little birthdays and uncaptured lives

The night before L birthday, as I was realizing that the rainy weather was going to mess up my plans for our outdoor activities - my cupcakes bombed.  The younger one started to get a fever and a friend wasn't sure he'd make it to the party. 

I was frustrated and getting grumpy.

But thankfully, I had a moment of clarity.  Celebrations are happy, and little people are happy.  And Lou won't care if I use a cake mix.

So, I ran to town to get a cake mix from the store and a dog shaped cake pan from the public library (how cool is that?).   While the cake was baking, I cut up a flannel pillowcase and some felt and made a quick felt-board type Pin the Tail on the Dog.  Seriously - this is a quick in a pinch.  Cut, topstitch and tape to the wall - the felt tails will stick on their own if you pat a little.   John and I put up some decorations (a felt bunting, and several yards of ball fringe trim, a white table cloth and fresh flowers) and I laid out her crown and a pink dress.  I love for her to wake up to a decorated table - it just seems to make the whole day exciting.

And then, as I finished icing the cake and applied some chocolate chip spots, I vowed to finish up tonight.  To celebrate tomorrow.  To give her the one thing she wants (and I struggle to give) the most: my attention.

The next morning, as I was trying to get a nice picture of my pretty table setting, I thought, "Wouldn't it be nice to just enjoy this, and not try to document it?"   I thought how lucky people without blogs are. So I started over.  I decided to celebrate, and give L (and sick J) my attention. 

And we had such a beautiful day. 

There are days, when I want to completely disconnect from all of my online platforms, to just walk away from all of it.  I'm not quite ready yet, but I think one day I will.  For now, I think I'll take the summer off.  With John taking time off, the weather being (sometimes) beautiful, and me sewing top-secret book projects - now just seems like a good time.

I hope your summer is full of celebration, and I'll see you in the fall. 

Come As You Are

Being at home all day, in a tiny (cozy), messy (full), old (beautiful) house makes you keenly aware of the disconnect between a practical home and homes in those design-y photos.  You know the ones: the house always has a clear design scheme, a perfect color set, and one pair of crisp clean Chuck Taylor's haphazardly laying on the rule of thirds.  I love these.  They're beautiful.  They make me feel bad about myself.

I've noticed a blog trend lately to post about what your house really looks like.  Leave it to women to pull together and say, "hey, don't miss what's beautiful about my messy house."  And we moms may not be winning awards, making history, or, at times, coming up with anything interesting to say in adult conversation - but we are saturated in little pure and joyful lives every day.  Let's hope it rubs off.

She can tend to 6 babies, a fire engine, and a wolf in the village all at once.

No fancy dinner parties, but we're 75% of the way through the alphabet.

Resting after thoughtfully arranging the crayons into families.

A large playroom is only fun when someone is there to play with you.

Flour on the counter top means bread in the oven.

Usually organized studio, sometimes tidy, rarely pretty, always busy.

Working

because I hate a post without pictures

I am working, and working and working.  My back is killing me from the hours I spend hunched over sewing or drafting at the computer - I've got to stop doing that!  I wish I could write more about the new designs I'm working on, but I know it will be fun to share them all later.  I should say that I love working on the book: I'm learning like crazy, and I have so much work left to do, but it is thrilling.

I do want to tell you that I've made some exciting improvements to the flip dolls!  A few simple adjustments to the construction make them much easier to put together, and a bit neater too.  You can see these changes on the flip doll patterns that are in the shop now, and if you've previously purchased the Owl and Pussycat pattern or George and the Dragon, you can get the updated version (check your Etsy convo's or send me an email).  I've also worked out a new type of flip doll, that is even simpler while still super fun - but you'll have to wait for the book to see that.  ;)
 
I spent some birthday money on Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts which is both lovely and excellent and prompting more ideas that I have time to work on now.   If you like having reference-type books in your studio, this is top-notch, of-course.  I'd also recommend the Reader's Digest Guide to Sewing (the link is to the 80's version I have, but I think there are newer ones, too).

30

celebrating with the girls with Pac-Man and Frogger

For my 30th birthday, John took me on a weekend trip to Memphis, which was kind of a big deal. It was our first get away since we became parents, so it was a big step for both of us.  We go to Memphis every now and then, so we didn't feel pressured to sight see - we were just able to enjoy the city without kids in tow.

Illustrated guide to the weekend for the girls

I loved getting to slow down and look at paintings, eat a lot of great food, have a little fun on Beale Street, sleep as late as I wanted, and pray without interruption. 

I also loved coming home to my girls on Mother's Day (who, by the way, also had a thrilling weekend with grandparents).  Now, I am relishing each little moment of the girls dancing or talking in high pitched little pretend voices. I'm making ginger sage hot tea and playing in the garden with the girls.  

I am thrilled about where I am right now: 30, working really hard on a book, being changed every day by motherhood.  Growing.    

Happy Crowns

I'm off to put the last of the crowns in the mail this morning, and I just wanted to say thanks to all of you for participating in my little project.  We gave away 130 crowns and met some amazing kids.  Have a look at the crowns, and be sure to scroll down and down and down.  It's like a happy little rainbow - it always makes me smile.  The crowns are in the order that they were given, so you can see how my color and style choices changed, as well as my photog skills. (And maybe you can spot the donated chunk in the middle, thanks Mom!)

Assorted reflections: 

• When you do something nice for others, you just can't help but be blessed by it yourself.  I feel a bit selfish because I think I got more out of this than anyone.  I really can't say thank you enough. 

• Everyone needs compassion.  True, not everyone's needs are equal, but sometimes little things feel just as dire, especially for children.

• A charitable project probably runs more smoothly when you have a clear recipient in mind.  I ended up hunting down kids to give crowns to.  :)

• I can find much more time to sew than I ever thought I could.  Sometimes a challenge is all you need.  

• "Joy comes, grief goes, we know not how." - James Russell Lowell 

Maybe I'll have some reflections on turning 30 later.  This seems like enough for one day.  I'd love to hear yours.