on valentines day...

  This was the first valentines day in... oh probably 20 years (!!) that I have been single! crazy... There were no flowers or chocolates for me. I did have breakfast/major catchup session with a dear friend and got a mountain of work done (cutting patterns, grading, ordering fabric and figuring out my new line of dresses-it will be a very simple collection of 3 but still...). Spent a bit of time reading my favorite. And I got the best gluten free vegan cupcakes for The kids and I.

  And then, of course, I spent the night with the only man who truly understands me. Edward Cullen.
xo m

snow bound!

   Last week kept us at home mostly because of the snow (well, I can drive my car in the snow but everything was closed and...) but mainly because of the colds, ear infections etc that were worming their way through our house. It was not good. The snow was so pretty to see but it was difficult to enjoy it super sleep deprived and in the midst of nurse maid duties and trips to the hospital. Our little lady, who is actually quite healthy, has terrible breathing problems when she gets a congested cold. Now we have an inhaler in the emergency arsenal so I'm happy to know it's there if/when we need it.

   Some of the snow days were so impossibly grey. Still, the kids managed to get out in it for a bit everyday. It was so so quite. Like everyone disappeared or something. I liked it. Our usually bustling city seemed deserted and small town-ish. Driving was THE BEST! No one was out on the roads. It was delightful, if a little slippery...

   I made some progress on the pile of work that needs to be finished up before I photograph and put them into the shop. There will be many little spring skirts for pretty little pixie girls! I'm all about the elastic waist-that way the skirt can grow with a girl. Elastic waist is so perfect for ladies under 12 or so!

   Here's the crazy cat lady cat face mug that we got at the estate sale up the street (we walked in the snow to get there). Everything was priced ridiculously high but this mug was a quarter and now there are 3 of us that seem to be fighting over using it. I love that it's ladylike china but with a jumbo cat face.

  Ok, back to sewing trims on tiny skirts. If the sun is with me tomorrow, I'll take pics and get listing. happy Wednesday friends! xo m

coal dust woman

  I felt like doing little posting over at my ever so neglected tumblr blog.  This space won't be going away it's just that sometimes I feel like posting only a picture or video or different subject matter... so now I have another little thread to sew with...

  Now it's back to arranging all these squares into a pleasing arrangement to finish the remaining sections of my first ever quilt. I'm excited, more pictures soon! xo m

handkerchief curtain...

  I had been wanting to make a handkerchief curtain for months (I don't know why it took me so long to get around to this project, it took me less than an hour and I really love the way it turned out). The curtain that was on this window before was an ugly blue/white/brown 60s floral that I didn't really like but I found at a thrift store and it was the right size so I got it and there it sat, on our window, taunting me, for a good six months and every time I looked at it I though "ick"...

   I've been collecting (hoarding?) vintage handkerchiefs for years. I used to make dresses out of ace bandages and old slips and used hankies for hem ruffles. Mostly we've been using hanks for their actual purpose (blowing noses) since we all have allergies... But I got to use a few of my favorites for this curtain. I'm starting a new project of making dresses and using some handkerchiefs on those so more handkerchief projects will be coming up soon...

  I really wanted a sheer curtain, to let light through but not so sheer so that our neighbors could see completely through. It is just perfect!

This little horse is such a sweetie! I see his face whenever I lock the door. Happy Monday friends! xo m

work tunes...

  I'm pretty convinced that Ryan Gosling is a magical wizard.

for sure...
  back to the factory, my factory, which right now is a chop shop of cotton jersey, old t-shirts, braided fabrics. pics soon. workin on the handmades and listening to dead mans bones. sigh...

you can find me in the garden...

  In between bursts or rain, we've been getting some sunny days. I even unplugged the lamp in the chicken coop tonight (oh I hope it doesn't drop and they are upset when I get them out tomorrow...).
  My little gal was soooo into these old school chairs outside a cafe. She's very into any "school" stuff as it's kind of a cool mystery place to her, where her brother spends the better part of his days...

 cleaning and collecting doiies for some clothes making projects. They are everywhere...

 Getting the yard in order. Securing areas so the chickens have no escape holes to sneak out of...

 dying cotton things and more cleaning...

 The chickens are sooooo frustrated that I used this gate thing to put around the garlic & rhubarb beds. They loved to get into it and really tear it up. Not anymore...

 That's popcorn bunny. Our friends bunny and my little one wants one so badly now. I'm trying to work it all out. Am I really adding another being to my constant care repertoire? why not!... sigh...

 rabbits are really sweet....

There will be more sun tomorrow and more chores outside and errands and a shop update and a little blog challenge my new friend tagged me on... so much to do... Hope your weekend is full of sun! xo m

monday, monday...

  Try as I might, I was unable to get my thrifting mojo on today... It was a trashy day of "wares" (this means pile upon pile of toys, kitchen junk, and electronics ugh!) down at the olde junk factory. Oh well. But, I think, I did stumble upon the most perfect ever EVER flannel! I got a few flannels for my shop and after washing them (I have become so sensitive to smells and um, afraid of bedbugs-that I have to wash everything-even items I'm selling) realized that one (yellow and blue in the cart below) was pretty sweet... We'll see. I'm wearing it tomorrow.

   I was all geared up to start a good detox cleanse. I've been wanting to for weeks. I follow Miss James of Bleubird vintage on twitter and her ongoing cleanse is encouraging. but. but... we always get ice cream on Monday after school and I couldn't talk my little miss out of it. And, do you have any idea how impossible it is to sit in an adorable ice cream shop where they dish out the cadillac of ice creams, air heavy with the perfume of waffle cones being made, and not have a single bite?? I couldn't resist sharing my babes scoop.

I just finished reading Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui and WOW. It was just the kick in the pants I needed to continue and accelerate my spring redux. I suggest than anyone who i an avid thrifter and prone to um, collecting, get this book. It made me look at items with a clearer perspective. Today i worked on my fabric nd sewing area. i c=got rid of several project that I never want to finish. All you sewers out there understand how big the project  pile can get. It was bad, mine was pretty out of control. It felt good to let those things go. The things I kept are in a mall pile right next to my machine and if they don't get fixed this week, they're gone too.

Some sun today and then  super healthy dinner or Quinoa, steamed broccoli, sauteed mushrooms and shallots and grilled lemongrass tofu. So so good. At least no one complained at dinner, I liked it.

  We spent some time in our old neighborhood (Capitol Hill) on Saturday, just running errands and walking around with friends and it actually made me miss it. We're only 4 miles away now but it seems like we're much further than that.
  I was really good about staying away from the coffee today (yippee) and I've been tired all day so maybe, just maybe I'll be able to drop off to sleep soon. Happy Monday! xo

rainy, windy, long weekend...

This past weekend was rainy (most of the time) and windy (all of the time). The littlest got her very first big bike. It's a bit big for hr but she has room to grow into it. It's not exactly the best biking weather right now, anyway.

  The pillows on the couch had been bothering me. I don't even want to post a pic of their ugliness before I recovered them. I did like the fabric I had used on them (about a year ago, when we first moved in) but then after they sat there for a few months, I realized I didn't like it at all. A change was needed. I saw Anna Maria Horner's new innocent crush fabrics and was smitten! I used 2 of the innocent crush fabrics and a few other pink & orange bits I had in my stash. I'm happy with the new pillow covers. Someone didn't want me to take a picture of just the pillows....

   I also got so super sucked into Friday Night Lights and spent waaaay too much time streaming on netflix (every episode is on there!!). I've heard about this show for some time but stayed far away because... Well, I was raised in a football family, my Grandpa was a very successful high school football coach, and I was never into it. My Grandpa was cool w/ that and supported me. I never really understood or liked the competitive, male dominated attitude that many of the players, fans (and too many other family members) had... I was just really not into football at all, still don't care for it but this is a good show. And Tim Riggins? Hello, second coming of Jordan Catalano!
  But today, no tv watching...  I need to get busy and be productive! Time to take pics and list on etsy, make a lace curtain and bake cookies w/ my gal! My little lady really wanted me to post this pic of the frozen yogurt (do it yourself-by weight) we got yesterday. She was very into it. We're in trouble now...
Ok, friends, off to work! Happy Tuesday (that feels like a Monday)!

the 100th post! hello handmades

Here is my 100th post! Happy to have made it to 100. I finally had time to update my sadly neglected handmade etsy shop with some bags and hand dyed items. There will be more to come soooon!

  We've been busy trying to enjoy the last bits of the not so summery nw summer and getting ready for school to begin. Fall is my favorite season by far. I grew up in so cal, so I spent most of my youth dreaming of red leaves and hot apple cider and such... I really appreciate this time of year. mmmm...

cozy time.

 We've been making an effort to take extra long walks and explore the neighborhoods of Seattle a bit more. There are so many things you miss when you are driving through and now that my little lady is almost 2 1/2, her legs can handle a small walk all on her own, as long as it's interesting.

We looked at this chair tree a long time. I've been by this way so many times but never noticed the dozen or so chairs wedged and tied to this tree. It was hard to get a good picture but it was really lovely! So Fremont! Fremont is a sweet little neighborhood and they have the yummiest vegan/gluten free bakery. Flying Apron is our special treat stop. We get to go today to pick up Daddy's cake. mmmm...

  A few days ago was, I think, our last sunny day. Hopefully the tomatoes got enough sun to keep ripening or else I need to start researching green tomato recipes... There are still hundreds (we have 13 tomato plants) of green ones in various shapes and sizes.

  Shady cat nap spot. All the wasps and hornets have moved out, this chair was formerly one of their favorite spots. Tommy loves to nap under it on warm days.

Finally, ripe tomatoes. WE slow roasted them in the oven. so so good!

  Try as I might, I was unable to get a picture that capture the magic and immenseness of this tree. It's in our neighbors back yard and it's just HUGE. On warm breezy days, it's magical to lay on a blanket and listen to the whispering rustle of the leaves. I look at this tree and focus on it and I can imagine all the houses and pavement and man made things falling away and just picture this place as it once was, an untamable forest. I want to go there. I want that so badly.
  Someday we'll have it. For now we're in the city and have to take the trees where we find them, and there are many, but soon we'll have a home where there are more trees than houses! We're working towards that.

  My favorite kind of mess!

  I'm trying to make as many bags and clothes as possible so I can update my handmade etsy store and for bootyland and for a trunk show my friend is organizing in november. My etsy vintage store is doing well and I feel so  happy about that. Selling to vintage stores is something I just don't want to do anymore and it looks like, if I concentrate on these other options, I won't need to. Thankfully!

I'm trying to decide if I should put the heat on for a little bit. It's so crisp in here. I am wanting some hot apple cider or hot cocoa or well, a mocha. With all the other dietary restrictions we've imposed, a little coffee once in a while will have to be allowed.