Life In Color

Turning the focus in

Ok I have to admit to a little chill in the air, despite my reluctance to let summer go. Of course when this happens and more time is spent inside I start thinking about tweaking things here and there. My living room is the next on my list.

It looks pretty good here with lots of light coming in. The rug is newish and we love it, it's from Amy Butler. I was waiting for the rug before figuring out the color for the table and other things, like curtains. I think I want to have the table painted that lighter blue color and do curtains in a similar shade, but I'm having trouble finding some dark enough blue that don't look too heavy. I want them to be full length (the ones I have now were made with something I had on hand, hence the short size). Ideas? Thoughts?

To the right of this picture is the little phone cabinet:

I have the table moved into my craftroom right now so Tuesday and I can work on projects together. I think I'm going to leave it as is, but I need to clear coat it so it's easier to clean. 

I did already do one little thing:

I re-did the nook above the fireplace to make a little art gallery.

When I was thrifting with the girls I said I thought a little collection of glass candlestick holders would be fun. They said I could find a whole collection in the one Goodwill we were at, and they were right. 

Are you starting to turn the focus inside? Any little projects around the house you want to share?

On the road again

Oh my it's been so long since I've had a great morning of thrifting and I was able to get one today! Despite a sort of rough night with teething (or something) Tuesday I got up this morning and headed out with Sarah. 

 

I found my all time favorite towels; yummy, yummy green. And the pink floral ones I thought would be fun for Tuesday. The vintage sheets will go well with some sheets I got in a vintage sheet swap I participated in:

 

That picture is of my favorites—see the rest on my flickr. Back to today:

 

I'm so excited about this light up santa! How cute is he, so jolly! I'm always looking for cool Christmas stuff, but it's usually so expensive, he was only five bucks, and the perfectly colored green oranaments two dollars. The little shaker I'll fill up with cinnimon and sugar. The lided measuring cup and metal coasters are new "toys" for Tuesday, she loves stuff like that. The step stool she's still a ways off from being able to use. Question: what did you use before your kids were tall enough to use one of these, I think she needs to grow about a foot to get to the sink with this, and that's going to take a while! I might have Bj build something... ideas?

The other thing I've been doing is getting excited about a new community on Big Picture. I signed up for the Library of Memories community, which is going to be full of prompts, ideas, and chat about using Stacy's system (these two books talk about it). I worked on organizing my albums:

 

Updating the label holders and workign on title pages for albums/sections:

 

They are all this basic design. I think I made ten or so in the last few days:

 

So fun to look at pictures like that. And because my supplies were out...

 

A layout about missing doing fine art stuff.

 

And a layout about how much I love my little sparkle pants, or course. I finally used one of the fun half circle stitched pages Sarah and I made. 

 

Sarah's mom made me some of these crocheted hearts. Yes, you can all be jealous she is my friend now :) Actually it's funny because we were going through my albums and she saw this layout. She said, "Oh I wanted those socks so badly" (I gave them away on here because they were too big for me) and I replied, "well why didn't I give them to you?" And she said because we didn't really know each other then. Sometimes it seems crazy I met a good friend like that online! Thank goodness she commented (hint hint) :)

Also if the person is out there who got those socks... where are they? I never got pictures... I miss them!

Snippets vs. Stories

 

I have started working on my album for Week in the Life, and how fun it is! Of course I never seem to have as much time for these things as I would like. But interruptions need not be all bad (in fact one is very very cute and I don't mind her at all). When I was thinking about how I wanted to put my story together, I was digging through my stuff and also thinking about stuff I can purge (hello swap—it is coming). I wanted to use as many things I had on hand already as possible. An old Kolo album, cardstock, some favorite stamps, and some left over slide protectors from my art school days. I only had two in my craft den, but figured the others would be easy to find. After all hadn't I just seen them in a binder...

 

Hours later and the whole basement storage area was re-organized, the slide pages were found, and so was a dusty pre-remodel box that had been stuffed away. In it I found lots of goodies. Like the silver bubble blowing wand Bj gave me as our wedding present, and my favorite binder clips. I also found this set of three five year diaries. I didn't really remember them and expected them to be empty. I ofter thrift things like this to tear apart. That wasn't the case with these, however:

 

They are full of quick snippets from one Joisa Clark, first of Silverton, then Beaverton, Oregon. I've only skimmed them because they don't tell much of story. I know she was into the fiber arts. One of her first entries talked of knitted slippers to be delivered. The second to last reads, "Wrote letters, worked on afghan, took walk." 

 

Dated Saturday, May 20th, 1972. What's striking about finding these now are how little they actually tell about this woman compared to the intense documentation I've just done for my week. She does a lot of cleaning, visiting, yard work, church stuff. But how she feels about it all, NO IDEA. She doesn't seem to give one clue of who is really important. I can just see that certain people visit more. In contrast this is where I am with Monday:

 

And I still have a page to go, plus detail pages I'm doing on weekly activities like napping, working, playing, etc. Another peek:

 

I am loving bringing together everything. 

The five year diaries still make me a little sad though. I'd like to send them off to be appreciated, mulled over even, but to who? If one of you can use them, or knows someone who would be interested let me know. I think it would only be six dollars to send them in a priority mail box (they are a bit too fragile to go in an envelope I think). They date from 1960 to the day after the date mentioned above. Anyone else come across something like this while thrifting? What did you do with it?

Found

Yesterday Tuesday and I spent all day downtown since our car had to go in for a minor little warranty repair. I told the technician to keep it as long as they wanted - we were two girls on the town! Lunch with Aunt Sciarrino, new boots from a store going out of business ($50 - I got white now I just need to get some of their cool sock things to go in them), and lots of window shopping. I went into the Border's Express and found some great little books for Tuesday. They were in the clearance section, a six pack for $5.99 so they work out to a buck a piece.

 

I think the content is a little bit off (the "food" book starts off good with fruits and veggies and then wham - a tart is thrown in the mix, and the whole last page is candy), but what I really love is the size.

 

Tuesday can cart them around and flip through the pages easily. She can also gnaw on them, so I've got to watch her. 

This morning I decided to forgo extra sleep and hit a sale with my mom. It was a BIG ONE the paper said, so we had to go. I go to lots of estate sales and I don't usually find it weird going through other people's things at all. I look at it this way, if it were my stuff I'd want someone to get it who was thrilled about getting a good deal/cool things. The one today though made me a little sad. An old woman with nobody, and no will so the state was selling all her things, even her house. And the house had seen (much, much) better days. I'm going to come out and say it, she was a cat lady. And not in a good way. In a, what's a litter box OMG it smelled so bad kind of way. Yikes. I don't know if it's the way the estate people set up her house but every room was a craft room. She had a sewing room, vintage textile room, painting room, book room, etc. It's like she had every single craft thing you could want (a lady in front of me was very happy about the Bernina she scored), but it got me wondering what made her craft? I love to make things for Tuesday, my friends, and to share these things on the blog.

On the way home my mom and I were talking and I mentioned that I thought blogs connected people and helped make friends, she thought the opposite, like maybe you get in a online bubble, but you can't call up any of those people to hang out. I think this might be a generational thing, but I wonder, do you feel like you've made "real" friends online? I do, but this sale also made me want to find some more cool people in my area (hey - it's harder once you're an adult!). Anyway here is what I ended up getting:

 

Oil pastels for Tutu, because they are so creamy kids usually find them even more fun than crayons. Little canvases for my little artist, along with some great canvas/watercolor pads and a bunch of paper palettes. There were so many things there, but I hesitated on a lot because of the smell, and also I felt like it was way over priced. I may go back on Sunday to see what they are discounting (lots of the cool knit fabric I hope). I also got a couple handy kitchen containers - a small fridge jug and an aluminum baking pan with lid. That kind of stuff is always so handy!

P.S. I picked a couple people for the kits, I can't wait to see what you make, and I'm going to work on details for a swap - watch for them soon!

The Craft Room Reveal

I think of this as a den type of space since it is a walk through room with no closet. In case you forgot first it was our "master" bedroom. Then it spent half a year as a construction holding/giant mess place. And right before I had Tuesday I "organized" it to look like this:

 

Ok so it wasn't always that bad, but it wasn't so great. I was hardly using it at all as of late because all the storage was open and Tuesday went nuts pulling things apart in here. Welcome to craft room version 2.0:

 

Oh I'm such a tease!

 

Note that all these photos were shot with a wide angle lens... the room didn't suddenly grow over night, though it sure feels like it did to me! 

 

Because I have so many pictures (you did say you wanted details!) I'm going to continue this after the jump.

Birthday Love

I love giving gifts. Finding the perfect thing for someone, or especially making the perfect thing is so much fun. But I'm not going to lie; opening packages on my birthday I love too! The first thing I got on my birthday I got myself at that antique/junk store I was talking about earlier:

I love it. Not sure where it's going to go, maybe in my craft room when I revamp it. Because I am going to get back on the weight lose track (I just brushed my teeth so I wouldn't eat another ice cream sandwich... mmmm). After the junk shop Sciarrino had me open my presents from her:

This awesome tray is actually made from pressed board. So cool! I wish some company would bring this idea back, what a cool way to use recycled paper pulp!

Some really old patterns. I guess Tuesday wants me to make them right now! The patterns are kind of intense, pre printed patterns so they have holes as guides. Has anyone used a pattern like this? At first I thought all the printing had faded off. But they've never been used so they do have all the pieces. 

Sciarrino and I like to find each other the coolest vintage things and I think she just won! This is a refrigerator for your desk full of useful things like egg erasers, a butter pencil sharpener, the baking soda box has paper clips in it, the pie is a tape measure, the meat a magnet, veggies are tacks, and the leeks are pens! Oh the awesomeness. My Sanrio collecting days are coming back to me. 

I came home for our weekend away to a wonderful card from Sarah:

You may know that she makes the most awesome cards and I totally collect them. She also got me two fat quarters of wonderful fabric, so yummy! I also got a big box from Carmen with some seriously yummy fiber:

(my helper strikes again!). She went to a shop I wanted to go in when we were visiting, but it was closed because they were off dying. Well she went there right after they got back and said the whole shop was FULL of fiber, she had a ton of fun picking out this and three other bundles of yumminess for me. Carmen maybe you need to start spinning? :)

My mom came by the next day with her gift to me, as if the wonderful soup was not enough. Her and I had been talking about plans, dreams, you know LIFE stuff. That day she found this for me:

You can see the whole thing on the daily shot from yesterday. I love this! I found the perfect place for it so I can see it when I work and create. Telling myself to keep pushing myself creatively. My mom said she didn't know it until she ordered it, but they are made right here in Oregon, so cool! 

Then she had to go and give me the most wonderful thing and make me tear up:

This quilt top was hand pieced by my great grandma (my mom's grandma). My grandma has told me stories about how great grandma Stewart would ask her and her sister to go to garage sales and pick up any kind of cotton fabric, never mind the color. She would make it work. I love looking at her fabric choices:

Such a clever way to cut pieces to give them a totally different effect. 

I like this block because it has that funny nubbly 70s fabric (the blue stuff). 

I just can't imagine. She hand cut, and hand stitched every block! And wonderfully well too. This was a finished top when my mom got it. She then had it quilted and chose a wonderful floral for the binding that she hand sewed on. 

She chose a simple creamy white for the back, same as the negative space on the front of the quilt. It's just perfection! I knew my mom was working on this, but I never thought she'd give it to me. She said I would appreciate it the most, and I do! I have it in Tuesday's room so I can snuggle with it while I nurse the seamstresses great great grandchild. 

I always hope when I see people with wonderful things or wonderful friends that they know how lucky they are. Well I know how lucky I am. One super lucky girl that's for sure. Not only for the wonderful gifts, but to have people in my life who know me so wonderfully well. And not just these things, but all the birthday cards and well wishes... a big thank you and kisses to you all!

Old and Unwanted

This morning I left the little peanut with Bj and Sarah and I went out thrifting. Unfortunately there were not many great sales, and no estate sales, boo! Fortunately I can scrounge (and so can Sarah), so we found some fun things. I didn't get anything on my looking list, but that is more of a guideline, not hard and fast get/don't get. 

After all how would I have know to get these rulers? I have a good idea for them too... 

Or this set of curtains and pillow. The woman who sold them to me nearly wept, they were her son's bedroom set. Indestructible she said. Copyright 1977, so they've been around a while. They are in pretty good condition so I think I'm going to try selling them on etsy, I've only ever bought on there before. 

This is my favorite thing from the day, a handknit sweater. Yes, it's in acrylic, but I don't think it's ever been worn. I can hardly stand for a handknit to go so unloved. And at a dollar I figure I could doll up Tuesday in it. I also got her a few other things, a pair of pants with turnips, some polka dot socks, and a thermal shirt that looks slim fitting and oh so cute. I may get the girl a lot of clothes but at least most are hand me downs and good deals (with a few splurges thrown in).

After thrifting Sarah and I hung out with Tuesday and were crafty. Tutu was a little more fussy than crafty, teething maybe? - Update just got finished with over an hour trying to get poor little Tuesday back to sleep. Hope it sticks this time. Here are Sarah's blocks:

She also worked on a pillow case, yeah for pillow cases! My progress:

Okay not much, and one of those blocks I made up in Alaska (we did friendship blocks for the girls, similar but not exactly the same). I hope this weekend is super chill so I can get more work/play stuff done. And maybe a little exercise? 

A warmer welcome

Oh my goodness this took longer than I thought it would. I envisioned an evening of putting furniture together, spray painting a table and dressing up the porch. After three goes at the bench, and a little bit of tub soaking, multiple spray paint "issues" and the quickest planting ever the porch is dressed!

I love it so much, it's exactly the kind of outdoor room I was hoping for.

The table was really what held up this project. It was a rusty whitish estate sale find and I figured an easy spray paint make over. Well not only did I not bother to sand it (so I may be painting it again in the future), but I taped it all up only to realize that it had to be taken apart to fully be painted. I also completely forgot I had one of those awesome spray paint guns and got black spray paint all over myself and a cramped finger as a result. But today Sciarrino came over and watched Tuesday and I got it put back together. Thank goodness the chairs (which I also thrifted) were already painted black. Table cloth, tray, and lamp were all from recent thrifting.

Earlier in the week Bill came over to help me put together my Christmas present, this awesome bench. It only took us three tries. He pointed out that if we had more benches to put together we would be golden for the next ones. So I guess we're go to bench assemblers now. Meanwhile my mom and Tuesday were hanging out watching us and staying cool. 

The water baby loved bathing in here. I'm keeping the bin out and full of pillows when not in use by cute little babies:

It was thrifted (I know, shocker). The rug is from Costco. I love it, it is super soft, made from recycled pop bottles. I was originally going to look for a woven type, but this is much nicer for Tutu to play on, and was so much less expensive.

To the right of the door. This old produce stand (I think) has been a few different things in my house (packaging materials for ribbon jar, winter gloves/scars hold, among others), but I think it looks best out here. The planter was given to me by my mom and I love how it's aged:

Tuesday and I have hung out here everyday this week, it's lovely in the afternoon when the sun has ducked behind the house. I can be out when my neighbors come home from work so Tuesday can see all her friends.

I once again have to thank my friend Matt for coming up with the design of this porch. It totally has changed the look of our house. Since you can't really see our addition from the front it is the most drastic change people notice. Many of my neighbors have come up to me this week to comment on it, I think they are as glad as us to have it done!

Why did this take me so long to figure out?

I finally have the skill to make a pillow case that fits over a pillow form. People, sewing doesn't get easier than this. But for some reason I could never make a snug one. I'm going to blame it on my old machine. Because following this easy tutorial I whipped up these:

Pillow cases with envelope backs:

The added bonus is using up some of the cutter quilt that I scored a LONG time ago (so long ago I can't find a post about it, yikes). That sure clears out fabric storage space (I know what you're thinking Bj, don't worry no packages are coming to fill that space, I really am trying to work down the stash!). 

Unexpected Thrifting

This morning was going to be a sweet sleep in day today, but it just did not happen, so I rang up Sciarrino and we went thrifting. First we walked to a sale I had been to earlier in the week, on day two of the sale (I missed day one because they added Thursday at the last minute - I was so bummed!), and got a piece of cool fabric, but I knew today was going to be half price day and I wanted to go back for a couple of things. Tuesday and I walked over and both things I wanted were still there (a lamp and an old school map). Then I took Tuesday back home to have some papa time and hit up a few more sales around town.

Sciarrino and I got all this cool paper ribbon (I know, like I need more ribbon). We decided we are going to have a present wrapping party this year. I like the 66 2/3 yards of ribbon, what?!?! And the little deer was just too cute to pass up. 

This little book is very funny and old school. It illustrates important manners like pulling out mother's chair before dinner. The serving dish is a wonderful green color, so it had to be mine. I also got a cool tray I'm going to use outside when I finally set up the porch all cute (soon I hope). But the best thing of all was this outfit:

It is so wonderfully made at first I thought it was store bought, but it's handmade. I should be able to squeeze Tuesday into in the fall, we'll see how much she grows in width, it has room in length.

Then it was onto the reunion. Sorry my out of town peeps, the only picture I managed to take was a cute one of Tuesday and my friend Jenna:

Out of 431 class members I think maybe thirty or so were at the daytime family event, lots more will be there tonight, but not me, since we just left Tutu last week for the concert, and I didn't want to leave her so soon again. In some ways I don't think I've changed much since high school, but I definitely feel more secure with who I am than I ever did in high school, pretty normal to feel that way I guess. All of my friends who were there looked fabulous and pretty much the same. It really made me want to get back to shredding it and eating healthy. After the reunion we headed out to a toy maker's house. He wasn't invited to the art fair this year (which I can't believe, there were no toys!), so we went to him. Luckily I had saved his card from last year. Tuesday loves the truck we picked out for her:

This is the Oregon wood truck, all the blocks are made from native Oregon woods. You may also notice Tuesday showing off a new skill:

Sitting all alone! She does it so well. A week ago she could not even sit that well assisted. She is such a watcher, she stares and figures something out until she gets it and then she just does it. Very intellectual :)