In progress

How often do people show pics while the decorating is in progress?   I thought of waiting until it was all done but then decided .... Nah.  This is how I work decorating into real life.  Why not share?   

Aren't the colors fun???

More to come. 

Valentine's bunting

I have been wanting to make some bunting for quite a while.  I got into my pink fabric stash and got it done. I just love the way it turned out --it's fun and colorful. Bonus: I got it done in one sewing session!  

Summer

This blogging thing. I like it...when I get around to it. After two summers of this, and lack of summer posting, I think it's fair that I will state - no more summer blogging. Summer is a time for swimming, sunning, sipping iced tea, boating, splashing, afternoon naps, sunscreen, swinging, sunset watching, traveling, diving, body-surfing....and that's exactly what we did this summer. A LOT of it.

Looking at my family summer pictures, and knowing school has started, I can't believe summer is just about over! And, to think, that at the end of it, I was wishing for just a boring weekend at home. Was I crazy?

I did some sewing and lots of picture taking. Yeah...that whole picture taking process is still "in process" - ALL summer pictures are still on the memory cards! I guess my process got messed up this summer now that I have two cameras that I have alternated in between.

With fall coming in close, and some of the rains that we have gotten towards the end of summer, my sites are set on yard things (weeding, putting in a new flower garden, ensuring the plants planted in spring hang on till winter) and Halloween!

I still need to sew. I need to finish the same list I posted about in spring. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? I lost the desire to finish - thanks a lot summer. You were the ultimate distraction, and I loved every minute of it.

Introducing…

Mrs. Owly.

   

Whooooo?  You say? 

My oldest, who loves to create, loves this owl from Pottery Barn Kids (which I LOVE!).  She just kept going on and on over how cute he was.  I suggested we try to make our own owl, since she loved to create things.

I had her start with an inspiration drawing. This was her first attempt.  It’s the first time I’ve seen her draw an owl…I was impressed.

 

I had her refine it by just drawing an owl.  I had her color it in so I would know how many fabrics to use.

We made a pattern using freezer paper.  It was awesome because you can iron on the freezer paper to the fabric and cut it out without using pins!  She is a young 6 years old, so I thought it would be great for her to try cutting out the pieces from the fabric that way.  It worked awesome and she got such a kick out of it!

She went through my stash and picked out all the fabrics she wanted to use.  I tried to let her pick on her own – so she could figure out what things she thought “went together” – like a true designer.

We fussy cut some fabrics for the eyes, nose, and eyelashes.  I had her go through my scraps to find a piece for a mouth and cut it how she wanted.  We used Steam A Seam to apply the fabric, which I let her do with the iron (also her first time ironing).  She thought it was so amazing how the Steam a Seam worked to stick together fabrics – much like glue on pieces of paper. 

We also put a little applique on the belly – again fussy cutting some scraps.  I also free-motion stitched around all the appliques to help the fabrics stay on for years to come.

And, hence, we brought to life Mrs. Owly.  Mrs. Owly who has been in her arms every possible moment.  It’s amazing how well this owl flies…I am pretty sure it flies better than a real owl (even though it’s wings are teeny tiny for it’s long body).

In the end, this was a fun project to do with a child who likes to make things.  She found it amazing how she MADE this – all from her own drawing.  She enjoyed getting her hands involved in the whole process – specifically stuffing it.  I love that she loves the end product, enjoyed the process, and in the end we have a handmade, homemade piece of art that looks just like SHE wanted it to look.

Strawberry Yogurt Cake

Hand picked strawberries.  Picked by the family.

Strawberries hulled by Hubby.

Cake made by me and kids.

Yummy. 

Almost done

I just need to bind it.

Isn’t it great?

I think I am holding on to this one….waiting for someone to have a baby girl…someone close to me…so I can see it in use…I wonder how long I will be waiting on this one?  :)

Love you, you know who.  That goes to more than 1 person.

My Spring Garden

Spring is my favorite season.  I love the way that the world comes to life with pops of color.  You can tell by all the color in my garden in spring.  

This was a volunteer in my garden.  Last year I got some Lily of the Valley from Grandma Connie and I planted it sporadically under the crape myrtle.  They bloomed, but had some damage thanks to Morgan.  (I planted them in her “path” as Kenny says, so what did I expect?)  Well, this appeared among them.  Surprise.

I had no idea what they were, but thanks to my dear friend Dawn, I can now call them by their name…Columbine!  They are really a neat plant.  The leafs, the tall blooming flower.  I hope they come back again next year.

The first buds of my hydrangea.  I have been waiting for 3 years for one of my hydrangea to bloom.  I need to take a picture of the blooms.  They are amazing.

  

Spirea.  They have no scent, but I had to take the picture.  I only have 1 of this variety.  I want more and I don’t know the name!  I have tried to propagate it by sticking a brick on a limb to see if it will root out.  No luck yet.  I might try to take a cutting later this year…

Peony.  Need I say more.  Can you smell it?  They are enchanting.  They are my favorite.

Summer blooms coming up:  Coneflower, Black-eyed susan, Sedum, Day lillies, hydrangea, crape myrtle, joe pye weed

On my wish list: 

• More hydrangea.  Lots more.  Mopheads, lacecaps, and event oakleaf!
• Butterfly bush
• Tall Phlox (pink)
• Delphinum
• Liriope (solid green with purple flower)