Splendid

and last week

I finished the mini book I made in Sarah Bowen's SisTV class.  We used Sassafras Lass papers which are officially my new favorite (until the new Elsie line surfaces...) The borders are scalloped and vividly colorful, like candy, ooooooooh sweet! I haven't yet filled the book with journaling or mementos, and I was hoping to get to it this weekend since it's Nat'l Scrapbooking weekend, but instead got these LO's Sunday night. I was hoping to scrap with my friend Sarah Saturday and get a lot done, but as usual the bay breezes had other plans for us....here techno-savvy hubby had downloaded some funny Mystery Science Theater dialog and the kids were all busy playing...we sipped our bay breezes, laughed and did not get crafty, o'well.

My mini books project from SisTV

We used a thicker chipboard to fashion a cover (which I covered with Love, Elsie fabric paper) and the inside pages are Sassafras. I made a couple extra books with the left over paper. 

Dance Show

NYC Play Day

Last week we also went to this really cute little place over in University City. It's an old part of Philadelphia and these brownstones are well known for their charm. This restaurant is called the White Dog Cafe and the owner is Judy Wicks, a remarkable lady who has used her restaurant to hold monthly gatherings and meetings to aid social awareness and activism. The food was delicious and the atmosphere cheerful.  Her menu is almost completely supplied by local, organic, humane-raised, range free, small (you get the idea)farmers. She also has helped develop what once was deserted, garbage-filled lots into community-ran gardens.  She also has an annual Dance of the Ripe Tomatoes festival in honor of the summer bounties.  We can't wait to go.  If you haven't had a chance to go (you Philadelphians) you should.  It's located at 3420 Sansom Street.

For those who don't know my man, he loves to socialize and often becomes instant pals with whomever we are sitting by.  Take this nice guy for instance, he's a professor at Drexel U who teaches economics. He's originally from the Palm Springs area and likes to bike and occasionally hit the casinos.  He knows our whole past as well... 

an overexposed me with my two sweethearts

Then Sunday afternoon we went to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to see the Frida Kahlo exhibit.  Dave walked through the rest of the museum with the girls while Sarah and I saw Frida.  What an amazing exhibit. I've seen a couple of her art pieces before, but this many all together in the same space is amazing. Most of her work, even more so some of the more graphic pieces was moving. Those who don't know her physical and emotional past which was riddled with pain, can see it in her paintings. Her emotional angst coupled with numerous surgeries and lifelong physical conditions are so irreverently depicted in her paintings that even if her style isn't your thing, you can appreciate it. She really is an icon to be admired. Cameras were not allowed in the exhibit, but many of her most famous works were there.

outside of the museum

The steps down to Ben Franklin Parkway and downtown views of the city.  These are the steps Rocky ran up and jumped up and down on.  It's so funny to see all these people running up the stairs and when they get to the top raise their arms over their heads and bounce around like Rocky did in the movie.  Everyone laughs like they're so original and the first to ever do it.  We did it, too, when we first moved to Philly.

After the museum we headed over to East Passyunk for Mexican food in honor of Frida and  Cinco de Mayo Eve (is there such a thing? Well, we did.)

Tonight for Cinco de Mayo I made some chicken tacos with homemade salsa, we listened to the Gypsy Kings and ate picnic style talking the latest gossip (of which we really know none, but we like to pretend we are in the know...)

 

Recipe for Chunky Salsa 1 jalapeno chile, deseeded and chopped fine 1 medium sized red onion chopped 1/8 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped ¼ teaspoon cumin powder ¼ teaspoon chilly powder ½ teaspoon oregano, crushed by hand 1 can tomato sauce ¼ teaspoon garlic powder 2 tablespoons red wine vienegar 2 fresh squeezed limes Toss all the ingredients together and let it blend overnight. The Salsa is ready the next day to be served with crisp tortilla chips or with other dishes. This Salsa can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It keeps fresh for about two weeks.  Yummy with chopped up avacado, too! Muy Bien!

McKaylah's 7th bday party

latest layouts, X 3

For those who may not know, when I usually do a layout, especially of a holiday or vacation (anything where we were all involved as a family) I do 3 identical layouts.  One for my album, and one for each of the girls albums.  A little crazy since it gets expensive and I feel like even though it's an assembly line of sorts, I also never get a chance to get caught up on my other photos. Anyhoo, here's the two latest I did this week.

Washington DC

assembly line

Cape Cod 2007

I LOVE these summer stickers! 

Oh, and he's back.  My little traveling Gnome man made it back to me.  In older pictures he was often smiling in the background.  Well, he's back and you will be seeing him hangin' with the fam again in many photos, so keep an eye out for him, k?

sleep

what I need to get a lot of tonight!

Sleep layout

the latest crafty

Here's some of my latest scrapbook pages...

moi

"Love" book I made my mom for Easter.  I pasted paper over large index cards and added ribbons, buttons, felt, chipboard, stamping, etc. 

inside

U Rock!  Ava loves music, pretending she's Feist or the Yeah-Yeah-Yeahs, whichever singer or band she can dance to.  She loves black nail polish and I can already see her sneaking off to get a tattoo....not sure where she'd get something like that in her head....

 

                                                                                      hmmmmm...

These are some onesies we made this weekend.  Fabric silhouettes and ric-rac, lace trim, buttons. I'm waiting for the personalized fabric labels I ordered before I put them on my etsy. I'll be making more this next week as well; bibs, aprons, napkins, and canvas bags. I'm also going to TRY to paint some fabric canvas silhouettes, but we'll see...

little miss Scarlet Bird sitting pretty by the new napkins

 

set of four napkins with lace and ric rac

here's little Cricket sewing her lioness costume for her Musical Theater class.  She was cast as Nala, Simba's better half in the production of the Lion King. Of course we helped her, but she honestly sewed about half on her own. Pretty good job, too!

ferocious kitty!

tail over the shoulder

I have a few other layouts I'll be uploading tomorrow if I get the chance. We've had a bit of spring fever hit us here, so I feel kind of squirrel-ly, planting some flowers and cleaning up the yard, spring cleaning, organizing, being outside a lot more, still visiting with my mom, home school, blah, blah, blah...What about you, are you feeling spring fever has hit you?

artsy, but not so fartsy around here

We all love arts and crafts around here. Sewing, scrapbooking, jewelry making, collage, painting, you name it and we're gung-ho to try it.  Here's a little peek into the last couple weeks for us...enjoy...

Lucky because layout, in honor of St. Pat's day, a rainbow with the reasons I'm lucky...

Fairy Birthday layout

Home layout 

King Dad scrapbook layout

ART ATTACK!-the name of my art classes/shop if I ever open one...discuss...

Here's a couple Kandinsky repos McKaylah did, and an altered Vinny Van Gogh head Ava did (hers has chicken pox she said)

    cartoon repo of the Kandinsky and VG repos

"Winter Waits" art project I'm selling on my etsy, watercolors, wax pencil, tempura paint, lace pieces, glitter, yum!

in the window the girls Van Gogh "Starry Night" painting, next to a real Starry Night painting I bought from a traveling artist. Also, on the window sill there's a black and gold paper piecing/collage that's representative of Gustuv Klimt's work,"Tree of Life."  I'm putting art kits together for that one as well. 

the fireplace mantle decorated with spring and easter stuff.  I'm making a banner to hang across the front now.

these were my Granny's Easter bunny figurines, there's 3 of them.  I love them because they remind me of her, and they have glitter on them...

Henri Matisse project we did last week, all collage work, Ava's is the house, McKaylah's is the underwater scene

We've been crafting up a storm around here.  McKaylah started sewing lessons two weeks ago and her teacher cannot believe how good she is on a sewing machine at the young age of 7.  Personally I'm not surprised as she's always been pretty artistic and crafty.

here's her first ever sewing project, she made this pillow for my mom out of different fabric pieces and sewed around the two hearts and everything all by herself.  I'm a pretty proud mama! If any of you out there in Blogger Land wouldn't mind leaving her a comment below she'd be so delighted to hear from you!!

She loves to embroider and sew by hand, along with art classes here. Ava has been taking art classes there, too.  They love their art classes at AAC, but we do double at home.  We always have papers, buttons, stickers, paint, etc. out.  McKaylah started an Art Appreciation discussion time with me every Wednesday as well.  We read another chapter each time of an art appreciation book I got, and we love it.

(here's the back grounds of the Abington Art Center)

I've been making more hairpins and rings to put on my etsy, as well as I just put together a kids art kit titled "Winter Waits."  I thought it appropriate for the chill we've been having here in the northeast (will spring ever come???) I also have put together an art kit for kids (or those who act like one) that is a softie owl.  Patterns are included, felt sheets, fabric to make wings, a beak, etc.  Buttons for big eyes. A very simple project for a child about 7 or so and older. All hand sewing. I've been painting and scrapbooking more this last couple weeks and looking forward to my jewelry class in June in Portland, Oregon with Sally Jean, can't wait!  Since I've been scrapbooking more, I have been logging on to here, and just really enjoying getting to know some other women who are super talented and make me so jealous with their artistic flair!

Our owls, the red on the left was done solely by McKaylah, she cut everything out, sewed it by hand, etc.  Mine is the blue one.

Ava's springtime goddess ceramic figure.  The back has dreads, so cool! Dave snagged it from me and took it to work to have in his office!

McKaylah making a cat template for a printing project

good clean fun!

all "arteeests" need a break!

McKaylah's final print piece

Ava using a brayer to paint her cat template

SUCCESS!

Ava's rainbow "catwalk"-Ha! Ha!- thank you-you're all beautiful, I'll be here all week!

new etsy items!

please check out my new items just listed in my etsy!  (click on colored etsy word-and just so ya' all know, clicking on any of my colored hightlighted words on my blog takes you automatically to another link or photo.) there will be more to come soon! i'm working on a kids art kit this week as well as an embroidery kit soon. the sweet lovelies i added today are going to go quick (or so i hope) so grab them soon!                       

cute hairpin made with vintage buttons and floral rose cab (above)

and white cab flower ring on metal adjustable band-fun and funky!

(i already sold 3 to one super lucky etsy member today!-hip-hip-hooray!)

Back in the saddle...

I finally unpacked most of my crafting supplies and I've tried to be a good little organizer so I can find what I'm looking for when I need it (which was sometimes a problem-gulp.) I stayed up until 1 last night painting and scrapbooking (for me they go hand in hand) and was trying out some new ideas from this fabulous scrapbook Queen.  She and I have similar styles, but I'm always inspired by her wonderful ideas and layouts.  I joined her class here and was very pleased with her tips and tricks.  If she does another class, I highly recommend her.

I have my sewing machine ready to go and will be out this next week or two getting different fabrics to make eye pillows, aprons and place mats and napkins.  Pom poms are going to be my "thing," since they remind me so much of my sweet ol' Granny. She loved them and had them everywhere.

I bought some fabric from this superstar this morning and hope you'll check out her line of wonderful fabric and works.  I was so happy to get her two handmade silhouettes for Xmas from my Hubby (okay, I picked them out and ordered them myself, but they were my present from him to me, sometimes he needs help) and I'm sure you're salivating now. 

Even after McKaylah finished her first part of school this morning, she is doing some collage art with some sticker ribbons I gave her.  She LOVES arts and crafts, and if given the chance, would do it all day (don't know where she gets that from...) I can hear Ava running around downstairs, given the chance, she'd do that all day...

Hope you have a great week 'ya all!

Scrapbook layouts using paint, doodling, ribbons, tags, and other "stuff"-not done, they'll have to be junked up a bit

AM fabulous silhouettes-so beautiful!!!

I know, the white walls are screaming for color-they will be painted this spring!

Little Miss Crafty

Winter Crafts

We are so lucky to have such a wonderful resource as the Wissahickon Environmental Center here in Fairmount Park. The Treehouse, or Andorra Natural Center, has amazing classes for children and families, and some just for homeschoolers. The staff has always been knowledgeable and friendly.  Most of the classes pertain to nature and things involving the outdoors, seasons, etc. We sign up for almost every class.  The other day we enjoyed the Winter Crafts class there.  It was so cute. Most of the crafts we've made before at home, but the girls loved being with thier pals and making nature-happy crafts.

The Treehouse, there used to be a huge old tree that grew up through the front porch.

Making bird feed mix ( 1 cup bird seed, 2 cups corn meal, 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter, 1 stick Crisco, a dash of raisins or peanuts-to feed the squirrel friends- and mix together.) We used small paper drinking cups as the molds for the feeders.  We used a wire punching through the bottom and looped back through and up to create a hook to hang on a tree.  We then packed the bird seed mixture inside.  Then you freeze for a few hours to really make it set. Before hanging, carefully cut away the paper cup. You can also use yogurt containers, etc.  anything that could be a mold.  We are making more of these tonight as gifts for the girls friends.

McKaylah, Ava and their pal making squirrel skewers.  Fresh, sliced oranges, apples, stale bread pieces, cranberries, cheerios, the squirrels love them! You can stick them in the ground by a tree and the little furry friends come and help themselves.

Ava with a chocolate face and orange tea candle.

Squirrels and birds visit the lean-to.

McKaylah's chocolate face and beautiful paper snowflake.

Happy Holidays!

Jack o' lanterns

We carved jack o' lanterns today. I should say my hubby and children did... Usually every year at this time we have the house decorated to the hilt, cooking sugar cookies shaped as bats and ghosts, but this year we've been packing and getting ready to move.  Bummer indeed... but my handsome, dashing husband carved pumpkins this morning with our girls and baked Halloween cupcakes tonight.  I packed all day, was unable to help since I was lost temporarily in a wormhole of bubble wrap.  Good thing hubbylicious is so dashing, he saved me after I'd only been missing an hour! Here is my families creations! 

Here Kitty, Kitty...                                                                                                  

What I found in my purse...

I dumped my purse out recently and was astonished at how my purse seems to accumulate everyone else's personal things.  I have my wallet/dayplanner, a felt makeup bag, a pair of sunglasses, and then about 52 other miscellaneous items which don't belong to me.  A small fairy doll, barrettes, a softie camel, ABC flashcards (actually only a partial set since the rest have been lost here and there), a crayon, a beaded ring, etc., etc. I thought it would be interesting in a few years to look into some sort of a treasure box for  a backwards glimpse into my daughters lives.  These "things" that represent them, what stages they were going through, what they wore, activities we obviously did while waiting for our food at a restaurant or at an appointment.  I decoupaged a box with a variety of patterned papers, trinkets, ribbons, paint, buttons, knitted pieces.  Inside I added the items I'd found hiding in the abyss that is the bottom of my bag.  See for yourself. M for McKaylah and A for Ava. A mushroom barrette.  A wooden painted bracelet. A tiny fairy doll. A small doll dress. A crinkled bird feather. A fairy trinket box (inside was a rock and a penny.) A green crayon. The softie camel toy. They grow so fast, in a few years what will the items be?   

 

  A trinket box, a window into the days and times of my wee ones  ;)

In stitches

I

I just got these new Sublime Stitching embroidery patterns last week in the mail.  I really love the new ones by Kurt Halsey, too, sweet birdies and fairies.  Amy Hart's designs are awesome as well.  I haven't done much embroidery, but am lucky enough to have a super crafty mom who is great at just about everything, including embroidery (sewing, painting(watercolors and oils), baking, cooking, floral arranging, etc., believe me the list goes on and I have a lot to learn!) and a good friend named Julie who embroiders daily and is super talented! I am inspired by her work all the time.  Anyways, I'm working on embroidery projects, pillow cases and tea towels, so stay tuned folks...

I also recently made this frame for a new mommy.  She just had another daughter and her older daughter is a real girly-girl with a real girly-girl room.  I found these scrapbook embellishments in my PILES of scrapbook supplies and made her this frame.  I distressed the frame with paint and sewed paper together, added ribbon and fabric photo mats, and other trinkets from my stash. It only took about 20 minutes and I think with pictures added, it will make a nice present.   

Better (Fairy) Homes and Gardens

 

Ava's fairy home she built at the Treehouse's F airy Homes class.

McKaylah and friends Fairy outdoor cafe from the Fairy Homes class.

My girls with Dad after completing their fairy gardens. As you can tell, this summer has been a big fairy Summer. We've always been into fairies, gnomes and anything magical. This Fairy Garden class was held at Rosemary's House, one of the oldest herb stores in America. It's located in Mechanicsburg, Pa.

I have had gardens at all my homes, and I think the outdoors, gardening, reverence for nature, exploration, etc. is so healthy for kids. Both my girls help me water and plant new green babies, they help me pick out new plants we'll add to our garden, and I've encouraged them to come up with their own garden designs or potted plant themes.

McKaylah and Ava loved the Herbolgy lessons from the Hogwarts Summer School. McKaylah planted a large Moon Garden. Night Blooming Jasmine, Nicitiana, white Alysium, Feverfew, 4 o'clocks and white Petunias. The Jasmine smells awesome once the sun goes down. Ava did a smaller garden with many of the same plants. They also made herbal teas,compresses and an aromatherapy blend, along with more Harry Potterish assignments.

I used to be a Massage Therapist on the west coast, and worked PT at an herb store and taught herb and aromatherapy classes. I think they have the Herbology bug as well.

My girls at the Enchanted Woods at Winterthur Gardens in Delaware.