The Library, And The Smock

We're a month into it and I am tired of winter already.  We've been sick, all four of us, with a cold that leaves us coughing and hacking and lying awake at night to make sure the kids are still breathing.  And fevers, too.  What fun!  We're going on two weeks of illness here, and we've had to cancel all kinds of play dates, trips to museums, and other fun plans.  I have spring fever in a big way, and I find myself setting the kettle on to boil before my current cup of tea has even begun to chill, and moving my preferred seat in the house to whichever spot happens to have a touch of sun.  I am seriously considering the purchase of a light box, or a condo in Florida.  Probably the light box is a better idea. 
I've been taking Harry and Emma to the library about once per week, trying very hard to break up the monotony of winter.  They like the variety of toys, seeing friends, and meeting new kids.  I like the selection of different children's books and the chance to speak with other adults.  Our local library, Crandall, has been undergoing a renovation but for the interim they have relocated to an adjacent building.  We love the new location almost as much as we loved the old one, especially the big windows that allow sunlight to spill across the children's play area.  There I go with the sun worship again.  This cabin fever is all encompassing.
The smock Emma is wearing in the pictures is one that I made from a new book, Amy Karol's Bend The Rules Sewing (click for link).  I love this book!  It is inspiring with quick projects to jump start your enthusiasm, and tougher patterns to take on once you get into your groove.  I ordered three sewing books a few weeks ago and much of my spare time has been spent in another sun-splashed locale, my newly created sewing room.  I have more projects to share, including a dress I made for Emma from a pair of old H&M sweatpants.  Now that's taking recycling to a whole new and interesting level.  I am hoping to cut out more smocks this afternoon from $1.00/yard calico cotton that I happened upon in my travels.  I love the way the smocks take jeans and a onesie from boring to cute, and Emma is enthralled with the pocket.  I also have fabric to make napkins for our dinner table and also some new hand towels for the kitchen.  We're trying to lessen our use of paper towels and paper napkins, and I am hoping that sewing my own will make me more likely to use them. 
Maybe I just need a whole post about my sewing room/projects.  I'll work on that this afternoon.