Archive for the ‘carving’ Category

reclaiming

it is time to reclaim!

“reclaim what?” you are wondering.

many things. with a search on craigslist and a $50 bill i am reclaiming my body, my love of exercise, and my desire to be outside. yes, my thighs are burning. yes, it feels like i sat on a rock, and yes, i will probably have helmet hair. but who cares? my kids are laughing, the wind is blowing in my face, and i am tearing down this hilly dirt road!

new-bike-trailer

i am reclaiming my “garden” from the snow! this little cold frame cris built me will give us mixed greens for dinner tonight! even though i left it open in the snow storm, the warmth it has gathered from the sun has been enough to save it.

i am reclaiming my appreciation. for the sun, mostly. but also for cris’s ladies (don’t worry – i only mean his chickens!) and these beautiful old barns where mine are the 4th generation of children to grow up here.

more-cris-ladies

farm-lilacs

barn

together, cris and i reclaimed our living room! after being gifted bunkbeds, we rearranged the kids’ room and moved some of their toys in. now we have a living room instead of a play room.

new-curtain

wyatts-bunk

place-for-isabelle

the last thing i have reclaimed? personal time. not a whole lot, but i have finally come to realize that i don’t have to do everything. i can ask for help. and, when i ask, not only does cris step up to the challenge, but he appreciates both the communication and knowing that i need him. wow!

so i’ve gone straight from work to girls night and let cris put the kids to bed. i got to cut out my next sewing project and visit with girlfriends. (i went to a tag sale last weekend and swam through a sea of vintage fabric. i thought the garbage-bag-full i purchased was enough, but now i’m having second thoughts… anyway, i cut into some of that vintage love for my pillowcases!)

pillowcases-to-sew

i’ve printed a bunch of cards to bring to local stores (scary!) and even printed some extras for a special friend’s birthday.

cards-to-peddle

and much to my pleasure, i’ve rotated the fridge display.

new-fridge-pics

yes, it feels good to recalim life!

(if you’re wondering…isabelle is 5 months old in that picture. i know, it looks like she swallowed the michelin man!)

3 of 10 and other goings on

rushing to finish some work for a local antique/floral shop. 3 of 10 done, and a whole 20 hours to go!

finished-aprons

the 3 finished…

aprons-in-waiting

7 in waiting…

grandmothers-supplies

the trims and treats recovered from a beloved sewer necessary to finish my creations (and a retro-but-totally-of-the-moment pattern).

and then there are the usual projects we’ve got going…

finishing-tea-leaves

…coming down the home stretch on my mother’s tea leaves.

insipred-painting

…painting cards for loved ones. my image is from this amazing book.

doily-prints

…working on new prints. always working…looking, imagining, sketching, carving, printing…always.

mini-gallery

…and, of course, admiring. what would it all be without stopping to take a moment to look at what those little hands have made? i’m loving this spot in the house. formerly an opportunity to display the seasonal garlands i’ve created. but right now, its working perfectly as our mini-gallery. in the kitchen, right inside the door. perfect for showing to nana or grampie, or the ups delivery man…

the countdown

i love birthdays and holidays. they provide an end date for my crafty endeavors, a much needed deadline, and an event to look forward to. as the countdown to belle’s birthday pulls us closer to her invisible day (remember, she’s a leapling), i am finishing the details of her celebrations.

 

i quickly carvstrawberry-stamped this strawberry stamp to decorate the kraft paper i have to wrap her gifts. i’ve been looking through this book to review the strawberry cupcake and frosting recipes. i’m milling through the cabinets, making a checklist of ingredients.

baby-pear

but most of all, i am looking in awe at my “baby” who (it feels like) was just born a couple of months ago…and now she is headstrong, independent, beautiful, and so sweet.

sweet-sleep

now that she is a big girl, sleeping in a “real” bed, she has the freedom. and sometimes that freedom means getting into bed with brother for a little snuggle time…