Thank you Anna for letting me know about my blog being set on members only. I don’t want anyone to think I’ve gone into hiding with only a handful of friends.  How it happened I’m not sure but I’m so glad it’s fixed. Well, I think it’s fixed. I unchecked the members only option??? If your having any problems please email me and let me know.

Watching This. Seen it quite some time ago on Amanda’s blog but it’s worth revisiting.   Sparked my creative inner child. Making want to play and so I did…. The above picture is a self portrait. I’m a day dreamer. I’ll save what the kids are working on for another post.

Inspired by my kitchen chairs.

Inspired by watching a little bird pick seeds from the flowers weeds in my yard.

Hand sewing, well some hand sewing. My machine is still on a lame leg. I borrowed one from a sweet family member. It’s sews just fine but doesn’t handle quilting to well. Just when you think it’s doing great, the tension does this little crazy thing. So quilt tops sit undone. I was hoping I’d be able to take them to the craft show this weekend. So I’m trying not to get myself worked up about that and just have fun. And stick to small quilts. That’s where the hand sewing comes in. Along with the altered pouch. I’m finding myself liking it a lot more than I expected. There is something special in those little works of art.

Embracing Life…….

And Stay Silly…..

Hope you had a great weekend. We spent ours in the back, back yard. Gathering sticks for my daughter to make a child size horse farm. Imaginary play. She only needed sticks and string and the kids are coming today.  Come today. I tried to post this earlier but it wouldn’t. I usually forget to take my camera. This time I didn’t but the battery went dead on me so there was more I’d loved to have captured.  Bright blue bird, rare for around here. A nest a baby birds, painting face with orange rocks, wild flowers, kids climbing trees. Nature and all it’s wonders! 

I so can’t climb up this whole ladder and then try to look down. I don’t know how they do it.

Beautiful brook.

The kids favorite thing to do! Play in the creek.

One of my favorite plants..moss

Perfect for playing hide and seek. Imaginary fairy land. Or a woodland picnic.

A coyote den we found. Down under an old homestead that has long ago fallen down. Pretty gross.

New deer tracks.

Nature as it is.

This is the whole reason we bought this place with the fix it up house.  To enjoy these moments.

You haven’t been formally introduced to the girls. The kids named them. Missy, the super friendly one. I kid you not about that, just keep reading. Big Bertha, named because she lays a huge egg and we assume the double yolks are from her. Brownie because she is the darkest. And cakey, I guess my youngest thought it complimented Brownie. We can’t help but think of the unpleasant side of chickens. Cakey is also the most easily startled one, not to mention the most unattractive one. Her poor head has seen better days and the comb on top looks to have been smashed and flatted down to one side. Their previous owners said that one of the chickens took a ride on the bumper of the car for about 40+ miles. They didn’t have a clue about the extra passenger until they where back home. Walking around the car is when they seen the hen clutching to the bumper for dear life. Poor Gal! We just assume it was cakey and that’s the reason of the lay over comb…60 miles an hour wind will cause anyone to have a bad hair day. 

When they first arrived they were a bit poor looking and very scared. We took care of that, with letting the roam for bugs and such in the yard down my the barn, chicken feed and when they’re available vegetable and bread scraps. They have plumped up. Combs are bright red now and there feather look much better. The kids used the table scraps to make friends with them. The kids loved it. The chickens loved it…really loved it. That seems almost an understatement. Now when they see the kids they follow them around like puppies. Very comical, or at least it was.  The other day my daughter went down to the barn just to check on them. No scraps with her this time. I just so happen to be looking out the window when she came running around the side of the shed. A second later, a herd of chicken running right behind her. A very funny and unexpected sight to see. I hadn’t laughed that hard in a long time. She ran right into the house. That was a mistake. If you think chicken are completely dumb. I beg to differ. Because the next day. They were at our back door.  The day after that they were at the back door, seen the kids looking at them through a bedroom window which our grill is near by. She (Missy the ultra friendly) flew up on top of the grill and was looking in our window.  The kids pushed her off before I could get a picture. If given a chance and she thinks your holding scraps, up in your lap she will jump. We are so being stalked for wilted lettuces and cake crumbs. It’s just simply crazy! I’ve been trying to shoo them back down to the barn with a broom but it’s not working to well. As soon as I turn my back on them. There they are. The kids are only allowed to feed them scraps at the barn, not the yard or half way to the house. I’m hoping they take the hint along with a few more broom pushes. See what happens when you make friends with a chicken. 

Does your kids ever do the knock, knock jokes? Ever since my youngest one heard them, she repeats them over and over.  Well, repeats one joke over and over. I try to act like it’s funny but seriously after so many times well..even a fake laugh is hard to muster up. I’m sure you’ve heard this one….

Em:Knock, knock

Me: who’s there?

Em: Orange

Me: Orange who?

Em: Orange you glad to see me!

The quilt I’m working on was inspired by of course orange. I’m really liking the colors. The freshness of the white, orange and a little touch of green. It speaks to me like sunny days. The large orange blocks are made out of a vintage fabric. I’m excited to use it finally and feel good about the outcome of it. It’s always such a bummer to use vintage fabric and not be pleased with the end result.  Feels like a sad lose. A betrayal to the fabric print itself. And you can’t run to the store and pick up a couple more yards. It’s gone. This is not one of those times. This quilt is made with the requested measurements of my husband. He’s pretty tall so when laying on the couch after a long day he sometimes likes to cover up with a blanket. Throws are way to small. Cold Feet. Large blankets usually get drug into the living room. Then left in large heaps at the foot of the couch. On really cold days, a large quilt is a comfort. To snuggle up under the heavy weigh of someone hand work but not every day. So this one is made to cover you while you lay on the couch without all the extra bulk. I’m feeling pretty orangy or peachy today. Lame but had to say it.  

Orange less intense red. Yes!  Orange curtains? I did that a while back but after seeing this print and this one. They look so blah! They were made out of the same print as the small orange blocks in the quilt picture above. I’m wanting a bold new textiles and huge pops of color in the house. What I got now sort has me feeling the grape in sun effect. Not good! I’d love to have this peacock illustration in fabric. Can’t really tell if it’s red or orange? But I can see it as curtains. That would definitely add a little conversation in a room. Helen does some of the cutest illustrations and I just love her blog. I think my favorite part is how she embellishes the pictures. They can be quite comical.

This print. Found it on Etsy. Orange and blue always a nice combo.

I so so so love the smell of me or anyone near me peeling an orange. I think that might be one of my favorite things.    Yes, today I agree.

OK…I’m sounding like my daughter. Repeating. Wonder how many times I said Orange.

One daughter sits quietly working on her horse painting. One son sits quietly painting Pokemon type creatures and my other daughter wanting to paint but doesn’t want to sit! What to do? That’s when it hits me, a memory of a storied away item. Put away after my older two out grew it’s small size. Why haven’t I thought of it sooner. Perfect time, perfect solution and it all fell into place.  Every child should have one. The easel!  I pull it out, very thrilled that a roll of paper is still with it.  Her eyes hidden as I set it up. Adding a little suspense, drama and thrill of an old thing becoming new. The first words out of her mouth “Mom”. Spoken and drawled out as if I had been teasing her and she has caught on. Then a big beautiful smile. “Did you get that for me!”  The markers scribble away picture after picture, the whole alphabet practiced and then some more pictures. Here my son teachers her how to make the white spots on mushrooms. Finally our creative urges satisfied and a roll of paper gone. This is truly where most of my inspriation and ideas come from. Those little mouths and those little hands.

Number 9 was picked. Kristin that’s your comment. I’ll be emailing you shortly to get your mailing address. I do hope you enjoy the fun fabric package! 

If you’ve read a couple post below you’ll know I’m on a beautiful organized road. As much as I would have liked to get a daily organizer that looked like this or this one. It was a bit out of my budget. I opted for the plain one at a location store. It’s a simple black and has done me well these last couple months but it needs to say in a colorful voice. “Hello day, what adventure shall we embark on?” I wanted to keep it simple, a quick fix up. So I added a little fabric, a little ribbon, a little inspiration sayings. A cute paper clip too. A little beauty in the everyday things. When bill paying or doctor visits are on the schedule, I just flip to the front. “Smile” looks at me. Yes, smiling should always be included in everyday no matter what.

Fabric, fabric, fabric…can you ever have enough of it?  I don’t feel I’ll ever get tired of getting new threads to run my hands across. There is always room for a different print, different design, different texture. Whether I get it fresh from a store or lovely and worn from the thrift. It’s always a revolving thing. So as I mentioned earlier,  I’m cleaning off the shelves to make room for more. Plus a little give away here.  Celebrating clean starts and blooming spring.  Fabrics are up in the Etsy shop. That poor thing really hasn’t even been used much. I’ll be listing more fabric in the next day or so. Times like that I wish I had a faster than a speeding bullet computer. This busy month especially. I’ve taken a plunge and will be doing some craft shows this year. I’ll first be heading to Art Star Craft Bazaar in Philly at the end of May. I’m thrilled, excited and a bit nervous. If your there stop by and say Hi. I’m still waiting for for the announcement from the Ohio Art Council about another one here near home. Plus I’m thinking about a couple more that haven’t opened up their submit dates yet. I’ll be making some wall quilts, and couch quilts, embroidery patterns along with what ever tickles my fancy. Fun Stuff!  

OK..the give away. This is for a bundle of smaller fabric pieces. Variety of everything. Even part of a vintage embroidered dish towel. Not all of the fabric included are in the picture.

A little of a surprise when it arrives.

 One vintage piece looks to be part of an older garment. The poodle, umbrellas and rain print. I always thought I’d make something with it but well it sadly has just been sitting there.  Sorry about the wrinkles in that picture but ironing other than quilt pieces has not been high on my list lately. I even sent my one daughter to her friends house today with a very wrinkly shirt. (Bad mommy)  So I’ll leave this give away open till Monday. Leave your calling card, a hi in the comments. Good Luck and Have a most wonderful weekend. I’m hoping for a day without rain. The kids and I are wanting to have a picnic along with a little camera clicking in our woods.  Get all dressed up, barefoot, teacup, play among the spring trees.

Give away closed

This year has been about getting it together for me. A organized determination has been planted. I’ve set my mind to overcoming this procrastinating bug.  The balancing act doesn’t come natural or easy for me.  Always looking for tips, ideas from books and hearing what helps others. If you have any ideas, please share them with us!  The other day I asked a friend of mine who is an amazingly organized person. Always having it together to help me. I went to her house and said. “I’m your student, teach me.” I came away with some great things to think about. Ways of doing things that never entered my mind! Even came away with a weird sort of relief because I reached out and asked for help. That feeling I wasn’t expecting to happen.

It always felt like I was on a small raft trying to manoeuver the big rappids of life and they beat me everytime.  The rappids are still there and always will be as long as you breath but I feel I’m becoming able to hand them. I’m building a bigger boat. I have a paddle and Yes, I’m learing it use that tool!  It’s so exciting to me, overcoming a beast that has always got the better of me.  It probably sounds crazy to be so enthusiastic about this but to overcome a down fall, is something.  My beast has been procrastinating, organizing, the simple juggling act of life. What personal thing would you like to overcome?  Food, way of thinking, bad habit? We all have them.  I still have a ways to go before I feel like I’ve conquered it but the directions is right and looking bright. 

While flipping through some craft books at the fabric store, I came across  The Creative Entrepreneur: A DIY Visual Guidebook for Making Business Ideas Real.  While it is mainly aimed toward a creative business. More correctly aimed toward a creative person and business. I think it also makes a great resource for helping balance your creativity and structure. Making a complete smooth circle.  I’m naturally right brained, As a matter fact I am completely like what they described as one. They recommended forcing yourself to use left brain thinking. It takes work but not only does it strengthening that orgainzed logical side, like bulking up a lazy muscle. It will also improve the side that you naturally use.   That’s when it clicked for me and I had an Ah-Ha moment. Needing to make the bones of organization easy on the eyes. I’ve always been drawn to beautiful office supplies, handmade pencil holders, inspirational boards, etc.   I think we are all pretty much like that. If you really like it, you’ll use it. It doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy. Just something that speaks to us, makes you want to be around it, use it, encourage you. I started with the kids chores sheet. I had a simple one that I had bought at a learning store about a year ago. It worked Ok, but it was a store bought blah thing. Nothing enjoyable about that.  Last night I stitched a new one up. It’s not perfect but it’s happy, cute and makes me want to go to it.  I just hope the kids react the same.  There are still a few more job cards that I need to stitch up. One I need to fix. I embroidered cloth instead of clothes. I ran out of room before I noticed what I had done. White Velcro circles is what they attach to.  That way the kids just pull them off the top and add them below their names as the job is done.   Colors where choose for moods. White for simple, yellow for happy and a little red for energy.  Kids happy and eager to do their part in keeping house.  A mother can at least wish!  

The days are becoming warmer and it’s a relief to air out the house from all those winter months. It’s giving me an itch to spring cleaning. Clearing out closet, boxes, and drawers. Summer like weather was here last week, allowing us to enjoy the outside, walks in the woods, friends over, cook outs. Which by the way you must try a melted, gooey marshmallow in between an Oreo cookie. Yummy! This week it’s really rainy. Perfect for staying inside and scratching the “spring cleaning” itch I have. Thought I’d share of few of the cute things I found while digging, purging and re-enjoying forgot and lost treasures. A most comical fluffy bird with his wild feather-do. He found a perfect home on a small bird’s nest the kids brought in. Along with several bird feathers that have been collected while playing outside.

A game of domino’s. Vintage children’s picture domino’s. I’ve always found old domino pieces to be fascinating but these are wonderful. Bright colors and great illustrations. I guess some game playing has been happening in between those cleaning spurts, reorganizing books, putting away winter clothes.

I’ve also went through a lot of my fabrics. Removing them from the containers they once stayed in and stacking them on shelves. There’s a lot there that I will probably never use. I didn’t want to add them to shelves only to have them sit there and I hated to just put them back in a box to be forgotten. Some of them are great fabrics.  I plan to bundle some of them up and list them on etsy next week, maybe a give away here to celebrate spring cleaning. Fresh starts. Making new. blooming crafts.

And sharing a little with you. 
Hope everyone has a great weekend.