simplesparrow

babies and sticks

this was the little project i was working on that i mentioned in my last post. it didn't turn out to look very much like my sketch...but i guess that's just part of the process. i don't have much experience designing my own patterns when it involves more then 2 or 3 pieces! that takes math, and i pretty much stink in that subject.

the idea here is that it is a baby bundled up in a hooded wrap. although i'm not completely unhappy with my first try, i do want to tweak with the pattern some more and make one that is not quite...so...chubby. i really liked the way my sketch looked of this idea and want to come up with something closer to that. i have some more ideas for variations i might try too. we shall see. i'm always FULL of ideas and very SHORT on time. here's a picture of the back.

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i bought a huge box of popsicle sticks at the craft store over the weekend in hopes of doing this adorable project with noah...

it's a stick village from the july/august 2004 martha stewart kids. they have some super cute ideas and of course this kind of project lends itself well to whatever your imagination can come up with. i'm thinking it would be nice to have a board that we create the village on that can be brought out and put away easily--leaving what we've already made in place. i'm picturing the whole family getting in on the fun too. working on it a little here and a little there.

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i think i might try to update my etsy shop tonight with some buttons and the baby blanket if i don't run out of steam (yawn...)

hope everyone's week got off to a good start today.

bye for now...

waiting, making, eating

waiting:: to use this stack of vintage fabric, daydreaming about all the possiblities.

making:: fabric buttons for my shop. these are fun and relaxing to do. can you tell i'm definitely in a spring mood? for sure.

eating:: martha's applesauce cake. or, i guess i should say ate, because it's.all.gone. my family descended upon it like vultures. in fact, i saw them circling while i was making it. i was lucky to get the sliver i did. anyway, try this. it is soooo good.

we got quite a bit of rainfall the last couple of days which means the hills here will soon be turning that bright spring-green. love that.

i finished the baby blanket i was working on (yay!) and i started a new idea that i'm kind of excited about. i'm working with my first prototype and so far i think it's a keeper. more on that later.

hope you have a glorious weekend!

(a big thank you to those who expressed interest in the magazine swap. my 2 copies of romantic homes have been spoken for. i'm sorry that i was not able to get back to each one who was interested.)

sunday a.m.

i made a batch of stephanie's granola .  really, really good. i was happy that she chose to post about this because, although i'm not new to making granola, it had been a very long time since i made any.it was good to be reminded just how yummy homemade granola is. we eat it all the time, noah especially loves it on top of yogurt.

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i cleaned out, cleaned up and reorganized my spice cabinet. i couldn't bring myself to show any before pictures, pretty darn bad. it feels so good to finally accomplish this small task.

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oh my, i was totally overtaken with a cute-attack at the fabric store and spontaneously bought enough of this farm fabric to make a baby blanket. i don't even have a baby! no one around me is having a baby! well, i take that back--i have one friend who is but i already gave her a gift and she has more then enough blankets at the moment, which is usually the case. anyway, i made a pretty decent investment in this thing and i'm kind of regretting it. it was what i chose for the backing that made this project more expensive then my usual--that small bit of blue fluff you can see on the side. so, i'm ultra determined to get it made and put it up for sale. here's a peek at my frantic work-in-progress. hrumph. the fabric made me do it.

(it's monday afternoon and the title of this post does not match. i wanted to write this yesterday--just didn't get time. i'm sticking to my original plan anyway. :)

have trailer, will travel

2 more trailer pillows. i love making these...they are..just...so quirky. i think these two may be spoken for, if not, into the shop they will go.

thanks for all the stew love. good ol' martha , she does have some good ones. i wanted to just give you a link for the recipe but she didn't have it on her site. so, here you go--straight from everyday food #15.

chicken and artichoke stew serves 8.  

3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

salt and pepper

2 Tbls. butter

2 large onions, finely chopped

1/2 c. all purpose flour

3 1/2 c. chicken broth

6 med. carrots, cut into rounds

1 tsp. dried thyme

2 cans (14 ounces each) artichoke hearts, drained and rinsed
sliced lengthwise.

1/2 c. chopped fresh parsley

1. generously season chicken with salt and pepper. heat 1 tablespoon butter in dutch oven (or 5 quart stockpot) over medium-high heat. brown half the chicken on both sides, about 5 minutes. transfer to a plate. repeat with remaining butter and chicken. (I used about half the butter and added olive oil) set aside to cool.

2. reduce heat to medium. add 1/4 cup water; scrape bottom of pan with a wooden spoon to loosen browned bits. add onions; cook until golden, about 5 min. stir in flour; cook 1 more minute. (i found that at this point the flour got really thick, so i added a little more water)

3. add broth and 1/2 cup water; bring to a boil. add carrots, thyme, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper. simmer until carrots are almost tender, about 5 min.

4. cut chicken into 1/2 in. pieces and return to pot; cover, and simmer until chicken is cooked through and sauce is thickened, 10 to 15 min. add artichokes; cook until warmed through, about 1 min. stir in parsley. serve over rice if desired--we like brown or a combo of both white and brown.

this is so good, and it was a real hit with the fam. enjoy!

i have two extra copies of romantic homes magazine, the issue where our beloved alicia is featured. i can't remember where exactly, but someone was saying they couldn't find a copy--maybe it was someone in the UK. anyway, here are two copies for the swapping. i would love...LOVE...to have a copy of a marie claire idees magazine in trade. that one seems to keep eluding me, unless i order a subscription , which is very pricey, which means i would rather spend money on fabric. so, those of you who fit this description and could maybe send an MC idees my way, please just pop a comment! they'll go to the first 2 who say they want them.

Oh--for those who asked, my valentines teacup came from starbucks. my son works there and we get to use his discount. comes in handy.

what i'm loving today...

making cookies with my little helper...

a valentines gift from mark...my newest and most gorgeous teacup...

this hilariously cute hat hannah crocheted for one of her beanie babies...

chicken and artichoke stew over brown rice for dinner last night...major yum factor here.

i'll share the recipe for it if any of you are interested. it's from everyday food.

hoping your day was sweet*

happy valentines day~

a little of this--a little of that

still a bit random here...so much to talk about i guess!

well! so i'm not the only one with tardy books due at the library. you guys crack me up! meg , your comment was hilarious. ok, now i guess i'll fess up and tell you what my fine was--that's the least i can do when some of you so willingly told me yours...it was like, 51.00 dollars or something. it was one of those times when we went on vacation and i forgot to turn the books and videos in--videos rack up major fines in my neck of the woods. gee-whiz, the lady at the counter was not very quiet about either. i thought you are supposed to whisper in the library!? thanks for sharing your fine stories, they were pret-TY entertaining.

i LOVE this tea cozy featured in the march country living magazine. it fills me with so much inspiration. tea cozies are just one of the cutest things ever. i have been wanting to make one for my new teapot (which is not so new anymore). it's one of those personal size ones, enough for about 2 cups. it would look so very cute with a little jacket to keep it warm. speaking of tea cozy inspiration, did you happen to lay eyes on the one cassi made?? that one will definitely cause you to break out the smelling salts. is there no end to cassi's incredible talent? love her.

i have been working on more trailer embroidery. they are quite addicting you know. and, the smallest pair of hands in the house has taken a sudden interest in learning to sew. you should have seen his face when he came up through the cloth and realized his needle had left the thread behind. it was this big "whoops!" expression...so cute.

moving on to yet another totally different subject...i had a sudden burst to take photos of my cat today. he is the best kitty ever. just one big ball of fluff and sweetness--with an occasional feisty side. but mostly sweetness. his name is otter, and i adore him.

and now, a word from our sponser

i'll just be up front with you right away...the title of this post has absolutely nothing to do with it's content. it's just random, like this post will be.

recent thrift store finds....

when i first saw this basket, it was one of those long, contemplative moments...do i like it? na. well, maybe. nope, it's too country. but wait, it is kinda cute. i don't know about those apples though....that's how the conversation in my mind went. I left the store without it. a couple days later i went back and bought it. i'm glad i did--it has grown on me. since i sew at the kitchen table, i needed something to contain all my stuff. that's its job, and it does it very well. (the painting in the background is also a thrift find, but from a couple of years ago)

that same day i scored a pile of old martha stewarts'...always happy to come across these.

i know i'm not the only one, but spring is definitely planting its loveliness in my mind these days. i need to give my living-room a make-over, just in a small way. new pillows, break out the white slipcovers. maybe a furniture re-shuffle. i also really want to freshen up my kitchen with some new floor mats, curtains, and a couple of new potholders. do your potholders get totally gross looking? gee-whiz, mine are horrible. so anyway, this new pile of fabric is supposed to start me on my way to a new and improved kitchen and some fresh pillows for the living-room.

after mulling over what colors to go with--thinking i might try something new--i went with my old standards--pinks, greens, and browns.

today was library day. we *love* the library.

and i support mine very well with paying over due fines. i won't even tell you what i paid once in fines--i'll just say that i think i broke a record. seriously.  i was super embarrassed. super-duper. even so, what would we do without libraries? they are such a great invention.

this is a comment noah just said to me--talk about random.

n- mom, did you just have some tea?
me- yes.
n- good. i don't want you to get all crazy today.

honestly folks, i really dont get all crazy if i don't have my tea!

and now, we return to our regular scheduled programing.

QT totes are in

round 2 can be found here.  Be back soon.....

WIP + corners of my home

my work in progress is more quiet time totes. just need to finish the crayon pouches--trying a new design this time around. i scored a yard of this great vintage fabric at a new thrift shop that opened recently. little woodland animals going to school?  hedgehogs?  red spotted mushrooms?  birds with handkerchiefs? CUTE. the totes should be in the shop over the weekend.

you need to have a closer look.....

adorable, eh?

i haven't posted a corner in a long time, so i thought i would show you this one. it's not one of the pretty corners, (although i think my daughter is lovely) it's just real life. laundry, finished but not folded yet and thrown on the couch--hannah doing some history reading for school. very much an everyday scene around here. (she's wearing the hat i made for noah, remember? it looks so cute on her. she has pretty much claimed it for her own)

more corners can be found here.

enjoy your weekend everyone!