simplesparrow

remembering: hannah's riding lessons '04

remembering: a summer wedding

Above--my son the wedding photographer, my son an invited guest.

I had some time last night to browse through some past family photos--and I thought for the next week or so I would share some of those memories here, just as a photo post with little or no words. It seems like just the right time for me to talk less around here--at least for a little while.

on to the next

The last of what I wanted to offer in my shop is finished with these note cards. But even more then that, I was just aching to use my gocco printer again. It's been collecting lots of dust, poor thing. I'm still so basic in my use of it, you should see what this fabulous little printer can do in skilled hands. You can do a search on flickr for gocco images and find the most incredible art. Oh the love.

Once you fire the gocco up, it can make a lot of prints before you need to re-ink. With that in mind, I decided to print the back of the card envelopes as well.

I mentioned that I was obsessing a bit over Martha's glitter. It felt good to get my hands in it and add some to the cards. Just a touch mind you. I also kept some plain--because deep down inside, I'm a plain and simple girl.

I'm so ready to be done with shop stuff now (i'm also tired of talking about my shop--that gets old) I want to get on with the next thing--diving into my Christmas gift making. What are you going to make, you ask? Well, I'm still kind of working on that. Like a lot of you, I'm hoping to keep all my gift giving handmade by me or someone else. I would like to add to that giving gifts that enable people to make their own things, such as craft tools or a sewing machine for example. We all know you gotta have tools!! Too, like Blair mentioned, I will include books. Because what would life be without them? I'm not sure, but I don't want to think about it.

nests!

I hope everyone had a nice holiday--ours was peaceful and simple. I loved it. No stress, no fuss--just a nice meal with my family. My two older sons and daughter-in-law are up in Washington, so we missed them :( but we got our phone calls in~

My nest ornaments are ready to go! I love these little things. They are very sweet--but because they are small I can handle it! Sweet in large amounts is not so appealing to me. Noah was my crafting partner as I worked on these all day yesterday. He was busy making his own nests and bird houses (yeah, i gave him a couple of birds--he was dying to have one and couldn't wait till i got more--which means I don't have quite as many to offer in my shop) The kids and I also made these goofy looking strawberries I'll have to show you another time--really fun and so easy!

I'm offering 4 different styles of nests--some with just glitter eggs, some with a green a bird, a pink bird and one, one-of-a-kind with 2 love birds. I'm off to my SHOP now to get them listed!

nesting

I'm excited about my little nest ornaments in progress. I offered 5 of these last year in my shop and this year I'm expanding--I'll be offering 10. Yeah, I know--huge expansion. IF they all sell I'll be thrilled. If I have leftovers--no problem. Gifts! Half the fun is making them. There is just something so sweet about a tiny bird in a nest. Noah actually can not resist these wee mushroom birds. He gets kind of crazy over them. Last year I gave him a few and I wish I could show you the tree house he built for them! So adorable. Now that I'm thinking of it, I better throw a few into his Christmas stocking!

On a sparkly note: I feel an obsession coming on with Martha's glitter. I wasn't paying any attention to them when they first hit the shelves--but now! oh dear. I think I just may want them all. Part of it is those seriously cute bottles they come in! My new glitter love has inspired some Gocco stationary I want to make. Hopefully, hopefully--those and my nest ornaments will be in the shop by Sat. or early next week--then I'm calling it quits on the shop until after Christmas. I've got to get cracking on the gifts I want to make.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you lots of happiness~

T.

the outside in

Aren't these flowers gorgeous? I buy them all the time at a small market I frequent. For the life of me I can never remember their name--it starts with an A. They are always cheap, this generous bunch was only 4.00 I have come to really need flowers or something fresh and green in the house as much as possible. I don't find it frivolous, I think it quite necessary! The challenge lies in finding affordable bouquets (for me, that means rarely spending more then 6 or 7 dollars) or collecting what I can from our yard (or swiping greenery from a friends yard! with permission of course) Bringing the outside in makes a home cozy and bright and adds so much beauty. A lot of bang for your buck :)

Do you see that runner under my vase? That is actually this scarf. I love surprising myself with new uses for things I already have and were intended for a different purpose. I will probably keep it as a runner. I always thought it was a bit short as a scarf.

a velveteen tuffett and my quirky town

After soaking in the loveliness of this fabric for days and days, I finally decided to take the scissors to it. I had  planned to work on the boys pj pants, but by the time that opportunity rolled around I was too to tired for a project like that. I just wanted to sit on the living room floor, watch an episode of the Andy Griffith Show, and work on something small. Pj pants today, hopefully--pinky promise.

I have to tell you that those beautiful bullion stitches are not my own. They were taken from a thrifted sweater--the same sweater that I made this needle case from last year. I really like the little circle of mustard wool underneath. It kind of tones down the frilly-ness of the roses.

Anyway, I'm offering 3 in my Etsy shop today. Think stocking stuffer for your crafty pal!

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Yesterday I went for a walk, like I often do around my neighborhood. And like I often do, I walked in my pajama pants. It's true. I was thinking to myself, I love this town. I love that I can walk in my pj pants and nobody gives a rip. I love that the post office, the library, the pediatrician, the eye doctor, the coffee shop, the grocery store and the park AND the ocean---are all just a few blocks from my house. The fabric shop is a 10 min. drive away, but I guess we all have to live with sacrifices. I love that for miles upon miles I can see nothing but rolling hills without one house or building. I love the quirkiness of this town--some roads are unpaved, some houses are shacks, some are million dollar estates but most are just wonderfully individual. I also love that everyone seems to know everyone here--or they are at least connected in some odd way. I can also hate that everyone seems to know everyone here too. It's not possible to be anonymous around here--and sometimes a gal just wants some privacy. But anyway, I do love my town--in all its quirky glory.

granny snail central

My granny square blanket is coming along soooo sloooowly. As I sat crocheting the other night I was lamenting about this fact and I said to myself, "These are not granny squares, they're granny SNAILS!" Perfect description, per-FECT. I feel the snail pace even more acutely since I was the one to start the one-square-a-day challenge. Gee-whiz. I really do want to finish this and seeing all the squares I'm slowly accumulating is making me very excited. I'm lovin the colors and think they will look great in my living room, now that I've redone the pillows. How are you doing on your blankets?

If one of you out there wouldn't mind going to a tiny bit of trouble, I would love for someone to send me a copy of the November issue of Figure Magazine . As I mentioned, they did a tiny interview with me about crafting and I really want to see it, but I can't find it around here. Now that I think about it, I hope it was the Nov. issue. Maybe it will be in the December issue? Check first before you send it--oops! I will be quite happy to send you a little surprise in return for your effort. Let me know!
 

comfort

Comfort frog....

Comfort fabric....(cotton velveteen *sigh*)

Comfort food...creamy organic tomato soup.

Tomato soup takes me back to my childhood, it was a lunchtime staple at my house. I'm also finding myself making cinnamon toast these days, another childhood food. My mom made it often--usually on Saturday mornings. I'm telling ya, there is nothing like a good crispy-on-the-edges-tender-in-the-center piece of cinnamon toast and a pot of tea---my current favorite: spicy orange rooibos.

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I did a tiny interview with Figure Magazine in July that was supposed to be out in their November issue. I had never even heard of Figure until they contacted me and I can't find a copy of it here. I wanted to see my interview in print--being my first one of course! Have any of you seen this?  I would love to get a hold of a copy and any help would be so appreciated.

Happy Friday!

totes + drawing

I've taken pen to tote and am having a great time thinking up cute, simple designs. I never really considered drawing on fabric. I guess the examples I came across over the years never appealed to me. But after reading Amy's wonderful book and seeing her drawing projects--well, I got inspired. Actually, I made my first tote a few months ago (and I never showed it here!? I guess that could be a craft bloggy crime) I've been using it to carry my granny square yarn around when I'm on the go. Anyway...I just made 2 more and I've listed them in my shop. And speaking of shop stuff, I think I'm going to announce updates in my side bar under the shop link from now on. Check there when you come by if you're interested.

If you are thinking you would like to give some fabric drawing a try, let me recommend the pens I've been using. I'm super happy with them! They're Pebeo SetaSkrib and I got mine from Dick Blick Art Materials. I love the felt tip and the ink comes out smooth and even.

Thanks so much for all the great comments on my last post!! What a nice bunch all of you are. xo.