Sew it goes...

When the need to create strikes our house, it can be a whirlwind of making, thinking, and stitching. Sometimes you don't even know the "making things

 bug is coming, it can start slow. This time is was a simple patch job on a pair of my favorite jeans that instigated the rash of projects.  From mending to making is a slippery slope.

While it is a terrible picture of a kinda boring project, I am exceptionally glad to have saved these jeans from shredding into rags.  And I like the contrasting railroad striped denim in the patch. 

The other factor in the most recent sewing machine busy-ness was a playdate with friend who has recently started making her own projects. Evie was quite taken with her sewing prowess and asked the next morning if I would teach him to sew.  So we started with a drawstring bag--which he cut, pinned, and sewed (with only minor help) by himself! It was amazing and wonderful to see him concentrate and create exactly what he wanted.

And once the sewing machine is out, it is almost impossible for me to stop, so after I made Bea a bag--she is a little young for lessons on the machine yet.  I made her a skirt of a smallish remnant of lavender gingham.  With a contrasting pocket--lined in another contrasting fabric : ) and finished with vintage trim.  She put the skirt on as soon as it was finished with an exclamation of " I LOVE it mama!!! Really, there is nothing better than that feeling, of creating something instantly loved and cherished.

Her bag. With bees. I bought the fabric last Thanksgiving and I have been waiting for the perfect little project.  She has already enjoyed putting different combinations of toys inside.

She melts our hearts even when she is driving us crazy.  This one is a precious little stinker I tell you.

Like I said, once I get going, it is hard to stop.  So after the bags and the skirt, I decided to make another. This one utilized the lining of a skirt I had altered and more adorable vintage trim. I am so smitten with how it came out.  I want to find a little navy tee shirt to go with it for back to school, but for now Snoopy looks A-Ok!  and the chucks? Yep, gotta love some red chucks and a tutu skirt.

When I asked her if it was done, she said it needed polka-dots.  So stripey polka-dots with cherry-red vintage buttons she got!  Love.

And here is the bag that started the day.  I am so proud of Everett!

He is pretty proud too! Double drawstrings, and how great is that fabric? His choice of course. His current favorite color is red, with blue coming in a close second.

I couldn't get a clear picture but this is another example of E's awesome imagination!  I came out of the kitchen and he had written his name with dominoes on the table. Funny boy!

I love this kid. Even when he is asking me for the millionth time in the past 2 minutes when we are doing the next thing, whatever obsession he is bent on creating...

Signing off for now, to go make a robot out of cardboard. Because, that is what you do on Saturday morning/early afternoon.

Going forward and then back

I have a couple hundred vacation pictures left to upload and sort. But as I am sleep deprived and feeling a little beat this morning, I think Demo Derby pictures are more appropriate.  This was Russ's third time running this car in Clay Center. As always, lessons were learned and a good time was had!  Evie was very serious and involved the entire time, he didn't want to leave at all. Bea was 50/50. But mostly she had a good time!

That is Russ, this year, in honor of his birthday, his car was number 33. I painted it!

can you tell he is ready?

E yelled the entire time! It was so much fun for him! He was so into the whole thing! The girl in front with the ponytail was the winner of the compact cars. It was her second time running and second win, she was only 15 and Evie was totally smitten!

Waiting for the show to start! The kids aren't as into pictures with mama as mama is.

The after.   It wasn't new to start but it has had a few good runs and now is off to be parted out and scrapped.

it's time for a new car!

Honeymoon Highlights

I love this man I married. More every day.  These pictures are just a smattering of the camera-happy results of our little honeymoon excursion to the Outerbanks.  We had five days of wonderful togetherness.  We explored, we lounged, we made many precious memories.  It was the best vacation ever!  I can hardly wait for our next trip--maybe New Orleans?

the view from our balcony.

message in the shells, for my R.

there were a couple flocks of pelicans who patrolled the beach, they looked like pterodactyls. I loved them.

enjoying our first afternoon in the sun, right after we arrived.

We did all the touristy things. Like the Wright Brother Memorial. It was really great to see it all together and to be with this amazing handsome husband of mine.

seriously, this guy makes me smile--if not laugh out loud. ALL THE TIME. But he's pretty smart too!

I wore camouflage. I bet you can't even see me. Hint: I am in front of the lighthouse...

Jockey's Ridge National Park. It was kismet, we had just driven back from Hatteras and stopped for some fudge, and then as the sun was setting we decided to walk over to the dunes. It was magic. The sand felt so cool and delicious!

Taken from the bottom at Currituck Lighthouse. I remembered, suddenly and violently, at about 30ft, that I am extremely NOT OKAY with heights. So Russ climbed solo. But it was still a beautiful place to look around.

This became our "thing" The crazy cropped self-portrait.  I love them all so much.
I need a giant collage frame, I am such a dork.

at the aquarium in Manteo, none of my fish pictures turned out well, but isn't my Russell smokin' hot?

true story.

I want to hang a hundred multi-colored baskets from my porch. I do.

It was so good. These memories are like sunshine sparkling on the waves. 

Bliss and other summer pursuits

Before we left for our lovely sojourn in North Carolina, we had a few special days in Kansas.  Our first sunflowers (volunteers from last year) bloomed, and we got to meet a wonderful addition to the family of our dear, amazing friends, Anne and Caleb!  Good days in deed. So we will start our recap of summer so far looking back to the week before we left for down east!



I hear this little man is already close to 9 lbs. Pretty dang impressive considering he started out under 5! Wooohoo! Keep on growing little guy! We love you so much already!



And his mama is doing a fantastic job balancing all the new changes! I get to see her pretty face in a few days and I can hardly wait!



Little imp.

and the fairy princess.

slash tomboy nudie-pants.