Spinning

Friends, Romans, Countrybloggers...I am tired.

Having never beheaded a chicken myself, I never really got the metaphor, but I'm starting to. The house, the yard (try growing grass in the desert. it's a full time job.), the sewing, the children...and there's three of them, the notorious J-O-B and the bit where Amos gets the boot from preschool at 12:15 everyday...

...these things have conspired to make my head very-nearly-literally spin.

So you'll have to forgive me if this humble blog gets neglected from time to time, and I know you will because you're likely spinning too.

So because I'm spinning and I rarely remember to snap a photo of my own projects and watching grass grow in the desert, while miraculous, is still quite dull, have a look at some things that have, praise be, kept the boys entertained lately. 

For Amos, all it takes is a bucket of cold water, a bucket of hot water, and some color changing cars.

And Eli of late has taking to making grand cityscapes from paper, cardboard and tape.  And of course, bubblewrap.

I love to watch what inspires them.

Here's hoping you find a few still moments this week. And me too.

Peek of the Week April 27, 2012

What's Peek of the Week you ask? It's our semi-regular Friday feature where we hear all about what cool things you other crafty families and blogging types have been up to. Tell us about your projects, finished or in-progress, a funny kid moment, a personal accomplishment or just something that made you smile.

Each week I'll get the ball rolling by sharing a Peek from our week and then invite you to do the same by linking up to your own post.

Once again my Peek this week is inspired by Pintrest. I found this great Sidewalk Chalk Paint idea on there and it was a giant hit at our house.

 Basically you mix a cup of corn starch and a cup of water, put that in muffin tins and add food color.

 My favorite was making designs with the food coloring, which the boys promptly mixed in.

 They mixed colors too and by the end of it things were pretty psychedelic.

Thanks for another great idea Pintrest!

Now it's your turn!

You could get peeking in three easy steps:
1. Blog about your Peek of the Week - whatever it is. Whatever happened that made you proud, laugh, smile, inspired, excited, or just plain happy - now that's worth sharing.
2. Include a link to this blog or put the Peek of the Week button (on the sidebar) in your post.
3. Link your blog post using the InLinkz button below.

If you don't get a chance to get here on Friday, feel free to link your post up later.
The InLinkz button will be active for 5 days.

Never too early...

Lemme walk you through it...

Sunday, I went to Fabric Bliss (a.k.a. heaven) to snag a few things from her HHS inventory to send to an etsy customer. As is always the case, I did not make it out without a few small purchases - my favorite of which was an A.DOR.ABLE embroidery pattern by Sarah Jane for my uber bestie - Sunny (whose talents can be seen here).

Flash forward to today - same scenario - only this time I found the above fabric by Sarah Jane. OMW.

At first I thought it was just perfect for a pinafore, which...clearly, it is.

But then it came to me. Can you picture it?
Hazel's 1st birthday party theme is in the bag...and only 4 months to plan (and for Sunny to start embroidering favors)!

And...as a bonus: Sarah Jane has a website of her gorgeous designs and their are even cards with this delightful little parade on them.  Perfection!!!

Now, does anyone know where I can get a pink elephant?

Spoonflower Phobia

So, you guys know about Spoonflower, right? It is genius. It's an North Carolina based company that will print your own fabric designs for you.

See. Genius!

They've used it on the last few seasons of Project Runway and the whole idea seemed so pie-in-the-sky something-only-tv-designers get to do but guess what? That's just not so. Anyone can do it!

And guess what else? The fella, gift-giver extraordinaire, gave me a Spoonflower gift-certificate for Christmas. You believe that? He's a peach.

You'll note that Christmas was 5 months ago. I knew right away that I wanted to design a fabric with Happily Home Sewn's owl logo on it. It's above and it looks awesome in fabric.

But now I'm stuck. Everytime I look on Spoonflower and peruse all the amazing fabrics that people...regular people...have designed, I'm stymied.

So I need some help! What direction should my next fabric design move in??? I can see some lovely florals, vintage-y sewing, vintage-y kiddo, critters, shapes...aaaaaaaaack! Help!!!

Also, I can't decide what to make from my owl color block fabric I've already had printed.

I don't want to waste the Spoonflower opportunity! I need advice from all you stylish, crea-tastic gurus out there!

Suggestions??? Ready....GO!

Peek of the Week - April 20, 2012

Take a Peek!

What's Peek of the Week you ask? It's our semi-regular Friday feature where we hear all about what cool things you other crafty families and blogging types have been up to. Tell us about your projects, finished or in-progress, a funny kid moment, a personal accomplishment or just something that made you smile.

Each week I'll get the ball rolling by sharing a Peek from our week and then invite you to do the same by linking up to your own post.

This week I offer a twofer. First, an installment of Stuff Yaya Makes. The children and Yaya have a separate life I often know nothing about. I'm so happy they have the magical world of Yaya to explore. Apparently sometimes they enjoy a little show called Mike the Knight. I've never seen it, but I hear Mike does right, so I'm on board. 

Eli likes to take on the persona of Mike. The Knight.

So Yaya made him a steed. Complete with faux fur tail:

Second, a Pintrest idea that was a huge slam dunk:

Take pans of baking soda, drop food-colored vinegar into them and watch the bubbly goodness happen. That's science people.

Oh, speaking of pinterest...
Have you read my nationally, nay...internationally run Associated Press article about crafters and pintrest? Yes, the where where I, my awesome crafty buddy Kristen Cunningham of Sewtastically Made, and my other bff Martha Stewart and featured?

Well, you can find it in several reputable news sources, but my personal fave is this one from the Winnipeg Free Press because
a) It's Canadian! That's international baby!
b) They use a huge picture of my fabric decoupaged eggs as the header of the article

Am I insufferable yet?
Well, then you chime in and share your cool stuff!
You could get peeking in three easy steps:
1. Blog about your Peek of the Week - whatever it is. Whatever happened that made you proud, laugh, smile, inspired, excited, or just plain happy - now that's worth sharing.
2. Include a link to this blog or put the Peek of the Week button (on the sidebar) in your post.
3. Link your blog post using the InLinkz button below.

If you don't get a chance to get here on Friday, feel free to link your post up later.
The InLinkz button will be active for 5 days.

Embracing Amos

Or should I call it...Amos Embracing Me?

I am the one he loves the best. I hope I keep that title for all time because it comes with some pretty sweet perks.

For one, he's a really good kisser.

Also...a great conversationalist. 

Best snuggler ever. 

I am one lucky Mama.

Oh! - and if you didn't see yesterday's 

post about Happily Home Sewn's

 VERY. EXCITING. NEWS. - click here! 

I'm still kvetching! (I love that word)

Embracing the Camera with the Anderson Crew today.

Super Exciting News!

Ok, there's a wee bit of kvetching going on.

Little old me, and this little old blog, were featured in an AP article that appeared on abcnews.com today. It's a great article about crafters and pintrest.

Know who else is mentioned in the article?

That's right...goddess of craft, Martha Stewart (and I was mentioned as many times as her...what???)

kvetching. for real.

Here's the article!!!

Guest Photographer(s)

When I was a kid, I won a camera of my very own for my efforts during "Jump Rope for Heart." Remember JRFH? Do they still do that? It was fun.

Anyhoo, I was super excited about my prize. It was my own personal camera with a flash and film and the whole bit. And it was garbage. I remember being soooooo frustrated but I still wouldn't throw that camera away because I wanted so badly for it to work. I loved the idea of taking my own photos. 

So, even though it's mine, and even though it cost major bucks, recently when my little boy children have shown interest in using my new fancy camera to take their own photos, to tell their own stories, I am eager to allow it. 

I love their stories. 

I love how they tell them. 

Here are some Eli highlights:

And Amos':

 Amos LOVES a self-portrait.

Man I love a good story.

Vintage Overload

A few weeks before this little gem made her appearance, a box full of other gems did. My 80some year old grandfather packed up a stash of vintage hand-me-downs worn by his own daughters, my mom and aunts. 

This sweet green crunchy polyester masterpiece was among them and is my favorite.  

Isn't she divine? We are in love. 

Obviously.

Peek of the Week - April 13, 2012

Peek a Boo.

What's Peek of the Week you ask? It's our semi-regular Friday feature where we hear all about what cool things you other crafty families and blogging types have been up to. Tell us about your projects, finished or in-progress, a funny kid moment, a personal accomplishment or just something that made you smile.

Each week I'll get the ball rolling by sharing a Peek from our week and then invite you to do the same by linking up to your own post.

So, this week, I give you "Big Block of Cheese Post." Remember on West Wing when they would have Big Block of Cheese Day, where the White House staff would open its doors to allow anyone (read: crackpots) who wanted to be heard by the government, to be heard? I'm doing that today too, only instead of crackpots, you're being inundated by cute pictures of my kids. There are just so many and they were beginning to freak me out just sitting there waiting to be blogged.

Photo dump. Problem solved.

Enjoy:

  

 

 Tiny Baby Thumbs Up.

 

OK! I feel better!

Now you!
You could get peeking in three easy steps:
1. Blog about your Peek of the Week - whatever it is. Whatever happened that made you proud, laugh, smile, inspired, excited, or just plain happy - now that's worth sharing.
2. Include a link to this blog or put the Peek of the Week button (on the sidebar) in your post.
3. Link your blog post using the InLinkz button below.

If you don't get a chance to get here on Friday, feel free to link your post up later.
The InLinkz button will be active for 5 days.