brass tags anyone?

I found an inexpensive way to get gold toned tags made...

the image doesn't show the pretty shine that this has (I scanned it and the light is harsh)

but you get the picture...

Would you be interested in something like this? They're a little bigger than the others - 1" diameter.

and they'd cost $13

Duct tape purse (only classy)

The design director and I had some quiet project time to try out a fun idea I read about here... A duct tape purse... Sturdy, fast, fun. And with endless design options... Though we played it straight this first time.

Scrappy birdhouse

The design director has heard me talking about covering this birdhouse with fabric for a while now and couldn't wait any longer. Nothing like a nagging preschooler to help you not procrastinate... So she started in on it yesterday with Momma's help... Some scraps and watered down Elmer's glue. I modpodged it overnight, just to be sure... But I love it. And she loves it too, I was going to take a photo this morning, but couldn't find the birdhouse because she had stashed it in her room, so I had to wait till preschool was out to ask her where it was.

Matching dresses - a generation ago

My sister found the old pic of mom and us and the dresses she made...

I went and found my copy, too.

how cute is this?

Matching outfits

Once upon a time, my mom (I'll look for a photo) made matching dresses for my baby sister, me, and herself... We have a photo taken and I have always admired that photo with this feeling that said, "I'll never be able to do that". But this morning, on the way to church, we got this photo... (and yes, I am wearing my new grey shirt and pocket skirt)
Mimi had that great dress last summer, but it's too small now, so I made her two new ones this week... The shorts for Z are super long in hopes he can wear them for a long time. Cousin Ryan has a matching pair as does another buddy, Christian...

Million Trees LA

So today we got our free tree! And it's so pretty!
Million Trees LA is an organization that counts the tree canopy in Los Angeles, and a recent survey noted that LA has well below the national average of tree canopy (no joke, no wonder it's not so pretty!) We've been doing our part around here at the house, we've planted 4 trees in 2009 already - and today's new tree is tree #5. I love trees. Always have.
And today's happy new member came with lots of family fun.
It was a surprise that the guys came with the tree to plant it, and since the kids and I were home, it was really a serendipitous event. Z got to help dig the hole and we watched as they planted our pretty new friend.
Our street is nice, but I've heard in the past that it had a nice canopy of trees that have since died. It's nice to at least do our part to help them come back.
(We got our other trees from J's new favorite site, Fast Growing Trees.)

Dollar Store Crafts

I have a new favorite site! This is super fun and great inspiration for all of us DIYers.
Check out this link for an awesome tutorial on making fused plastic (grocery sacks, etc) backpacks. I saw in the comments section that someone used the same process to make lunch sacks... how fun is that?

Coffee, history, oatmeal and quiet

My breakfast at the LA Farmers Market. All by myself. I'm loving it.

My first blouse... I actually followed a pattern!

The girl who can't follow instructions finally worked it out! I finished this blouse last night (had started it before we got sick) and I am proud to say it's my first time following a pattern from
start to finish... I like it. I'd seen the pattern sewn up on flickr and asked the seamstress where she got the pattern (Simplicity 3887)... Then bought some cheap fabric... Ahem. $1 a yard to practice on and here we go! I think next time I will make it a size smaller. Pattern sizes are so confusing!
However, I'm pleased, and this confirms my resolution that I will be sewing my own Easter dress next year. (Every Easter Sunday, I wake up, get the kids dressed in their new Easter clothes and then stand half dressed in front of my closet for half an hour trying to find something "springy". I tend to wear dark, vibrant colors like red, coral, grass green and brown.) This past Sunday I vowed I'd get good enough at sewing by next Easter to make my own dress from fabric by one of my many favorite designers... I'll likely shop at Quilt Home  or sew, mama, sew.
Zuma wanted to say hi this morning. She is shy about photos, but thought youd like to see her back and scooted into the shot at my feet.
And the skirt? I tried a quasi-version of the Oliver+S "Lazy Days" pattern- sized up for a momma, but it's not super flattering. I'm thinking it's a house skirt. (i.e. The pocket)
Oh, and not that you can see it here, but last night's other project was dyeing my hair all by myself. The color ended up darker than I want, so I will wait a few weeks and try again, but it went okay for my first try... (thanks AnnaKatherine, for helping me work up the nerve! I love bloggy friends)
Happy Tuesday!
(oh, and yes, it's even happier today... I've not mentioned it here, but my dad -who is a huge inspiration to me and the one who nicknamed me Libby Dibby... Has been fighting prostate cancer for the past 4 years. Last night he got news that confirms via bloodtest that his cancer is pretty much gone. Today is a great day.)

Happy Easter, from us

Our only real Easter pic as a family... snapped on our way into church... 

we hope your Easter was filled with resurrection and life.

(and yes, that is the "But Seriously" skirt... I hadn't ever worn that side out, I loved it!)