simplesparrow

in between croaks

Well, drat. I've been struck with another illness...this time a chest cold. My voice is all froggy to and Mark keeps making fun of me like I'm a pirate or something. So my grand plans for the past week have been shot down but I still managed to clean out a cabinet in my bathroom, line my silverware drawer with contact paper and get started on my wool blanket---all in between naps and croaky coughs :)

I'm pretty happy so far with how the blanket is turning out. My original plan of just butting the squares edge to edge and then zig-zagging them together didn't work so well. I didn't want the back to have seams, but now it does. I guess I could put a backing on it, we'll see. I'm kind of just deciding as I go along. On a few squares I added a  patch of  some  vintage fabric I've been squirreling away. I like the look it adds--somewhat funky, a little hippy-ish and a tad off-beat. I guess that could be a nutshell description of me now that I think about it!

A happy byproduct of all the sweater cutting has left me with about 6 pairs of sleeves. I'm thinking I would really like to try and make some long hand/arm warmers. Note to self: add that to the crafty to-do list that is already a bazillion pages long.

i'm on a roll

Mark thanks you (and so do I!) for the birthday wishes--very sweet. By the way, I just love the photo I posted of him. My son Micah took it when we were in Italy . It has such peaceful contentment.

Oui. I have had no time to work on redoing my skirt. Zippo. Really, no time at all to do anything creative. Well, actually, I did drizzle the glaze onto Mark's piece of birthday cake with an artistic flair so that gave me about 3 seconds of creative satisfaction. Not enough, girls...not E-nough. But, I do have something to share that made me screech with excitement--these rolls of vintage fabric, found just in the nick of time at the thrift store.  Eeeekkk!! (oops...another uncontrollable screech escaped)

I had already been perusing the store for about 30 minutes, checking all my favorite spots. It was looking like this trip would be an 'empty hander'. Instead of making a straight line for the front door, I took a left and strolled back past the linens again. What's this!? A giant bag of....fabric!!! Just brought out from the back. I dropped to my knees as I was silently chanting "oh my goodness, oh my goodness..." I stretched my head around to see if there was anyone spying my discovery (this would determine how fast I needed to work...ahem) Whew. No one else look interested. As you can see from the pictures, these were rolls of treasure. All of it vintage!!

Someone had cut strips of fabric, about 3 inches wide, and sewed them end to end to make one long roll. A small part of their unfinished project was in the bag as well. They were crocheting rag rugs I think, or maybe small mats or potholders. That is a project I always thought would be fun ( I would do a rug ) but loathed the thought of preparing the fabric. No longer! Someone did it for me! After I sifted through what I thought was the best, I ended up with about twice as much as you see here. Can you imagine all the the great patchwork that can come from this too? (I feel another screech coming on, but I'm keeping it under control)

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 :)

and now, a word from our sponser

i'll just be up front with you right away...the title of this post has absolutely nothing to do with it's content. it's just random, like this post will be.

recent thrift store finds....

when i first saw this basket, it was one of those long, contemplative moments...do i like it? na. well, maybe. nope, it's too country. but wait, it is kinda cute. i don't know about those apples though....that's how the conversation in my mind went. I left the store without it. a couple days later i went back and bought it. i'm glad i did--it has grown on me. since i sew at the kitchen table, i needed something to contain all my stuff. that's its job, and it does it very well. (the painting in the background is also a thrift find, but from a couple of years ago)

that same day i scored a pile of old martha stewarts'...always happy to come across these.

i know i'm not the only one, but spring is definitely planting its loveliness in my mind these days. i need to give my living-room a make-over, just in a small way. new pillows, break out the white slipcovers. maybe a furniture re-shuffle. i also really want to freshen up my kitchen with some new floor mats, curtains, and a couple of new potholders. do your potholders get totally gross looking? gee-whiz, mine are horrible. so anyway, this new pile of fabric is supposed to start me on my way to a new and improved kitchen and some fresh pillows for the living-room.

after mulling over what colors to go with--thinking i might try something new--i went with my old standards--pinks, greens, and browns.

today was library day. we *love* the library.

and i support mine very well with paying over due fines. i won't even tell you what i paid once in fines--i'll just say that i think i broke a record. seriously.  i was super embarrassed. super-duper. even so, what would we do without libraries? they are such a great invention.

this is a comment noah just said to me--talk about random.

n- mom, did you just have some tea?
me- yes.
n- good. i don't want you to get all crazy today.

honestly folks, i really dont get all crazy if i don't have my tea!

and now, we return to our regular scheduled programing.

thrifting::crafting

Recent thrifting finds that are making me soooo very happy--

Incredible and gorgeous ironstone dishes--one platter and one serving bowl--my heart really skipped a beat when I spotted them. And one simple and serene Christmas angel that glows with a candle. I love that it's all white. Total for all:  $3.00-- What would we do without thrift stores? Cry up a storm, that's what.

This is a little WIP I started today. These will become Christmas ornments of some sort when I'm finished with them. They're from vintage children's books. Not sure yet how to finish them off, but I have some thoughts. I'm going to give one last push to update my shop on Sunday and Monday. I plan to make 4 or 5 more quiet time totes, some pincushions and needle books, maybe a few little ornaments like the ones above and a surprise or two. Then I'm done with shop stuff and will start on gifts for the family. One thing I know about myself, and that is I always have BIG plans and little time. So, I hope I can fulfill the above list. I'll give it a good try.

I'm hoping to be a part of this auction that Lisa and Stephanie are organizing to benefit the Kims. The response has been overwhelming--isn't that so great? Bless the dear Kims. I hope they are flooded with love and all things good.

Some thrifty finds (still waiting for wedding pictures!)

I honestly and truly am not trying to tease you by holding out on the wedding photos. Micah took some photos of course, but most of them he was not happy with---lighting issues. He did allow me (yes, me his mother, needed permission :) to post 2 of his pictures in my previous post. How great is the one of Seth dancing at the reception?? Oh my gosh. And the angle of the one with them both including the 'just married' sign on the car?? So great. I took the one of Vanessa, but after 3 or 4 more I decided I'm not going to think about taking pictures and just soak in the moments to come. Good call I think.  Our friend who did the photography is sending us all the photos on CD and it should arrive in the mail any day now----then I will do the big wedding post! Promise.

For now, here is a couple of thrift finds I'm so very happy about--yes indeed. Love this gravy? bowl and plate. Not positive on the proper name for this, but I adore it anyway. It's vintage Mikasa and the pattern name is Accent 'Mint Green' , so says the stamp on the bottom. Mint green? I don't think so, more like a lovely apple green wouldn't you say? I'm on the hunt now for the creamer and sugar bowl to match. I can only dream of how dang cute those must be :)

And...some vintage strawberry fabric, a nice generous piece too! All those little strawberries with their green tops make me very happy. What to do with it? I've got a few ideas percolating.

Just because I'm thinking about it, I've noticed that I hardly ever post about my thrifting/garage sale adventures. Hmmm, interesting. Just for the record, I am an addict. ADDICT I say. I shop second hand all.the.time. So, anyway--maybe I'll post more about that in the future.

Here is a photo of some of the last roses I saved from the wedding reception. All of the flowers were so incredibly beautiful. Our friend who did the photography also did all the flowers along with his wife. Her family owns and he manages this flower mart . They drove 4 hrs. to do all this for us, as a gift. Wow, I know. Jeff and Renee, can I tell you again for the one millionTH time how much we love you?

My parents are still visiting and I'll be hanging out with them for another couple of days. Mom and I hope to get some jewelry making in tonight. We bought some beads and pendants I'm excited about.

Oh, about the wedding quilt---I didn't finish it in time.  Yes, I'm bummed, but I've accepted it and am moving on.  I'll be seeing them again in September (they  are living in Portland, Oregon) So that is my next deadline. Round two. Can she do it folks??

Naptime numbers, thrifted treasure

Noah is crazy-obsessed with numbers these days. He sees them everywhere. Even when I read to him now, he is more interested in the page number then the story! Anxiously awaiting the turning of the page so he can keep counting!

I have had this great countdown fabric for so long and just recently (during my break) got around to making him this pillow with it. (Can anyone tell me where I can buy more? I would like some in the pastel colorway too. My searches have been unsuccessful..thanks!) Mark has aptly named this "Naptime Numbers" because the idea was that during his quiet time he could enjoy looking at all those fabulous numbers, and the pocket on the back would hold yet even more by way of his very cool flash cards...and then, when he got sleepy (yeah, right!)  he had a special place to lay his head. He has quickly outgrown his flash cards already. They only go up to 20, and the kid is easily counting to 100 now.  (shameless bragging)

When I took this photo, the pillow was already about a week old. Showing signs of being well loved. He literally snatched it right out from under the sewing machine when I finished. The pocket of course can be used for all sorts of special toys and such. (hence the motorcycle that Noah put in the top pic. )  Mark loved this idea, and is on me to market it and sell it!! OK, hun...I'm going to try...uh, um...just how do you do that by the way???  Oh I don't know, I've got laundry to do.  Really though, wouldn't this idea be great with letters too?  As I always say...we shall see.

Now, look at this treasure I found thrift shopping...

No, no...not Mark's white t-shirts, the fabric! The fabric!! It is vintage for sure...60's or 70's I'm guessing. A nice heavy, textured cotton. The first thing I thought of when I saw it was a messenger type bag for summer. It is a very generous sized piece and I feel so happy to have it. Really, I get butterflies just looking at it.

Cupcakes and Noah's artwork

I finished up my cupcake pincushion this morning whilst drilling Hannah in her multiplication. I love it when I multitask :) I found this crochet pattern from a link on Robyn's blog. I love the yarn I used for the icing. It just feels so snuggley. BUT..it was a you-know-what to work with!! You can not even see your stitches, you might as well be blind-folded! Well, not that bad but you know what I mean. I added some glass seed beads for sprinkles on top but the poor things are trying hard to be noticed. They just kind of dissapear in that yarn. I want to make more cupcakes! I want to eat cupcakes! I want to look at cupcakes! I want to day-dream about cupcakes! (I've got a thing for cupcakes right now, can you tell?)

While I was at it, here is another picture with some Japanese cuteness I bought last weekend while we were in L.A. Gosh, that store was sooooo fun. I'm definitely going back when I get down there next. Everything in the photo besides the apron background came from there. Would you just check out those chop-sticks??!! Heaven.

Noah did some wonderful drawings the other day and I traced them onto some shrinky-dink plastic to make tiles. I laugh everytime I look at these. They are so precious and cute.  I have all kinds of ideas for embroidery and softies based on his drawings. We shall see, my "to make" list is about a thousand miles long.

Really quick, look at the great stash I found at a tiny thrift store around the corner from me. Vintage buttons, ribbon, and a pile of "make your own fabric button" kits. I love this little thrift, their prices are basically free if you know what I mean. It's run by volunteer senior citizens that will talk your ear off. The lady that was helping yesterday counted and sorted my pile and then pronounced.." how about a 1.75?" Ya gotta love it.