JemJam

those aren't pillows!

 

                      pinwheel, pinwheel, spinning around

Last fall, I participated in the Pillow Talk Swap on Flickr, I shared the pillow I made already.  This is the pillow that I received from a different person.  Isn't it great!  She used fabrics that I really like and colors to match my studio!  She is a real sweetie, she even sent me some extra fabric from the pillow.  I love it so much!  Thanks Debra!

 

 

                            hand-quilted, for my pleasure

A local friend, Angelina, made this pillow for me!  It was a Christmas gift, which is so unexpected (I don't do Christmas with friends, just birthdays (it gets to be too much and I talk to A LOT of people, A LOT).  I gasped when I opened this, I love dresdens, I love these colors (obviously), and I really want more pillows right now!  The white plates really make the other colors shine, it is a hit!  

Angelina also gave me a label, "made with blood, sweat, + needles," I pinned it to the pillow for now, pretty funny!  My daughter (5) misread it as "sweet + neddles" and asked what that meant...

Thanks, Angelina!

 

*confession, those are pillows

Thanksgiving 2012

We are hours away from catching up with aunts, uncles, cousins, and their children.  

We are ready to eat appetizers, main course today, and dessert tomorrow.  

We are ready to drink good wine and take a hayride through the park.  

We are ready to celebrate each others existence.  

I'm ready for my quilt retreat that starts tomorrow!

We just want to be happy today and we are.  

Maybe we don't talk about those who are without loved ones today, but, we are thinking of you, too!  

We will be happy today as we don't have a lot of time to do otherwise.

 

Thanksgiving at home, 2011

 

 

Mats for Mugs

For mothers day, I bought teacups and whipped up little mats to coordinate, I made them a size to accommodate a small plate for crumpets, oh, you don't eat crumpets? 

for my grandmother, Mattie Kate

 

for my mom, Val

for my husband's mom, Sally

 

This mug rug is a teacher's gift, for the past two years, Cheryl has been a great insight in my life and an excellent teacher to our budding human.  I am pleased to have discovered Montessori schooling, it is an extension of our home and really made sense for E to attend and Cheryl has done a great job guiding and instructing our daughter.  

 

 

Just like moms, there are a lot of teachers out there, some just fell into the position, some are seeking meaning for their own existence, some know that they have something to offer others and possess the necessary skills to explain, guide, and teach. 

When we recognize it, we should take the time to tell those in our lives (even if a mere acquaintance) to continue doing well, but, only if they are doing well (if not, we end up with television shows like The New Girl). So many times, we share the terrible and it needs to be known, that's for sure, but let's give more love when it is appropriate.  Let's help calibrate self-esteems as they are out of whack--some of the worthy are under-appreciated and going unnoticed while the shitty are taking control.  

I'm out.

 

The Crafty Ornithologist

It's true, there are bird lovers at this home, the most involved is the tiny one.  At the hopeful age of 1, she was certain that she would catch a robin, they would taunt her by letting her get close and as she went in for the grab, they would fly away! She did not let that stop her, although at 4, she no longer tries to do it.  Each year since, I've taught her the common birds that we see out of our window, I could not believe that she learned so many so fast, oh, our little orny! 

 

Here is a nest that she made for a dead worm.

 

 My best Bird sent me The Cornell Lab of Ornithology this summer and we hit the ground running!  Each Monday we go to CLO and focus on 2-3 birds, we look at their pictures, videos (if available), talk about which part of the world in which they live, and listen to their calls/songs.  It was fitting to start with a robin bird, after the lesson, I printed an embroidery sheet that I found online (The Floss Box) and let my little orny color it, she wanted to send it to Robin "because she will be so exciting!"  That suggestion lead to an addition to the lesson--bird craft/art.  

 

 

I found these 2 birds and she colored them as chickadees.  

 

 

 For 2 separate sessions, I sewed some birds while she filled them with cotton.

 

 

I showed E how to sew the tail closed, she did it all by herself!  Also, we were still in pjs.

 

Her little babies...

 

Mommy, daddy, and kid bird...

 

Stay tuned for the sequel! 

She calls robins "robin bird" to make a clear distinction between the person and the winged creature, you know, we adults are just so crazy!

Thanks for thinking of us, Robin!

We All Love Mail

About a week after sending me a box of goodies, Mrs. Renee sent our little stinker a box of gifts through the mail. What a surprise! E was so excited to open her package (as was I)!

 

 

Inside was a board book, a set of hairpins (heavily coveted by me), a wind-up music box that plays "Home on the Range" --it only plays as you turn it, some paper eyeglasses, and lots of big handmade confetti. This entire package is a win-win!

 

 

Wins for parents: No plastics and no noisy stuff.

Wins for little one: Aforementioned wins, a book, confetti, and most importantly, a box--she had it for months! She kept her confetti in it and played with it as necessary.

I grew concerned one day that she sorted all of the confetti by like items. It was a good concern, I must say.

Thanks, Renee!

Sing Your Song

Today, I want to show you a gift that I received from a woman that I met over a year ago, Renee.

Robin and I met Renee at a Paper Crown class last March, we met a lot of characters that day.

I have been running into Renee at that same store, in Omaha for Silver Bella & we even shared a flight to STL to Mary Engelbreit's workshop weekend!  

She's great (although once she tried to tell me not to talk badly about a waitress that we had.  I reminded her that it was behind her back and that made it permissible).  She loves to take notes, she keeps a pen handy and writes down the crap that we say b/c she thinks that we are quotable, I can never run for public office with her jotting...

Much to my surprise, one day in May, I received a package in the mail from Renee...

OMG, that box was so warm and intriguing! Look at this bird!

The tag with green ribbon says "2 Birds in a Pod!" What??

She made some really amazing items, I really love the aluminum tags! Also, she packed some glitter in there, that can boost a package's awesomeness by 10%.

 

Paper rosette...

It's all so great!

 

Thank you, Renee!  I can't wait to get on the road with you!