simpletruths

Pride

When was the last time you were this proud of yourself?

 

Little Mr. just finished that dinosaur puzzle pretty much by himself.

Thumbs up indeed.

Almost done!

I'm this close to finishing the first of my secret projects. Everything should be complete, and beautiful, and photographed (with my real camera - not just my phone) this week.

In the meantime...

Don't let the grandma-doilyness of the photo fool you. The cropped areas are hiding a big surprise.

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In other news, as the little Mr and Ms get older I'm being drawn more and more to the idea of house rules. Here are some of my favorites:

 

from: http://danielandbrittneydye.blogspot.com/2010/12/house-rules.html

 

from: Cool Wall Art

The final line in this one is "If it doesn't concern you, don't mess with it"

from: The Print Boutique

 

What do you think about house rule as a poster? Do you have written rules in your house?

Little Curly

via ellaparry.blogspot.com

How have I not posted about Little Curly on here before?!

These are my favorite, favorite illustrations right now.

I seriously want to plaster an entire wall with these adorable images.

You should take a look too - she just opened up her very own shop.

What's old is new again

First a question for anyone who's ever been a vendor anywhere - How do you feel about people taking pictures of your booth; of a specific item in our booth? There is a story behind this question but I'd love your input first.

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One of my favorite things to do/places to go is the Alameda Antiques Faire that happens the first sunday of each month - weather permitting.

I don't go every month, with a full time job, a family, a sizable yard, simpletruths of course, and a myriad of other things - you can imagine that weekends are quite precious.

I did manage to head out at the crack of crack the first sunday of Oct (no seriously, it was still dark).  I took some great pictures..

Seriously, these guys had this awesome M*A*S*H* era jeep for sale.

 

Should I be excited about clothes pins?

 

When my little ones are older, and we have a house with a room or even a corner just for reading, andI have time to read. One day I'm gonna buy myself an awesome chair

 

Anyone need a cutting board?

(ok -one more)

 

Buckets were everywhere.  Which is awesome for me because, as weird as it sounds, I love buckets. This wooden one was one of my favorites.

Knitted Bean Bag

via zilalila.com

Yes please :)

One thing I want to have in my home one day is a reading corner, reading nook, even a reading window bench.

Much of this assumes that I will, at some point in my life, actually have time to read a book again. Until then I'm fine with reading Sing Along Song over, and over, and over (and OVER) again.

Also, I've ALWAYS wanted a bean bag chair. ALWAYS. It awakens some small part of me who is still 8 years old in my strawberry shortcake laden room (I'm talking sheets, blankets, pillow case, curtains, toy box, record player and PJs - complete with red bonnet - oh yea).

Anyhow - I still want a bean bag chair but I've long since gotten over the desire for the bright blue or green pleather-type balls of mush.

But this, this I could see in my house.

 

I might even let the kids sit on it too.

 

Anyhow, if anyone makes a trip out to The Neatherlands......

Toddlervision

About a month ago I came upon a fullt functional, albeit heavy and extremely outdated, digital camera; memory card and everything. My sanity saving idea at the time was to pop in some new batteries and let Little Mr. click to his hearts' content.

That little project spawned what I've been calling Toddlervision.  I'm even set up a tumblr account just for posting his photos. It's called...you guessed it - Toddlervision (http://toddlervision.tumblr.com/).  

Some of the shots are understandably blurry, and I'll admit that the camera is too big for his little hands, but he makes it work. But the clarity in some shots is pretty amazing.  I'll be posting new photos on the tumblr site a couple times a week.  It's a photo-only site so there'll be none of my rambling :)

Here's a little sample of what Toddlervision is all about

"Mommy!! She try to take my camera!"

Spring in your pocket

What did you think of my tutorial?  Should I do more? 

Even though it's tricky to attempt to teach someting with out actually interacting with anyone , it was really fun to put together.

I think maybe the next tutorial I'll do will be on the magic ring.  Any other requests or suggestions?

 

In other news, look at this:

 

via www.elizabethabernathy.com

It's a pocket garden!

Sometimes after staring at the vastness of our yard

(vast by Bay Area standards anyway), I think it'd be nice to have something so managable that it fits in your pocket.

Look up in the sky.....

via llevoelinvierno.blogspot.com

These wings are just wonderful!

If I add them to my list of "things i want to make", I might actually get them done before Little Miss turns 3.

Do keep in mind that this Wednesday she'll be 4 months old.

It's a pretty long list.

sewing bug

I spent some time browsing DIY section over on Design Sponge (which I love) and came across two projects that really make me want to bust out the sewing machine:

 

via www.designspongeonline.com

 

 

and this one

 

Plus, with pic-nik and play ground weather coming up I'd really like to make some more snack bags in different sizes...and perhaps some out of oil cloth so they could be wiped off easily...But in order to do any of these, I'd first have to clean off the table; again.

 

Gawker

So craftgawker is one of my favorite crafty eye candy sites.  I was just browsing the other day and came across these beauties:

Awesome felted soap from SoFino

 

 Turn your mason jars into soap dispensers with an easy order from Post Road Vintage.

 

And you already know that I'm a fan of bitty nests so there's no way I could pass these by from Made in Lowell

 

This ring from MaaP studios is porcelain perfection - as is pretty much everything in their shop.

 

ohhh and these calendars

 from Olive and Ruby

 

lovelydesign: making on-the-go baby change kits

via lovelydesign.blogspot.com

I wish I was Sharilyn's friend just so I could be on her short list of people to give these to.
Not that I couldn't make a few for myself; but do I really want to add another thing to my to do list?

It would be pretty awesome to have a few of these on-the-go bags prepped and hanging in the closet by the front door.

I usually have an extra diaper and some wipes somewhere in the backseat of my car (under what has become the mobile coat closet). If we happen to be taking Mr Man's car then all bets are off.  No snacks have been squirrled away in the glove compartment, there's no box of hand wipes under the seat, and neither a bucket nor a shovel are in the trunk for improptu beach excursions.

We're generally working with whatever I happened to stuff into my purse on the way out of the door.

via lovelydesign.blogspot.com

Of course I could put togethera few in a non-homemade pouch...but truly the cuteness is a huge factor in my actually remembering to grab one as I head out the door.  I mean, that and my son

But he comes with his own built-in cuteness factor.

 

My new favorite kitchen

via whatever

This is not from a magazine- this is an actual kitchen and I'd like for someone to stick this onto the back of my house please...Thank you.

Really.  This family did an amazing kitchen remodel (see their before and after photos here).  And, not that we don't have the space to expand our kitchen, and not that we could save up the money...But all of this just isn't necessary.  It'd be nice, but it's a bit more than we need.

I think what I'd like in our house right now isn't necessarily perfection just - improvement. 

The bigger Little Mr. gets, the more we need to keep an eye on him during his more quite playing times. Loud, banging, obnoxious play is great.  I know where he is and what he's doing - silence, not so much. Not that we don't encourage quite time (everyone needs quite time)...but the kitchen is very cutoff from the living room. 

 

(this is his "Who? Me?" expression)

There is some level of mischief that can be made out of just about anything; especially if you're 2 years old and want to see what happens if you put your little chair on top of the toy chest, then climb up to sit in it...while trying to balance your feet on a beach ball

I'd love to just take the wall down between the kitchen and living room and replace it with an island w/ a built in stove...ooooo and the pot rack.  If we did that, then you could have a pretty clear view of pretty much the entire house.

And until then, I can dream....

Recycled scrap paper notebooks

There's this great tutorial on Design*Sponge about DIY Recycled Scrap Paper Notebooks that I want to try out.

via www.designspongeonline.com

This is not the first time I've written about notebooks.  And it's not as if I need any more laying around. 

But, for the record I've been sooooo disciplined about my notebook purchases or, better, lack of notebook purchases. No easy feat mind you; especially when I work half a block from a stationary store that has there journals on sale for a full month twice a year.

via www.designspongeonline.com

This is such a great rainy day craft project.  Although, honestly, I need more project ideas about as much as a need more notebooks).

It would be a great excuse reason to get a few rolls of this Japanese decorative tape I've been eying.

via www.prettytape.etsy.com

I love blank notebooks. sigh.

Strawberry Pillows

When I was a little girl I LOVED Strawberry Shortcake (both the dessert and the little girl with the rainbow sprite friends). My grandmother found out and, as grandmothers are want to do, after a few gift giving occasions, my room was outfitted with Strawberry Shortcake sheets, blanket, pillow cases, curtains, a little card table AND a record player....
Now that I think about it, it don't think I actually had a Strawberry Shortcake doll - or a rainbow sprite for that matter.

(Ms. Shortcake then and now)

Since then I've grown out of my Strawberry Shortcake obsession (the character....not the dessert). But now that I know I'm having a little girl I've been thinking about all of my little girly things (though for a long time I was vocally against all things 'girly').

Anyway - look at these adorable strawberry pillows that I found over on the purl bee.

via www.purlbee.com

These will now need to be added to the ever growing project list.  Luckily, newborns have no use for strawberry shaped pillows so I can put these on the back burner for now.  Unless I happen to stumble upon the perfect fabric.....

Handmade Prettiness

via decor8blog.com

I'm not sure if it's because I am, for the first time, the out-numbered gender in my own home, but since having little Mr. I've become more comfortable with my 'girlness.'

True, it may also be that I'm wearing more skirts and dresses because my hips still haven' slimmed down quite enough to fit back into all of my prepregnancy pants; that's another post.

Maybe it's that we've bought a house, and I want to us to be surrounded by things that are indicative of who we are - and not succumb to the ikea nesting instinct.  

Whatever the reason, it's also almost humorously different from Jr. High and High School when I was staunchly against anything seeming "girly." A neighbor once told me the fuchsia shirt I was wearing was a nice color on me. I don't think I ever wore that shirt again. I didn't want to look good in pink. ick. I wore boots, heavy stomping boots, all the time, my prom date said I looked funny with lipstick on.

But here I am, mommy, with my garden, and my crochet, and my high heels - but were it not for my earlier rebellion would I do 30 non-girl push-ups each morning (oh yea! I'm up to thirty in a row)? Would I prefer mowing the lawn to washing dishes...who knows.

ANYWAY - all of that to say
  The Homeade Home by Sania Pell is full of so much handmade prettiness.

That is all.

Afroed & Fab: Afro Barbie!!!

via afroedandfab.blogspot.com

 I've never seen a Barbie like this. I'm turning 32 in a month and I sooo want one!

Bitten

I've been bitten by the sewing bug.

I used to sew but I don’t think I’ve done more than hand stitch a few random tidbits here and there since I was “ordered” to partial bed rest about 5 months into my pregnancy with my now-toddler.  (I know, me, bed rest! It’s hard to even imagine that now.)

Anyhow it was suggested that I not spend extended periods sitting straight up in a chair (and the weekly needle in the butt surely helped to keep me more or less horizontal for at least the 36hours  immediately following).  In any case, that is how I ended up taking on more crochet projects – you can crochet with your feet up, and even laying on your side. It also didn’t require any of the bending, standing, or hunching I did when cutting, and measuring fabric.

 

yea...i know

So I crocheted a sad looking blanket from unbelievably cheap acrylic yarn I found stashed away from ages ago.  I made purses, scarves,  hats, and fingerless gloves (those were may favorite for a while)

 

None if it was ‘bad’ per say, but my skill and creativity have definitely increased over the last 2 years – far surpassing the chain and single stitch my mom showed me 20 years ago.

 

me, on the couch, very pregnant, making this hat:

 

But admittedly, after 3 years of all-yarn-all-the-time, I’m itching to play with the fabric I have stashed away. Some of it wonderful vintage finds from the monthly Alameda Antiques Market.

Admittedly, I still prefer crochet (or knitting) for their portability, but, well, look at these:
sailor pants pattern found on danslalune etsy shop.

fun burlap bucket/baskets from Maya* made

Pretty much any and everything in Sew Liberated

by Meg McElwee

And I know it seems silly - but I really like pin cushions.

from creative kismet

 

Big Red Bobbi Bear

via www.purlbee.com

OK - I already know what I want to knit my little guy for Christmas.

Envy

via www.designspongeonline.com

According to deadlysins.com, envy is the "desire for others' traits, status, abilities, or situation."
I'm not typically a person that truly envious another person's life.  I love seeing where the paths I choose take me in life and I continue to learn a lot about myself and that's more important to me than whatever might be happening on the other side of the fence. Plus, who knows what that person has gone through to get to where they are.

That said, I have a serious envy attack when I look at the house tour of Ryan and Emerson (of Emersonmade)

The picture of the pantry above is only the tip of the gorgeous iceberg (did you see the pendant lights, the floors?). Granted, the very real possibility of earthquakes make the exact layout a bit non-feasible (these folks live in New Hampshire ), but I'm sure there are adjustments that could be made to accommodate for the inevitable ground shaking.

 

Even the laundry room sink. Oh, if only I had the time and the money to scour the flea markets, garage sales and urban ore type places.

You must check out the full house tour over on design*sponge.

Yes. You must.

Garlands galore

I've been in a garland mood lately.

 

From oncewed

Talk about using recycled materials - these are coffee filters

from pamela garrison

You can pick up this DIY garland kit

from mamaiwawaki etsy shop

This next one is spring on a string.

from the purl bee

I want to throw a party just to have an excuse to make these

from martha - but I can't find the link to her diy instructions

Since I still fancy projects that can travel, I won't be sewing garlands anytime soon, my garlands will be of the crocheted persuasion. Although I did see some great ideas using vintage and scrap paper, and my sewing machine is getting quite sad and lonely from neglect....hmmm

p.s. my dad lent me his camera so pictures will be coming soon :)

p.p.s. yes Morgan, I called it MY sewing machine :)

 

UPDATE: I even made my own little garland.  Take a look and here's one with hand felted balls