Stitches in Play

Making space

The other day I came across this quote by Henry David Thoreau -

 "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.

Live the life you've imagined. 

As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler."

So fitting for my life right now.  In our new home we have pared down all the stuff and simplified our life.  We are living with less stuff and less clutter.  We have traded that in for wide open spaces and tons of natural light.  We are all so much happier in this smaller, lighter and brighter space. 

In our previous home I had a small studio space in the room above the garage.  This worked well in that I didn't have to clean up my mess at the end of the day because no one wanted to go up there - it was always cold in the winter and hot in the summer and quite dark and dreary.  On the down side, I could only work there when my kiddos were in school or late at night because I was so far away from them that every time I went up there, within seconds someone needed some form of immediate attention and I had to come right back down.  In our new home I will be working and making in a bright corner of our living/dining area.  I'll share once I have it all set up but here are some storage solutions for thread and fabric and my sewing machine and iron.  I will be working beside the kitchen and the living space alongside my family.  I will be right here with them - solving problems, helping retrieve their snacks and refereeing their arguments from the comforts of my creative space.  Or maybe i'll just tune out all the noise and stare out the huge window and onto the creek that runs along the back of our property....  i'll keep you posted on this one!

I will also have to keep my space neat and tidy.  And hopefully this will encourage me to complete projects before starting new ones, to work in a more organized fashion, and to try out new ideas that fit our new space and way of living.  I cannot wait to get started!

Abigail organized my thread and fabric.

Thread on the left. Fabric on the right.  In this cabinet in the master bedroom - which is right outside the dining area, which just happens to be where my new work space is located.

Sewing machine and iron in new workspace....

Which is right by the table where my girl loves to arrange flower bouquets.


I have more supplies and lots of patterns and inspiration tear sheets which i'm storing in this great file cabinet from cb2.  This cabinet fits a ton but truly I have chosen to limit my supplies to the things that i really love and need and enjoy working with. 

Have a great weekend, everyone!

 

when in Rome...

I could have brought out the drawing pad and the nice pens.  I could have positioned myself in such a way where I could get the best perspective.  But there was not time for any of that. Abigail was coloring with good old crayola crayons on printer paper.  Both were sitting on the kitchen table while I was clearing breakfast dishes.   So I did what any mama who proclaimed in her last post that she was going to take a bit of creative time any way she could.  And I joined my girl for a bit of crayola time.

  

 

Spending half an hour (yes, it took me 30 minutes) drawing along with my girl was so much fun.  She even sprinkled my drawing with paper punched stars for an added touch! 

Also want to share two awesome films that can be streamed off Netflix.  The September Issue and Bill Cunningham New York.  Both of these are fashion documentaries but they are so much more than that. Even if you have no interest in fashion magazines or photography you will LOVE the human nature story behind these passionate, driven, brilliant people.  Bill Cunningham, especially, is a genius and the this documentary is perfection.

I'm also really enjoying the The Chaperone right now - very well written light summer read.  Have a great week!

stuff + Happy Mother's Day

Since I last posted:

I have been crazy busy. 

I have had a lot of fun with my family.

I enrolled my three kiddos in school in the city.

Greg and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary.

I took my kiddos to an opera - it was a matinee performance and they loved every minute.  Yet another reason to love the city.

We helped with food and clean-up and danced a whole lot at our friend's Bat Mitzvah.

I have collapsed into bed soon after the kiddos were tucked in - except for the night that I folded laundry until midnight and the night that Abigail refused to go to sleep until she finished her book.

I have laughed a lot - sometimes at myself.

We went to an outdoor art fair - the same one we visit every year.  So that my kiddos can meet artists, see, touch and appreciate art - and of course choose a piece that speaks to them to bring home.

I have watched and enjoyed numerous skits and song + dance performances put on by Abigail in our living room. I have the handmade tickets to prove it.

I have written dozens of blog posts in my head while driving, standing in line at the grocery store, folding laundry....sadly I can no longer recall any of them.

I listened to this interview with Maurice Sendack.  And I cried because I will miss him.  I have kept a copy of this book on my nightstand for the past year.

I have watched my boys compose weapons and board breaking routines for taekwondo - they are now second degree black belts and I am so proud of their strength and accomplishment.

Some photos just so that we can catch up a bit -

Abigail is now seven - and she prefers to be called Abby.

Ezra is thirteen - he still loves playing in the woods with his family.  These days he has taken up running  - alongside+through the woods - of course.  He is taller than me and wears a size twelve men's shoe.

David just turned eleven.  He is a wonderful writer, teller of jokes, and greatest supporter of his older brother.

Many things have changed.  But all the important stuff has stayed the same - and that's the way we like it.

Here are a few photos of the new house.  The light was bad and I was in a hurry so this is just the main space. The whole house is really just this one space - plus three bedrooms and bathrooms and kitchen.  I'll post kitchen and bedroom photos once I take them.

That's most of the house. But the best part is that this house sits on over an acre; that this acre is  wooded; and that this wooded acre is on a creek; and that this house on a wooded acre that is on a creek is right in the middle of the city. 

I'll share more soon. Right now I'm off to the kiddo's school to do good deeds in honor of teacher appreciation week.

and while I'm on the subject of appreciation, I'd like to wish a very HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all!

doing what i have to do

"First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do"  -Epictetus

I've been thinking a lot about this quote lately.  The calendar says it's spring yet the weather is dark and dreary and yesterday it snowed and rained and hailed and then snowed again.  I can't seem to focus or sit still long enough to complete any making.  Instead I feel the need to clean, to declutter, to donate and toss. 

Back to the above quote.  I want "to be" a mama who spends time reading, talking, playing, and walking through the woods with my children.  I already do these things but i also spend a lot of time caring for "stuff."  So what I "have to do" is keep my home free of stuff that needs washing, dusting, tending to or picking up - this will give me more free time to spend doing those things I find important.

For the past week I have been cleaning out drawers and closets and donating any clothes that have not been worn in the past year.  I feel a bit more free with each to-be-donated bag that is loaded onto the minivan.  I go quickly before I can change my mind because the rational me knows that I will not miss any of these items.  I am sure of this because many of the donated things are items I considered letting go of last year but figured I would find a use for them.  Well guess what? I didn't.  I never wore the cute brand name jeans that never fit me quite right and caused my stomach to stick out.  (Alright, it may not have been ALL the jeans' fault but you know what I mean)  I'd rather wear the same two pairs of jeans (with a white cotton tee from Target + a cardi) everyday and look lean and put together than wear a hundred different outfits that make me look frumpy and cause me to feel less confident.  Actually, I'm wearing more clothes now because I rediscovered several shirts that were buried behind all the stuff I never wore and I have lots of empty hangers for a few new Spring items.  But I have no plans to go shopping any time soon because those bare hangers are making me oh so happy.  Happiness really is in the little things - or in the lack of little things.

I've cleared books off my coffee table (bench, really) which, of course, encourages kiddos standing on and jumping off said coffee table-bench.  But that is all part of the carefree play that is in the "what would be" part of above quote.

I also put away pillows and quilts that adorned the couch.  These inevitably ended up on the floor, collecting dog hair and dust bunnies (I have no idea where these come from as bunnies are about the only pet that we don't have), and causing my kiddos to trip as they race through the family room.  All this caused this mama to reprimand said kiddos so I did "what I have to do" in order to achieve the "what I would be."

Even my husband noticed that two lamps were gone and asked why they didn't make the cut.  For a brief moment I questioned whether I had cleared out too much or left too little.  Maybe I had created a home that was so bare bones that even my guy - who rarely notices such things - realized that we were living with less.  But no, I had not cleared away and donated too much - I took away just the right amount of stuff to create a home where the unnecessary clutter was gone and what was left had room to shine - and that was what greg noticed. 

Yes, my home is pared down to the things that we need and love.  Things that did not serve a purpose had to go - i'm sure that someone perusing my local thrift store right now is seeking a red glass lamp and will be overjoyed when she comes accross the one I donated.  I feel like a giver - which sure beats feeling like a hoarder!

For extra clearing out fun I went through each of our sock and underwear drawers and pulled out items that were worn or didn't have a match.  You don't need to know this but I kept only four white bras - the ones that looked good under white tees and only the underwear that I actually wear.  This really is too much information for a crafty blog but if this helps someone out there clear the excess clutter out of their homes then so be it. 

Since I cleaned out all the excess I am able to breathe deeper and feel less stressed.  Plus I have more room for flowers and more time to enjoy them!

And for moments when you feel like this, I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes:

"Out of clutter find simplicity; from discord find harmony; in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." -Albert Einstein

giveaway in honor of rhythm of the home

For the last three days I have been suffering from the "icks" as we like to call them around here. Basically all the various flu symptoms but in a milder, gentler form because i did get a flu shot back in October.  Greg worked all weekend and my kiddos rose to the occasion and worked together to keep the house from becoming too much of a pigsty. And I even drove them to Taekwondo practice - kiddos received loads of exercise while mama sat in the car and watched though the window so as not to infect the innocent.  I woke up feeling much better this morning and headed right back to volunteer at the very place where I contracted the illness - my kiddos' school.

Enough about me.  The Spring issue of Rhythm of the Home launched yesterday and it is gorgeous and full of wonderful ideas and information.  I could not stop reading this piece on keeping free range bunnies - how awesome is that!  And under the section for 'warmth' you can find my article on using and making lavender drawer liners. 

These are so simple to sew and a great way to encourage kiddos to keep their belongings neat and put away.  

Now about you.  You can have your very own lavender drawer liner along with a heart tea towel for your kitchen.  I am giving away 2 sets  - just leave a comment on this post and I will announce 2 winners on Monday, March 7th.  There is also a giveaway on the Rhythm of the Home blog where you can win items donated by many of the contributors so be sure to leave a comment there too.  I had intended to donate my items to the ROTH giveaway but missed the deadline - enough said.

I hope you sew some of these - they will make your drawers (and clothes) smell wonderful.  My girly (she's six) now smells her underwear each morning before putting it on to "make sure the drawer liner is working properly!"  Quality control at its finest, people. They also make great gifts - my kiddos gifted these to their teachers for Valentine's day.

Have a wonderful Wednesday and don't forget to leave a comment for the giveaway!

 

random making

It's been busy around here. 

But when I have a moment I glance over at the daffodils and smile and breathe deeply.

And when I found  bit of time to 'make' I realized that I didn't have enough light hued solids to finish up my boys' quilts.

So I ordered some of these from here and here they are  - waiting for their turn in the washing machine. (oh, and the circle fabric is here)

So I used my bit of time to make some new pillows for our couch.

They match the quilt that we've been snuggling under.  I wrote about the quilt here.

Here's a pillow close-up:

It's pouring rain here today so I had to prop it right up to the window.  Just some 5" squares I had left over from the quilt and a bit of linen for the bottom.  I did some straight line quilting about a 1/4 inch from the seams.

For this pillow I randomly cut and inserted 3" strips of fabric into the pink background fabric.  It's the same technique I used here.  And some linen for the bottom. 

In between sewing the pillows I took a break with an Italian sandwich cookie - these are filled with the yummiest raspberry jam.

Last night Abigail took a little rest on this pillow and proclaimed it her favorite.  She asked not to be photographed but I snuck one in anyhow - years from now she'll thank me for having taken this.  (Right?)

 

Now all I need is to find some free time to settle down on the couch and sink back into my new pillows!  But with the weekend coming that is a lot easier said than done!

inspiration at home

Working to finish up works in progress... and, of course, couldn't keep myself from starting a new project.  Not much to share just yet so with a little inspiration from my afternoon pick-me-up - delish coffee ice cream - I went in search of the color brown.  Here goes...

May you find much inspiration this weekend.

"Without inspiration the best powers of the mind remain dormant.  There is a fuel in us which needs to be ignited with sparks."  Johann Gottfried Von Herder

green inspiration

Today I set aside a small bock of time to make Ezra's Valentine's day gift.  I had an idea in mind but things were not coming together as planned.  At one point I started over using different fabrics but when i began taking pictures of the half finished product it became clear that what i had created was not going to be Ezra's gift. 

I needed some inspiration, something to get the creative juices flowing again, anything to make me forget that i had just wasted two precious making hours.  I was still holding my camera when I decided to take pictures of things that were green.  I'm not sure why i choose green other than the fact that i was wearing a green sweater and it was the first color to come to mind.  So here goes...

 

 

And then it came to me...SOLIDS.  When sewing for a big boy, solid colored fabrics are the way to go.  Big, bold, bright blocks of color.  It's snowing tonight so let's hope tomorrow's not a snow day because i cannot wait to get started - again.

Seeking out the color green was so inspiring I will be doing this again - there are so many beautiful colors out there, just waiting to be photographed.....

no computer means more play or 'I MISS U'

I can't believe I've been away for two weeks.

I am a bit sad to report that my computer is no longer with us.  My IT guy (awesome husband) was able to retrieve most of my data.

I am so excited that a brand spanking new computer is on its way to my house.

In the mean time I have been playing with my kiddos (who have more days off this year than school days), celebrating Hanukkah, cleaning and organizing my home, squeezing in a bit of making time, and wracking my mind wondering what all of you have been up to.

This week, snow days have been added to all the usual days off from school and we have been enjoying every minute.

 

 

 

We received these fabulous chalkboard place mats from Leslie several weeks ago and have loved using them.  The kiddos sit at the table longer playing hangman and tic-tac-toe or patiently await dinner while doodling away.  And each morning they find mama written 'love notes' or words of encouragement under their cereal bowls.  These place mats are brilliant and make me proud to be a part of this community of bloggers who Dream and Create and Make. 

And yes, David does sit at the head of the table because that's where the window is and this middle kiddo likes to read in the kitchen while mama cooks.

I must return to my kiddos who are busily making birthday gifts for their Dad.  We are celebrating his birthday tonight.  I will be checking in with all of you and sharing that soup recipe (yikes!) and some knitting very soon - promise.  For the next several days I will need to kindly ask permission from my husband to use his computer - and wait in line behind the kiddos who are officially on winter break - but no worries because I am up later than they are!

Have a wonderful weekend!

celebrating each day

I did not mean to be away this long.  I have been busy with all that comes along with this holiday season, both at home and at my kiddos' school.  Seems like we just celebrated halloween and now Thanksgiving is only days away and Hanukkah is a week later on December 1st and all teacher's holiday gifts need to be wrapped and ready by december 16th.  I'm slowly working on several gifts that I'll share soon but mainly I've been unusually calm this year. I'm taking one day at a time and focusing on being present with my family. 

I especially love that Ezra arrives home an hour before his brother and sister this year - at 2:30 I drop everything so that I can spend this precious hour with him. We talk about his day while we walk the dogs, get the mail, check on our chickens and share a snack.  This has become our daily ritual and I cherish every moment that my pre-teen wants to share his concerns and his joys with his mama.

Abigail has been busy decorating our home for the holidays. 

We still had fall pumpkins and gourds on the table when we added bowls of halloween candy.  Over the weekend she placed Hanukkah "gelt" (chocolate coins) right over the leftover candy.  Just as it became nearly impossible to tell which holiday we were celebrating....

Abigail added this strawberry corn and declared us "ready for Thanksgiving!"  While I'm not sure which holiday we are prepared for, we are giggling a lot at all the silliness around here.

And for the past week all of our baked goods have been arranged in a giant latke platter that the girly insists sit in the center of our kitchen table.  This has resulted in nearly daily baking because a dozen muffins disappear quickly when stored in plain sight like this.  (These muffins were made from Trader Joe's Triple Berry Bran muffin mix - yummy and healthy.  I substitute buttermilk for the water and add vanilla extract and semi-sweet chocolate chips. I am not a purist when it comes to baking and often doctor up a boxed mix because my kids don't care - they just want baked goods that are warm out of the oven. Bonus - these muffins each have 7 grams of fiber.)

While we're keeping an eye on the calendar and all that needs to get done, we must not forget that our hens need tending each and every day. 

These girls haven't heard about Thanksgiving or Hanukkah or Christmas or New Year's.  They just provide us with the most delicious (and beautiful) eggs ever - each and every day.  The kiddos have named all of our hens and each time I present a baked good or an egg dish they ask which hen laid the eggs they are eating.   And it's not uncommon to hear,"I'll have one of Rusty's eggs - sunny side up."  I had no idea the joy and laughter and nourishment that these hens would bring us when I mail ordered day old chicks last May on a whim.

 

And while we're on the subject of staying calm and present during this holiday season I'll share that while I finished the jacket I was knitting - loosely based on the featherweight cardi - I could not figure out what possessed me to knit a garter stitch collar.  It is now ripped and i'm knitting a 1x1 rib instead.  I was watching this film when I made the dreaded decision to use garter stitch and so I am tempted to blame Coco Chanel for this atrocity - but just thinking about that makes me laugh out loud so I will assume all blame, savor the process, and re-knit the collar. 

The above photo was taken by Abigail who is six and it is not cropped at all.  After we finished reading her book I asked her to take a picture of my sweater - and she stood so close that she managed to frame it perfectly.  The wool used is Peruvia Quick by Berroco in shade #9137.

May you find a reason to celebrate today.

makin' treats

Two out of three kiddos are exchanging halloween treats in school this Friday.  There will be cupcakes and candy galore so we decided to combine:

ribbon...

with stickers and gift tags...

to make bookmarks for all.  We need 42 bookmarks in total so I will be making lots more of these tomorrow - good thing they are quick and fun to make!

The middle schooler, who no longer has classroom parties, made one bookmark for himself and then created this arrangement on the kitchen table.  Birds are Martha Stewart crow silhouettes.

What are you handing out to friends or classmates this halloween?

kitty, curtains and quinoa

I noticed that kitty is having trouble getting a good day's rest in my bed.  I figured it may be due to all the light that's streaming though the nearby window.

So I sewed curtains for our bedroom out of this great fabric adorned with orange birdies.  (Fabric is Dolce by Tanya Whelan)

Kitty loves his new curtains.  Photos coming as soon as the sun comes out.  In the meantime, It's Monday so my kiddos are home and we're off to our favorite hiking trail in the park.

On an unrelated note, for the past year I have cut down on my meat consumption by not eating meat for breakfast or lunch.  I've been trying to come up with quick, healthy and yummy meat free meals.  We eat lots of beans and rice + roasted veggies.  I also eat eggs on whole wheat toast + salad.  I recently discovered (quite by accident) that a thinned down hummus makes a thick and creamy salad dressing full of fiber and protein.  Just blend a can of garbanzo beans with its liquid, a couple tablespoons of olive oil, juice of 1 lemon, 1 garlic clove + salt and pepper until smooth and pour over your favorite salad.

Above is our lunch of quinoa cooked in chicken broth + stir fried napa cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, onions and garlic.  Quinoa is a healthy substitute for rice and the cabbage mixture is my version of a deconstructed egg roll - all the filling without any of the wrapping or frying.  I'd love to hear about your quick and meat free go-to lunches.

Happy Monday to you!

i sewed a table runner

This Sunday Dad and the boys went to a nearby field to meet up with some other boys and fly their remote controlled planes.  While they were away the girls set the table in anticipation of the yummy Chinese food that said boys would bring home upon their return.

But setting the table for such a feast is no simple task.  First mama and the girl had the clean up the Monopoly game that was occupying the entire table.  They joked about how it had become their favorite game since the girl learned to count money, give change, and purchase the properties that had eluded her brothers so that she could sell those same properties back to them for far more than their true worth.  They then fetched the "chicken plates" that they purchased at tjmaxx over the summer.  (Mama and the girl are aware that these plates do, in fact, depict roosters but around here it's all about the girls and hence they are referred to as the chicken plates.)  Then the girl set out the John Derian insect tumblers that she insisted mama get the moment she spied them at target.  Because she was convinced that simple milk and juice would taste magical when consumed from a cup bearing the image of a ladybug and butterfly. This proved to be true.

Once the table was set, mama and the girl felt it was a bit bear.  So they sewed a table runner.  Out of some fun fabric that mama has had on a shelf for a year - maybe two.  And they made it reversible because the girl found that the yellow fabric would compliment the gourds and mini pumpkins on the table that she loved to arrange and rearrange over and over until they were just so.

The girl also thought that some felt leaves would add the perfect touch to the fall table awaiting Chinese food.  So she and mama cut leaf shapes out of felt and the girl arranged them on the runner, just as she had her pumpkins.  Mama considered sewing down the leaves but decided that doing so would make the table runner more difficult to launder.  And in the world of accidents, spills and mishaps in which this mama resides, easy laundering is of utmost importance. 

After all, beauty is in the simple things.  And in quick projects, crafted with eager kiddos that create lasting memories.  And that is why I sewed a table runner. 

the fall cover

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about fall.  I love the colors of fall and the crispness in the air that it brings and I love snuggling under a cover with a good book.  (Side note: I recently finished this beautiful book and have started this book - i read his book The Corrections a while ago and loved it.

Back to the snuggling under the covers part...  I've also been thinking about covers and how they can be similar to - and different from - quilts.  For one thing, covers do not have to be quilted and this one is not.  

Here's my version of the fall cover:

So easy to make you could be napping under it in no time at all. (also great for pretend napping)

Cut a whole bunch of home decor weight fabric into 13" squares.  To compensate for the lack of quilting and batting I used home decor weight fabric - this cover is substantial and heavy.  I also decided on large squares to reduce the number of seams - again because there is no quilting to hold the layers together.   

Sew sixteen squares together creating a 4 x 4 foot cover.  Press seams to one side.

Sew another sixteen squares together for the back. 

Lay the front and back pieces right sides together and pin all four sides. (around the perimeter)

Machine stitch on all four sides with a 1/2" seam allowance - leaving a 12 inch opening for turning. 

Clip all four corners.  Turn cover right side out through the opening.

Press all four sides.  Topstitch around perimeter of the cover about 1/2 inch from the edge.

Here's a poor photo of the top stitching on the corners but you get the idea.

And there you have it - an easy, reversible cover perfect for fall snuggling.

Thank you fall!  You are my favorite season.

painted house

I painted the rooms in my house white. 

Ralph Lauren's Pocket Watch White (#WW01) to be exact.  It's a clear, warm white that doesn't feel yellow and it looks great with all the wood molding.  The Home Depot no longer carries Ralph Lauren paint but they have all the colors in their computer and can color match any RL color in Behr paint.

I've wanted to paint every surface in my house white for a while now and then I found this vase at TJMaxx for nine dollars. Its sense of laid back sophistication spoke to me and I was immediately inspired to bring this same feeling to my home.

 

We've been savoring ever bit of summer around here so I've only had a chance to declutter the house and paint and there's not much to look at.  Plus it's nearly impossible to photograph a white wall - there's nothing for the camera to focus on.  But the fact that I took a bunch of boring, poorly lit photos of my walls is not going to stop me from writing a post - because I am a blogger and I will "make it work." (Project Runway reference and I'm loving this new season - but I digress.)  So here goes:

Kitchen table area painted white...

Family room painted white...  (no artwork on the walls yet)
 

Dining room (love how the color compliments the not-so-attractive molding)...
 

Entryway...
 

And while I was painting the walls I decided that we needed shelving by the kitchen table to help us stay organized and to keep clutter off the table so I painted an old black bookcase.  I used Ralph Lauren Basalt (VM121) which is a white color with just the slightest hint of blue. 
 

Then I stocked the shelves with items that we use everyday - those items that constantly end up on the kitchen table and have to be cleaned up before we can sit down to eat. 
 

Thus far, the shelves hold:
 

A basket for extra napkins,
 

votive candles for dinner, 

Chai tea bags and turbinado sugar for mom,

More candles and canning jars that we use for just about everything - from vases to candle holders to drinking cups to pencil holders. 

 

silverware for setting the table,
 

some plates and bowls,
 

notebooks and pencils (these never had a home and had to cleared off the table before nearly every meal),
 

must-read magazines,

 
And this vintage glass hen dish that I thrifted several weeks ago.  Because all these useful, practical, functional items were getting a bit too serious and this hen adds just the right amount of whimsy.

So there you have it - the "painted house in progress" tour.  I'll post more as I add pieces, paint anything else that holds still long enough, and otherwise decorate.  In the meantime, hope you find a way to add some whimsy to your days.

I didn't mean to be away this long in 50

"A moment's insight is sometimes worth a life's experience."  - Oliver Wendell Holmes

50.  I did not intend to be away from blogland for this long.

49.  I have missed all of you - a lot.

48.  I initially decided to stay off the computer for the last two weeks of the kiddos' school year.  I had taken on many volunteer and event planning duties at the school as well as a PTA Chair position.  I wanted to do a good job and have everything run smoothly for the kiddos and teachers. 

47.  Ezra was graduating from elementary school and I became very emotional at how quickly my kiddos are growing up so I volunteered some more.

46. I am officially the mama of a middle schooler.

45.  Once school ended, I was so excited to have my kiddos home I wanted to spend all my time with them.  I love taking in all they have to share.

44.  I also began questioning all the time that I spend on the computer.

43.  Our days were spent playing, laughing, cooking and eating.  

42.  When we were done we'd cook and eat once more.   These kiddos are hungry.

41.  We also walk the doggies together each morning, care for our chickens, feed the hungry kitty, and play with the guinea pigs.    

40.  Then we drive to swim team and Taekwondo lessons.  And cook and eat some more.

39.  After a while I couldn't even think of anything to post.

38.  My husband works long hours, including many nights and weekends, as an emergency room doctor at the country hospital near our home.  We always try to spend the days that he is home together.

37.  Soon my sewing space became too hot and I couldn't sit still long enough to get any knitting done.

36.  I began feeling antsy and in need of a creative outlet so I decided to paint the walls in my house white.  I have wanted to do this for a long time.

35.  The kiddos and I headed to Home Depot for paint and supplies.  We listened to music and applied blue tape to every bit of molding.

34.  Then I went on a lengthy quest for the perfect shade of white paint.  Samples were purchased.  Swatches were painted on the walls.

33.  Then it happened.  I found the perfect color white paint and spent several late nights with my husband painting the dining room, kitchen and entry hall - the living room is next.

32.  Around here any activity involving a glass of wine and time alone in the evenings is referred to as date night so the husband doesn't mind helping out.

31.  I will devote a post and photos to my newly painted spaces soon.  But for those of you who can't wait the color is Ralph Lauren's Pocket Watch White which can be color matched in Behr paint at Home Depot (more on this later).

30.  I finally had something to post about and wanted to return to blogland when the kiddos and I had to pack up for our trip to visit friends.

29.  My wonderful husband stayed home to work and take care of "the farm."

28.  Our chickens are eight weeks old now and we absolutely adore them.  We love to watch them spread their wings and fly.  And I love watching my children's faces as they watch the chickens.

27.  We ended up buying a coop instead of building one as I had planned.

26.  This took some "letting go" on my part as I really wanted us to build the coop together as a family.

25.  I wasn't quite sure about the message I was giving my children when the guy pulled up to our house with the completed coop on the back of his truck.

24.  But summer schedules are unpredictable and my husband had to pick up several extra shifts for a colleague. We explained to the kiddos that the chickens needed a home sooner than we could have it built.  And that dad had to work extra to help someone else out.  And that we would use the extra money that dad earned to pay for the pre-built coop.  Not the same as building it ourselves but a lesson was learned nonetheless.  

23.  I had intended to write that I have guilt that we are raising our kiddos so far away from grandparents and family - and that their dad works such long and crazy hours.  I want to be fully present for them and can't bring myself to spend time on the computer.

22.  But in all truthfulness, I love spending time with my kiddos.  They are very funny and say the most clever things and we laugh a lot.  Guilt or no guilt, I would rather spend time with my kiddos than anyone else.

21.  This year my kiddos are 11, 9 and almost 6.  They are smart, witty, independent, stubborn, caring and always hungry.  The good news is that they no longer require naps, diaper changes, sippy cups, or that mama carry a giant purse.  The bad news is that they are growing up so very quickly - two more years and I will have a teenager.

20.  Who was it that said that when it comes to raising children the days often pass too slowly while the years fly by so fast? 

19.   Plus my kiddos do not fight or argue when they have my full attention.  A definite bonus.

18.  I'm glad I took this much needed break from the computer.

17.  But I truly missed all of you - and all that you have been up to.  And I cannot wait to start checking in.

16.  I regret not posting a quick message letting you all know that I would be taking a break. 

15.  It's just that I never planned to be away for so long.  Many evenings I planned to write a post but with the days so long the kiddos were going to bed later and later.  And once they went to bed there was still laundry to fold and dishes to be washed...  And around 9:30 pm my husband would come home from work and I wanted to spend quality time with him.

14.  Yesterday was our 18th wedding anniversary.  My husband is my best friend and marrying him was the best decision I ever made.

13.  Finding balance is important. Finding time for myself is important.  Spending quality time with my family is important.

12. Visiting your blogs is important. I began blogging to share sewing and knitting ideas and to learn from what you all are making.  But I soon realized that I learned the most from the way you are living your lives, nurturing your families, and raising kiddos.

11.  I am a better person and a better mother because of you and all you share. 

10.  Once I made the decision to keep the computer turned off - because let's face it, a quick email check can easily lead to a full hour spent surfing the internet - not blogging was easy.  But I couldn't stop thinking about all the friends I had made and wonder what you were up to.

9.  My kiddos have told me that they are glad I was spending so much time with them rather than blogging - even though I always did most of my making and blogging after they were in bed.

8.  However when Abigail saw me walking around with the camera she asked me if I wanted to take her photograph for my blog.  Kiddos!

7.  Balance is everything! 

6.  I have chosen to continue my blogging  - and living a thoughtful life - because the connections and friendships I have made here are valuable to me. 

5.  While I was away I  gave a lot of thought to the things that are most important to me.  The top three are definitely my children, my marriage and my home. 

4.  My mother worked outside the home while I was growing up.  But I am so very fortunate to have the financial opportunity to stay home with my kiddos. I have the time to truly listen to my children.  To always look them in the eyes when they are speaking.  Include them in family discussions.  Let them know that I don't have all the answers and that I'm still learning and growing.  Laugh with them.  Tell them stories about  my childhood.  Get down on the floor and play with them - even if they are preteens.  Especially if they are preteens.  Read to them and listen intently when they read to me.  Turn off the TV.  If they are watching a movie, I watch with them - preferably while snuggling under a quilt.  Go outside with them.  Play sports together - I now have a pretty good bank shot.  I also insist that they go outside with me to walk the dogs or help care for the chickens.  I have the time to tell them how very much I love them and how lucky I am that I have them. 

3.  My marriage is very important to me.  It is the foundation on which our family is built.  And it is through this relationship that we model love, respect and commitment to our children.  Greg and I make it a point to make time for one another.   To play with our children together.  We do have disagreements and we are thoughtful to talk through them in a respectful manner.  Sometimes we raise our voices  and have to tell the children that people who love each other do not always agree on everything.  But that we will always love one another and we will always remain married.

Greg and I do not go on many dates because hiring a sitter and driving an hour to the city to go eat out is not my idea of a fun evening.  Instead we prefer to turn off and put away all our hobbies and distractions and create a special environment at home with yummy food, wine and a netflix movie that we watch while snuggling.  For the past several years we have designated several nights a week as date nights at home - we mark these days on the calendar at the start of each month so that there are no excuses. 

2.  I have given a lot of thought to my feelings about our home.  We are still in the starter home we purchased eleven years ago and there are many things about our house that I would love to change.  Starting with our teensy kitchen and the lack of a fireplace.  We are looking at houses on the market but nothing has felt quite right.  In the meantime, home is where we create most of our memories and I want it to be a warm, comfortable and tidy space.  If you've ever watched the HGTV show Designed to Sell, you've seen that people like their homes much more once all their stuff and clutter has been cleared out.  Well I've decided to make our house 'designed to live in'.  I've cleared out all the things that weren't getting much use, including furniture,  and organized all that is left.  Having less stuff means less time spent cleaning and more time for playing and making.

1.  Enough with all this thinking and explaining.  I'm off to play with my family - and to visit all your spaces.

In the meantime,

"Don't ask what the world needs.  Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it.  Because what the world needs is people who come alive."  Howard Thurman

noticing

"All there is to thinking is seeing something noticeable, which makes you see something you weren't noticing, which makes you see something that isn't even visible."  Leo Strauss

Noticing beauty in the ordinary....

 

noticing how much i love all the little stars lined up along the rim of the jelly jars that hold our silverware. 

noticing all the pollinating action on the azaleas.  

noticing that a nine patch quilt top would make an awesome rug on my floor.

noticing how keeping my dryer sheets in a pretty dish provides just the motivation i need to transfer the laundry into the dryer.

noticing that reading these books in bed each night has caused me to dream of painting every surface white.

 

noticing how many compliments I receive when i wear this dottie vintage bag created by Beki.  Jeans, white tee, gray scarf and this purse = very stylish.

Have a wonderful weekend! 

finding

Yesterday I drove the kiddos to school at 11:00 am.  Another delay due to all the snow on our windy dirt roads.   I have to say I'm starting to enjoy these delays. We hung out in our pajamas and I made pancakes and then we folded laundry.  No, your eyes are not deceiving you - i brought warm out-of-the-dryer laundry into the family room and my children began rummaging through it searching for a warm article of clothing to wear.  Soon they had all the laundry sorted and were folding their own clothes.  An unprecedented event around here - but one I wouldn't mind seeing repeated. 

On my way home from the school I went to the thrift store to drop off some donations.  I usually stop by the thrift store once or twice a month but i rarely find anything.   Well yesterday I hit the jackpot:

 

I found this butter dish.

And this pyrex bowl with lid.

 

And six embroidered handkerchiefs/napkins.  They are 18 inch squares so we'll use them for napkins.

Plus this tablecloth.  

Today I was so excited I set the table with all my new finds - at noon - even though my kiddos don't get home until 3 pm.  On Tuesdays we only have time for a quick snack before we head out to taekwondo and today leftover soup and cornbread were on the menu. 

 

Proving, yet again, that happiness is in the little things...

Welcome 2010

Welcome 2010! 

 

We welcome you with sweets.

 A few special gifts.

And a New Year's Tree. 

(Putting up a tree on New Year's Eve is a special tradition in our family.  My parents, and my husband's parents, grew up in the former Soviet Union where New Year's was the dominant winter holiday.   I have special childhood memories of going to pick out a tree the day after Christmas - often we got it for free! We have continued this tradition with our own children.  On New Year's Eve we decorate the tree and sip sparkling cider while remembering all that was special about the outgoing year - and all that we wish for the year to come.)

And speaking of things to come...

An organized sewing space.  (only half complete)

 
 

A generous stack of wool felt.

A brand new pair of applique scissors.

 

And some reproduction fabric I bought over a year ago. 

I found this stack while cleaning out my space the other day.  I bought it on line and was disappointed by the colors and patterns when it arrived.  But today, by the light and inspiration and promise of a new year I kinda like it.  Or maybe it's just that I can't wait to get back to my space to sew something - anything really.

On this first day of 2010 I wish each of you much love, good health, time spent with family and friends, and a wealth of making.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

'stay at home' mom?

It's after 2:00pm and I just walked through the door for the first time since I left at 8:20 this morning. 

Today I drove my kiddos to school and stayed to volunteer - I read with the first and second graders twice a week.  Then I pulled my three kiddos out to school and headed to the health department for H1N1 flu vaccines because none of the doctors around here have any.  To make a very long story short, we waited for 2 1/2 hours only to find out that they ran out of flu shots.  I then took my tired and hungry kiddos for fast food where a series of unfortunate events (yellow jacket invasion) created a situation where very little was eaten.  All three kiddos were happy to return to school and I stopped to pick up some groceries.  We will be doing all this again tomorrow morning when the next batch of flu shots arrives.  I want to be a stay at home mom who actually spends some time at home.  Really I just want some time to sew and knit - but you already knew that.

But it's not all flu shots and errands.  So many great things have been going on around here...

 

I've been knitting.  Thanks so much Jennifer, I love this wool.

  

'I've been decorating.  Lisa, you are so talented.  I love him!  Thank you so much.

I've been shopping.  I got all these yummy fabrics 50% off on sale from Pink Chalk Fabrics.  It's a great shop and Kathy Mack provides the best customer service! 

Plus, we had the best weekend.

We buried the kitty in a leaf pile.

He LOVED it!

Then we jumped in the pile ourselves. In our pajamas.

And no raking is complete without an impromptu game of quidditch.

We finished the morning off with corn for breakfast #2.

And we had just as much fun on Sunday. 

I feel so very blessed and I appreciate every single moment - "at home" or not!

When mom gets distracted

The nine year old boy who sleeps in this room desperately needs a duvet cover for this bright orange blanket.  At first, I wasn't in a hurry to cover it because he likes the color and frankly, I think the jolt of orange is kinda nice in his overly blue room.  Except that in a house full of kids, dogs, guinea pigs and now a new kitten this blanket is quickly becoming not-so-clean.  So with exactly 90 minutes to spare before I pick up Abigail at 11:30am I head for my sewing room and ...

become very distracted by the fabric that arrived just the other day.  Half yards of Amy Butler's Daisy Chain.

And on a whim and without a plan I cut these into 6.5 inch squares - because that is the size of my smallest square ruler - and begin piecing them on the diagonal.

I then arrange them in a classic log cabin pattern (I am aware that these are not log cabin blocks but these are much faster to make).  Here they are on my design wall - aka foam board covered with batting.  They are not yet sewn together and I am going to have to make lots more - this is only about 3 x 3 feet.  So far, I think I like how it's turning out. 

 

But no more time to sew or quilt today because Montessori preschool is ending and Abigail and I have lunch to eat, books to read, and castles to build.  So the boy who sleeps under the bright orange blanket will have to do so for a little bit longer while mom chooses his fabrics and sews a duvet.  More to come on Ezra's duvet and on progress of above quilt.