simplesparrow

ginger cutie pie

It's perfect that this post should come after my last one, because this darling girl here is Ginger--Ruby's little sister. Emily popped over yesterday with her girls while they were out on a walk and Ginger's outfit just about killed me with a cute-attack! You see, she picks out her own clothes each day and Em says that she always needs a hat and a purse. Such a proper little lady she is. Check out that orange beaded bag!! gah, I want it! I HAD to snap a few photos and Ginger was very obliging. I think you'll agree this 3 year old is a fashion icon. My favorite details? How she's holding the bag and how her sweater sleeve is covering her hand.

(Emily made her sun hat!)

My son Micah did all the color editing on these. I wanted to see how his program works and I'm sold. My editing program is so ancient--I think I can almost here it sputter and spit when I open it up.  I would really love to pursue photography more but I get so discouraged on how expensive it can be. Even just to get a decent start. ho-hum, one day. It's always rolling around in my head. Just maybe he'll let me use his program for special pictures--maybe--and then I'll be one teeny step farther along ;)

ruby's pillow

I made this small pillow for a little girl who *loves* pink--she belongs to this very good friend of mine. And speaking of Emily, she really is an undiscovered gem! She inspires me so much and is full of seamstress-y talent!! Check out this adorable coat she made, all from her own design.   If my girl was still a little one I would snatch that stylish thing up! It's still for sale!

Sorry. I had to do a little friend bragging. Anyway...back to the pillow. I am so loving that aqua ticking stripe cotton! It's seems so fresh for spring--and for summer for that matter. The patch in the middle is a piece of natural cotton that I stamped with a poppy in pink fabric ink--found the rubber stamp at the thrift store for a buck. I went over parts of the poppy with a gray fabric marker because the detail wasn't showing up very well. I wasn't sure that part would turn out, but I'm happy with the look.

I decided to add her name with some free-form embroidery. When I asked Nate (son #3) what he thought he said right away, "Yeah, it looks great." Then his faced kind of squinted up and his next comment was, "That Y looks..sort..of..funky." Oh pooh. That was the one thing I really liked about the wonky embroidery, the Y trailing off into, into..um..into the poppy field! Wonky can be a style, right? Well, I like it--and I'm leaving it in--in all it's wonkified  glory.

just in time

I'm tired, but I did it. I kept my goal of updating my shop today. Never mind that it's after 10 p.m. A goal reached is a goal reached I say. I would love to stick around and chat with you all but I'm headed for my very comfy memory foam mattress and electric blanket...

Peek into the...yawn (i really did yawn just now)...SHOP if you have time. There you will find my new SPRING TOTES and 2 new POSTCARD SETS , all in time to celebrate spring.

He rose, He lives, He is coming again.
Wishing you a very joyous Easter weekend!

xo.
T.

ramblings from home

This is the view at my back when I sit to use the computer. I was talking to Noah when I noticed how pretty the light was coming through the skylight. Thank heaven for skylights, I love them so. The orchid on the trunk was a little gift from Mark, picked up while he was doing some grocery shopping. So thoughtful of him. When we were dating I was still in high school (I was 16, he was 19) and sometimes when I would leave in the morning to walk to school there would be a bouquet of flowers sitting on the doorstep that he left for me before he went to work---he definitely scored some big points with that move (are you reading hon? BIG points!)

I got some time last night to work on my spring totes (that's what these will be ) by adding just a little bit of free-form embroidery to the fronts. Sometimes I'm bummed that I can't get most of my projects done faster--then I remind myself of all the other things I need to do during the day--homeschooling, making dinner, laundry, yard work, errands, playing with Noah, spending time with my older ones and providing taxi service, eye doctor appointments, orthodontist apps., paying bills, trying to fit in fun family stuff in between, spend some time with friends, etc..etc.... Oh yeah. Thats why.

We found this trampoline for Noah at the thrift store yesterday. It's only a small, one person one so he can use it in the living room. He's jumping to the moon non-stop. Seriously, this was one GREAT purchase and I highly recommend one for any young child that is full of crazy energy like Noah is.

Actually, now that I think of it, it should be on your list of essentials :)

spring fever

Stripes! Working on a shop update that will hopefully be ready by Friday.

I gave an old favorite painting a much needed face lift. It is spring after all.

That's what I've been up to. Short and sweet today--back soon!

playing...

with my camera, working on my next postcard collection. Playing with color pallets, hoping to start my next sewing project. I spend so much time thinking and dreaming up projects, I wish I leaned more on getting things done...ah, but the daydreaming part, it's so enjoyable, no?

My boys are over the flu--thank heavens. And so far the rest of us are A.O.K  This must have been the season for tummy bugs because this sort of thing just hit our house around Christmas--before that I can't even remember when we were sick like that. Twice in one winter is a first. Yuck is all I have to say.

I'm starting to feel the beginnings of spring fever (one illness I welcome) Then summer is just around the corner and that is my very favorite time of year. Just typing that gets my giddy. I can't wait to spruce up my wardrobe with some fun colors and I've just spied some spring green sandal clogs I think I must have! I can totally picture my feet clicking around in those.

trellis lap blanket

This was my work in progress I gave a peek of last week. I've named it my trellis blanket for the design on the front. I wasn't thinking "trellis" as I placed the pieces but the name does suit it I think. It always feels SO good to finish a project--especially one that is on the larger side. The base fabric was one I found at a rummage sale and it was a huge piece--this is only half of it. Several years ago I started a small collection of vintage bark cloth. Unfortunately I never came across any of my pieces at the thrift store or yard sales. They were all purchased from private dealers for a pretty penny. As time went by (a couple of years) I slowly started to loose interest in them and so squirreled them away for who knows what.

This project was the first in a long while that I felt inspired to break out some of the bark cloth. The cross bars were just the leftovers from the long strips that I cut for the length. They were all appliqued onto the top with a tight zig-zag. The backing is a vintage sheet I was saving for PJ's--still enough left for some pants I think. I put a layer of cotton batting in between for weight and cush--love the cush. No binding, just all sandwiched with some top stitching.

I tied it all in place with floss, gave it a fresh wash and dry in the sunshine--and now it's ready to hop on over to my Etsy shop where, I hope, it will find a very good home.

I've got a couple of sick boys here with a tummy bug--the timing is humorous because, after several weeks of just winging my meals and not planning--I just did a big meal planning and shopping today. I really hope it doesn't spread through the house. Somebody has got to eat all those meals I just planned!

not so simple

I credit this new banner to staying up much too late and zoning out on the computer playing with my photo editing program (which is so out of date it's not even funny) I like it, and then maybe not so much. There is this part of me that loves color and a lot going on--and then there is this part of me (the part that usually wins out) that really prefers things plain jane. Really, does simple sparrow seem like a total oxymoron up there with all those flowers, clouds, dots and Mr. Dear? Maybe he's looking for a way out of all that mess. Truth be known, this is a little battle that goes on inside my head several days a week. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a perpetual style crisis, wondering what in the heck it is that I do like? Too much is the answer. I like a lot of different things. Eclectic to the far left so to speak.

I don't know how long I'll leave this one up but for the moment it stays. Maybe I should sleep on it a night or two. I'm also amused that I can make a post out of all this. I credit that to staying up past my bedtime too.

edited: Ok, what do think about this one? I'm still on a spring banner kick here. I really should be using my free moments to get some sewing done--It's crazy how these things take over....

edited again!! Ugh, I'm going into a banner crisis now! I've put one up that feels much more comfortable to me. But don't be surprised if you see a new one up there in the very near future--I'm not set on this one either but enough is enough for now! I'm putting the original banner below so those of you who are just stopping by now will know what this whole crazy post is about :) Thanks for bearing with me and for your input!

pondering

raw edges
bright colors
juxtaposing
monograms
numbers
pillows
bulls-eyes

Wanting to incorporate some or all of the above into future projects.
Needing to get some meal planning done.
Hoping to get a little more sleep.
Wishing the laundry would just disappear.
Loving the warmer temps, spring--get your buns in here!
Thinking a lot about my real job--wife, mama, teacher.
Realizing (again) how important my real job is.
Being mindful of my Creator, He is the reason I have peace and joy.

What's on your list?

a winner and a WIP

I have the cutest, little, freckled, random number picker you could ever want. He made my job quite easy. "Noah" I said, "pick a number between 0 and 51." and he said, "20." Perfect, thanks. He got back to what he was doing and I got back to what I was doing. Number twenty was ellen! You are the winner of my little bookish giveaway! Send me your address, K?  Pictures From Patchwork is yours.

Thank you to all who put their name into the hat! It's so much fun to have you play along. And, if you are feeling a little bummed out because you never win anything---well, I know just how you feel. I NEVER win anything either! :)

The photo above is my work in progress. I'm doing something I rarely do right now, and that is staying up late to make good headway on getting it finished. Time to get off the computer before all this typing puts me to sleep...yawn..no, no yawning! must.keep.sewing.

yawn.

It's not looking hopeful.