simplesparrow

filled to the brim

Hello! It's been a while, wow. Almost 2 weeks. How was your Christmas? Ours was fun and we actually did get snow on Christmas day! Yes, it was falling beautifully in big chunky flakes as we were making breakfast. It didn't stick or fall for long, but it was lovely. Really just perfect.   

I've been watching the fountain above all week and how different it looks now in the winter time, compared to when I always see it in summer. It's dark and shadowy and asleep--and filled to the brim with water from all the rain, so much water. At the risk of sounding sappy, it seems like the perfect symbol of reflection as we approach a new year. My life has been full. With every passing year I have so much to be thankful for, so much that makes me smile and laugh. I'm filled to the brim with so much goodness, love and joy. Not that we don't have our own share of struggles and trials and sadness, we do. My focus is on the positive and always will be.

I've also been thinking about this blog and what the new year will bring through it. It has been such a positive experience for me in so many ways. Especially all of you who come here to read what I have to say, to see the next thing I've made, to hear me dote about my kids and to just talk about everyday life. Will my blog last another year? I don't know, sometimes I have very mixed emotions about the time it takes, both physically and mentally, and wonder if I should move on. It's not something I feel even able to articulate clearly right now--but I'm putting it out there, I guess, just because. I do know this, that I am so very thankful for you, my readers. You have brought so much to this little space and have encouraged and supported me in ways you'll never know. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You know how to make a girl feel good--really good.

I'm sending you the warmest and happiest wishes I can muster for the New Year!

Love,
T.

twas the night before christmas and the village was on fire

I know you must be so dang curious about the title of this post, no? Well, the story goes like this...
The kids and I made Martha's winter village together a couple of weeks ago. These always look so much better with lights at night but where we have it set up there is not a plug, not even remotely close (it was really the best spot for it or I would have moved it) After thinking it over I came up with a genius idea!! (so I thought) Have you seen those little faux candle lights that run on a battery?  Problem solved! I'll put one under each house then we'll have lights! I'll beat this electrical challenge yet... Yeah, yeah, what a smarty pants I was---I didn't take in to account that those lights are supposed to simulate candle light, so they flicker. duh. Which means when we lit up our little village that we were so proud of, all of the houses look like they are on fire from the flickering. Not the warm homey glow we were after. I should just keep Noah's firetruck parked there and put a little person on the balcony yelling for help.

I'm filling a couple of jars with peppermint bark to give out as gifts, that and homemade granola. We are heading back up to the northwest for Christmas in the next few days and that's when we'll be doing lots more baking and homey holiday stuff. We didn't get a tree because we were leaving and I didn't decorate either--it doesn't quite feel like Christmas yet for me. Right now the tummy flu is picking us off one by one. blah. We're waiting for that to pass because that is ONE Christmas gift I'm not going to bring my family. I think my next post will be from Washington--hoping for a white Christmas!

easy coaster tutorial

I made a table runner for a certain someone for Christmas (Dad, don't let mom see this) and I wanted to pair it with a set of coasters. Oh, the variety of styles is numerous when it comes to these little things and I love the patchwork kind a lot. But, because it was about 10:00 pm when I started these (yawn...) I needed a style that wasn't quite so involved. After staring at my fabric for a while this is what I came up with.

Start with 4 x 4 inch squares of two different kinds of fabric. Mine are linen and wool. My linen was not cut exactly 4 x 4 by the way...but one of the two should be because that is the line you will be following. You'll see what I mean next... (and oh, the little foot is not necessary for this project ;)

Take one piece of fabric and place it as shown on top of the other. ( I have no idea how to describe this in written words--8 point diamond thingy? See what I mean. Then stitch 1/4 inch from the edge of your top fabric. This is the line that you will follow.

With your pinking shears trim the excess off following your line of stitching.

If you have a stamp and a fabric ink pad, you can embellish the top side. I love this simple sprig that I added. Check and see if your fabric ink needs to be set with an iron, most do. That's it! Easy, pretty and useful--a great combo.

This is actually my very fist tutorial that I've shared. It was fun, must do it again.

cuttings

I found Noah in my bathroom the other day--but it was a moment to late. He had just finished putting the final touches on his haircut (gasp!!) He was pretty proud of himself and really, it didn't look all that bad considering. But, there were several bald spots and the inevitable was not to be avoided--he needed a buzz. Goodbye sweet curls, grow back soon.

He looks a little solemn here, but in truth he couldn't be happier with his new hair. This is his "hurry up and take the picture mom must you always carry that camera around" look. Yes, I must, if you really want to know mr. Noah. Otherwise I would not have these precious photos. One day you'll be glad, promise.

Speaking of cutting--I'm so impressed with Hannah's amazing snowflakes she has been making. Soon all of her bedroom window will be covered with them.

I'm loving those stormy skies in the background. It's been so long since we've had good storm and we need the rain.

Well, ack! I have yet to get one Christmas gift made. The shopping we are doing this year is just about done so that's good. But I'm so looking forward to the gifts I'm making--and we're leaving in just a little over a week to head up north back to my parents house. Dearie me. Will I ever be done ahead of time? so far (like, all of my life!!) it hasn't happened.  Dang, dang, dang.   

Thank you for obliging me with a walk down memory lane in my previous posts. I enjoyed sharing some of our memories with you and I appreciate your kind comments, as always. Have a lovely weekend!

remembering: a sewing son

I love that Micah has has made himself several things that he needed. Slippers, a quiver, a messenger bag to name a few. All from patterns of his own. I love that he's using the machine I bought when he was a baby and that one of the first things I made on that machine was a pair of overalls for him. I've given him the machine.

remembering: beach days

Cool water....

Warm sand...

Rock climbing...