paisley and lace

Paisley and Lace is Moving!

2011-05-14T22:30:00.000-07:00

As you have noticed, posts have been halted in this little bloggy corner. The grateful blame goes completely and entirely to married man and my son Siah who, both being extraordinary web developers, have decided it was time for this girl to change things up a tad. And although both change and all things computer are not my best cup of tea, I have agreed to move on.

So change your feeds and dials and settings of sorts so you can follow along, for soon, very soon, a wonderful giveaway will be revealed. I can hardly wait to tell you about it....

You can now find this girl here: Paisley and Lace

My Friend Sally

2011-04-27T21:26:00.000-07:00

Remember my friend Sally?

She came home with this girl quite a few seasons ago now,

but alas,

completely ignored

and rather neglected

she has sadly been.

Until now.

For this girl got a hankerin' for a dreamy dress

to wear this Easter Sunday,

which is rather a silly thing to hanker for

considering Easter Sundays

are known to be quite chilly in this corner of the world.

Infact, only one or two Easters

out of these 29 years we have been abiding

in our beach town so lovely,

can I remember being warm enough to dawn a springy dress to church,

but designing a dress

I determined was a must

for this girl.

A dressy dress

made from a sheet of course

that can be worn with jeans

and a sweater

and a wool jacket

and boots.

Although some would say that doesn't really work,

and perhaps some did,

this girl was pleasantly pleased,

my dear one via a phone picture loved it,

which is my favorite compliment, indeed,

and married man didn't take a hit to the wallety wallet.

Being my dear one's first Easter away,

making a little something for her was a must!

This girl used Anna Maria Horner's Flirting the Issue Skirt.

Sending it sneakily in the mail

to her home far away,

made this slightly sad momma

feel much, much better, indeed.

This girl is always amazed

at how thinking of and loving others

brings joy to ones heart

when it might be a wee bit weepy.

And back to my friend Sally...

she was surprisingly a help.

For although her waist is designed for women of the 50's,

who it seems had itsy-bitsy waists,

I found laying the pieces over her shoulders and

around her neck

to be much more useful

than my flat,

curveless,

figureless,

kitchen table.

So this girl

with her friend Sally,

will soon embark upon

the Lovely Summer Dress challenge.

A Lovely Summer Dress Challenge

2011-04-25T23:39:00.000-07:00

Last year I participated in the Spring Top Week over at Made by Rae.

I made these little lovelies:

Again this great little competition has begun. Check it out and join in on the fun if you can!

* * * * *

Oh, bother. This girl has two little problemy problems with entering this lovely grand yearly contest. Problem one - As can be seen from the above photos, this girl just doesn't really wear 'tops', but rather dresses that one wears with jeans or leggings. And problem two - school is not out so this girl is still busy homeschooling two home-remaining totally awesome students and teaching a few classes for other homeschoolers at CFT.

So what is one to do when one cannot join in on a creative party filled with fun and fabulous sewists? This girl decided she must try a party of her own. A dress party! A summer dress party! A celebration of creative fashion goodness!

So get those creative juices flowing! Dream. Make a pencil sketch, or begin the hunt for that perfectly dreamy dress pattern, then embark upon the search for the perfectly 'you' fabric. Then sew away, my friend! If you are anything like this girl, it all takes time, but no worries. We will have till August 31. But if you have bunches of free time on your hands, head on over to Made by Rae and join her fun contest, then come on back this way, to make a lovely summer dress.

Dresses may be entered any time between now and August 31. I will have a few of my very fashionable friends be our friendly judges. And there will be prizes of course!

Here are some simple guidelines:

1 - Put a picture of your newly made creation on the Lovely Summer Dress Challenge flickr group, with the link to your specific blog post where you tell your lovely dress-story.

2 - Link back to my blog in your own post. If your heart so desires, grab my Lovely Summer Dress Challenge button and add it to your blog page.

3 - Spend a goodly amount of time strolling through our flickr group. Get inspiration. Meet new friends. And leave happy little comments. We all love words of praise and encouragement.

If you would like to contribute prizes to this grand soiree, please email moi at tinaratliff@gmail.com

Happy sewing, friends!

* * * * *

Here's the ever so lovely button thanks to youngest boy:

and the html stuff to make it work - thanks to married man.

Wednesday's Bread - Tartine Bread with Hummus

2011-04-21T10:53:00.000-07:00

Today this girl made her family another Basic Country Loaf from Tartine Bread by Chad Robertson. Being the second time through, a much more easy process it happily was. The leaven was more developed and active since feedings have been daily. This family of silly boys tease that it has become our new family pet and claims that this girl talks to it. I don't. But, this girl does care for it quite particularly, and is beginning to wonder what one will do with my little lovely when a vacation is someday embarked upon.

Today's bread was served with Hummus, a family favorite.

Here is this girl's recipe for Hummus:

Place 2 cans garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained, in a Cuisinart:

Add the juice of 2 - 3 lemons:

2 cloves garlic:

1 teaspoon kosher salt:

1 tablespoon cumin:

1/4 cup sesame seeds, ground:

If sesame seeds are lacking in the pantry, tahini or even peanut butter will do nicely.

A few dashes cayenne pepper:

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil:

Blend in food processor until smooth, adding a bit of water as needed.

Enjoy with fresh bread, or even carrots and tortilla chips!

These are my days...

2011-04-18T13:29:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it seems as if joys

are covered over with the heavy cloth of life's struggles,

blinding one from seeing the goodness all around.

I forget to enjoy,

to look up,

to breathe,

to smile

and enjoy this day,

my awesome children,

and my dear husband.

I am missing it.

Missing life.

My life.

My wonderful, simple, sweet life.

Lord, help this girl to notice the many graces in this life.

My wonderful, simple, sweet life:

A whole-family-all-together dinner:

These two boys building a garden:

and a waterfall made with clay pots

which this momma preferred over last week's project

of exploding soda bottles filled with dry ice.

Afternoons at the beach together:

Lazy Girl Quilt Along - Square One

2011-04-16T00:44:00.000-07:00

Square one. Done.

I love how ginormous it is:

Neighborhood dog and square one.

This girl is determined to build this scrappy quilt no more

until the next grand gathering of lovelies in two weeks

so if you are joining us from lands so far away,

plenty time is at hand

to gather colorful scraps and join in!

Join us in the lazy girl quilt along Flickr group for sharing progress.

Wednesday's Bread - Tartine Bread

2011-04-13T21:52:00.000-07:00

Tonight we listened to the song of bread together.

That is what Chad Robertson of Tartine in San Francisco calls the faint crackling sound heard as bread is cooling. This was my first loaf of bread made from his most amazing and beautiful book, Tartine. Never has this girl made a loaf quite like it. We were all truly shocked at how authentic it looked and tasted. I highly recommend this bread book. It has many, many detailed and artful pictures showing every step along the way, making it quite doable. It's a must have!

2011-04-12T00:08:00.000-07:00

Improv  Single Lazy-Girl Quilt Tutorial 

Yes. This girl, being up way too late

cuz Married Man and This Boy

are in my room chatting about all things computer,

thinks Lazy Girl Quilt,

a more appropriate name,

and quite funny at this wee hour.

A dandy name for the soon to be embarked upon quilt!

I promised a tutorial,

and this girl keeps promises given, so here we go...

This tutorial is a rather simple improv version of a Single Girl quilt. Several lovelies will be joining this girl in my homey home every other Thursday evening to create this quilty goodness. An olde fashioned, yet quite modern, quilting circle we will be. Lots of fun, and maybe some chocolate and wine, we will have. Here are the detaily details if you would like to do the same in your own homey home. After this week, I will start a flickr group for us to show all our quilty goodness.

I have worked 3 sizes. Again, this is my own improv version:

Each full circle is a whopping 22" square.

Queen - 88"x110"
it will be 4 circles by 5 circles

Throw or Lap quilt - 66"x88"
it will be 3 circles by 4 circles

Baby - approx 44"x44"
it will be 2 circles by 2 circles

I highly suggest using a Kona Cotton for the solid colored fabric. They are consistent in color if more of the same hue is needed later. This girl tends to buy things in smaller increments. It seems that each complete circle takes about 2/3 of a yard. I am using 'bone' by Kona for all of the solid. Another lovely is using different colors for each circle. We will only purchase fabrics for the quilt top at this time. I usually wait until I have completed the top to choose the back, binding and batting. I do not pre-wash my fabrics.

To begin our improv version, cut the desired quarter-of-a-circle shape out of a 11" SQUARE piece of paper. Mine is not quite a true circle, The 'corners are pushed out a little, making it a square-ish circle. We will use these 3 pieces as a template, simply adding 1/2" around all edges to allow for seam allowance. You will see better as we go along. I promise.

We will begin by making our first quarter circle piece:

And trim, leaving 1/2" for seam allowance:

Here is how:

To make this curved piece, begin by arranging scraps in the order you would like:

Join the first 2 fabrics, making sure they are plenty wide:

Open up and press flat with your fingers.

Lay the template over and see where the next shape should go:

Add on the next piece. Notice how I angle them to get them in the shape of the template:

Continue attaching random widths at angles:

When your curved strip is wide enough, go to the ironing board, and press it:

Pin on the template:

Cut curved strip, leaving 1/2" seam allowance all around:

Now pin your other 2 templates to your solid fabric.
I used a white for most of this tutorial.

Cut, leaving 1/2" for seam allowances:

Here are the 3 pieces so far:

Next I folded my pieces, marking the 1/2 way point on both edges of the curve, and on each of the curved lines of the white fabric:

You can see my markings at the fold a little better here:

Pin together at the center point and the 2 edges:

Now, go pin-crazy if you like, easing the curve as you go.

Stitch 1/2" from edge, easing the fabric as you go along.

Open up and admire your improv goodness:

Now we will sew on the remaining shape.

Match the center points and the edges as we did previously:

Press, then you can begin joining them together as they are completed:

(After making 2 quarter circles, this practical momma decided white pillows in a house full of fun loving boys probably would not be the best of ideas. I actually ripped out the white and switched it for grey.) Here you can see that I did each step, four at a time. I don't know why. But that is what I did. You can do them one at a time if you like.

Finally, join all four quarter circles, right sides together.

You can see here how I pressed the seams in opposite directions so the center point is not too bulky.

Here you can see the 4 quarters joined together:

After a bit of colorful hand-stitching,

this became a simple pillow for folks resting on our couch,

...or little ones rolling on the floor...

Now I will begin my Lazy-Girl quilt

with the company of some lovely ladies.

A Corner Was Brightened

2011-04-05T20:36:00.000-07:00

This clunky door

stood all broken down and sad

quite uncomely and dejected

against a weary fence

as I drove by one day

a long while back.

Pass it by

I could not

for hidden beauty was seen

by this silly girl.

Married Man loves

that his girl,

with side-of-the-road treasures in hand

arrives home

as happy as if she had been treated

to the greatest of shopping sprees.

Loading this rather weighty find so lovely

into the car by myself

was quite a feat,

But maneuver it into the car,

this girl did.

Since that day long ago,

it has been waiting in the corner,

or rather glaring at me,

demanding some inspiration

other than the random draping of this thing or that.

A few days back

this girl decided to make something

and of course, make it now

when preparing dinner for delightful friends

was the more appropriate use of this girl's time.

Being in such a hurry,

the room,

no, the house,

was quite strewn

with scraps of all possible goodnesses.

of yarn, fabrics, laces and more...

A few hours and a big mess later,

voila!

a curtain-ish lovely brightens the corner.

But a meal for dear friends

must be made.

The table set.

Our hearts prepared.

So set aside this curtainly creation I did.

Being the imperfectionist that I am,

tape and thumbtacks hide behind said door

where none can see.

So, indeed, someday I will return,

new lovely.

This girl will in time add

a goodly amount of stitches and adornment

to our newly brightened corner.

An Improv Single Girl Quilt

2011-04-01T13:55:00.000-07:00

I love Denise Schmidt's Single Girl Quilt:

I love the simplicity and the old fashioned yet modern design. Most of the fabric is solid and the colorful circles are made with scraps, making it a budget friendly project. Being the patternless sewist that I am, I thought this might be a great pattern to embark upon actually following. With further research, and to my great disappointment, I discovered it's loveliness to not be as simple as this married girl had hoped. Each of the circles takes 32 separately cut shapes using templates. Doing the multiplication, I realistically decided such a pattern is not for moi. A smallish baby quilt alone would take nearly 200 smallish intricately cut pieces. Oh dear. A bit much for a highly non-perfectionist girl who likes to see a happily finished product sitting around the house in less than a decade.

So. What about an improvisational version? This girl, needing pillows around the house, and lots of them, alighted upon a small experiment, hoping for a simple way to create an Improv Single Girl circle. I think I did it. My own way. This one circle measuring about 22" x 22" was joyfully held up for my married man's approval in less than an hour and turned into a pillow shortly thereafter:

Although married man didn't jump up and down or burst out in melodious praises at the greatist of accomplishments, this girl is now ready to begin the Improv Single Girl Quilt journey. Not being in the hunkering for a journey alone, and being somewhat enticed by the idea of an old fashioned quilting circle, I'm welcoming a few kindred dearies into my homey home for said circle of happy sewists.

For those of you kindred ones who can not make it to this homey home filled with quiltie friends, a tutorial is in the workey works. I promise. But as my homeschool week is upon me, time for reading good books and guiding my remaining two is quite at hand for this girl...

Today I'm linking up with Kojodesigns. They have some pretty amazing tutorials.

These are my days...

2011-03-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

Down the street:

In my kitchen:

In process for my Dear One:

In the snow:

I Am a Home Schooler

2011-03-25T08:00:00.001-07:00

An Early American Day - And One Man

I am a home schooler.

My two youngest boys go to Covenant Family Tutorial one day a week,

with other classical Christian home schooled children.

I am one of the teachers.

We have been studying the early years of our nation.

We had an Early American Day.

We began our day by exploring:

noticing our surroundings,

and taking notes

to inspire nature poems.

We prepared:

and ate rustic food:

We played some of the same games

the Native American children might have played:

Cliff Hodges, owner, founder and CEO of Adventure Out, was our guest:

He showed us many things the early Americans made to survive:

He told us great stories of his own hunting adventures using only his handmade weapons.
He is a brave man.

He chipped obsidian to make the beginnings of an arrowhead:

A finished arrowhead takes more than 20 hours to complete.
It is good for only one shot.
He is a patient man.

He makes bows from a thick piece of special hard wood,

and even uses various parts of the animal to complete all his weapons,

just like people of earlier times would have done.

He is a hardworking man.
Like the earliest of Americans.

The younger children made their own bows and arrows,
using foam shapes, sticks, feathers and string,
and imagined life in early America:

A great day was had!

*****

Personally, I was inspired by One Man.

A man who is patient.
A man who works hard.
A man who followed his passion
and built a successful business because of it.
A man who inspires others.
To embrace that which interests them.
To work hard developing skills.
And to work hard some more.

*****

Are we always telling our children to work hard
so they can go to college
and get a good job
and live happily ever after?

Or do we encourage
our children
our friends
our selves
to find that which naturally flows from them,
their passion,
their gifts,
and work hard at that?
To find their Place?

For I dare to think
each of us finding our Place
is what will bring
our children
our friends
and ourselves
the richness of this life.

And a difference in our world it will make.

*****

Homeschool-mom hat # 342:

Help my children find their unique gifts and run with it...

Wednesday's Bread

2011-03-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

Today was a learning day! To begin with, I discovered that my adventure in Tartine Bread making will take some goodly amount of patience. Not only does it take at least a week to make the starter each bread begins with, but there is alot alot alot of reading and persnickity details to familiarize ones self with. I'm up for the happy challenge, though. This book has a plenteous amount of gorgeous pictures, showing each baby step of the way, making my personal challenge seem sufficiently do-able. Can I say that I even like how the pages of the book feel to the touch? It is definitely not ordinary slick and shiny paper. It has texture. I appreciate such detaily things.

Today I familiarized myself with my new, long awaited for, scale, by remaking a recipe from Amy's Bread. Measuring in grams using the scale was significantly different than the given cup measurements, making for a better dough, for sure. It made a grand difference.

I also tried kneeding in the bowl like shown in Tartine Bread. Fabulous. It was sooo much easier. I didn't kneed any extra flour into the dough at all, and no mess on the floor or me.

My starter is beginning to come alive. I will be feeding it. Smelling it. Taking notes. Until it's ready for a Wednesday's Bread of it's own.

Simeon's Quilt - Loved

2011-03-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

This boy and his momma made a quilt:

He made all the different shaped doggy squares.

You can see this boy was a tiny bit younger when this project he began:

I put them together:

****

I always take another quilt of the desired size and lay it on my bed. Then I arrange the squares on top. It's my small-house version of a design board. Simeon had a big say in the design process here. After arranging them, I cut and pieced in the brown negative space, or sashing. A lot of up and down from my machine to the ironing board, then to my bedroom, and back....

You can read more about our process here.

****

The back of the quilt is simple.

A dog house on two of the corners,

One for Beau and one for Maddie,

was sweetly insisted upon by this boy

who misses his doggies so:

for once upon a time,

buddies they were:

An Adventure Was Had

2011-03-15T21:12:00.000-07:00

I love my boys.

I love my days with my boys.

Not too long ago

this boy and I went on an adventure.

Adventures are great.

Adventures are wonderful.
Adventures are memories that last forever.

This adventury day was especially delightful

because it was an adventure had together.

Just the two of us
heading to the big city
with all it's charms
and the best charm of all
his sister and new brother
so greatly missed.

After leaving behind
our car filled with sleeping-over goods

not too far from this boy's sister's homey home,

I pulled out a well-worn piece of paper from my bouquet bag.
Reading these detailed directions

written especially for moi,

by my dear one,

who knows me oh so well.

She knows I am

her silly momma who really

practically hardly ever knows
how to get from this place to that.

This boy and his silly mama

read each street name.

We stood at this corner...looked to the right...turned left...

passed streets...then right...

to wait for the bus here:

After reading more signs and landmarks from my listy list,
getting off at the right stop....

walking up stairs...turning left....past a little pastry shop...

we arrived at the steps of the illustrious De Pietro Todd:

Being her model on this adventure filled day

getting a fresh hair cut was a long awaited pleasure.

A few shared moments with my daughter.

Just being there.

Seeing her face.

Feeling her touch.

Hearing her voice again.

A peek into her artsy talented world

of accomplished instructors

and kindly fellow stylists.

Sneaking in a little mother-daughterly-ness while chair ensconced.

But, not too much.

Shared moments for brother and sister

while brother spins in his fancy chair

along side this momma and her Dear One catching up.

Alas. Our time, to an end, finally comes.

This boy and his momma's adventure

goes on through Chinatown:

with its many odd sites:

attacking birds:

and beauties:

We spied a shop for the serious fisherman,

later finding out this is where many hair stylists get their supplies

of pink feathers and such

for the artful up-do:

We ate some rather ordinary snacks:

Then met up with my Dear One's Love

at Union Square:

Journeying back

we picked up my Dear One

when her long day was done:

Then being the kind of momma that I am

and always will be,

upon arrival to their homey home

put away my camera,

and with my adventured boy's help,

cooked up a tasty dish of lasagna goodness

so my Dear One and her Love

can come home to good food

the remaining days of their week,

for being so far away

I can no longer bring

and pies

and other such lovelies

whenever this heart desires.

So this will have to do.

For a while.

Till adventures to the city continue

with the next boy

who already can hardly wait

for his sister and newly brother to see.

Spinach Ricotta Cannelloni Made with Fresh Pasta

2011-03-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

This boy had a birthday.

His 19th.

I made this for his dinner:

Being pretty amazing,

-the pasta, not the boy

although the boy is a great guy indeedy,

but that's another story for another day -

this pasta is also especially simple.

So...

before this recipe was forgotten forever,

and never properly repeated again,

I put it down,
although not with paper and pen,
for posterity's sake.

Afraid of fresh pasta making

I no longer am.

My hope of all hopes
is now to relieve any fears
had by my dear lovely friends.

I first embarked upon
my adventures in fresh pasta goodness

after watching this by Jamie Oliver:

Doesn't he make it look soooo simple.

Like, why would anyone buy pasta anyways?

He seriously makes a complete pasta dish

from scratchedy scratch

in under 7 minutes.
This good man inspires.

So pull out the dusty pasta roller
if it can be remembered
which nook it was
oh so many years ago
put to rest on.

Whether it's manual or a KitchenAid pasta roller,

let's give homemade pasta a whirl.

Along the way,
a few questions will I answer.
Such as,
Which kind of flour is best?
Do the cut noodles need to be boiled first?
Can I make it the night before?
These questions I answer
because these questions I had.
I hunted and searched,
fiddled and mussed with it all,
so you can avoid such ponderings
and get down to the easy peasy
pasta making and eating!

Firstsies?
The putting on of an apron.
This is a must if like me,

you are a messy goodness-maker.

For my marinara sauce:

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 onion chopped
3 cloves garlic chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 26 ounce jar marinara
1 28 ounce can tomatoes
pinch red pepper
pepper
1/2 cup red wine

To make your own marinara sauce, saute onion and garlic in olive oil a few minutes, until soft. Add basil, salt, jarred marinara, tomatoes, red pepper, pepper and wine. Turn on low and let simmer for at least 20 minutes. Set aside to cool. Or, skip it all. Use a jar. I won't tell.

My cannelloni filling:

8 ounces frozen chopped spinach
2 12 oz containers ricotta cheese
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup parmesan cheese

Thaw spinach and squeeze out excess liquid. In a smallish bowl, combine spinach with ricotta, egg, salt and parmesan. Set aside.

For the fresh pasta dough:

4 eggs

3 cups unbleached flour*

1 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons water

*Some, including Martha Stewart, say to use '00' flour. It's an Italian finely ground flour, mostly found at specialty stores at a higher price. I tried it, too. No big deal. I really couldn't tell the difference. And if one is going to make pasta more often, it's more practical to use what is already in the pantry! Simple is best, I say.

Combine eggs, flour, salt and water in food processor:

Mix the dough. If too wet, add a few tablespoons flour until crumbly.

It should look something like this:

Shape into a ball, and divide into 4 pieces:

I know. That's only 3. But I didn't think to take a picture till I had already run one through the press.

Some say to let the dough rest 30 minutes under a bowl. Some, including Jamie Oliver, don't bother. I've tried both ways. When in a hurry I don't let it rest. When I get interrupted with mommy stuff, I let it rest and come back to it when I can. The dough really doesn't seem too fussy.

Flatten dough a bit, and run it through the pasta machine on the lowest setting. Fold in half and run it through again:

Now you are ready to begin making it thinner. You will no longer fold it, but will make one long and longer thin sheet. Turn the dial to #2 and run it through.

Now turn the dial to #3. Continue making your pasta very thin until you have run the pasta through on the #6 setting. Your sheet will be very long and translucent.

I found that if my pasta began to get sticky, lightly dusting it with flour inbetween settings was helpful. Keep your work surface dry and sprinkled with flour, too, for moisture is the death of pasta.

Cut the looooong sheet of pasta into squares:

If you lay them in a pile, be sure they are not too moist or they will stick to one another. Dusting liberally with flour eliminates stickiness. It also makes for dusty shoe tops. Make a note to self. Check shoes before going out of the house.

Guess what? You don't need to boil the sheets first. I have watched cooking shows and read blogs and other trusty recipes. They mostly say to boil the sheets first. Being someone who really doesn't like to be bothered with a guzillion pans to wash in the end, I tried skipping the boiling step. It works!

Place about 2 tablespoons of the ricotta mix across each square:

Roll it up:

Coat the bottom of a 9"x13" pan with half of the marinara. Place filled cannelloni on top:

Continue filling the pan, then top with remaining marinara:

At this point, it can be covered with plastic wrap and put in the fridge until the next day. Being one to always make things more practical and simple, I made 2 pans so I could try it. It really works. I love make ahead meals!

When ready to bake, cover with foil, and bake at 350 until bubbly and cooked through, about 30 minutes if room temperature, and about 45 minutes if it has been refrigerated. They will puff slightly. And look oh so yummy.

Remove foil and top with jack or cheddar cheese, returning to the oven for a few minutes until melted.

Let rest a few minutes before digging in. Now pour a nice glass of wine and enjoy sitting around the table with the family!

Tuesday's Thrift

2011-03-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

Quite a stack of vintagy fabric goodness.

I gave the dress on top of the stack to my Dear One.

A totally 60's dress.

I can't wait to see how this creative girl uses it in her wardrobe.

Second from the top is a sheet.

I'm pretty sure I had one just like it when I was a kid.

Pass it up, I could not.

What will I make?

I have no idea.

Yet.

The mint polka dot sheet was spoken for at first sight by my young friend.

This new and excited sewist

wants me to help her in the making of this:

Crepe by Collette Patterns

And the previously loved chenille baby blanket at the bottom of the stack?

Well, of course I'm saving that one,

for someday...

when there are grandbabies

needing this grandmama to sew them

all things good.

I Am a Homeschooler

2011-03-02T11:43:00.000-08:00

I am a homeschooler.

It is my passion.

Before my sewing, cooking, bread baking and crafting,

I am a homeschooler.

My world of all things crafty

flows out of my love for homeschooling,

and making my children's experience both educational and art-filled.

I believe creativity naturally flows out of a disciplined, orderly life.

Now, I don't mean orderly as in the house all tidy and clean every minute of every day,

for this house is not.

I mean orderly in the sense of having a serious educational plan

that challenges and inspires us,
is fit to each individual,
provides a biblical worldview,

and makes life-long learning-loving people out of us.

I am still in the process of actively homeschooling my 2 youngest.

I love my days with them.

Some of the greatest moments in my life have been while teaching my children.

I will tell you just one.

My youngest had what I called situational dyslexia.

There is no such thing.

He doesn't have dyslexia at all.

But when he was a little guy he got everything mixed up.

And I mean everything.

White was black.

Up was down.

Big was small.

Yesterday was tomorrow.

More was less.

Forwards was backwards.

I could go on.

When he was around 5 years old,

my oldest, sweet Hannah, and I were sitting on my bed trying to teach him some early math.

Yep. Homeschooling is a whole-family affair around here.

Now, try teaching someone to add

that can't comprehend more and less!

We tried and tried.

We used every possible way we could think to get it across

to my boy,

her adorable brother.

Throwing up our arms,

which had already been flying in hopes of some gesture that would bring light

to the mystery of teaching such things

to such a boy,

we fell backwards on the bed

laughing hysterically at the impossibility

and the pure cuteness of our predicament.

He was laughing, too.

He still laughs at his story,

for it is often told.

We put math aside for another day,

when this boy was ready.

He wasn't labeled as a slow learner that day,

or put in a special class.

He was ... enjoyed.

He gave us memories that day.

Memories that will always be with us.

Memories rather than fear and frustration because

I am a homeschooler.

***********

On a typical homeschool day,

here is what my ever so lovely centerpiece

of freshly picked lemons can become:

Simeon's Quilt

2011-02-26T16:02:00.000-08:00

Remember this boy and his quilt?

Recently finishing all the not-so-very-square squares

quite by his happy little self,

and arranging them like so,

the precious pieces were entrusted to his mama.

Being the imperfectionist that I continue to be,

I left his free form square-ish squares quite alone

only pressing them a very tiny little bit:

The brown in betweeny stuff,

the negative space,

is pieced,

which was no easy task, this mama might add.

Modern quilts,

or those made without the use of perfectly detailed patterns,
with measurements and rules,

can be a tad trickedy,

but is still most definitely preferred by this silly girl.

A little quilty sandwich making,

and a lot of squiggly free motion quilting:

all while this boy excitedly waits

and waits

and waits some more....

Wednesday's Bread

2011-02-23T20:42:00.000-08:00

Blt on a homemade rye, parmesan and onion bread

Some Favorites and Some Hopefuls

2011-02-18T22:54:00.000-08:00

The first of the year has become the distant past

and the traditional season of

happy new-year-making resolutions

and grandiouse-goal setting

has ceased.

We like setting goals.

We like setting our eyes on the high and exciting

and dreaming,

of a better ... everything,

for this is how the great rise to their potential,

right?

Usually, yes.

Well, a rather good Lead Man

and his wifey wife - that's me

were going to set aside some timedy time

for grand list making of our own

in hopes of making it a grand year, indeed.

Alas, we have given up.

Now, a bad thing it is not, I think.

This couple of 28 goal-setting seasons

resigned to 'going with the flow' this year,

which in all honesty of honesties,

is what really happens each and every year in spite of our nicely enumerated high-hopes.

This man and his wife remember the life dreamed of

sitting on a grassy hill.

Together.

Teenagers in love.

Hand in hand.

There we knew the names of our first 2 children,

and knew we would spend our lives as one.

We knew an adventure lied ahead.

An adventure

from beginning to end

lead by our God.

Our goals set on that grassy hill

though simple, occasionally have been lost sight of,

due to things that matter not

to this wife and her man.

However urgent thingy things appeared for a while,

urgent they were not,

for insignificant they were.

Back to the simple,

or for us, the foundational,

again we return.

On that grassy hill...

we decide to grow old together.

To be the grandparents

who tell stories of God's faithfulness,

of the wonders of God's grace in their lives.

We choose to make it to the end

together.

On that grassy hill...

we decide our family is our center.

Our primary purpose.

It is.

It will always be.

Only thingy things that

are for the good of our family

will be paths we take.

Is it a distraction?

Or will it encourage our children?

To love?

To grow in their gifts and build character?

Will it show them more of who their God is?

If not, we say "fare thee well",

great pathy path of things not for us.

On that grassy hill...

I decide to be an encouraging wife.

College for me a goal was not.

A good friend and support

to my Lead Man in his endeavors

this is what I want to be.

This rather imperfect wifey wife

thinks a college degree would have been a simpler feat,

but moment by moment

an encouraging wife I still aim to be.

On that grassy hill...

he chose to provide

so I could be a home school mom.

A good provider he has always been

though some of our days have been lean,

this man puts his head down in determination,

and patiently presses forward out of love.

So for all these things I choose to pray.

That God's blessing would be

on this simple family

and our days

in the year ahead

as we pursue His purposes.

So what about 2010?

Some of my favorite things past:

Favorite quilt - Levi's.

Favorite quilt, ever.

For many reasons.

God answered prayer. My friend is well.

Favorite scary thing conquered:

Driving to SF and taking the transit to Hannah's work. I have become very thankful for smart phones when I am not.

A favorite realization:

I've learned that I really don't enjoy making things with the purpose to sell, but truly enjoy making things for those I love. I'm comfortable with not having a cottage business. My goal for this blog is to just put myself out there in hopes that from time to time it might encourage others in some meaningful way. I'm thankful for a husband who makes my comfy sweet life possible.

A favorite event:

Nerf gun war with the whole family Christmas evening.

A few favorite additions:

A real camera, a real sewing machine, and a tent trailer. When one doesn't have babies any more these become considered as 'additions'.

A favorite read-aloud:

Heidi. I read it to my oldest two quite a while back, and now to my youngest two. Being boys, they thought they could not possibly enjoy a book with a girl's name as the title. Within a few paragraphs, their mind's were changed. We loved every page of it. Even the parts where mom teared up. Last time through, I remember handing Hannah the book to let her continue the reading when I would get weepy. This time I just kept reading, weepy or not. Sometimes they snickered at me. Sometimes they smiled at me. Somewhere near the end of the book, they said they would always fondly remember mom tearing up during story-time.

Hopefuls for 2011:

I'm not sure if this qualifies for a hopeful, but my neighbors and sons are threatening to teach me to surf. Eee gads. I find I'm just sitting on the beach a lot with no babies to chase anymore, which basically boils down to...no more excuses.

Grow in artisan bread baking skills - My oldest son just gave me Tartine's book.

Amazing. I'm determined. My youngest son is joining me in my journey. We read the book together and are awaiting the purchase of a food scale so we can begin. My middlest son thinks it's pretty cool that the author loves to surf and has persued his passion for bread. All this leads to another hopeful:

Walk to Tartine with my Dear One to buy a loaf of bread fresh from their ovens in the city.

Improve camera skills, if only slightly - It's pretty far down the priority list, after family, fun, teaching, trips to SF, being involved in the lives of those around me. But, my camera and I pretty much do all these together, so it would be a great advantage to spend time reading up on the how-to's. And maybe even a little Photoshop or Lightroom. Here is a group of pictures that I captured while doing some second shooting at a wedding with my friend Julie.

Being a professional photographer, she touched up my pictures making them look amazing. This shows me there is soooo much I can learn about such things. I don't make a good wedding photographer, either. I prefer capturing the unusual or personal, rather than wedding party people.

A practical hopeful, be more affectionate. I didn't grow up around touchy people so it doesn't come naturally. But I'm so far from those growing up days, that there are really no more good excuses for that one either. Time to show a bit more of what's inside.

See how many miles we can bike with the kids in a year. What I am really really really hoping for, is to try some new trails. Lead Man and I are such creatures of habit. So far...about 6 miles, one iced tea, a latte, and 2 frappes.

Take the privilege of praying for my husband and kids more seriously. I've been focusing on this a bit more lately, and plan to continue throughout the year.

My hopefuls are pretty simple and coincide with our original on-the-grassy-hill goals. I'm pretty happy with my uncomplicated life. If any big stuff needs to change, I'm sure we'll figure that out along the way. Life has a way of leading forward.

I would love to hear some of your favorites and hopefuls, too! We are all different, with unique gifts, personalities and purposes. May your families and lives be blessed this year as you walk in your own adventure ahead.

These are my days...

2011-02-16T13:09:00.000-08:00

Wednesday's Bread

2011-02-10T01:16:00.000-08:00

Wednesdays are bread days in this homey home.

After some messy, confusing attempts at making this complex bread, I am getting better at it, and thought I would share what I have learned so others might attempt artisan bread baking. Although I am not a professional, either in the photographer or baker category, I thought some might like to see my process. It's the next best thing to rolling up ones sleeves and hanging out for a day and a half. Not that baking a loaf of artisan bread takes all that time, it's just snippets of time here and there, making for a great homey day. It is my hope that seeing the process in pictures, will encourage some to give it a try.

This recipe is adapted from the book Amy's Bread by Amy Scherber and Toy Kim Bupree.

Here we go. A crazy long post mostly in pictures.

***********************************

The night before, make the biga starter by doing the following:

In a large bowl combine 3/4 cups very warm water with 1/8 teaspoon active dry yeast. What is very warm water? About 105 degrees...or very hot to the touch, but not so hot you want to move your hand away.

Stir in 1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour.

If it is too thick like this:

add in warm water a tablespoon at a time:

until it looks more like this:

Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon for a few minutes until it becomes an elasticy batter:

Cover your biga starter with saran wrap and a towel. Set on your counter over night. In the morning your biga should have risen, and be 'alive'. It will look a little bubbly:

Set it aside for a while longer.

In another very large bowl combine 1/4 cup very warm water and 1 teaspoon active dry yeast. Let stand for a few minutes:

Meanwhile, in another bowl, combine 3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour, 2 1/3 cups unbleached bread flour, 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats, 2 tablespoons kosher salt, 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, 2 tablespoons poppy seeds, 1/4 cup sunflower seeds, and 2 tablespoons flax seeds. The seeds are really up to you. If you don't have them, don't use them, or put in what you like. Set aside:

Back in the bowl with the yeast and water setting, add 2 3/4 cups more cool water (75 degree-ish), 2 tablespoons molasses, 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil, 2 1/2 tablespoons honey:

1 1/2 cups of your biga starter:

Mix with your fingers for a few minutes until it is pretty well combined.

like this:

Now add the mixture of flours. I used a hard plastic spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl and pull the wet ingredients into the dry, but a dough scraper is recommended.

When it is all combined, turn it out on to a very lightly floured board:

I use my metal dough scraper to gather the dough into a ball:

Not a good time for a hug or an itchy nose:

I was pretty accustomed to using bunches and bunches of flour in my kneeding, but artisan breads are more wet, and require the use of as little additional flour as possible. There are 2 things I rotated between in order to help knead such a sticky dough.

One. From time to time, I simply pat my hands in a small pile of flour to flour my fingertips:

Then gently touch the dough and continue kneading:

Two. I would use the dough scraper to lift the dough when it becomes too sticky again:

After a good amount of kneading, the texture changes to a nice stretchy dough. Here is my basic kneading technique.

I lift the edge of the dough either with the scraper:

or as it becomes less sticky, with my hands:

I fold it towards me and press the heals of my hands down:

then away from me:

I turn the dough a quarter turn then fold it in half towards myself again:

press down and away again:

My camera man took a turn:

After 8-10 minutes or so of working the dough, put the nicely kneaded ball in a large bowl:

Cover with oiled saran wrap.

Cover with a towel.

Set aside to rest for 20 minutes or so:

Now the dough stretches easily:

Press 1 cup toasted (and cooled) pecans into your dough in the bowl:

Knead it together in the bowl, pulling sides into the middle:

After kneading it on my board again for a few minutes, the dough goes into my large, lightly oiled bowl. Cover with oiled saran wrap and let rise 2 hours.

My second batch can be seen in the back. This recipe makes 2 loaves. I doubled it making 4 loaves and divided it into 2 bowls at this stage. It was beneficial for me to make this recipe several times to learn the techniques before doubling it to make 4 loaves rather than 2. But after you get the hang of it, it really takes hardly any extra time to make a double batch. I find I am much more eager to give away a loaf when I have an abundance.

The dough is fully risen when an indentation made by pressing your finger into the dough does not spring back:

Divide dough in half with sharp knife or dough scraper:

Press each piece into a rectangle removing all air bubbles:

Roll the skinny end away from you:

Pinch edges to seal the log:

Place seam side down in a lightly greased 5x7 bread pan.

Sprinkle with oats or sesame seeds if desired.

If they don't stick, dip your fingertips into water and rub the top of the loaf moistening it just a smidge, then sprinkle on the oats and press down into the dough a bit.

Cover again with oiled saran wrap and let rise in a warmish place for 2 to 2 1/2 hours till doubled.

Here are my 2 other loaves. I didn't have enough bread pans, so I placed them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. It works. I cut a few slits in the top with a sharp knife.

OK. Here is where it gets a bit tricky. But hold on. It's worth it:

20 minutes before baking place a cast-iron skillet and a mini loaf pan or foil pie plate on the floor of the oven.

Place the oven rack to be used for the bread in the middle of the oven.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

5 minutes before the loaves are ready to bake, place 2 ice cubes in the small loaf pan in the bottom of the oven.

When the loaves are ready, place them in the oven. Pour 1 cup or so of water into the cast-iron skillet and quickly close the door. It's all about the steam! The recipe recommends a quick spray with water after a minute, but I can't find a spray container that is not filled with some weird science project concoction, so I haven't tried it.

After 20 minutes reduce heat to 400 degrees and bake for another 20-25 minutes. This recipe says to bake till an instant read thermometer reaches 210 degrees. That seems a little over cooked to me. I like to take it out of the oven at about 190 degrees. Remove from pans as soon as cool enough to handle. Let it continue to cool on a rack. If at all possible, try to refrain from slicing and eating for at least 15 minutes, making it easier to slice. But if your home is like my home, that is quite a feat.

A few tips:
Get familiar with how 'very hot' and 'warm' water feel to the touch. Using a thermometer, get one bowl of water to 190 degrees and feel it. Then try 75-80 degrees. I can pretty much tell both my water temperatures by just touching tap water. I don't get out my thermometer any more.

Makes great toast with peanut butter and honey.

I do so hope this has been helpful. I hope it whets a desire in you to learn more about the art of baking bread. In days when everything is so fast paced and purchased, it can be quite fulfilling to slow down and create beautiful and healthy artisan breads.

2011-01-31T20:45:00.000-08:00

This messy mess I could bear no longer

though I quite think

this photo makes it seem so lovely.

In truth it was not so lovely.

Being the first thing to be seen

upon entry to our homey home

today it greeted fair guests no more.

Gathering another canvas from Our Dear One and Her Love's wedding,

(only three more lovelies awaiting their fate remain)

some cotton batting,

an ample piece of vintagy wool blanket

leftover from projects past,

one rather handy staple gun,

and a few minutes stolen

from time that really should be spent

reading and preparing

for a logic and literature class

that a handful of homeschoolers

await for me to teach

on the day next,

And voila!

Surely Now I can think

heady thoughts

of symbolism and plots,

for one little eensy piece

of my homey home

has a little touch of order

mingled with beauty,

happy reminders of days past,

and friends so dear.

Now off to the smarty books I go...

These are my days...

2011-01-27T23:10:00.000-08:00

No snow here.

Just sunny warm days

filled with good surf,

and winter tide-pools

for exploring,

searching,

then showing to mom.

When the rest of this big world has thawed,

and all are basking in the summery sun,

this family will be in the foggy fog.

A Pillow, a Laundry Bag and a Girl

2011-01-23T23:08:00.000-08:00

I love making things.

I especially love making things for my children.

I often ask them which projecty goodness they want me to embark upon for them next.

Sometimes I think they must certainly suppose I don't know them well enough at all.

For you would think I could most definitely figure it out for myself.

But, I cannot.

It is not that I don't know them well.

I do.

But I think it is more that I want them to be part of the creative process,
to have a say,

so it suits their individual unique one-of-a-kind style.

On one of my visits with my ever so far away Dear One in the city,

we spied upon a vintagy pillow.

Telling her I could make something of a similar sort someday,

I took out my little notebook and roughly doodled away.

I even queried her to choose some Hannah-like fabrics right then and there.

I wanted it to be as she liked.

I do hope I haven't given the impression of a finicky girl,

for finicky she is not.

After all,

I don't know of many girls who are excited for the simple gift

of a mom-made pillow.

Now, with a bag of vintagy fabric happily tucked under my arm,

I told her she must please forget about the beauteous stash,
and off to coffee we went.

But forget, she did not.

Instead she was quite looking forward to it,

for Christmas was not in the too distant future.

Well,

I guess the gift giving event was a little too distant for me,

for a sneakity peek

when it was all in pieces still,

I couldn't resist allowing.

On another trip to see my Dear One and Her Love ,

our visit needed to be short but dear,

for laundry,

this busy girl with hardly a spare moment,

had to launder.

As we were hugging and kissing our goodbyes,

and there were lots of them just now

for brothers and dad were dishing out goodbyes, too,

our lovely Dear One had a mom-can-make-it idea.

Laundry bags.

Laundry bags for two.

BIG ones.

With straps for carrying.

I was to design laundry bags for their uphill ambling together

to the place where such mundane things need to be done.

She even handed me the destined vintage sheets as I was walking out the door.

Oh, yes, my sweet daughter knows of my affinity

for making goodness with vintagy sheets.

Behold my Dear One and Her Love,

ready to depart from our homey Christmas gathering,

happy with all their vintagy home made gifts:

But worry not,

for a bottle of good scotch to Her Love was in addition given!

Sewing with Kids - Caleb's Quilt - Finished!!!

2011-01-20T20:35:00.000-08:00

Day 13

We are almost there! Today we sew on the binding.

(If you are just now joining us, you can see what we have done so far here)

Today, Caleb begins by cutting seven 3" strips of our 45" width binding fabric:

We used a Kona Cotton

He sewed them into one long strip, right sides together:

Next, he ironed all seams open:

Then we ironed the long strip in half all the way along making one very, very long 1 1/2" strip with happy sides out. This was then sewn along the edge of the quilt all the way around. Be sure to start with about a foot of the binding hanging off. This helps at the finish when joining up ends.

Since I sewed my finger recently on this powerful not-going-to-stop-for-anything machine, he was a bit nervous. You can see him holding it quite far from any needle action.

I still have the blue painter's tape on the machine as a guide.

Caleb chose to not use pins, but rather to arrange it by hand as he went along. Do what ever you think is best for your child's sewing ability.

And, he makes faces while sewing, too!

I told him so:

Now, the directions for corners:

When you come to the corner, stop about 1/2" from the edge. Stop with your needle down. Pick up the pressure foot, and pivot, then back up off the edge.

Remove the quilt from the machine and trim threads.

This doesn't make sense, but it really works. Trust me. Caleb did :)
Now fold back the strip, off the quilt in the direction you just backed off, making a perfect little triangle:

Then fold it back straight along the edge in the direction you will continue to sew. You will be able to feel that perfect triangle under your thumb:

Now put the quilt to the machine again. Begin sewing 1/2" from the edge, being sure to not catch that 'triangle' you folded underneath. You will begin stitching just after that triangle, keeping it free:

Here you can see the blue painter's tape that helps guide Caleb's straight stitching:

When you get all the way around to the beginning, stop sewing about a foot from where you began.

Remove the quilt from the machine again. Lay the binding around, and mark where it will meet with a chalk marker.

Do this on both ends. This marks where it will be joined:

Now open it up, pinning where the chalk meets, and stitch.

Trim off excess. Caleb had a lot of excess. Better safe than sorry, I say:

Next, fold the strips back together and finish sewing the binding on to the quilt:

Umm. Caleb was pretty excited at this point! Almost done!

Day 14 - Finish!

Snuggle up on the couch, turn on a good movie, and hand sew the binding - together. Just fold it over and slip-stitch it down. We used dull scissors since we were sitting on the couch. He also used 2 bobby pins to hold down the binding, moving them as he went along, instead of the usual pins. I thought this might be a bit too tedious, so I joined in to help him.

Guess who slept happily covered in his own quilt last night!

He thanked me for helping him make it. So precious.

I hope he always remembers our time making a quilt together. I know I will.

Recycled Coffee Sack Grocery Bag

2011-01-18T22:07:00.000-08:00

At Christmas, I ran out of sheets for my thrifty gift-making, but still had one more present to go.

Here is a grocery bag I made for my sister out of recycled coffee bean bags and vintage fabric scraps.
I filled it with wine, marinara sauce and homemade pasta and focaccia bread.

She loved it, which is a great compliment coming from her. She is not a purse kind of girl. Hates them, actually. I hunted for vintage pillowcases that fit her, but nothing shouted her name. Then I spied a pile of burlap coffee bags I had borrowed from a friend for table decorations I put together at an event a while back. They shouted her name. It was perfect for my sister. And, oops Acacia and Garrett, I will be returning one less bag to you! They used them at their wedding.

Did you know that you can go to your local roaster and ask for them? From various countries they receive raw coffee beans in huge burlap sacks. These are from Verve Coffee here in Santa Cruz. You do need a heftier machine to sew with, though. And they can be itchy and sneezy to work with, but well worth it.

Here is my sister and me on the Ranch.

Homemade Almond Joy

2011-01-14T21:05:00.000-08:00

I love time in the kitchen with my kids:

My youngest stirred together the coconut centers, topped it with an almond or two,

then dipped them in melted chocolate

yielding a yummy pile of authentic tasting

Almond Joy.

The recipe is surprisingly simple, and equally delicious.

I could eat them all by myself. But I didn't.

Japanese Tea Ceremony

2011-01-10T14:53:00.000-08:00

I help teach a group of homeschoolers weekly at Covenant Family Tutorial.

Here is one of the great afternoon classes that was held:

This Japanese Tea Ceremony ceremony begins by removing shoes, putting on slippers and quietly sitting on pillows in a circle.

The founder/owner of CFT and teacher Miss Lutz explains the history of the Japanese Tea Ceremony.

We drink tea called a chawan, then make slurping sounds to signify our appreciation to our host:

Being told to slurp by an adult made for some pretty happy kids!

Hot water and lemon cleans the palate:

Putting the cup on the floor in front of them they place both their hands on the ground forming a triangle. A short blessing is said. Except for a few giggles and wiggles, the room is silent.

When each of the several cups is brought to them, they place it in the palm of their hand, look at the cup, turn it in three moves so it faces you again before butting it down. In the Japanese culture, it is important for guests to notice and complement the hostess' dishes.

Now a several course meal is served.
Here is a plate of food representing the mountains and sea eaten in silence,

except for the slurp at the end, of course:

Then a plate with pickles accompanied by white rice:

Popcorn is served representing winter:

More twisting of cups:

At the close of our ceremony, we once again admire our hostess' dishware, marveling at the beauty, thanking her for inviting us:

We silently and respectfully leave the room by bowing:

then backing out:

Gather a group of amazing kids, or just your own, and try a Japanese Tea Ceremony. There are a variety of ways to perform one. Choose the traditions you would enjoy and have fun learning about another time in history, and another culture.

Down the Rabbit Hole Quilt

2011-01-06T22:31:00.000-08:00

Do you remember this quilt?

It has indeed been a while and I have neglected to show its final state. It has embroidery, applique and machine quilting. I really had no plan to begin with other than the inspiration given by this Gee's Bend quilt for the quilty front:

and it just went from there. I chose to do embroidery because I had 2 camping trips planned, and now that I don't have little ones to chase, I quite wanted something quilty to busy myself with, so I ironed on the applique details before our trip commenced, and embroidered away.

At home again, I returned to my mighty Janome 1600 dp for an adventure in whimsical free-motion quilting. (I say 'mighty' Janome, cuz it sewed through my finger not too long ago earning my respect!) It's really a rather simple sewing machine. It only sews forwards and backwards - with power. No zig-zag or fancy stitches. It is what is called a long arm, giving just a little more room to squish a huge quilt into during the sewing process. This machine is really a bare bones model. I even have to remove the feed dogs with a screw driver when doing free motion quilting, which makes it helpful to have a second machine for regular sewing.

Free-motion has become something I really enjoy. I feel like I finally have a non-messy paint brush I can deal with. And you should see me with a paint brush. Not a pretty picture, for sure. Paint everywhere but where it should be. Quilting by swirling and whirling in and around, little abstract, a little orderly, a lot of improv design, seems to flow for me.

For those of you unfamiliar with free motion quilting, here is a video showing the process.

It works well with being a home school mom, too. I'm always one that likes bringing beauty into the home as much as I can. Working at the kitchen table, in the middle of all the home school hustle and bustle and questions and answer also keeps me connected to the kiddos and where they are at in their studies, which is important to me. I can stop and start anytime to help them, walk to the beach, or create dinnertime eats. It takes just minutes to set up or put away. Or I just leave the school & quilt stuff untouched, and we eat around the coffee table.

I used the thicker pearl cotton instead of the traditional dmc floss for the embroidery work.

The larger spiraling circles throughout the quilt complement the 3 round flower appliques.

Now, where to put it. Presently, it is hanging over an old door I have leaned up against the corner of my living room. I can't decide which side I prefer, so it changes from time to time. Or it gets yanked down to cover up snuggly snugglers.

The Ranch

2011-01-02T00:50:00.000-08:00

Let me take you for a walk.

It is the Espinosa family ranch near Calistoga.

I did some growing up on this unchanging land.

Everything is just as I remember as a child.

Everything in it's same place.

With guitar in hand,

and my pet goat at my side,

I spent many hours wandering here as a young girl.

Today is a rainy, somber, yet beautiful day,

for both grandparents have passed.

Mama and Papa are gone,

leaving their love behind.

For this dirt, and all that has life therein, is how they loved.

The ranch is a peaceful, beautiful place.

My sister and her son have lived there.

They have always lived on this land,

always known Papa's love.

This was where our Papa could often be found,

colorful words flying at his attempts to keep machinery working.

The scent of tractor grease is gone,

but in our memories, will remain still longer.

This is the field that grew rocks.

Seriously.

We never understood how.

They just kept popping up out of the ground.

Year after year.

My cousins tell stories of hot summers spent picking up rocks.

The wood pile remains.

Tools lie untouched.

Papa's work worn hands searched this jar for the perfect bolt,

so many years ago.

Tools that toiled the land for years line the shed wall,

A phone hangs quiet and unused.

This is the table were we gathered for dinners.

Papa taught me to drink beer at a very young age,

and eat the world's sweetest red onions that only he could grow.

He would remind me where 'my spot' on the ranch was,

just by the pond in back,

for these grandparents often talked of this place being for their family.

For generations to come.

Here is where Papa hung his hat.

My sister's little red straw hat hung next to his.

Both hats are gone now.

This is where the young took a bath.

It was a sad day when one was 'too old'.

I love this world.

It stands still in time.

It is beautiful.

But it never belonged to me.

My heart was called away to a distant place with My Love.

But I am thankful for my Sister and her Son and their Loves

who carry on the vision

and keep the beauty.

A Vintage Sheet Christmas

2010-12-31T09:40:00.000-08:00

How many things can one do with old sheets?

Alot!

We all are feeling that times are tight.

But I don't think that is why I've turned into a penny pinching,

side-of-the-road free-box scavenger

and thrift store frequenter.

It's just what I do now.

I enjoy it.

I find I don't quite look at things the same.

When I go to the mall, or look through catalogs, I'm really not enticed anymore.

I simply like the old stuff,

the throwaway stuff,

and quite enjoy updating it.

I hope things won't always be so sparsity sparse,

but I think I will always be found with piles of old ladies' throwaways laying around

with pieces cut away to create new lovelies

in an attempt to make my tired house a homey home,

and to share handmade goodness with dear ones.

The first vintage sheet project I will show you is one with a story.

Here is my Christmas dinner table.

Notice the tablecloth and napkins are made from old sheets.

Nothing matches. They are all different.

They were made the night before with what I had left after all my other gifty projects.

I was quite happy with them.

It brought together all the other decorations I had made for our Christmasy home.

Well.

A few minutes into dinner

one delightful son notices that they are sheets.

In great horror he proclaims his discovery

and proceeds to enlighten the younger folks...

what sometimes happens on sheets.
The thought of someone sleeping on their napkins was just too much.

Shrieks and laughter prevailed.

Thankfully, it was family,

so I wasn't completely mortified or embarrassed,

but let's just say some did not use their napkins,

but left them neatly folded where they were placed.

I am hoping my obsession with vintage sheets has not damaged them for life.

But I have a feeling this will be another one of those stories they tell about me throughout the years,

although I'm sure it will be exaggerated.

If that is possible.

One holiday event in the life of the Ratliff family

2010-12-26T22:13:00.000-08:00

We still like each other.

This swing pulls the pusher down the hill uncontrollably:

Imagine this.

Three boys and a dad.

The mud is gooey and deep.

The boys are shouting for dad to push them again.

The huge tractor tire is heavy requiring all one's gusto to give it the desired motion.

This dad looses his traction and is suddenly now flying upon release

for the tire takes out all in it's way, stopping for nothing.

The dad is IN the mud,
Laughing.

Scrambling to get back up before getting pounded by the spinning beast again.

Mind you, this is a man who likes to be clean.

He shudders at the littlest amount of sticky on the silverware it seems he always gets.

He never has bare feet for fear of unidentified objects attaching to the bareness.

Ever.

And now he is quite covered in mud.

One could not even begin to wipe it off.

Gooey, thick mud.

He then checks his socks, boasting they must have stayed clean.

But they had mud on them, too.

We all are laughing.

I am lost in the great moment, forgetting the camera in my hand,

but here is the great swing just moments before:

It's good to laugh.

Life is so complicated that I forget.

A few silly attempts of juxtaposition at the direction of my oldest son:

My men talking:

My man of 28 years:

No. They are not all mine. But what a time was had.
Mud made us kindred spirits, if only for a short time:

Vintage Christmas Stocking Project

2010-12-03T11:35:00.000-08:00

These stockings I made from vintage pillow cases and trimmings.

I love them. I'm seriously considering getting rid of the old traditional red and green stockings and trading them for these. I know. After all these years, that almost seems like sacrilege. My family has given permission. They are not too attached to the old. Red and green have never been my favorite colors anyways. I'm on the hunt for more pillowcases. Pillowcases that are not flowery as there are lots of boys around here!

Here is a set I helped my young Doodling Friend make on Thanksgiving weekend. She loves bright and happy colors. For the pattern size and shape, we just copied one of the old stockings. I can't think of the last time I actually bought a pattern! She appliqued names on hers, and will be giving them as gifts. My Bambi applique is from here. A pretty simple project for the holidays. Give it a try.

Side Tracked

2010-11-29T23:08:00.000-08:00

I've been side tracked.

After a lovely Thanksgiving,

I was happily sewing Christmasy projects

in my cozy little home

surrounded by my perfectly happy little family

feeling rather on top of all things creative and holiday.

Then I got word about a friend.

A friend who is suddenly having crazy health problems.

He is an amazing, artistic, godly young man

with dreams, vision and passion.

He has been side tracked.

He weighs heavy on my heart.

My projects seem frivolous

when someone is struggling so.

I remember being sick so many times

for long spells

and losing babies.

It always seemed weird to me that the world kept going when my world stopped.

Everyone kept working,

doing laundry,

going to church,

playing.

I was never mad at that.

I just thought it was weird how somebody could be so knocked off their feet

and the world not stop just a little.

Well, all that to say, my world stopped a little.

I prayed.

A lot.

And I made a quilt.

For Levi.

Sunday's Graces - Caleb

2010-11-28T14:34:00.000-08:00

Sunday's Graces

A continual numbering of things I am thankful for

to remind me of God's graces in my life

seventy-nine: a lazy fall afternoon together in the city to celebrate 14 years with this amazing boy.

he makes us laugh.

he is tender.

eighty: this father and daughter. together.

eighty-one. all the family playing. laughing. competing.

eighty-two. games that boys play.

and that I don't have to play them,

for somehow, I think the goal was to inflict pain.

eighty-three. simple conversations with my dear one.
i enjoy hearing of her and her love's world.

eighty-four. i am blessed. i am thankful for my family and the simple things we do together. Sometimes we play. Sometimes we go for walks or do chores together. Sometimes we have conversations about movies, theology, economics, or politics. At other times, we converse about whether raindrops are aerodynamic or about computer stuff that I really don't even understand. nor would i ever want to understand. sometimes we just saying nothing at all. i truly am thankful for living a simple life and that i am able to notice and enjoy all these simple things.

Advent Calendar

2010-11-23T22:00:00.000-08:00

I know. I should be cleaning and baking.

But I stumbled upon Handmade by Jill's blog a few days ago. She has a sew along/tutorial going to make Advent calendars. Although I'm so very far behind her schedule, I decided to try whipping one up by the first day of Advent. I've been wanting one for quite a while, now, and Jill's idea of tucking little felties into tiny pockets until hanging them day-by-day on buttons on the tree, was the inspiration I needed. Instead of felt, I'm using a piece of an old army blanket left over from my Woolen Hanging project I made earlier this year. I'll be embellishing with a lot of embroidery, buttons and tiny pockets.

I'm not quite sure what the finished product will be, yet. Ideas usually come as I go along. Which makes me wonder if artists have the whole painting dreamed up in their head when they begin, or if they start with a general idea then just continue creating. I always said I wasn't an artist because I couldn't picture things in my head. But I keep managing to create things, so maybe I should quit saying an artist I am not.

Well, sometimes I let you all into my silly head, hoping to encourage you, because I think a lot of us struggle with the same funky thinking.

Now that the machine sewing is completed, all pieces and essentials are packed not-so-neatly into my sewing bag...just in case I happen to have sitting around time in the next few days. Sitting around that of course doesn't involve games, puzzles or movies that must be watched, not just listened to. Like Elf. You can't just listen to Elf.

But since I didn't do any baking today,

I'm pretty sure to be quite busy in the kitchen for a while.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

Have a delightful, meaningful time with your loved ones.

A Journal Was Made

2010-11-19T19:42:00.000-08:00

A journal was made

for a dear friend so sweet,

who from her place far away

sends me lovely notes on scraps of paper.

Paper torn and layered,

then covered

with doodles.

Whimsical doodles,

of flowers,

squiggles,

butterflies and such.

A multitude of designs

happy and bright

intertwined with heart felt notations

of memories of time together spent

and hopes of new shared moments yet to come.

A journal was made

with my own Quilty squiggles

and buttons

and stitches

french knots
a scrap
and more stitchy doodles

for my friend far away

to fill with her doodley art....

until we again shall meet.

******

To make a journal for a dear friend of your own, sew a tube that fits over the ends, that is nearly twice as long as your book laid open (no rulers and math necessary), and with edges neatly finished. I only did my quilty stuff on the front part of the tube using free motion quilting. This is a picture of the back of the tube. You can see how very long it is and the one seam down the middle. The fun part is embellishing it with doodles and odds and ends.

A Preschool Thanksgiving

2010-11-16T16:52:00.000-08:00

Upon a time

once not too long ago

my dear friend heard my heart

saying it missed having wee ones around

to home school

for homeschooling the tiny

is such a delight.

I said

it will be a joy

to someday have grandchildren

with whom I can teach and create

for I am a home schooler at heart

and will always be

no matter how old my own children grow.

Upon hearing such spoken words

she turned on the light

in my world of too-old-for-finger-painting children

and beckoned me

to share my love for beauty, homeschooling and wee ones

with the precious

who although not my own

frequently pitter patter their chubby feet

through my homey home.

So an adventure with the young we had

my boys and I....

******

We began our Thanksgiving Adventure
under our 'church tent' in our England

singing songs of thankfulness

clapping, stomping and raising our hands

until King James

told us we could no longer sing our songs.

Here is my King James:

Since we don't want to stop singing our songs,
we made boats

making sure to draw pictures on them

of all the things we would put on our boats
if we were sailing away from King James
and his England.

Then we sailed our boats into my living room America

where we found a village built of Lincoln Logs

(thanks to my older boys)

and some wild corn

for that is what the pilgrims found in the new world.

After playing in our new found America for a while

we noticed how hungry we were

for kids are pretty much always hungry

but there was no food

other than that hard old corn

when Squanto came in to help us.

Here is my Squanto:

He showed us how to plant corn with fish

(goldfish crackers, that is)

in his garden out side

so we could have more food to eat.

Squanto showed the pilgrims how to pop popcorn, too.

My Squanto gave each a bag of caramel corn I made the night before.

I know.

They probably didn't have caramel corn

but we did:

Since the Indians helped us so,

when our food grew

we made a feast to share together.

We made apple turnovers.

We ate them:

After walking through the Thanksgiving story,

we made a few more projects

like this turkey picture

where hands were colorfully painted

to make a turkey print.

Each mom wrote down their child's thankful words:

We made a corn bracelet:

(hint. it's not as easy as one would think to get holes in corn.
poke holes ahead of time after soaking kernels
or for your entertainment
have the big boys use a drill.)

and a 'give thanks' banner
(hint. glue seeps through felt. use a cool hot glue gun??!!?)

We read this simply beautiful picture book walking us through our pilgrim adventure:

A story was told
and many thankful words were spoken today
for we were reminded that there is much we have to be thankful for.

*****

May you all have a few quiet moments this week
to sit with the young in your life
showing them the many ways they too are blessed.

A Lurking and a Party

2010-11-15T16:27:00.000-08:00

Dearest friends

your forgiveness I beg

for although sharing with you has been on my mind

it has been prevented

by the enormous obstacle sitting quietly on my sunny window seat.

It really might as well be

a wide eyed monster

with glaring teeth

ready to jump at me when I come close,

for so I have been avoiding it

these many days.

Great events have come and gone

and projects have transpired

that I have not shared,

for with the scary creature always lurking

all pictures have remained

trapped on my friendly camera.
What is this monster, you ask?

It's this new fangled

someday-I-will-be-happy-with-it Mac.

Alas this evening I stole away my busy husband
who gave it to me in the first place,
thinking it will be helpful in the long run.
I happen to think the run really is going to be longgggg, indeed.

Simply a few minutes of desperately needed assistance

and the monster has been reduced to merely an annoyance.
Although I'm sure the lurking creature will lurk again,
I have, at last,

both a project and an event to share

with you,
my patient friends:

We had a party!

A pillow case party!

And as you can see

by all the smiles

and silliness

that memories

along with these cozy pillow cases were made

at our great

pillow case making party.

******

This is another perfect project to make with kids or if you are a beginner. It comes together in a snap, has all straight lines, and would make a lovely Christmas gift for anyone. Check out this video tutorial, then gather the kiddos or a few of your own friends to have some fun! Here is another pillowcase I recently made.

Happy Voting Day!

2010-11-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

Down the Rabbit Hole Quilt

2010-10-30T22:02:00.000-07:00

Here is my happy little Down the Rabbit Hole Quilt

taped down to my floor and pinned into a 'quilt sandwich':

Embroidery and applique

accompanied by curves, circles, knots and scribbles,

now form three whimsical flowers with leaves on the quilt back.

They were really quite fun to create

during our summer's end camping trips.

To refresh your memory,

for even I have nearly forgotten,

here is the quilt front.

This week, I took my happy little quilt sandwich into Hart's Fabrics,

showing it to my friend Tina who manages the store.

Well, she loved my quilt.

I think she squeeled in delight.

I like friends that like my stuff!

She also encouraged me to continue the detail by hand-quilting rather than free-motion.

I agree.

And now that I've gotten over the fact

that this quilt most likely won't be completed lickety split,

I'm ready for some cozy hand-quilting time!

Sewing with Kids - Caleb's Quilt -Day 9 thru 12

2010-10-28T22:14:00.000-07:00

Here is Caleb's quilt after a few sittings over the summer. You can tell it's summer by the bare back and the short hair (see below). Sheesh! I think he has even grown since these pictures were taken. To check out what we have done so far, click here.

We started this next step by drawing a line down the middle of the quilt with a chalk marker. You can use any kind of erasable pen specially made for quilting.

We set up my machine at the kitchen table, fitted with a walking-foot attachment. The machine is pushed far to the right, giving room for the quilt to lay on the table as he sews. We also set a high stool next him, close to his side to help take some of the weight, so it didn't pull away from the machine. I sat with him for quite a few rows, coffee cup in hand, guiding the quilt, until he became comfortable enough to quilt on his own.

He quilted one half of the quilt starting at the chalk line, continuing to the edge before beginning the second half, and removing safety pins as he went. It took him about 2 sittings to complete each half. I wanted it to be a joy for him, rather than a chore.

When using the walking-foot to quilt lines, it is important to begin each row at the opposite end in order for it to not all get pushed in one direction. For example, row 1 begins at the top, row 2 begins at the bottom, and row 3 begins at the top again.

Also, knowing my 13 year old would probably not have the patience or skill to make straight lines (neither would I), I thought it might be nice to make them intentionally and dramatically crooked. I like how it turned out.

I will get the next step up soon, for the weather is encouraging more cozy days in the home, and I am finally figuring out the Mac my husband has set me up on.

Amy's Bread - Book Review

2010-10-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Ok people. Notice anything in these pictures? Yep. I make faces. I even knew my son was taking pictures and I still made faces without even realizing it until a few days later when downloading my camera. Not a single picture captured a non-facemaking face. I pretty much can't do anything creative without doing it. When I was a teenager in a small ballet company, I made faces. Not very elegant, I know. The teachers were always telling me to smile. I always thought I was smiling. But no. I was making faces. I suppose TV appearances are not in my future. Oh well. My family still loves me. They only laugh at me every once in a while.

And did you notice the mess I was making? A huge sticky, I-need-my-son-to-turn-the-cook-book-pages-cuz-my-hands-are-full-of-doughy-goodness kind of mess. I was following a recipe for the first time from Amy's Bread which I purchased last summer. But since our sunny beach was calling out to us, I neglected to actually do any serious baking. And, let me tell you, this book is for serious bakers - which if I could quit making faces, maybe I could be one. Well, maybe. My family was laughing at the sticky mess on my board, and on my hands, and on my sleeves, and on the floor.... I told them to look at the pictures in the book. Their dough looked just like mine. Really. I didn't see any messy clothes or floor in their pictures, though.

I was a little overwhelmed by the whole process. This dough started the evening before with a Biga Starter that needed to develop for 8 hours before the actual bread making process could continue. It's similar to a thick sourdough starter. There is even a step adding the milk, oil, and salt to the dough after one of the periods the dough has rested. A foreign concept to me, but I did it. And it worked. Although mine looked more runny than the one in the book, and being the brave little bread maker that I am, I continued on. I tried to follow their kneeding process as well as I could, and not add in more flour when the wee voice within me was begging me to do so.

This fococcia bread recipe was 3 pages long, not counting the dough kneeding pictures and Biga Starter instructions (which is why I needed help turning the pages). It required a few restings and 2 risings before the final long-awaited-for rise in the baking sheet. Mid way through my day, I discovered that all the rising times added up to a completion time of about 2 hours after Our Dear One and Her Love arrived from the big city-so-far-away for an already late-ish dinner, so I cut out an hour off each of the 2 final risings. A no no, I think. I truely contemplated dumping the whole thing and starting over with my good old familiar focaccia recipe, or even running to the store for a loaf of bread. But, I held strong! I had heard rumors of good bread recipes abounding in this book.

Oh my goodness! It was waaayyy worth it. This bread was amazing. It was completely different than anything I have ever made. Surprisingly, there were a few squares left over. The next day after church, we sliced them open and layered a piece of smoked gouda, a slice of ham and a glob of whole seed dijon mustard in them. Now we are seriously craving more. My family keeps asking when I am making it again. Soon. Definitely soon.

Now I am a believer. Even though I have only tried one recipe, I highly recommend Amy's Bread for "Artisan-style breads...from New York City's favorite bakery". If a loaf of bread could turn out that well with all the mistakes this amateur baker made, I can only imagine how wonderful a recipe followed well would be.

Amy's Bread has a recipe for Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls that I want to master before the holidays. It has cooked wheat berries, sesame seeds and wheat germ. Here is a recipe for Organic Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread that my friend Erin said is a family favorite. But first, another loaf of Foccacia with Fresh Rosemary. This time I will take a picture of the finished loaf of yummy goodness. I promise.

*** I have to say that I made the foccacia again for another Sunday family gathering, before getting this post out. Highlighting all the rising times in the cookbook beforehand was helpful. It turned out great...but still no pictures. It was gone before I knew it! So, my conclusion is...that you really must check out this book and get to some yummy winter baking!

Kids Sewing - A Bag with Pockets

2010-10-21T22:19:00.000-07:00

Remember my Bouquet Day Bag?

Well my survival boy wanted to make his own for art supplies. I thought of the grand idea for his bag to be a more simple version of my own. No lining and no pockets. But he would not have it. Oh, no. "Garrett makes bags with pockets", he said. So he wanted pockets too. And not just any old pocket would do. These pockets had to fit certain things like pencils, glue sticks, pads of paper, etc. Being the homeschool mom with the perspective that they will grow up and move on to other non-mom things in just a few more winks of an eye, I put away my own project, poured myself a cup of coffee - with chocolaty and creamy goodness, of course - and spent the rest of the day by his side. I only guided, though. He really had a plan of his own.

He is pretty happy with his bag.

Don't you think?

And thanks for your inspiration, Garrett. I think all our conversations around the dinner table about sewing bags and surfboard covers have shown my boys that sewing is cool. And that there is always room for a pocket.

I shared this on Show and Tell Fridays, too.

Don't forget to check out what others have been up to this week.

And maybe even put up one of your own finished projects on Amy Lou Who's blog.

Sunday's Graces

2010-10-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Goodness.

My happily quiet life

with my wonderful boys

and my comfortably messy creative projects strewn around by all

in a cottagy home by the fog blessed beach

with occasional appearances of beloved friends and their kiddos,

has lately been rather un-quiet.

Although this un-quiet is a very happy un-quiet,

actually quite delightful,

this unusual busyness explains why you all have not seen much of miss paisley and lace

and her adventures in homemaking and schooling and life.

So, alas, I am here to fill you in

on one treasured adventure in San Francisco.

I stole away for a day with my Dear One

We had a talk-filled afternoon

catching up on our times apart

while we bussed and walked

and walked and bussed some more

to this amazing quaint little lunch spot called The Outerlands

Sandwiches made of inch thick slices of homemade bread with crunchy crust

and generous amounts of unique and tasty fillings

like fresh turkey lunchmeat with pickled radishes

or melted cheese and tomatoe with basil and more.

You really could share

but we didn't.

Instead we traded delectable halves so we each partook of 2 kinds of sandwich

which is one reason why this mother and daughter love to do lunch

Next we moseyed a few doors down to Trouble Coffee

Hmm. Real coffee shops don't serve decaf.

Snap.

So, to avoid my dizzy-can't-walk-straight reaction to the good stuff,

I had hot coco.

I want a big heavy boot thing to hold my door open.

Then to the inspiring Peapod Fabrics for Dear One to pick out project-goodness for me to make her.

More to come on that one.

We finished out the afternoon hunting for unsuspecting models in the park

for her apprentice position at DiPietro Todd

(if you are ever in San Francisco,

and being a model and getting an amazing haircut in an amazing salon for an amazing price sounds like fun,

contact me and I will get you two in touch)

We listened to the Blue Angels scream surprisingly close over head.

After fixing dinner back at her vintagy home with Her Love,

we did what any good San Franciscan would do.

We happened upon a local bar to watch the last part of the Giant's game.

Then, to finish off the charming time,

we did what any good mother and daughter would do.

We ate a chocolaty, salty almond bar together.

Ok. So I don't like Dear One and Her Love being so far away

for I am a mother who likes all her ducklings close by,

but it is really quite lovely to be known so well by her

that she finds and leads me to little treasures around her city she knows I will just love.

___________

Sunday's Graces

A continual numbering of things I am thankful for

to remind me of God's graces in my life

seventy-nine. a daughter and son-in-law who welcome me into their hearts and share their world with me. I love you both.

eighty. droid. yes. i am thankful for my newest friend, the droid phone. why? you might ask. well. i shall tell you. i think. i am rather embarassed to tell you. but i will. i don't do city driving. to me, a country girl who grew up in a town with only a stop sign or two, even santa cruz freeways are fast and crazy things that i don't really like. and i have lived my life quite well without ever venturing into real cities in anything but the passenger seat. well. i started getting pushed a little out of my comfort zone when wedding shopping left me no alternative but to travel away into yonder worlds to find necessary wedding lovelies. but i had my direction-teller sitting next to me all the while. so. we never got lost. yep. that's it. that's my big fear. that I will get lost. for i have been known to get lost in the smallest of towns. especially when they don't have the ocean on one whole side of it so if i lose my way, i can just head to the ocean and go right or left till i spy something familiar. well...when my dear one and her love told me the big i'm-moving-to-san-francisco news, i knew i was going to have to get over my i-can't-drive-it-if-it's-more-than-two-turns-from-the-freeway problem. so. a few months after their move, and a few trips in the passenger seat later, i took the plunge. i drove to the big city ALL BY MYSELF. well. sort of. my newest friend, droid and her navigation app, talked me all the way there and back.

eighty-one. my number one who made me get the droid so i could go visit our daughter.

eighty-two. my son who did a practice run with me and my droid to ikea. we bought an orange rug for under the kitchen table. orange is my new brown.

Tuesday's Thrift

2010-10-12T22:25:00.000-07:00

Hand knit cotton tunic made in Ireland. One dollar.

Tuesday's Thrift

2010-10-06T08:41:00.000-07:00

Nature Journaling with Kids

2010-10-04T10:04:00.000-07:00

I am a homeschooler and have been ever since my oldest who is now nearing 21 was a wee one. This year, I have the added priveledge of teaching Logic and Art (and sometimes Latin if I really have to) at Covenant Family Tutorial, a classical homeschool tutorial. Today I took this delightful group of homeschoolers on a short nature journaling excursion!

We went outside to draw what we could see around us.

We drew bamboo, oak and fig leaves, seed pods, and ants.

Some did rubbings of the leaves or bark.

We looked through frames made of heavy paper to see things differently, to help us focus.

After moving to a few different spots,

we returned to the cool of the indoors to color in our pictures,

adding describing words to complete

our time of nature journaling.

This is a great activity for all. Try to get outside atleast once a week. Simply take your pencil and a pad of paper that has a stiff binding so it is easy to hold while drawing. Look around you. Look at the small things. Begin to draw. Fill up a whole page with all sorts of things that you see each time you venture out. We had bamboo, fig leaves, seed pods and rubbings on the same page. If you have a child that is reluctant to draw, this is a great activity, for when you are outside sitting on the ground with them drawing, they are more likely to join in and find they can actually do it. Show him that the leaf is sort of a triangle, or an oval shape with squiggly edges as you are drawing it in your own journal. He will learn to see things in simple shapes, too.

Another helpful hint is to have them draw lightly so unwanted lines can be erased more easily. The young child has a tendency to draw with a heavy hand making erasing difficult, therefore becoming discouraged at their messy page.

After a good amount of time has been spent freely drawing, begin to talk about your surroundings, putting down notations in your journal. What is the temperature? Today it was hot and muggy. Is it quiet? We could hear alot of traffic. What color are the leaves? Some were brown and crunchy. Some were deep green and leathery. What color are the veins? Yellow. Is it soft? Fig leaves are furry. Where are you? At the beach on a foggy day? In your back yard? With friends in the forest?. At the Grand Canyon with your cousins? And adjectives! Think of strong words together to describe the world around them putting them in their nature journal.

I like to have a special bag in the car with our journals, pencils & maybe even watercolors. Take your journals with you on your next family vacation or hike. Then stop and take a moment here and there to sketch a few things, making notations to remind you later of the dear time spent together.

When we are learning about something in science, I have my kids draw it in their journal. And of course, I draw it in mine, too. It really, really makes a difference when we take the time to sit down and do it with them. I am savoring these times with my two youngest, for I realize how precious these days are and how soon they will move on to the more serious things in life. How did my oldest two grow up so fast?

These are a few great books filled with inspiration to get you going

in a lifetime of nature journaling and memory making:

Have fun exploring and drawing together!

Easy Peasy Tablecloth

2010-10-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

This tablecloth is made from the Anthology Collection. You can find it at Hawthorne Threads here.

The back is a Kona cotton in dark grey.

I will give more details on how I made this tablecloth soon. It was easy peasy. But taking pictures at night that turn out is not so easy peasy for me, so I will try to draw out something soon to show how I made it in just a few hours. It really shouldn't even take that long to make. I had a friend over and we talked more than we sewed! It is also on Amy Lou Who's blog. Check it out. On Friday's she has a show-and-tell day where other creative folks show what they accomplished that week.

Tuesday's Thrift

2010-09-28T13:25:00.000-07:00

melamine bowls and fabric