Lemons and Blueberries

how I got started (part one)

2012-02-04T05:23:00.000-08:00

It was the fall of 1980ish when my parents met at the bright age of twelve---just kidding, this post is about how I got started with Lemons and Blueberries; though my parents did meet at a bright, young age, I wanted to tell you more about the how's and why's of my craft business. So, get cozy and a cup of whatever-you-like, we'll be here for a bit. ;)

Creating things began about fifteenish years ago, when my parents made the decision to educate us girly girls at home (though I was coloring and playing dress-up long before then); what started off as a decision to keep me home for health reasons (I was a pretty pathetic asthmatic child) turned into a desire to give us a better, wholesome educated; something in which we could learn at our own pace, avoid the influences of playground conversation, and most importantly, being taught to fear and honor the Lord. All of this gave my sisters and I opportunities to color, read, play, and learn in different ways. We tearfully persevered through mathmatics, thrived in Literature and History, and learned to be excited about the Sciences; we went on countless field trips (from blood banks to donut shops), wrote many reports and papers, gained much book and head knowledge, read thousands of books, spent a semester ~~pretending we were Laura Ingalls~~ volunteering as reenacter's, and whenever we had the slightest opportunity, we rode horses and swam until it grew dark. Additionally, my Dad spent much time teaching us to prioritize our time, use it well, and make the most of our opportunities; he signed us up for art fairs, sports, and all sorts of things we thought we didn't want to do---later learning that we loved it (I'm the only one who didn't do well in any kind of sport, no surprise). At very young ages, he and my Mama encouraged us to get out of our routines and try new things; sometimes it was fun and other times we came home dejected and tired. When I was twelve, we moved to Germany for about six months---it was one of the best sixth months of our lives (remember, I was only twelve). We learned German, walked everywhere, gained appreciation for a plethora of new things, and grew so much closer together as a family. That trip is probably what awakened our gypsy-like love for traveling and going to new places. :) How does this all connect with Lemons and Blueberries? It definitely got me started with the character aspects of a business; anyone can sell their craft and make a few bucks (that's U.S. dollars for you international readers), but to create a sustainable, lasting business one requires more. I've learned that planning, prioritizing, diligent work, and sound wisdom from others can make all the difference; and looking back, I can see how my parents prepared me by instilling these habits and character qualities from a young age. Now, making the transition from a hobby to actually making a selling a product was a bit of a challenge but...

And that concludes this part of the story! Tune in Monday for part two!

smiles and waves

2012-01-31T08:08:00.000-08:00

Isn't Eva just edible?
What you don't get from these pictures is the sweet squeals and cooing sounds that come from this wiggly cutie, nor do you hear the rest of her Tia's and her Mama speak all kinds of lovey things, nor can you feel her chubby hands and cheeks.

You're missing out.

One of the things I love about being a Tia, is the excuse it gives me to knit all sorts of things for my adorable nieces and nephew (remember this knitted dress?). Though enjoyable, this project took me a bit more time to complete than I'd like, due mostly to the concentration I needed to get the hang of the lace pattern and I can only take so much of the stockinette pattern but at long last it is completed and more importantly, it still fits her. :)

For this project, I used the Wave Jumper pattern from this book (thank you, library!); the blue wool from England (via my Dad on one of his business trips), the green wool from one of the craft shows at Homestead Heritage, and the buttons are re-purposed from an unworn jacket. The pattern was easy peasy to figure out and looks like it'll fit Eba for months to come, or at least until this weather stays cool. ;)

I probably won't be doing any personal knitting for a while as I have a few other projects on "the list" but after those are completed, I'd love to find yarn for this delightful shawlette or this super cute sweater.
What's on your project list?

explanations and progress

2012-01-23T20:23:00.000-08:00

{you got it right, this is the same photo used on this personal post!}

Please accept my sincerest apologies for last weeks unexpected blogging break; due to technical reasons beyond my knowledge to explain, we were out of internet. It was peaceful in that we had time to focus on other things but slightly sad in that we felt pretty isolated from world events and emailed photo's of adorable nieces. Know that I had some pretty interesting craft posts in queue, but alas...they'll just have to keep. ; )
While the internet was still available, I was able to listen to some really excellent sermons and groovy (yes, groovy) music; I'm a pretty big fan of sermonaudio.com and most enjoy listening to sermons by Paul Washer, Marc and Matt Glass, Peter Masters, and, naturally, the elders at GFBC. Sermonaudio also offers sermons in a plethora of other languages and I sometimes get a kick out of listening to sermons in German and French, trying to glean from what I still remember!
As for groovy tunes, I must confess my eclectic taste in music.
It's true, my list of favorites goes across the musical board; ranging from the delicate Beriot concertante to most everything by The Civil Wars (this one and this one are my current favorites) and Jars of Clay (really like their rendition of this beautiful hymn) all they way to---well, here's the link to my playlist, should you feel so inclined. : ) Lest you think that I like everything, know that there are at least two genre's that I really don't enjoy, but that's a story for another time.

Do you like my camel? I've not named him since I don't really keep track of the names of inanimate objects, even my fish (when I had them). At any rate, Camel came from a wonderful antique museum in Dubai, along with some other treasures. Though I didn't see any camels while I was there, it serves as a reminder to me of the sweet times the Lord allowed us to have in Dubai.
And the bird-less bird cage? Well, it's the second in my bird-less birdcage collection, currently holding yarn from (yes) Dubai, I can't wait to show you the finished product of the yarn!

I also wanted to show you the lovely gift of a necklace that my sweet friend, Cait gave to me while in (you guessed it) Dubai. I wish I could show you a photo of the packaging but just know that it was a wonderful example of her superb creative skills! I love being reminded of the treasured times we had to spend together, praise the Lord for sister's in Him! Also, the necklace goes with pretty much everything I own, which is a major plus.

This week has filled up quickly but I am looking forward to savoring the early mornings and relishing in the late nights (this isn't really a week for sleeping). At the end of these full days is a merry time with four adorable and fun sisters who are also sweet friends; it's one of those relationships wherein you know so much about each other that you feel as if you are good friends before you have even met!

of paint pens and peanut butter m&m's

2012-01-18T06:48:00.000-08:00

{Butter Yellow Baby Booties}

Yesterday I started my first painting project (pictures to come!); a dear family has commissioned me to make name signs for their children and this week I've started with the so-far youngest child's name. I'm happy to say that with a fine tip paint pen, calligraphy on canvas is indeed possible! I'm very exciting to finish the lettering part of the project today and begin the decorative bits tomorrow (or later this afternoon?).
To be quite honest, I really haven't done much crafting with canvas before and was so pleased to discover that there really isn't anything to it, at least as far as my projects are concerned. So, watch out, you may just see a flood of new paint items in the shop soon! At the very least you can look forward to tomorrow's post where I'll show you the process and the product thus far.

What sorts of things do you have in your crafting schedule?

Another small tidbit for today is a note on the startlingly positive influence of peanut butter m&m's. For the second time this month my darling mama has bought a big bag of them and they are currently being held in our Vietnamese serving bowl in the china cabinet. A great practice in self-control as the door of the cabinet opens pretty loudly. ; )

happy weekend

2012-01-13T16:00:00.000-08:00

I hope that you all enjoy a wonderful time, whatever your plans may be this weekend.

What's on your agenda?

I'll be attending a baby shower for a sweet friend, spending time with my family, finishing up a special knitting project,

and resting in the Lord and His sovereignty.

See you on Monday!

shop updates and chalkboard paint

2012-01-12T15:09:00.000-08:00

We're back on Etsy!

After our Dubai holiday and project planning, I've updated and restocked the online shop with items, some you've seen before as well as some new items (with more new ones coming soon!). For January and February I'm focusing on organizing and scheduling, paying more attention to the "business side" of my business; being faithful with the little I have, realizing that this probably won't end but continue on throughout the years!

Vintage Haviland Petit Bowl

Coffee Headband/Cowl--Baby It's Cold Outside

Also this month, I took the plunge, drove to the home improvement store (a place very foreign to me), and bought my very first can of chalkboard paint! All those times of gathering ideas on pinterest (yes, I have one of those, I love it) are now being put on the "creative schedule; so when you come to my casa, beware, if you are still long enough, you may just be covered with chalkboard paint. Do you have any chalkboard paint experience? Let me know, I'm always open for more ideas; from of the ~~plethora~~ many ideas on pinterest, this project is one of my favorites.

Vintage Scarves for Two

Nursing Cover--Leafy Orange

What about you? Any major projects/goals you are working toward completing? I think if you purpose to be industrious with your precious time, there will always be something on the every-growing "to-do" list, and I know firsthand how wonderful it is to prioritize and schedule things (yes, even a creative person loves order!). How do you prioritize your time?

of adventures remembered

2012-01-09T14:51:00.000-08:00

Let me begin by saying that I love traveling.
I love most everything about it and this trip was no exception; as I've been sharing with my friends and family about my six weeks in Dubai. it's been difficult to put everything in a nutshell conversation. How do I begin to share about all that God showed me in that time, the sweet people we met, or the experiences we had?
Those were my thoughts when I first came home, now it's been nearly a month and I've been able to collect the highlights and organize them into a nice conversational piece.

One of the things that I was most looking forward to before I left was talking with people there, believers and non-believers alike, I was excited about hearing their stories and learning more about whomever I met. I love doing that here in the States but I knew of the great diversity in Dubai and I was excited about that diversity.

Looking back, this is probably one of my favorite things about our Middle Eastern Holiday.

I absolutely loved absorbing the different cultures and hearing what other people had to contribute to the conversation; now that I've typed that out, I realize that the same thing happens right here in Texas, just not quite so diverse. : )

Aside from the ~~hilarious~~ ~~interesting~~ ~~amiable~~ wonderful people I met and talked with, one of the sweetest blessings on the trip was spending time with and learning from our dear friends, who not only shared six weeks of their lives with us, but took us into their family and taught me, by example, many things. I'm so grateful for the wisdom and insight they shared and the love they so freely gave. They contributed a large part to the example of true brotherly affection that was shown, praise the Lord for the fellowship His gives to His saints!

I loved learning about the fascinating history and culture Dubai has to offer; each place has some interesting, slightly bizzare bit to offer the traveler, the old spice souks, Mall of the Emirates (the one with the ski slope in it!), and bustling Satwa markets as examples, not to mention the fountains at Dubai mall and the array of dates (truly a culinary art form).

People have asked me about the food and I really can't say enough about it.

Coming from an avid "foodie" home, I was really looking forward to all of the yummy, strange, different, and delicious foods that I might try. We had LOTS of pita breads, cheese breads, hummus, and shawarma's (love, love, love those). It was very inspiring to be around a different set of spices and flavors, but most everything was just a bit familiar, like the traditional Arab breakfast we had in Al Ain. Beans, tomatoes, onion, garlic, eggs; doesn't this say Mexican food? Well, it did to my sister and I.

Everyone is either Mexican or wants to be Mexican---my Grandmother just may be right. ; )

I know for certain that in future posts here and in my other blog, I'll be sharing more bits of my trip but for now, I'd like to end this post by encouraging you to

...expand your horizons.

There is much more to people and places than just in your town or circle of friends.

...(if you are a Believer) consider carefully how you show love to others.

Is it fully and without reserve? Is it Biblical and in ways that will point them to Christ?

How are you showing hospitality to those around you, Believing and non alike?

Do people see something different in you?

dubai

2011-11-28T02:55:00.001-08:00

I'm here!!!

If you've followed my other blog you'll know that already and will have seen pictures of what my sister and I have been up to the past few weeks. As I've already mentioned, Dubai is such a glamorous city and definitely caters to the wealthy while there is also a large portion of the population that is hard-working and just here to make money for their families back home; there really isn't much of a middle-class since you have to be working in order to stay in the country (unless you're on holiday, like me).

I've really loved being here.

Our dear friends have been so kind and generous and I quite feel as if I live here myself, very odd, especially considering that it's only been three weeks; perhaps it is because of the familiarity that has already been established, the grocery stores and places of interest are discovered, kindred spirits are met, and there is a solid church already in order.

I love that we literally walk around the corner to a closet-sized grocery shop (price tags not included) and purchase milk, eggs, full-cream yogurt, and whatever other kitchen necessities we may need.

I love that the beach is a 5-minute brisk walk away and that Mica and I can run in the wee small

hours of the morning right next to the beach

(I don't love the mangy cats that we have to avoid but who's counting the dislikes?).

I love the way the sun rises in the morning room and that ~~if we get up at 5 am like we're supposed to~~ I can have an entire hour of still, morning quiet to read and pray.

I love that---for the first time---someone here thought that I was Mexican and not Indian, Middle Eastern, or Italian; not that I mind but it was a pleasant surprise to know that I do look somewhat Mexican.

I love that the store bought eggs come with feathers and that beautiful artisan bread is so inexpensive.

I love meeting people from every corner of the globe and I love hearing their stories.

Stay tuned. : )

flying away {part 2}

2011-11-07T11:56:00.000-08:00

{source}

Well, I'm off again!

This time it's just my sister and I going solo to the wonderful Dubai!

Oh, yes, we're pretty excited.

Do you remember those dear, sweet friends we have over there? The one's we've been wanting to visit for ages? Well, the funds are here, time has come, and our bags are packed. I'm so grateful to be able to take this trip, the Lord has been so gracious and we've been sweetly blessed during this time of preparation.

It's still hard to believe that we're really going but the 45ish pound bags prove it.

We dearly love this family and I'm very excited about all that the Lord will show us through them during that time; I love the way they minister to others and especially how they are training their six (soon to be seven!) adorable children. I'm excited about meeting Believers from that part of the world and talking with them. I'm excited about getting to know whoever comes in the N family's home. I'm excited about the cultural experience and especially about scouting out souvenirs to take home, about sending postcards and writing long emails; I'm excited about playing at the beach and eating foreign food, and (believe it or not) I'm excited about the fifteen hour flight to pray, read, eat, and ponder, the only cause of "sadness" is the fact that knitting needles are considered a possible weapon, therefore I can't work on the dress for Wee Eva, ce la vie!

Needless to say, I can't guarantee to be active on this blog very much, however, you can be sure to see pictures and updates on this dear, wee blog quite often! So be sure you hop over there every few days or so and see what's going on. : )

Let the blogging break begin, again.

{news}letters of importance

2011-11-01T07:15:00.000-07:00

Creative Reader:

Well, welcome back, Elena! We missed you.

Yours Truly:

Thanks so much, I had a marvelous vacation/roadtrip/conference experience; and, as always, it's wonderful to be home.

Creative Reader:

Tell us about your trip? We'd especially like to know about how it went selling at that consignment shop in Wilmington.

Yours Truly:

I'd love to share with you about that, and as a matter of fact, I have a blog post already written about it, but first I need to ask you a question.

Creative Reader:

Shoot.

Yours Truly:

Well, as a part of my 12 By 2012 list (which has been updated, btw), I'm starting the first L&B newsletter for our caring customers!

This newsletter will go out once a month and will include

(but is not limited to)

free shipping coupon codes, giveaways, DIY projects, updates on new items in our shop, as well as creative tips and tidbits.

I'm so excited to be starting it and I want you to be the first to sign up for it!

The first newsletter will be sent out on

January 6th!!

Creative Reader:

Wow, Elena, that sounds so great, how do I get added to the list?

Yours Truly:

Just send me an email (lemonsandblueberries{at}yahoo{dot}com)

with your email address and you'll get your first newsletter on January 6th!

You will only receive one email from us (clogged email inbox's are detestable to us as well) and it will never be shared or sold--even if someone offered me a pair of English riding boots in exchange for your information, I'd tell them, "Sorry Charlie".

Now that, is what I call security.

flying away

2011-10-20T12:39:00.000-07:00

Well, my friends, the time has come for a break, a blogging and shop break that is.

The next few weeks will be filled with driving, flying, window shopping, knitting, talking, eating, touristing, and wearing cowls (oh, yes, my friend, you can count on that!); I can't guarantee that I'll be able to blog very much while I'm away from home so we'll just say it's a break. ; )

Due to the wonderful traveling that will be happening in the next few weeks, I wanted to let you know that

I'll be taking a blogging break until November 1st.

When I come back you can count of fabulous posts like,
Me and My Etsy Story

Brick-and-Mortar Selling: How The First Attempt Went and What I Learned

Things "We" Saw: A Photo Post With My Favorite Sights and People From My Trip.

New Friends and Links

Aren't you so excited? Well, I am. ; )

Also, I wanted to let you know that I'll be participating in this 12 Before 2012 project, be sure to check out the new tab above to see the complete list as well as this informative post for more details!

Do you have a 12 Before 2012 list? Let me know! I'd love to see what you have and what's on your list.

{sorry, the photo source is unknown! Let me know if you know!}

knitting my bit

2011-10-18T07:21:00.000-07:00

{source here}

I really love these posters from WWII, they're so creative and echo a unique time of hard work; it's one of my very favorite periods to study and I love reading about nearly every area regarding it.

As you can imagine, the one above print is one of my favorites. : )

Last week I mentioned that I was arranging my samples to take to North Carolina, well this week I am here to tell you that I. wasn't. kidding. There is a mental list ~~somewhere~~ with a outline of each item I need to make before flying out on Friday; there's really only three sample boxes to make, and--if I spend my time well--there is just enough time for what I need to make. This time around I'll mostly be knitting, with only a few sewing projects; thankfully they're both things that can be done in traffic, long grocery lines, listening to this groovy tune and this enjoyable book, and while watching Jane Eyre (I l.o.v.e. that one).

Praise the Lord for this glorious wind blew in a delicious 65 degree morning today and I am reveling in the chilly breeze! It makes working with wool blends that much more wonderful.

So, until Friday evening, I'll be

...singing. Yes, though only one of us Marques Chica's takes lessons, we all sing quite liberally. We've taken to turning up our playlists on youtube and pandora just enough so that we sound just like the bands we play.

...working out every.day. even though my Dad isn't here to partake in our bleary-eyed sessions.

...sewing up necklaces to take to NC. Instant gratification projects are just great.

...knitting up items to take as well as planning a knitted outfit for the bun in the oven of a sweet friend (It's so fun to knit for little babies).

...sipping a yummy brew of coconut chai (with almond milk, please!)

...packing, both mentally and literally. The former for a trip to Dubai and the latter for this trip to NC, it's so sad/funny that I have to continually be...

...reminding myself that I don't own these fabulous english riding boots (or these either), like I said, sad/funny ~~mostly sad though.~~

...containing my utter excitement at visiting with some beautiful and dear people in the coming weeks and months (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).

What will you be doing?

Encourage One Another {Patient Love}

2011-10-14T11:34:00.000-07:00

{Check out the listing here!}

Don't forget about our Early Smiles sale!

Check the post for the coupon and a chance for free shipping.

As I type this, I'm sitting/working/knitting/people watching in a coffee shop and I must say that this it probably one of my favorite things to do when I really need to get things done. I've got my headphones for when I really need to focus and can easily pop them out for when I need a break (love, love, love people watching). When it comes to the coffee I'm not really a frufru girl when I'm out (most because it's too expensive) but I love a good frothed cup of joe when I'm at home, but then you already know I'm just a social coffee drinker. Any other social coffee drinkers out there?

This weekend I'll be ~~scurrying around~~ arranging my samples ready to take to a few brick-and-mortar shop while in the lovely North Carolina. What are your weekend plans?

For this weeks encouraging link, I wanted to share with you the following post on

Love is Patient

I think there are some great thoughts written and would love to know your own thoughts on the matter!

Be sure to participate here,

Early Smiles {a sale!}

2011-10-10T13:23:00.000-07:00

{cate via pinterest}

Things That Make Me Smile:

yarn shops

a particular little man running with chubby cheeks

black and white photos

lying in the sun, at the beach

hunting for sea glass

wearing knits (especially handmade)

cold weather and hot drinks/munchies

playing boggle with friends and family

lacto-fermented carrots (call me crazy)

and particularly,

sales!!!

What makes you smile?

Tell me and you could qualify for free shipping on your next purchase

(Bet you want to comment now, don't you? Well, finish reading and then comment)

Now, back to our sale announcement, I call it the

Lemons and Blueberries

Early Smiles Sale

As I'll be away from my ~~closet~~ studio during the Christmas sale/purchasing season, I wanted to give you a 30% off coupon code, good for anything in the shop as well as custom orders! At the time of your purchase, please type in the code: 1EARLYSMILE

and you'll have 30, yes, 30% off your purchase (custom, ready-made, or vintage!). Go ahead, get over there and smile.

Encourage One Another {book clutch DIY}

2011-10-05T06:30:00.000-07:00

{sorry, source is unknown}

For this weeks contribution at Deep Roots At Home weekly series, Encourage One Another, I decided to share a crafty idea. : ) I was first introduced to the book clutch from this Girls With Glasses video a while ago and just loved them, not the $325 kind of love, just the "Oh, I bet you I can make that for less!" kind of love. Which is why I was so delighted to come across this book clutch tutorial! It seems like the steps could be shortened and possibly streamlined so please let me know if anyone tries this! I already have a clutch and am looking for a book that is just the right size...

Do you have an encouraging link you'd like to share?

Then, click on the link above to post your encouraging link!

Topics can range from yummy recipes, character building posts, insightful posts, or practical, everyday tips.

{Octobre}

2011-10-04T05:07:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, you think those flowers are pretty cute but despite your searching, you can't find them in the shop!

Well, that's because they are a part of the freebies you will receive when you order anything during the month of October!

That's right, each L & B item comes with a free of charge posey,

just because. : )

So, in an earlier post, I shared with you some of my goals for September, and as it is the beginning of a new month, I thought we ought to review and check off some things on our list as well as listing what we actually did: *sigh* here we go,

Organize Closet (again)---hehe, yeah, this halfway happened. : )

Create business goals for 2012

Post Fall 2011 Line for Shop (knitting, knitting, knitting)

Make two more projects using UK yarn (post to come)

Begin video series (Youtube, here I come!)

Research, research, research for my Light bulb Idea (again, post to come!)

And here are some of the things I actually did (that didn't make the list above),

Researched things for Etsy shop (lots of fine print reading)

Collected more items for my Light Bulb Idea

Knocked another "craft to-do" off my mental list

Odds and ends that I can't think of...

For our final list, here are some of the plans for October,

Pack gifts for Dubai friends

Plan and announce "Early Christmas Sale" for L&B

Create channel and post Youtube video

List another item to the vintage. section in the shop

For the first time, ship a sold item to an international destination (way down under!)

Contain my excitement of meeting several wonderful young women at this conference

(Are you attending as well? Let me know, I'd love to meet with you!)

I'm so looking forward to our time during the conference in North Carolina! We plan on making a mini-family roadtrip out of it and are driving up a week early to enjoy Charleston, a bit of the beach, and a fabulous little town called Hickory (I. can't. wait. A!!!); the fall colors, weather, and the search for fun little gifts along the way are just a few of the things I'm anticipating.

I'm also so excited about our first early-Christmas sale.

The sale will last for the entire month of October, right in time for our shop vacation (which will last until the end of December, I won't be able to ship things while I'm in Dubai!). Keep checking back for the details and coupon codes, also for the cut-off date for custom orders.

What are your October plans?

vintage+a sermon

2011-09-28T08:28:00.000-07:00

I'm very pleased to show you the new vintage section in the etsy shop!
At last, I've made the decision to list some of my estate sale finds and treasures, though I must confess that it was a bit difficult to decide what to sell; most of my thoughts go like this,

"Okay, I've got to list at least--oh, wait, I remember buying this! It was in that old house with the--no, Elena, just list it, when are you possibly going to use this anyway? Well, maybe someday I'll need a really small decorative bowl and--oh, mercy, just list it!"

So, in the end, I c~~onvinced myself~~ decided to pull a few things from my stash and see how they sell in the shop; this week there are a few estate sales that I'm planning on checking out, so hopefully I'll be able to add more things in the shop.

Also, along the "vintage" thread, I saw this diy project for recovering books, vintage-style, on the ever resourceful Design*Sponge (I just love that place); let me know if you try it out, I'd love to see how your covers come out! Currently on the project list are a few painting projects (I've been loving that lately), a lace baby dress, and a shawl for my Mama; so, don't really have the time to devote to this but I'm definitely putting it on my "future project" list (I'm a big fan of lists. : )
What's on your project list?

Also, I wanted to share with you the link that I posted on Deep Roots At Home for this weeks "Encourage One Another" link-up. This week shared this sermon on Humility: A Blessing from Dr. Peter Masters of the Metropolitan Tabernacle. I was first introduced to Dr. Masters when my parents visited during a trip to the UK last year; they were so blessed by his sermons and we've been listening to them online for quite a while.

Dr. Masters precision and burden for the Word of God to be preached rightly makes for a rich and encouraging sermon. (also, I'm a huge fan of accents so it's a nice feature. ; )

Check it out and let me know what you think!

This Week I Am...

2011-09-27T06:30:00.000-07:00

...planning on transforming those two boring, blue pillows you see above into interesting burlap covered pillows (one down, one more to go!).

...putting on my make-up artist hat Thursday and Friday (my sister and friends are making a film and I get the privilege of making the actors faces "screen-ready").

...hoping to get a warm cup of something at "the" coffee shop on Friday (yep, we're filming at a coffee shop), it would be really nice if the coffee was complimentary, but...we're still working on that. ; )

...painting name signs for my sister and a friend. After creating this project, I've discovered my inner acrylic painter; yes, it's wonderful.

...working on a swirly, knitted dress for my niece! She's just gonna look so edible in it; quick knits are so gratifying. Especially quick knits for little ones with chubby cheeks.

...looking forward to some fun fellowship with two sweet friends. Salmon salad is on the menu and I think I'll break out the special apricot black tea (and, of course, coffee)

...writing letters to kindred spirits. I'm devoted to snail mail; the old-fashioned feel of writing your thoughts on paper is so wonderful, it gives me a chance to collect and organize my thoughts (which is always appreciated!).

...waiting for a mysterious phone call, at least, it's mysterious to you, I already know who'll be calling.

...wondering if Fall will ever come, then I walk into my closet, try on my favorite sweater and remember that yes, there was a time I layered up for the cold weather. I just. need. to. be. patient.

...curious what you're doing this week, we'll what's on your calendar?

Inspiring People {Hannah Mendenhall}

2011-09-26T04:05:00.000-07:00

For this installment of "Inspiring People", I'm very pleased to introduce to you,

Hannah Mendenhall

Perhaps you remember the "Inspiring People" post about her sister, Sarah Mendenall (Hannah was the one who captured the photo!). Hannah has much to keep her busy in her home; as a marvelous example of being an industrious and productive young woman in her family, Hannah keeps a yummy raw food blog {Immer Wachsen}, does freelance design work {Little Light Creative}, as well as managing a cute shop on Etsy {Little Light Creative: the shop}; all of this in addition to the ways she contributes to her family!

Side note: This Curmudgeons Illustration, "hope" print, and this Mark 9:24 print are some of my favorite items in her Etsy shop (check them out, they're pretty adorable).

Hannah has graciously agreed to share with us a bit about herself, her work, and inspiration.

All of the photos in this post come from Hannah herself (with links to the yummy recipes below each photo!), enjoy.

Tell us about yourself (who you are/values etc...)!

What a question. I am a follower of Christ in whom I find all hope. Christ crucified is everything. I want to give Him glory in what I do, so I hope that my work as a designer and photographer reflect that.

I am 23 and live at home with my family where endless creative projects keep me busy. However, I would ultimately like to spend more time outdoors. I have a wild dream of living outdoors for a year! From the intricacy of pixels to the grandeur of creation, I love both!

Can you tell us a bit about how you first got started?

A longgg time ago I took a photography class at my public high school. We used manual cameras, black and white film, and a dark room. To this day, I feel so blessed to have had the experience. From there, I was asked to work on the yearbook staff, where I first met Mac and Adobe. The rest is history :)

What is your favorite thing about what you do?

For food styling, I do love sharing my "strange" eating habits with others. I initially wanted to create a site that Christians would feel comfortable learning about a raw and whole foods lifestyle.

For graphic design, there is a constant need. It's a great feeling to know something you designed is being used and seen by others!

{coriander almond granola}

What inspires you?

God's Creation and His Word.

What bits of wisdom have you most appreciated in regards to your work?

The Proverbs 31 woman and the book Do Hard Things by Brett and Alex Harris.

How do you promote your work?

The best success I've had with freelance work is by word of mouth. Although I tweet and facebook, face to face communication results in more jobs.

As for food styling, it's all online. I'm a featured chef on RawFoodRecipes.com and I post my recent recipes just about everywhere that is applicable.

{peach cobbler}

Can you share with us a bit of the goals/plans that you have for your business?

For graphic design, I want to do far more freelance work. It would be awesome to do freelance almost full time.

For food styling, I hope to increase my blog traffic and raise money through sponsorships in order to support different ministries. I cannot bear the thought of just doing work for recognition and money. I have a job to do and my King has given me the gifts and talents to accomplish it! A recipe book could possibly be on my dream to-do list as well. I wouldn't mind styling for raw chefs either.

{spicy cheese kale chips}

What advice would you give to those who are aspiring to have creative businesses of their own?

Do NOT give up. Be patient and get used to hard work.

Thank you very much for sharing with us, Hannah!

Encourage One Another {Cait}

2011-09-22T08:02:00.000-07:00

{Pookie, taken around this time last year.}

So sorry for the confusion yesterday!
The links are redirected and working now
(thank you Mrs. F for alerting me!)

It's that time of the week again at, Deep Roots At Home!

Last week, we looked at Betsy's post from Part of the Main (pop over to that one if you missed it!).

This week I'd like to encourage you younger ladies (mostly applies--but not limited to, in-your-twenties)

with the blog of my sweet friend, Cait from What Kady Did.

If you'll remember, I featured her a while back in a Project Inspiration post (hehe, that really didn't make it to being a weekly feature!) called Birds and Sparkles. As a married (mummy-to-be!) young woman, she writes about life married life in Dubai. She's also a wonderfully creative person who enjoys filling her home with comforting, fun things. Hop on over and be inspired and encouraged!

collecting

2011-09-19T07:20:00.000-07:00

{source}

This past weekend we were traveling between Austin and Houston,

a perfectly very normal occurrence around these parts, but what wasn't normal was pulling over at the first sight of a "The Biggest Sale Ever" sign. This happens enough at home but not between cities; typically we fly through, trying to make it to our squishy loved ones just as ~~speedily~~ timely as we can, but--praise the Lord!--my Dad can be kinda spontaneous sometimes and as he knew that I am in a "collecting eclectic plates/platters" mood, he pulled over.

I'm so glad he did.

You see, I'm on a hunt; about fifty plates, teacups/saucers, and various serving platters are the object and I'm excited. Can't tell you exactly why yet (I need to make sure this is actually going to happen before I tell all), just know that I'm excitedly searching. The end.

Also, this past weekend, I was reminded why I love sewing (quick results). I made a nursing cover for a sweet friend (can't wait to meet you, Asher!) and I made pillow covers for the first time; perhaps one of the favorite parts was the fact that I was making them out of coffee burlap sacks collected from a wee coffee shop in New York (we miss you R family). Photographed finished results to come.

In other news, I'm also looking for frames. Ugly ones, big ones, ornate ones, small ones, dainty ones (you get the idea), all to create a trail; a memory trail going upstairs (rather like the first picture in this one).

Yesterday I found one, ???? more to go! As it is kind of a weird shade of green, I'll probably paint it black (or black or mustard or pale grey? hm...let's see); for now it's in my room (next to the finds from this weekends spontaneousness). This has opened a can of creative thoughts, mostly about creating my silhouettes of my family, to be mixed with the photo/memory trail, BUT I think I'll collect more frames before I start.

Any new projects brewing for you on this fine--wet!!--Monday morning?

friday musings

2011-09-16T06:30:00.000-07:00

{Sleeping Eva}

You might have noticed the absence of the {Dubai Covers} page (don't look for it, it's already gone), well, the time has come to add the inventory to our shop! Though this feature did quite meet my expectations, I've decided to employ my "reuse, reuse, reuse" mentality and am posting the unsold covers in my Etsy shop!

{Here is the first of many listings to come}

Mica and I still planning our trip and thanks to some other forms of fundraising, have enough collected for our trip! I'm so, so, so excited and have continued my mental packing of suitcases. : )
As the planning continues I have a mysterious question (don't you just love it??), how many of my readers are located in the London, England or Frankfurt, Germany area? Just wondering...

As an interesting bit of random information, I'm also wondering how many of my readers play musical instruments? This question has no mystery, sorry. Currently, I'm learning to play the piano again (Thanks so my fabulous teacher, Amy Sheehan) and one of the songs I'm working on is Beethoven's Sonatina in F (if that little seven-year-old can play it, by george, so can I).

And before I part with you on this fine Friday, for my estate sale/thrifting friends,
here is a great resource I use: estatesales.net
Ever used it? I will be this weekend, I'm on a hunt for plates. Lots of them. And teacups with saucers in addition to my usual, "Gee I Wonder If They Have This" list. Yet another mystery for you (isn't it exciting?).

There's still time to add your link to the

Encourage-One Another link-up!

Click the button for more details.

happy thursday

2011-09-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

Generally, I try not to have too many loose-ended projects going. Generally. However, I've decided to add yet another art project to my list, all in the name of my sister I might add. This October we will be celebrating the completion of her high school studies and since she has graciously left the decorating/styling/detail work to me (which I just love!), I decided to take this time to create something similar to this piece of artwork. The finished product will be the centerpiece of the little stage area I've mentally set-up. It's one of the biggest projects I've ever started (note the use of the work started) so I practicing on a smaller canvas to start.
Mica plays really enjoys playing the violin and has chosen Pagnini's Caprice No. 24 (which is her favorite piece to play and I to which love listening) for my practice canvas; it's a wonderfully complicated and busy piece which will make for a fun project, I think. I'll be documenting my progress along the way so watch out. : ) Depending on how it comes out I'm considering adding them to my shop as well (hint: give me your feedback!).

What's the biggest project you've begun?

Encourage One Another

2011-09-14T08:11:00.000-07:00

{previous project: a cowl that is waiting to be worn! come fall, come quickly!}

Today I have the immense pleasure of participating in an

Encouraging Link-Up

with Jacqueline from Deep Roots At Home!

This is an exciting blogging project based on 1Thessalonians 5:11,

Therefore, encourage and build one another up, just as you are doing.

It is designed to encourage the mother, the daughter, the young woman in a plethora of ways; from cleaning/cooking tips and recipes to homemaking and alternative medicine tips (oh, yeah), this projects aims to intentionally spur one another in life and godliness. Participants are encouraged to post links every Wednesday (via Linky, see post for details), these links can be an encouraging article, inspiring photo, or fun new recipe/kitchen tip.

So what did I post? Well, I've been reading the delightful blog of Betsy from Part of the Main, for some time now. Each post is well-written with care and makes me think how wonderful it would be to be neighbors. She has been a great encouragement to me in homemaking, blooming where you're planted, and delighting in motherhood; she is currently living in the wonderful UK and often posts on life there (It transports me every time!). Her recent post, Don't Be A Stranger, renewed my excitement in living out the gospel to "strangers", and to search out opportunities when I can do just that.

Would you care to participate?

Click on the button below for more encouraging links and information on this project!

A Wonderful Kind of Ugly

2011-09-13T06:22:00.000-07:00

Do you have an item/accessory/trinket that you just love...but everyone else thinks it's hideous?
Well, the pair of shoes you see is my "Wonderful Ugly" item. Those Simple shoes are probably the most comfortable pair of shoes that I own; I could wear them all day long, they're just practical and super comfy. However, around these parts, they're known as my "granny shoes" (I prefer to call them my "Whole Foods Shoes").
This reminds me of my journey selling on Etsy; at first, I had to remind myself "not to despise meager beginnings"; to do what I could with what I had. Rather like my "Whole Foods/Granny Shoes", my methods weren't terribly streamlined or professional (and are still being refined) but practical and they worked for the time being (I'm glad to know that I did the best with what I knew at the time!). I'm so thankful for the helpful people and resources that I have discovered and am still discovering (You know who you are)! I'll be you have a "Wonderful Ugly" item as well, don't you? ; )

Also, I wanted to introduce you to a great, new resource for selling your crafts online, in fact, it's called How to Sell Your Crafts Online (groundbreaking title, I know ; ). It is being released on Amazon in October and seems somewhat similar to one of my favorite how-to books, just more relevant to Etsy sellers.
What sorts of books/resources do you find helpful? Let me know, I'm always looking to expand my library!

Breathe

2011-09-12T06:54:00.000-07:00

{Source}

The Beauty of Calm and Consistent.

"Sometimes I have days where I just feel overwhelmed. Not defeated, not hopeless, not even stressed....just, overwhelmed. Usually in part by the amount of things that I need to accomplish for my clients, my business and my life, and in part by the things life throws at me that are completely out of my control."

Tori Watson,

is a fabulous wedding photographer based out of Virginia,

(here's her website and blog!)and happens to be one of my favorite photographers;

You might have already seen her on my {Inspirations} page.

I would describe her work as crisp, creative, and very cheerful.

Her bright and friendly personality is pretty adorable, as you can see in these

snippets of her recent wedding. (as captured by the talented Rebekah Murray)

It was on Tori's blog that the quoted passages were found~

~thanks so much, Tori, for letting me share them here!

That could easily describe my own thoughts in lately.
As I've hinted in past posts, I'm working on making changes in how I run my business and where I want to go with it; much time, research, and thought has been put into these changes and while I can't unveil the changes yet (nope, they're not quite ready!), I'm excited about them. : )
This combined with other things going that have piled up were the reasons that I was so thankful to read that post ; somehow, knowing that someone else felt the same way made my own struggle easier. What's more is the way Tori continued:

"But it's when I reach the state of this kind of overwhelming thought and feeling that I'm beyond grateful to be able to look to the One who more than knows what to do with all of the things set before me. All of the things that I'm responsible for, all of the things I feel ill-equipped to handle, and all of the things I can't understand and can't control. It's the reassurance of His all-knowing, all-understanding and all-loving ways that remind me I don't have to try to figure out how to juggle things that overwhelm me. I just need to look to Him, one day at a time, and walk in the grace and peace He freely and overwhelmingly provides to cover over even the most confusing life situations."

Which is truly the most comforting and sustaining in this "overwhelming" time; I can be grateful for these times because it is now that I am driven to my knees in a deeper sense; these are the times when I am made aware of my own inability and weaknesses in different ways, thus giving me a greater appreciation for His sufficiency and strength. I don't have to do this on my own.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

who comforts us in all our affliction,

so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction,

with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1:3,4

There's No Place Like...

2011-09-05T12:54:00.000-07:00

...Home

It's been very nearly a week since I was last in Austin.

Not surprisingly, I really miss rinsing diapers (crazy, I know), wiping chubby hands, and getting bitten by Wee Teeth (long story); the rhythm of my home is pretty different from the hustle and bustle of little people laughing and ricocheting around. In case you get the wrong impression, we Marques girlies can get pretty crazy in our own way.

Since being home, I've been settling into my new routine (read: trying to get used to a house without littles--we miss you, Hoods!) and since I've become a huge fan of lists, I made a list of things I'd like to do for September, wanna peak?

Organize Closet (again)

I've become inspired by Kendi's organizational post

Create business goals for 2012

Post Fall 2011 Line for Shop (knitting, knitting, knitting)

Make two more projects using UK yarn (post to come)

We have a trip to NC coming in October and I want to be ready!

Begin video series (Youtube, here I come!)

Research, research, research for my Light bulb Idea (again, post to come!)

So, there you have a few of the things I'm working on; thankfully, I don't really see anything ~~currently~~ on the calendar that would prevent me from checking these items checked off, aside from the fascinating book I'm reading. I'm about 3/4's of the way through The Help and so far, I've really enjoyed it (thanks so much for lending it, J!); a kindred spirit loaned it to me, we have similar taste in novels and this is no exception. I love the feel and flow of Kathryn Stockett's work. It reminds me very much of Harper Lee in the sense that I can clearly "see" everything happening and I am quickly familiar with the characters; the story is set at the tail end of one of my favorite times in history and I love the way Stockett has incorporated so much of the culture and happenings of that time. Have any of you read it/seen the film?

{Note: the following is not at all to meant to downgrade fiction reading, it's just something I haven't done in a while.} I haven't read a fun, fiction book in quite a while, so I feel the need to ration the time that I spend reading; it's dreadful, but somehow I feel like I'm wasting time when I read fiction (that. sounds. so. prudish.). Honestly, I haven't read such an intriguing novel since, The Chosen (loved that one) or The Red House Mystery (delightful story!), but like Pinterest, I ration the amount of time I spend reading.

Are you mostly a fiction or non-fiction reader? I'd love any of your suggestions!

Fresh Baby

2011-08-10T14:02:00.000-07:00

Eva Christine

For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;

my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 139

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

the fruit of the womb a reward.

4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior

are the children of one's youth.

5 Blessed is the man

who fills his quiver with them!

He shall not be put to shame

when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Psalm 127

As you've read on my other blog, my dear Sweet Pea Niece is here!

Since her arrival, each day has been wonderfully filled with cuddling, changing, washing, and caring for this new little one. Some sweet ladies from Nicole's church have been very attentive and brought scrumptious dinners too!

I'd nearly forgotten how wonderful new babies smell, especially the tiny part underneath their chins; Eva is a particularly sweet baby (as her Aunt, I am privileged to say this), she doesn't fuss until she's hungry and is practically perfect.

The past few days my Mom has taken my place in Austin and I've been here in Houston, enjoying a few days at home. Mia acted as our Little Stowaway and it's been a fun pleasure to have her here by herself! PBJ's and ice cream have been an almost daily occurrence

(my Dad is a wonderful Grandpa. :)

Oh, and I wanted to show you this new apron I got from one of my favorites stores (courtesy of the sale room, that is); yes, ladies and gentlemen, that is a maxi-apron--with pockets!

I've found it comes in high handy when you're washing dishes and a sticky fingered munchkin attempts climbing up your skirt and the pocket feature is very nice too.

In between changing/washing diapers, baking pavlova, and kissing Little Munchkins,

I've been doing a bit of reading and here are some interesting links, enjoy!

Reliable resources that the book for this film is excellent and

I'm hoping to read it before seeing it(I'm a big book fan).

You've seen Sarah on this space before, and here is a new blog feature she's started!

That's all for now!

Ah ha!

2011-07-28T13:05:00.000-07:00

Here I am.

If you've kept up with my "Mary Poppins Writes" series, you'll know that today is a day of preparation and hopefully a labor and deliver of my newest niece!

My dear sister is at the hospital and is carrying on bravely, the Chicklets and I have been keeping her and the Bun in the Oven in prayer and dear thoughts all day.

Praise the Lord for His perfect timing!

As I type this, children are napping and the a/c is running (a delightful combination), in an hour or so I'll get supper started and possibly make a run to the store for ingredients for Straweberry Limeade! An sweet acquaintance made it recently and I've been officially inspired to do the same, all we need are the strawberries. :) I may also get some items I'll be needing for the hospitality snacks that are on the menu for hungry visitors who come to get a glimpse of the Fresh Little Raisin. Pavlova, Cream Scones, Strawberry Lemonade Bars, tea, and coffee are to be served on the "new" vintage trays

They're just so adorable!

There's two of the smaller ones and one big tray, perfect for decorating the house, even if it's just temporary. :) My dear nieces were so patient and went with me to an estate sale last weekend, I think they enjoyed it almost as much as I did. Using this site, I've been able to find more sales, so that is hopefully what we'll be doing this weekend as well!

In the meantime, stay tuned for baby pictures to come! I'll be snapping away lots of pictures of my third niece, just please be patient as I'll be a bit busy the next few days. :)

Knitting for a Bun in the Oven

2011-07-15T19:13:00.000-07:00

Today I finished the second sweater for the wee one my sister is brewing.

Remember, I'm in Austin! Read here to follow my mini adventures in the Weird city.

That's really where I'll be sharing most of my thoughts and accounts from my time here.

Back to the pattern!

It was so easy peasy, lemon squeezy, a great one-skein project, and I don't have to block it (another nice feature)!

Here are the notes for you ravelry members.

Did I mention fast? My "To-Do" list caused this project to go on longer than it would have but I can see getting this project done in a day or so.

No dpns and so simple, I could drop and pick it up with no problem,

the lace pattern was simple enough but still looks like more than a few yarn overs and knit together's.

All that it needs is a button and a baby to try it on for size!

More pictures on that soon, you can be sure. :)

I'm so excited to see what this new addition will look like; each of Chris and Nicole's children are so different, what will this little, nameless dumpling look like??

Thoughts From a Coffee shop

2011-07-13T08:23:00.000-07:00

{picture credit}

Here I am sitting in this --freezing cold-- Starbuck, enjoying the remainders of one shaken iced green tea (wishing it was something warmer!), and I'm wondering two things,

what sorts of thing would you like to see on this blog?

would you be interested in more personal or design pictures?

The ball is in your court now, what are your preferences?

Also, (as I slowly freeze to the sound of Ella Fitzgerald) I'm knitting this adorable baby dress in anticipation of my still-cooking niece; the lace part is finished and I hope to be weaving in the ends sometime tonight (a great quick knit!). The pattern is pretty easy peasy so far and I'm enjoying the fact that there are no double pointed needles involved,

circulars are so much better for on-the-go knitting!

I'm especially fond of the yoke patterns, another nice feature for this one.

Aside from my frigid fingers and toes, I'm really enjoying spending this lovely morning in a coffee shop, lots of people watching opportunities, as well as being privy to all sorts of conversations (nobody pays attention to the studying/knitting student in the corner).

I've already made up fascinating stories about my fellow coffee shop customers (one could be a Viet Vet and another looks like a murder mystery writer--you can just tell).

Are you a people watcher?

Rearranging and Organizing

2011-07-11T05:15:00.000-07:00

{Photo Credit}

Ah, these past few days we've been rearranging home, that means lots of cleaning, dusting, and vacuuming (except for Sunday, we visited with some dear friends and drank tea)!

My Mom and I really enjoy rearranging the furniture in our home, every time exclaiming "how much better the room is this way" and " why haven't we arranged it like this before?";

it's kinda funny, and there you have it. The spring cleaning frenzy hit me a bit late, last Friday my room looked like an unmade while I was completely reorganizing my closet.

It's now in the home stretch of being done after two days of work (whew!),

very soon I'll be able to open the door unashamedly!

Today I'll be trying to wrap up the odds and ends before I leave for Austin on Thursday.

Speaking of Austin, I've been trying to brainstorm fun things to do with the Stickies while I'm there. After her baby is born, I find it to be really helpful for Mom and Baby to rest well if the other Little People are out of the home for an afternoon. The only thing is that it's July and it's hot. So, I've been thinking of indoor, cooler things to do like:

walking around Whole Foods ( Did you know that Austin is the home one of the largest WF's in the country, yes, it's pretty exciting), going to the "Storytime" at the library (shall we venture downtown again?), or a fun afternoon/picnic at the pool (we could make popsicles and lemon bars!); praise the Lord, my Aunt lives no more than ten minutes away and we can always have our lunch at her place (cream scones and tea are a must, it's tradition). Also, to maintain a healthy balance between work and pleasure, before the baby is born Nicole and I have lots of organizing and toy purging to do (a garage sale is in order), thankfully our Mum is planning to take the three Stickies for a few days so that Nicole and I can purge without regrets.

I've been collecting new, easy peasy recipes to try out while I'm there (Thank you Kimi and American's Test Kitchen ;) It's always fun to try new recipes, whether they come out right or...well... I'll share the brownie recipe story another time!

How is your week looking?

p.s. Have you seen these Edward Juan cards? I think they're adorable!

Possible shop item?? Hm...

Sweet Summer Days

2011-07-04T10:25:00.000-07:00

{Design*Sponge}

This week will be full of moving, packing, moving, swimming, packing, moving, and more packing (more on that in me and my sister's blog). Tomorrow night my sister, a few friends, and myself will be seeing the opening performance of Emma--so excited! I'll admit that I'm a lover of Jane Austen and Emma is no exception, one of my top three Austen favorites you might say.

Going to the theater is not an everyday occasion for us, so I treasure each time we can go--are there any other theater-going lovers out there?

Next week I will be heading off to the Texas Hill Country again! Yes, as my eldest sister is expecting her fourth (this will make three girls!), I'm off to be with her before, during, and after she has her baby. Lord willing, my brother-in-law will be in town during the birth, so my job will be the "Mary Poppins" sort. : )

Which I absolutely love!

I'm going armed with new recipes (we'll see what the Stickies think about paleolithic eating), some crafty projects, and supplies to make a few baby booties and possibly another sweater.

Let's not forget my sweater for The Summer Sweater Knit a Long! I'm halfway through the back piece and am slowly but surely knitting along! I'd really like to finish soon as I am excited to wear this very sweet sweater (the entire outfit is planned already!). I'll also be working on some new items for the shop, some fun summer things to keep it interesting. : )

I'd love to squeeze in some reading time but with everything else I'm not sure that's possible, do you have times like that? I am plenty of half-finished books on the shelf and for the most part, that's where they are most of the time--on the shelf. I'll have to show you the new literary treasures I've found (actually my Mum spotted them first) at some recent estate sales; one is an illustrated first edition of Cranford and the other is an edition of Jane Eyre--nope, haven't fully read either copy yet! But I can assure you, they are treasured even if they aren't read!

{Happy Summer!} The Results

2011-07-03T07:17:00.000-07:00

{Oh, Hello Friend}

Well, I was quite impressed by the turnout!

After looking through the blogs that participated, it looks like everyone

had a wonderful response to this Happy Summer! giveaway,

thanks Sarah for hosting!

Thank you to everyone who participated.

Now to the post you've been waiting for,

the results.

Courtesy of Random.org.....

the winner is..........

Ann from Washboard Storms!

Congratulations!!

Please send me an email regarding shipping and such;

I'm looking forward to seeing what you create with the wool!

Today's the Day {Giveaway}

2011-07-01T04:48:00.000-07:00

{Oh, Hello Friend}

Well, folks, our giveaway goes from today until midnight tomorrow,

so, go ahead and comment on this post!

Remember, this giveaway is a part of the Happy Summer! giveaway

hosted by Sarah from forgiven. love much.

When you're done here you ought to head over there and see the giveaway

roundup; there's more fun to be had you know.

Enjoy!

Happy Summer Giveaway {Reminder}

2011-06-30T05:09:00.000-07:00

{Design*Sponge}

Here's your reminder about the first giveaway held on this blog!

Remember, it's apart of the Happy Summer giveaway

from Sarah at forgiven. love much

July 1st and 2nd you'll comment on

this Happy Summer! post to win

two skeins of Italian Merino wool!

Be sure to read for all the fun details; the contest will close at midnight,

July 2nd so you'd better act fact for this one!

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. : )

Happy Summer Giveaway!

2011-06-27T12:27:00.000-07:00

Well, summer is here all bright eyed and bushy tailed!
We've been at the pool, in the sprinkler, and trying new ways to cool off
(let me know if you try it--we're big fans here!)
Hence, the slight lapse in blogging time, we've been a bit busy around here!
More on that later...

Also, I've added a few new items to the Etsy shop, please have a look around and let me know what you think and what you would like to see more of in the future!
I'm also interested to know what you all think of the newest addition to the summer line, it's a bit different but I've been wanting to expand my creative horizons. ; )

Now for that giveaway. *grin*

I'm very excited to announce

the very first giveaway for Lemons and Blueberries!

Thanks to Sarah from forgiven. love much,
I've been inspired to give away
two skeins of vintage Italian Mohair.
These treasures were found at a recent estate sale and are entirely clean and unused;
I tried to find more information on them but couldn't! If you happen to know the dates or more info, please share--I'm always interested in the story behind what I find.
For those of you new to mohair, it's a wonderful world. : )
Just by following a simple pattern you can make things like
this Cat Cay Cowl, something out of this look book, or these fun Sabrina Mits.

So here's how it'll go down:
From July 1st to July 2nd
the giveaway will be open until midnight, July 2nd.
1. Follow my blog (if you don't already) and
leave one comment below and include,
2. The nutshell story of how you met one of your
kindred spirits/dear friends,
3. and your email address (I'll get the winner's
physical address after the announcement).

Here's a few important p.s.'
*I'll be shipping no later than July 8th
**I will be covering international shipping, so those in Kenya, Kazakhstan, and Cadiz, feel free to join too!
***It's very important that you provide your email, that way I know how to get your physical address!

I'll be announcing the winner on July 3rd, so stay tuned. :)
Let me know if you have any questions.

That's all!

My Favorite Kind of Days: Rain

2011-06-21T06:56:00.000-07:00

{Picture Credit}

Yes, I am a sucker for dark, cold rainy days.

Perhaps it's because we've had a bit of a drought this summer or the fact that I

don't live in Seattle (the Seattle natives that I've met are adamant that I would

get sick of the rain); at any rate, I love a good soaking rain that lasts from the

wee hours of the morning to just after dinner. It's very conducive to snuggling

on the sofa, curling up in the covers, and taking a nap.

Today has in store some errand running, violin playing, studying (naturally),

and hopefully some knitting. Buying yarn for my summer sweater is a part of the

errands I need to run and I'm happy to say that I've decided on a color.

I picked up a book from the library (just for fun) called Accents; such a great

resource for learning just about any sort of accent from Highland Scotch to Bombay

India, Mr. Blumenfeld gives a detailed explanation for every sort of accent.

Imitating accents has long been a pet hobby of mine so it's pretty fun to read a

formal study of them.

Beware, I may be sporting a Zulu or Australian accent the next time you see me!

Also, I'm studying lots of books/videos on makeup for film-

-such a lot of fun things you can do!

Any interesting books you're reading?

Today is the perfect day for curling up with a good one!

Bits of My Home and "Hello Summer"

2011-06-20T08:52:00.000-07:00

{Irises gracing the dining room table}

Ah, summer, the time for pool parties to get in the sun and games of scrabble

and cards to get out of the sun; this year I'd love to have a few movie night

with friends, start a bookclub, and try out this Basil Lime Soda recipe

--anyone want to join me?

Though we don't really have a beach here in Houston I'm looking forward to

getting into the water this summer and have lots of sun time with my nieces

and nephew, because it's just so much fun to go to the pool with stickies.

What are your favorite summer pastimes?

{Lounge Around Baby Sweater}

So, the shop has been refreshed and replenished with new items, just in time!

Today's new listings are just a start so be looking for new ones in the weeks to come.

Here are a few peaks at what's in the Etsy shop, enjoy.

{Butter Yellow Lace Baby Hat}

Have you been by Spancy's Closet yet?

Check out Sarah's project on Goodsie and it's kind of a test to see how things sell;

I'm looking forward to hearing her results and opinion!

I've already bought something and am please with the process, very similar to

buying something on etsy

(I especially love how the shipping cost is worked into the price.)

{I just love the half off section in the floral department}

This week will be moving on in my studies with educational psychology and reading

more about the effects of caffine and sugar (gasp!), as well as buying yarn for my sweater

(which will be unveiled to all of you in September!).

KAL's are so fun. :)

What plans do you have for the week?

Pins and Pavlova's

2011-06-11T18:22:00.000-07:00

{A wee bit of my home}

Recently I've come across the famed Pinterest--been there yet?

Well, I did for "a few minutes" and was very much entertained by all that people "pin"!

The wedding and DIY sections were wonderfully inspiring (especially this ruffled t-shirt idea).

Though I'm not sure about getting my own pin board for fear of being sucked into the never ending flow of pictures, I am putting it as an "idea resource" for future reference.

In other news, I'll be baking some more pavlova today for the tireless staff at the Fifth Ward Pregnancy Help Center. Around two to three times a year, my Mom will teach a 3 week birthing class to the clients who have chosen to keep their babies, and though it's really my Mom who has all of the information, our entire family goes and works behind the scenes work while she is teaching; my Dad prays before and after and my sisters and I prepare the "goodie bags" and snacks for the nutrition part of the class. I really enjoy the opportunity of talking with the different clients who come in and talk about their lives. Each class is different and it's always interesting to see who is more open and what sorts of stories they have to tell.

It's quite an experience to set across from these girls who have such a different life, come from broken families, and in most cases, are completely blind to the state of their souls; and especially here I am reminded that God's grace and mercy shines brightest, in the darkest places His love pours forth and people are changed. For most of them, seeing a family function together is a new thing and as God works all things together for a purpose, I am confident that He will bring His will to fruition in their lives.

Do you volunteer your time/resources?

How to: Say "Thank You"

2011-06-09T13:56:00.000-07:00

We were so very blessed to have a local garden center, Plants For All Seasons, allow us to use their plants for Andy and Lisa's wedding. Considering our facility limitations and desire to create a warm atmosphere, we were delighted to be able to bring in live plants!

The staff at Plants for All Seasons were very helpful and accommodating; working with them was easy peasy. So, if you're in the Houston/Spring/Tomball area and are in need of some gardening help, stop by and see how cheerful and knowledgeable they are!

As a way of saying danke, I decided to make them a refreshing treat:

Mixed Berry Pavlova!

This dessert is a summertime favorite of mine, ever since tasting it a few years ago. Each time I think of it and make it I think of the dear friend that first made it, and it causes me to pray for her and her family.

I loved eating it, making it was a bit of a saga as I used Ina's recipe; the meringue came out more like a runny marshmallow, so we ate it plain. The second time was a charm though as I used"The Best" Pavlova recipe--it came out perfect. No really, it puffed and looked like a creamy cloud of yummy goodness! Topped with the blueberries and whipped cream I second guessed my decision to give it to the hard-working staff but in the end I drove over and dropped it off without a second thought! I made another one today and plan to serve it with cherries instead of blueberries.

Do you have any summertime dessert recipes?

Inspiring People {Sarah Mendenhall}

2011-06-08T04:38:00.000-07:00

So, for today's post, I'd like to introduce you to an inspiring

young woman and her blog. I came across her and her sister Hannah last

year and am so impressed by their fervor and desire to serve and trust the Lord.

Not only do they both seek to honor the Lord and

serve yummy raw food, but they also keep a show on Youtube called,

The Smiling Sisters Show, a creative approach to sharing their convictions

and uplifting the name of Christ!

It was difficult to condense all that they do but for now

I wanted to introduce you to...

{Captured by Little Light Creative}

...Sarah Mendenhall!

The elder of the two Mendenhall sisters, Sarah is a lover of Christ,

her family, and all things sweet and vintage.

On her blog, forgiven. love much, there is much inspiration to be found

in her cute, creative, and modest approach to dressing in a feminine way;

each week she posts different outfits for each day as well as some

yummy recipes! I appreciate her evident contentment as she serves

her family at home.

Sarah also keeps a shop on Etsy called,

Spancy Ketosherosh Vintage,

which showcases her fun vintage finds as well as an arrangement of

handmade items. Sarah uses this venue to donate to Compassion International

by using 50% of all profits from her handmade items towards this ministry,

you can learn more here.

Recently, I was able to benefit from winning this adorable headband during a

giveaway that Sarah hosted. Quality is important to me,

especially in handmade items, and I am very happy to say that I'm very

content and impressed with her work

--I'm looking forward to working with her again in the future!

Before we wrap up this post, I'd like to share an interview I had with Sarah-

-enjoy!

Sarah, what was your main drive in creating your shop?

When I started thinking and praying about opening a shop, I simply wanted a way to develop some small business skills and make a little money for myself and the future. Now that I have been open two and a half months I have come to realize how it can be used for so much more! I have met many new people, networked, participated in giveaways and been able to donate some of my proceeds to a worthy cause.

How exciting! That leads to our next question about where you donate 50% of the proceeds from your handmade items, how did you come to desire to donate to Compassion?
My family has sponsored children through Compassion International for over 10 years now. When I was working full time I always donated a portion of each pay check to CI. I want to be able to continue to give even though my income is much lower than when I was working outside the home. :)

I'm always interested in how people choose the name for their business, how did you choose yours?

:) Funny little story. When I was five years old I named one of my dolls Spancy Ketosherosh! When I was throwing around names for my shop my sister Hannah suggested SK and it stuck. :)

What influences you the most in your business?

I believe that modest fashion, style, and home decor doesn't fit in a tiny little legalistic box. God has given so many people the gift of creativity in making clothing and home goods.

What do you hope to do in your shop this year?

I hope to expand my inventory and add some additional handmade items. I would love to continue to upgrade my packaging and streamline my shipping!

You can catch up with Sarah more by her blog or her shop!

What about you?

Do you have an inspiring friend in your life?

Someone you think would be helpful to showcase?

Drop me a line! I'd love to share that connection here.

Just email me and we'll start that conversation. :)

How to: Say "Thank You"

2011-06-07T07:35:00.000-07:00

As a way of saying danke, I decided to make them a refreshing treat:

Mixed Berry Pavlova!

I loved eating it, making it was a bit of a saga as I used Ina's recipe; the meringue came out more like a runny marshmallow, so we ate it plain. The second time was a charm though as I used "The Best" Pavlova recipe--it came out perfect. No really, it puffed and looked like a creamy cloud of yummy goodness! Topped with the blueberries and whipped cream I second guessed my decision to give it to the hard-working staff but in the end I drove over and dropped it off without a second thought! I made another one today and plan to serve it with cherries instead of blueberries.

Do you have any summertime dessert recipes?

{Photo Credit}

Summer Sweater Fun

2011-06-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

{Quince & Co.}

I'm very excited to be presenting this great knit-a-long from

luninthemommyhood!

What's a knit-a-long, you ask? Well, it's a fun motivator for knitters during the

hot summer months, basically meaning that you sign up to make a sweater

before the fall. This Summer Sweater KAL has you making your sweater from

June 15th to September 1st--seems like a long time but when you have a plethora

of other projects it's just the right amount of time. :)

I've decided on which project and now I'm thinking of "just the right" sort of

yarn! (I'll be sharing those details later!)

I'm hoping to write a "progress post" each week as well as a

picture of how things are going.

Please let me know if you plan on joining and what you're making!

{Today}

2011-05-31T13:08:00.000-07:00

{Oh, Hello Friend}

Today I am...

...enjoying my study of the brain, this is the third chapter in my journey through Intro to Psych.

...excited about the Gospel-Centered Marriage Conference this October! Anyone planning on going? Let me know!

...working on this adorable cardi for my newest niece--so sweet.

...reminded how much I love knitting for the special people in my life (see above).

...savoring what I heard in this wonderful sermon: Facts About Joy.

...inspired by this lookbook.

...wondering why exactly a wee cup of coffee makes me so extremely jittery.

...wishing the above statement was not true, as I love the taste and smell of coffee, especially the kind my dear Mum makes. It's a wonderful social center for us, and I have to pretend with my teeny drop and lots of cream!

...still very much in love with green smoothies (I think/hope it will be a lifelong thing).

...missing my sister, yes, I know I just saw her Sunday...

...wanting a skirt, heels, and basket just like the ones in the picture above.

...loving my new headband! (more on that later)

How was your day?

Wedding Thoughts

2011-05-24T11:19:00.000-07:00

Saturday was my first wedding to be something other than a flower girl or guest.
I was very honored to assist in planning the wedding of a sweet friend and learned many things like corsage making, tulle draping, plant renting, planning, and making excel sheets (new favorite hobby).

We took this time that we were all spit shined and dressy to take some family pictures.

My family, along with the happy Bride and Groom--don't they look smashing?

Here are our dear friends/partners in crime.

They were instant wedding help and we really couldn't have gone smoothly without them;

like crazy people, we went over to their house after the wedding was over and staying long into the night just relaxing and talking.

All in all, it was a wonderful experience and I hope to do it again sometime.

Hello Tuesday

2011-05-24T11:09:00.000-07:00

{the Edible Dom--who is not just one, he's two now!}

So, my weekend was filled with plans, checklists, flower arranging,

witnessing sweet, wedded bliss, and lots of Odwalla drinks (Okay, just two ;).

It was positively wonderful--but more on that later!

{Not only does he melt your heart, but he plays croquet too.}

For now, here are some updates on what's been going on.

Currently in my knitting bag are: an eggplant hat for a wee Webb addition and the beginnings of my second baby sweater! I'm using this five hour project from Ravelry and I just love it.

Pictures to come...

{Dommi and Nani, with the remainders of his mohawk.}

{Lucy Pevin--I mean, Mia, with a hearty battle cry on her tongue.}

{Sophie}

Yes, you may have guessed, we're headed to Austin tomorrow for Dom's birthday (Didn't I tell you we're part gypsy?), that means fresh pictures of the stickies, lots of hugs, reading books aloud, playing lots of imaginary games, gluten-free bakery testing, and homemade tortillas

--God is good.

Bells Are Still Ringing

2011-05-18T14:33:00.000-07:00

{Source is unknown/forgotten, sorry!}

Just as a heads up, this space is about to get pretty quiet for the next few days!

Make that until Monday, with a wedding on Saturday,

I'll be busy preparing/shopping/sewing/writing lists and

won't be able to write a decent post until then.

Thankfully, each day has it's own tasks and-Lord willing!-things will run smoothly, and I'm very grateful to say that with all of the things to do and places to go, I'm not at all stressed or frazzled.

Praise the Lord for that!

Everything is planned and in my room I have a growing pile of

"Things to take on Saturday", "Things to take Friday", and I am starting to set aside things for my "Go To" bag; that will contain very important things like my favorite Odwalla drink to keep me on my toes, Larabars to help me not be munching on the baklava all day, hairspray for the bride, hair pins for the bride, comfortable second pair of shoes, and--well, you get the idea.

I really can't tell you how much I've enjoyed this time and how excited I am for Saturday's events to take place.

Before you go to your next internet destination, here are some parting thoughts:

(FYI, I went a little link happy, now you know!)

The next book on my "Great Mystery List"

A very encouraging post for this once-weary soul

More fun swimwear

So, I'll bid you all adieu until then,

have a great weekend everyone!

And How Does That Make You Feel?

2011-05-16T08:49:00.001-07:00

{My dear Maggie, who used to be my affectionate sleeping buddy

and is now a free and mouse-catching farm cat.}

Today I've started studying for my psychology exam, yep, that's what I said too.

Though I'm only in the first 48 pages of the textbook, I must confess that I'm finding

it all terribly interesting, despite the liberal leanings, I'm really enjoying it so far.

However, after reading the first 48 pages, I'm thinking that now would be a good time

to begin reading Jay Adam's Competent to Counsel, which I'm told is an excellent

resource for Biblical counseling.

More thoughts on psychology and Freud are soon to come, I'm sure. ;)

Aside from that, this week is devoted to purchasing the edible and non-edible goods for the wedding, as well as sewing beads to trim a certain veil. As I love multi-tasking, I've been listening to the fascinating mysteries of Sherlock Holmes while I sew, it's so entertaining!

I'm still (slowly but surely, just like the turtle) working of projects for the newest addition to my sister's family. An eggplant hat and green sweater are in order, as well as, booties and diaper covers (in times past they were wool sweaters).

As gifts, I will be knitting this beautiful Cedar Leaf shawlette

for some special ladies, isn't the pattern lovely?

All of that will go along much faster next week (read: after the wedding)!

How is your Monday looking?

Frei. Libre. Libero.

2011-05-11T06:11:00.000-07:00

{Design*Sponge}

Don't you just love free tutorials/DIY's?

I'm a big fan of them as I really enjoy recreating what I see in magazines or

stores (I'm sure you know what I mean!).

Well, Grosgrain Fabulous is doing a free DIY for the month of May--

I know, I'm excited too; "Free" and "DIY" are on my list of favorite words.

So, head on over and take a peek at what might fit your fancy!

For myself, I will be looking at thrift shops for a fun patterned dress

so I can turn it into a skirt like this one.

This paperbag skirt is pretty groovy too

(though it may be pushed farther out on the project calendar!)

And finally, as an Aunt to three (almost four!) little stickies,

I think these Dish and Spoon toys are too cute!

Let me know if you end up trying any of the projects!

Have a great Wednesday

Bells Are Ringing

2011-05-10T05:43:00.001-07:00

{source}

Well, I think I may have mentioned already how I am helping to plan a friend's wedding!

It's very exciting for quite a few reasons, not the least of which being that this season is a prayer answered for my friend; marriage is something she was (and still is) preparing for and it is a blessing to see how God has brought this to be!

Also, wedding planning (for other people) is something that I've been interested in and reading about for a few years and I'm very excited to get my nose out of the books and experience how things really play out. Today marks the last of the eleven days before the wedding and I am very pleased to say that things are going very smoothly; much of that is owing to my new friend/partner in crime who is also planning the wedding. Her organizational skills and helpful presence add much to our wedding planning team. I've been able to learn much from her and it's been a real pleasure to get to know her better in this process!

I'm sure as the days go on, you'll hear more. : )

That's one of the major things going on lately, what about you?

Lists

2011-05-05T06:08:00.000-07:00

{as seen on Design*Sponge}

Today I was getting ready for the day,

when I came across yesterday's "to-do" list.

I love my "To-Do" lists.

If you haven't started making them, and you'd like to be more organized

(and remember things!), then I'd highly suggest creating one for yourself.

My Dad suggested ranking my items with A, B, and C

according to the order of importance.

Mine looks something like:

Make biscotti-A (check!)

Blog-B (check!)

Read psych book-A

Get beads for project-A

Cast on N and J's hats-C

Practice piano-A

I just loving crossing things off at the end of the day.

It also helps me evaluate how much time I spend on each item and

what I need to be doing first.

I've kind of gotten to the point where things are out of mind if

they're not on "The List", it's pretty bad, BUT if they are

on "The List" then that shouldn't be a problem.

I also have a separate one for knitting and craft projects, so

that I don't get caught forgetting someone's birthday present!

How do you organize your days?

Scones and A Booklist

2011-05-02T07:28:00.000-07:00

This weekend, my sisters and I were in a teatime mood, so we quickly brewed a pot of Yorshire Gold and I whipped out my favorite Lemon and Blueberry Scones (yes, a similar recipe to the one that gave me the inspiration for my business name!). I attempted to have my quiet time at the breakfast table but the events of the day cut my time short.

Along with my scripture reading, I am working through The Valley of Vision and To Die is Gain.

On the blog that I contribute to with my sisters, I shared a portion of The Valley of Vision that was a particular blessing to me last week.

To Die is Gain is the story of John and Betty Stam, missionaries to China; I confess that I'm only on the second chapter but so far it covers the early lives of John and Betty. I've been wanting to read more missionary biographies lately (Thank you Mrs. Leonora!) and I think I'm really going to enjoy this one.

What's on your reading list? I find that I go through seasons of reading lots of new and interesting reads and other seasons when I'm happy just to get my study books completed! Right now I'd really like to compile a reading list and discover more good books; the two I mentioned above are on my mental list but I'm still choosing what to be reading next.

As far as computer reading, A Part of the Main, is a recent blog find that I've really enjoyed!

Betsy is the wife of a Biblical scholar who is currently studying in the UK; they have two little girls and lots of what she writes about is the joy and little moments she treasures in her family.

I hope you'll hop over and read her sweet insights into motherhood and what she discovers about her surroundings. Whenever I read I feel an urge to brew a pot of tea and curl up on the sofa--so delightful! I've also added her blog to my {Inspirations} page for future reference and reading! Betsy also has an excellent reading list, that I've taken advantage of in the past few months, and there will be more on that later!

If you're wondering about the trendy gluten-free phase that seems to be going around, have a look at my sister's perspective. Mica blogs at our Pickwick Portfolio blog as well as her own, A Wholesome New World. Recently, she explained more about her own gluten-free experience and shares some tips and resources in her post, Why Do I Eat Gluten-Free?

Happy Monday.

It's All in the Packaging

2011-04-30T06:53:00.000-07:00

{as seen on, oh, hello friend}

Crafters and small business owners alike, pay attention!

This post has to do with you and the growth of your craft!

Perhaps you already know this, in which case it's always good to be reminded

of things and to cross reference what you've learned.

If this is new information, I'd encourage you to read and see what you can

apply!Today I came across this article, How to Deliver an Experience, via

Etsy newsletters, and I found it to be so encouraging in the area of shipping

your product.I've read it in just about every "small business" book I've read:

it's really all about the packaging.

Naturally, it all makes perfect sense.

You make knitted finger puppets, it's a longtime hobby and you do it just

about everywhere you go. You decide to sell on etsy and are so excited to

be making a profit with your favorite craft; your first buyer makes a purchase

and you jump on the opportunity to make them a returning customer, your

one stump is that you don't have that much capital to spend on specialty

wrapping, stickers, stamps, or tissue paper.

But since your motto is, "Do the best you can, with

what you have, where you are." (thank you, Teddy),

you decide to do just that.

So, you lovingly wrap your knitted finger puppets in some brightly colored

tissue paper you got at Target, oh, and you place a few of your business

cards along with the puppets, just in case. Then you decide on the smallest

box at the post office and--wait, you make notecards too! They're not on your

shop yet but you decide to write a personal note on it (you never know),

thanking the buyer for his purchase and letting him know of the other products

you sell (like those beaded scarves you love making), and you add another

business card in the note ( just in case one falls out). Then you tape it up and

handwrite the buyer's name and address with that floral design you enjoy

drawing, better write "have a great day" on the back, just so they don't forget

you. Then you place it in the trusty hands of the USPS and off you go, making

more items and hopefully sell more items. The point being that a) you don't

need commercial packaging to make a difference, and b) it's not that hard

because it's a way of promoting what you love doing.

Your product is an outflow and representation of you and your work,

what does your work say about you?

The excited crafter will want to make her customer as satisfied as she can with

her craft and to stimulate future business. The seller in the article added her

logo and name no less than five times in her package, how can you forget

something after seeing it five times?

What can you be doing to ensure a cheerful, unforgetable business experience?

After reading, ask yourself what more you can be doing to promote what you

love, how can you stand out to your buyers?

Let me know what you think; I'd love to know what you come up with!

Mi Familia

2011-04-29T02:18:00.000-07:00

Here are a few snapshots of our time at my Grandmother's.
Sophia (above) is my sister's oldest daughter and at eight years old is
very responsible and funny; I think it has something to do with her new glasses
(which are the same as her mum's)
but she's always been very funny, in a goofy kind of way. :)

Dominic (Dom) is coming into his own sweet, quirky personality
(sometimes he talks out of the corner of his mouth);
it's hard to believe that he'll be two in May but there it is!

Mia.
There is so much I could share with you about her but for now
you should know that she's four, prone to tears, and very goofy.
I think braiding her hair has a calming effect,
and she does not care for pancakes (very odd, I know).

That's my fabulous Mom and gorgeous "seester" Nicole.

And there's is a close-up of Dom's eyes,
they're blue and very captivating.

So, there you have a quick peek at our time at my Grandmother's!
The afternoon these pictures were taken was so picturesque and wonderful.
Most everyone went outside after dinner and flew a kite (very Mary Poppinsish),
then we finished the evening with some dishes of ice cream.
Very nice. :)

{Hello Again}

2011-04-27T14:38:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm back! It was a much needed break to focus on

other things. : ) Like letter writing! That's right,

I still enjoy the lost art.

I'm excited to be working on this blog again and there are

lots of post ideas swimming around in my head!

My family and I headed up to the Texas Hill Country

for my Grandmother's birthday celebration and

some excellent family time. Mica was able to make very good

use of her new camera (more on that here);

I'll be showing some great pictures of my

nieces and nephew in future posts.

I finished my very first baby sweater!

Again, baby things are so confidence boosting and I

can't wait to show you the finished product

(hopefully on a real baby!).

There is a story that goes with it but more on that later too.

As always, food. : )

This is a new chicken soup recipe that I. just. love.

The Thai curry spice is key and it's a great

variation on the soup. A bit warm for these toasty,

windy days but it's still a great comfort food!

What have you been up to lately?

Have any of you been apart/started a book club?

I'd love to start one this summer and I'd be very

happy to know what little things you've enjoyed!

I'll bet you're wondering about those

{Dubai Covers},

well, you can stop wondering and click

on the button at the top of the page

(or here).

Just had to add that one. : )

{Rest} Riposo. Repos. Descanso.

2011-04-07T14:48:00.000-07:00

{Sorry, source is unknown/forgotton!}

This is an example of what I will not be doing on my blogging break,
actually, I take that back, I might be knitting but probably not in a big empty room.
Sharing life with you here is pretty rad, however, a few things have taken precedence
so I must let you know of my wee blogging break!

What, you may ask?

Well, things like
our church Spring Conference (I'm so excited to hear Pastor Conrad Mbewe speak!),
assisting the wedding planning of my friend
(At last! To put the books down and help plan a real wedding),
studying and practicing piano (Beethoven, here I come!), and
driving up to the Texas hill country for my Grandmother's birthday
and have some quality time with my seester!

Life is bustling, especially now, and since I'm striving to be diligent in all that I do,
I'm declaring an official break, instead of just leaving you all hanging!
You can check the Pickwick Portfolio for other posts, videos, and thoughts that might
be had by Nicole, Mica, Caro, or myself.

So, in the meantime, I hope you have a beautiful weekend!

Don't worry! The Dubai Covers will still be available for sale!
Be sure to visit the page above, {Dubai Covers},
for all of the info, details, and covers!

Hello, Union Jack

2011-04-04T12:58:00.000-07:00

{Remember!}

Check out the {Dubai Covers} page above!

It has all of the details for purchasing and ordering

the nursing covers we made for our trip!

Today we girls bittersweetly dropped my Dad off at the airport

for his two-week business trip to the UK (yes, he's off again!).

It was bitter because we know that two weeks is a long time, and it was sweet

because of the fun things he might be able to see on the weekends,

the souvenirs he might bring back, and when he comes back to the States

we'll meet in Austin for my Grandmother's birthday party.

As I'm looking at the schedule for the next few weeks, I know that the

time will pass very quickly (though not quickly enough for some of my family!).

Unfortunately he won't be in the London area this time, so he won't be able to

attend church at the Metropolitan Tabernacle but this gives him an

opportunity to visit some churches in the northern part of England.

It's also exciting because that part of the country is so chock full of things to do

and history to relive; just about every town has a wall to walk around, an old

church to visit, and a tower to climb. Like in the U.S., you can do just

about anything for a few £'s. There will be plenty to do for him on the weekends!

If you should have the inclination, Dr. Peter Masters has most of his

sermons available on sermonaudio.com and

it's a great companion for the evenings!

So, in the meantime, I'll be working on a video project for this blog and will

be posting the details-hopefully-later this week!

If You Lived in Mi Casa

2011-04-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

You'd be drinking a "It's Good For You" green

smoothie from a diner coffee cup

(And you'd love it because it tastes like a

banana milkshake with a slight hint of cilantro!).

...listening to your sister play

this wonderful violin piece by Massenet...

...watching the Bluebonnets cheer up the flower bed...

...enjoying the last bloom of the ranunculuse...

...and you'd be most grateful sister's who do

morning dishes cheerfully!

And that's what it be like if you lived in my home today.

Living. Sewing, Studying. Rest. Repeat.

2011-03-31T12:16:00.000-07:00

Here's the post about our progress with our Dubai Covers!

Well, after a fabulous start with a sweet friend, we got to work on

the cutting and sewing of the other fabrics when our dear machine

decided it wouldn't cooperate!

So, as you can't sew on an out of service machine,

we went back to the craft room of our sweet friend and had a wonderfully

productive sewing day!

(As evidenced by the first four of our covers that you see!)

Thank you very much for having us, Mrs. Julie,

and for being so flexible!

It's no small offer to have two young women work

in your craft room during a school day

and we're so grateful for the opportunity to

visit, sew, and experience life in your home.

So,

Merci. Gracias. Danke. Grazie.

I hope you enjoyed this quick preview of our progress.

{heads up}

To make things a bit easier on our end,

we'll be selling our covers through this blog and not on my etsy shop,

but more on those details later!

Due to life and a wee bit of sickness in our home,

(Not to fear! Your covers will come "germ-free"!)

we'll get details and pricing up soon;

thanks for your patience. :)

Now back to living, sewing, studying, and-hopefully-rest.

Repeat.

{Dubai Covers}

2011-03-17T13:35:00.000-07:00

{Wooden German box-estate sale find}

As I type this, there are yards and yards of fabric around,

all washed, pressed, cut, and ready to be sewn!

In posts past you've read me go on about a new project that is pretty large-scale.

Well, today and yesterday, the idea became a stack of fabric and

the inspiration was worked out with a rotary cutter and hot iron in the craft

room of a sweet friend.

So, to give you a wee history, we have these dear friends named, the Neal's:

{the Neal Children (except for Mr. and Mrs. and Little Joy)

with Mica and Caro, taken last year}

We haven't known them terribly long but they hold a dear place in our hearts.

What strikes me the most about this family is their love and passion for Christ;

it's infectious each time we are with them.

I so appreciate the loving yet firm way they are raising their family

and the way they are training them in the fear of the Lord.

I could write for a long while about the funny things they've said and

brilliant ideas about the direction for bedtime stories.

We all love spending time with this dear family and

miss them a great deal since they moved to

DUBAI

Yes, way over in the United Arab Emirates.

Mr. N is a pilot and it's his work that has taken them across the pond.

They may be on the other end of the world but be assured that they

have continued to share their love for the Lord wherever they go.

I love hearing their stories of gospel centered conversations and

people they have been able to build relationships with.

Since they left around two years ago, Mica and I have hoped to be

able to scrap our small savings together for the plane fare and traveling

expense of visiting them. Well, this year we got serious and our parents

are willing to pay for half if we come up with the other half of the expenses.

At once we began scribbling out ideas for raising the money we need.

Mica and I are very excited about the prospect of

seeing the work they are doing and

spending sweet fellowship with believers

from that part of the world.

Here, I present you with one of the ideas on the list.

DUBAI COVERS

Also known as nursing aprons, breastfeeding covers,

or hooter hiders (take your pick);

with everything ready to go, we are stitching up our very own

"Dubai Covers" to sell as a way to raise money.

We sew 'em, you buy'em, and we tuck the proceeds away for our plane ticket!

I'm sure you know someone (or perhaps this would be for yourself)

who could use a good nursing cover. They're fabulous for breastfeeding mothers

who like to be more portable with their babies, and it definitely

beats throwing a blanket over yourself while your hungry little

one is protesting. A great baby shower gift idea or maybe even for that

"someday" when you hope to have babies of your own.

Plus we've chosen some pretty cute summer

prints, so in a sense they're also practical fashion accessory.

And with each cover you purchase,

the profits go towards our part

of the material cost for going to Dubai.

You get a cover and we are able to get one step closer to flying to the U.A.E.

Easy. Peasy.

I'll be back here with the specifics on prices, colors,

and where you can purchase these "Dubai Covers" but for now,

it's sewing time.

{Pleasant Beginnings}

2011-03-11T11:04:00.000-08:00

{Sorry, source is unknown!}

I hope your Friday/weekend is off to a fabulous start.

This morning we made our way to an estate sale bright and early; I was expecting a bit more treasures but I'm now the happy owner of a German wooden box (like the Dutch tin, I'm not quite sure what I'll use it for--yet) and ten wee juice glasses. You can't complain really.

Yesterday I finished all three of my top secret projects and one item for the shop! Today and tomorrow will be for tying up the loose ends, taking pictures, and posting.

I can't wait to share them with you :)

Today I was browsing inspiration blogs and I rediscovered the Purl Bee--which I just love!

So, attention all knitters, crocheters, seamstresses, and crafters! This is a great resource, which has two fabulous stores in New York (just so you know).

Here is a great idea for an empty wall (or party decoration) and another lovely fabric pattern.

Next time we visit our dear friends, I hope to make it over to Brooklyn and visit the perfectly color coordinated yarn racks (ah, yes).

Also, check Rachel's new blog, Lavender and Honey, there are already quite a few cute posts and ideas; plus we're featured on her St. Patrick's Day post!

One last note, keep your eyes out for new spring items in the store!

We'll also be featuring a special new line of products--but more on that later :)

Have a pleasant weekend.

Turning Business Into {pleasure}

2011-03-09T10:23:00.000-08:00

"Customers. You can't have a business without them...

We all know the cornerstone for any good relationship,

personal or business,

is communication."

-Kari Chapin, The Handmade Marketplace

Shipping days are always happy ones for me.

Today I realized the vast importance of turning a business transaction into a pleasurable one;

going the extra mile to make opening the package an exciting experience for the customer.

I know from experience how boring it can be to open a plain jane package with my items simply put in a plain jane box, accompanied with a plain jane receipt.

On the other hand, I recently received a pocket calender from Oh, Hello Friend.

Pretty cute packaging, let me tell you.

The wee calender arrived in a small envelope with the address information stamped and my address written in a cherry red ink. She even included a fun handmade sticker to boot.

So, whether it's creatively stamping your packages, wrapping each item in fun tissue paper (even though it may not need gift wrapping--admit it, unwrapping something always brings a smile.), or hand writing a customer appreciation thank-you note,

special touches are important.

Do you have any wrapping inspirations/stories to share?

Meet the Green-Eyed Sticky

2011-03-07T13:51:00.000-08:00

{The first-born of my sister's offspring, Sophia--or Sophie as her Tia's call her}

This is Sophia (The Green-Eyed Sticky).
She is small and very funny.
Yep, those green eyes are very real and very captivating.
I think she does a fabulous job sporting the newest birthday crown, made for a special little someone.
Want to order one? No prob, just head on over to the shop and let me know--I'd love to recreate something in the shop or perhaps you already have an idea in mind? I'd love to work with you!

There are lots of things being checked off my "To-Knit" list, good thing too because there are things being added!
Check out the {on the needles} page to see what I've done and what is still in the works.

What projects are you working on?
In this season of my life there are many wee ones to make things for.

Recently I've had a flurry of ideas for my sisters baby-to-be

and today a larger scale project has been brewing in the back of my mind,

here are the keywords:

Planes. Mica. Fabric. Sweet Friends.

Stay tuned.

{A packaged good for a customer ready to be shipped!}

p.s. I came across these adorable, comfy looking shoes;

it's never too early for birthdays you know ;)

Colors {Yellow}

2011-03-03T04:27:00.000-08:00

{Design*Sponge}

I've posted this photo before, but I wanted to show you again the inspiring

virtues of this cheerful color.

Today I wanted to point you to this post from SouleMama--

my very favorite is the first photo of the yarns!

It reminds me of an antique shelf that I saw in New York...that's a purchase that "got away"

(my own fault really); it would have been great to display some special yarns on it,

ce la vie.

Also this post from Design*Sponge--a great idea! Unfortunately this isn't something I can really try out right now but it certainly has been stored for future uses.

I could also see this painted on a lonely wall, perhaps in a small nook of a bathroom or hallway...

Look for more pictures to be added in the {on the needles} page;

I have a few new projects that just need pictures!

Magpie Ideas

2011-03-01T15:45:00.000-08:00

{Design*Sponge}

So, on one of my study breaks (yes, I do take study breaks), I was perusing various design blogs for ideas and I came across so many that I had to share with you!

Enjoy.

First of all, I was thinking of the lack of fun, spring pillows on my sister's sofa, then I saw a DIY for this cute floral one with a HUGE poppy in the middle: I love this pillow.

Also, I remembered how much I love sweaters and saw a pattern for this sweater

which I just love! Can so picture fixing an early cup of tea in this...hmm...

Then, I remembered my sewing project and came across this adorable pattern;

possible tea towels anyone? They make great hostess gifts!

After finding out that my sister is have a GIRL, I've gone a bit batty in my knitting ideas for the newest Webb offspring, I present to you this sweet sweater.

Yes, the baby will-Lord willing-be born in July,

but this could be for the off chance that she will be chilly.

But wait, there's more!

Here is a patter for a baby sweater with some pretty cute button patterns.

Most of these ideas came from Magpie Patterns, check it out,

there's some pretty fun ideas that will fill your work basket!

Ode to Sweaters

2011-02-24T14:03:00.000-08:00

{Sorry, source is unknown at this time--contact me if you have the info}

Confession:

I have a slight obsession with knitted sweaters.

Unfortunately I don't currently live in a climate to encourage this sweater collecting hobby (maybe that's a good thing), so I content myself with magazine clippings and imaginations--

for now at least :)

Most shapes and sizes will do the trick,

sweaters for lounging, for walking on the beach, for trips to the market, or just because.

They're simply wonderful.

Have I completed one in reality? Well, no--but I'm working on it!

More to come on that note :)

So, straight from Quince & Co., the Belfast Hoodie has been added to my mental list of sweaters to make.

When I make time to cast on another sweater (yes, I have one on the needles at the moment), I think this one may just be next--

I'll be saving my milk money to buy the pattern on this one I think.

Anything you're saving for?

Dandelion Root Coffee

2011-02-23T07:20:00.000-08:00

{Design*Sponge}

This is day three with the Stickies and my poor sister cannot stand the solitary confinement, so she is headed over to pick up her beloved offspring. I'm very happy to report that there have been NO meltdowns, homesickness, or random bursts of energy. Things have been going relatively smoothly and they've enjoyed every minute, and so have we.

Though I haven't gotten very much knitting done (hurrah for finished projects!), I've been busy working on an embroidery project similar to this one for---well, for someone special. I'm very pleased with the way it's turning out so far!

With the winter season coming to a close, I'm compiling a mental list of spring knits and sewn items for the shop, anything special you'd like to see?

Now, to what you've been waiting for,

the coffee.

I've signed up to get emails from Elana's Pantry and today she posted a recipe for Dandelion Root Coffee. Generally, I'm a pretty big fan of traditional coffee, though it doesn't like me.

So, I am interested to try this recipe for a coffee substitute; it's give me something besides steamed milk to drink at evening gatherings! Really, it's kind of pathetic, any more than a tablespoon full of coffee will make my knees shake; I still love it though, and I'm so glad my Mom brews a pot each morning--the smell is wonderful!

What are your morning rituals?

Monday Morning Musings

2011-02-21T08:52:00.000-08:00

{National Geographic}

Well, we are home after a very filling weekend in Austin.

Our official mission was to pick up the meat from the two deer my Dad shot last month, but we did so much more than that! In addition to celebrating my Uncle's birthday, we had a mini Zumba session, had two wonderful late night discussions with my sister

(complete with chai tea--she is pretty much the master of making chai tea lattes),

and were so very blessed by some sweet fellowship at church yesterday.

An added bonus was that we took home the three stickies!

Yes, Sophia, Mia, and Dominic have been taken into our home for the next few days while my sister has some much needed rest and catching up on the homefront.

I believe lots of trampoline time, smoothies, and hide-and-seek are on the menu.

Hopefully studying won't be completely thrown out the window!

(I believe early morning study time is the key in this instance)

There is my update, and now I must dash--a particular wee dragon is protesting his confinement in my room :)

I hope your week is off to just as wonderful of a start, any special plans?

At This Very Moment

2011-02-14T08:29:00.001-08:00

{National Geographic}

At this very moment I...

...would love to be inside of that photograph, with a wool blanket under one arm, knitting bag in hand, and a hot cup of cider in the other, walking down to the shoreline.

...am choosing labels for my creations, there are SO many to choose from, I know I settle one something eventually.

...thinking about baking some biscotti for the lovely ladies at the college testing center. Yes, tomorrow I take the long-anticipated microeconomics exam. Not that my bringing them goodies will make any difference on my score, but I thought they might enjoy it.

...am missing my sister!! Hurry weekend, I know it's only Monday but please, come quickly!''

...am resting in a devotional that I posted this morning, if you're suffering or deeply burdened, consider prayerfully reading it.

...will be casting on a hat for my younger sister, I really love the color she chose.

...love listening to the Film Scores station and Kate Rusby station on my Pandora radio (gotta love the Irish tunes!).

...have to summon up the courage to begin knitting socks! Somehow I feel like I'm missing out on a great experience and am slowly determining to begin seriously looking at patterns.

...am hoping your week has gone off to an excellent start!

{post inspired by SouleMama}

Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes: Not Flavorless

2011-02-09T05:55:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I made these delicious Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes

(which for me turned out to be muffins because I skipped the frosting)---so yummy!

It was the first time for me to use coconut products in baking and I loved how easy it was (once I figured out that you need to melt the coconut oil BEFORE mixing it with the eggs) and my muffins came out perfect! The second excellent part of making these is that they are grain/dairy/and gluten-free!

Despite these health benefits let me assure you that they are NOT tasty/flavor/yum-free.

A great addition to your Valentine or breakfast or dessert list!

So sorry that there are no pictures to prove it, just my memories :)

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

In other news, I am starting a Lace-Edged Hat (you're still able to order one for yourself too!) for my sister. She doesn't usually ask for things so I'm very happy to oblige!

Patiently, she went through the yarn shop with me and chose the color she fancied best. I'm looking forward to working on it;

thank the Lord there is still enough cold weather to effectively knit warm things!

Hello February

2011-02-01T05:11:00.000-08:00

{Design*Sponge}

Tulips are one of my favorite flowers; they come in so many great colors and look wonderful in each stage of life (plus you can hide love notes in the unopened buds and give them to your sister for her birthday).

As I type this, I'm cheerfully listening to the rain pattering outside my window;

it's still fairly dark outside and the inside is still pretty sleepy!

I'm so glad that my sisters don't have to be filming today (yes, they're in a film class and are assigned to create and edit a film each week for class--they're pretty cool and creative!), but I think the rain provides a pretty dramatic background for a scene (or mud war).

Today holds a typical school/ music lesson day and I am hoping to start some more projects (some knitting ones and some embroidery ones--nope, can't tell you now!), and possibly have a cup of tea if it's still raining.

p.s. I have a few {on the needles} posts that need to be shown, so keep your eyes peeled!

Also, be sure to check out my etsy shop!

There are a few new items and one old favorite there!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Dear February,

So nice to see you, but what was your hurry in getting here?

There were a few things I could have been doing in January but no matter, you're here.

I have lots of plans for you, not the least of which,

learning calligraphy (I have red and white valentines as well as

eggplant and white stationary in my head) and

attending my first Renegade Craft Fair (more on that later)!

Well, I had better get started on my day.

It's been lovely greeting you, please stay as long as you like.

Love,

Looking Ahead {St. Valentines}

2011-01-26T08:58:00.001-08:00

{MarthaStewart.com}

The first thing I noticed when I saw the recent edition of Living was the "Valentines Crafternoon" ideas on the cover. Looking through the magazine, I was so inspired by the different shades of red and most especially the calligraphy. I'm semi-planning to purchase some red, white, and black ink the next time we go to a craft store (youtube tutorials, here I come!).

I don't usually peruse through the MS site but I'd encourage you to glance through in your spare minute, especially the Valentines ideas!

In other news, I've been reminded that one of the biggest craft fairs in

the country is making it's round to Austin!

Yes, Renegade Craft Fair will be there May 21 and 22 and the Palmer Events center

and you still have eight days to submit your application!

Anyone thinking of submitting and/or attending?

It looks like an inspiring and exhilarating experience!

Special Friends and Finds

2011-01-21T11:08:00.001-08:00

{Part of today's finds at an estate sale}

This morning we all marched out into the crisp air and headed to a promising estate sale!

This one was pretty reasonably priced and held a variety of treasures;

there were marine uniforms from WWII as well as a collection of beer, wine, and whiskey barrels (all empty). It was interesting to think about the previous owners but I try not to think too deeply when I'm going through their belongings.

{I simply adore Tennyson's poems and

I'm so glad this collection includes so many of my favorites!}

I found a lovely, worn copy of Tennyson's poems, a 1960's coffee table book of Da Vinci, a big basket (A great deal, Aunt Amparo!), and a cute Dutch tin--not quite sure what I'll put in it but I know it will be a super cute replacement for something!

I just love it when birthday's seem to go on forever!

Yesterday some dear friends gave me this yarn as a belated birthday gift! They purposefully waited to get it when they travelled up to Montana to visit family.

This yarn was from the 2010 spring shearing batch from Serenity Sheep Farm Stay and I'm thinking that my first pair of handknit socks may come from these!

For now it will reside in my birdcage of treasured yarns, no really, I have a metal birdcage in which I keep yarn. Mostly it's filled with different yarns from Scotland, England (Both via Dad), a sweet friend, and now yarn from the happy sheep in Montana!

I realize that all yarn is local somewhere but I really like to buy yarn from local farmers in whatever area I happen to be in, kind of like buying organic at a farmer's market. It's fun to think that the sheep and people who spun the yarn don't live that far away from where you bought it, I even love the uneven way the dyes come out in the yarn; makes the end product that much more handmade.

It's one of the little things that make knitting fun and relaxing.

So, if you're ever in an local yarn shop and you happen to think of me,

go ahead and buy a few skeins :)

"I Died Last Month"

2011-01-18T16:21:00.000-08:00

{Design*Sponge}

I know, you're super curious about the title for this post but you're just going to have
to wait for a bit while I get a few details out of the way.

Well, this past week has been full of traveling, Spanish, and paella (yummy dinner!).
I'm pleased to say that I have quite a few orders from our out of town excursions and and new yarn balls waiting in the wings. It's exciting to have so many projects on hand as it pushes me to greater heights of time management!

Do you have any special way of organizing projects? I'd love to hear how you manage your creativity, so send me an email/comment with your methods and they could be shown in a future post!

Now to the post title.

A sweet sister, Emily Rose from Simply Vintage Girl, posted her latest article entitled,

I Died Last Month

Which greatly challenged and encouraged me. I think it is important to read carefully, pray about, and ponder what she has to say, I hope you'll be challenged as well.

Here is one of my favorite bits from her post,

But that, in itself, is one of the beauties of Christ’s love.

He takes the weak and makes them strong. He takes the proud and makes them humble.

He takes the clay, He molds the clay.

Happy Friday

2011-01-07T10:58:00.001-08:00

{Remnants from a past project}

How is your Friday going?

Today has held very much studying (microeconomics--very different from studying for the Humanities exam!), thinking, writing, and planning. I'm very excited to be helping to plan a semi-surprise birthday party for a friend. Semi-surprise meaning that the Birthday Person knows there will be a party, just not the details. I'm also making a hat for the Birthday Person which will be pretty fun to have in the knitting basket!

Recently I've been enjoying the musical collaborations of

Mark O'Connor, Yo Yo Ma, and Edgar Meyer, particularly in their Appalachia Waltz album.

My new favorite is "First Impressions", I've been listening to it constantly,

along with Edith Piaf of course :)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Sea Glass

2011-01-04T13:22:00.000-08:00

{Design*Sponge}

Color B is one of my favorite "I really don't know the name of it" colors. It reminds me of a day on the California beaches when I found a piece of sea glass, lost the sea glass in a move but I still have the memory. It also reminds me of a cozy little cottage by the sea in England, and a particular room in that cottage where you can smell the salt and feel the brisk air but still have the comforts of a wool sweater and cup of something.

Not quite sure where that is either but it makes for a nice thought :)

This week I am working on a lace scarf for my sweet friend Amanda, as she is temporarily moving up North (Brr!). The yarn is the same used in the hat that I made her but I am trying out a different lace pattern. It's just complicated enough to keep me from being bored but just simple enough to do while talking--perfect!

I'm also planning out an embroidery project for my sister,

check out Amanda Soule's shop banner for my inspiration! I'm afraid I can't tell you more until the unveiling at her casa (I want the final product to be a surprise).

Stay tuned!

What is keeping your work basket full these days?