I’ve been doing a bit of stamp carving, but I’m not sure where this one’s going. Inspiration was from a vintage table cloth. I love the design, but not sure what to do with. My original thoughts was on a fabric in the kitchen, but I now I’m not sure what I crave to do with it. Hmmm?

This last week I’ve been doing a little sprucing up the house. Moving around the living room, changing colors, Dining area received a bit of rearranging as well.  But those were not the only spots. The kitchen in the doll house has a new little gem. The pink table.  Are you in agreement with me, it’s an Adorable little piece of furniture!  The girls painted house has been done for a while but it seemed to fit in the theme of the post. So, I shall share it with you.  I must tell you painting that cat house, was so freeing. Yes, it’s suppose to be a cat house, but I’m thinking not for ours, as his big tummy is not going to fit to well.  We have already tried…he needs a room addition.

Back to freeing….You should try it, grab something, anything, an old cereal box, mailing box, a piece of wood, rocks. What ever you have handy. Grab some bottles of paint, brushes, the kids are a must and paint. No rules, no ideas, no planning. Just dip and color. It was quite fun, all of us painting and giggling at the same time. I was only allowed to paint a small part. But I couldn’t resist adding the little flowers as well, in my February longing for spring blues. Which by the way, I saw a couple robins already. Us northern people watch for those little red breasted friends like there is no tomorrow. They are the usher to warm weather. Early birds this year, so I’m hoping they know something we don’t. But I’m not putting my sweaters away just yet.

The new school year is here and we are trying to settle into our new routine. Finding a little more structure than the free lazy day summers. So, here’s what we have been up to these past couple weeks..

Calming our minds and noticing the small details around us.

Crafting…..

Kids getting in on the crafting too..

Thinking of future ideas…

And the ever present cleaning…

You know how you have days that are not so great. Thinking it doesn’t seem to be getting any better as the hours tick by. Just waiting for the sun to set and try for a better tomorrow. And then something brightens you up, gives you inspiration, playfulness fills you again and it seems that today will be OK and tomorrow even better… Yesterday was one of those.

Company in the craft room to filled the hole that sadness had left. I was impatience about the unfinished walls. They just needed something, painted yes but till then a little something. I hung up some of my clipboards, along with vintage children record covers and old board games..Now, where did I put the rest of my stash to fill up the void spots??? It put a smile on my face to see it slowly come together. Then a little painting… representing my impatience to fly away to the destination I have in mind. Impatience was IF topic of the week, it all seemed to fit. Then these large face paintings we did that had everyone giddy with inspiration, eager to do more. Fun and Carefree. You really should try it. Think big! The stress of the day seeped from our fingers as the paint glided onto the paper. I will put that into my mental catalog of needed quick pick me ups, when the kids or myself are a little blue.

My thrifty husband does it again. He grabs what I need. A place to hang my keys. This actually was not placed on his “if you find” list. But just mentioned during a chat we where having. So he does listen, at least some of the time. While he has done great lately, he fails miserably in style department with this one.  Shhh…we won’t tell him. I don’t want to loose my main man in the treasure hunt.  I just laughed it off and shook my head at him. He only wishes I’d cover the walls in camo.  A redo was a must and I wanted the girls involved.  I gave them some ideas of what we could put on it. My oldest said it should be a crazy random piece. It would suit our personality the best. You have no idea how random I can be. The girls chose the fabrics, a few some what finished pieces of an unfinished project I had laying around, I help a little but they had the finally say. And…  a place to hang our keys. And just cost a quarter, the supplies used to spruce it up was things we already had laying around. Yeah for thrifty ways. Even daddy said he like the new one better…but only because it was made by his little girls.

The before, yeah you need say no more….I know.

My mom loved yellow houses. I grew up in a yellow house, when I was a teen we moved into a new house. My mom had yellow siding put on it as well. She said “yellow house are happy houses.”   I tried a yellow living room once. I guess I picked the wrong tone because in the evening light, it took on a weird lime green hue. Not good. I’ve sort been afraid to trust myself with yellow after that. But since getting this 50′s dining set, I’ve longed for a yellow kitchen. Not a soft butter yellow but a bright bold sunny day yellow. Clean and crisp feeling, Like the chairs themselves. I think it was in my subconscious for some time because I’ve noticed yellow has been popping up a lot around here. In little doses. I think I will head to paint store and gather a bundle of yellows. Sit and look and ponder which is the best choice. I’m not afraid of colors like I was when I was first married. I say “yellow kitchens are yummy kitchens.” 

The yellow shelf…free. Someone was throwing them away. One sits in my kitchen and the other in the craft room. I’m loving this summer!

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…..

I just couldn’t stay away from the paints. I still wanted to play around with them.  Especially after putting the last coat of paint on my studio floor. Yes, you heard that right. I love the sound of that …”studio”. My own place to play and to keep everything in one room. Finally!  I’m tickled.  Just Tickled, tickled, tickled. The ceiling still needs to be finished but that will have to wait.  We have been slowly moving things up little by little. Creating our own little crafty stop. I’m also lucky to be sharing it with my artsy sister. She is so much support, fun to be around, and a pleasant gal to spend any day knee deep in art supplies with.  She also came to my rescue today. My internet has been down for a while so she was a sweetie and brought her laptop that has wireless.  

Here are a few things that have been happening around here since I last blogged.

The normal, everyday stuff.

A trip out of town to visit family.  As we all loaded into the car, my 4 year old told me to cross the green bridge. We haven’t been there for almost a year and it’s a few hundred miles away. Surely she wouldn’t remember the color of a bridge?  What a memory! When the bridge came into view there was a happy squeal from the back of the van and “There it is, that green bridge. I told you it was green.”  Wish I had her memory.

A few warm days where the kids stretched their legs running and riding bikes. Gathering handfuls and pocketfuls of last years memories. Picking this years promises as the crocus bloom around the yard.

Thinking spring makes me think of lemonade.

This week seems to be all about painting here.  I was sitting at the table wanting to make something but nothing was really jumping out at me. So I did the best thing…ask a kid.  They are an endless bottle of ideas. A girl holding a balloon was recommended so this was the out come. I really like her. The grass and flowers need a little fixing but other than that I want to hang this on my wall.

Then this owl sketch was inspired by a mother goose illustration.  When I first saw it. I thought it was a bunch of owls. It’s actually a bunch of bagged cats. I can’t think of what mother goose rhyme was about  bags of cats. I’m trying to track down a copy of the old mother goose book that contains this peticular illustration.  The tour guide mentioned that mother goose stories are not received well by lots of mothers now days. Due to violence, the hard times and usually horror story behind them. Was wondering how you feel about them? Love them, leave them or do you change the wording?  Me, myself…I still love them.  Broken crown, cracked egg, nose taking birds and all.

I was wanting to post this earlier but with the seriously crazy flu we had and then a trip out of town. I didn’t get to last week. The kids ATC they made for the kids swap. I love how each shows a bit of there own individual personalities.

My sons humor showed the most.

Then of course give a 4 year old a pen and a few stickers and they could go at all day. My favorite of hers is the blue one. I love the square legs and arms that she has been drawing lately. Before that it was circle hands with long stick fingers. They looked a lot like spiders.

I think I’m going to put away the brush for a few days and pull out the sewing machine.  Heather Ross is having a design challenge over at her blog. A summer wardrobe challenge. I read it over at Erin’s blog, who is having Heather as a guess blogger in a few day. How exciting for you Erin! I’m all about refurbishing the wardrobe this year.  Making my own clothes is something I really want to try this year. Plus with the economy in the shape it is, what better way to save on cost than to take what you already have and redo it. Add a bit of fabric here, shorten the sleeves, add to the hem, change out the buttons.

Today feels like a great day. A good start to a week. Last week was filled with coughs, Popsicles, aches and a lot of sleep so that makes this week even happier. Only one lucky being in this house escaped it. It wasn’t me.  The sun looks like it’s going to make an appearance today despite the cold wind. I love the sunshine! And I’m thinking of warmer days can’t you tell.

I’m also excited about a trip to a Mazza Museum, the International Children’s Illustrator Museum we plan on taking in a few day. I do hope they let us take our cameras in. There will also be classes set up and the activities are for kids and moms a like. Can’t wait to find out what creative craft we are going to be doing. Here is a list of the mazza artists. This is also a good one to add to your favorites and browse all the amazing children book illustrators for future inspiration. I love childrens books!!!!

I heard it’s suppose to warm up this weekend. Yeah! Hopefully it will also warm up on the east coast for those who are covered once again in a huge blanket of snow. I also received a sweet package from Rebecca. We did a fat quarter swap that also turned out to be birthday presents. Our birthdays are just a couple weeks apart. A peak at the package I sent her is the above picture.

 Do you see that little package of 8 pins. They are handmade fabric covered pins! Rebecca and her friend made those. Very Cute!!! The fabrics are so fun too.

The apron she sent in the package is my birthstone color. Love it. 

This post is pretty scattered and randomly every where. isn’t it? (shrug shoulders)