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Home Sweet Home

We're moving. I never loved a house as much as I love this home...
I'll miss the giant lilacs, the barns and stable and our quiet gravel road.
I'm excited to get to know our new home (which we'll own!) but am pretty darn sad to say goodbye to this one...

Summer

It's finally here...

A new family member

Isn't he adorable? He's only about 1 day old here. He's growing in leaps and bounds for every passing day. Right now his name is Junior but it may have to be changed to June, once we can figure out if he's a she or a he :)
And he has the cutest, yellowest, fluffiest bum, ever.

See you next month!

Spring time

There's something so refreshing about spring bulbs to me. The colors and textures of fresh vegetation brings me an energy that's been sleeping for months. The days begin to lengthen, the sun's rays are warmer and the snow melts. We begin to live again.

My view

Quilting

I just love the red and turquoise together. I've no idea yet just how big this quilt is going to be. I'm just going along with the creativity for now :)

White Animals

Plaster animals! I mixed up the powder with some water and poured it in these molds. After it started to dry I poked a magnet onto the back of each one. That's what the little black, round thing is. That one fell out. You're supposed to paint them but I kinda like them white. I love creating with plaster and am going to search for new ideas now! I'm going to spray a layer of vanish on them to keep them from crumbling and maybe frame them or gift them.

Yum!

These. Are. So. Good.

Recipe:

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium bowl, mix together cocoa, white sugar, and vegetable oil. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the cocoa mixture. Cover dough, and chill for at least 4 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough into one inch balls. I like to use a number 50 size scoop. Coat each ball in confectioners' sugar before placing onto prepared cookie sheets.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Let stand on the cookie sheet for a minute before transferring to wire racks to cool.

They are easy to make and won't last long!

Little bear

I created this little guy from a pattern I found at Hillary's wonderful blog. He'll probably end up being sent to my little niece and nephew in Texas, along with some other softies. So far, I've made a bunny, kitty and a squirrel. I'll have to do some tractors and horses next!

Spring?

Lots of dimly lit evenings around here. It's hard to get through such dark winters but the little things in my home keep my going. And soon, yes it has to be soon, spring will slowly show her face. I can't wait.

Mama To Mama

A few months ago Amanda Soule from www.soulemama.typepad.com blogged about this.



I had a great time making the baby caps and can't wait to see what is next. The above is the aftermath of a sewing frenzy which turned out to be a perfect napping bed for someone:)

Feels like home

I love it when the sun is shining in the house. It's the perfect light for sewing I think. And taking photos of notions and finished projects. I love the triangle and perhaps that's why I love pinking shears so much. They are perfect in every way.
And so I made a foot stool cover to match the couch's cover. My favorite slightly rust/orangey/burnt kind of red. It really brightens up the place. And we need that around here with so few hours of daylight that are usually obscured by a wintry duvet of clouds.


And then it was on to make some new pillows. I love this fabric and would've bought the whole bolt if not for the price tag(30 bucks a meter). I settled with a fluffy white backing for both of them. The little brown ones were a couple of place mats I picked up at Hemtex. They begged me to turn them into pillows. With their cute little pom-poms who could resist?

This cat needs to relax more

He leads such a busy life. We're worried he can't let the stress of the day go *cough cough

Dancing bears and Bonnet Crows

I once knew a pet crow. He was incredibly curious and a bit too smart for his own good. He had a way of looking directly into your eyes. It's not often that one is given a chance to make eye contact with a wild creature and when it happens to me, my heart skips a beat. I can just imagine what these two lady crows are chattering on about I got them and this adorably funny brooch from here.
They make me smile each time I look at them. Go visit her shop and give a dancing bear or a chattering pair of crows a home:)
Oh and let's not forget the chocolate candies that were added to the package!

This is cool

I have a hard time with cutting up a book or even a magazine and have some weird issues with treatment of books but this little video is so fun to watch. You gotta see it, even if you do cringe at dog ears :)

New loot

We went to the local thrift shop and man does that place get packed. They're only open on Saturday mornings and only on Saturdays that don't have a holiday in that week. I can say, I have never gone in and come out empty handed. They have tons of stuff. Of all kinds. These are a few things I snapped up. All the usual little old ladies must've been having a shin-dig some where cause none of them were at the linen shelves elbowing me to death. I made a killing on fabric! These are just a few favorites. I was delighted with finding the big piece of velvet. Not sure what I'll make of it yet. The little blue bird is one of my favorite birds-the Wren. So adorable. And isn't that mug so Watership Down-ish? Love that. And made in England. Love it! And I've always wanted salt and pepper shakers just like those. Jack-pot :) I really love my little stool. So cute!

Tiny feet

My very first pair of socks! And they're so tiny. Try as I might I could not even get a row knitted without lots of melt-downs so I caved and bought a sort of knitting cheater do-dad. It's a circle with little pins coming out that you wrap the yarn around and then pick over. It's been fun but I'd like to learn to do more(with real needles. Mine are currently jammed in a pot holding up a potted plant). There once was a time when I could knit a pretty wicked square. Will I ever get it back?

Vandals!

My stash of wool for needle felting has been hit. There were no witnesses but we have our suspicions.