:: a happy nest ::

caroline's quilt.

I'm almost a little embarassed to post this project, simply because it took me so long to finish it. I started this little quilt before my niece Caroline was born, and I just mailed it off to my sister-in-law last month. Yikes!

The quilt itself had actually been finished for well over a year, but I still needed to bind it. For some reason, I was terrifed of binding a quilt. I'm still not sure why. My friend Beth told me over and over - they are only stitches - if you mess up, just take them out and start over. Still, I kept procrastinanting. It definitely isn't perfect, but I like to think that adds to its charm. {right?} And I definitely learned a lot that will make binding my next quilt a lot easier.

And now that it's finished, I realized how much I actually like sewing on the binding. Especially the hand-sewing part of it. I'm actually looking forward to binding my next quilt - which will be for Thea's big-girl bed. I'm anxious to start that one - as soon as I finish putting my studio back in order.

Happy weekend!

sweet shirts for a sweet girl.

Remember this little birdie? It was practice for a few applique projects I was working on for my sweet niece. I made her this little birdie shirt,

along with a "one" shirt,

and a little stripey jacket with a "C" for Carloine.

The striped jacket and shirt were found at my favorite kids consignment store. My stitching certainly isn't perfect (especially on the jacket!), but I still think they turned out pretty nicely.

I lined the back of each applique with some soft fusible interfacing, to protect her skin from any scratchy threads.

This was a project that I kept putting off because it was something new and I thought it would be really hard. But it turned out to be really easy! I can't wait to try a few more.

studio sneak peek.

I told you I've been busy!

This is my one of my studio closets, filled with my collection of vintage linens. Some of them are already listed in the shop, but I have lots and lots more too add. There is another closet just like this one, and I just installed and painted built-in shelves to hold all of my yummy fabric.

The rest of the room isn't quite ready to reveal, but I thought I'd share a little bit of what I've been working on.

an afternoon at the park.

In the past week, we've been lucky to have several warm February days. Sunday was one of them, and we headed out to enjoy some soft-serve frozen yogurt (Thea's first!). Then we picked up a loaf of bread from a local bakery and headed to the park just up the road to feed the ducks.

Of course, there were plenty of sticks, rocks, and acorns to gather.

Our girl has a serious love of sticks.

But she did decide she could share a few with Rilo.

We ended our afternoon with some good old-fashioned hill rolling. I will admit, at first I was a bit hesitant to see her roll in the dirt and leaves in my favorite skirt and white tights, but I quickly resolved that a pretty skirt wasn't living up to its full potential if you couldn't have some serious fun in it.

What are your favorite things to do as the weather warms up?

 

grateful monday.

Hello!

I've been spending nearly every spare moment working furiously to get my studio in order - which has kept me absent in this space - and in many other spaces too. I have so much to share, but for now, the end is in sight, and I'm anxious to put our house back together. It's amazing how the chaos of reworking one space can spill out into the entire house.

Today, I'm feeling grateful...

For a wonderful afternoon of outdoor play and frozen yogurt with my two loves.

For friends who send me encouraging messages when I show them photos of the progress made and all that is still left to be done in the studio space.

For sunny picnics with friends.

For how funny my we girl is and for how much she makes me laugh.

For quinoa.

For my thimble.

For good neighbors.

For new food adventures.

For neatly folded fabric.

What are you feeling grateful for today?

grateful monday.

I know it's been quiet around here. For the past couple of weeks, I've had busy hands - mostly working on a total overhaul of my studio, making it a more welcoming and orderly space for my current creative work. More on that to come, including the before photos, which show what an unfunctional mess my studio had become. I've been purging, cleaning, and building, and I'm so excited to share it - once I'm finished! I also have several crafty projects I've been wanting to share.

And though mothering my sweet girl fills me with such joy and gratitude, the past few weeks have been mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting. Often it feels challenging for me to share the more difficult parts of parenthood, as we had such a long journey to find ourselves here with this amazing child. Right now, I am breathing into the difficult parts and trying to stretch my heart wider  - welcoming all parts of this journey. I am so grateful to have a wonderful group of mamas here in town who offer endless support, compassion, understandning, and wisdom. And of course for John. What a lucky gal I am.

On this Monday, I'm feeling grateful...

For my first overnight away with my man since Thea's birth - almost three years ago. And to my mother and step-father who took such great care of her while we were gone.

For the ways John and I continue to seek to understand and support each other. And for his patience with all of my projects and my often one-track mind.

For Thea having outgrown nearly all of her food allergies. I can hardly believe it!

For a fantastic and inspirational visit from Juliet, who came up with some wonderful ideas on how to better use our space (including my studio!)

For supper club, the inspiring folks there, and for the chance to snuggle with a sweet, tiny baby. Bliss.

For my heart sister-friend MC.

For books that help me gain perspective.

What are you feeling grateful for today?