Summery stripes

Freaky friday

Making cuppy cakes for my little miss.

Sweet summer

Taking a minute to enjoy the simple pleasures...

Back in the saddle

With some minutes today, I found a dress I started working on last year. Burda 7517. Darts and pleats are in for back and if feels great. With progress, hopefully soon, I will post pics in good light.

Easter eggs

All in a row, our beautiful eggs. We used onion skins, rubber bands and glitter.

Pillow fight

Miss v needed a new pillowcase for naptime. She picked the fabrics from stash - a nice ticking, yellow repurposed napkin. I added the frog. She likes it all ... except the frog. Oh well. I'm happy to have made her something she'll use and, hopefully, learn to love.

Freely float

'Up in the Sky' by Majalin

• I just stumbled upon Take your Life Back Using Microsoft Outlook by Sally McGee (via Scoutie Girl). Tips that are helpful and not overwhelming. With my recent conversion to iphone, I am loving anything that will get me more organized and doing.
• I need to get motivated to take back my sewing area/office. After the craft show hurricane comes through, I need to re-group. I find myself doing everything except want to spend time in there. I hope to dedicate some time to spring cleaning, organizing, and finding ways to making this space more inviting for me.
• As much as I love springtime, I am feeling frozen. We had a talented landscape architect neighbor draw up some plans. Now, with budget and schedules in hand, it is time to prioritize. I know it will feel better once there is a plan but for now, all our ideas are swirly and a bit overwhelming. I hope our seedlings in raised beds make it....

What a beauty

Capturing this vision before it fades. If I don't snap a photo, I might forget this vision. Spring keeps surprising me. And that is a good thing.

Tourist

G and uncle Andy ran a race this morn. We're tourists in our own fair Baltimore.

Sense with scents

Everywhere I look, I'm starting to see spring. When hyacinths are cut and brought indoors, they quadruple their size with their fragrance.

Springy weather

Shortly, I am off to a craft show. YEAH! And the sun is finally shining for this sunny occasion.

Crafty wonder

Good friends (and new ones) showed me a warm reception at the Busy Fingers craft show yesterday.

Meet 'Sally' who showcased my husband's new t-shirts.

I had a great time but now I need to re-fuel and reflect, of course.

In the zone...

I've been crafting up a storm for a craft trunk show tommorow. I said I would't stress and I haven't. That being said, I've dedicated more time to it than originally thought. In a good way. I always learn from these experiences.

• Ideal background 'noise' is 'This American Life.' It's the right balance of keeping my mind on task - cutting, sewing, stitching. Sometimes movies on netflix require too much attention and some songs gets me agitated for not feeling right.
• I work better in blocks of time. As sweet of a thought to craft the day away, it is not my reality. I've found if I dedicate select time, keeping watch with an egg timer. This keeps me focused and balanced with the rest of my life - house, kids, work, etc.

Amidst the chaos, I try to remember and smell the jasmine. It has a way of lifting spirits in winter.

I'm spring dreaming

Spring is officially here but you'd never think it if you walked outside. This is a glance of my morning time when all are still sleeping and I am sipping my cup of coffee, looking forward to facing the day ahead.

I came across this list for Best Gardens in Baltimore. Lots to look forward and do, instead of dreaming about. Who am i kidding? The dreaming part gets me in the right mode.

With spring cleaning....

...comes planning for projects. I love my lists and projects and, after a winter, I have new energy to tackle new or stale projects from the past. I've always drooled over the Oliver & S patterns for kids, especially the cut-out packaging. I've learned a hard lesson with my little girl. These days, she is in control of what she wears and the skirts that mom (ME) made for her, with love, can't compete with the store-bought ballerina skirt she lives in. Oh well.

I was thrilled to see that Liesl Gibson, creator of Oliver & s has a new line - for ladies like me. It's called Lisette: Sew your style. They're part of Simplicity which are sold in lots of places.

Market Tunic

I can see myself wearing so many of these pieces - and she has fabrics too. So no excuses but rather excitement. And, knowing me, I need to not only get excited but start planning for these fashions. It takes me a bit especially as I often get sidetracked.

Color combo

I wake up out of winter and see color everywhere. I grab it and see how it filters into my days.

 This one was in Whole Living. Can't wait to try and make these gloves, upcycled from a worn sweater (a next year project). There is is such a cozy, subtle feel. The cup of coffee doesn't hurt either.

Peeks

My good friend, Amanda of Fancie Pants Knits, is a crafty wonder. She is a co-founder of Craft night, where we get together, craft and catch up. She is constantly a source of inspiration and support. I wanted to share a pin she made for me - love!!! It made a 'so-so' day spectacular. She's really been into embellishing old sweaters needing new life and thrifted wonders. She's inspired me to refresh some of my go-to cardigans.

Findings

Originally uploaded by I am Old Lib

I have so much to share about my everydays and I'm struggling to sum up in 2 minutes.

Although frigid temps are back this weekend (bahhh!!), our spring routinue if off to a great start. We've been going to garage & estate sales, eating more salads and getting the house in spring mode. Yeah.

Here's a thrifted plate with a found candlestick. Voila, a cake plate for treaties.

I am prepping for a trunk show next weekend. So much to show and share.

Gym bag

I finally made something out of Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross - Everything Tote. I couldn't stand my vinyl, worn gym bag. Now, I have a washable replacement that might even get me to gym more often.

Yeah!

Springy

As I look outside on the freshly fallen snow, I pause to dream about spring. Then snap out of it as my kids chase each other around the dining room table. I am home base.

Here's the background. This chair is so comfortable. It is the spot where we gravitate. I don't think the wood quality is high but it was passed down from my husband's grandparents. We decided to make it our own.

We re-covered our chair with Heather Bailey's Garden Pop. I am thrilled with the color selection. Still need to finetune our 're-upolstering with a staple gun'. That being said, I think some upholstery tacks will fix.

On my list - I would like to take a class on real re-upholstery. Love our new addition. Looking forward to springtime.

Spring tease

Yesterday Mother Nature played a trick on us. The best kind. Temps reached 70 and we opened windows. We played outside, laundry on the line. Lots of thoughts looking forward to spring. It might be a bit away but it's coming.

My winter therapy

Made a lovely Natural Lemon Cake from Jane Brocket's Gentle Art of Domesticity (found originally by author in Baking with Passion by Dan Lepard.

I've been drying citrus peels and found some time to make this Citru Peel Scrub. I all about DIY especially when it is for home and beauty with products i have in the pantry. This natural exfoliator is from Janice Cox, Natural Beauty at Home.

• 1 Tbsp. dried citrus peel chopped and grounded in processor
• 1/2 c plain yogurt (I used vanilla because that is what i had on hand)
• 1 tsp. honey
• 1/4 c vitamin E oil
• 2 Tbsp. cornmeal.

Peek into snowy bliss

We finally are receiving our long-awaited snowstorm. Kids school is closed as well as mine.

For the most part these 'days off' are listed as lazy but I find myself (and the kids) doing lots. Lots of good - a bit of work and play.

• A chance to make No-knead bread adapted by Sullivan Street Bakery. Definitely have time today.
• Trying out our new teapot.
• Reading Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese.
• Started a rag rug for the kitchen. Strips are being kept in a thrifted bag at the Brooklyn Flea.

Glimpses from around the house:

The bar is set so low these days and yet these days seem fulfilling. My kind of day as I float from one thing to the next. Not everything needs completing. I love that the goal of such a free day is to do what you please, more else at home base.

And there's more snow a-coming. Yeah!!

Is spring in sight?

With these cold days, spring seems a long way away. Catching a whiff of this hyacinth reassures that it is coming soon. It's growing in a champagne flute - the most use this glass has seen since we received as a wedding gift 10 plus years ago.

I'm ready!

Once you get past this look on my face, look at the cute headband. It's quite difficult to take a picture of yourself. When am I ever this serious (or perturbed)? Timing with our snow delay, I am happy to share the latest of my winter gear. Referencing Make by Cath Kidston, I applied an applique to this fleece headband.

Materials: Headband from Walmart for $3, fabrics from stash - velvet, tweed and Denyse Schmidt's Flea Market Fancy (leftover from our dining room curtains).

Might even make going outside bearable or at least stylin'.

Baby it's cold outside

Having lived in OH, I can't believe I grumble about the cold here in MD. I just don't want to go outside when it is so chilly. The wind just gets to your bones. So today, with the Ravens* on TV (YEAH!!), fireplace a blazing, Christmas decorations packed away, I whipped up these neckwarmers for the kids. O & V are not big fans of the scarf. I think this is a wonderful alternative. So easy to make.

Days like today are for made for knitting. This yarn is beautiful and fun to work with. Just beautiful, every stitch was making me pause and smile.

Tiennie Knits had this super easy pattern on Ravelry - Ribby Neckwarmer. I went through my stash and pulled what I could find. Two criteria for yarn for this project - washable and not itchy when next to skin. I started with Oliver's and cast on 100. Knit in ribben pattern up 5.5 inches. Viv is smaller (she is 3, and O: 6). For hers, I cast on 80 and knit up 4.25 inches.

I stamped their respective names on cotton tape and sewed inside. (Stamp ink is Versacraft - washable).

*I can't believe I love watching football. A wonderful influence from my son.

Learning New

After reading Jane Brocket's The Gentle Art of Domesticity (again), I've changed my mind about 2 things: learning to crochet and knitting socks. Before I thought, why bother? Then her words and pics inspired me so. I picked up a copy of Erika Knight's Simple Crochet. I LOVE this book and the projects.

So, armed with a crochet hook and some cotton yarn, I tackled our 7 + hour ride to western NY with the goal of learning how to make a granny square. guess what? I did it. Still learning and lots of frustration, I did it. They're not perfect but that's ok. I love changing up the colors and using my stash.

So once I caught this crochet bug, I'm a bit obsessed (typical Elizabeth-style). Came across Wisecraft's Granny square scarf - this might be the perfect project for these squares. Attic 24 has a great tutorial on joining the granny squares. I don't know how warm the cotton yarn will keep me put it sure is cheery.

Crochet is so portable. I'm loving it....now to be inspired to sew in some loose ends.

I missed you

I've been wanting to write. Really. With the holidays and the getaway to the in-laws in rural western NY, we are just getting back to some sort of normalcy. Our chaotic normal where creativity lives. With sleepy heads who can't fall asleep or get our of bed in the cold morn. twirly skirts with one leg warmer. a number of knitting projects because i like variety. And learning crochet. why not?

A few findings throughout the holiday break.



Yummy pomegranates

Well-deserved naps

A juicing for Christmas Day: apples, spinach, kale, ginger, lemons, beets. Festive and yummy.

Oh. You must meet Sally, the latest addition to our family. 'Sally Stitches' is wearing the pjs the kids refer to as 'elf pants'. She fits right in.