artsy-crafty babe

Anybody still out there?

And just like that, almost 5 years have passed. 5 YEARS!!! (well, almost 5 years, but still!)

I'm still around, though this little corner of the web has been collecting cobwebs and dust bunnies. I spend most of my time over on Instagram, it's just easier. I do pop back over here to remind myself of something I've worked on or a family event, but that's about it. Between Typepad's recent upgrade and my remapping my domain to my new website I thought this blog was a goner. After a little dusting off I've gotten it back to where it was, mostly. There may be some broken links and missing photos here and there, but most of it is ok. One day I'll get my act together and corral my digital life in one spot, but that day isn't today.

I really do love going back over my old posts. There are so many precious memories here! I should probably update my About page, but I love it! It brings me back to that sweet time of life when the kids were little and things really were insane. The kids are mostly grown now and we're not quite as busy, but we're older and get tired more easily, so it all balances out. One thing that has remained the same is that being creative still keeps me sane (and don't peek behind my closed doors 😂)

I can't promise that I'll be back here before another 5 years pass, but this space is still alive for now.

**photo above is my most recent make

 

Oh Happy Day

Hello there! Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there and happy 42nd birthday to me :-) I couldn't think of a better way to break my bog silence than on my birthday. I sure do miss all of this, but wonder how in the world I ever found the time to make this a regular thing. It's all a matter of priorities, I suppose.

Life is good! My kids are growing like crazy. It's hard to believe that my oldest will be in college in a few years and my youngest is starting kindergarten in the fall. Lily gets her license in a few weeks, which I know will be a game changer. I'm trying my hardest to appreciate and enjoy the now because the next phase is right around the corner (it always is!), and I'm sure it will be just as lovely. If I had to choose a word to describe my life right now, it would be delicious. I love that word.

If I took the time to document all that I've been making I would have no shortage of content for the blog. The making never stops around here. And I'm so predictable. Every spring I get the urge to feather my nest and make dresses. So far I've finished my second sofa slipcover, made new curtains for my dining room, painted doors, and made an outdoor dining table. If you follow on instagram then you've seen these projects. I never did post pics of my dresses because taking pictures of the clothes I make is awkward, always has been. I've made 4 dresses with more planned. My goal is to make the perfect dress pattern for myself that I can change up with the sleeves and neckline, and I think I've got it. I'm in love with easy t-shirt style knit dresses. I've also discovered pettipants, (should I have shared that with the internet? haha!) which make the dress wearing even more comfy (bye-bye sweaty chafed thighs!). Next dress I make I'll show and tell, I promise!!

It's been a long, full weekend and I have bunches more to talk about, but I'll save that for another post!

hey there!

Happy 2015!?!  Yeah, I'm a little late. I have no excuse, other than living.

I have no project's to share.  

I can't even recall that last time I touched a sewing machine or needle and thread.  

There's been lots of cooking (I could do a whole post+ about how I've changed my eating and feel fantastic!), some knitting and bits of doodling. 

I'm happy to report that after a long drought, I'm feeling creative again, all thanks to doodling. I started the new year with a new sketchbook and a desire to experiment with watercolors. I tried, but I wasn't feeling it.  Then I rediscovered my Scribble Diary.  I LOVE my Scribble Diary!  I'm not sure if I ever blogged about it, but I got it 3 years ago...and it's BRILLIANT.  There's no blank page syndrome. There are guidelines, which I like... and it's journaling!

I use it by randomly opening a page, then filling it out. Sometimes the prompts work for me, sometimes not.  If they don't, I simply scratch it out :-)  Sometimes I draw flowers or hearts in the empty spaces.  Whatever.  It's fun!!

And then I color it.  More fun!!  I treated myself to "nice"colored pencils (not the cheapest set in the store, but certainly not the top of the line), quality does make a difference!    My goal is to fill the entire journal by the end of the year.  I think I can do that.

Since turning on my scribble faucet, I am feeling the flow.  More than once I've felt the urge to pull out some scraps to start sewing.  I feel a quilt coming on.

The lesson I've learned from this is sometimes you've just got to do it - make that first step...you never know where it will take you!

I'm hoping that 2015 is filled with LOTS of making and doing ;-)

 

another birthday, father's day, bubble shooters, and a hammock swing

We're in full on summer mode around here.  The kids have been out of school since the end of May, so we're deep in it. Personally, I'm enjoying the freedom - no baseball, no soccer, no dance!!!  Well, Lily has dance team practice, but that's during the day, so it doesn't interfere with our afternoons.

Despite our new found freedom, last weekend was busy! We had a 10th birthday and Father's Day. Whew!!! We celebrated both at home, which is fine by me.

When we're not celebrating, we're mostly just hanging out.

Bubbles are always a favorite, especially when they're battery powered.

And a special surprise arrived today - a hammock swing!!  I only ordered one, to make sure that we like it, which we do, so I'll be ordering another ASAP.

Backyard living...love.

13

Over Memorial Day weekend the oldest turned 13. We’re officially in the teenage years! It doesn’t seem possible to have been a parent long enough to have a teen, but there it is.  

She told me not to get too mushy because she didn’t want to cry, so I won’t. But I would like to say that her Dad and I couldn’t be more proud of her. We are beyond blessed to be her parents. She amazes us every day with her accomplishments.  

Achievements aside, we are more proud of the person she is turning out to be. When someone recently commented to me about how they could see the love she has for her younger siblings in how she looks after them, I thought my heart would burst out of my chest!  She’s that kind of girl. Funny, smart, caring, beautiful - she’s got it all.

Happy Birthday Lily! We love you more than you'll ever know!!

yes, my kids are nuts!! please excuse the heaping dose of cheese in the above photos ;-)

 

let's catch up!

Y’all, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!! Soccer is over! Dance is over! (Baseball is not over, but not too far from the end)  Shoot, school is almost over!! That means that some calmness is on the horizon ;-) I may actually get the chance to make something. Yay!! Well, I guess I actually have been making all along, but it feels like I have nothing to show for it.

That bag pattern I mentioned in a post way back when is still in progress (did I ever mention it?). I know, it takes me forever. It’s mostly written, but I’m still fine tuning the wording and adding in little bits that were left out. It’s been so long since I made one that I’ll have to make a few more to remember how it’s supposed to go together. I’m sure I’ll be calling for pattern testers soon.

My mini-quilt project is still happening. Goodness, how I LOVE to hand quilt. I got them both mostly done then decided that there wasn’t enough quilting, so I went back and started quilting the heck out of them. Oh my, I love it! One is completely done. Now i’ve decided that I need to make a 3rd one. Who knows, there may even be a fourth. I do know that they will be displayed when I’m done.

I don’t think I’ve mentioned that I’ve been participating in the handmade birthday club. I’ve had those projects going on, but I think those deserve a whole post of their own. Fun stuff! We’re supposed to have our projects out the door by the 15th of each month, and so far I haven’t met that deadline. Late every month!! At least I get a break this month being that it’s MY birthday month. I can’t wait to share the goodies that arrive in the mail ;-)

Okay, now that you’re sort of caught up, I’ll proceed with real posts on a regular basis, ok? Have a great week!!

P.S. It’s been so long, I think I forgot how to use my camera!!

lately

How’s 2014 been treating you?  It seems that I’ve picked up right where I left off.  I’m not one to get into the whole “new beginnings” and whatnot, I just try to keep up!  So far, so good.

The only new thing I committed to this year is a photo 365 - again.  I start every year and always quit. This year I didn’t start until a few days into the new year.  Photos have been taken every day, but the uploading and documenting has fallen by the wayside quickly.  I’m blaming it on my computer, which is painful to use.  It’s beyond time for a new one.  That will happen soon.

Did I tell you that I’m running my first half-marathon this weekend?  I know!  Remember when I told you about my running? I’m still at it!  Back in November I learned that this was taking place , so I started training.  I didn’t officially sign up until I hit 10 miles in my training.  Well, here I am, the race is this weekend.  I’m so nervous!!  As luck would have it, my knee started bothering me exactly a week from the race.  It’s my stupid IT band.  I’m resting and stretching (I love my foam roller).  So far the pain has subsided, thank goodness.  I’m determined to run that damn race!!!

Last weekend was spent away with Lily and her dance team at the Louisiana Dance Team Competition. They did were awesome!!  All their hard work certainly paid off.  In all of Lily’s years of dancing (she’s been at it since she was 2), I don’t think she’s ever worked this hard.  I’m so proud of her and her team!!

During the competition I thought I’d get lots of time to do some hand sewing and knitting.  I did get to do a little bit, but not as much as I thought.  The majority of my work was on some gifts, so I can’t show you those until they’ve been received.  I’m sure the suspense is killing you, ha ha!!

I’ll be back later with some show and tell of the knitting variety.

 

new year

Hello 2014!

Wow, a fresh, brand new year :)  I hope you all had a lovely holiday, I sure did.  The entire month of December was pretty much a blur, though we didn’t do a whole lot or anything out of the ordinary.  I suppose with 6 busy people living in this house most days are a blur.  There was a lot of down time and I spent a good bit of time in the kitchen, which I thoroughly enjoy.  

My tree is still up and there are still toys strewn everywhere.  I’m okay with that because we will be thrown back into all the gazillion activities before we know it.  

I wish I had some fun projects to show you, but there simply hasn’t been time, or rather, I haven’t had the energy.  Oh wait, I did do a few things, so I do have a few things to show!!  (super cute things for Ceci - gosh, early December seems so long ago!!)

With this being a time of reflection, both of the past and looking forward, I can’t help but think about where this blog fits in.  2013 was certainly the year of blog neglect!  I can’t say that 2014 will be any better, but I sure hope for an improvement.  I’d like to share more here, more of the everyday.  Perhaps I’ll share some of my kitchen adventures, as that seems to be my creative spot right now.  I’ll be honest, sewing isn’t it, but that can change.  Right now knitting has a hold on me. (oh yes, more things to share!)

Thanks to all of you who have hung in there with me over years, stopping in to say “hi” and commenting on the various things I’ve blabbered on about.  It goes without saying that you have made a huge impact on my life!

I wish you all a happy, healthy, prosperous 2014!

Here’s to another year of living and documenting  and sharing :)

night comes early

Today's post was inspired by the november writing prompt at write alm, night comes early.

As I turned into my neighborhood yesterday afternoon it occurred to me that I left the house in the darkness of morning and now returning in darkness.  A quick stop at the grocery that proved to be not so quick did it.  My first thought was “I hate this”, but when I walked in the door and was greeted with a chorus of “mommmmeeeee” that thought quickly faded.  Lots of hugs and chatter about the day followed.

It was a cold rainy evening, night fell earlier than usual.  Comfort was on the menu – creamy tomato basil soup, meatball subs, and toasty mozzarella bread.  Most people around here aren’t too fond of this kind of weather, but I sort of love it…as long as I’m warm and cozy in my house and have something simmering on the stove.

As my family was devouring our meal, I couldn’t help but let my mind wander 10, 15 years in the future.  I see myself preparing a meal like this on this same kind of night.  Some of my kids will have moved on by then. I imagine they will be returning to my table with others - friends, spouses, or significant others.  An interesting thought, for sure.  

It may be a little silly thinking of such things, but I do.  

It all goes by so fast doesn't it?  I'm not rushing anything, that's for certain, but I do welcome each stage as we move through life.  Just as these short days remind me to slow down and enjoy the moment, I am aware that they will only be here for so long before the next season arrives.

11-14-13

Yesterday was so very busy.  By the time I got settled for the night, I was done.  I had nothing left to give. All I wanted to do was crawl into bed and flip through my copy of Alabama Studio Sewing + Design.    I was so tired that turning the pages felt like work - a clear sign that I should be sleeping.

 

Long gone are the days of staying up late to work on a project.  I miss those days.  If I can stay awake past 11, I'm doing good.  Mornings have become my favorite time of day.  I've always been  more of a morning person.  I love watching the day come to life.  Those quiet moments in the house before anyone wakes up are golden.

 

Tonight I decided to miss Lily's basketball game.  It was at 6:30, which would have totally thrown off our night. Matt & Lily went to the game, the other kids and I stayed home to do homework and eat soup & baked potatoes for supper.  I'm sorry I missed it, but there will be plenty more basketball games. Sometimes we just need a night at home.