I've Been Dreaming of Skulls with Cobalt Blue Swarovski Crystal Eyes....

Unbelieveable.... it's DONE!! It only took me 4 months.

This was the hardest thing I've ever put together. No lie -- even more difficult than that dang satin dress I made her for the talent show last year. This thing was a "beast!"

I'm not gonna lie - I am the worst at following patterns. I don't like the way they are written. They leave too much to the - imagination! However, in all fairness - this pattern was actually pretty darn good. It was written right into the pattern when things got a little sticky. And did they ever get sticky!

One thing I learned in making this bag full of zippers, pockets, pouches, toggles, buttons and velcro - is that if I don't think too hard, and just do "what it says," it really does work out in the end. There is only one little trouble spot I am not pleased with and that is the bulk at the right end of the zipper on the main body of the bag.

I had fun hiding a few secret surprises in it - just for fun, as well as a bag of Skittles in the main zipper pouch.

So glad I finally got this off my worktable. I don't know why sometimes I put things off. Fear of failure, I guess. I kept coming back to this one - and I'm glad I did. I learned a heck of a lot, and Sabrina - well she's just as happy as she could be with her skulls.

Tomorrow - our son is taking over parental responsibilities for the day so Blaise and I can get up early, early (4:30 a.m.) and head up to the Blue Ridge Mountains (Skyline Drive - one of the TEN most beautiful drives in the country!) to enjoy some "Peak Fall Color." It's been such a hectic few months. It's time to STOP and breathe.

I suggest YOU do the same. Take some time just for YOU today. Paint, Sew, Write, Nap, Play with Your Dog - do what makes YOU happy.

LOTS & LOTS of pictures upon my return.

NOTE: As of the writing of this post, our trip was postponed because - you guessed it - Sal got the flu. Mountain trip now re-scheduled for Thursday departure at 4:30 a.m.