Did you know that a four toed dinosaur is a  plant eater and 3 toed is a meat eater?
I didn’t either, until she told me. Amazing what they learn on their own.

We have a blue eyed Blondie who loves pink & purple. All the girly stuff for her..except one thing. She loves lizards, dragons, worms, turtles and dinosaurs. It’s really quite funny.
So, I decided to start her a bag. Theme bag. Filling it with books, puzzles, games and such. All easy to grab and go. All in one place. The bags has some fun silly flowers on it, of course a Brachiosaurus was needed to complete it. That being a long neck with a bump on it’s head. One of her favorites.
See thinks it’s placed on the bag just perfect, eating the flowers. They have four toes by the way. Wonder if those were the ones that Fred Flintstone used at work?

Shout out to all you that are knee deep in snow.

A bit of cabin fever has set in. We were thinking of things to do and decided to make labels and tags for some of our baskets. You know the ones that are meant for one thing but end up with an array of items, turning into a “junk drawer” sort of basket.  The kids set to work, coloring and designing tags.  Getting organized and they don’t even know it. A sneaky mom.

Making these tags gave me an idea. Something most of you might have already found out, they are really cute! And a very ideal and useful project. You’d thought I discovered the wheel how excited I was about placing these around the house. So I got to work and made a few of my own.

Little labels for my flour and sugar jars. Don’t look to close, these are used quite often. All this lead to a lot of work. (not, really) and we were so famished that cookie making was needed.

Now baking cookies is great, but with it being so cold outside we needed warmth. Hot cocoa to go with it.

And what better way to eat hot fresh chocolate chip cookies with warm cocoa?  Eating them in an apron that was made all by one’s wee little self.  She did need a little help with the peddle. She sat on my lap moving the fabric while I pushed the sewing machine peddle for her. It will be a few more years before she can reach, till then we are partners on the machine.

What are you guys doing to pass the beautiful snow days away?

I love it when things just seem to come together. Line up and fit like a puzzle working itself.  It all started with tee pee talk.  Then a totem idea was added into the future village idea. A handy husband with his chain saw. Of course, that all required a search for a few promising fallen logs.  While looking around we come upon a place where the last storm had flooded the creek, washing out part of the field, leaving rocks of every shade. In pink, green, blue, white and speckled multi-colors. What started out as an Indian theme trip, turned into a rock excavating site. We dug, we ohhh, and ahh. Every little bit the kids jumping up and showing the new treasure that they had uncovered. Every little bit, I jumped up sharing what I found. A new found hobby blossomed right in front of them. Hoping a rock tumbler will be in our near future. Indian day forgotten. Or so I thought until hidden among pretty stones was flint and arrow heads. I guess the Indian study was just beginning. We brought back our pockets full of earth. The rest of the evening was spent washing and admiring. Planning more trips. One being to a historical Indian Earthworks site. Another back for another dig in hopes of a few more arrow heads. Craft idea that included kids making head dresses, corn silk dolls, handmade tools and music. While the arrow head, or at least what was left of the arrowheads was the main thrill. I was excited to see the kids curious about the rocks, what they were, what was rare, what was special? Where did they come from was just a few of the questions. Earlier in the school year we had come across a mineral curriculum. The kids had no desire to study. “We already know this mom.” was said with a bit of eye rolling. So, a quick refresh of the subject and we moved on. Book and ideas put away, the time was not right and that was fine with me.  I’ve pulled out those undesired books and ideas once again, this time they were welcomed open armed from my little rock hounds and with eager minds. This is how it should be. This is what gives me joy. When the time is right, it all clicks and unfolds before us like sun rising to begin another day.

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.

Yesterday zipped by without much creating from me. It seemed when the house grew still and became quiet as everyone was tucked in the warm beds. I wanted to create and I knew what was needed. The little Easter duck.  Sewing him up late could be the reason for this slightly turned head where I didn’t get the pieces lined up but then I think it give him character.  Makes him look curious like the little girl that he will soon be with. 

The sun is shinning so bright and warming up nicely outside. Our dog keeps wanting to lay on the porch steps where he can gather the rays. I sat out there for a few minutes myself and can see why he enjoys it. Very soothing in the heat as the birds chirp away, gathering sticks and strings for their spring nest. And to think it was below freezing and snowing just a day or so ago. I think an outside adventure needs to be put on our “to-do” list today.  I know the book “I love dirt” has been out for sometime but this is my first time looking through it.  As much as my kids love to get all muddy and dirty when outside you would have thought they wrote the book. I think some of the ideas will be right up their alley. While we are outside maybe we will pick more flowers to dye as these have seen their last days. 

Give away is now closed. Congrats to the winners.

Thanks to Melissa B at Penguin Publishing, I have a wonderful new Softie craft book to give a way to one lucky winner. I promise you that you’ll love this book. It’s actually one of the cutest plush pattern books I’ve seen. One pattern inpeticular struck my heart. A little happy henny House. I’d love to do a whole row of them for my blog banner.  There was several others that I wanted to try but with longing for spring I couldn’t resist a little beetle bug. Some of the talented crafters featured in the book are, Nest Studio, while she naps, Hop Skip Jump, Bonspiel, Hatch and these are just to name a few.    

Today is my birthday so why not celebrate with all of you. It’s a blessing to have another year to see the sun rise, hug and kiss my children, to feel my head hit the pillow with exhaustion from a busy day. Those are just a few things that I’m so thankful for.

Gifts are not honestly needed but who can resist pulling a beautiful wrapped box open to reveal a wonderful little treat?  So whether you are celebrating a birthday or an unbirthday.  Everyone that writes a comment on this post will be entered. And since I just couldn’t give away one things, there will be 3 winners. Yeap, three of you will be lucky little beings. One winner gets the book and 2 winners for a softie. One will win the spring beetle bug…..

And one will win a “I heart Home” house….

Just a quick little note I thought I’d add.. This book was published in Australia earlier but this is the first American edition just out this month! And I will be leaving this give away open till the weekend. Good Luck!

I think spring is just around the corner. We haven’t seen any robins yet but we have seen a lot of cardinals and bird that seem to be in a loving mood. Yeah, I really hope spring is around the corner soon.

These are my ugly ducklings. I don’t think they have much of a chance as most birds do. No beauty in their future. I do however have something that is very cute and I think you guys are really going to like it. Actually a couple cute things.  A new craft book give away along with a couple softies. Just in time to celebrate my birthday.

Here’s a sneak peek at one of them.  See you tomorrow.

There hasn’t been much crafting going on these last few days. We have been busy with summer fun and going to camp. But I have hit a few good yard sales. I haven’t shared any of my thrifted finds in a long time so here are a few things that have found a new home with me.

An old handmade teddy bear. He cost me next to nothing but I love him, rough, uneven hand stitches and all.

And old leather purse. I just couldn’t't pass it up.

A box full of vintage children books. The ones from the 1950 & 1960′s are my favorite.

And then this bed side reading lamp which I think is just lovely. I have always wanted one. All it needs is a little cleaning up.

I hold the smooth textured cover of the new Artful BloggingAutumn 2008 issue between my hands.  I feel almost like I have fallen down a rabbit hole. And like Alice who ate the cracker and sipped the drink. One minute I feel so excited, I’m for sure my head will hit the ceiling and the next so humbled and low that I’m sure I will be tread under foot.  I am so floored and elated at the same time to be among these pages with so many other bloggers, creators, mothers and artists. And there is some AMAZING women in this issue.  I would never had thought that my blogging experience would have taken me down this winding paths that it has.  I have to admit when the editor contacted me to see if I would be interested in sending in a submission. My first thoughts were me? and then ME???  However, I bashed down that inner critic and embraced the joy of a new adventure. I can’t wait to see what’s around the next corner. What new friendships will be formed or what new craft adventure will be embarked upon.

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

 

Ours was full of fire works.

The all time favorite summer event of catching lighting bugs, in which my youngest keeps trying to convince me that she need to let them loose in her bedroom. That way they will make her room all sparkly at night. 

And making and playing around on some home made stilts.  

I also found out that we sadly knew most of the words in this newfangled book. L is for LollyGag. The graphics on the cover is what first prompted me to pick it up and it’s actually fun to have around. My husband must have a clever tongue as he uses Several of them on a regular basis.  He’s been the one remodeling my craft room, and anyone who has remodeled knows it’s hard to get things just square in which my husband would say. “It’s all kittiewampus” or “it’s being cantankerous” or even “discombobulted”   A few words that he uses that were not in the book are “I’ve caught the collarmobus” or “You’ve come down with the epizoodee”  Sometime it’s sounds like gobbledygook to me and I end up being flummoxed during the conversation. But I won’t hornswoggle him out of his fun.