Uncategorized

Inspiration Everywhere

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Emma took a walk along the Susquehanna River this weekend and came home with pockets full of rocks. But this little shell was hiding in there too, when she unloaded her stash on to the living room floor for me this morning. Each rock had a unique characteristic that attracted her to it: chocolate brown, looks like an egg, shaped like a "pickle", flat and smooth, shaped like a little bowl….Of course, now she wants to paint on these naturally beautiful little rocks, but we’ll see. I’ve got her into water colors right now, hoping to fill that "painting need" for one more day and put off painting this little collection.  But if she’s so inspired, what can you do, really?

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My mini-boden catalog came in the mail yesterday. I LOVE this catalog. I get so many ideas from it. I have a little folder on my desktop that I dump tee applique ideas into. These fish and teacups are definitely going into that file.
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I love these pleated skirts and they remind that I really need to brush up on my sewing skills. I feel like what I really need to do is just start from the beginning–you know, take it from the top! I want a stronger foundation to my sewing skills.
I remember when I was younger, in my 4-H days, I used to go to Mrs. Diefenderfer’s house every Saturday morning for sewing lessons. We were making a drop-waist jumper out of light blue and white striped fabric with big pockets on the sides. I’m sure the stripes were going the wrong way, but I do remember turning them the opposite direction for the pockets. So fancy, I know. You can say it.

Unfortunately, I didn’t retain much from those lessons except that I remember her glasses made her eyes look really huge, and my jumper got a second place ribbon at the fair.
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These tees are enough to make me want to start woodblock printing. Although I’m feeling spread a little thin these days in the craft/blogging for "clients" department. Maybe we could duplicate with potato-printing at the kitchen table? No extra purchases or skill sets required.
P1010011_6

Basically, I want all of these things in my size. One for the girls, one for me, please?
Flipping through the catalog last night reminded me of another project that’s been on the backburner. I’ve been wanting to do my pillowcase dresses again. But this time I want to do a short blouse version that the girls could wear over a long sleeve tee.
Alright, time to push back from the laptop and go do some damage control–Emma has art supplies strewn all over the floor and Mary is attempting to wash dishes at the kitchen sink. "I need a new shirt!" Could be getting messy, I presume.

P1010003_14
Emma took a walk along the Susquehanna River this weekend and came home with pockets full of rocks. But this little shell was hiding in there too, when she unloaded her stash on to the living room floor for me this morning. Each rock had a unique characteristic that attracted her to it: chocolate brown, looks like an egg, shaped like a “pickle”, flat and smooth, shaped like a little bowl….Of course, now she wants to paint on these naturally beautiful little rocks, but we’ll see. I’ve got her into water colors right now, hoping to fill that “painting need” for one more day and put off painting this little collection.  But if she’s so inspired, what can you do, really?

P1010006_14

My mini-boden catalog came in the mail yesterday. I LOVE this catalog. I get so many ideas from it. I have a little folder on my desktop that I dump tee applique ideas into. These fish and teacups are definitely going into that file.
P1010008_8

I love these pleated skirts and they remind that I really need to brush up on my sewing skills. I feel like what I really need to do is just start from the beginning–you know, take it from the top! I want a stronger foundation to my sewing skills.
I remember when I was younger, in my 4-H days, I used to go to Mrs. Diefenderfer’s house every Saturday morning for sewing lessons. We were making a drop-waist jumper out of light blue and white striped fabric with big pockets on the sides. I’m sure the stripes were going the wrong way, but I do remember turning them the opposite direction for the pockets. So fancy, I know. You can say it.

Unfortunately, I didn’t retain much from those lessons except that I remember her glasses made her eyes look really huge, and my jumper got a second place ribbon at the fair.
P1010009_6

These tees are enough to make me want to start woodblock printing. Although I’m feeling spread a little thin these days in the craft/blogging for “clients” department. Maybe we could duplicate with potato-printing at the kitchen table? No extra purchases or skill sets required. 
P1010011_6

Basically, I want all of these things in my size. One for the girls, one for me, please?
Flipping through the catalog last night reminded me of another project that’s been on the backburner. I’ve been wanting to do my pillowcase dresses again. But this time I want to do a short blouse version that the girls could wear over a long sleeve tee.
Alright, time to push back from the laptop and go do some damage control–Emma has art supplies strewn all over the floor and Mary is attempting to wash dishes at the kitchen sink. “I need a new retro club shirt!” Could be getting messy, I presume.

Uncategorized

she’s seen better days, as have I

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We had a small reunion this morning with Madeline. Apparently, she’s been "sleeping" in the field behind or house since, oh, maybe mid-Summer? She’s been sorely missed by miss Mary, so the reunion was sweet. Unfortunately, what I thought was dirt actually looks like mold growing under her "skin". I’m not sure we’ll be able to get her back to her formerly cute, pink cheeks. She’s whipping around in the washing machine right now. I tried hand-washing, but nothing was working…I figure how much more damage can the washing machine do? I’m not sure she’ll ever make it through the spin cycle though because Mary has pulled a chair up to the washer and keeps lifting the lid to check on her…

My morning began with a quick stop at the gas station before heading to IKEA with the girls for some long-overdue Christmas returns. As I was coming around the corner of the building, another girl came flying around the corner towards me. I had to swerve a bit to miss her which caused me to slam my right front tire into a cement curb. When I stopped to get gas, I checked the tire, which is now sporting a 50-cent piece sized bulge. Perfect. A consult from my dad and then the tire store shows that I now need a new tire. ugh.

I was on the cell phone with Dan, driving to the tire store, practically in tears over the frustration of this kind of annoying spending, my children were fighting and screaming in the back seat over a bag of pretzels, almost coming to blows. It was one of those pull-your-hair-out mother moments.

So anyway, plans were changed. No IKEA until the tire gets fixed. I don’t think I’ll risk a blowout on the highway with my two girls in the back and little babe in my belly. I’m sure I’m being overly cautious, but it’s not worth the 99 cent kid lunches in IKEA’s relaxing cafe.

Oh, and these two are still at it, pretending to give each other shots. I overheard the one pretending to be "Molly" say, "Get it out of me!". C’mon. Do I really say that??!! I can’t believe it. Maybe during labor, but not during shots. Where do they come up with this stuff?

P1010010_8
We had a small reunion this morning with Madeline. Apparently, she’s been "sleeping" in the field behind or house since, oh, maybe mid-Summer? She’s been sorely missed by miss Mary, so the reunion was sweet. Unfortunately, what I thought was dirt actually looks like mold growing under her "skin". I’m not sure we’ll be able to get her back to her formerly cute, pink cheeks. She’s whipping around in the washing machine right now. I tried hand-washing, but nothing was working…I figure how much more damage can the washing machine do? I’m not sure she’ll ever make it through the spin cycle though because Mary has pulled a chair up to the washer and keeps lifting the lid to check on her…

My morning began with a quick stop at the gas station before heading to IKEA with the girls for some long-overdue Christmas returns. As I was coming around the corner of the building, another girl came flying around the corner towards me. I had to swerve a bit to miss her which caused me to slam my right front tire into a cement curb. When I stopped to get gas, I checked the tire, which is now sporting a 50-cent piece sized bulge. Perfect. A consult from my dad and then the tire store shows that I now need a new tire. ugh.

I was on the cell phone with Dan, driving to the tire store, practically in tears over the frustration of this kind of annoying spending, my children were fighting and screaming in the back seat over a bag of pretzels, almost coming to blows. It was one of those pull-your-hair-out mother moments.

So anyway, plans were changed. No IKEA until the tire gets fixed. I don’t think I’ll risk a blowout on the highway with my two girls in the back and little babe in my belly. I’m sure I’m being overly cautious, but it’s not worth the 99 cent kid lunches in IKEA’s relaxing cafe.

Oh, and these two are still at it, pretending to give each other shots. I overheard the one pretending to be "Molly" say, "Get it out of me!". C’mon. Do I really say that??!! I can’t believe it. Maybe during labor, but not during shots. Where do they come up with this stuff?