Pretty

I already blogged this photo today, but I wanted to show off how great my iPhone apps for photos are... This photo was played with in Photogene and Camerabag... And now a simple snapshot turns into something special.

Wet

When momma/auntie Lala takes the kids to the park by myself... I make no promises to their condition upon return, but they will have had fun...

Inspiration: desert

I've been really thinking about succulents and cacti lately... Loving their simple forms and hearty design. I love the big bold shapes and strong colors... We are on a family vacation in Arizona - where there is plenty of inspiration to behold.

On her own

The Design Director is slowly getting to the age where I can actually give her a project to do on her own. We are not there yet, but after today's "no sew fleece pillow" - her second one to gift this week, mimi is almost ready for me to leave her to her own devices and finish
it herself. I'm very proud of her.

Sewing Seeds - finished product

It was a team effort around here, but I am happily tonight packing up the sweetest box of clothing to send to Sewing Seeds. I had a little get together this evening, to make the load lighter, and here are our contributions to little children in Costa Rica. Many thanks to those who came tonight - and those who donated fabric to the cause - I did my best to use some from each person who donated. All in all, there were seven skirts made tonight and I managed to make 5 pairs of shorts and 2 skirts in the days leading up to today. This warms my heart and I'm so happy to know that there are going to be 14 little kids running around in Costa Rica wearing things that are made with love right here in my home.

What a great cause!

my Italy photos... since you asked... or if you didn't

Okay - some of you have asked and some of you haven't.
Regardless... here is the edited collection.
(down from 1000 photos. of which I took maybe 6...)

Inspiration: Where does it come from and where does it go?

My head hasn't really re-engaged here in California yet. I'm still having dreams about Italy and cathedrals, adventures, and travel every night.  J is still off work for one more day, so the vacation hasn't HAD to end really...

Tonight, I dusted off the sewing machine.  I didn't expect much, just to get reaquainted, perhaps...

Especially when I didn't really even miss the machine, when I thought I would... so I began tonight with a stack of J's shirts that he'd given to me to get rid of before the trip. I literally had them neatly stacked in the hallway for the entire time we were gone, and for the 6 days since we've been back... but I got all these ideas... and I turned 3 of daddy's shirts into 3 skirts and 3 pairs of shorts tonight that are so fun for the kids. I didn't plan them this way, they just happened. (The blue set will stay with our kids and the rest will go to Sewing Seeds)

Here is tonight's question... how do these - and their lighthearted inspiration -  from a stack of shirts that have stumped me all week... come from THIS?

Sewing Seeds

Tonight's project is a little sewing for a great project... called Sewing Seeds. June 29th is the deadline - and a collection of handmade shorts (for boys) and skirts (for girls) is being taken to Costa Rica for children in extreme poverty. read about it here. and also here.

Last time 118 handmade articles were collected and I can't say how much I love the idea of children in poverty stricken situations running around in clothes made with as much love and heart as my own children wear.

There are bunches of tutorials listed on the second site - check them out. The Lazy Days skirt is a standby around here and I'll be making a few of those tonight. (they take about 1/2 hour each!)

I'm really thinking seriously about hosting a Sewing Seeds party - to see what we can do as a group to get as many items made in one night as possible. Anyone local interested? (It would have to be within the next week.)

The makings of a mermaid

Design Director lesson of the day:
If you bug momma to death about it, you CAN get her to make you into a mermaid within an hour of getting home with new fabric.

The Design director does downtown

Mimi got her first trip to the fabric district with momma today. She's trying to convince me to make her a "mermaid costume with no space for feet to come out" from this fabulous turquoise sequined ($1/ yard) piece.
Um...