This Is My Story
On Sunday night I started my Art Journal for the Tell Your Story online class I am taking from Red Velvet Art. It was so much fun and I am really looking forward to working on this project every single day. I’ll be posting most of the pictures on flickr, but I’ll be posting them here as well. These are my first two pages, and I can’t wait to do more! It might be my new naptime project each day. (That way I’ll have enough light to take cute pictures of them as soon as they are done!)
On Sunday night I was working on these pages in my room. It was well after midnight when Scott came to find me. And here I was, on the floor with my paper and my scraps and my glue and my pens and having a wonderful time. I didn’t know he brought his camera with him. But this is one of my new favorite pictures. I wish I had a picture of me doing this same thing when I was little. My mom told me that me and my sister would wake up around 5am three days a week to color. I remember spreading out in the hall upstairs with the crayons and the big box of construction paper. I am so glad my mom never got upset with me for that. I love you mom.
This is my intro page to my journal… well, one of them. I think there may be a few.
Tiara’s at Walmart
Today I spent a few hours at my mom’s house helping my little sister clean out her childhood room. She’s in a place of her own now and my mom needs the space. I helped her go through all her boxes and we had some good laughs over childhood toys and highschool dance pictures and nametags from her first job. And somewhere in there I ended up putting on her tiara from some highschool dance.
We went our separate ways. She stayed home and sorted through old letters and birthday cards and I went to Walmart for milk and bread and bubblebath. It’s now almost midnight and I am home. And that tiara is still on my head. I have been walking around Walmart by myself, very seriously picking out the best banana’s and asking the night crew where they hide the Ricotta cheese, and scouring the paint section for some wood filler in my new denim skirt, flip flops and a sparkly tiara. I’m pretty sure you can only get away with that when you are 4. Or a loud obnoxious teenager. But a 27 year old college grad, wife, mother? Really? Let’s just say I blushed big time when I realized what I had done. I hope your Saturday and/or Sunday was/is filled with considerably less embarrassment.
My friend Mrs. Moen
I came across this giveaway today and I just had to share. Mrs. Moen is a friend from Sew+Tell and she lives in Norway. She is giving away a bunch of tasty treats in honor of her 200th post and this Norwegian fabric is included.
Now wouldn’t that be fun to play with? Yes. The answer is Yes. Go check her out.
Reversible Skirt
My friend Amy who hosts Sew &Tell every week is very pregnant with a new baby girl. She also has a four year old little girl and a while back she made this adorable skirt for her. About a month ago she mentioned that she had added more length to it so her first born could wear it a little longer. That’s when I struck upon an idea! In my late night chats with Amy we’ve discovered that we both have a profound love for Sandi Henderson’s Farmers Market line of fabric (among other amazing similarities). I did Creamie’s nursery in that line (posts here and here) and I am currently collecting all the little bits I can to make her a twin size quilt so I don’t have to give it up when she grows out of her crib. Anyway, when Amy mentioned a month ago that she had fixed the skirt so her daughter could keep wearing it I knew just what to do. I pulled out a little fabric and in less than an hour I had whipped up this cute little thing. Well, two things… it’s reversible.
(Creamie would only cooperate for pictures after I gave her a little broom. When we were done she had a nice little pile. The floor was much dirtier than I thought! But isn’t that always the case.)
Now cute little baby who has yet to be named (or born, so it’s OK… they have time) will have a matching skirt to wear with her big sister next year. Plus the reverse side will give her one more skirt to wear. (My two biggest sewing neurosis are I have to line everything, and if there is a way to make it reversible I will- like the apron I made for Creamie’s birthday) Nothing better than two for one! I’m working on a tutorial for these that will hopefully be up next week-ish. Happy Weekend everyone. I’m going to work on some new projects and spend some time cuddling Creamie and my hubby. (And I almost promise not to go to crazy with the weekend thrifting adventures… maybe.)
A Little Spring Bling
A few weeks ago my awesome MIL, who teaches high school, asked me to help her out with gifts for some of her girls. (She works with a club and wanted to give the officers a graduation present of sorts.) I finished these today and I kind of love them!
I’ve seen necklaces like this one floating about the internet for a while, and decided to make one.
And I LOVED it, so I made a few more. And they were even better in groups.
And they just kept multiplying. I used the school colors, and I really hope the girls like them!
They are cute, huh! And after I got the hang of it they went pretty quick. Amy posted a similar tutorial a few days ago. She always has the best timing, doesn’t she! It makes my life much easier. We have the same idea (miraculously, being states apart and never having met), and she posts the how to just as I am finishing up. It’s really convenient! Besides that, she is just plain amazing and if you aren’t following her blog Style Crush you should be. It’s a rainy sort of Wednesday here, I only had sunshine for about 3 minutes to snap these pics and run back inside before the drops started up again. Now that these are done I think I’ll make cookies! And while those are baking I might make a few of these for myself!
Grrr….
I have a new post full of super cute little pictures all ready to publish. And for whatever reason the photo’s are being held hostage somewhere on the internets….. I’ll be playing internet mechanic for a while. And while I am internet mechanic-ing, Scott is in the craft store parking lot where our car died today being a real mechanic. Only he’s probably going to end up covered with grease. And I probably won’t. This isn’t our car Steve,( you can read his sad demise here and here) this is a “new” car. And I am pretty sure that it was having seizures. Or convulsing. Or something. At any rate, it couldn’t get it’s act together enough to get me home. I hope he can figure out the car’s problem without it costing another $1,000. Because seriously, that is getting old. Hopefully I’ll be back soon. And with pictures this time!
UPDATE: My mechanic-ing work is finished! Pretty post here The car….. well, the jury’s still out. We aren’t hoping for any miracles.
Katie Daisy
A few weeks ago I stumbled across an incredible artist named Katie Daisy. I saw one of her pieces somewhere out there (waves hand at the vastness of the world wide web) and it was love at first sight. I clicked right over to her flickr page and her etsy shop and fell in love all over again. Her artwork is the stuff my dream are made of. I can’t possibly pick a favorite, but these are a few that I keep looking at over and over.
Picnic
Wild Air
(Actually this one may be in a three way tie for the title of “Very Favorite”)
Someday Cottage
(Along with this one. She calls it the Someday Cottage. I think I’ll dream about this one tonight.)
Sweet Pig
Sweet Bird
What A Lovely Day
(This one’s also in the running for favorite. It would be so cute in Creamie’s bedroom. Or mine.)
I just love everything about her work, and I can’t get over how wonderful it is. She also designed a Mother’s Day card for Target this year. I know, amazing. I’m going to go snag one this afternoon before they all disappear. And not only is she incredibly talented, she is also very nice (The first day I saw her work I wrote her a note and there may or may not have been some gushing. I probably sounded kind of like a 3rd grader who had a crush. But she was totally cool about it.) Anyway, go look at her photostream. It will feed your soul. And then click over to her shop and start trying to decide which one is your favorite. I like them all. I’ll be back tomorrow with a new little project! Hope your Tuesday is filled up with pretty things. And if it’s not, then go do some window shopping in Katie’s shop. EVERY thing there is pretty.
*All images are by Katie Daisy and are used with permission.
The Newest Member of the Family
In my thrifting post from last Wednesday I mentioned at the end that I was sure that my new favorite little thrift spot would amazingly have a pristine pink Royal typewriter in a tweed carrying case just waiting for me with my name on it when me and my cute friend Betsy showed up on Saturday morning. I was sort of half kidding (but totally wishing on a star). I mean, that typewriter is something on my “List”, but I wasn’t really expecting to find one on Saturday. And I didn’t. But they had some great new things and all their books were on sale (I picked up 19 for less than 4 dollars). And Betsy and I left with our arms full of fabulous treasure. But that wasn’t quite good enough and we decided to drop by another thrift store before lunch. This one is sometimes hit and miss (but I did get Bluebird my vintagey turquoise sewing machine there a few weeks ago.) I could hardly be disappointed that they didn’t have my pink typewriter either. But I did find something almost as good. And way better than anything I was expecting. No 1950’s pink machine, but they did have her great granddaughter. (We are talking about the typewriter’s great granddaughter. What you didn’t know that they procreate?) And for only $15 I made this lovely the newest member of my family. We still haven’t picked out a name. But she sure is cute, and she works.
She’s a perfect shade of blue. And I didn’t really realize it until right now, but I must have known she was coming for a while. She is already up there in my blog header. I guess sometimes a mother’s instinct is more insightful than you would think. Maybe I’ll name her LOVE. Maybe I’ll make that an acronym for something…. maybe you can make that an acronym for something. I’m terrible at acronyms. (If you are in a reader click on over to see the header, that will make a lot more sense)
Scott spent his Friday night/Saturday morning with a group of teenage boys teaching them how to fish and camp and generally turn into productive adults when they grow up. When he came home I showed him our new baby (don’t worry, Creamie isn’t showing any signs of jealousy and they get along great so far). He thinks she is awesome. He thinks she is great. And after he finished gushing, he took her out for a spin. And this is what he had to say:
I love him. I can’t imagine life without him. And I don’t want to. He is so supportive of my crazy habit of stacking bits of paper and fabric and scraps all over the house. (Which he affectionately refers to as “the stacks.” I think because they remind him of the towering piles of books in big old libraries.) And that other habit I have of purchasing old electric items from thrift stores (Bluebird and this new baby). Or furniture (this chair, which I still love and which is still unslipcovered). Or old sheets to make dresses. (You know that line from the Sound of Music when the Captain is outraged that his children are traipsing about Salzburg in nothing but some old drapes? I keep thinking about that. And then Maria says “Yes, and they are having a marvelous time.” I keep thinking about that too. And it makes me smile. ) I think I’m going to keep that little bit forever. (which is one of my other habits he puts up with. I keep every little bit of paper that I think I might need/want one day. But it’s all organized in neatly labeled boxes. Because that makes it less crazy. (Ha!)
(Ok, enough with the parenthetical statements.) (Really)
Here’s the Scoop
I was cruising my reader today bookmarking all sorts of pretty things when I saw this post and thought I’d play along. Rachel, with beautiful curly hair and adorable children, is one of my teachers in the online craft class I am taking this spring. On Friday’s I usually post the things I’ve been sewing during the week, but none of them are quite finished yet. So, this Friday I’m going a different route. Here’s the scoop:
1. When do you feel happiest? I love the feeling that comes from making something, or turning it into something better than it was before. That could be making dinner, or teaching Creamie a new word (lawnmower is the current favorite. She looked for one outside yesterday for more than half an hour) or it could be sewing something out of nothing. Or cutting out a million paper hearts for hours and hours because I like the look of free hand better than a punch or a die cut (I have both, and I still picked scissors.) Or it could be making a closet look cleaner than before. Oh man, I love cleaning out closets. Or it could be….. I could go on.
2. How do you take care of yourself? I do what makes me happy. I cook something new, I clean out closets (I still get giddy everytime I open these doors and this lovely thing looks back) and I spend some good quality time with my scraps and my threads and my glue and my snacks.
3. Are you internally (by yourself) or externally (by others) motivated? Both. I love to see what others are doing and making. I love reading comments from friends or complete strangers who appreciate the things I have posted here in my little inter-spot. But I love to hang out alone at my crafty desk in the quiet hours of the night and just listen to my own thoughts. I should listen to what they are saying more often. They have some great ideas.
[ this is my favorite picture of my little sister on her wedding day. Love the girlfriends! ]
4. What do you do for fun? Oh, you mean besides make stuff? I don’t like to watch TV much, so that’s out. I love to catch up on my latest blogs. I love to take Creamie to the park to let her go down the slide (she is fearless) or play with other kids. Or just watch her play anything is pretty adorable. And I love to talk to my girlfriends. I love it when their husbands have to tell you that it’s super late. I love laughing so much my cheeks hurt and laughing so hard I cry.
[ image from MaggieMayberryMarket on Etsy ]
5. What intimidates you? Zippers. I take them to my mom. I would rather do 30 buttonholes than a zipper anyday. One day I hope to get over this fear. I’ve heard it could save me time.
6. What is something you’re proud of? This little one. I made her.
7. Finish this sentence. I never ______ go outside my house without earrings and mascara. Ever.
8. Favorite vacation spot. There is a cabin up in the mountains along a red dirt road and next to a spring fed little creek. It’s tucked away on the side of a hill and is surrounded by red rocks and green pines. It’s quiet, and happy. And the chairs on the backporch get lonely without someone sitting in them all day. We are happy to keep them company anytime.
9. Today is a (rate from 1 – 10). Somewhere in the nineish range. Creamie took a 4 hour nap, I got to talk to some great girls, and there was that lawnmower we tracked down. But I didn’t eat any dinner. Other than those graham crackers.
[ image from atomicshark on flickr ]
10. Finish this sentence. If you knew me really well you’d know _____________ That there is no way in the world I am ever going to eat maraschino cherries. Or anything else cherry flavored, or fake cherry flavored. The real ones are fabulous when they are fresh, but add any bit of processing, or when they just make stuff up (that would be any fake cherry flavor that tastes nothing like a real cherry and everything like medicine) about cherries it is always no good. Oh man, but doesn’t that picture make you wish they were ready to eat already? Go look at the gorgeous cherry blossom’s around the internet and try to be patient till summer.
Have a happy weekend! I am going to play with one of my favorite people in the morning, and I am sure some thrift store shopping will be involved. Oh, and isn’t it wonderful that the owners of my new little spot already know Creamie’s name! I think it’s wonderful. I’ll see you Monday with some lovely new treasure!
Weekend Thrifting Love
I told you last Saturday I had a fabulous thrifting day. Here are a few pictures of my new to me loot! This is only a few of my new pretties. I got sidetracked (which I’ll explain about in the last pic) and lost track of the time. I also have one item at the cleaners already, and I’ll finish taking pictures of the rest of my haul when it comes back.
[ bright pink corduroy jacket for Creamie ($2) don’t you love that lining and the ruffles! ]
[ Set of three nesting enameled bowls in near mint condition ($3) So cute, I love the flowers ]
[ Vintage yellow Corningware Dish. ($2) It’s big, probably 3-4 quarts and in perfect condition ]
[ originally published in 1971, one of my childhood favorites ($.75) ]
My new/old, but first edition (’71) copy is in amazing condition. I mean, it shows a little wear, but what 40 year old do you know that doesn’t? It has a little tiny tear on the back end paper and three tiny dog ears on the bottom right and that is it for any noticeable flaws. Why is it important that I tell you all of this? Well, let’s just keep in mind that I paid just $.75 for this book. Three quarters of a dollar. Are you ready for a shocker? Are you sitting down? I am glad I was sitting down. I decided to do a little looking online for this book, just to see. I frequently do this with old favorite s ” just to see”. I just found a 1999 reprint listed for $285 on Ebay. (!!! Gag, cough, WHAT??? Ahem.)
Now, I think that is a tad high for a reprint only 12 years old, but what do I know. But there are several others listed in the $120-150 range. The first edition ex library books (read: full of snot and crayons and smashed peas) are in the $80 range. The “acceptable” condition books (without a posted photo, just a stock photo, so who knows what it really looks like) are around$30. But, he’ll throw in free shipping, ain’t that sweet? Now, I don’t know about you, but I am pretty sure I got an A-MAZ-ING deal. Oh, and if you ever see this book at a thrift store/yard sale/estate sale/your mom’s house…. snatch it! And then read it. It’s a charming story and I love the illustrations. I would have thought it was a fantastic find before I looked it up. But now I know to keep this book on MY bookshelf and not on Creamies. And somehow that makes me a little sad….. Unfortunately in just a few clicks this went from a childrens book to a definitely NOT childrens book. (Totally unrelated tangent…OK, so I just want to point out that when I just typed ‘definitely’ you know, right there and then 25 words ago… that is the only 2 times in my life I have EVER spelled it correctly on the first or second … or without spellcheck telling me how try. Ever. I’m 27 years old and I am finally mastering my 6th grade spelling words. You know, as long as I type them slowly and carefully think about every single letter. You know, like say it out loud. Go team. (More on my most obvious grammar faux pas here.)) Have a Happy Wednesday…. I’m hoping to get a call from my new thrift store telling me they amazingly found a pink Royal typewriter at an auction yesterday and it works and is in great shape and has it’s original tweed carrying case and it is just waiting for me to come pick it up…..
pinksuedeshoe 
