stay-at-home mum anymore.  After 12 wonderful years being home with my daughters, I went back to work full-time, over a year ago in fact, and ... well ... time is no longer a luxury for me.  It's also not that easy for me to find a creative spark when I do have a few minutes to myself.  And my sewing room is still a ridiculous gong show.  It's hard to find anything, I can't see my fabric (easily) ... ugh.  Not good.  I have some storage furniture on order so that should help.  The house is slowly coming together.  I promise I will show you when I'm proud of it.  Okay?

But I miss you.  I miss being here.  I miss making things.  But going back to the working world has been very good for me.  One can get too used to life in pajamas, I found out. ;)  Nothing like a professional wardrobe to make one feel human again.  But that's all I want to say about that ... except that for those of you who are curious, my job title is Technical Writer - much the same as it was before I was a mom.

So!  I've been on holidays this week and finally found some solid time yesterday to just plan, paw fabric, cut, sew ... and MAKE!

Oh, before I go on, I joined Instagram last month.  I've posted a few little things over there under prettybyhand if you're interested. :)

Yesterday I made a Tilda bag (see Instagram) and this sweetest little pink pincushion.  Honestly, if I was a colour, I'd be this ... Laura Ashley "Rose" from the 80s.   It's a diminutive 3" x 1" and stuffed with crushed walnut shells.  I don't really need another pincushion, but I do need to make things so I'm starting with small, quick projects to get back into the groove.

What are you guys up to?  Do tell.  I could use some inspiration. :)

I got the pins here!

Comments

[Chris Porter]

We've missed you too, Krystine - but so long as you're ok and just pop by here once in a while, we'll still be here. Take care, and be kind to yourself - you're very precious. New Year hugs xx

[mp]

Just beautiful! Technical writer? I would have guessed photographer or supreme creative goddess.

[greenrabbitdesigns]

Always good to hear from you K!!
V x

[Nesta]

Beautiful pincushion! It's always a pleasure to read your posts and admire your beautiful work and photos. Wishing you a wonderful 2015.

[Anita]

I am following you in IG. I know how hard it is to find time for blogging and crafting when you're working full time. We all understand. :) I love your pin cushion! I've been sewing a lot of pillow covers lately because I don't have a lot of time and energy for large projects with a little baby in the house plus the older two. And let's face it... the husband brings the count up to four kids really. LOL! :D

[BillieBee]

Glad to hear from you even if it' from time to time. Hope you get a change to be the PJ Queen at least one day of your vacation....:))

[CFQuilter]

Wonderful to have you drop in- pin cushion is beautiful!

[Marie]

Hi there! I have missed you! Your pink cushion is so beautiful! I'd like to wrap up in that fabric from head to toe. Take it one day at a time, we'll still be here waiting to see what new beautiful creation you have made and we will enjoy seeing your creative space when you are ready to show it!

[Lisa McGriff]

I have missed your beautiful photos. They would come to my email on my way home from work everyday. I love Pink!

[diamondcathy]

Wonderful little pin pillow, such sweet colors, I am a full time and then some worker, it is simetimes hard to get to my blog.
I hope all is well with you.
Thank-you for an adorable post.

Catherine

[Dawn H]

Oh Kristyne, we HAVE missed you! It's great to hear from you and see your sweet little PINK pincushion. I love it! Thanks for letting us know you're still alive and doing well, just busy! Dawn

[Lea]

What a sweet pin cushion. Love the fabrics you used. I always do. Your work is simply beautiful.

[Lea]

What a sweet pin cushion. Love the fabrics you used. I always do. Your work is simply beautiful.

[Cassie]

Hello to my sweet source of inspiration!
It's so nice to hear from you and see your sweet pincushion. I absolutely LOVE it and would love the pattern. :) I too would be that color of pink if I was a color. I understand what it's like to loose your "creative" when you are working full time. When I went back to teaching, my sewing room became a messy and unused room for over a year :( I've made a commitment to myself for 2015 to set aside "creative" time just to spend in my sewing room. Some of that time will be just reclaiming the room, organizing, "taking inventory" and nourishing my creative juices again.

It's so nice to hear from you. I will be delighted to see your posts whenever they arrive in my inbox.
Thanks for sharing! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
Cassie

[Bonnie Nyquist]

oh kristyne, great to hear from you, and darling pincushion.i hope you find time for thr creative part of you! i am now reduced to lower case one finger typing, broke my arm, hot pink cast. no sewing for 6-8 weeks at least. wishing you a happy new year and more time to be creative, you are missed.

[Christina]

Congrats on your new job. Sorry you are unable to find time play in your sewing room. I can relate to sewing room chaos. Mine is still a work in progress since the earthquake back in Sept. Your pincushion is adorable. Love the soft colors you used. Happy New Year, hope you can find some creative time in the new year.

[ina]

I've missed your blog but I totally understand. I can't wait to see pics of the new house. One question: isn't it just AWESOME to be in a house that has insulation??? You can actually sleep in pjs instead of parks. ;p

[Jenny D]

Hi Kristyne, I have missed you too! I only work part time, and for ages only had a corner of our study for sewing, my fabric was in a huge mess, and I was crippled by the enormity of the task to sort everything out. I started sorting just 15 minutes a day (with a timer). It's amazing how much you can achieve! Good luck, and hope to see some more of of lovely sewing, even just now and then. Jenny

[Ally's Grandma]

I feel your pain. I work full time too and do not get to sew nearly as much as I would like. My 6 year old granddaughter takes up creative time. She loves to be in my sewing room!

[Cassie]

Oh and, wherever did you find those darling pins that you have stuck in your pin cushion? So cute!

[Hildy]

Hi sweetheart,
I've missed you a lot but I know that sometimes life goes in the way and it can be hard to find enough time for everything you want to do. As long as you and your family are well and everything is good in your pretty pink world it's good. Wish you a Happy New Year 2015:-)

[Sigi G]

I missed 'hearing' from you. Glad you're finding time to sew a little bit again. Love your little pincushion! Your pictures and projects are always so soft and pretty looking. Wishing you well in your new job. After years and years in a whirlwind schedule, I'm enjoying a little, what I call, 'semi-retired' stage at the moment :)!

[LJ]

I just love what you do with fabric!! I am sure you do a fabulous job with your outside job, too! It's a bit sad for us/me to know you'll not have quite as much time as before but know that I'll be here waiting to see whatever you have time to create. Gosh, when I saw the pic of your pincushion, I thought, "What beauty! PBH has such a flair with her camera and with her sewing machine." Then I read your post... I sure do understand that there are only so many hours of the day and know that your creativity will always make an appearance but I'm selfish and want your inspiration all the time!! Blessings to you and don't give up on the blog - I love it here!

[Nancy]

Hi Kristyne,
So glad to hear from you again. And I'm so glad all is well, just busy! Love the pincushion. I always get so much inspiration from you. Wishing you a wonderful, blessed, creative and happy New Year!
Hugs, Nancy

[Paula K]

Technical writer! Perfect. The company who snagged you is incredibly blessed. We all love your blog writing and will take what we can get as long as you are well and happy! Merry New Year to you and yours!

[Ronda]

Sooo happy to here from you! and so happy about your new job! but I have really been missing your inspiring creative work.

[liz n.]

Finding time is one of the constant struggles, isn't it?

I've also been on a pincushion kick...made several for Christmas gifts and have a few in the queue to get done this week, along with a sewing case for travel. I've been making so many functional things lately that I've been feeling like I'm not doing any sewing or other crafting "just for fun." I think my other half picked up on that, because one of his Christmas gifts to me was a knitting class! I'm really looking forward to class starting next week; it'll be a new creative outlet for me!


And although we all miss your posts, we also understand that you get just as crazy busy as everyone else!

[Pam C]

I would love if you were inspired to make a bag of some sort to hold knitting needles. You are my inspiration for prettiness-and that is on my list with pretty ideas from your blog.

[LisaD]

Love the pincushion! Fabrics are so cute. Can you share the collection they are from?

[Gail]

So glad to see a post from you, especially with one of your lovely creations. Yours is just about my very favourite blog, but blogging is very hard to do on top of working full time. Take care!

[Wendy W.]

So nice to hear from you again, I have missed you and your creations. Nice to know that all is well. I would also like to say that everyone needs a pincushion like your one, it is a thing of beauty. I am off to instragram now to catch up on your postings there xx

[A Little Blue Dragonfly]

Kristyne! :) I'm so happy that you were able to have some playtime in your sewing room! I just finished cleaning up my sewing room from Christmas. (It turns into Santa's Workshop every year.) Now I get to start work on a baby quilt for my newborn nephew.

No matter how often or not, I love getting to catch up with your projects. Inspiration! And there's nothing better than Laura Ashley in the 80's, right? :) *hugs*

[Gillian]

Love your little pincushion. I'm cutting little strips of fabric to make a rag rug. My first attempt! Hope you have a very Happy New Year.

[Debbie R]

It's good to hear from you! I'm glad that all is well ... well, except for you not having so much time to make pretty things. That's a common problem for many of us :-(
Wishing you all the best in the new year, including some time for your abundant and inspiring creativity! Thanks for all the beauty and inspiration you share!

[Bari Jo]

So glad you're back and you are doing good - was worried about you! Glad you are getting settled into your house, too, and the job and all that. The pincushion is amazing as usual! Will look for you on IG! Happy New Year!

[yvonne]

Hi, I'm new to your blog and ... I love it!!! Just like your sweet cushion! The fabrics are just what we like. I also have some of that fabulous Laura Ashley "rose" fabric and I only use it to sew something for people I love! Pity we no longer can get any of it...
Thank you for the texts and the great photos.
HAPPY NEW YEAR and all the best in your new job! Warm wishes from Guadeloupe!

[Sonja L]

Beautiful pin cushion ! love the pinks and the stitch is perfect

[Cindy B]

I only recently discovered you and your site and I have bought a couple patterns which I haven't tried yet and today I received my pkg.of Kitties and bunnies blogger bundle from Pink Castle, my 2nd purchase after your bundle. I find you and the beautiful pictures of your projects amazing and so very beautiful in their simplicity. I would give to see your stash of these little prints. I have a saved folder of your pictures that I go to for a boost of happiness. I admire people like you who can style a picture the way you do. That's not one of my talents. Unfortunately for me I discovered your site right before you started working so I do miss all the pretty pictures, colors, and dodads. It's also unfortunate for me I do not own a cell phone so I can't see the things you put on instagram, so no Tilda bag for me to look at. Oh well, I'll take what I can get. Thank for the happiness you bring to me through your projects. Wishing you the very best in the New Year.

[Susan]

It is so very difficult to work and find the time for our beloved needle arts! Most of us can relate and there is not enough time in the day for all we want to do. Tell us about your new job - sounds very cool, but it is an adjustment to return to the working world! Glad to hear you are well though! Please keep inspiring us with your gorgeous creations! Is the Tilda bag easy to do? I hope I can find the pattern/book... Happy New Year!

[Colleen M]

Your blog has always been one of my most favourite. So pretty and creative. I have really missed it. I hope your talents are put to good use where you work - otherwise what a waste! I haven't signed up for Instagram yet but now I guess I will have to do it. Have a great 2015.

[Jenn]

Stumbled upon your blog and am absolutely SMITTEN by your pictures! I love the little pincushion and wish it were in my sewing room - I definitely need more of them! By the way, where do you find crushed walnut shells? Jenn ♥

[Jane @ Handiworking]

Good for you. You expressed the lack of time and creative spark perfectly. I work retail at a wonderful store but from the beginning of November until about now, it seems all I do is work, sleep, laundry and occasional cooking. The holidays are a blur. I'm ready to get back to my sewing room with new fabric awaiting me and lists of project ideas in my Notes app that I barely remember writing. Love your pincushion and sweet buttons and beautiful bows ... your attention to every single detail is amazing and lovely. Thanks for sharing it all with us!

[Elaine]

So glad you had a spare moment to make a little something. I've missed you! Flashback of when I first started reading your blog and a trip on a CAT on a snow covered mountain. We are doing that next week. It's so interesting the tidbits of blog we remember. Looking forward to seeing more pink, delicate trinkets you conjure up. :)

[TeddieTurtle]

I am glad to see you back in the blogging world. I know things get hard when you work full time. I am hoping to go part time this year. Your pincushion is absolutely lovely. Where did you get your decorative pins from as I think they are just wonderful.