This is...

the contents of my handbag



Ok, I have a lot of stuff in here and I just cleaned it out last week!
Bulletin from the Craft Mafia Spring Line up, gray kids socks,wallet, sunglasses (mine and kids), point & shoot camera in it's new case, OLD WEEZER pin, Artista Muerta card, yellow ducky, 2 softies my 4 year old made, bracelet from my mom, coins, car, tweezers, vegetarian meatball recipe, banana hand cleaner, buttons, gift card for restaurants, postcard for a patchwork show, note/sketch pad, package of wildflower seeds, a loose piece of old gum, a Hello Kitty pin(have no idea where this came from), Uncle Milton's ant farm club official membership card (it's not official without a card!), pen, pencil, outlet cover?, Quilt Craft Sew Festival coupon, bookmark from charinacharina, there was a purple bunny but it got snagged by little hands before I could even snap a picture.
Iris + Lilly picked this weeks this is. I always wonder what people keep in their bags and always imagine it is a lot more interesting than what I have. Now I will be able to find out!

Yesterday I had a girly day with my buddies and went to The North Park Craft Mafia Spring Line up. Where I asked a very tall man to take a picture for me. It must be hard being so tall. My husband is very tall and people ask him things that short people would never be asked so I felt like I was in the club via marriage and my request was not too obnoxious.
It was so crowded and there were so many talented women. I am doing a super thrifty no spendy month otherwise I could have spent a lot of money in there. This was a true test of my saving because there is nowhere I would rather spend my money than in a room full of local women artists. It is so inspiring to be around so many things that were created by hand. I wanted to come home on this inspiration high and start on a project but instead I watched kids splash in the tub with daddy, put them to bed and laid on the couch with a case of craft show fatigue.

This is....

My demon, fear. I have over the years acquired a lot of fears. They cause me a lot of anxiety and stop me from doing things that I think I would do otherwise. I am trying with all of my might to get rid of many of these fears and not let them control my life. I figure maybe I can trick them into thinking I am not afraid and they will go away, kind of like an opossum playing dead. I have been getting a lot better in conquering this demon and at times it returns with full strength backed by an army of germs, death, failure and separation. I just have to remember I am strong and if I can't control it not to worry about it.
I don't have an image to go with this week if I could have taken a picture of the deadly seahorse I would have, seahorses are one of my fears( the most ridiculous one).
They are creepy.
Thanks to Drewzel for this weeks thought provoking topic.


On a totally unrelated note, I made these wide leg pants from Amy Butler's In Stitches. This book is so great! Sorry about the wrinkles, I finished them late last night and they were just begging to be worn to bed and then for the most part of the day. I think I am going to make myself a pair of these a day! There is nothing like wearing a new pair of jammies every night especially when they are this comfy.

I was having a little sneaky relaxing minute when the boys found me. My 4 year old took this picture with my SLR camera that weighs about as much as he does. He saw my lounging in bed and looked confused, "What are you doing? Can I take your picture?"
"Relaxing and sure"
Relaxing over, jumping started.

Bug Day

Wordless Wednesday

Eastery Goodness

We had a pretty great Easter aside from some funky family stuff, what are families for though?
I love how magical holidays are to the kids. Blake was very interested in the Easter Bunny and how he got in the house and fit in in the tent to hide a basket. I always wonder how convincing I am answering these questions right off of the top of my head. I need some kind of reference book. This is such a great age, it is going to be sad when he questions magic and what I tell him. Blake wanted me to take this picture of him with his "favorite Easter present"Craft Sticks! I love this boy! Craft Sticks were his favorite. The answer may have changed if I ask now but it brings me pride that at one point he loved Craft Sticks enough to ask me to take a picture of him with them. Cubs loved his owl books, one of which was Little Hoot
It is such a cute book and the illustrations are wonderful! We have checked this out at the library and he was very sad to return it, now it is his forever. That little guy just loves owls!

I made this apron for my sister for Easter. I really wanted to snag it for my self but I gave it up. I tried to get her to take a picture in it but apparently her animal print shirt did not match the spring floral so here is me in her apron. I was having a weird bra day so please excuse that, at least now I know, it is amazing what a picture will reveal.

Now on to some new projects, I would really like to make myself a couple of summer outfits. I am going to use some patterns from Sew U and try a couple of my own. I don't have any patterns for tops though. Does anyone have any patterns they love?

Hope your Easter was a big fun mess!

Pay it Forward Exchange

I found out about this fun exchange on Who Put Me In This Minivan and followed it here to Meg's blog where I was lucky enough to get in. I am excited to see what she is going to make and excited to send something out myself so here it goes, this is how it works.....
“I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this Paying It Forward exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, which is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. (if you have one)”

Hurry Hurry!

Spring, Bowls and Bottoms

Spring is here! I am not a cold weather person at all. Hopefully this sunny season will bring some energy along with it's warmth. I have felt like such a slug this winter. I am ready to play outside, garden, camp, walk in the evenings and soon enough swim!
We spent this lovely spring morning in the backyard. "Can I be naked? It is so warm!" My 4 year old asks me "Me too" says my niece, Cubby is soon to follow in this naked enjoyment of the sun. It has been a long time since Blake has played naked and I thought he was done with it as he has been rather modest lately. He even changes with the door closed or in the bathroom when he has company. I am not sure at what age I became aware of my nudity but I know it was older than 4. We put so much importance, sexuality and shame on nudity in this country and I am trying to teach my children how normal and natural bodies are and let them be comfortable with themselves. Obviously there are rules to this naked play, like in the backyard or house only and we had a good talk about how our bodies are ours only but after that pure freedom!
About 10 minutes into playing in the yard the big kids run screaming "Cubby pooped on the slide" and yep there it is right there at the top of the slide and Cubs is at the bottom singing "Poopoo in the potty" We are potty training and while it was not in a diaper it was not exactly where I was hoping it would be. It was hard not to laugh, his potty dance is just so cute and he was pretty proud of his creative placement. Sorry about the poop post, but I am sure many of you understand, Poop happens and sometimes it is on the slide.
Other than cleaning poop off of the slide I have been trying to finish up some Easter gifts. Easter is sneaking up on me this year, I am usually pretty prepared. There is a really cute tutorial on Bitter Betty's blog on how to "Pimp your bunny" since i am not really doing any candy except a chocolate bunny for each of them I figure it might as well be super cute. I plan on making them Wee Bunnies too but we will see I might be a Wee too late (sorry, cheesy I know)
I am very excited about Easter though it is one of my favorites along with Christmas and Earth Day.

The bowls up top are my Thrifted Tuesday find and I love love love them! They are perfect spring bowls, I wish I could carry them with me like an accessory. I am sure I could figure something out it probably would not be too functional though and I am all about functionality these days, functionality and spring.

Edited to add: You can also see my bowls on Hyena In Petticoats who runs Thrifted Tuesday! I am so proud that she put them on there, she always has the most amazing thrifted goods and check out her Nongs!

This is....

This weeks theme is "What I create" chosen by Betty the Geek

I made this Amy Butler Messenger Bag with some fun Alexander Henry fabric.
I feel like a better title would be "This is what I made" I think creating comes more from within. I am creating my life, happiness and memories. I did not want to get too deep here though, it is St. Patrick's Day after all. So I am sticking with my bag.
It was a labor of love! It was a complicated pattern for my first one. I set it aside for a long time while I worked on a lot of other projects and came back to it the other night and finished it rather quickly. Once I got a better understanding of patterns it was not too challenging but it was kicking my ass when I first started for sure! I do love it now. I am going to have to find some stuff to message now that I have a messenger bag. I figure I can carry my photography portfolio in it once I get it together. I need to find a good binder for it.

Wordless Wednesday

Hoots hanging in the living room

This is....

Looking out my front door

I joined the "This Is" meme that Angela from Three Buttons started. This week's topic was chosen by Brooke. They both have very inspiring blogs!
The view from my front door is not nearly as exciting as many of the other posters, there are some great shots out there. The plant was a little aloe plant from my grandma when we first moved in a year and a half ago that has taken over my front porch. I can't wait to give it and us a new home which will hopefully happen sometime in the near future.
We have a meeting with a Realtor in a couple weeks to come and see about putting our house on the market. I am so excited! I am sending out so many positive real estate vibes and hoping we will sell fast, I am talking a week and find a new perfect home the next day! Hopeful much?

Pretty in Pink

I finished my first dress yesterday for my niece! It is certainly not perfect but I am a little proud that it can at least fit on a human body, this is more than I was expecting from my first (non pajama) garment. The hem is not super straight but besides that everything is pretty right on. I will just say that the hem was just a creative decision! It is from Simplicity 7454 circa 1967. I just love this short simple style on little girls.


Sewing for boys is so much harder or should I say finding things to sew for boys. I have spotted a few patterns that I would like to try including the Favorite Things Hooded Jacket .
A few months ago I bought a couple of 40s vintage patterns but I think I need a little more practice before I tackle them, they are for coats, maybe I will have it down before next winter comes along.
That is not a super fancy soft focus editing technique on the bottom of the picture above it is smudge in the perfect shape of a teeny tiny finger, I wonder where that could have come from?

Hero's Hose

Wordless Wednesday

Thrifted Tuesday

Yes, I know it is Wednesday but we can pretend.

I have been wanting one of these for my kids for so long! They sell the new version at Toys R Us which I avoid at all costs and I wanted an old one. I am so happy we found one at an antique shop yesterday (thanks Holly!)! I don't think I will ever get tired of hearing RowRowRow your Boat or explaining where London is and why they have a bridge.

These are my FAVORITE find!! I am so in love with these silhouettes that I found. If you did a silhouette of Zac and I on any given evening that is exactly what it would look like, heels and all. I can't wait to get them a little cleaned up and put them somewhere so I can see them all of the time. They are so great, I wish I knew where they came from. This brings me to my project for the next week as if I need another one. Silhouettes of everyone in the family including the Zero (puppy). I found this tutorial in the oddest place. I think I will cut them out of paper and not paint them though.

These are my I wish I could have bought those items but budget restrictions didn't allow it. Damn Budget!

Little Chief Stove..

Adorable Topsy Turvy Doll! I want to bring her home and love her. Her face is very inspiring though. I am always trying to get new ideas on doll faces.

There was a set of Amish Pyrex mixing bowls that I have been coveting at this particular antique shop that I wish I had the cash for. If it was meant to be we will one day reunite.

Don't forget me lovely Pyrex bowls, you are forever in my heart and hopefully one day in my cupboard.

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