simplesparrow

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.)

good morning sunshine

We're home, and so happy to be back in the sun. I love the northwest for so many reasons--we lived in and around the Portland area for almost 9 years--but the sun beckoned my husband to return home, back to the beach several years ago. I must say that when I woke up this morning to a bright blue sky, I was very happy to be home indeed. We usually pay our visits to Oregon/Washington in the summer--and let me tell you the summers there are fabulous! It's been a long while since we were up that way in the winter and it rained all day and everyday that we were there. 12 days. Goodness. Anyway...

Happy New Year! I'm ready to organize and clean out a bit around here and also hoping to start in on a new project--a patchwork throw made from wool sweaters--all before we get back to school next week. I collected a pile from the Goodwill while on vacation. Have you noticed how high the Goodwill has things priced nowadays? Geewhiz. Not the exciting thrift shopping it used to be. My mom and I were grumbling about it while we were there and then when it was time to check out we both had a pile of stuff. So, I guess we're both just full of hot air.

I hope the first week of the new year is getting off to a great start for you!

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.

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: 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.

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.

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!

stripes and such

Hello. I feel my slump starting to turn around and I thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement! It was only a creative funk and not an overall downer. I was feeling quite fine in general. The good news is that my ideas sound exciting again, I'm feeling up to getting those pj pants made for my two N's (Nathan & Noah) and after finding some g.o.r.g.e.o.u.s linen yesterday I'm anxious to make my couch pillows. Hopefully the weekend will prove to be very productive. My poor sewing machine has been quite neglected, I really want to hear that little motor whir again.

So--stripes. I'm not normally a stripe kind of a gal, but I do so love them when it comes to tights. I wish I could tell you who made these and where to buy them. They were a thrift store find about 2 winters ago. As much as I love to take pictures of feet and shoes, there is no way I could resist today. Not with these stripy beauties on.

I'm planning to do a shop update soon with a little variety of things--including an acorn or two. I've just started an email list you can join if you would like to be notified of updates. Send an email to: peacefulhome at juno dot com with "shop list" in the header. Thank you!

(For those of you who already sent an email to the gmail address--don't resend. I've moved all addresses over to the juno account. I was having trouble with gmail and I don't have time for trouble!)

Hopefully I'll be back next week with some crafty goodness to show.
Have a lovely weekend~

T.