one growing, one waiting...

This is so much fun to make! Aside from the cutting up of the sheets. It goes quite fast too, which is nice. There has been a change as to where it's going to end up. Jaden has taken a liking to it and asked if he could have it in his room? I agreed and thought with the colors that are in it so far it would suit his room better than in the living room, which I think needs a more muted palete, but bright? Hmm I'll have to think about it..


This lovely stack of sheets is patiently waiting to be turned into a outside blanket for us. We really do need one. I found the pattern in soulemama's Handmade Home book. She just finished writing her third book, and I am eagerly awaiting to her what it is about!!

Oh and as a funny this note that bright pink peeking out just above the bottom stack off yellow sheets well I found it over here... scroll to the first picture, see that ball of sheet rolled up yup I found the same one at the thrift store! I just thought that was kinda cool. Oh and her rag rug is Beautiful!!!

Mother's Day.....

It's quiet here still, except for the sweet noises of this little one who will be soon, be turning 1. Who just so happens to be doing the exact same thing this morning...playing in the recycling

The beautiful music of Ingrid Michaelson is playing. A cup of coffee is being enjoyed, and the coo, a bit too cool breeze is blowing through the windows, and actually it is so cool I am in long pants my favorite slippers (that I thought would have found their way into my closet by now) and a sweatshirt. Mostly because it is that cold.. 47 degrees I believe (730am) and partly because I am refusing to close the windows.

Daddy and the kids are still sleeping and while it does seem a bit backwords for me to be up so early and them to be sleeping on Mother's day and all, but I am really not one for sleeping in anymore. I have grown to enjoy, even love my early mornings, I love the quiet stillness of the house, I love noticing how the rooms change with color as the sun rises. I love watching Eliza (who is almost always up with me) move about the house in her own little world discovering new things. Always popping back into the kitchen to see me and give me a quick smile or giggle or touch, like she's checking with me.

This cute, happy little creature was discovered by Jaden, a baby grasshopper perhaps? We are not entirely sure....He looks as if he is raising his antennae at me as we would raise an eyebrow....


As I fell asleep last night with Jaden and Annie snuggled next to me, I couldn't help but feel blessed and so thankful they chose me to be their Mama.


On this Mother's day I also think of my own Moma, who surrendered herself at such a young age, who gave up so much of her own self, to be the best mama she could be.

Happy Mother's Day!!


and lastly this too is making me happy, balls of torn of thrifted sheets.....
being made into a rag rug....for a living room in dire need of a soft spot to sit on.....

Balloons, tape and toilet paper tubes...

Becomes this:

Add newspaper with a paste of flour, water and salt and your get....


This:

A DINOSAUR... pretty cool!

Jaden had to construct a 2D/3D dinosaur for a school project. He instantly knew he wanted to make it with papermache. He did most of it, I helped with the foundation and Jamie's friend Matt helped him with the paste and paper part. Then we all painted it. It was a lot of fun and with a jar of paste leftover and needing to be used up within the week we are brainstorming ideas of what else to make?

A few bits...

Stock cooking on the stove... no recipe here, just the bones of a chicken with the liver, neck and heart thrown in. I then added water, salt, pepper, and other seasonings. I then cut up carrots, leeks, a shallot, an onion, garlic, and kale. It then simmered on the stove all day, I often would leave the house just to walk back in to deeply inhale the aroma! I like to pour the stock into ice cubes and freeze them, then pull them out as I need them.
this bubbly concoction is a gardeners soap. This is really lovely, Annie and I tried right away although our hands were not dirty, but it left a nice softness to them. I like the olive oil sugar moisturizer too...hmm I should stash this away for some potential christmas gifts!


This here is Annie's latest new love..a mailbox. She decided she wanted to write some letters to her dad and brother and when asked if she could put a stamp on them and mail them, I suggested we make a mailbox here for them to go in. I am not sure how that would work sending mail to your house from your house? Hmm? But the idea pleased her and she instantly filled it with mail for the boys who are gone during the day. She was so very excited when they came home today so she could give them their mail.

Stock, soap and mail. A good day!

we're outta here!!!

We are headed to the warm state of Florida to spend Thanksgiving with my Mom. My sister and grandparents will also be there. I am so excited!! A whole week with the family!!

For some reason I got this urge to sew yesterday. Something I have been wanting to do but just haven't been able to get my brain together to make something. Well as I was fingering through the pages of this book yesterday and happened upon her Treasure bags. I just knew I HAD to make them. They would be perfect as small airplane bags for the kids then serve double duty as there treasure bags while on the beach.

Basically its a bag made from window screens or mesh. The idea is to repurpose used materials and that was the plan as Jay had some screens at his shop at work but as today dwindled and the chance of him getting out there became nill and my NEED to make these two bags was very apparent, because we are going to Florida and the beach near my Moma's house is FILLED with shark's teeth and shells and all sorts of lovely things to collect. Which is just what these bags are for hence them being made with screens to filter out the sand and dirt, and they also needed there own little bag for the plane to carry the things that are going to try and keep then calm and quiet and the people around us happy. So my dear husband went to the local hardward store and got us a roll of screen which isn't exactly repurposing materials but I do plan on making more of these super fun, easy to make bags.

The book by the way is just lovely! We've made a couple of the paper mache bowls and I have intentions of making two of the towel mats but turning one into a dish drying mat. I have already started collecting fabric for the beach blanket, which will most likely end up as our daily picnic blanket when it gets warm. Since we don't really go to the beach.

Happy Thanksgiving!!