simplesparrow

driving down that road again

I didn't plan to be away from my blog for quite so long. It's been a week..eesh. I foresee my blog getting the back burner in the weeks to come, I'm afraid. I'm a bit sad about that because I so enjoy coming here to visit with all of you. As you know I'll be doing the Felt Club on July 15th and would you like to know just how much I've made in prep for that? 20 pincushions. And they are not even all finished. That's it. I can't even believe it. I'm so behind. But not because I've been a couch potato. The list of other things going on is long. It has all been good stuff, and I knew when I applied for Felt Club that I was taking on a lot, knowing how busy my summer was looking already.

Coming up at the end of the week we will be celebrating my second son's graduation with a ceremony and party at our home. This is our second graduate from our home school. Yet again I'm going through the bitter-sweet emotions of realizing that another child has grown up. I don't like this part of being a parent. I don't like letting go. 

Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not a controlling mom hanging on to the ankles of my kids begging them to just stay home for the rest of their lives. Not at all. Mark and I stand on the edge of our nest, watching with pride and support as our adult children fly off to start their own lives. And then when they're not looking, we shed our tears.

For so long we were a family with babies, then with babies and young children, then all young children but always together. And then one of them was grown. And now a second one is. We aren't always together. It's a new season for us as we watch what was the picture of our family change and take new shape. It's an adjustment, a shifting that comes with some heartache, that of letting go.

Before this becomes a real downer of a post, let me say that there is so very much to celebrate, to reflect on with joy, to simply just smile big about--in seeing your children become adults. By God's grace Mark and I have poured our lives into our kids and one by one we are reaping the fruit of a job well done. Did we do things perfectly? Not even. So many mistakes along the way. But our heart was right, and we always tried to make sure our kids new that. That we loved them more then anything. That they were our life.

I certainly didn't expect to get into all this when I sat down to write. My thoughts just took a turn down that road I guess and I decided to keep driving. The blue sky above is a view from my patio. I had a quiet moment to do one of my very favorite things in the midst of all the business and emotions of the past weeks, and that was to just sit and stare at that gorgeous sky---and to take a photo of my feet. If you have been reading here for a while, you know I have a special fondness for feet. Too bad I leave ratty nail polish on them for waaaaay too long.

Thank you for listening to me share my heart today. xo.

 

sock and glove cuteness

Melissa from Penguin Publishing Group asked me a while back if I would be interested in reviewing this book, Sock and Glove by Miyako Kanamori. Getting to this has taken much longer then I ever intended as I've had the book for a few weeks now. Just too much going on around here! Plus, I really wanted to post my review after I had made the adorable little elephant that charmed my socks off!! (yep, right off and into a wee sock ele)

This book was originally published in Japanese and is now in English. Oh please tell me this is a sign of things to come---Japanese craft books in English!! The book is full of adorable creatures to make from socks and gloves. How clever the author was to think of the different ways you can cut up socks and gloves and then fashion such cute critters! The animals are all charming in their simplicity and the directions clear and easy. Although I do need much practice in hand sewing limbs and heads on! That's not easy if you want it to look tidy.

Along with the elephant, I was quite smitten with this fish. It's crazy simple and makes me laugh. Not to mention that chair it's sitting on is rad.

The book has several animals to make (I've given you just a tiny peek) plus patterns for some simple clothing to outfit them in. Too cute.

I finished up this little guy this morning and then asked Noah what name we should give it. I suggested making it a girl this time and calling her Elenore (I'm so prosaic sometimes) He just looked at me with a look that said "get real, mom" and told me that it will be a boy and his name will be Fred.

Meet Fred.

I secretly call her Elenore.

(many thanks for the birthday wishes for Hannah (she loved them!) and for the Felt Club support! xo.)

lets do lunch

Thank you (!!!) for all the encouragement and  help on my granny squares. I have read and re-read all the tips and feel like the next time I try, I just might get it!! Stay tuned :)

Emily and I had a fun day last week. Just the 2 of us got to go shopping--the thrift store (but of course), 2 'new to us' fabric shops, and a yarn shop. We both spotted, and quickly fell in love with this blue floral that was on the sale rack! Sweet. We both agreed it reminded us of the 70's--for me, of the tiny print seer-sucker jumpers I wore all summer long.

With this and another new fabric I made up two lunch sacks with matching napkins. I love these! Very eco friendly and UN-disposable. They are the perfect size for toting a lunch around on your trips, where ever you may be headed. Small enough for a child to use, and yet not too small for an adult.

It took my daughter to point this out to me, they are reversible! Display the liner on the outside or vice-versa. She's a clever one, that girl. I don't think it would have ever occurred to me. Both are up for grabs in my shop.

live large

Loved reading all the comments on the clothesline post, thank you. I knew I wasn't alone! I'm also enjoying the many photos that are popping up on the flickr group. Keep on hanging~ xo.

I'm living large people, when it comes to my new library tote. This baby measures a whopping 21 x 18 inches! I was laughing with Hannah that the library books AND Noah could all be cozy in there. "Hop in Noah, it's time to go to the library...hahaha". As I was making this, it didn't really occur to me just how big it was until I gave it the try-on. Gee whiz...um, yeah.

Actually, now that it is all said and done, I don't regret it. I really do need a library bag this big. I was getting mighty tired of stuffing my previous tote to the brim and then balancing the last couple of books on the tippy-top as I walked back to the car. And that was with Noah carrying a few on his own.

It was also time for a tote that *I loved*. You've got to love the ones you use often. I must say, I do love this one. It's a little bit (a lot?) funky so my inner hippie is giving me the thumbs up. It's also super sturdy, made from a heavy weight upholstery fabric with some heavy duty straps. About the straps--they are a strong, woven cotton which I bought some time ago just for this purpose, but they were cream in color. For this bag I really wanted brown, so I just covered them in a tiny brown and white dot print. It worked like a charm!

The upholstery fabric was blah,blah,blah on its own. That's when this lovely, vintage green floral took its que, stitched raw right on top. One appliqued flower for the pocket and I called it good. I took the tote for its maiden voyage today, the start of a long and happy relationship :)

skirt love

Yay! I finally got some time to work on, and finish, my skirt.  No, your eyes are not playing tricks on you--I didn't use the fabric that I thought I would. Not at all surprising, for me anyway. I often change the plan at the last minute! You see, It's just that I had all this great vintage fabric ( remember? ) that was already cut into nice neat strips. Seemed like a perfect set up.

See that middle piece of fabric between the 2 ruffles, well I sewed it on to the WRONG side of the skirt! I was so upset with myself, such a silly mistake. I was in no mood to rip it out and start over, so I decided to just incorporate the mistake as part of the plan. Really now, I had the house to myself for about an hour and I surely was not going to spend it seem-ripping! ( granted, I do like a raw and ravel-y look sometimes ) I was close to scrapping the whole thing because I was starting to lose my vision for it, and because that piece of fabric sewed onto the wrong side was r-e-a-l-l-y starting to bug me ( yet, I was unmoved to tear it out!) Leaving it that way pretty much dictated that the rest of whatever I did was raw too.

Pocket on back

Then, I was having trouble deciding what fabrics to use next. Long story short, once I got the the top ruffle on I was feeling very happy . The bottom fabric is from my stash and I adore the it way looks with the others. I was telling my pal Em , who zipped over early this morning to check it out, that I would never have picked these fabrics out from the start. I think that's one reason I sometimes sew by the seat of my pants...making decisions each step of the way. It's kinda like opening a present--exciting to see what exactly you'll end up with.

I'm all stoked to re-do some more skirts! I love this one, and I know it will actually get worn--a lot. Unlike some most of my other clothing projects!

spring, you are very welcome

The first day of spring. So nice. I'm welcoming it with a new banner, how do you like it?  I must have taken 50 pictures today of my clothesline, just because. I have often asked myself why am I so in love with clotheslines? Many reasons I think. That might be a good chat for another post.

Like most people, come spring I start taking a closer look at my wardrobe. Along with weeding out the old and storing away the winter things---I also want to see if I can bring new life to an old favorite. That brings me to this skirt. I bought it second-hand 2 or 3 years ago. It's linen so it's comfy and cool and the style is plain and simple--I've loved it!  But, I think it's time for a change.

I have long been keen on altering clothing. In fact the thought is always percolating somewhere in the files of my head. I'm just not very confident that I'll end up with something I can actually wear! I've had one too many times of making clothes that never hung right, looked right, fit right. Except for pj's. Who cares if your jammies aren't just right as long as they are comfy.

Here's a close up of the fabrics I want to use to re-make this skirt. They are a recent sale purchase that I thought looked so cute together. Since I'm only going to change the bottom, I shouldn't have any fitting issues, right? Maybe some hanging issues?  Wish me luck. I'm going to cut up an old friend.

winners! :: noah's new apron

Thank you everyone!! Loved, loved, loved reading your comments. Several of you commented for the first time, so nice--thanks. You know, all of you are winners in my book, but logistically sending out 2 little packages is much more doable :)  Hannah randomly picked to names for me and they were:

Kristy, of Wif
and
Beth, of Felt like knitting

OK girls, shoot me your addresses and I'll cook a little something up and post that to you sometime next week. Thanks again for playing all, that was fun.

P.S. I posted my Bunny Boxes in the shop . I think they would make a fun spring time gift for some little people.

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Noah is now officially decked out for helping me do the laundry. Yesterday I picked up this very inexpensive plastic tote at my local drugstore that works perfectly as his personal laundry basket. I made him the clothespin apron last night. As I was finishing up the green striped pocket, it dawned on me that the apron and the tote match! That wasn't planned at all, but it is kind of fun when things just come together like that.

The apron is made from a very soft, brown brushed denim. Hard to photograph I've decided. The tie is bias tape from my stash as well as the green trim at the top of the pocket. Everything in this photo, except for the pocket fabric and the tote has been either thrifted or found at garage sales. Including the the wooden drying rack and the vintage apron hanging over the side of the tote. Love that.

Noah and I hung the laundry together this morning, as we will do together just about every morning now that the weather is warmer. Sometimes we are very chatty as we hang, and other times--like today--we were both quiet, just doing our jobs. I love to keep an eye on him when he isn't noticing. I love watching him work, his expressions, squinting if the sun gets in his eyes or looking up briefly to spot a singing bird.  And I thought, these are precious times. Very precious indeed.

mommy monster

...plus baby monster.

this is tilly with her baby, agatha. funny how names come to you. sometimes i can spend way to much time trying to decide, and other times, like this time--you just know right away. i love 'monsters' that have a silly, humorous, friendly look to them. there are a lot out in the craft world that fit this description and they make me smile every time.

this is one of those projects i had put on the back burner for quite some time...other interests were getting my attention. yesterday though, i had the house to myself for about an hour and the 'make a monster' light bulb went off. it took me longer then an hour but i got a good chunk of it underway before the house was full and busy again. they're made from a wool sweater and the pocket is some of my favorite vintage fabric. it came from a floor length dress that i cut up. i'm so looking forward to using more of this in the future. anyway, tilly and agatha now proudly sit on my bed, where they can make me smile each time i walk past.

speaking of thrift shopping, i found this gem of a book recently. i always at least skim the book shelves when i go and this particular time i almost missed this one. after what i thought was a pretty thorough search, i gave one last glance in the corner and saw this. it's filled with short chapters on the girlhoods of famous women, written in that great narrative style that draws you in and keeps you interested--what many home schoolers would call a 'living book'. the women are from america and europe, most i've heard of, some i haven't. i've started reading it out loud to hannah and we love it. of course we both must have a fresh cup of tea, a sunny spot to sit and she brings along her drawing pencils and paper to sketch while i read. and, if mark just happens to take noah to the park at the same time--well, it becomes a perfect and quiet moment for the two of us. noah can't quite appreciate the girlhoods of historic women yet :)

babies and sticks

this was the little project i was working on that i mentioned in my last post. it didn't turn out to look very much like my sketch...but i guess that's just part of the process. i don't have much experience designing my own patterns when it involves more then 2 or 3 pieces! that takes math, and i pretty much stink in that subject.

the idea here is that it is a baby bundled up in a hooded wrap. although i'm not completely unhappy with my first try, i do want to tweak with the pattern some more and make one that is not quite...so...chubby. i really liked the way my sketch looked of this idea and want to come up with something closer to that. i have some more ideas for variations i might try too. we shall see. i'm always FULL of ideas and very SHORT on time. here's a picture of the back.

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i bought a huge box of popsicle sticks at the craft store over the weekend in hopes of doing this adorable project with noah...

it's a stick village from the july/august 2004 martha stewart kids. they have some super cute ideas and of course this kind of project lends itself well to whatever your imagination can come up with. i'm thinking it would be nice to have a board that we create the village on that can be brought out and put away easily--leaving what we've already made in place. i'm picturing the whole family getting in on the fun too. working on it a little here and a little there.

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i think i might try to update my etsy shop tonight with some buttons and the baby blanket if i don't run out of steam (yawn...)

hope everyone's week got off to a good start today.

bye for now...

WIP + corners of my home

my work in progress is more quiet time totes. just need to finish the crayon pouches--trying a new design this time around. i scored a yard of this great vintage fabric at a new thrift shop that opened recently. little woodland animals going to school?  hedgehogs?  red spotted mushrooms?  birds with handkerchiefs? CUTE. the totes should be in the shop over the weekend.

you need to have a closer look.....

adorable, eh?

i haven't posted a corner in a long time, so i thought i would show you this one. it's not one of the pretty corners, (although i think my daughter is lovely) it's just real life. laundry, finished but not folded yet and thrown on the couch--hannah doing some history reading for school. very much an everyday scene around here. (she's wearing the hat i made for noah, remember? it looks so cute on her. she has pretty much claimed it for her own)

more corners can be found here.

enjoy your weekend everyone!