jump up and down

this and that

Apparently, I am having some issues with finding my blogging groove lately.  I'm not really sure what it is...a combination of the shop being pretty busy, the schedule being a little more hectic with both of the boys in school, some lighting issues in our house that are making it harder to get consistently good photos, and this issue of "going to town."  If I have to "go to town,"  it seems to take up the entire day and when I get home I am so tired from trying to hit 4 or 5 places in a row (with boys in tow), that I usually don't get anything else done that day.  And I usually end up going to town about twice a week - once for our therapy day and then there is inevitably some other random event or appointment.  Is this just part of small town life?

So here's what I've been up to lately, all in one post....

I had so much fun with these the Christmas Block Swap.  I really need to figure out how to fit more quilts into my sewing schedule.  I haven't taken a pic of the ones that I got back yet, but there were some great ones.  Thanks again to Beth for organizing this great swap!

A huge cold front is forecasted to come in tonight, so I'm afraid my favorite summer lunch might be coming to an end.  I just slice some zucchini, saute it in a bit of olive oil with some onions, and then add tomatoes when the onions and zucchini have softened and cook a bit more.  You can season it with just salt and pepper, or add some garlic, or basil - whatever you like.  And after the tomatoes have stewed for a bit, pull it off of the burner and add some fresh mini mozzarella balls.  I got mine at Costco for a great price.  Mmmmm.....I think I know what I'll be having for lunch today!

And thrift shopping - I have been doing lots and lots of thrift shopping lately.  I've been really trying to be open to finding more of my clothing at the thrift store.  It's so much better for my wallet and the environment.  I have normally avoided finding clothes for myself at the thrift store, as I usually have a hard enough time finding clothes I like and that fit at a normal store.  I cut two pairs of my pants into shorts at the beginning of the summer and got rid of several things that were worn out or just didn't fit right and I knew my fall wardrobe was going to need a real boost this year and that the budget for that wardrobe would be fairly small.  I haven't had much luck finding pants at the thrift (but I have found several on the clearance rack - a total of 5 for about $50), but the shirts and sweaters and even a skirt or two have been rolling in - usually for $5 a piece or less!  Hooray for that!  Here is one of my favorites - a vintage red gingham shirt.  I think I got this one for $2 and the shoes you can see were totally new for $3.50.  

I'm going to get myself a tripod and hopefully deal with some of my lighting issues and hopefully I will get more used to our new schedule soon.  Peter is currently in the middle of his two week Spud Harvest vacation (apparently we are one of only a few schools left in Idaho who actually let out for Spud Harvest) so that's not helping either one of us get used to the new schedule, but I am learning how to pass lots of slow moving trucks full of potatoes!  I even have my next post planned - check back for those Oven Dill Pickles, plus a couple of other refrigerator pickle recipes that I tried.  Hopefully I'll be back soon and in the groove again!  I've missed all of you!  

busy, busy, busy

I don't think I mentioned it, but we went to visit family  for the Labor Day weekend and after I finally made it through the mounds of laundry from the trip (mostly due to some great thrift store finds -sheets and clothing), the two boxes of peaches that I ordered a couple of weeks ago came in and I've been making jam and pie.  A generous neighbor also let me have some cucumbers from her prolific garden and taught me to make pickles.  I'll have to get the recipe and share - you make them in the oven and they stay very crispy.

 

And this week I'm trying to get my first christmas stocking orders finished so I can feel about listing them in the shop and starting on some more.  And then there are all the normal things - school and therapy and cleaning and making dinner and fighting off some sort of illness that I'm not sure what it is - a little bit of nausea with some coughing?  what's that?  Anyway, in case you were wondering...I am here, alive and well, just busy, busy, busy.

anticipation...a shop update

The summers are just lovely here - just the right amount of warmth, just the right amount of rain, just the right amount of sun - and I have spent many an afternoon outside with a blanket and a book while the boys play around me.  But, I must admit, I am ready for a bit of crispness in the air, colorful leaves, and warm sweaters.  And I know it's just not me.  I've been reading your longings for fall and even Halloween on your blogs.  I put together a few banners this year to help me get ready for fall and even Halloween...you can find all of them in the shop.

 

sweet shoes

A good friend of mine recently had twins.  And the journey they took to join their family was neither short nor easy.  I wanted to do something special for the precious new girl and boy.  When I saw Kirsten's post a while back, I knew what to do.  

 

I embroidered these sweet linen shoes - a pair for Ella and a pair for Joshua.  The monograms came from some vintage embroidery transfer sheets that I have and I freehanded the flower and pinwheel.  I used vintage sheet scraps for the lining.  

They were made using this pattern.  I like that the entire top of the shoe is one piece of fabric - it made it easy to fit my embroidery pattern there.  

I haven't seen the babies yet - unfortunately, we are many miles apart, but the twins were preemies, so they probably won't be fitting into these shoes for a while.  I'm so happy they're here!