Ready or not, here I come!

Pinterest is just the sort of site for me.  I keep paper inspiration journals with all sorts of ideas gleaned from magazines, binders full of clipped recipes, and notes on my phone of the various websites I want to visit or apps I want to check out.  But the truth is, Pinterest seems taboo and I have purposely stayed as far away as possible.  Oh, I've peeked at it a time or two and almost felt guilty or naughty doing so.  It's the sort of thing I could loose myself in and spend more time finding and pinning ideas than actually executing (making, baking, sewing, trying) those ideas!  But the time has come my friends - time to embrace Pinterest and practice some self-discipline when it comes time to set aside technology and get my hands dirty with a project.  So here I go - with whatever nap time is left, I am off to create some boards on Pinterest.  Wish me luck!  Maybe I'll see you around as I'm looking for fun stuff to pin.  ~J.
P.S.  If you haven't checked out Houzz, you should.  They have a website and an iPhone app.  Addictive!  I've had an ideabook going in Houzz for a while...maybe that's why I have courage to step into the land of Pinterest!  So many great ideas, so little time...

Redefining

I'm not hopeful I'll get this entry completed, but I'm writing anyway.  I process life verbally, and the opportunity to do so lately has been limited, so I'm feeling the need to BLOG about life even though little bitty boy will be awake from his morning nap soon.  He's 9 months old in a couple of days, inch-worming across the floor and eating solid foods, so I guess I can't really call him little bitty much longer!

I think I can describe what I'm trying to process by saying I sense the dawning of redefinition in my life.  I've been here before - crawling out of the cocoon that I seem to sink into while my babies are infants.  The cocoon is a warm, cozy place where I dwell with my little bitties and my husband while we figure out what it means to us to be a family of 4.  It's a place where everything is muted and a little surreal.  Winter in MN, albeit a mild one, intensifies the effect.  Frankly sometimes it feels more like a cave that I'm clawing out of, but I prefer to try to think of it as a cocoon, because changes happen in there, and something new is born when I emerge.

So much of parenting is about the kids, the KIDS KIDS KIDS.  But the parents are part of this equation too, right?  It's hard to carve out time for your marriage and yourself, although everything I've ever read says that you can't be a good parent if you don't.  I really struggle with balance in my life regardless of the kids, tending to be the person who likes to give my all to everything and everyone.  So it's even more difficult finding balance when a new little person is so entirely dependent on me - especially when I love providing all that little person needs!  I love being a mama! 

This time around I am not working outside the home steadily as I was with our first child so it makes balance even more challenging.  I don't have the built-in distraction from home life that I had in working outside of the home 3 days a week.  I also don't have the built-in "me time" to get my hair done over lunch, go shopping, get a coffee with a coworker, or be in charge of my own schedule for an entire 9 hours!!  I am a slave to the twice-a-day nap schedule and the preschool drop-off/pick-up schedule and the eating/diapering schedule.  I've given in to skipping make-up most days, showers some days, and focusing more on play dates than grown-up dates (because finding babysitters is hard work and expensive!)  It's tough to find the energy to do something for myself or with my spouse after dinner is done, the kids are in bed, and we've both been on the go all day.  Particularly when I'm not well rested in the first place and I know it all starts again in 10 hours.  At that point, the hubby hits the video games for a bit and I play some word games on my phone while I watch a cooking show.  Does this provide the balance I'm seeking?  No.  Have I figured out how to change it?  No.  Does it bug me?  Yes.   

Now before you go thinking that I'm ungrateful for this time at home with my kids, rest assured that I know what a blessing this time is with our kids, what a blessing it is to have a supportive husband and to have made financial decisions that allow us to live off of one income for now.  In the big picture of life I KNOW it's a good thing, I love our kids more than words can express, and I'm thankful, but I still find myself struggling some days.  I'm reminded of the song that says, "I've looked at life from both sides now."  As with most things in life, the grass is just as green on the other side.  It's excellent to be home with my kids, not racing out the door most mornings to get to a meeting, but it also means I struggle a little more to see Joy through the process of having a new baby in our life.    

Back to the cocoon - while I'm in it and struggling to sort through all of the stuff I've written about above, my house takes a nose-dive.  The "creep" starts to win because we're not constantly picking up after the preschooler, tackling the mail, staying ahead of the dog hair, making decisions that can wait until later, or taking the time to do things right the first time.  As I said, there isn't a lot of sleep during these times and that complicates matters because the little things seem bigger.  Also, the social schedule is light while I'm in the cocoon - it has to be in order to survive, but it leaves me feeling disconnected from the friends and family who are truly my sustenance and lifeline.  At the same time, being in the cocoon changes my perspective on what was important before; which things, relationships, attitudes, and goals are worth my attention in light of the new little person into whom we're investing so much.  The new perspective is the first hint of redefinition.  

It feels good to start breaking free from the cocoon.  It means I'm tackling the stagnant corners and drawers of my house that need attention, and it creates an intense urge to simplify.  (Garage sale coming in April!)  Redefining in this way brings me peace best described by a quote from The Diary of Anais Nin,

"When I cannot bear outer pressures anymore, I begin to put order in my belongings...As if unable to organize and control my life, I seek to exert this on the world of objects." 

Yep, having a new baby certainly leaves me unable to control and organize my life, so this quote helps me explain the intense urge to go through our things!  

I'm also planning to do away with our red wall and entryway after 8 years in favor of a beachy, pale, blue green from Farrow and Ball called Pale Powder.  Our trip to Key West and a Costal Living magazine for the flight home inspired me.  Of course this means sewing some new pillow covers, adding some new home accessories, and moving things around.  Being home full-time means I am completely immersed in my house and fully aware of the impact it has on my mood, attitude, comfort and LIFE.  Time for a change, time to redefine the space in which we dwell!

We finally ventured back to church last weekend.  It's time to renew our relationship with Christ and the church, and some redefinition will certainly be part of that process.  

I feel like our whole family is redefining the way we interact with each other; in the way we parent the older child, our habits, our communication patterns.  Change is never easy, but it's a redefinition that's worthwhile.  It's one that continues ALL THE TIME but feels highlighted now that we're hyper-aware of everything, having just emerged from months inside of the cocoon.  

Although I feel like I've only written about the tip of the iceberg, this is where I must stop (and I think you get the picture anyway.)  It's time to get back to doing the business of "a-day-in-the-life" instead of writing about it or thinking about it.  Thanks for reading!  If you feel like sharing, I'd love to hear about any redefinition going on in your life.  Until next time...~J        

Project Pics

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I'm going to give it a try!  Life isn't allowing me much time to blog, so I'll post some pics of what I've been making.

Also, check out the new blogs I added to my Awesome Blog List on the sidebar; I am mama hear me roar and MADE.  Cool and inspirational!

Finally, I've been part of a crafty, creative, monthly meeting organized by Trace of Making Schtuff.  It's helped me to stay connected to this part of me through the busy first months of life with an infant (and a preschooler, and two dogs, and the holidays...you get the picture.)  It's also been just plain fun to swap ideas and dreams with other like minded souls.  Thanks, Trace.  Muah! 

To all of you: are there some like minded souls in your life you could pull together to muse on a set topic you all share an affinity for?  Food for thought, as it really is quite fulfilling to share excitement, observances, set-backs and the corresponding support, inspiration, and enthusiasm that surround a shared affinity for something special. 

My best to you ~J.




Upcycled Cashmere Baby Hat for Carter

 



Upcycled Wool Longies and Cashmere Baby Hat for Adrian

 

Rustic Thanksgiving Banner for Lynne (our gracious hostess)



Flower Pom (added after the first photo)




Close-up of the Banner.  Burnt Umber Paint on Burlap - Simple!



Fabrics for Baby Emma's Quilt



Baby Quilt for O's PreK Teacher in Progress (forgot to get finished pic, sniff.)



Fun Fabrics for the Next Quilt

More Fun Flannels and Minky

Betty Boop Baby Blanket, Anyone?!

Dipping My Toes Back in the Pool, so to speak...

Wow, this should be a trick!  How in the world do I start again, what should I focus on as I write, will I have time to finish this post?  It's been over 3 months since the last post...*deep breath*.  Ready, set, go!

Let's see... Baby boy "L" was born June 3, and today was my first time (and his) down in the arts and crafts room since then (aside from some very quick, very utilitarian mending that HAD to be done.)   Scary shame and I'm in serious withdrawl.  I've been bad at carving out time for me, ALONE with me, and nobody else.  BUT, I've been a much better second-time mom through these first 3 months and I've hopefully made a fun summer for big brother O.  So maybe it's an okay trade-off?  I'm not sure yet. 

I could go on and on about motherhood, parenthood, infancy and related topics forEVER.  I won't.  I'll simply say it's been a blissful 3 months, much more wonderful than I had hoped for (but still sprinkled with the drudgery that accompanies caring for a newborn.  You can't escape that.)  More than once I've joked with friends that I wish there was a Facebook for parents only, as most of my current humor revolves around a cockeyed, sleep deprived view of the world where bodily functions are acceptable topics of discussion and where my blog would host a counter for the number of days since I last washed my hair instead of a counter for how many hits my site has had!  It's truly a perspective only other parents can completely appreciate (without being grossed out.)  I know it's a bold statement that someone without children might take offense to, but I hope they don't.  Here's why - I've never run a marathon, so there's no way I could fully understand what that means or appreciate all that it takes, even though I'd like to think I could.  Yes, I am drawing a parallel between running a marathon and parenthood.  Doing an Ironman might be a better comparison...

Well, it's taken me 6 hours to type this small amount so I better call it quits for today.  Maybe by tomorrow I'll have a photo of the colorful flannels with fun prints that I bought at rock bottom prices for making baby gifts.  Here's a pic of a past project, personalized burp cloths for baby "A".  I have many friends bringing new babes into the world the next couple of months, so it's time to welcome them to the world, by sharing a bit of mine! 

Ta-da...Nursery Progress

This is going to be mostly a pictorial blog entry since I've only got 2 full days left before heading to the hospital to have Big Baby Boy #2 (and lots of loose ends to tie up before we go.)  Time flies!  The nursery isn't ready, but it's getting close.  Which is fine, since our 1st baby didn't spend a lot of time in his crib or his room for the first 6 weeks or so anyway! 

Here is the "project complete" list - I've sewn the crib skirt, recovered generic cream bumper pads from IKEA, recovered the glider rocking chair cushions with a vintage blue bedspread, and saved enough of said spread to use as the backing for a quilt.  I have never made a quilt before mind you, but my pregnant brain thought this would be a fun time to try.  It was fun, but don't look too closely.  I took lots of liberties hat would probably make a proper quilter's blood boil, but in the end I'm very happy with how it turned out!  I also completed the "You are my Sunshine" wall hanging using an old screen I scavenged last summer and have been anxious to use, some raffia ric rack that I love, part of my button collection, and some scrap fabric.  Finally, the collection of thrifted embroidery hoops has been filled with pieces of fabric from the nursery project and hung over the crib.  Love it - they look like giant, vintage polka dots!!

The " project not-so-complete-yet" list includes adding ties to the tops of the bumper pads (there is only a lower set,) sewing buttons at the corners of the glider foot stool to hold the cover in place (it was expertly gathered and pinned by my good friend Jen months ago,) embellishing the plain linen fabric in the largest embroidery hoop (maybe with baby's initial once we settle on a name,)  and a host of other little details I'd like to do but aren't essential.

It's been a really fun project and I can certainly take it farther after babe is born if I can find the time, but for now I'm pleased with the outcome.  Enjoy the pics!!

Nursery

Rag quilt front




Rag quilt back

 






I have no idea why this one keeps rotating, sorry!

Close up of wall hanging

On The Fence (and considering options)

It isn't even warm yet (37 degrees F as I type), nor have the mountains of snow we got this winter entirely melted, but I'm already thinking about outdoors, our yard, and solutions. 
 To give you the full mental picture, because I find it quite funny, I am snacking on cheesy rice cakes in my jammies and typing this as the full kitchen garbage waits to go out, O's breakfast dishes wait to be cleared (by him, not me, but I still do the reminding,) and all of our vitamins sit on the counter waiting to be sorted and either tossed or put back in the cupboard (since I pulled them out in irritation this morning.)  The nursery still has remnants of the arts and crafts room waiting to be moved downstairs so we can start preparing a place for our little boy who's going to be born in 2 months.  The nursery has holes in the wall that need patching and there's painting to do.  But somehow I've become consumed in the past 24 hours with finding a solution to the privacy issue, or lack thereof, our chain link fence offers.  So, here I sit...silly as it seems in light of everything else I could/should be doing...writing a blog entry about fencing since I'm in a quandry and need to process some options.  Sometimes you just have to say, what the heck!?  Here I go - - -

I like our chain link fence; it's black not galvanized and I think it looks nice, it keeps O and the doggies in and other people/animals out, and it lets us still have fun with our next door neighbors.  The problem has become the home behind us.  It sits at a higher elevation than ours so privacy is lessened anyway, and the elderly owner now has younger family members staying there.  They are not people that I want watching my every move, which it seems they do lately, nor are they respectful when it comes to controlling the young boy who is often there or the giant, barking dog who is often there.  I was unable to enjoy our back yard at the end of last summer/fall due to the dog's constant barking and the boy's constant yelling over our fence, hanging on our fence, and/or throwing things over (or through) our fence.  None of this was problematic when we chose to have chain link installed 5 years ago, but times change and I'm looking for a privacy solution.

I only want privacy at the portion of fence along the back of our property which separates us from the house/yard behind. Our neighbors on one side have a wooden privacy fence painted barn red, then our chain link extends across the back of our property, down a slope which is the wooded half lot next to the home we are trying to gain privacy from, and along the other side where our friends/neighbors live.  We have landscaped up the hill to the fence, but it's not dense enough, nor tall enough since their house is elevated behind ours.  Our city code allows for 6 ft high fencing, but it would look strange to have a few panels of privacy fence and then the rest chain length.  So...

Here are a few options I've found aside from planting vines which don't provide privacy during MN winters.

Willow - http://www.mastergardenproducts.com/

I particularly like the green, eco-friendly aspect of the willow fencing and that it can be attached to our existing chain link.  It looks more natural or rustic in appearance than standard privacy fencing; I'm envisioning it as a backdrop of sorts to our landscape efforts described in an entry last August.  My concern is that this option may be too opaque and not provide enough privacy (as seen in the 3rd photo.)  What do you think?  BTW - Bamboo would be a cool option too, but it looks too asian for our yard and home.


http://www.mastergardenproducts.com/ also offers the willow twig option which offers more privacy.  My concern is that it wouldn't look nice enough - it may be a little too rustic?


close-up




Additionally, there is reed fencing as seen at http://www.mastergardenproducts.com/:

Or Fern Fence:


 
Again, I'm not sure how these would look. ??  What do you think?


A final option with a different twist is to do a canvas backdrop attached to our existing chain link.  One idea I found at Making it Lovely is to use the IKEA Dyning sun-/windsheild.  It's inexpensive and ready to go.  I'd use the plain white panels, but Making it Lovely used the black/white stripe as pictured below.

   So what do you think, dear readers?  What will be the solution that allows us to enjoy our backyard again without a huge time or money investment?  I welcome your thoughts!  Now, I'm off to the real world to tackle a few things before it's time to make lunch.  TGIF!!

Satisfaction and Sewing

It seems like lately the song in my head has been "I...can't...get... no-o... sat-is-faction" (complete with Mick Jagger's voice and inflection,) "but I try...and I try...and I try - I can't GET NO...."  I'm happy to report that things are finally different today!  Thank heavens!

In the interest of full disclosure, my husband and I just returned from a week of warm weather, sans 4 year old son, which undoubtedly had a lot to do with my shift in perspective.  Like most parents, we love our little guy immensely, but we also need a break now and then to allow that love to flourish.  Being pregnant (tired, nauseous, victim to random aches/pains) during this extremely snowy MN winter had also taken its toll on my psyche, so the change of climate was a Godsend on many levels. 

Organizing my ideas and fabrics so I could start sewing for the new baby's nursery today, the satisfaction and contentment settled in as I began sewing my first project, a crib skirt.  The radio was on in my sunny new arts and crafts room, the space heater was cranking out warmth, and I was humming along on my good old White sewing machine, while the little guy happily kicked away in my abdomen.  I was right where I wanted to be, doing exactly what I wanted to be doing!  It was glorious!  It was a luxury - and one well worth the other luxuries we forgo in order to live without steady income from me.  It was a feeling of bliss to start giving shape to the ideas floating around in my head for this nursery.  Ahhhh, satisfaction....     

So what are these ideas, this master plan for decorating the nursery you may ask?  Now that we know it's a boy, I picked a theme of natural linen, ticking stripes, and chenille - call it rustic/country french perhaps?  I am using one of French General's new La Petite Ecole fabrics to pull together the neutral linen, cream, blues and reds of the tickings.  It's vintage typography shown here:

The fabric pictured above will be used to cover inexpensive IKEA bumper pads (incidentally, I purchased the fabric from uncommon yardage on Etsy.com if you're interested in buying some yourself.)  I got a roll of natural, decorator weight linen at a garage sale this summer for $4 (a steal) which I will use to sew a crib skirt.  The skirt will be trimmed with a wide band of cream and red ticking stripes at the bottom, also from the same garage sale.  See them pictured in the upper right corner of the photo below with my other lovely fabrics for the nursery.

My plan is to use the heavy, vintage, blue chenille bedspread I thrifted for covering the cushions of the gliding rocker in the nursery.  I am a sucker for chenille!  I think there's enough to also make a quilt for the crib, although babies don't really use a quilt, so maybe I'll just drape it casually somewhere in the room.  I think the glider's ottoman will be covered in the fine, pale blue stripe sitting on top of the chenille in the photo.  Ric rac, pom-pom ball fringe, and grosgrain ribbon are my choices for adding detail to pieces.  I can't wait to see how it all turns out!
 
I will sew a wall hanging to go above the crib - not sure of its design yet.  I'm toying with using the cream flannel squares and squares from all of the other fabrics to make a patchwork design fabric hanging resembling a quilt.  It would be mounted on a metal rod, ala French General's Kaari Meng in her book Home Sewn.  Or, I may sew giant letters saying, "bebe" or simply an "E" for our last name, to a large piece of linen backing and hang it behind an old window I have been dying to use in a project (the window would act as a frame.)  So many ideas!  Got anymore for me?
 
Finally, I will sew fabric liners from the various ticking stripes for the many baskets that will coral all of the baby supplies.  I will pull it all together with a deep barn-red colored rag rug and a cream woven rug with barn-red stripes.  (I have ideas for a mobile of sorts and some other accessories, but I need to get the basics sewn first and do a little painting - with zero VOC paint, of course.)  The journey has begun, my friends!  I'm happy to have you along for the ride. 
 
May your week hold a bit of satisfaction and contentment somewhere along the way... All my best to you ~J.

Mid-week Musings

Each day I think of writing a post, much like you think of a friend you haven't talked to in a long while, with the best intentions.  But before you know it - the day has passed and you've been swept away in its activities without reaching out.  Then I think, oh well...I guess I must be too busy living life to write about it.  What a wonderful problem to have!

We continue to make progress on the room shuffle in progress at our house, along with all of the organizational efforts surrounding it.  I spent part of Saturday making labels for all of Owen's newly purchased toy bins.  Each 2x4 shipping label has a photo of the toy and the name of the toy or collection that's in each bin.  Hopefully this simplifies clean up time when we have friends over or when mom isn't around to supervise clean-up.  Also, Owen is actually playing with his toys again now that all of the pieces are together in one spot and not scattered all over the house.  So far, so good!  Finally, it's a pleasure for me to walk into his room, or into our family room, and not see toys EVERYWHERE.  Ahhhh... A small piece of visual chaos tamed.  

Garage sales are over in Minnesota for the long, cold, winter.  However, a friend and I hit my local thrift store recently and I found this sunny chenille bedspread for the foot of my bed.  LOVE IT!  It's one of those items that makes me happy each time I see it, AND, it serves the purpose of giving our little terrier a place to lay when dad decides she gets to sleep with us instead of in her kennel.  Any good finds in your neck of the woods lately?

I hope this compact little post finds your day filled with fun and adventure (even if it just consists of running the necessary errands, he, he, he.)  We are off to start our day! ~J.

Organizing on the mind

Time out from surfing ideas for organizing the arts and crafts room, I need to post something!  It's been a month (again!) since my last entry and of course there's a lot in the works around our humble abode. 

We got new carpet in the lower level bedrooms in preparation for moving the previously mentioned arts and crafts room downstairs to bedroom #1 and combining my husband's "man's room" with the guest bedroom in room #2.  While we haven't gotten too far on the move, we have gotten the guest bed and a chaise set up for guests in the man's room/guest room and it looks pretty darn good if I do say so myself!  We mounted my husband's road bike on the wall, ala NYC loft style to free up some floor space and relocated some of the other sporting equipment to places that just plain made more sense. 

You see, we've lived here for almost 7 years (I can hear the gasps from those who know us well, since prior to this home we'd not lived in one place more than 2 years since leaving our parent's homes.)  Without the mandatory purge that goes with moving all the time, we have accumulated a bunch of "schtuff" as my friend Tracey would say (check out her blog on my favorites list - Makin' Schtuff.)  Worse yet, it has haphazardly been placed in any free nook and cranny instead of given a permanent, organized, know where to find it next time, HOME.  Soooo...

We have embarked on the task of reorganizing our home, making some room shifts, and purging all we can in preparation for the new member of our family who will be joining us in 2011.  We could not be happier about expanding our family and the news gave us just the push we needed to clean and organize the garage and shed this fall for the first time since we moved in.  We've also tackled my son's closet and bedroom, our closet, and now the new task of relocating the arts and crafts room so that space can again become a nursery.  Whew!  With Christmas right around the corner it feels very busy in our home right now.

Back to my first paragraph of the post - tonight I have been surfing around looking for ideas to better organize the arts and crafts room when it moves.  It needs to be well organized and efficient since I enjoy sewing (machine, notions, fabric, trims), crafting with felted wool, making jewelry (beads, shells, sea glass,) doing paper crafts (scrapbook paper, card-making supplies, stamps,) and projects with photos (frames, albums, photo storage.)  Add in my son's paints, crayons, stickers, pop-it beads, and other preschool craft items and you have one awesomely busy, extremely fun space!!

Here are a few of tonight's finds you might want to check out...  The blog, Chez Larsson, has an awesome section on organizing - it breaks out each area of your house and gives solutions for organizing or reclaiming those spaces.  Plus, the 12/7/10 posting is called Holiday Loo so you know I'm hooked on this blog, since I also change my "Loo" decor seasonally.  ;-) 

Simplify 101 has organizing tips, articles, and a link to their blog, Creative Organizing.  Perfectly Pretty also has amazing tips for organizing things (and she has a great sense of humor - like laughing at herself because her small designer handbag collection is kept in a drawer of her IKEA dresser. HA!)  

So friends, no photo with this post, just a few links to get you lost in blog-land for a few hours if you too are craving some new ideas for organization.  Enjoy!  

Loose Ends

I was re-reading some of my past posts yesterday and realized that I had a few loose ends to tie up!  So I ran around quickly and took a few snap shots.  Remember this chair from my July 11th post about a great estate sale I stumbled upon?  Here is the before and after. 

Before

After



The ticking I used on the seat was from my favorite thrift store.  The ticking is a versitile neutral blend of cream, white, black and gray - plus it looks french to me, which I love. And for those of you who wonder -yes, I truly do find uses for all the splendid finds I bring home.  

Here is a before and after of some wicker chairs I got at a garage sale for $5 each.  I wanted some casual seating outside our front door so friends and I have a place to sit while the kids ride bikes/trikes/scooters in the driveway.  The chairs look less stable than they are, due to a support frame built under the base.  I have purchased some fun Sunbrella brand fabrics on clearance with which to sew cushions, but that will probably wait until next summer since I hear freezing rain is on the way soon (boo!)

Finally, I promised a picture of my seasonal decor change in our main bath way back at the beginning of June (gulp.)  I love the Alexander Henry fabric as the focal point.  I originally wanted to stretch it over an IKEA fabric frame, but the remnant I bought was not quite the yard it promised so it didn't fit.  I improvised by stapling the fabric over a cork bulletin board.  I love it because I can reuse the fabric when it's no longer wall decor (which will be soon, as I'm busy coming up with a fall theme.)  A side note for those of you new to my blog - I do a super simple change of the decor in our main bath each season to keep things fresh (I get bored too easily.)  It's a small space with a neutral palette, so it's easy to move things around from other rooms of the house, such as the b&w daisy pics I stole from the entryway this time.  Different colored towels, rugs, maybe shower curtain and I'm done!  Since I rotate through the different colored towels and rugs I already own, it's very inexpensive to do and truly doesn't take much time at all.  Big reward for little effort - love it!!  It's something you could easily do yourself if you were so inclined.

Enjoy your Saturday, my friends!  Thanks for stopping by.  xoxo ~J

A Much Needed Post

Hi!  Hi, hi, hi!  Hi, hi, hi!  I'm so excited to be blogging, I can hardly stand it! 

Life has been too much work and not nearly enough play lately.  You know how I can tell?  First, the last post was a month ago - ugh!  Second, I am about to explode like a cork out of a champagne bottle if I don't get something written (or made, or sewn, or constructed.)  Know the feeling?!

I've done a few mini-projects out of necessity, but they aren't cutting it.  I've sewn a stuffed animal holder for O's room and a black-out curtain for the one window that didn't have one - both were quick, sloppy projects that didn't satisfy my itch.  Although, O really likes the stuffed animal holder hanging above his bed (it's just a couple of pockets sewn to a larger piece of fabric,) so that's good.  I've also tried some new recipes, like Emeril's baked mac and cheese with bacon from the Food Network Magazine which the guys loved!  However, it's not been enough to help me find the balance that comes with some serious making, crafting, or re-inventing!

So, step one toward balance is to write this blog entry.  *Big sigh with a grin*  Step two is to do a few of the projects I've been contemplating (or at least one of them - he, he.)  Also, to share some of the cool things I've come across.

Yesterday I was looking at plans from Knock-Off Wood's Ana White for wall cubby shelves.They are on my list to make for the arts and crafts room, which needs to be reolcated btw, as I've completely outgrown it.

I found a round foot stool on metal casters at a garage sale this summer.  It's currently covered in baby-poo yellow pleather and my plan is to make a slip cover for it out of some awesome upholstery weight linen I scored at a different garage sale for $4.  I am thinking I may try a flowy drop ruffle around the slip cover, we'll see.  I will post some before/after pics, as I don't have a pic to post today.

Then there are the felted wool embellishments I enjoy making.  Mostly flowers for now, but I'd like to try some new things, and I'd like to fatten the stock in my Etsy shop for holiday shoppers.  I have tried some different techniques after making flowers with friends one weekend and seeing the cool ideas they came up with.  The result was very frilly and fun flowers, but they still need some finishing touches and I need more time experimenting!

On a side note, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law have launched a website for their awesome felted wool mittens, Asbury Mitten Company.  Check it out!  You might recognize some of the same felted wool in my flowers, since I started making them with some of their scraps.  It's really been a fun new medium for me this year and I owe them a big thank you for introducing me to "fabulous felting."

Enjoy your weekend, friends.  If you have a project in your sights, please share with us.  It's always fun to hear what everyone else is working on (besides WORK, right?!)  Happy Friday!!

10 Minute Organizational Project

Hi, friends - Here's a quick post to show you an even quicker project you can do by yourself or with little ones.  If you decide to do it, I'd love to see some photos!

I will start by saying,  in yet another way I am becoming my mother - I am recycling empty glass pickle, olive, and jelly jars.  It seems a shame to toss them in the recycling bin and go buy something to use for organizing my bits and bobbles!  So to spruce them up a bit and disguise their former use, I decoupaged some fun paper and even some newsprint on the lids.  If the food label extended to the side rim of the lid, I glued ribbon around the edge (like the black jars pictured.)

Your little ones can help you trace the lids on paper, cut out the circles, and even "paint" the glue/water mixture on the tops.  I used roughly 2 parts White Elmers Glue mixed with 1 part water to stick the paper circles to the lids, and then painted over the paper on the lids with the glue/water mixture to give it a nice finish.  I have Mod Podge, but decided to save it for something fancier like decoupaging photos.  You could certainly use it if you have it on hand.

Have fun!

Friendly Fall

Good day!  I've been away but you've been on my mind, lovely blog and blog readers.  There is a brisk chill in the air which goes beautifully with my late morning coffee.  It's a welcome relief from the hot, HUMID summer we've experienced (or perhaps, endured, if you're speaking to my plants.)  I think most of America immediately pictures snow, ice, and frost when they hear the word MINNESOTA.  True, true, that is our wonderland a good piece of the year.  However, we are the land of extremes and have a fair share of 90+ degree (farenheit) days with extreme humidity.  Although, between the two seasons of extremes comes a bursting spring and a calming fall.  It's most excellent.

Friendly fall means the neighborhood is quiet once again as the kids have headed back to school.  The temperatures have cooled down to 50's at night and upper 60's to low 70's during the day.  The sun often shines on these crisp days and wearing a sweatshirt and a favorite pair of jeans is a special treat all of a sudden.  The changing seasons is a friendly rhythm to our life and a gentle reminder that life is a journey - always moving and changing.  It's sadly missed by many a Minnesotan who venture out of our state, usually for warmer weather.  As with all changes, each new season brings positives and negatives and the range of emotions that accompany such things.  Today I am rejoicing in a slower pace and not feeling the pressure to pack it all in as I often do during the summer since warm weather is fleeting.  Alternately, I am also mourning the loss of daylight as our days are already getting shorter, and the inevitable cold that I know is only weeks away.  Such is life - two sides to every coin.

As the season changes my focus is shifting away from gardening, although I have a couple of lingering plants I'll stick in the ground with hopes they make it to spring.  Coming back into light are my crafty urges.  With a gentle nudge from a dear friend who recently got her Etsy shop, "Geen Green Turtle Photography", up and running, I have finally listed some items in my Etsy shop, "Sprinkle of Joy"!  It's exciting to share a few of my vintage finds and some of my fun little handmade accessories.  It's most interesting to see how many people are interested enough in your creation to pause and take a closer look.  It's exciting to think that my little babies might be loved by someone else - even loved enough to be worn, nay, proudly displayed by another.  Ah, the small pleasures in life.  When you get a minute and feel like doing some surfing, or shopping, check out Etsy and all of the wonderful handmade items displayed there.  It's amazing what creativity there is, and what fun flows from other people's hearts and hands.  Perhaps you'll even venture to open a shop of your own!  Or - if you are already one of the marvelous sellers on Etsy, we'd love to know where to find you.  Please post your shop in the comments.  Cheers!  ~J

The Other G of Summer - Garage Sales

Good morning!  A week has already passed since my last post; so much for sharing garage sale finds a day after I shared our garden progress.  But then, if you can't do as you please with your blog, in what area of life can you enjoy such freedom?!  Tra, la, la, la, la.  This seems to be the theme of summer.  *big grin*

On to the meat of the post!  With the end of the week upon us and the prime garage sale days it brings, below are a few of my favorite finds from the summer.  But first, a little background - my mission in 2010 is to renew our home, brighten it up, and change our furnishings from "Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel circa 1999" to something more eclectic and casual with vintage touches sprinkled in.  I jokingly told our neighbor I'm on a mission to sell or consign every "new" piece of furniture we own in exchange for something comfortably used.  Along the way I'm incorporating fun fabrics, lots of ticking stripes, vintage light fixtures, and slip covers (for now - I'd love to replace our couch etc.)

You've seen the perfect little desk from a farmhouse yard sale earlier this summer, and the makeover of the $2.95 thrift store find, so here's the $5 table from my return trip to July's estate sale.  Ta-da!  The crock, books, and milk bottle holding the massive hydrangea are all garage sale finds as well.  I love this new corner of my dining room - much better than the tacky fake ficus tree that sat there for the past 4 years! 

Here is the $2 side table discovered at a neighborhood sale displaying the $1 quilt I found at the same sale.  I'm ashamed to say I've paid more for a glass drawer pull like the one on this table before!  All the table required was a little scrub down, and it was ready for use!

Finally, here are before and afters of the $5 chandelier that replaced our heavy black Home Depot chandelier.  It took some serious clean-up, reshaping, and 2 cans of "Canvas White" spray paint, but it looks great!  I only wish our Nikon was fixed so I could've gotten better pics.  (note: the little pink sticky notes are to mark which arms need re-wiring, as only 3 lights work for now, so turn a blind eye as I have.  Patience is NOT my middle name so I'd rather enjoy it as is for a while until my hubby has a chance to work on the wiring.)

Before

After

  There have been so many other treats and treasures from garage sales, estate sales and yard sales this summer.  I love it.  I love that it keeps the items someone else is done with out of our landfills.  I love the opportunity it's given me to teach O about money's value, spending it, and making choices about what we want.  Finally, I love the thrill of a gorgeous discovery and figuring out where it will fit into our home.  Happy hunting!

The Two G's of Summer - Gardens and Garage Sales!

Hi, friends!  I cannot believe how difficult it is to post entries these days.  Between play dates, trying to stay cool at the splash pad or beach, garage sales, gardening/landscaping, and all of the fun BBQ's and festivals of the season, we all seem to collapse into bed totally exhausted (but happy) each night.  I figure you're all doing much of the same, so like me, you probably aren't keeping up on reading all of the wonderful blogs entries either!

Here are a few highlights of the two G's that dominate summer - gardens and garage sales.

Gardens... When we moved into our home 6 years ago there were no gardens or landscape to speak of.  The prior owners had 5 kids and understandably had their focus elsewhere.  Here is what our backyard looked like. 

We started slowly, as we'd never done this sort of thing before, and added a few things.  We put in some pavers for our fire pit, mulched the area where no grass would grow and our dogs use for their "business", and transplanted some hosta.  Here are the pics a year later.  The white string is for the fence that was about to be installed to keep said doggies safe.

Over the years we've experimented with this and that, but were still not sure what we wanted to do with our space.  We knew mowing the hill at the back of our property was tough so we wanted to limit that.  Also, we'd talked with the city about the RIVER that rages through our yard due to the slope and the engineer's suggestion was a dry riverbed to direct the water and give it a place to flow in the spring and during heavy rains.  So last year we paid a friend-of-a-friend to provide some consulting.  He owns a successful landscape business and had some wonderful ideas for us! 

The result is a plan to incorporate some larger rocks and "planting pockets" into the dry river bed to naturalize it.  Plant perennials on the hill that don't require much maintenance or water and mulch them so there's no mowing.  Plant some trailing vines and creeping plants to cascade over the rocks and hills.  We started this work last summer and got to this point. 

My wonderful hubby has started digging the dry river bed and filling it with rock we dug out of the front last year (we pulled out ancient, overgrown arborvitae and rock, planting perennials, yews, and blue spruce in their place and mulching.)  Last weekend we went out to my dad's and loaded up larger rocks from a farmer's rock pile so we could start on the planting pockets.  We finished the first one last night, yippee!  Here it is, along with our progress to date. 

There is so much satisfaction in a project like this for me.  Do any of you feel the same way?  Knowing that I get to enjoy the beauty and cultivate the growth/maturity of our efforts is particularly rewarding.  Not to mention that I love working together with my husband (it isn't always rosy, but it's a great opportunity to work through some of our communication glitches and enforce our compromise skills - even practice concession occasionally!)  Thanks for letting me share our landscape journey - it's near and dear to us and we'd welcome your reactions and suggestions.

I do believe this post is long enough, so we'll have to save the other G (garage sale) for tomorrow.  I have some fab finds we've incorporated into our home and I am excited to share with you!  Enjoy your day, my friends.  ~J