Watercolors on a Saturday Crafternoon

Spent last Saturday playing with watercolor paints and colored pencils with college girlfriends in the basement while watching Downton Abbey.

Felt like a little kid all day, until we had to do the dishes. Oh, dishes... You are not my favorite thing about being a grown-up.

wedding crafting (*not mine!)

It was a dreary, drizzly Sunday in Minneapolis today ... so we spent the afternoon working on projects for Danica's wedding.

You probably recognize her from past craft days and parties at the house. She's a great friend I've known since we worked on the magazine together years ago, and now we mostly get to see each other at seasonal clothing swaps and project days. But after the wedding in a few weeks, she's moving into the neighborhood -- yay!

crafty ladies

When I first walked into the basement of this house a year ago with my realtor, I instantly envisioned it filled with friends and fabric and paper scraps and knitting needles, drinking tea and hot cocoa on cold winter weekends.

The month of January didn't disappoint.

Thanks to all the beautiful and talented ladies who shared their ideas and good spirits over the last few weekends:

Meredith and her mod podge letters

Maggie and her cards

Miriam and her jewelry (and Gone With the Wind)

Me and Meredith's sewing machine

Maggie (above and below), master of ribbons and craft photographer extraordinaire

Danica, getting ready for a jewelry show

Erika and her amazing, original, Nordic-inspired fingerless glove patterns

Jen, cutting up an old t-shirt (trying valiantly to make these) and Amber, cutting out fabric for a dress

Karissa, making valentines

We're already collecting project ideas for the next afternoon of crafting (see mine here, on Pinterest). If you want to join the fun, let me know!

And soon I'll post the photos of the sewing projects I've been working on. Until then... go and be creative, my friends. That's what winter hibernation is for.