• Starting this week off with a yummy dinner-baked potatoes, broccoli soup, and sauteed mushrooms
• Thrilled to see the ground again-most of the snow has melted in this dreamy warm weather (please stay, please stay!)
• Bummed about my latest project-although I love the overall design, this is just too funky-shaped to feel good about toting around

• Not bummed about having a reason to get back in the studio and try again!
• Loving the library-I think we’ve checked out around 9 CDs (hello Byrds) on top of the usual stacks of books recently
• Listening to my drummer man and loving his beats (from upstairs)
• Excited about Vermont pen PALS-thanks for the package C + C, and keep your eyes on your mailbox too
• Wondering what happened to Dove facewash?  I officially gave the search up today.
• Glad that google always has the answer…just found this link and then remembered to look for the answer to a 4th grader’s questions while discussing Post-Revolutionary War America/start of democracy–”Why choose ‘Columbia’ when naming the nation’s capital?”
• Feeling grateful for the amazing connections of friendship, family, and kindred spiritness I am blessed with.  Near or far, those that I love are just a thought away, and that is a comforting feeling.
• Thinking about tidying up categories for the blog, filling up the “shop” section (gasp, I know), and creating a more regular posting schedule–yea for upcoming spring break/time!

for turning 30

Ingredients:
1 delightful birthday girl
8 sweet & silly friends
vodka and/or coconut rum + mixers
a few dogs (to taste)
lil bit of handmade
9 pairs of jeans
various t-shirts and “fancy” dresses
about 5 baskets FULL of make up and nail polish
no less than 3 varieties of beer (domestic or otherwise)
chocolate (brownies work best)
1 camera with flash

What to do:

1. Begin with turning the music up loud!
2. Pour drinks and fill plates…feast away.
3. Ensure the decorations are securely placed.
4. Spread make up, nail polish and clothes all around for several hours.
5. Take photos at random intervals to keep forever!

Meredyth,  your party was so much fun!  Happy, happy birthday.  Wishing you a year filled with peace, love, happiness, and sleepover parties.

NPR was kind enough to share this story today:

New Sweet Treat

If you are down for international shipping, you can check it out for yourself.

Welcome back into one of my favorite corners of the world!  Except for ordering a special 5 x 7 photo to be printed, the room has been 100% successfully re-arranged.  until next time. Enjoy the following pictures of the entire space.

Here is what you walk into.  The hanging pouches were blogged about before–and they definitely come in handy!  Behind my work table is a simple wood stool; I lean more than sit, so it’s the perfect height for thinking, cutting, drawing, and just general making!

This tall shelf is a catch all…  The top holds glitter and paper punches.  Below that is one of my favorite photos, two notions boxes, and usually (?hmmm?) a jar with ribbon remnants.  Underneath there is scrap paradise!  The beautiful blue bag holds big scraps; I have them organized by pattern/color and rubber-banded.  Next to that is an upcycled brown box covered in fabric to catch pieces for later sorting.  The remaining three baskets hold small pieces of favorite fabrics and solids that I like to mix into projects.

The cabinet has a lot of paper crafting supplies, but I am determined to keep it under control!

Over here, is the wall with my love.  Oh, loves acutally, the computer is over there too.  There sits the sewing machine, with a bulletin board built for inspiration, lists, photos, sweet cards, and important little bits.  Using a cheap nightstand frame, and with big thanks to Kevin (also carpenter-mastermind), I have easy-to-organize paper trays for 12 x 12 paper.  The top drawer hold mailing and misc. office supplies.

I stacked two drawers from IKEA to house more paper crafting supplies and they fit nicely on the end of the table.

The last corner of the studio (finally) has a comfortable place to sit!  I covered our faithful IKEA Poang chair in an old curtain that we never hung.  Some more of the curtain was patchworked into the hanging cover I made for the “project shelf.”  See the bulletin board that has several little pieces of paper on it?  Each scrap names a project that I’ve started and contained in the black hole.  It’s kind of a mess!  The other bulletin board is a house project board.  Doesn’t look like we’re up to much right now, huh?

We inherited that long black shelf from our last house–it’s served many purposes for sure.  I like the look and recently picked up the two wood colored floating shelves.  Since we have lots of bookshelf space downstairs, all the craft/sewing books have a home amongst their how-to, field guide, novel, picture, and reference friends.  Up here, I have two files (you guessed it–covered in fabric) to keep “to file later” stuff in.  Lovely green boxes are stuffed with patterns and templates.  The binders are organized by topic, and I have really enjoyed organizing them.  I felt like I cleaned up my mind along with scraps from magazines, ripped out designs/sketches, printed information, pamphlets and lists.

I love to be busy and filled with ideas…and have such satisfaction when I can create something; this studio is a wonderful place to make it happen.  Thanks for sticking around for the tour

So, that recent glorious week, the week that kept me and my loved one home and cozy really got me dreaming.  I eagerly settled into the new (albeit temporary) routine, kept up with my cold-weather chores, and began to compare how it felt to be home (in a full time kind of way) during the winter versus the summer.   Similar to the summer mornings that I absolutely adore, I woke up and immediately turned on music.  We’ve become pretty partial to Pandora Radio over here, and subsequently discovered new artists to fill up itunes with.  Since Kevin (in his techno-masterminded way) installed a whole house stereo system, I love how the music selected sets the tone for the day.  It gives me certain motivation to clean, or craft, or write, or cook, or read, or head outside, or just spend a few minutes soaking in the coziness around me.

From corduroy, I made a new purse and a pair of flannel-lined pj pants.

Also, I dove into some new fabric and followed this great tutorial to make a sweet little top.

Enjoyed a hearty breakfast!

And chased the sunshine around the house (thanks for the clues Skylar).

What a wonderful gift, to have a week off work in the middle of winter!

One of my favorite little people, miss Eddy, has an adored collection of dolls and stuffed animals.  When we last visited her family, I was asked to make a new outfit for one of the dolls.

I hope you like it sweet girl!

The last email from my principal referred to this week as snow daze–and I absolutely love it!

Outside:

:icicles hanging from our front porch:

:snow covering most of the back fence:

:neighborhood streets:

:frozen spring water in Harpers Ferry:

: old bridge and frozen canal water in Harpers Ferry:

Inside:

:snow gear getting a break:

: oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (and my hand):

:Valentine cards (that will be late because our post office workers are off too):

:crafts down in the basement, next to the fire:

As mentioned in January, “Hip Mountain Mama” is hosting One Small Change.  Kevin and I just rebuilt the hall closet, and made lots of space for everyday items.  He and I were so happy to organize our first aid stuff, dog food/treats/extras, and of course, cleaners.  While looking at the various products we had, I decided to make the leap over to all natural, all home-made.  My friend and (sniff, sniff) old neighbor Courtney gave me this awesome little book- Make Your Place: Affordable, Sustainable Nesting Skills and it is full of these kinds of ideas!  Here is where I started:

the ever powerful All Purpose cleaner.  Love the essential oil scents that make the house smell earthy and fresh.  Another easy change that we both feel good about.  Now to decide who gets to use it first!

Or at least, pretty darn close! No school on Friday, and it’s already announced we’ll be closed on Monday and Tuesday–the effects of this massive snowstorm have hit this area hard. Kevin, my brother Jesse, me and the dog are all safe, warm, and with power inside. Outside, the winds continue to swirl snowflakes every which way–captivating your eyes and mind.

This snowfall, over 2 feet and counting, is the most we’ve ever seen and I feel truly lucky to experience this.  So far, the preferred indoor activities have included: sewing, card-making, hot chocolate drinking, computer time, Netflix, yummy meals, reading, chatting, and just staring out the window.  I’ll be back soon, possibly with a non-snow related post (but I’m not making any promises).

My head is filled up with the possibilities and excitement of today. Winter has again turned our area into a gorgeous blanket of white, and school is closed! I am sure that:
-I’m going to drink some coffee (leisurely, and not in a travel mug).
-Yoga will be the perfect mid-afternoon movement activity (instead of racing up and down hallways, feeling like I’m supposed to “shhhh” children-their line chatter does not bother me, but you, know…school rules).
-Books will be read (at my reading level, not that I mind the 4th grade–plenty of good writing there)!
-The craft room will be played in (working on 2 ideas to try and work into a craft show plan).

Here’s a little more snowy love to start your day, however you spend it