My Sick Grey Sweater

**Guest post from Susannah, friend of Inspire Me Grey**



My bestie Elizabeth offered to pick up Chick-fil-A for me for dinner. When I declined, she knew it was true...I was well and truly sick. After 32 years of infamous immunity, my system waved the white flag and surrendered my unsuspecting body to strep throat. I resent this cruel betrayal.

In another attempt to distract me, she offered a Guest Blogger role on Inspire Me Grey. My first response was succinct: "I'm sure it would be brilliant." After all, my beloved doctor provided me with Vicodin after peering into my throat...and I've watched five episodes of House Crashers, yet can describe none of the reveals. Clearly I'm not in my most-right mind. My second response was, "Can it be about my favorite grey fleece pants?" Elizabeth obviously enjoys humoring me (and Jenny hasn't met me, but I already like her due to her relation to one of my favorite people), because she said, "Why not?!"

But it's not. It's actually about my sick grey sweater. The grey sweater that I pull out of my closet every time I feel, to quote my grandmother, peaky. The knee-length cardigan that has never been in style, but offers something better: comfort. It's the comfort of chicken noodle soup, hot tea, episodes of Gilmore Girls, and Janet Evanovich books (also featured during my sick days). It's nubby, old, and beloved. It's my sick grey sweater, and you can't find one, because I don't know where it came from. Be jealous. And pass the remote.

Card as art

Our great grandmother Margaretta came to the U.S. from County Down, Northern Ireland. When I was in college, I spent a semester studying at Queen's University Belfast, and during my time there I was lucky to meet and spend time with some of my Northern Irish relatives. One couple, James and Gwen, was so kind and welcoming, and they continue to send me Christmas cards almost 10 years later. Their 2010 card is an easy favorite and one that I plan to display year-round. I love the contrast of the stormy grey skies, roiling blue-green waters, and orange sails.

"Off to the Goodwins" by Alistair Roach
to benefit the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, a charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts of Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man

Wallpaper for spring

After remodeling several homes and having to take it down, I've sworn off wallpaper. However, every once in awhile I'm tempted, and tempted I am by this beautiful grey and taupe Petal Pusher print from Hygge & West. A bit pricey for my budget, but in a small powder room I think it would look quite lovely.

A few more wallpaper sites to check out:
Vintage Wallpaper: Secondhand Rose
Modern Wallpaper: Wallnutz
Kids Wallpaper: fermLIVING (love the owls!)

Sneak Peek: My Lap Quilt

I've been getting back into the groove of making quilts after a few years away from the hobby, and after lovingly cranking out multiple baby quilts for expectant friends, I decided to make something for myself. Here's a sneak peek of my lap quilt in progress. Stay tuned for more.

Pillow obsession...continues

My husband and I needed a break so it was off to Music City for a little rest, relaxation and roaming. After spending a day downtown, we decided to venture out to Cool Springs where I quickly descended on their Joann's store and cleaned them out of mitten clips for pacifier savers. From there, it was onto Franklin. Thanks to the volume of country music stars in the area, Franklin is a quaint, restored and adorable little hamlet outside of Nashville. We parked the car on a side street and headed down to the main area of town which included a street lined with boutiques and shops not to be missed. After a little window shopping and the creeping awareness that lunch might be the only thing we could afford in Franklin, I stumbled across the winter white sale at Lulu. I would have bought the whole store out if I could have, but I settled for a set of wool and velvet pillows featuring a brown, cream and grey plaid. Birdie, our dog was curious about the interest I was suddenly paying the couch and snuck into the photo.

I Need An...Elephant

I wanted to make a very special gift tag for a friend having her second baby boy in the spring. Instead of just a flat tag, I found this cool 3-D elephant free for download that she can keep after the shower and add as decoration to his room. I can also imagine these as place cards at a kid's carnival-themed or zoo-themed birthday party. Just so you know that whimsy isn't relegated to children here, its twin will be sitting on a shelf in my office...maybe i'll write on it things I shouldn't forget! Download this grey/blue elephant  for free at Curiosity Group. I would recommend printing it on card stock and having a glue stick handy as there are small bits and it made it less messy.

Baby Pacifier Saver

I don't know what the official name for this is, but I call it an easy and inexpensive baby shower gift. I was inspired to give this pacifier saver a whirl after a friend was sharing how her son loved the pacifier from the hospital and she couldn't find another at the store. She was so worried that he would lose the one pacifier that worked, she was considering bribing the nurses to get another. I remembered my sister mentioning a how-to on pacifier savers on How About Orange, one of her favorite blogs. After a little experimentation, I've come up with my own two color version.

Materials:
2, 11 inch lengths of grosgrain ribbon (3/8" wide)
1 mitten/suspender clip
Sew-on Velcro
Fray Check
matching thread
sewing machine or lots of patience with hand sewing

Instructions:

The modifications I made for my version are
1. Cut 12-inch lengths of each ribbon color and use fray-check on the end cuts.
2. Pin and sew them lengthwise together, I tried to run it down the natural seam of the grosgrain ribbon.
3. Pull ribbon through mitten clip, fold over edge to make it tidy and sew down.
4. Fold opposite end over to make the end tidy and sew down.
5. Add velcro to the pacifier end.


For instructions using one 24-inch length of ribbon, visit How About Orange blog. Her ribbon is gorgeous and her directions are easy to follow.