Freaking Amazing Sky

I was on my way to my class a couple weeks ago. I turned the corner and had to immediately pull over.


The sky was so beautiful and crazy. I couldn't stop looking at it. I called John and made him pack up Will and the camera to take photos to document it.


It was truly one of the most beautiful things I'd ever seen. And all these other people were just driving and walking around like nothing out of the ordinary was going on. They missed out. It was lovely.

I'll announce the winner of the scarf later today!

Letterhead Love

I am a big fan of stationery. And I have a lot of it. I used to write little snail mail notes quite often and need to start writing more again. I don't know if anyone loves receiving mail as much as I do, but I'm going to send it to them anyway!


I recently discovered this blog, Letterheady, through another favorite blog, Letters of Note. Both are fascinating. I especially love the Letterheady. I want my own letterhead. You know, for all of my business correspondence. I really really love this letterhead of Eva Peron's (above). It's so lovely and simple.

Here are a few more favorites:





Super love the font on the "Lawrence Welk" on this one:



There are a couple Adolf Hitler letterheads that I actually really like. But then I felt weird about posting them on my blog. Go check them out on the site.

In other news:

-Bread making has me completely baffled
-William went for his first dentist appointment and was complimented up and down
-We're starting pre-pre-school activities this week!
-My dining room has been taken over by t-shirts and scraps
-I've had to capture and release 5 earthworms that have been found in various states of distress around my dining room floor. They keep coming in, somehow, trying to escape biblical flood that is currently in my backyard
- Today is the most beautiful gray, rainy day and all we're doing around here is playing, baking, reading and lots of cuddling!

Hello September!!

Hold on a second there. Not so fast. September? How?! What? I can't believe it but I'm so happy it is here again already.



To celebrate the first day of my favorite month a fall-type drink was in order. I wish that I could have bust out a scarf to go along, but alas, it's going to be 100 degrees today again. The pine cone earrings did make an appearance though so that made me feel a bit more fall-ish.

This month is going to be crazy! Not only do we celebrate both mine and John's birthdays, we also have a wedding anniversary and we'll be spending 3 weeks in Norway and all over Scandinavia! It's a very exciting way to spend my favorite month of the year (also, escaping the heat will be nice!).

I've finished a few fun projects over the past couple of months since I last checked-in and am looking forward to starting some new things. I'm feeling motivated and super inspired! I love the coming season! Happy Sept everyone!

Excuses Excuses

So I have sucked at blogging lately. Again.

(As usual?)

The deal is...the photos are just so much work. To me, anyway. I take mediocre at best photos, so if I want something decent I have to wait for John. He either has take them for me or to help me set up the camera so I get good exposure, etc. I just can't wrap my brain around the ISO and aperture, etc. And then there's the post processing. And John's super busy. Etc. So there's my excuse for being such a lame blogger.

I really have been working on a lot of cool things in the past few weeks. There's the ripple afghan, a couple baby projects, cafe curtains, quilt, book covers, paper cutting. I've been busy! Plus plans for some baby gifts, some experiments in designing my own plush matroyshkas, and more crocheting. I'm also on a thrift/antique hunt for frames. I can't find any!! And I need several.

Also, I've been revelling in this amazing weather we've been having. It's like, insane how awesome it's been. Two weeks of overcast skies, some rain, and temperatures all under 75!!! I'm soaking up every second of it before the heat hits and then stays until Christmas. We love the cool, morning walks!

I may not have any craft photos, but I do have pictures of our weekend in San Diego last month. Enjoy!

William with his youngest uncle, Ryan.
Waiting in line for the bus.
Cute bugs.
Running down a big hill.
Sleeping through the new elephant exhibit (my favorite animals at the zoo!).
Checking out the chimps.
Will's first beach experience!
He loved the sand but was a bit wary of the water.
He's a kid now.
Our family, in feet.

7 Things For a Happy Monday

1) A cloudy, chilly morning. Maybe not so great for swimming lessons at 10:30am (imagine a pool full of screaming, shivering toddlers clutching at their mothers) but great for me none the less. "June Gloom" already? Sounds good to me!

2) Gardenias in bloom. Gardenias are one of my most loved things on this planet. They were our wedding flower!

3) Greek-style honey yogurt. And plums. Daaaang.

4) Paper cutting while the babe naps. Can't wait to show you what I'm working on.

5) Plans for cafe curtains in the kitchen!

6) Bootcamp class tonight. Yay! I haven't worked out since last Thursday and I've got so much pent up energy needing to get out!

7) Pushing Daisies is back! Well, sort of. It's still been cancelled, but ABC is finally airing the last 3 episodes that have been shot. The first one was on last Saturday night and the other two will be on the next two Saturdays! It makes me happy...but sad. After this it really will be over. :(

What We Did...

...in Utah in April.

Saw a parrot driving a truck



Attended my beautiful cousin's beautiful wedding
(which John photographed)



Sis-tahs!

Did some creepy things with non-creepy people

$10 if you can tell me where we are with Mr. Brick Pants. Another $10 if you'll ignore the fact that I look like I could ingest Sheena in a single bite.

Got snowed on?

This is me saying "Seriously, UT? Snow? In April?"

But really, I enjoyed every minute of it.

Went bowling with sibs


Somehow the end scores weren't all that surprising.

The baby-child got injured



Ate cupcakes. And a lot of Indian and Thai food.

Salt. Not Snow.

Hi. We are, regretfully, back from our little mini-vaca. The week consisted of a Mexican dinner with many Norwegians singing Happy Birthday; freezing our buns off at the Salt Flats; freezing everything else off in the wilds of Draper, UT; photo/video shoots; thrift stores; creepy guys in gas stations; a lot of delicious food; many laughs; and me trying to steal everything in Sheena's house. And the house itself. However -- a brick house is really difficult to fold up into a duffel bag. Not to mention really heavy, so that didn't really work out. Sheena herself is a great deal more portable and I probably should have just stolen her. She would have actually fit into my duffel bag.

Here are a few pictures from our day on the salt flats, but you won't believe what's coming...so stay tuned.

Garden Update

So far so good. The mint is doing great, the peas are noticeably taller every day, the original tomatoes were unceremoniously ripped from the ground from a certain tiny boy and have since been replaced by plants from the nursery. The lemon tree is pretty sad -- I need to get some fertilizer which means I need to go to an actual nursery with someone who knows what they're talking about. Oh. And some money.



Also transplanted outside (you can see the pots in yon distance in that picture above) are some snap peas, oregano and chives. Inside we still have every herb known to man, peppers and some zinnias. I'm waiting until they get a big bigger (and to get more of the aforementioned money -- need more pots) before putting them outside.

The weather has been wonderfully cool the past week or so, which has helped things greatly, I think. No scorching of the earth or anything. So, yay. That'll come soon enough though.

I'm very pleased that the casualties have been minimal. I just hope we can keep it that way. I'm very nervous about what to do to ensure their survival when we're gone for a week this month. Terrified, actually.

What I've Been Up To...

Reading Everyone should read this book. Most people are completely oblivious to where their food is coming from. Which is sad and creepy.


Planting




Watching the rain



Lots of walks



Schemeing and shopping for felt



Lots of things in the works over here!

For the Perfect Thursday Afternoon

1) Rainy and grey outside
2) A well-napped mommy and baby
3) Vegetable Masala burgers from Trader Joe's
4) Baked Sweet Potato Fries
5) A mug of chai
6) Pushing Daises extra features
7) Plans for some paper cutting

*Content sigh*

An Olive for Makayla

So it's February already. Wow. How weird. And I think we've just skipped right over winter here and are going from summer right back into summer. How disappointing. I am definitely meant to live in chillier climes.

But anyway, I'll save it for my weather blog...




Here is the doll I made for our friends' daughter who had her first birthday last week. It's another Olive doll from this Wee Wonderfuls pattern, the same one I made for William's birthday. I am just so in love with these dolls. They are so easy to make and it's so much fun choosing their outfits.




(Please excuse the bad photos.)

I hope Makayla likes her Olive doll as much as William likes his Olive and Archie dolls. He sleeps with Archie every night and loves giving him hugs. Right now Olive is chilling with Spaceboy on the little toy piano. Will gives them kisses and then plays a little tune.


Please click on the photo to see the full-size version.
It's totally worth it. This kid just kills me.

This kid also just graduated out of the "bucket" into a big kid car seat. So far he loves it. Now he can see out the window and see us in the front seat. Plus, it's so super-cush. I'm a little jealous.

Popsicle Posies

It's not actually cold enough to wear a scarf. But I did anyway. Because it's January and when else can I wear a scarf?

Hey kids. John's off being a rock star for the week so it's just been me and the babe. It's been lonely but we're cool. Lots of sewing, playing outside, reading books and watching movies (for me, after Will goes to bed).

Today has been a great day! First, it's been raining and overcast. Second, it's cool(er). And third, I finished my quilt top!

Um, amazing. Now do you see why I nearly died at the quilt shop?

I already mentioned this, but this is the Popsicle Posies Quilt using the American Jane "Recess" fabrics. I'm so so in love. I got the backing and the batting today and now I've got to quilt it. I was originally going to take it to be quilted by the same lady who did my last quilt. But...now I'm considering hand quilting. I've never actually done hand quilting, but I'm always getting bored and wanting to learn how to do something new. So...I just may do it. I think it'll add to the vintage-y, old-school-y-ness.

Love that red one on the bottom left there. I think I need more for Will's robot.

The backing is the same fabric as that green tiny dot border there. Adorable over-load!

I'm off to research the hand quilting what-nots. So wish me luck! I can't wait to start! (And if you have any tips, please let me know...)

Miss you, Daddy!