...so there's a whole bunch of posts that i have, and it seems the more i have to post about, the less likely i am to actually sit down and start posting. it seems i'm not the only one, though - several other blogs i visit seem to be the same way, which makes me feel just a little bit better about the lack of posting.
so i thought i'd attempt to get past my bloggers block, which reminds me of writer's block, and start with something easy. i'm hoping to post about easter basket goodies, and a little bit of a certain little boy's birthday presents and crafting i did (and also what i didn't quite get to), and go from there.... so, right now, i'm
photographing :: blooming azelas, this month's One Word Project photo
listening to :: Time after time by Eva Cassidy, Blackbird by Sarah McLaughlan (this is one of the lullabye's i've always sung to Ben, and i love that he now tries to sing along with me), Speaking of Faith podcasts
reading :: Living Simply with Children: A voluntary simplicity guide by Marie Sherlock, Seeking Peace: Chronicles of the worst Buddhist in the world by Mary Bray Pipher
eating :: leftover baby shower cake
creating :: colored pencil roll from Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts
doing :: planting our garden
enjoying :: spring weather, eating dinner outdoors
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
stitching update...
...over the past few months, i had two different stitching projects going on. one, a gift for my sister-in-law for the holidays. i had thought about something which incorporated an Irish saying, as my in-laws are very Irish, and my sister-in-law has been to Ireland (and loved it). i finally settled on a wild rose design - she has a variety of beautiful, framed photographs of flowers she's taken around her home.
i must admit i didn't quite finish it in time for christmas. between feeling under the weather, packing, and traveling in December, i wasn't able to complete the outlining for the flowers and leaves. just a bit more to go. i've set it aside for now, and will bring it back out in November to finish up for next christmas. i was a little disappointed not to finish it when coming so close, but i'm sure she'll enjoy it just as much next year as she would have this past year.
the other stitching project, which i've been working on, sporadically, for the past year, is coming along - i can almost see the light at the end of this project. i put it aside in mid-summer to get started on the wild rose project, and then picked it back up in January in hopes of finishing it in time for spring. i think i'll make it...
i've realized that stitching is something i do rather inconsistently - starting and stopping projects which don't have a deadline. i think it's because it's typically such a time-consuming, slow-to-show progress type of project. and of course there's lots of other projects to work on, and books to read, etc...
i will finish this project soon, though (and i'll repeat this to myself again and again). if for no other reason than i've got several other stitching projects i'd like to start in on.
i must admit i didn't quite finish it in time for christmas. between feeling under the weather, packing, and traveling in December, i wasn't able to complete the outlining for the flowers and leaves. just a bit more to go. i've set it aside for now, and will bring it back out in November to finish up for next christmas. i was a little disappointed not to finish it when coming so close, but i'm sure she'll enjoy it just as much next year as she would have this past year.
the other stitching project, which i've been working on, sporadically, for the past year, is coming along - i can almost see the light at the end of this project. i put it aside in mid-summer to get started on the wild rose project, and then picked it back up in January in hopes of finishing it in time for spring. i think i'll make it...
i've realized that stitching is something i do rather inconsistently - starting and stopping projects which don't have a deadline. i think it's because it's typically such a time-consuming, slow-to-show progress type of project. and of course there's lots of other projects to work on, and books to read, etc...
i will finish this project soon, though (and i'll repeat this to myself again and again). if for no other reason than i've got several other stitching projects i'd like to start in on.
Friday, February 13, 2009
flannel pj pants...
(a catch up post)
...with cold weather approaching, it semed like time for some new pajama pants. i'd been wanting to try making pants, and after finding an easy Simplicity pattern (#3584) and some cute elephant flannel, i decided to give it a try.
turns out, making pants is really quick, and easy. i used the pattern, along with a pair of ben's pants as a measurement guide, and was able to sew up a pair, elastic waistband and all, in less than 20 minutes. he was delighted with his new "jammy pants", and on the next trip to the fabric store, i let him pick out two more pieces of flannel.
a little bit more sewing, and we were all set for the fall and winter...
...with cold weather approaching, it semed like time for some new pajama pants. i'd been wanting to try making pants, and after finding an easy Simplicity pattern (#3584) and some cute elephant flannel, i decided to give it a try.
turns out, making pants is really quick, and easy. i used the pattern, along with a pair of ben's pants as a measurement guide, and was able to sew up a pair, elastic waistband and all, in less than 20 minutes. he was delighted with his new "jammy pants", and on the next trip to the fabric store, i let him pick out two more pieces of flannel.
a little bit more sewing, and we were all set for the fall and winter...
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Caps to Cap-Haitien...
(a catch-up post)
...a Mama To Mama project, organized by the ever-inspiring Amanda. when i read about this project, and the idea of Mama To Mama, i was thrilled, and couldn't wait to get started.
i salvaged a few tees that were in the Goodwill donation box, and then made a stop at a local thrift store on their 1/2 price day, which helped me gather together a few more shirts (almost all of which i paid 50 cents for).
the project moved right along - i didn't commit a large amount of time to this on a particular day, but rather did some cutting, pinning, and sewing whenever i had a few spare minutes - the nature of the project worked really well for quick crafting whenever there was time.
over the course of a week, i ended up with enough shirt material to make a total of 32 hats. it felt so good to package them up, and mail them out to Amanda... i think i smiled the whole time i waited in line at the post office.
what i loved most about this project was that while making the hats, i found my mind occupied with what life is like for mother's in third-world countries. the focus they must have on making sure their children have the most basic of necessities - food, shelter, safety. such a contrast to what seems to be the focus of many parents in America, and other first-world countries. yet the common thread between those that have much, and those that have little is that we all want the same basic things for our children.
there are lots of other craftivism links on the Mama to Mama site. when making a recent donation at the thrift store, i picked up a few pillow cases, and am hoping to start on some Little Dresses For Africa soon. and of course i can't wait for the next Mama to Mama project.
...a Mama To Mama project, organized by the ever-inspiring Amanda. when i read about this project, and the idea of Mama To Mama, i was thrilled, and couldn't wait to get started.
i salvaged a few tees that were in the Goodwill donation box, and then made a stop at a local thrift store on their 1/2 price day, which helped me gather together a few more shirts (almost all of which i paid 50 cents for).
the project moved right along - i didn't commit a large amount of time to this on a particular day, but rather did some cutting, pinning, and sewing whenever i had a few spare minutes - the nature of the project worked really well for quick crafting whenever there was time.
over the course of a week, i ended up with enough shirt material to make a total of 32 hats. it felt so good to package them up, and mail them out to Amanda... i think i smiled the whole time i waited in line at the post office.
what i loved most about this project was that while making the hats, i found my mind occupied with what life is like for mother's in third-world countries. the focus they must have on making sure their children have the most basic of necessities - food, shelter, safety. such a contrast to what seems to be the focus of many parents in America, and other first-world countries. yet the common thread between those that have much, and those that have little is that we all want the same basic things for our children.
there are lots of other craftivism links on the Mama to Mama site. when making a recent donation at the thrift store, i picked up a few pillow cases, and am hoping to start on some Little Dresses For Africa soon. and of course i can't wait for the next Mama to Mama project.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
a (very!) long break...
...i've been gone from this space for what feels like forever. when i looked at my last post from election day, i realized it had been almost 3 months. 3 months! feels like it went by so fast, yet of course there's been lots that's gone on. crafting, both for the holidays, and in general, lots of organizing around the home, some serious evaluations of what we need, and what can be donated or given to a new home (it feels really good to clear out the clutter that seems to creep in despite our best efforts), and of course holiday celebrations and visits with family.
mostly, though, i've been reading in my free time. while i'm always reading something, it seems like i've been going through books at a much faster rate than usual. some of my recent favorites include this, this, this, and this
i have some "catch up" posts - really quick flannel pj pants, and my contribution to the mama to mama
Caps to Cap-Haitien Project
and of course there are lots of new projects (and of course those i'm forever planning to finish up)... i've finally gotten my crafting space, which had a small move, back into working order. just in time - lots of upcoming births that require a little something handmade.
mostly, though, i've been reading in my free time. while i'm always reading something, it seems like i've been going through books at a much faster rate than usual. some of my recent favorites include this, this, this, and this
i have some "catch up" posts - really quick flannel pj pants, and my contribution to the mama to mama
Caps to Cap-Haitien Project
and of course there are lots of new projects (and of course those i'm forever planning to finish up)... i've finally gotten my crafting space, which had a small move, back into working order. just in time - lots of upcoming births that require a little something handmade.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Unplugged Challenge : Flag & some favorite election reads...
...we hadn't participated in an unplugged challenge in a few weeks, but with this week's challenge of flag, and some new (and newly organized) craft supplies, i decided a simple stamp and sponge-painting flag would be an easy approach to this week's theme.
ben is a bit young yet to understand about the symbolism and meaning of the flag, or the concept of the election, but we picked up some new-to-us books at the library that relate to this election season
pictured : the little big book of america, our white house: looking in looking out, america: a patriotic primer, and independent dames
i'll be adding all of these to my library, and i'm looking forward to sharing them with ben in coming years.
i'm looking forward to the end of election season, and hoping so very much that Obama is our 44th president... aside from all the reasons why i'm voting for him, i am thrilled that my child is born in a time when a black man is able to run for president. what a long way we've come from the 1950's and 1960's!
ben is a bit young yet to understand about the symbolism and meaning of the flag, or the concept of the election, but we picked up some new-to-us books at the library that relate to this election season
pictured : the little big book of america, our white house: looking in looking out, america: a patriotic primer, and independent dames
i'll be adding all of these to my library, and i'm looking forward to sharing them with ben in coming years.
i'm looking forward to the end of election season, and hoping so very much that Obama is our 44th president... aside from all the reasons why i'm voting for him, i am thrilled that my child is born in a time when a black man is able to run for president. what a long way we've come from the 1950's and 1960's!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
right now...
...i'm
reading :: the zookeeper's wife
baking :: rugelach
doing :: raking leaves & acorns
watching :: the red violin, pre-election coverage
listening to :: npr's fresh air podcasts
creating :: a small quilt, pajama pants for ben
enjoying :: a big stack of new books & lots of creative, collaborative projects at work
photographing :: the changing leaves & beautiful fall colors
drinking :: tazo chai tea
hoping :: for a president obama
reading :: the zookeeper's wife
baking :: rugelach
doing :: raking leaves & acorns
watching :: the red violin, pre-election coverage
listening to :: npr's fresh air podcasts
creating :: a small quilt, pajama pants for ben
enjoying :: a big stack of new books & lots of creative, collaborative projects at work
photographing :: the changing leaves & beautiful fall colors
drinking :: tazo chai tea
hoping :: for a president obama
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