greenclogs

treasure at the beach

I was going to update you on our beach vacation - on clam chowder and the sun and the rain and first times on the beach blanket and awesome vintage finds. The photos are all uploaded and ready to go. The post is composed in my mind. But, I checked the mail at the post office yesterday (general delivery, which is full of awesome in its own right) and that whole blog post was put on hold until my next trip to do the laundry. Because really, how could I not talk about this instead?

This amazing quilt arrived from Amy. I opened it up in the post office, and started to cry. She was the assembler and quilter extraordinaire of a quilt made for Kit by some of my very favorite people. Along with Amy there are squares there by Jade (the idea girl) and Erin and Beki and Chris and Molly and Marjorie and Tracy and Jessica and Sarah and Courtney  and if I missed anyone, I'm sorry because I left the note with everyone's names sitting on the table at home. 

Do you want to see it close up? Okay. I think if you click on the photo then you can look at the large size on flickr. You really should, because have I mentioned that it's amazing?

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And then there's the back, which is also beautiful. 

A photo with notes about who made what is available here on Amy's Flickr stream. 

Kit Jackson, you are one lucky little girl to have this treasure to take through your life. And I am one lucky mama to have such wonderful, giving and creative friends. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. xoxo.

still waiting! and some show and tell

Hi! No baby yet! Just a big belly and a not-quite-cleaned-up-enough house. But we're getting there. Due to the GBS diagnosis and my typically quick labors, she will be evicted from her current space early Monday morning, unless she decides to come out on her own in the next couple of days. 

In the meantime, I thought I'd show you some beautiful things that have arrived in the mail recently. 

First up, Melissa and I arranged a trade before Christmas. I have a LOT of lemons. She has beautiful pottery that I adore, and she really likes lemons. Once they were good and ripe, I shipped her a big box of lemons (and of course some handmade goodness) and she sent me some of her newest work. 

I love it all more than I can say. It makes me especially happy that it happens to match some of my favorite vintage things. Thanks so much, Melissa!

Next up is a lovely print from Emily that I purchased after seeing the one that she donated to the Craft Hope sale. I had a lonely and blank entry wall that really needed a bright and beautiful piece of art. Now that it's framed and hung, I want to redecorate the whole space around it. 

Once I find the right display table and have it all pretty, I'll show you the finished space. I'm so delighted with it. I think I need to focus on decorating my home with art from my very talented friends. 

That's all I have for now - there are some handknits to be photographed, a quilt to be finished (I have backing fabric now - not a polka dot, but this floral), some remaining cleaning/reorganizing and some last minute errands to be run. It looks like the quilting will be a naptime project, so wish me luck in finishing it in a timely manner. 

Back soon with a baby!

happy surprises

Saturday was made even more eventful due to the arrival of a very sweet package from dear Stefani. The kids and I were so excited about all of the goodies!

There were toys for the kids - most from her Japan trip. The house has been full of bird trills, and there are big plans for an owl pellet dissection this weekend.

For the mommy, there was some lovely fabric, a japanese bowl filled with little eggs in a paper nest, a card with some of Stefani's artwork on it, and these goodies.

Totally adorable craft book. I'll take photos of the cuteness inside and post them to flickr. There's a whole kitchen worth of felt food and even a little felt bathroom complete with toilet and toilet paper roll. We have all kinds of plans for this little book. 

And this sweet little bookmark which is sitting not very attractively on a box of super yummy Japanese curry that was eaten right after these photos were taken. The bookmark has taken up residence in our family reading book (On the Banks of Plum Creek) and we love the little bunny.

Stefani, I'm sorry for not taking more beautifully staged photographs, but I was busy swatting little hands out of the way so I could document the goodness before they squirreled it all away. Thanks so much for your thoughtfulness! We love it all.

generosity

Two very special packages arrived here in the last minute flurry of Christmas Eve deliveries. I was so tickled to find these surprise gifts on my doorstep.

First, from Beki:

She generously shared some of her button stash with me and I am soooo excited to get in there and use them. She also included a gorgeous button brooch that I adore. Annika immediately hung it on the tree, since it was a beautiful ornament. Thanks so much Beki for your generosity!

And from Jade:

When she posted this beautiful fabric wreath on her blog, I had no idea that it was for me! I was so overwhelmed when I opened the box. With everything Jade has going on right now, I can't believe she took the time to make this. Thank you!

I never cease being amazed by the generosity of fellow bloggers and am inspired to get beyond my good intentions and get my behind to the post office and mail some overdue packages.

We're supposed to go to the zoo today. You can laugh at me now - it's supposed to be 53 degrees and I think that's too cold, so I'm trying to talk the kids out of going. I'm sure all of you with snow on the ground think that I'm a crazy person, but really. 53 is cold here. Wish me luck in talking them into waiting until Monday when it's supposed to be nearly 70 instead. Of course, it would be a good excuse to pull out the handknits... but it's cold. Decisions, decisions!

production begins

The production line for this week has begun. The girls cut out bag pieces yesterday. Today I double-checked their work (note to self - give another cutting lesson and buy a new rotary blade), separated the pieces into straps, pockets, interiors and exteriors. Pieces were ironed, straps were sewn and flipped, exteriors were sewn, pockets were sewn onto interiors and interiors were sewn. All except the Christmas bag in front which requires a different thread color. Tomorrow, the pieces will be put together, the Christmas bag sewn, and the next batch begun. I know we all feel better knowing that this project isn't being neglected.

In other happy news, we received a lovely package in the mail from Tracy that contained two photos. This one she traded for one of Gunnar's photos that she liked and this one was the prize for me (the lucky winner!) in a blog contest. I can't wait to put them both up on the walls. Thanks so much Tracy! I will treasure the infamous washboard guy and G is finding just the right spot in his room for his photo.

Preschool proof sheets were generated this morning and will be delivered tomorrow, crew pictures are ready for printing, and Gunnar may even go back to school for the first time in over a week. That flu bug is a real humdinger, but I think he's finally conquering it. There's just nothing worse than lingering illness for a sick kid. He has appreciated all of your well wishes. Thanks so much for all the love!

possibilities

I came home today to a wonderful package from Sarah. It was full of fabric - also known as being full of possibilities.  The top one is a lovely Joel Dewberry print that is destined to become something pretty for Annika (a dress? pajamas? pillows for her bed?) and maybe something for me as well.

These two are from Amy Butler. the one on the left is a heavier weight and is ideal for a bag or for couch pillows. But it would also make for a really cute apron. Hmmm.... The Lotus print on the right could be my new fall tote bag or it could become pillows for my brother's new couch in his new home. His birthday is next week.

That last one? Definitely a skirt for me - that's why Sarah sent it - it cries out to be a cute a-line skirt. I'm going to pull out the Sew U book and give it a shot. We'll all be crossing our fingers together, right? The scraps will be great with some other scraps I've saved for a patchwork pillow.

Thanks again Sarah for shipping this down my way! I'll take this opportunity to do a blatant friend promotion for her shop. She has beautiful things, fair prices, and ships quickly and with a smile. Yay Sarah!

Birthday season is coming up in our extended family this month. In the next 6 weeks there are 8 birthdays. Sounds like a lot of creating is coming our way. Stay tuned for all the possibilities.