It's been such a full (full!) month that I haven't had much time to post.
The inchies are all lined up in their little places, but most of them haven't made it out into public yet.
I've managed to tell a few of their stories without including their pictures, but I think it's time to just gather them in groups and do the best we can about the rest of their histories.
We'll just call this first group "Give and Receive"; I see a pattern in my life when I look at the inchies.
And I like what I see.
On the 11th of April, I came home from work to find this hanging from my front door knob:
Here are the very kewl birds up close and personal:
These were made by Dear Reader Annski, whom I now consider a first-class ring-and-runner (as well as a first-class seamstress).
I don't think she'd mind me telling you that the pattern for these lovely birds is available on the Spool website.
If you make a bird mobile of your very own, don't forget to share a photo with them (and us, of course).
I'm so grateful Annski shared her mad skills with me.
But I'm more grateful just to be her friend.
I had lunch with another friend on the 13th of April, and she surprised me with a gift, too.
She found a set of six little birdie candles when she was doing some power-shopping in Dallas.
She said they reminded her of my little paper birdies and she wanted me to have them.
Look how perfectly they fit in the egg cups I bought in Eureka Springs after our failed camping trip.
See those other lovely things on either side of the sweet little candle?
I recieved those in the mail on April 14.
They were made by Dear Reader Fran.
The Easter card on the right came in a clear plastic box-envelope...
...which I thought was very kewl.
And the Easter egg came in a decorative take-out box, which was also very kewl, but which I neglected to photograph.
I did, however, draw the egg on the inchie, so I hope that counts for something in the way of keeping things even.
Whether or not I can keep things even in the give-and-take is another matter.
But my friends don't seem to hold it against me.
I am blessed.
Speaking of blessings, how wonderful it was to hear that my daughter-in-love not only wanted an apron, she loved the apron I made for her on the 19th.
It's cute on the inchie, but it's even cuter on her.
I love my family.
I love some other families, too.
The wonderful family we met on our camping trip last August sent me an envelope full of homemade goodness, including a card made with inchies, a little, teensy hanger with paper doll clothes on it, a beautiful Easter drawing, and a paper hero doll with an 'N' for Naomi on the front (which I am told includes many super powers).
I feel super loved.
And when I opened the mail on April 23rd, I felt super-excited, too.
Because inside were these perfect little sewing labels:
I sometimes think Dear Reader Annski has radar.
I hadn't even had the chance to tell her that the sewing bug had just bitten me again, and I am searching for time to make some summer clothes for Baby Girl.
I'm sure she'll be reading by then, since she'll be nine months old, and she'll look at that label when she's dressing herself and say...
"Who the heck is Gwen?"