Catching up

March 10, 2015 by Summer

It’s been very difficult finding time to blog. I definitely do not want to stop writing in this space. I love the documentation it provides, but it’s getting harder and harder to keep up with all the crafting and day-to-day chores and mothering of a young, active child (who sometimes refuses to nap). So here’s a little catch up post. What we’ve been up to these days, through quick blurbs and photos.

lots of painting going on these days. I dream about painting, I see hills and flowers when we are out and about and want to run home to paint them. It has become my daily happy work, to paint one thing (if not more) every day.

I have had a few custom peg doll orders. A set of seasonal pegs, a bride and groom, angels and more.

I’ve also been working on a project with peg dolls and nature and stories. I’m not so sure I even know where it’s all going, but when I do have time to work on it, I enjoy every minute.

We’ve been receiving lots of swap goodies in the mail lately. I had a few weeks where I joined several Waldorf FB group swaps and went a little crazy with the crafting. Well, we are now receiving all of our wonderful items in return. Ellie has been enjoying setting up new scenarios and playing with all of these wonderfully made, beautiful toys.

We’ve been slowly working on getting our garden back in order. Ellie and I planted seeds a couple of weeks ago, cleared out the raised beds and are making our way back into the garden on a daily basis.

I did a stocking of my Etsy store with little Easter/Spring time softies. Most of these have gone to new homes, but there are still a few more left and I think I may do one more batch before Easter.

I’ve been in the kitchen more these days. I’m sure you all know Jeff is the cook around these parts, but I’m trying some new things out too. I finally made cheese for the first time! Something that’s been on my to do list for years.

It turned out delicious and we even used it in a pasta dish! We’ve also started making pretzels on a weekly basis. It’s been a fun activity to do with Ellie. I’m going to have to do a whole other blog post about them though, they are just too good not to share our process with you!

so there you have it…. a little update. There’s lots more I’d love to share with you, but that will have to do for now. I have more painting and cleaning to do and only a wee bit of time to do it in, before this darling child wakes from her nap.

{this moment}

January 9, 2015 by Summer

“A single photo. No words. Capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.” – joining SouleMama

{this moment}

September 26, 2014 by Summer

“A single photo. No words. Capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.”

– joining soulemama!

22 Months and some odds and ends

June 5, 2014 by Summer

Ellie is 22 months old today! We’re getting closer to 2, I can’t believe it. She’s definitely acting more like a two-year old and less like a baby these days. All of a sudden, she’s talking in full sentences (many of which we can’t understand just yet, but sentences and words oh my)! She’s also been busy really playing with her toys. She pretends to hide her peg dolls and animals and then they “run, run, run” all over the play mat. She loves anything to do with water; pouring it, drinking it, swimming in it. Once upon a time, we couldn’t get this child to take a bath and now she’s a water aficionado. She starts a swimming class with her Daddy at the end of the month. Something low-key, at our local city pool, where she’ll just be getting used to being in the water and learning some basic techniques. I’m hoping she will enjoy this time with her Dada as well as the swimming. The hour they are gone for swimming, Mama gets to enjoy some creative painting and crafting time, so as anxious as I am about Ellie doing a class with Daddy (away from me), I’m trying to see it more as a great way for them to connect and for me to get some Mama time in.

Other things happening around these parts…

I just put a few new things in my Etsy shop! Some summertime inspired peg dolls and a lovely summer time play mat (that I really wanted to keep for myself, I liked it so much) and I created a Snow Queen for my “Frozen” mats for those families who would rather have the original Hans Christen Anderson story instead of the Disney-fied version. Check them out here!

I’ve also been trying to fit in painting here and there. I’m desperately trying to catch up in this online class I’m taking. There’s a break this summer, so hopefully I’ll be able to keep up. It’s challenging and exciting and sometimes frustrating when my art doesn’t come out on paper the way I see it in my head, but I think that’s probably a good step to learning more and getting better.

What are you creating or up to these days?

A Little This, A Little That (and a whole lotta birthday)

March 21, 2014 by Summer

This week we celebrated my Mom’s birthday and Jeff’s Mom’s birthday. They are a day apart! There will be much more celebrating I’m sure this weekend as well for my SIL and her husband will be flying in to stay. Ellie and I had been working hard on some special pieces of art for both of them (sadly, I didn’t get a chance to photograph the piece I did for Nana).

Ellie is now telling me which color paint she wants and where she wants me to place the glob of paint. I love it that she already is directing so much of the art process.

We’ve been playing a lot with Ellie’s wooden rainbow toy and while she was painting she pointed to her rainbow toy on the table. I’m thinking these works of art have a very rainbow quality to them, don’t you think? Since Ellie is enjoying painting so much these days we are thinking of getting her an easel some time soon. Any recommendations for one that will grow with her welcome!

My painting for my Mom. A spring wreath. Lot’s of pink with a handmade quilt tucked in the middle. I thought it would be a nice addition to her sewing room.

I also got some Happy Mail this week!! Nothing makes you feel better than happy mail!

After Cory announced her sale in her Etsy shop on her blog, I had to snatch up that butterfly dress I had my eyes on for weeks for Ellie. She is so speedy that the package arrived the very next day (and with an adorable bib to boot)! Thank you Cory!

I also received the most lovely of Thank you notes from a friend from up north. Not only does she send a Thank you card but chocolate for me, special tea and stickers for Ellie! Plus, she jazzes up her envelopes with meditations and quotes to pass on her joy and peaceful ways. Thank you Lizzie! You made my day!

Besides birthdays and happy mail, we had a bit of a tough evening the other night when Ellie got into what we think were the dry prickles of an asparagus fern. Her poor little bare feet were covered in prickles and a very late evening was spent picking them out one by one with tweezers. Not a very fun night. Not a very happy toddler and a very tired Mama and Dada. After a trip to the doctor however (to make sure the prickles or splinters were all out of her feet and not getting infected) and a couple soakings in the tub, she seems to be doing just fine. No more barefoot butterfly girls around here.

Making + Listening: Valentine’s Edition

February 13, 2014 by Summer

MAKING: There has been lots of making and listening around these parts. Now that Ellie is feeling better we’ve had some painting sessions…

And some afternoon walks where we collected sticks for another Simple Things Notebook inspired nature craft. Ellie did the stick collecting, I did the hot glueing.

And the big project I’m working on is putting together something special for the blogger swap. After spending an evening visiting all of the blogs involved in the swap, I can tell you I am a little worried my contribution won’t match up. These bloggers are AMAZING at what they do! I started working on a set of hand-sewn coasters to begin with. I’m excited about the fabrics. A couple of them are from the Downton Abbey collection which I find just lovely. I hope my blogger swap partner will find them lovely too.

LISTENING: Little Bird has been on repeat for many days now, but we have also managed to have some classical playing in the evenings with dinner. I had picked up a lovely french classical c.d. on my honeymoon in Paris. It used to reside in my classroom and was played often in the early mornings upon the children’s arrival. Now it’s come full circle. Playing in my own home for my own daughter to enjoy.

-joining Dawn for Making + Listening!