baby wall art

 it's so often true...there are some images you just don't want tucked away in an album. such is the case with this sweet face a few days after he was born. everytime i would be in the nursery rocking and nursing him these last 6 weeks, i would think of this empty shadow box i had, and inspire myself as to what i would do with it.
and i knew i just wanted to stare at him more...
so i took fabric swatches left over from decorating his room...
and stitched them down quilt style on a piece of cardstock...
printed up a 2 day old photo of him in classic black and white,
including one of those stinkin' sweet feet!
left a border around them...
added a tag with sweet white velvet words...
and loved it.
simple.
you will be seeing just how simple my documenting his story can get.
i mean...it's not like i have alot of time::
taking care of him round the clock
homeschooling 3 vivacious girlies
helping a high school male adolescent find his way
taking care of a husband who works way too much
not to mention everything that happens outside these four walls.
seriously...watch the simplicity flow.
my in-laws are in-house this week too...but i am hoping not to be too absent from this here blog.

argh! so sweet.
thanks for visiting. leave me a note, will ya?
~j

thinking about...

these lately.

are you kidding me? how adorable is that?

well...as we all know, the baby is well on it's way.

so now it's time to make some cute, cute crochet beanies.

my girlfriend from the o.c. is flying out this week. besides the fact that it's my birthday.(..oops...did i just let that slip?) she is going to teach me how to make these sweet yarn beauties.

can't wait.

fun time.

Oh!...and you can also find me over here today!

don't tell me...

this isn't stinkin' cute!



a fabric gift bag for a birthday present.
how fun is that?
it's 6 inches tall.
5 inches wide.
i had to wrench it out of the hands of my girls (AND my sister!).


and a gift tag to go with.



will be making more of these for sure!

sew...

you know why trish's march kit has been so fabulous for me if you follow this blog at all...yeah! it's the sewing theme. a current creative passion of mine right now. itching to get to the fabric store and pick out the girls patterns and such for easter frocks. having had such fun with the bags...and more of those to come...i need to really sink my teeth into another project or two. good thing those olympics are over...they were taking up precious sewing time.

sewing does indeed mend the soul. when i discovered that quote, i was struck by it's truth for me. concentrated time focusing on others, usually. i find myself praying for others as they come to mind in the quiet of the work. not to mention how tickled the girlies get that my activity usually involves something for them. and yes...i have not forgotten my projects for baby #5...that too will evolve with time.

as shared before, i was recently challenged with what fills me up. what rejuvenates my heart, soul, my mind. i have really been thinking of that lately. sewing, strangely enough, is one of 'those' things for me. plenty of you are thinking i'm whacked, as the task of thread and needle only causes you frustration. but still. even for you...you need to find that thing that fills you up too. really. you do. would love to hear what those things are.

along with gathering inspiration and supplies for sewing, i have been purging like nobody's business. not without good results, however.
but more about that later.

good day, friends!

jane market bag

completed the jane market bag in an afternoon. it went together so well, and my oldest daughter swooped it up quickly. we even tried it out already on errands.

this is a flat view. a piece of cardboard inserted in the bottom makes it sturdy to hold all sorts of goodies.

a peek inside. used a third contrasting fabric for the lining. just loving how it all works together.

a few more details. the handles are extra reinforced to hold our loot.

time to go make another.

thanks for stopping by!

time...

to sew...
Having recently posted that I am ready to sew...these pics should be of no surprise. To work up to that Amy Butler project posted a few days ago, I am going to attempt this market bag found here at rosy little things.

How sweet it that? I figured I needed a primer before I started the bigger project. I'll let you know how it goes. JoAnn Fabrics just got some yummy new fabrics in...time to go steal some time and shop.

So...then...in the spirit of all things sewable...what do I get in the mail on Tuesday?...

the March WIP main kit...

can you see all the sewing theme going on? I immediately set to playing...it was a good night. Stay tuned for some sneaks.




So, have I told you I am feeling like me again? It sure makes a difference. One appreciates energy and focus so much more when one has recently had none! It's true. The question was asked while in my fog: "What fills you?" That was a hard question to hear. Because my answer at the time was Nothing. Nothing. That is how out of it I was feeling at the time. I could not even come up with what it is that indeed brings me fulfillment, and enables me to be renewed and ready to face the every day.
Looking back now...to then...I think I was too hard on myself and not allowing time to just be what I was::tired. We women, especially, have seasons in our lives in which we need to be better aware of what is going on with us. Not only for our own well being, but also to be able to communicate to our loved ones as well what is going on with us. I just kept feeling badly that I was, well...feeling badly. Instead of being better aware that what was going on with me physically, as well as emotionally+spiritually, was a temporary place. As are all seasons, they are temporary. This too shall pass.
Continuing in my theme of "all things are new", I will not look through the rear view mirror of my life and live in the past...but rather continue to move forward, as that is only where Life can be found.

So, what fills you up?