simplesparrow

where did it go?

Recently, a large pine tree was cut down behind our house. It was diseased, so I guess it was just a matter of time--but with it being spring and all, I couldn't help think about all the birds that might be nesting there. Spring doesn't seem like a good time to take down a tree and as far as I could tell, it sure looked well enough to leave until after the nesting season.

I've named this collage "the day the apartment came down". I'm choosing to believe that the tree was empty of any nests or baby birds. That they were all out for the day looking for food and doing other birdy type things. Since I had no control over the decision, it's just easier to think of the perfect scenario.

Thanks so much for all the nice comments on my last post. It was fun to share it with you, and the new set up is working out very well. I love it. I've also spied another piece of furniture that is going to get the asparagus green treatment ;)

like i was saying

If you decide to fold your fabric,

you'll notice that your old bookshelf could really use a new coat of paint,

then you'll see that some of your trims and such are out of sorts and need to be organized,

and pretty much you'll see that the rest of your crap supplies need a major organizational overhaul as well.

Finally, why not move the sewing machine from it's home on the kitchen table (very undesirable) and give it a proper spot of its own? Yes, I think I will.

So THAT is what came of needing to fold my fabric. 3 days of reshuffling, organizing, sorting (i got rid of so much!! it feels good.) and painting. I must say, I *love* that color of green on the shelf. It is totally what the doctor ordered. Noah told me it was very beautiful and that he really likes the way things look around here now. Glad I could satisfy the little man.

The sewing spot under my window is so exciting for me! Ideally, I would not set up shop in our bedroom. But, I need to work with what I have. There is no other space option in the house. One day maybe, I'll have a room I can dedicate as my "studio". For now, I'll use what I have. And really, I am so thankful that I even have this space at all !!

Speaking of using what I have, I only purchased the jar for my ribbons, a plastic box to organize my buttons and the paint for the shelf (oh, and some paint brushes). The old and very shabby desk that my sewing machine is now on was found years ago in a neglected barn. I thought that I would give it a coat of asparagus green too, (at one point I was wanting to paint everything asparagus green!) but now that the shelf is done I think that is just the right amount of green in the room. In this case, you really could have too much of good thing. So, the desk remains white and chipped just as I found it. Besides, after one whole day of painting my shelf the thought of tackling the desk was not appealing.

It feels good to have made such big changes and having very little money involved. Now, I only need to get cracking on a new sewing project!

One last thing, if you have a little girl, you've got to check out Emily's new sun-dresses she just put in her shop.  Made from vintage sheets, they are so adorable! She has them priced at a steal too.

if you decide to fold your fabric...

you just might notice that the bookshelf could really use a new coat of paint. Asparagus green paint, to be exact.

The fabric is folded, but it didn't stop there. I have a vision that is in full swing now. Amazing how that happens.

shifty

As each weekend approaches, there is always hope that I'll get time to sew or do some other type of creative project. This weekend I'm afraid I cannot ignore my messy shelves of fabric any longer. Even Noah told me the other day he doesn't like the way they look. Now when a 5 yr. old notices things like this, that's saying something. But, being the ever optimistic, glass half full kind of gal that I am, maybe I can get my fabric organized and still have time for some crafty fun.

Looking at these photos makes me think that my fabric could be a study in plate-tectonics. hmmm.

By the way, Blogger is giving me loads of strife these days by not letting me sign in when I want to leave a comment. So for those of you that use Blogger, I'm unable to leave any comments when I come 'round to say hi. Does anyone know what's up with that?

Be well and safe this weekend. xo.

Owls in the house

Noah is in love with owls. He wants to read about them, talk about them, ask questions about them, watch documentaries about them, sleep with them (he has a stuffed toy owl).

As I looked through the many books we got from the library, I became fascinated with them also. I was quickly enchanted with their cuteness too. My particular favorite is the burrowing owl. With their long skinny legs and quirky expressions, they are very comical. My first experience with an owl was in fact a burrowing owl. I was visiting my grandma in New Mexico and while playing a round of miniature golf I spied a hole under the concrete with several pairs of big yellow eyes peeking out! I guess they are common in that part of the country, but we didn't have them in southern California. Another reason grandma's house was so interesting.

Noah's enthusiasm for these special birds has inspired some collages I made over the weekend.

I also did a small collage that has nothing to do with owls, and everything to do with my quirky imagination. All 3 are in the shop.

I'm finding that doing my own artwork is immensely satisfying. I am very fond of these three pieces, but also anxious to grow in this skill. I think there are more collages in my future.

By the way, back to the subject of owls and also birds of prey, Noah highly recommends these two youtube videos:

Owls in the orchard. Very, very charming. and Birds of prey are cool. The tune is going to stick in your head, just warning you. Have fun watching these with your little ones. Mom approved :)

live large

Loved reading all the comments on the clothesline post, thank you. I knew I wasn't alone! I'm also enjoying the many photos that are popping up on the flickr group. Keep on hanging~ xo.

I'm living large people, when it comes to my new library tote. This baby measures a whopping 21 x 18 inches! I was laughing with Hannah that the library books AND Noah could all be cozy in there. "Hop in Noah, it's time to go to the library...hahaha". As I was making this, it didn't really occur to me just how big it was until I gave it the try-on. Gee whiz...um, yeah.

Actually, now that it is all said and done, I don't regret it. I really do need a library bag this big. I was getting mighty tired of stuffing my previous tote to the brim and then balancing the last couple of books on the tippy-top as I walked back to the car. And that was with Noah carrying a few on his own.

It was also time for a tote that *I loved*. You've got to love the ones you use often. I must say, I do love this one. It's a little bit (a lot?) funky so my inner hippie is giving me the thumbs up. It's also super sturdy, made from a heavy weight upholstery fabric with some heavy duty straps. About the straps--they are a strong, woven cotton which I bought some time ago just for this purpose, but they were cream in color. For this bag I really wanted brown, so I just covered them in a tiny brown and white dot print. It worked like a charm!

The upholstery fabric was blah,blah,blah on its own. That's when this lovely, vintage green floral took its que, stitched raw right on top. One appliqued flower for the pocket and I called it good. I took the tote for its maiden voyage today, the start of a long and happy relationship :)

the clothesline post

Ah, yes. I am indeed on vacation when I take the time write about my clothesline! Seriously though, I've told you before how fond I am of clotheslines--vacation or not, and I did think that one day I would muse more about that here.

I have asked myself why so much love for this humble task--that of hanging laundry to dry? Several reasons, I think. Without a doubt, I'm very happy to be using less energy and all that that means. I read that the dryer is the second largest energy consumer in the home next to the refrigerator. I like knowing that I'm saving us money, not in huge amounts, but still it's significant. Of course, less energy used is better for the environment on many levels, and I like that too. Even so, with those alone being very good reasons to us a clothesline--and I would still use one if that were all--It's not what fuels my devotion to the line.

My first memories of a clothesline are of my grandma, hanging out laundry in the hot New Mexico sun, with the sound of crickets clicking and the smell of cut grass in the air. The line was next to a peach tree that was the reason for homemade peach ice cream. Her backyard was a magical place, with a giant willow tree always swaying in the breeze and the cheerful trickle of the fish pond my grandpa made. I loved it back there. It was unlike any play-place I had back home. Those memories no doubt are part of the reason I have such an affection for clotheslines.

Over the years I have used one on and off. Sometimes there was no space for one, and at other times, like when I had 4 children 7 and under---the dryer was my very good friend! Because it does take time to hang the laundry, time I felt I didn't have. As the kids got a little bit older and the opportunities to hang my laundry were more lasting...I realized that that simple task gave me time to think. Time to be quiet, time to listen to the birds, to feel the breeze and warm sun on my face. Time to be alone. It was a few moments to refuel, regenerate. To collect my thoughts, pray and focus. It's a small step in living a simple life, something I think about  a lot.  All of this is why I use and love my clothesline. Now I include Noah.

Mark and I believe in teaching our children to help with the home. We all live here, we all should help to keep it a pleasant place to be. Noah seemed to like following me out to the side yard when it was time to hang, and that's when I thought giving him the job of helping me would be perfect. When we first started he had the job of handing me the clothes. Then my son Micah put up a lower line that he could reach and hang the simple things himself, like my cleaning rags in the photo above.

Our time together in the morning is sweet. I think that he is soaking in the simple joys of working together. He often hums his own little tunes while he works or, if he gets out there ahead of me, he might put one of his plastic snakes in the grass and then warn me with great animation to "watch out!"
Most times he finishes before me, leaving me once again, alone. I hope he will look back on this time with me as fondly as I do with my grandma. I know I already cherish this time with him.

Lastly, I've started a Flickr group! Yes! One that is devoted to clotheslines. I can't help myself, is there anyone else out there that loves them as much as I do?  Then please come along!

which way will the wind blow?

Today is our first day of spring break. I'm so ready for this! So are my kids, quite. We started the morning off with Emily's recipe for coconut pancakes (recipe to follow) These are wonderful. Dangerously wonderful, if you know what I mean. I wanted to take a pretty picture of them, but by the time I got done cooking them up this was all that was left! More proof that these are indeed wonderful.

So, what to do with ten days of free time? (from overseeing school anyway, which is a huge part of my day) Half of the fun for me being on a little holiday is daydreaming of all the possibilities....sewing, gardening, crafting, organizing, reading, thrift shopping ,etc... I may do this , I may do that...I may, I may, I may. Always a thousand things, few of which actually get done--and I'm ok with that. I also relish the thought that I don't have to do anything too. Go where the wind blows you---I like that way of planning a vacation.

Hannah was getting a head-start on her crafting and came up with this adorable popsicle stick angel last night. Pretty clever, that girl.

Coconut pancakes

I 1/2 c. flour
2 Tb. sugar
2 Tb. shredded coconut
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 can light coconut milk (14 ounces)
1 Tb. melted butter (or canola oil)
1 egg

If you like coconut, I'm quite sure you will enjoy these!

I may take a break from my blog this coming week, or I may not.
I'll just see which way the wind blows me :)

skirt love

Yay! I finally got some time to work on, and finish, my skirt.  No, your eyes are not playing tricks on you--I didn't use the fabric that I thought I would. Not at all surprising, for me anyway. I often change the plan at the last minute! You see, It's just that I had all this great vintage fabric ( remember? ) that was already cut into nice neat strips. Seemed like a perfect set up.

See that middle piece of fabric between the 2 ruffles, well I sewed it on to the WRONG side of the skirt! I was so upset with myself, such a silly mistake. I was in no mood to rip it out and start over, so I decided to just incorporate the mistake as part of the plan. Really now, I had the house to myself for about an hour and I surely was not going to spend it seem-ripping! ( granted, I do like a raw and ravel-y look sometimes ) I was close to scrapping the whole thing because I was starting to lose my vision for it, and because that piece of fabric sewed onto the wrong side was r-e-a-l-l-y starting to bug me ( yet, I was unmoved to tear it out!) Leaving it that way pretty much dictated that the rest of whatever I did was raw too.

Pocket on back

Then, I was having trouble deciding what fabrics to use next. Long story short, once I got the the top ruffle on I was feeling very happy . The bottom fabric is from my stash and I adore the it way looks with the others. I was telling my pal Em , who zipped over early this morning to check it out, that I would never have picked these fabrics out from the start. I think that's one reason I sometimes sew by the seat of my pants...making decisions each step of the way. It's kinda like opening a present--exciting to see what exactly you'll end up with.

I'm all stoked to re-do some more skirts! I love this one, and I know it will actually get worn--a lot. Unlike some most of my other clothing projects!