New Warm Goodies Listed!

Visit my site for warm goodies being listed regularly for your little ones!

Halloween Goodies ~

Some little re-usable goodies have been listed in my etsy shop .http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15415768

I love these ones, I've lined them with bull denim fabric so they actually last amidst the candy frenzy, or a months worth of use and still look good! They are 15 x 14 which I found to be generous however, if you need a smaller one for smaller hands, that can be arranged too!

Vintage Pretties!

I have lots to come, but there's been little things here and there that I've finished....

I love this small clutch wristlet... vintage brocade fabric, vintage pink crochet trim, lots of aqua and vintage inspired fabrics... gotta hurry and post it for sale on my site before I use it!!

Summer Days!!

It has gone too fast, kids being home for summer. I know a great deal of parents are truly excited for their kids to start school again, and I must say, I'm not.

I love having them at home, love to see them enjoy eachother, love our "lazy days" together, love our schedule we've created, love the freedom of teaching them whatever I want, exposing them to things that are important to our family. Love the memories we are creating. I know I am blessed to never miss one of them.

Everything seems just as it should be with them here with me, how they grow so fast, how yesterday is gone and tomorrow isn't promised. I hold fast to these fleeting moments!

So, here they are in their treehouse, on a warm summer day, under the cool shade of protective leaves, atop pillows they secretly took from their room, enjoying this moment.

100% boys, doing what boys do, creating this private little world just their own...

Isn't this what it's all about?

Barkcloth Bags

No matter the season, if you love vintage textiles, Barkcloth is always a must have. I have been very selective over the years and patient in acquiring some that are just perfect for bags. Here a few....

Many more to come!

A little California Sunshine

So I know Summer is almost gone, I love summer laziness, nowhere to really go but scheduled hang outs! And even though most everywhere else, there are the true "four seasons", I LOVE the california weather. Lots of sunshine and fabulous weather!! Now, keep in mind, we pay for it out here, the cost of living is a joke!! Hence, my drive to keep sewing new things for the site. So, I made this soft tote, with California in mind, perfect for the beach or farmer's market it measures 17 h x 13 x 2.

Cute little lined outer pocket detail:

Improved Coffee Cuties

So, did some tweaking since the last post, they fit much better, look better, feel better.... we'll see if friends like them :)

I had to break down in order to get a coffee cup, and take one for the team, can't STAND starbu*cks coffee, lovin' my local Petes! Working the 5:45 shift in San Francisco about 8 years ago, made Pete's Coffee a necessity. Been been hooked ever since~ Oh well :)

The Real Deal ...

So, it's been some time that I've seen my friend Ursula ( http://www.modaspia.com/ ), who is an amazing clothing designer, amazing. She has always been inspiring and such an encouragement in this industry, and we had a very brief period in our lives where we lived down the street from eachother, I so regret not spending more time with her!

Well, she came over one time in my messy studio/shop, which by the way I miss with all of my heart, it was this great little studio/in-law unit built in the 1940's for four boys to live in as the front house was too small to fit them, and she picked up my "then" scissors(the "small" gingher, silver, sheers on the left) and said, "you're still cutting with these little scissors? I use them to cut Marcello's (her little son) hair!" I finally got the real deal, the big daddy, seamstress style ones, so much more efficient! I can't even work with the "little ones" anymore unless it's for detail work, something very small, requiring lots of hand manipulation.

So here's to Ursula always keeping me a step ahead!

Coffee Cuteness

So, I can't live without my coffee nor without some sanity. Soooo, Sunday afternoons are usually for doing a "personal" project, something for me, the house, the family, you get the idea. It keeps me sane, that little bit of craftiness that isn't aimed for someone else, something small, yet satisfying, for me. So I made a few coffee sleeves, which I will say, I tested out today. I have the "real" insulating stuff (on the right) and the pre-quilted batting(left side) trying to see what works best. They need a few tune ups and a few touches, perhaps a button, or a rhinestone, I dunno, we'll have to make a few more for friends and see what happens!

Girly Gifts

I love girly gifts! They are so, well, girly! With a life full of boys, the girly orders are the most fun to do!

This came out so cute, I had to add it to my site...

Our Flag

I was watching the flag from the dining room, whip mightily, back and forth in the wind. The grand snap it made amongst the busy noises of the world.

I watched for a short while, how the wind carried it, how it rolled and moved, sometimes, so slow, at brief moments, a dead stop.....

and then, as in its perfect timing, as if only a short rest, it carries on, waving powerfully, deliberate and strong....

amongst a gorgeous blue sky, under an old oak tree, it waves so very, very free.

How I love our flag

and the America it stands for!

Orders Up!

When my boys are invited to a birthday party, especially for a girl, surely a store bought gift would NEVER do! Although I must say, it would be easier to go that route. But Cecily is special and was in dire need of a "waitress" dress up ensemble! It took forever to pick out a fabric, too many to choose from, not florals, no "lady" looking fabric, nothing "babyish" would do for a seven year old, and there it was..... the perfect combination of retro and polka dot fabrics. So amongst other goodies in the bag was the envy of all.... a custom waitress set complete with handy apron, boasting vintage ric rac and button detail, reversible head band/neck scarf, polka dot pen and a handful of "ticket books".

Now, she's ready to take those orders!!

Not so itsy bitsy spider!

I thought I would begin my first blog with something pretty from the garden. Technically, I should be sewing and sharing my most latest creation, however, temporary illness has made me quite useless in this department lately. So, off I go to the garden I go to see something pretty, to check on my busy bees that simply adore and suck the life out of my lavender, and to get an update on the vegetable situation. Then, I saw it, from a glance I thought is was a "bright caterpillar" as it was similar in color to the looming bumble bees but ever so much larger, thicker, and obvious.

Holy Arachnids Batman, it was a spider!! The biggest spider I had ever seen in the "wild" you know? Not within the confines of glass, locked down, and away from any menacing distance to my flesh.

I tried to get closer but found the buzzing bees were too busy to move out of my way and so I started taking pictures at a safe distance. It was enormous and surely going to be quite the center of attention when the kids see it. It has trapped one of my little honey bees though and wrapped it up tight. As I was trying to get better angles, the bees were getting irritated with me blocking light and starting buzzing and moving around incessantly. Unfortunately, another got caught in her web:

I thought, how can I free it without getting stung?? And as I pushed a stalk of lavender away, she felt the tug, turned around and headed for her new prey. At this point I figured, let nature take it's course, I didn't know much of what kind of spider it was and didn't want to take any chances. But my keen little honey bee, freed itself and flew away! Hurray!

So here's my garden spider, a female, and awesome to watch.

I found out she is harmless to humans, but not so much to my little bees.

Next time, I should think my post will be creative and pertinent to what I do. Thanks for listening to my little garden adventure!