There is actual sewing going on here people. Woo-hoo! My sewing machine has been too quiet for too long. I have a bunch of project cut out and ready to go--some secret, some not so secret, some I have to finish before it gets warm.

I've fired up my sewing machine again and I've also fired up my sponsorship program--how's that for a segue?!  No really, though, I love to be able to show off all the amazing pattern designers and indie shops out there. To make showing off all your talents, I've changed a bit how sponsorship works. It's super streamlined and super easy and I'm super excited about it!  Do go check it out!

And check back here for crazy monster pocket pants!

hello again! I'm feeling a little sheepish after have been away for this space for more than a month (oof!). That is the longest I've gone without a post in the 6 years I've been here. These days I'm finding it difficult to know where this blog fits in: fits in my life, fits in the blogging world, fits in with you. Blair said it so nicely, I need not go on and and on about it, but I feel I need to refocus. There are posts I have been meaning to do for years (years, people!) and it's about time those got written. And one of those things is a FAQ page, which seems like a good way to get back in the game.

So if there are any of you out there still reading elsie marley (mom, I know you are) I'm ready to answer your questions: about me, about sewing, about fabric, about food, about my home, about creativity, about this blog, about whatever. Ask away in the comments or over email. I can't wait to hear from you--I've missed you all!

the photo above was my submission to Anke's beautiful photo project Learning from Kids: and Advent calendar. If you missed it in December, do go see it now! 

and the winner is...Avital, who said:

I've got a roll of tyvek that my construction working husband brought me home from the garbage pile at a construction site, and I need to make some things with it. I was a little daunted by its whiteness, and it actually never occurred to me to try painting it. duh. I am not to clever sometimes. I make a lot of things out of felted wool sweaters and old t-shirts, and thanks to Maya's inspiration I rescued a stack of coffee sacks a while back and have been making buckets from her pattern and then branched out into other things with burlap , and it has been great fun. I'd really like to win a copy of this book, so fingers crossed!

Get that tyvek out! Avital, if you'd send me your deets I can forward them on to Wiley Craft (elsiemarleyblog@gmail.com)! Thanks to everyone who entered. Please do check out the book, it really is a good one.

I'm guessing instagram friday is a thing. Seems to fit with the lazy blogger friday vibe. Here is a bit from my week:

I am elsiemarley on instagram or webstagram, if you want to follow along online. Happy Weekend!

Did you miss me? We went on a short notice, laid back, lovely vacation to my family's cabin last week. There was not much to do (no internet!) except take walks in the woods and...

look at funny shaped buildings,

sit around the kitchen table, and maybe do a little sewing.

It was so quiet and so nice to be away for a bit. Sorry to all of you waiting for an email--it's coming! And yay! for all of you who signed up for kcwc: 232 so far! I've got a list of what I want to make, but I need to edit it down to the things I can actually make. What about you? Do you have a list yet?

p.s. all these photos are from my instagram feed, but you can view (and comment and follow and favorite) them online at web.stagram.com.  Even more elsie marley, just what you wanted :)