The First Bloom...

Our first rose bloom of the year! Oh, I just cannot wait till everything is in full bloom!

An Extended Mother's Day Gift

Mother's Day weekend has always been full of memories. It has always been a wonderful start to life outdoors after a long season of four walls and cabin fever. We have enjoyed many Mother Day weekends prepping the gardens for planting. There have been a few exceptions to this over the years though. 8 years ago, I lost one of our babies over Mother's Day weekend, I will never forget how much I ached for that little one,or how I spent the weekend curled up on this swing that Matt gave me for Mother's Day that year. 8 years later and three more kiddos later, I find it pretty difficult to want to give it up even though it is all worn down and missing many of it's parts. I have missed planting a garden on behalf of the arrival of this little wonder as well-but that was a far better Mother's Day gift than a garden:)If I must choose, I would rather grow babies than flowers and veggies!



Our new play set has become quite the hit! Noah, our littlest, is causing constant heart thumps for me as he has insisted on being a monkey far to young for my comfort!
We don't have swings up yet on the set, but I pulled out a hammock to take their place. We haven't had any large trees in our new house to hang it on, so this has been a fun substitute, and as a matter of fact, I do not think the kids even want me to replace it with swings, works for me!


Many of you may already know that we have a small guinee pig farm at our house. They have become to perfect pet for our kiddos to take care of. And we have grown quite fond of their quirky personalities. We have been able to witness the birth of many little cuties and I am still attempting to figure out the family tree, but ask my kiddos and they can explain who is Grandpa to who and who is so and sos sister, and so on- But one new feature with this new playyard has been absolutely perfect for the pigs! Instead of making the bottom a sandbox, we have come to use it as the "grazing" yard for our little piggies without having to worry about any escapees! I think the pigs are in paradise:) We actually were able to take a vacation day on Tuesday for tilling, and it turned out to be the most spendid weather for being outside! So after a long day of tilling up 4 gardens , and weeding, flower planting and playing, we were able to have our first fire and smores!

This was an especially blessed weekend this year. Mom and Dad came out on Monday, Matt's day off to give Matt and I a day away-which was dreadfully needed I must say. We have had a crazy schedule these last few months and when it wasn't work away from home, it was dealing with the breaking down of things around the house, every time we got one things fixed and took a breath, something else would go-you know how it is. I think Mom and Dad could sense a weariness in me, although it wasn't to hard to see since I have been a bit crabby:) at the littlest things. But we had a wonderful day-lazy long lunch out with the wonderful gift card from some friends, the new Star Trek movie(IT WAS AWESOME), and some time playing with puppies at the pet shop(and no, we are not getting a dog, just dreaming). So, after a great day like that, Tuesday outside was awesome!

But, all good things must come to an end right!? Yesterday, I ended up with what we believe was food poisening! AUGH! I am finally getting back on my feet after just wanting to die. OIY! My blessed Madi girl gave up her night at church with friends to stay home and help with the wee ones as I laid on the bathroom floor thinking my end was near:)-haha Then she tended to playing with my hair after the little ones went to bed. She was my saving grace! It is always scary to get sick when you have little ones to take care, but I have seen the Lord use our older kids to really help keep our family going in hard times like these. They seem to have a very sensitive spirit and one of helpfulness that blesses at just the right time. I am just so thankful I was the only one that got it!

So What is in the Basket For Today?...

Here is just a little sneak peek into some of the fun rescued fabrics that have joined the shop today. I tend to have piles in different locations throughout my house waiting for me to list them in the shop. I have a lovely old bag lady cart which stores all the vintage clothing needing my attention, there is another stack downstairs by my desktop, there is the crate in my laundry room waiting for me to take pictures of them, and so on. But I have been working as of late to streamline my approach to this ongoing pattern which exists in my life as an online shop owner. I have begun to fill up a basket of my newest goodies when time permits between school, changing diapers, fixing meals, sewing, so on and so forth, and that basket comes with me to wherever I may be working on my laptop during the day. My goal with this cute little basket is to accomplish small miracles, not impossible ones. Emptying this little basket onto my shops shelves once they are listed encourages me. And it is fun to consider what next to put into the basket. So these were my afternoon delights that have made it into the shop and onto the shelves, finished and ready for someone to take a liking to and put into their own basket(the online shopping cart:)).

Today's afternoon listings where some fun fabrics ....




As well as some more bookmarks in which I have not had in the shop since Christmas time. These bookmarks began as a need for me with homeschooling. With overseeing and teaching three separate grades, I have an absurd amount of teachers manuals to work from and got sick of flipping through them each day to find my place! The extra large bookmarks became my saving grace to staying on track. But as many of you know, making them for yourself is just not enough, they are completely addicting! So, of course they have also been a regular in the shop. One new thing that I have started doing with these in the shop though is to bundle them in larger quantities for party favors, stocking stuffers, office and teacher gifts, etc. So not only are there 3 packs, there are also 10 packs. Last Christmas they sold out so quickly, I was unprepared for their popularity, so this year I am hoping to have more to offer. One of my lovely customers even had me make them in mass to hang her Christmas Cards from on a ribbon. Very fun and I believe this year I will be doing the same!

My New Little Everything Pouch

Little joys-these new little pouches are to me. Each new one becomes a new favorite! Awhile back I began making my Happy Saturday Clutches and they remain to be a calming work for me. But I have taken the same design and made it to be a little version. It all began when I was thinking about my younger ones sitting through an award ceremony for my older kids. I needed to come up with something to keep them occupied and content. There is nothing like a new box of crayons, I must admit, even I like to get one every once in awhile! OOOO-those fresh pointy tips and all those pretty colors. I think I like them even more than my kiddos!


I had made all my kids crayon rolls last year, and somehow they have disappeared:)-what a surprise, that never happens! Darn, I guess I will have to make something new to keep those crayons in(hehe) But, as much as those were excellent for my older kids, they were difficult for the wee ones to take out and put back the crayons in the tiny slots. So, I decided to make some of the smaller clutches for crayon packs. I am so in love with them being used for this! My younger girls have been carrying theirs around while they work on school too.



But, I have also made some grown up versions for those bag ladies out there! I maybe overdid myself in cutting out over a hundred to make up-yikes-that may take me awhile-but they are at least designed and ready to sit quietly waiting at my machine. They have been the late night, waiting for hubby to get home from work, soothing rhythm of work, as I get to free motion quilt them. Just like the larger Happy Saturday Clutches, they are perfect for those smaller items you want to keep sacred in your purse. The cell, IPOD, keys, lipstick, or maybe gum. But they are excellent travel companions, one of my lovely customers uses them for their passports. I know I will get use out of many of them this summer while we travel to camp, they will be great for my girls hairbands and such, and one will be in the diaper bag with all the little first aid needs summer seems to bring as well! I could get a little obsessive about these!



They are perfect if you are looking for a use for all the fun scraps you have! The pieces only measure 8x15, so not much is needed! If you are a quilter, here is a great way to use up all the strips left over of batting from making your quilts! I finally put that bundle of batting to use that I just could not bring to throw out, knowing eventually i would do some smaller quilted items! And if you aren't a sewer, but would like some little lovelies, I have listed around 15 so far in the shop. So happy shopping to you!

What To Do With Vintage Bed Linens-#6

It has been awhile I guess, since I have shared an idea for vintage bed linens. Lets just say, I have been up to my elbows in creating with them and forgot to share! Number six is fun for so many things! If you are looking for a fun little gift to give, this will serve you well! Whether it be for a teacher, hostess of the month, secret sis, Mother's day, neighbor, friend in the hospital, or for yourself, sachets are always a fave! And there are so many wonderful fragrances out there! Lavendar seems to be a fave in my shop, but I actually am more of a spice girl than a flower girl. So if you are like me, you can also fill your sachets with orange peels, peppermint, cloves, etc. I have even made coffee bean sachets for my husbands car-yum!

The size of the sachet is completely up to you, I make mine out of 5 inch squares. I line all of mine with an extra layer of white poly cotton for a quality feel and finish. Before filling them, I will top stitch around the edge for a finished look.

The sachets are perfect for any drawer, doorknob, car, suitcase, or bathroom. But they are also wonderful for those of you who have sensitive skin and cannot use dryer sheets with chemicals on them. I have used lavendar sachets in the dryer at different times when my kiddos skin has seemed to be oversensitive and irritated. They are a wonderful smelling alternative. I feel that they work well for approx 10-15 loads of laundry.

Update On Thread Count

Well, a little over a month I began a funny little curiousity to watch over this year. I was curious about just how much thread I go through in one year! Last month on April 1st, the count for the year was at 37 spools of thread. As of May 1st, the count was at 47. The kicker in that new count was that one of the spools I finished was a 1500 yards spool.

Birds and Bees

Every year I mean to take pictures of our apple trees because I am in awe of the beauty!And I finally remembered this year! I so wish they would stay in bloom all summer, but then how would we get yummy apples! There is a season for everything-right!?

The bees are already hard at work!
I was reading in one of my favorite gardening books last night, 365 Days of Gardening, and came across this quote which is quite appropriate! "An apple tree puts to shame all the men and women that have attempted to dress since the world began."-Henry Ward Beecher

How true! We can never really match God's creation!
Lot's of apples this year!
is that not the prettiest color! I love God's color palette!