Summer Wardrobe

It's time for our couch to get it's new summer wardrobe. Once again, digging into my pile of vintage sheets, I have found the perfect mix of blue and orange (perfect for now). Orange has crept up on me. It is now my favorite summer time color, as long as there is plenty of blue around still.

I've recently rearranged the living room into a configuration I never thought I would do. I am no longer a kitchen table sewer. My sewing machine now has a permanent home in the corner of the living room. No more do I have to put a project away when it's time to eat dinner. No more do I have to heft my 50 lb. vintage pfaff up to the table top. I've only had time to nip in for a quick sew here, and a quick hem there- we've been spending far too much time at the beach. From what I can tell though, I enjoy living room sewing, although I'm in desperate need of a night time lamp near by.

gettin' busy

My sewing machine is starting to get busy again (if I stay away for just a day or two it feels sooo neglected)! Yesterday I took the time (not much, actually) to make some much needed new pillowcases. With all those vintage sheets waiting to be repurposed, there was no excuse to have those same dingy white cases on that have been there for far too long. This particular print went so well with the sheets that I couldn't have done better had I spent many hours searching for just the right cases. I also like how they keep that crisp white look, with just a smidge of floral.

Leg Extensions

My latest alterations project. Adding a little extra needed length to two pairs of pants. Ruby's pants, above, probably would have been cute at the cut off length, but she had definite ideas as to what length she would feel most confident wearing. And doesn't a little bit of Amy Butler make anything look good?

I could not resist buying these pants, even though they were a smidge too short. Heck, aqua corduroy at the thrift shop? I like the extension on the bottom, but I'm still a little concerned with the slightly high waist, and slightly wide leg (which I don't mind below the knee, It's the wide leg up at the thigh that can be a little less than flattering). I've taken the inside leg seam in a bit, but doesn"t seem to be making enough of a difference, any other suggestions?

Summer has Begun

Today was the first official day of summer for us! We had a blast. Pancakes for breakfast, spent some time watering the garden, a great bike ride with a stop at the swings, and then topped it off with a burrito from our local taqueria. If this is any indication of the kind of summer to come, then, YIPEE!

The list we made up last week of things to do this summer looks something like this:

*learn to spell our last name (a real tongue twister)
*lots of art projects
*Boogie board- ALOT
*Bike everywhere
*Read some good books
*get real good at addition facts
*have all kinds of fun

My list includes all the above, plus:

*sew some awesome new dresses, skirts, hats, shirts, etc.
*surf- ALOT

Calling All Local Talent

This is fresh talent, folks. Unformed, under aged, budding talent. The kind of talent that asks every couple of days if they can set up there little table out at the end of the driveway to sell their masterpieces.

Here's a big shout out to the Los Osos Public Library's 1st Anuual Kids Craft Fair. This event will take place on August 1st, 2009 from 10:30-12:30. Registration packets are available now at the Los Osos library, and are due by July 15th. Here's a few of the specifics:

*must be 13years old or younger
*all items must be handmade
*all items must sell for $4.00 or less
*you bring your own table, chairs, displays, etc.
*must have parent present
*this event will take place on the lawn in front of the library
*there's no fee to enter, and you keep all the money you make


Last summer, while visiting my family in Bellingham, Washington, my girls participated in Bellingham's 40th annual kids craft fair. Do you know what that means? The parents of these kids were in this same lawn selling their own crafts when they were kids! I was SO amazed at this event. There were probably 50 to 60 booths boasting crafts of all kinds. These kids were talented! Our girls had an assortment of bookmarks, earrings, and bean bags. Some of my other favorites were home spun yarn, balloon characitures, jewelry of all kinds, a novel, italian sodas, candy sushi rolls, cat toys..... I knew I wouldn't rest until I was able to offer something like this to our community. Because Bellingham's event took place at their library, that's the first place I went. Our head librarian took this project under his wing with as much enthusiasm that I had. I can only hope that one day we will have Los Osos's 40th annual kids craft fair! Come join us!

Rekindled Love

I have a new love for succulents. Not that my old love grew sour. I know I've always loved succulents, but for some reason, within the last couple of years, my love has been growing stronger and stronger. I love all the different textures and variations of green. I also love the rare, but beautiful blooms some of them offer. I love how easy they are to propagate. I love how they look when there put together, and I love how a grouping of just one variety looks.


A few years back we planted a ton of succulents in a rather large raised planter box my husband built. This large grouping of many varieties reminds me of a coral reef, so alive and textural. Well, every so often I need to trim back many of them that will just grow to ginormous sizes. My mother in law gave me the brilliant idea of starting little pinches of these beauties in preparation for gifts. So today was the day I saved a couple pieces from each plant in anticipation of the next gift opportunity.

Here is some more succulent love:

Small Stump blog

Succulent wreaths- do it yourself

Cool succulent artist I saw at our recent Art in the Park

Spring Training (or Bossy Older Sister)

Yes, these girls are serious about their workouts. Ruby, my great list maker, has made a list of exercises for them to perform. They actually did do all the list said, and Ginger actually let Ruby time her doing each task.



By timing, I mean that Ruby counted aloud while Ginger ran (biked, skipped, tip toed, and weight lifted) around the brick pathway.