simplesparrow

hibernation

It's time to put simple sparrow to sleep for a while. I have felt this coming on for a couple of months now--rolling it over and over again in my thoughts. simple sparrow has been a large part of my life these last couple + years--a very fun, supportive, inspiring, touching, and growth-causing part or my life. I really think it will feel strange to not sit here a couple of times a week and write my posts, something I've been doing--come August--for three years. I'm positive I will miss you guys, some of you have been with me a very long time. I'm so very thankful for all of you though--you come here and read about my teeny-tiny place in this world and leave me the kindest and sweetest notes. The personal emails you send me with words of encouragement, praise and thankfulness for my blog always, always touch me. I never expected to receive such kindness. Thank you, so very much.

I'm feeling pulled in a different direction, needing to spend the time I take on my blog and apply it elsewhere in my life. It adds up, you know? It's not just the time it takes to write a post, it's the thinking about it beforehand (this part alone can take up a lot of space in your head each day) taking and editing the photos you want to share and other little "behind the scenes" details.I really need to free up that part of me, to be more available in my "thoughts" as well as my time to pursue other interests (because I can't do it all). I want to get more involved with my photography and see where that takes me. I want to not be on the computer quite so much. After all of us take care of our daily responsibilities--there isn't a whole lot of time for the extras. What I'm doing is rearranging my "extras". I'm not ready to stop simple sparrow altogether (although that is a possibility to be honest) just a hibernation, I think for a couple of months--possibly until the end of summer. I'm not sure exactly on the time frame but I'm positive I need an extended break.

I will still be on Flickr (and posting photos of things I make, because I'll always be making things) and maybe even updating my Etsy shop now and then. Even today I got inspired to sew something special for my shop. And, I've moved my photo blog to a new location. You can find my new button for it in my sidebar. I am much happier with the format and the aesthetics of the Expressions site and much more satisfied with how I'm presenting myself and my photos. My focus there is my photography so there will be few words--which also feels very appropriate right now. I would love, love, love for you to visit me there!

Take care dear friends! You are a special crowd. Here's to growth and change and fresh direction in all our lives.

xo,
Toni

at a loss...somewhat

Macro challenge day 15 (I'm so woefully behind)

I'm feeling a slight lack of direction here on my little bloggy-o. I have not had any time and little desire to sew. I've tried without success to get that pink bird project finished and I'm just not sure what to talk about here! It's strange--I have maybe only once or twice in all of my blogging days felt this way and it left rather quickly. This time...um...not so quick. I do foresee an extended blogging break--maybe starting in summer, not sure (although I'm pretty positive I will keep my photo journal going) Noah has a little project that he is very excited about sharing so there's that to post about and I have NOT given up on the pink bird project--although no promises on when that will happen. I've already taken note that I'm not good a keeping those here, ahem. So, I guess I'm asking you to please bear with me through this. I'm not sure I can keep up right now.

Instead of something crafty today, I'm offering some laughs. I hope these make your stomach hurt as much as they did mine!

The little car that couldn't
Funny treadmill

simple adornment

photo courtesy of Lisa Leonard Designs 

Let me take just a moment to tell you about some beautiful jewelry I discovered recently. The designer is Lisa Leonard and I really love her simple style--ball chains, hammered silver, fresh water pearls. It all looks so perfect and natural together. She makes a variety of styles--solid circles, open circles, squares, tags, ovals, and hearts and other lovely extras. Lots of variety--and all can be customized to say what you want. I personally have an Open Circle on order right now with the names of all my children and I can't even wait to get it into my anxious little hands and around my neck!

The icing on the cake about this discovery is that Lisa is my neighbor! Can you believe it? She only lives a couple of blocks away. What a small world in deed. So that means when my necklace is ready we get to meet up at the local coffee shop for a visit. How fun for me!

You can find her jewelry here: Lisa Leonard Designs and get a more personal look at her life and her adorable little boys here: It's The Little Things

(that pink bird project is still not done, my crafting time has been next to nothing this week. next post? maybe. i'm afraid i'm giving this more build up then it deserves)

shameless self promotion

I lied--so sorry. I said my next post was going to be crafty for sure and even gave you a peek at that cute pink birdie. But I just couldn't get that project finished yet, and what? Has it been almost a week since my last post? Lordy, lordy.

Have you heard of Artful Blogging? It is an absolutely beautiful magazine with almost no advertising and loaded with photos. I bought my first copy last summer when Alicia mentioned she would be in it.  What a visual treat this magazine is--dedicated to bloggers of all kinds. When I got the email from the editor asking if I would want to be included, well...I jumped out of my chair and did an impressive jig right then and there--much to the amazement of my family who were wondering what in the world had gotten into me (really, they stared with wide eyes and mouths agape) I was seriously honored to be asked. The icing on the cake is that one of my photos made the cover even. The pincushions on the lower right.

This is the summer issue and comes out May 1st. You can find it at bookstores that carry magazines or at certain craft stores--I found my copy last year at JoAnns. Here's a link to more info. and a peek inside.  Thanks for letting me indulge a little ;)

Ok, next post: the pink bird mystery revealed.

into the wildflowers

Thank you for the warm welcome over at my new photography journal--to those who left a hello, to those who looked silently and to those who sent me personal emails. Your support of my creative efforts means so much to me. Did you notice the new button I made and put in my side bar? Geez, it only took me over an hour to figure out how to link it (I won't tell you how many times I read the Typepad directions on how to do that ) but there it is. I also added a link next to the macro challenge button where you can see all the photos I've taken so far for the month. I think I just posted my favorite yet.

We spent the afternoon yesterday with a picnic in the most beautiful wildflower fields. They went on for acres and acres and acres. Really quite stunning. All this springtime loveliness has inspired a new little something I hope to work on in the next day or two and, Noah and I have a little business venture together in the works--more on that later.

Have a super weekend friends!

xo,
T.

4.30

Some of my necklaces, most of which I've made. I don't make jewelry very often but I will tell you that I love it! Instant gratification (at least with my very basic beading skills :) and something pretty and all your own to wear around your neck.

I didn't think when I started this macro challenge that I would be able to post a photo everyday, so far I'm keeping up--much to my surprise!

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You'll never guess what I did yesterday! With the help of my sons I made a video tutorial! After seeing Cassie's on how to make a slip knot and Amy's on machine sewing bias tape , it gave me the courage to try one when I discovered a nifty little tip while sewing last weekend. I'll get that up here 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.

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?

trees + hearts

I don't think there is a whole lot much sweeter then children's artwork. Noah has been painting so much lately. He discovered my own special box of water color tubes that I had been saving just for me. Well, they have been hidden for a very long time and I still haven't touched them--so why not let the little man have at it? I handed him the tubes and look what he did--just gorgeous I say. I could gush on and on about the perfect simplicity of his compositions and the lovely subject matter but I'll spare you. After all I'm his mum and think he is just about perfect in every way, as are all my children :)

I'm going to frame them in to a little grouping--this one is my favorite. Oops, I said I would stop gushing. sorry. Moving on....

I got inspired by Amy after reading this post to mold some chocolate. It was so last minute as I grabbed the heart molds in Michael's the other day on my way to check out. They keep all the current holiday stuff in the center isle near the registers so as I approached I spied them out and snatched 2 pretty much without breaking my stride. It was impressive.

So yeah, I melted some natural semi-chocolate chips in my rigged double boiler (I don't own a real one) spooned it in to the molds, cooled them in the fridge--and ta da! Hearts. So easy. So cute. Fun to eat.

I can't believe tomorrow is Valentines day already. I always love to give my kids a little something and I'm totally late with making what I had in mind. It's kind of nice to be on time with these types of things.

On a totally random note--I was reading Blair's post today and loved the mental image I got of her dancing around the house because it reminded me of, well, me! If you must know, I'm a dancing fool if I get the chance. So here's my Euro pop link for the day--I've been known to pull some tricky dance moves to this tune.   

breakfast alone and thinking

All of my family was out this morning so I found myself relishing some alone time. I walked around in the front yard and felt the warm, stormy wind blow past me, I noticed again how rich the colors look outside after a rain. I watched my cat drink from a puddle and then laughed sympathetically when he started to climb the screen because I came in and accidentally left him out. I took the time to make myself a decent breakfast and ate while the only sound was the wind whipping through the trees. And I had time to think without a whole lot of other stuff going on around me. Bliss, really.

Creatively I've been venturing down a new path and it feels rather exciting. I was due for a change, a new direction to explore. I'll be sharing some of that with you soon, but for now I wanted to pass along something I've been pondering and am finding very inspirational. It comes from the book Applique Stitchery by Jean Ray Laury (a gem of a book I've mentioned here before) She says...

"To be significant, work must be personally meaningful. Speak only for yourself. You need not try to comment on the world, or on all mankind. Try, rather, to make a simple and honest statement about a single idea with which you are familiar. If you succeed in this, your specific comment is far more likely to contain a general element of truth. As I am neither a deep thinker nor a profound one, I make no attempt to be profound in my work. I can offer only a personal response, and if that response arrives at something basic, it will evoke a response in someone else."

Without rambling on why, I find her words very freeing. I think I might write them out and pin them up somewhere near my workspace.

(thank you for all the blanket kindness! some asked how i felted the wool, actually this is one time that i didn't. i didn't have much to work with so i didn't want shrinkage. i'll wash this in cold water and hang dry as i do all my wool that i don't want to shrink.)