house warming

Saying goodbye to a good friend isn't easy, but it's nice when you know they are starting a new and exciting chapter.  Waiting around to start your life isn't easy either, so I'm happy my girlfriend is moving on but, of course, I'm sad to see her go.  She is a truly good person and has welcomed me and B to this town with open arms.  She will be missed.  I sent them off with a small house-warming gift... a Farmer's Market Basket filled with the essentials to get them started in their new home 

(chocolate cake, chai latte - you know, the important things).

N - boy genius

Just a quick post to make sure you know I'm still here... I'm in the middle of a big painting project and I want to finish to get this monkey off my back!   

N is a toddler genius... not even two.  He put this puzzle together all by himself!  

Can you believe it?!  I know, the universities are lining up as we speak... 

mommy gifts

I decided to repackage my Urpies and Burpies in my Etsy shop.  Now they are the perfect gift sets with a matching wristlet.  I wish I had an expecting girlfriend!

farmer's market baskets

Time for Farmer's Markets, Flea Markets, Antiques and all the summer fun...

extra hands

So, I haven't blogged about products lately, but I thought this was "blog-worthy."  I talk about my two little sidekicks all the time.  Here's a sidekick for you... by kemby, the sidekick - duals as a diaper bag and a carrier.   And once you have two kids, you often daydream about what an extra set of hands would be worth, especially on the go... 

I can't leave out what I actually used A LOT with N (and actually still use every once in a while when he wants to be held all day).  My hotsling... love it.

Darling.

Stylish.  

Even comfy.  

mother's day flowers

Poppies... love them.  Had a lovely Mother's Day weekend, hope you did, too.  

stretch that wardrobe

B has a few dresses from the end of last season that are still so cute, but a little short.  Quick fix from Mommy - I added a hemmed, gathered band of a cute fabric to the bottom (straight stitch).  Tada!  Like-new dress, one more season.  Love it.  Oh- I've done this to a few tops and tanks, too - B is in love with dresses.  

P.S. - happy weekend to you!

flower headbands

Maybe you need a quick weekend project for fun?  I whip these cute headbands out for B whenever she needs a little something to make her wavy hair less crazy or a bland outfit more fun.  She loves them.  

What do you need?  

• A flower - pretend, of course.  I go with felt or maybe a cute silk.  Buy or make your own.  You can cut felt out like a big flower, layer and add a button in the middle to hold it together.  
  
• Ribbon - 14"
  
• 1/4" Elastic - 4"
  

Sew the flower to the ribbon.  Sew (zig-zag stitch) the ends of the ribbon to the ends of the elastic.  Ta-da!  

Same baskets, different look

Adding more baskets - keeping things interesting around here...  with a variety of inserts. Some of the baskets feature a super sturdy, unbleached cotton canvas while others feature the dyed cotton curtain fabric.  I have made the large and small sizes, even bigger... leaving me with an extra small option.  So many options, so little time!  I love these so much, I was hesitant to add them to my Etsy inventory!  I must learn to share... or make more.  Let's make more...

it's raining, it's pouring

Rain outside means more fun inside.  

Museum time... isn't it beautiful?

it's raining, it's pouring

Rain outside means fun inside.  

Aquarium time...

love is...

care package

Have you ever been in a situation where you just don't know what to say?  I knew a friend needed a pick-me-up, something to know I cared, a bit of sunshine... I hope it helps.  N painted the birdhouse, we picked out all things sunny, and tossed them into a nest of tissue paper.  On its way to brighten her day.  

little crafty birds

B loves jewelry, so we decided to make our own. 

N liked the feeling of the beads... we'll find beads in our kitchen for the days to come.  

Growing little gardeners

Kids love  digging in the dirt, planting, and watering flowers.  

N will dig all day if we let him.  B loves the pretty flowers and watering them every day.  

life outside

Transplanted all the way from my mom's garden - thriving!  They smell lovely.  Thanks, Mom!

coffee sack totes

New things for my Etsy shop... totes.  I'm not really a purse kind of gal, but these totes are certainly handy.  Upcycled in every way - coffee sacks, recycled buttons, hand braided loops, and lined with remnant canvas in a bold damask print.  

 

booster seat - covered phonebook

Another upcycling - repurposing project.  How many phone books does one house need?!  We get these delivered to our house all the time.  Funny thing is, the recycling company does not accept phone books (unless I rip each page out, which I've been known to do).  So, I decided to make a new booster for B.  We will keep one in the car, too, for times when we're out and in need of a boost. It's the perfect size.    

What do you need?  

Non-skid fabric 

Remnant fabric

Velcro (optional, if you want to make it removable)  

Cut fabric to fit each size of the sides, leaving a seam allowance.  Sew together.  

Leave one end open to insert the book and add Velcro or slip stitch closed.   

Ta-da!  Booster seat, recycled phonebook... Lovely.  

Hang Tags - DIY

I love saving money.  I love trying to save the planet.  I needed a few hang tags for my Etsy shop.  Idea - how about recycling, reusing, upcycling, salvaging (whatever you want to call it, you get the point) - cereal boxes?!  

What you need: 

Scissors 

Paper punch

Cereal box 

Print on the backside, cut, punch, and ta-da!  Nice job - Just in time for Earth Day.

family photos

We've been meaning to get family photos taken since before December.  We finally decided to do it ourselves and see what the outcome would be.  The flowers are in full bloom and it was the perfect morning.  Here's a glimpse...

Beautiful Spring

I love Spring.  Here are a few photos from my view over the weekend...