Good To Be Reminded

A few months ago, I read a post on one of my favorite blogs, Simple Mom, called "Use the Good Stuff."  It's something I've thought of often since.  The post describes something I'm sure many of us do -- fail to use our favorite things because they're so precious that we're holding out for a perfect occasion worthy of their specialness.  I do this with all sorts of things -- my favorite perfume, nice sweaters, jewelery, cups, kids' clothing, even food.  Why is it that the stuff I love the most is the least used?  What am I waiting for?  It seems especially ridiculous with something like my daughter's dresses -- she'll only fit into them for a matter of months anyway, why not get as much use out of my favorite ones as possible?  Since reading the post and recognizing in myself this habit of pleasure-hoarding, I've made a conscious effort to use the things I love.  I certainly don't want to look back and wish I had.....

At any rate, it's a fabulous post (and Simple Mom is a fabulous blog.)  If you have the time to read it, find the post here.

Another good bloggy reminder was in a post I read yesterday on Kitchen Stewardship called, "Seeking Simplicity: Child's Play is a Job Well Done."  The post discusses how games children used to play stemmed from real-life activities, and that as a culture, we've removed play from life-skills.  Giving my children real dough to play with (not only play-doh) or allowing them their own (safe) cleaning and gardening tools will set them up for being comfortable with real-life tasks down the road.  I include my kids in gardening, cleaning and baking as often as possible and as they get older I want to provide more expansive opportunities for them to play at "work," even when it takes longer, creates a bit of a mess, or requires patient supervision and direction.    It's simply a mental shift from "this is a grown-up activity" to "let's find a way for you to participate too...."

And finally, I'm loving the tips that readers are leaving in the comments section of the giveaway.  I've already put one into action!  Lou from Seaside Siblings wrote:  My tip: tie buffers to your crawling baby's knees, so they polish the floor for you... just joking. Um, I think my best tip is to leave a little jar on your toilet windowsill, with a few drops of eucalyptus or lavender oil and a little water in it. Will keep toilet smelling lovely and fresh all week.  I love this one!  I use lavender all over the house -- for cleaning, in the bath, on my pillow -- but for some reason this use had never occurred to me.  This morning, I put a vintage glass on the windowsill with about 10 drops of lavender oil and a little water.  A great way to make a little nicer an oft-neglected space.  Thanks, Lou.

(Yup, that's my toilet!  On my blog for the world to see.  Who would have thought?)

I know I keep bringing up the giveaway, but please do stop by and leave a favorite tip if you haven't yet.  Entries will end Saturday.

At My House....

 ....we've been extra busy.  My husband and I have some big news (no, we're not pregnant)....we're in the process of buying a gardening/landscaping business!  This is the first time we've undertaken anything like this, so it's a really exciting step to take.  You know, mildly terrifying, but mostly exciting.

As part of the whole business-buying experience, we've been treking to lawyers, the tax department, banks, business advisors - - the lot.  And of course the kids have been making the same rounds.  We've learned which toys to bring with us, how to switch off taking notes/racing after an errant and stair-bound baby, and that the folks at the law office are pretty understanding if a wayward pen ends up meeting a wide and tempting expanse of desk.  Truly, the kids have been troopers -- they've done as well as any one- and three- year old could be expected to after so much time spent with serious and distracted adults.

Because tensions have sometimes run high (who me, stress?) I've found that we've had a need for a bit of extra playtime recently.  Running around, bouncing on beds, tickling, and just giving in to total silliness and mayhem.

So good to let off some steam and play!

And speaking of playing....it's my pleasure to play along with the Buttons by Lou Lou blog.  If you have the time, it's lovely to go visiting and see what everyone else is up to at their homes today....

PS,  I'm giving away a copy of Kari Chapin's The Handmade Marketplace.  Find out more here.

PPS, for a few more days, everything still 15-20% off in my shop.

Thank Goodness It's Sunday

 This Sunday, I'm feeling grateful for:

:: The dusky light as I walked out to my studio this evening.  And the way the studio retained the day's heat so that even as it got a bit chilly outside, I was warm and snug in my little room.

:: An episode of family tickle-time this afternoon.  That sort of breathless, snorting, long laughter is such a balm....

:: The chance to go running when the clouds cleared.  If I get out even once or twice a week, I'm feeling happy.

:: Completing the tasks of organizing the junk drawer, the bathroom cabinet, and sorting the toy boxes by type.  Sisyphean?  Perhaps, but it still feels good.  And lo and behold, my 3 year old asking "What else can we organize?"  Truly.

:: The outrageous blossoming that is happening everywhere outside.  Spring, spring, spring!

Hope you have had a weekend filled with small happinesses also.

Give Give Giveaway: "The Handmade Marketplace"

I've been planning this giveaway for some time -- I'm so excited.  101 readers on the blog, and nearly 150 likers on Facebook.  Yay!  Here are the giveaway guidelines:

:: Giveaway comments will close one week from tonight, around 8 pm New Zealand time on the 23rd of October.  The winner will be chosen courtesy of random.org.

:: I'm happy to send anywhere!  International readers most welcome.

:: Please be a Facebook liker and/or follower of the blog to leave a comment.

:: To make it interesting, I'm asking that you include your favorite arty/domestic/life tip in your comment.  For instance, I've recently discovered that you can use really fine-grain sandpaper to get rid of pilling on sweaters.  Awesome!  I'm sure all you brilliant folk out there have a lot to teach me (and each other for that matter.)

:: I won't respond to any of the comments in the comments section because it throws off the numbers for the ol' random number generator.  But please know that I'm reading and appreciating every one.  I'll choose a few of the most interesting and handy tips to publish on the blog when I announce the winner.

So, what am I giving away?

An autographed copy (new) of Kari Chapin's The Handmade Marketplace.  Such a great book -- I was given this as a birthday gift by my sister last April, and I found it so helpful that I bought a couple of extra copies when I traveled to Portland in August.  Kari Chapin had recently done a reading at Powell's Books, so it was a bonus to find that they had a stack of autographed copies.

Thank you thank you thank you, readers and likers.  I so appreciate your support.

Good luck! 

Felt like Friday....er, Saturday

Arg, I've missed a day in my Blogtoberfest quest.  In lieu of time in front of the computer yesterday, my husband and I enjoyed an "in-house" date night following the Nelson Masked Parade.  It was well worth it....Imagine, a whole conversation, uninterrupted!   So, I'll cheat a bit and squeeze in an extra post over the weekend -- here's the first: a lovely "Freshen-Up" Felt showcase - - items that feel like spring to me.

Enjoy.

Aromaticals 100% Nat...

aromaticals

$39.90

Sunny Lovable Tee

julihunter

$60.00

Denim Stripe Cap

gottahave

$27.00

Spring Chicken

thesunroom

$25.00

Afternoon Shadows - ...

susannah

$44.00

Spring Floral A5 Pho...

honeydesign

$32.00

Felt Spring Rabbit B...

heart-felt

$12.00

Original Gouache Che...

feltaid

$100.00

Handmade Sterling Si...

silverdarling

$196.00

Ziplock Terrarium

Skulluxus

$10.00

Sprinkler Suit Size ...

hikkepik

$39.00

Julia�s Spring

kaboodles

$24.50

My Creative Space

I won't hold back:  I'm feeling really proud of myself.  Know why?  I followed a sewing pattern!   I did everything -- the measuring, the finishing of edges, the pocket.  Everything!  I know it probably doesn't sound like a big deal to you veteran craftsters, but for me, this was huge.  I only figured out how to thread my sewing machine about a year ago and during my short history of sewing I've mostly had what a friend described as a "rip sh*t and bust" attitude toward projects.  I am both impatient and very stubborn.  I'll finish a project no matter what (and usually as quickly as possible) even if it's a total disaster.  Funny, the contrast between my take on sewing and my approach to print-making (where I'm incredibly slow and detail-oriented.)  Anyway, using a pattern and actually reading the directions took a little while, but hey -- look!  Something we can actually use!  And it (probably, hopefully) won't disintegrate in the wash!  Who would have thought?

This is the "Simple Dress" out of Lotta Jansdotter's lovely Simple Sewing for Baby.  Next, "Simple Pants."  There's no stopping me now.

(Full disclosure -- this is actually the second time I managed to follow a pattern.  The first was a few days ago, with a much simpler pot-holder pattern:

On the left, my own version, sans pattern.  On the right, pattern followed -- this little comparison was enough to convert me.)

What else?  I've done some work refurbishing a child's art desk that I found the same day I found the doll's house at the flea market.  The two cost $20, combined.  I do love the flea market -- and clearly it loves me back.

And finally, some baking.

Pumpkin ginger cake,  Anzac biscuits, and no-knead bread -- our starchy mainstays of the moment.

 Do pop over and see Kirtsy at Kootoyoo to find many more creatives and their spaces.  Just follow the link here.

PS Everything is still on sale in my shop....  Take a gander here if you like.

PPS  100 readers, yay!  Giveaway coming over the weekend.

Wordless Wednesday