simplesparrow

hey.

hey there. here i am, not much going on. well, lots is going on but not the kind of stuff I usually blog about here. You know, just everyday life stuff. So...am I returning to blogging more regularly now? I don't really know. I have been inspired to post recently, that's true.  I want to be cautious though because I've gained so much personally by taking an extended break. The time I spent blogging and thinking about blogging has been replaced with other things that are so much more important for me right now. It needs to stay that way, but I don't think that means I need to stop blogging altogether. So I'm taking it slow, feeling my way as I go along--which means you may see long pauses between posts here. Just wanted to share with you what's going on with all that.

That's all for now :)

otter says it all

Thank you, thank you for all the anniversary wishes! If I could give each one of you a hug I would. It was also great to hear that I wasn't the only one who got hitched at a young age xo.

Don't cats have it easy? Geewhiz. If I had to give an account with how I've been using my time this last week and I wasn't allowed to use any words, well, the photo above pretty much sums it up. I've been drifting in this weird state of my mind being FULL of all kinds of things to do and get done, and my body parking it on the couch. Not the best combo. Ahh, but it is the blessing of summer to be able to slow down, to not crack the whip because there is a schedule to keep and to make everyone smoothies for dinner if I want to, right? Still, I would be happier with a little more progress. Such as finishing the top I started sewing about two weeks ago. I had a goal to sew several clothing items this summer.  At this rate, it aint gonna happen. I also have a goal to get ALL of our family photos into albums, chronologically, because it's a crying shame that most of them have been in boxes in the garage for years. Progress report on that one: the boxes have come down from the garage shelves (did that about 2 weeks ago) and are now sitting by the garage door (did that part yesterday) they're not even in the house yet! Lame! Mister snail in my garden is faster then that.

Let me leave you with something funny and something pretty:

Me: (peeling some skin off of my shoulder because I got sunburned--stupid mistake)

Noah: what's that mom? your skin is coming off! well, that's good. I guess you're growing.

And here are some daisies on a foggy day.  Happy weekend!

24

Today we celebrate 24 years of a very happy marriage. I remember way back when what some people told me when they heard that I was getting married at the young age of 18 (well, i was almost 19) They said it wouldn't work, a teacher of mine wanted to make a bet that it would be over in 5 years. Even one of my  aunts was trying to convince me that I was being idealistic to think that I would never be married to anyone else but Mark. It troubled me that some people were such dooms-dayers, but time has proved them all wrong. If we are blessed with long life and good health we will celebrate another 24, and then some. Isn't that right, hon? Yep, it is.

We don't really do gifts for each other on our anniversary, what we like to do instead is get away for a day if we can. But Mark totally surprised me this year and gave me the camera I've been wanting *plus* a new macro lens!!! I.am.thrilled. It's the Canon 40D.

I'm going to put it to very good use Mark, watch. xoxo.

diving in

Summer is in full swing here and I'm diving in with a sublime smile, this being my favorite season of the year. How is your summer going so far? Or winter if you're on the lower half of our wonderful planet? As usual June has zoomed by and I find myself staring at the calender knowing that there is really only 2 months left of our summer break--so much to do in just 2 short months. Ack. I always feel this way though, and I think I'm better off not looking at the calender. Before I know it the back to school adds are out and then I suffer a slight depression.

What I've been up to so far:

*Noah just finished 2 weeks of swim lessons and conquered the diving board.

*I'm all about wanting to make clothing this summer--something I've never been too hot at. I just got Sew U Home Stretch in the mail and I'm submerged in it (keeping with the pool theme here)

*I just started to turn simple sparrow into a book via Blurb when typepad made some technical changes which prevents Blurb from working. I have to wait until the new version of their software comes out for it to do its magic. So, bummer. I was rearing to go. But, simple sparrow will be a book, hopefully by the end of summer.

*Taking lots and lots of pictures and loving it. I was gifted a new editing program (!!!) and I do believe a new camera is in my not so distant future. Going pro as my kids would say.

*Enjoying the extra time that summer gives me to read--and that surrounded on my deck full of summer blooms.

I'm still in extended break mode, but felt an inspirational whim to post today. I'm waving a big hello to all of you!

i still see my shadow

Hello! How are you guys? I'm stopping by here mainly to say that my photo blog has been put on hold for now. I've gotten some emails asking what happened so I thought I should explain. The simple answer is that, as excited as I was to start that project, it seems that's it's just not the time for me to take that on. After my free trial with expressions ended I decided not to continue. It is so like me sometimes to charge ahead with something I feel excited about, only to stop half way down the road looking around and wondering what in the heck am I doing? It's a flaw. I've had to back-track many a time because of it. Those of you who like to follow my photography can always check my Flickr stream. I continue to post there regularly. I'm also planning to offer some of my recent photography as prints in my shop soon. Check it out sometime! The link is in my left sidebar.

Well, while I'm here I can at least show you something crafty, eh? My son Nate wanted to make a tri-fold art organizer-- like one he saw --for a friend's birthday. After he purchased the art supplies, we designed the organizer around their sizes. It turned out so well, and it was super fun to work on this together--sharing the sewing, the cutting and the decision making.

My break has been really good. I'm just starting to feel the benefit of it as I settle into a different routine that does not include blogging. Like the little groundhog that comes out of his hole to see if he can spot his shadow, I still see mine--so this post is not a return to blogging, just a "pop out" to say hello, chat a minute and then get back to my hibernation. It's a good thing for me right now. Really good.

Until my next pop-out, enjoy the start of summer! xo.

T.

hibernation

It's time to put simple sparrow to sleep for a while. I have felt this coming on for a couple of months now--rolling it over and over again in my thoughts. simple sparrow has been a large part of my life these last couple + years--a very fun, supportive, inspiring, touching, and growth-causing part or my life. I really think it will feel strange to not sit here a couple of times a week and write my posts, something I've been doing--come August--for three years. I'm positive I will miss you guys, some of you have been with me a very long time. I'm so very thankful for all of you though--you come here and read about my teeny-tiny place in this world and leave me the kindest and sweetest notes. The personal emails you send me with words of encouragement, praise and thankfulness for my blog always, always touch me. I never expected to receive such kindness. Thank you, so very much.

I'm feeling pulled in a different direction, needing to spend the time I take on my blog and apply it elsewhere in my life. It adds up, you know? It's not just the time it takes to write a post, it's the thinking about it beforehand (this part alone can take up a lot of space in your head each day) taking and editing the photos you want to share and other little "behind the scenes" details.I really need to free up that part of me, to be more available in my "thoughts" as well as my time to pursue other interests (because I can't do it all). I want to get more involved with my photography and see where that takes me. I want to  be on the computer a lot less. After all of us take care of our daily responsibilities--there isn't a whole lot of time for the extras. What I'm doing is rearranging my "extras". I'm not ready to stop simple sparrow altogether (although that is a possibility to be honest) just a hibernation, I think for a couple of months--possibly until the end of summer. I'm not sure exactly on the time frame but I'm positive I need an extended break.

I will still be on Flickr and maybe even updating my Etsy shop now and then. Even today I got inspired to sew something special for my shop. And, I've moved my photo blog to a new location. You can find my new button for it in my sidebar. I am much happier with the format and the aesthetics of the Expressions site and much more satisfied with how I'm presenting myself and my photos. My focus there is my photography so there will be few words--which also feels very appropriate right now. I would love, love, love for you to visit me there!

Take care dear friends! You are a special crowd. Here's to growth and change and fresh direction in all our lives.

xo,
Toni

noah's business venture

Noah has been talking about earning money lately. Always asking if he can do little extra jobs around the house for pay. We don't pay our kids for their regular chores--we all live in the house, we all should take care of it. But, for extra jobs--beyond the call of duty we are quite happy to help them earn some cash.

Because his enthusiasm is high right now, I wanted to take this one step further. A small lesson in business if you will. Some time ago we made these cute strawberries together, just for fun. Later I ended up using them for simple math lessons in counting, adding, subtracting etc... great fun for your young ones. So, Noah will take out a loan from the Mom & Pop Bank (no interest of course ;) to buy supplies--he will assemble the little strawberries with eyes and mouthes (help from mom will be quite accessible) place them in our recycled egg cartons along with a paper of ideas on how to use them as we have--and help to package them up for shipping. After he starts to make some sales (hopefully!) he will pay back the Mom & Pop Bank the money he borrowed and the profit will be all his.

We're calling them "Math Berries", but of course they can be fun for other kinds of play too!

Here are the details:

Noah's Math Berries--$12.00 per dozen, idea paper included.
Shipping in the US-- $5.00
International shipping--email me for a quote. All sold!! Noah is wide-eyed with excitement!

If you would like to purchase a box, say so in the comments or email me at: peacefulhome at juno dot com and I will send you a PayPal invoice.

We'll start with offering 5 boxes and go from there. As excited as he is about this--I do think that he will eventually get his fill of gluing googly eyes!
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Thank you for your kind comments on my last post...I appreciate each one. I still have a few posts left in me before my break.

Oh! Check my Etsy shop soon for some ADORABLE vintage children's fabric I found! I'll be selling it by the yard because I found a huge uncut bundle!

at a loss...somewhat

Macro challenge day 15 (I'm so woefully behind)

I'm feeling a slight lack of direction here on my little bloggy-o. I have not had any time and little desire to sew. I've tried without success to get that pink bird project finished and I'm just not sure what to talk about here! It's strange--I have maybe only once or twice in all of my blogging days felt this way and it left rather quickly. This time...um...not so quick. I do foresee an extended blogging break--maybe starting in summer, not sure (although I'm pretty positive I will keep my photo journal going) Noah has a little project that he is very excited about sharing so there's that to post about and I have NOT given up on the pink bird project--although no promises on when that will happen. I've already taken note that I'm not good a keeping those here, ahem. So, I guess I'm asking you to please bear with me through this. I'm not sure I can keep up right now.

Instead of something crafty today, I'm offering some laughs. I hope these make your stomach hurt as much as they did mine!

The little car that couldn't
Funny treadmill

simple adornment

photo courtesy of Lisa Leonard Designs 

Let me take just a moment to tell you about some beautiful jewelry I discovered recently. The designer is Lisa Leonard and I really love her simple style--ball chains, hammered silver, fresh water pearls. It all looks so perfect and natural together. She makes a variety of styles--solid circles, open circles, squares, tags, ovals, and hearts and other lovely extras. Lots of variety--and all can be customized to say what you want. I personally have an Open Circle on order right now with the names of all my children and I can't even wait to get it into my anxious little hands and around my neck!

The icing on the cake about this discovery is that Lisa is my neighbor! Can you believe it? She only lives a couple of blocks away. What a small world in deed. So that means when my necklace is ready we get to meet up at the local coffee shop for a visit. How fun for me!

You can find her jewelry here: Lisa Leonard Designs and get a more personal look at her life and her adorable little boys here: It's The Little Things

(that pink bird project is still not done, my crafting time has been next to nothing this week. next post? maybe. i'm afraid i'm giving this more build up then it deserves)

shameless self promotion

I lied--so sorry. I said my next post was going to be crafty for sure and even gave you a peek at that cute pink birdie. But I just couldn't get that project finished yet, and what? Has it been almost a week since my last post? Lordy, lordy.

Have you heard of Artful Blogging? It is an absolutely beautiful magazine with almost no advertising and loaded with photos. I bought my first copy last summer when Alicia mentioned she would be in it.  What a visual treat this magazine is--dedicated to bloggers of all kinds. When I got the email from the editor asking if I would want to be included, well...I jumped out of my chair and did an impressive jig right then and there--much to the amazement of my family who were wondering what in the world had gotten into me (really, they stared with wide eyes and mouths agape) I was seriously honored to be asked. The icing on the cake is that one of my photos made the cover even. The pincushions on the lower right.

This is the summer issue and comes out May 1st. You can find it at bookstores that carry magazines or at certain craft stores--I found my copy last year at JoAnns. Here's a link to more info. and a peek inside.  Thanks for letting me indulge a little ;)

Ok, next post: the pink bird mystery revealed.

everyone's favorite mama

If you love Amanda's blog, Soule Mama as much as I do, then no doubt you will be thrilled to own a copy of her new book, The Creative Family. When I was offered to receive a copy I was so excited to say the least--Heck yeah!...um, I mean...why yes, please. THANK YOU.

Amanda writes with passion about her family and the bonds they have nurtured through creativity. I appreciate her efforts so much in involving her children with her and encouraging them in their own creative pursuits. I know how much patience and time it takes to do this and it is to be admired, trust me! I also love how she encourages us to make time for our own creativity--not to put it off until everything else is done because that often never happens, our to-do lists can go on and on.

Some of her projects fondly remind me of the things we did when our older children were young: family drawing time, drama time (Mark once--very spontaneously, drew a beard on with my mascara, threw a t-shirt over his head to act like a shawl and told us all a very animated bible story, much to the delight and giggles of the children and me) collecting bits of nature to bring inside to admire and to sketch, making our own knitting needles--learning to knit from a friend--and then all 3 boys and myself knitting together in church! You should have seen them all lined up, needles clicking (quietly clicking!). I have since forgotten how to knit, but there is no way I will ever forget those sweet weeks of learning and knitting together. It all encourages me to not let Noah's young years pass without the same kind of memories.

There are lots of reviews floating around on other blogs so I won't get too long winded here because they are doing a great job. Her book is a definite must have for any family that values creativity and togetherness and rolling it all up into one--it is chock full of fantastic projects. I do want to tip my hat to Amanda's husband, Steve. All of us mamas know that it takes a pretty special husband to be able to do what Amanda does, so Steve--take a bow, because we all are applauding loudly--with an encore even :)

Boy, whether or not I'll be able to manage two blogs remains to be seen (sometimes I wonder what in the heck was I doing!) I've updated my photo journal for those that are following and I confess that having a special spot to talk pictures feels so good right now--even though I may  need  will have to slow up here in order to keep doing that one. I'm going out of town for few days but when I get back a crafty post for sure! The little pink bird up there is a sneak peek.

into the wildflowers

Thank you for the warm welcome over at my new photography journal--to those who left a hello, to those who looked silently and to those who sent me personal emails. Your support of my creative efforts means so much to me. Did you notice the new button I made and put in my side bar? Geez, it only took me over an hour to figure out how to link it (I won't tell you how many times I read the Typepad directions on how to do that ) but there it is. I also added a link next to the macro challenge button where you can see all the photos I've taken so far for the month. I think I just posted my favorite yet.

We spent the afternoon yesterday with a picnic in the most beautiful wildflower fields. They went on for acres and acres and acres. Really quite stunning. All this springtime loveliness has inspired a new little something I hope to work on in the next day or two and, Noah and I have a little business venture together in the works--more on that later.

Have a super weekend friends!

xo,
T.

i have 2 blogs now

I'm just barely getting this macro posted to be on time--this is photo 9 out of 30, 21 more to go! This picture was a point and shoot without me looking through the viewfinder. Sometimes my favorite photos are taken this way. I really love how this one turned out. I think I'm going to post a link in my side bar if you care to see all the photos I'll be taking for this challenge--but I won't be posting each one here, just some. There are other things I'm itching to blab about and not all of it will coordinate with my macro shot for that day. I can be silly this way, just ask my husband. I like to have neat little piles of this and that and not all jumbled up :)

While I'm on the subject of pictures and stuff, I've started a new blog. Actually, I'm calling it my photography journal. It's that pile thing I mentioned above. I'm wanting to separate my photography into it's own little home--a place to talk photography and of course to post lots of pictures while I learn. If you have any interest in this subject I would love for you to join me there! AS I SEE IT.

papery blooms

Noah and I welcomed spring last month with a paper flower craft--I know I am way behind on posting "welcome spring" crafts, but we still have these gracing our living room so I wanted to share. I have a big bin that I keep all my gift wrap, bows etc...in and that's where the tissue came for these flowers. I always save every scrap of gift wrapping that can be re-used. It pays off, I rarely need to buy anything new. There are some gift bags that have been circulating between us and friends for a few years now! It's so funny to see those few show up again...and again.

I was surprised when Noah wanted to make flowers with only a few, and in some cases only one, layer of tissue. Often times with little ones the "more is better" rule reigns supreme. He was not interested in the ruffles I was trying to sell him on. So be it. His flowers were quite lovely and he confidently knew what he was doing. I found directions for the flowers here. 

Here is my day 8 of the macro challenge. Ruffles. Shhh...don't tell Noah, he wouldn't approve.

catch up

I'm playing catch-up here for the last 3 days of the macro challenge.

1. 5.30 The bird lamp that sits by our computer.

2. 6.30 The hydrangea bush Mark gave me several years ago.

3. 7.30 The best kitty in the whole wide world.

Happy Monday!

x,

T.

(Thank you for your kind comments on the pocket tutorial! It was really fun to do, mostly because my boys make me laugh so... That was just one of several ways to make a tidy pocket. I think I'll try what others have done and that is to sew up 3 sides, then turn and stitch--sounds even better! Either way, they both make for a pocket that is much better then what I had been doing.)

how to sew a nifty pocket

With the help of Nate (filming), Micah (guest appearance) and my nephew Sam (editing and getting it on you tube) I've managed my first video tutorial. There is a terrible amount of nervous hand fiddling and my nephew thought that the "talking hands" was a bit disconcerting... oh well. My crew and I were only up for so many retakes. Although I do have to agree with Sam, watching a pair of hands fiddle while I give my intro is strange. Since I'm not trying to break into Hollywood, I think this will do just fine for the purpose. Oh, one more thing, if all of you already make your pockets like this (as Micah does!) please, go easy on me. I don't get out much.

P.S. Watch for the slowly disappearing fabric piece off to the left. Nathan was apparently bugged by it sitting there while he was filming. Picky, picky.

4.30

Some of my necklaces, most of which I've made. I don't make jewelry very often but I will tell you that I love it! Instant gratification (at least with my very basic beading skills :) and something pretty and all your own to wear around your neck.

I didn't think when I started this macro challenge that I would be able to post a photo everyday, so far I'm keeping up--much to my surprise!

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You'll never guess what I did yesterday! With the help of my sons I made a video tutorial! After seeing Cassie's on how to make a slip knot and Amy's on machine sewing bias tape , it gave me the courage to try one when I discovered a nifty little tip while sewing last weekend. I'll get that up here soon...

3.30

Stacked.

2/30

It rained this morning. I'm pretty sure my daisies were happy about that.

raveling + bows = new love

I'm feeling a little obsessed these days with ravel-y fabric bows, I want to stick them on lots of everything! Just for the record, I'm not a bow person. I probably sound like a liar because this new tote I made over the weekend is sporting not one but three!!  Maybe the fraying edges make them seem not so fluffy and sweet I guess. Whatever it is, yay!! for fraying fabric bows! This tote will eventually make it into my shop, possibly by the weekend.

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Karin of Orange Flower has started a 30 day macro photo challenge that I'm taking part in. It's been so very long since I participated in any group thing--feels good to jump in with the others. I know I won't be able to post a photo everyday and sometimes I'll combine my photo with other posts because I like to talk a lot--but I'm going to post a macro shot as often as I can for the month. Here's my first one--a tad trippy but I like it.  And I have never taken a macro shot of my face by the way (not really a good idea when your 42..ahem..speaking for myself of course) but, this is a challenge so I'm trying new things.