Make & Listen Along

 Make & Listen Along

~ On Thursdays I will post what I have been making and listening to as creations grow. 

If so inclined post, on your blog or flickr, about what you have been making (on your own or with little hands by your side) and listening to while you create. It can be new music, flash backs, a song or a whole album... whatever you like. You can be stitching with needle & thread, yarn, paper crafting, painting, cooking... and beyond. Share what you are making and the tunes that are fueling your creativity. Then come back to my Thursday Make & Listen Along post and leave a link in the comments so we can be inspired right along with you! ~

With my mom here this week I have managed quite a bit of making. 

I finished four of the bins I cut out. The cutting actually took longer than the sewing. I really need to get a new blade for my rotary cutter and start cutting multiple layers! More of these, maybe with some piecework, will be made in the near future.

I was going to show you a picture of them in their new habitat but that will have to wait for a time that I remember when there is good light back there near the studio storage closet. 

 

I also finished the mouse pad I wanted to make with the bird and wood grain fabric. It was so super easy and made up really quick. It is working pretty great so far.

I gave my ancient laptop to the little lady so she could type, process her own pics, and make power points... she has a request in for a new mouse pad and is hunting for just the right fabric. Fun. 

The kiddos have been working with Grandma on garden fun. A humming bird feeder and bird bath have been added to the yard and they are waiting for the stepping stones they made to dry. 

We also managed to get most of the seedlings in the ground out there. Crossing fingers they will grow in this dry heat. 

And lots of other makings are being planned, sketched, and cut... 

Since my mom's arrival we have hear Girl on Fire more times than I can count. The little lady really wanted Grandma to hear it. 

Then all the usuals have been playing in the background of giggles and planning and lots of Grandma fun!

My little man turns seven today and I still have some last minute making to do for him while he reads and plays with Grandma. I have a feeling seven is going to be a really great year for my little man!

Off to do that making...

What have you been making?

What is on your play list?

Please do share!

Sneak Peek. A Reminder. And A Sew-Along.

Just popping in for a reminder that tomorrow is the Make and Listen Along. 

What have you been making and listening to? 

I would love to have you join in the fun and share tomorrow.

While we are off for adventures with Grandma today you might want to check out this Sew-Along Angelina over at Stitch and Boots is putting on. Looks like it will be informative and great fun. I am definitely joining in.

Thank you to Sarah for the heads up on the sew-along. 

Hope you have a great day!

Inspiration: Clouds

 

When we decided to move I was a bit sad about leaving behind the amazing blue sky, white puffy cloud days we had there. I could sit for much too long watching them. I knew we would get some thundershowers here in the spring and summer, which usually produce some neat cloud formations but other than that I was just not sure what to expect. 

Well, I should not have worried about this very little and really insignificant detail.  The clouds here put on a show like nobody's business. I catch myself watching them for much too long, just as before.

I have been taking lots of pictures.* They are in a nice little cloudy folder. I don't know what yet, but something is going to be made with all of this cloudy inspiration. 

What is inspiring you this spring?

*All of these shots were taken out the passenger widow on our way home from our Sunday outing.

The Way to a Girl's Heart

 

Along with a stack of linen my mom brought along a few other goodies from her studio to share with me.

She really knows the way to my heart!

What crafty supplies would be the way to your heart?

Hope you have a great start to the week!

Common Ground: Crafting

My mom and I are different in many ways. 

Many of those ways are small. She wears make-up, I wear sunscreen. She curls and sprays her hair... every day, I brush mine... most days. She dons coordinating outfits, I try to remember to wear solids with a print. Her coffee table is covered with lacy doilies under pretty things covered with glass couches, mine is covered with stacks of sometimes overdue library books. 

These little things have nothing to do with our 30 year age difference; she has always been the way she is, even with three little people underfoot. 

We differ on religion, politics, and some other biggies too. 

But for all of our differences we share some very important things in common. 

Along with loving your family, treating others with kindness, holding your tongue if you don't have anything nice to say, and other aspects of common human decency, we also share the love of making. 

When I was growing up she was always crafting in some way or another. I can't even begin to count the hours spent at her side while she glued, painted, or arranged. Or record the many craft fairs we attended together both as sellers and shoppers. 

This is a language we can speak together. 

As you may have guessed already, we create in very different styles and have extremity different tastes. She favors lace, intricate beading, and steampunk. I am drawn to linen, clean lines, and practicality. 

But we support each other in our creating and always have an encouraging word when sharing our newest creations or designs. I know my style is not her style. I know she would add a row of ruffly lace or a cluster of shiny beads to most of my creations if she were making the same pattern. But she is always respectful of my aesthetic. She is constructive and helpful when I need guidance, without pushing her personal style into the design. This means the world to me. 

It also means the world to see her creating with the kids when she comes to visit. They share their creations over Skype at least once a week, so it is thrilling to watch them side-by-side at the table brainstorming ideas, making lists of supplies, problem solving, creating together. Just as when I was young, she is helping to foster the idea that you can make what you want, and make it just the way you want.... even if your ideas don't work out the first time, even if you have to ask for help, even if your hands can't quite do what you want them to do. You do your best, work together, and most importantly keep creating!

So for all of our differences, and there are many, there is common ground and we tread there every chance we get!

Make & Listen Along

 Make & Listen Along

~ On Thursdays I will post what I have been making and listening to as creations grow. 

If so inclined post, on your blog or flickr, about what you have been making (on your own or with little hands by your side) and listening to while you create. It can be new music, flash backs, a song or a whole album... whatever you like. You can be stitching with needle & thread, yarn, paper crafting, painting, cooking... and beyond. Share what you are making and the tunes that are fueling your creativity. Then come back to my Thursday Make & Listen Along post and leave a link in the comments so we can be inspired right along with you! ~

This week along with bookmarks and note cards I did some prepping for projects: washing, ironing, measuring, cutting...

The black and white fabric in the photo above is going to be the liner for the canvas fabric bins I am making. I am hoping for five of those by the end of the week.

The cute birdie fabric and brown wood grain pattern is on its way to becoming a new mouse pad.

We have been opening doors and windows each morning to let the cool night air fill the house before the heat of the day. The sound of bird song fills the house as well. Such a wonderful sound.

With her arrival yesterday there came the sound of happy children playing and sharing and giggling with Grandma.

Sarah, Elizabeth and these boys have been filling the air waves in the kitchen and studio.

What have you been making?
What is on your play list?
Please do share!

Little Bit of This & That

There has bee a lot of bird, bee, sun, and cloud watching around these parts. This has resulted in some fun artwork, conversations, and pondering about the nature of things.

Speaking of nature... Our Simon Canyon hike was highlighted over on Imagine Childhood. Their Nature Walk series is a very neat way to see nature from around the world. Not to mention the whole site and blog are very cool! Last time I contributed the kiddos were so little and we shared a Nova Scotia nature walk. Fun to see the radical change in location.

My Mom is coming today. She is going to be here for ten days and the kiddos, and this mama, are super excited! I am sure there will be lots of making going on since Grandma is so very creative and loves nothing more than creating with the kids!

I have been sketching up more ideas and purchased some more fabric this week. A studio clean up is in order today in anticipation of some of my own making time while Grandma is here! Hopefully that clean up will include finishing up some fabric bins I have started to help with the organization of that space.

I will be back on Thursday with the Make and Listen Along. Hope you will join up this week!