It's Summer Time and the Living is Easy

I came into the room and found them like this. It melts my heart.

It's hard to see but we were catching fire flies.

 My kitchen window makes me happy.

The first laundry out on the line at the new house.

It's a horrible picture, but it's a post card from a dear friend out in Montana. Every year for the past three Summers she sends me post cards while she is at camp. It makes my summer. 

These are the things making me happy these days. Summer is here and we are figuring out what that means around here this year. Finding that balance between staying busy and enjoying a slower pace. What's Summer look like over your way?

Give away at lovely little handmades

OOOOO SO excited Lovely Little Handmades is doing a give away. Go check it out over here.

Ravenhill giveaway!!

So one of my favorites Bloggers EVER Emily over at Ravenhill is doing a give away. She is an amazing artist and a lovely person. I had been following her blog since before Christmas, then last February I bought the book Blogging for Bliss. She is featured in it and my interested was raised even more. Then she posted on my blog. It made my WEEK!  She has commented on my blog posts on and off and she always is encouraging and inspiring. Check out her give away.

An update.

It is Sunday afternoon and for the first time in what feels like weeks I actually have a few moments to rest and reflect. Josh has finally finished his six week, six-day-work-weeks. We are exhausted and drained and looking forward to going back to have a regular day off every week, other than Sundays.

I've been thinking lately about this past year. It's been rather crazy. A year ago I was still six weeks from my due date for Goose. A year ago we were just finding out about my mother-in-laws cancer. A year ago we were still living in a tiny duplex. A year ago this blog was something I hardly ever visited. A year ago sewing was something I was still trying to figure out. A year ago having an etsy shop and selling my items was something I only dreamed about.

Now Goose is almost a year old. She has been walking for almost two months and she and Bear are amazing to watch together. Now Ruth is almost done with her cancer treatment. It has been a long journey for her as well as those dear to here. It has changed a lot of things and effected the dynamics of all of our relationships. It has not been easy, but we had all grown. Now, we are living in a beautiful home that we are making mortgage payments on, instead of paying rent. Now, this blog is a place that I use to truly express myself. My followers have grown from zero to 45 which is so exciting. Though I worry that i may have lost my way some how, some of my favorite most loyal commentors from last spring haven't been heard from in months. I'm saddened by this and not sure what to do about it. Now, I am sewing constantly. I have a rather large space set aside for just that. Now I have an etsy shop! It has been slow in taking off, but it is something I am committed too.

So what about you? How have things changed for you this year?

The week started out crazy and hectic but has finally slowed down. A sliced toe on Bear has called for a lot of time on the sofa watching movies. I resurrected a long forgotten Christmas stocking and have been enjoying some hand work. Amazing how a few crazy days can make you appreciate that slower summer rhythm so much more.

Cluck Cluck Sew Giveaway!

OK so with ALL the sewing I did the past two days I didn't buy a single thing. I used only stuff I already had. Which means, my stash is now majorly depleted. So for fun I have been searching for giveaways. Here's a list of the best ones.

Cluck Cluck Sew is giving away a whole set of fat quarters!

There is also a cool charm square give away over here.

Layer Cake  give away.

Here is a jelly roll giveaway.

HAVE FUN!

A Summer Solstice Bag for My Nephew

I have been sewing none stop for the past two days. I can't show a lot of it here yet becuase it's a surprise. So I won't post anything until it's safely to it's destination. (Hopefully by Friday!) However, since my 6 year old nephew doesn't know how to find my blog, I think it's safe to post his stuff.

He turned six back in February, but due to packing up my house I kind of forgot his birthday. So to make it up I am sending him a bag of goodies for his Summer Festival this weekend.My apologies for the dark picture it was really cloudy all morning and I had to get it packed up.

A drawstring back pack. I used pinking shears instead of turning in the seams. I used a different fabric for the front and the back. I use roughly a fat quarter for each side. 

 These are felt circle garlands. I got the idea over here. This is actually was inspired the entire project. The Lion loves decorating!! I didn't use wool felt becuase I was trying to de-stash and I had a ton of the eco stuff in my house.

A picnic place mat and napkin for picnics down by the lake. 

 A fabric ball.

A little Waldorf inspired Gnome with sleeping bag and pillow. I figured he was just the right sized to be a perfect buddy on Summer adventures. I used the dolls house doll pattern from  Making Waldorf Dolls.

After making him I swore I would never use the pattern again. Something about it just didn't work for me. However, Bear found him and fell in love. So... I may be making another one after all. I did use wool felt for his cloths/cap and sleeping bag/pillow. I love it so much better then the eco stuff.