Playing Around
Wow, thank you all for your nice comments! The random number generator picked comment #10 as our winner, so a little pair of earrings will be shipping out to Celeste right away!
On to other things, I ventured out to play with my camera at my sister’s maternity photo shoot last week…here are a few photos I caught:
One
I lost one of my earrings. I hate it when that happens!
Fortunately, I know how to come up with a replacement, and since today marks one year since I began this blog, I thought I’d make another pair for one of you while I’m at it. I’ll select a winner from comments to this post received by 10 pm Saturday April 25th–love ya!
China Dresses
I bought this satin jacquard a long while ago to make a luxe baby blanket for Miss M. Surprise! It never became a blanket. Miss J has been requesting a “china dress” out of it for quite some time, so I decided to give it a go for Easter this year.
I didn’t have enough fabric to make two full dresses, so Miss M’s outfit became a two-piece look, and I really like how it came together. I wanted to use ivory English net for her tutu, but alas, no stores in my region carry English net: the sales ladies there looked at me like I was crazy when I asked for it and promptly directed me to the nylon tulle selection. Fortunately for me, I found a non-English-net alternative in the Christmas fabrics section: a sheer fabric with a gold mesh pattern on it. Made for a cute (if not quite as versatile as planned) frilly skirt!
Prairie Roses
The sun came out for two gloriously warm days this week, and in hopes that today wouldn’t be bitterly cold, I talked Miss M into wearing something Spring-y, and grabbed this pretty little skirt made by my good friend Esther. I wanted to share it with you for two reasons: 1-because it’s darling, of course! and 2-because I want to mention CPSIA.
Most of the hubub about this law has died down with the stay of execution of testing enforcement granted by the CPSC in February, but the law itself is in full force. It has had devastating consequences for small entrepreneurs like Esther, who chose to shut down her Prairie Roses online boutique and walk away from her dream of designing her own line of girls’ dresses rather than face the astronomical costs associated with proving her products to be safe. (An aside here: I’ve never met a designer more conscientious and precise in compliance with safety and ethical standards than Esther.)
In the eight months since the CPSIA passed, nothing has been solved or clarified in the midst of the buck-passing going on between Congress and the CPSC. An amendment sponsored by Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina (which offered common sense solutions to the problems while ensuring safety standards) failed to pass the Senate last week by 19 votes. Do you know how your senators voted? Do they know you know? Do they know how you wish to be represented when the next amendment bill (cross your fingers for a good one) comes to the floor?
More Fun with Ribbons
Okay, so I had that ribbon in my house because I was planning to do something with it! This window has never had a real ‘window treatment’, and since I’m still not ready to get all serious and commit to fabric, I decided to try a ribbon swag. Do you think it’s too whimpy? I have more ribbon, I still might try to bulk it up a little. While I was at it, I finally got a few things hung on the walls next to Miss J’s bed. Yay! A few less items sitting on the floor waiting for homes… (I’m notorious, people.)
Miss J’s magnet board…something I actually finished and hung when I painted her room 3 1/2 years ago. But I moved it the other day, and we both really like it here.
While I was at it, Miss M’s canopy got a little extra punch of color. She’s so growing out of that crib.
And the piece-de-resitance…the balloon Miss J made in Kindergarten got a pretty new tail and a permanent place on the ceiling. It needs stuff on the walls to go with it. But I’m done for awhile. The end.
Hope
It snowed last night. But I think Spring is coming…I’ve been putting things out here and there to help me feel like it!
Speaking of hope, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the situations developing in our world, and trying to keep a positive outlook on the future. I read this passage by Benjamin Franklin last week, and wanted to share it here, because I believe it is a profound and powerful statement:
“We stand at the crossroads, each minute, each hour, each day, making choices. We choose the thoughts we allow ourselves to think, the passions we allow ourselves to feel, and the actions we allow ourselves to perform. Each choice is made in the context of whatever value system we’ve selected to govern our lives. In selecting that value system, we are, in a very real way, making the most important choice we will ever make…
“Since the foundation of all happiness is thinking rightly, and since correct action is dependent on correct opinion, we cannot be too careful in choosing the value system we allow to govern our thoughts and actions.
“And to know that God governs in the affairs of men, that he hears and answers prayers, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, is indeed, a powerful regulator of human conduct.”
It’s All in the Details…or Not
My baby girl turned three over the weekend. Sniff, sniff, hooray! She was princess for a day, and she loved it. After the house was made mostly presentable for a family party (more about that below), we ventured out to the park for a warm-wind-blown picnic. It was so nice to soak up some gentle sun after the long winter months, and the kids enjoyed climbing and playing.
So, about birthdays. I LOVE to drool over the fabulous over-the-top parties that fantastically creative mothers throw for their kids! And every year, I fully intend to plan three of them. But somehow, before I know it, the big day is here and I am entirely unprepared. So I’ve decided to not stress about it. My goal in life is to do the best I can, and let the rest just go. I like the idea of relaxed entertaining over high-stress pursuit of perfection.
In keeping with that habit/philosophy, I shopped for birthday supplies late the night before Miss M’s b-day. (As evidenced by the lack of professional writing on her cake in the picture above…bakery was closed. But I did my best to write her name with sprinkles I had on hand!) Miss J happened to be with me and requested that we purchase crepe paper for streamers to decorate. I declined, saying we’d do something else with supplies we already had at home (does anyone else get annoyed at how much money can go into embellishments that are immediately thrown away?). And forgot about it. Ten minutes before guests arrived, Miss J was in near-meltdown mode at my lack of decorating, so I grabbed some spools of ribbon and quickly came up with this centerpiece. It took three minutes, and was big enough to lend the festive atmosphere I was looking for. A few more ribbons around the room, and strategic placement of the ginormous singing Princess balloon gifted by one of the best grandmothers on the planet, and we were good to go. Phew!
Freak Show
Here it is folks, the object that rules my life: “The List”. I’ve spent the last week or so trying to get it under control, and I’m happy to say that I think I’m making some progress! (Knock on wood.) I’ve been a bit of a freak about my list for years now. It’s kept up to date on my computer, and transferred over to this handy notebook for ease of carrying with me and for taking notes on the go. Plus, I get this wonderful sense of accomplishment when I actually cross something off. I’m so easily entertained.
How do you keep track of your life?
(P.S. Pay no attention to the un-ironed tablecloth in the photo. It’s not even on the list.)
Still Here
I’m still here…I’ve just been busy with non-inspiring tasks like bookwork, taxes, housekeeping…you know the drill. I have a lot of ideas for things I want to share, just haven’t been able to get to them! I’m workin’ on it.
I got my last issue of Country Home in the mail today. I’m so sad this magazine is closing up shop–it’s been my fave for a few years, I wish I’d discovered how much I loved it sooner…and that they’d keep publishing it. Darn economy. Grrr.
Photo from Country Home website.
Peroxide is My Friend
I woke this morning to a lovely surprise: 2-year-old Miss M and her entire bed looked like they’d been beaten to a pulp in the night. She is a bit prone to bloody noses (“nogies” in Miss M speak), and has had a few in the last couple days, but the collateral damage hasn’t been quite so extensive as it was today. Fortunately, I’ve come up with a simple trick for cleaning up that seems to work well: a few shots of hydrogen peroxide from a spray bottle loosens everything up enough that it washes right out. What are your favorite stain removal tips?
Sage Meadow Studio 
