Like every mom, I've been feeling pulled in multiple directions lately. My love of creating something new and exciting was taken over for a little while as I filled some orders for some eye patches for a few little girls. It seems that my idea of finding a comfortable alternative for her sticky eye patch situation is quite a common thing out there. So I've been sewing up a storm of cute and comfy patches for other mom's who saw what I was doing and begged for their own. I'm happy to oblige when there is a need that I can fill. The need is so common, actually, that I am considering putting them in my shop so others can benefit from them as well. I've also been working on some other things that hopefully I'll be able to share soon. I just need to get with my list of lists and organize a little:) Take care,

Feeling Yellow today.

MAKE craft room via Country Home, Cupcake Papers via Martha Stewart Crafts, visit the Rizty Bee Blog, Butterfly Confetti via www.craftybugs.co.uk, yellow twig paper via katespaperie.com, Emma Headband by Monkey & Squirrel on etsy.com

Have a great day!

There is a little collection of picture frames collecting in a basket near my work space that keep calling out to me. What they are saying I've yet to determine, but they hold a special little place in my creative list of things to use. I'm especially fond of the little round and oval ones I find that have the round glass within, giving each frame a little more personality than the flat glass you so often find. One occasion the temptation to fill them with simple fabrics and hang them on a wall strikes, but I really really want to make something beautiful to fill them. I'll have to look around for some inspiration.

(my little one smelling the tiny flowers and sporting one of her new reusable patches)

Recently my daughter was diagnosed with Amblyopia, which requires her to wear an eye patch for several hours each day along with her glasses. When we first started out with the eye patches we were using those sticky bandage-type. Not only were they annoying to her, but taking them off was painful, and left a red raccoon ring around her eye. So I went looking for an alternative and found several online. But the price just seemed exorbitant, especially when you add in shipping and the time we would have to wait for a reusable one to arrive. It took a little experimentation but I finally got a pattern down and was able to make her several to swap out each day. Her favorite is this Hello Kitty one, (that I sported for a while to actually get her to wear the patch when she was feeling mighty stubborn about not wanting to). Over the weekend I had a few moms comment on them, and I actually had two moms already ask me to make a few for their own kids. I love when something I make can help someone. It makes it all the more satisfying. Knowing the pain the kids go through with having to wear the patch makes it so much more worth the effort to figure out how to make something work and make it cute for them. It's one of those times when I thank God for the talents He has given me.

A little exploring with my son before the school bus arrived this morning was a lovely way to begin the day. Children have the knack for finding neat things that we often overlook when we are busy and distracted by grown up business. Go exploring with someone you love this weekend, even if it's just in your own back yard. A Happy Weekend to You!

There's nothing I love better than a yummy recipe to nibble on while browsing through some of my favorite afternoon reads. Over at Centsational Girl I found a great recipe for a yummy fall-flavored pear spice cake. With a few little changes, (like apples for pears, and yogurt for butter), it turned into quite the yummy snack. Go give her a visit and try her yummy recipe!

(picture via Centsational Girl)

Anyway, my reason for browsing the interweb was to try to find some inspiration for a costume for my son. They are finishing up a section in class about fairy-tales and he is to dress as a fairy-tale character for a parade. He's chosen Robin Hood! Of course when my 6 year old thinks of Robin Hood he thinks of this...This should be fun! I came across an easy and inexpensive costume tutorial at Woman's Day. Still looking for more fun ideas though!

(one of my works in progress)

Do you think that there has to be a purpose to your art work? The thought struck me..."Does there need to be a reason for my work?" That is, besides producing because it is what I love to do and I'd love to be able to help support my family with my work. Do you, who produce artistic works of some sort, have a purpose when you set out to create something? For example, are you making that sculpture because you want to sell it to someone who will appreciate it? Or are you just making it because you are driven to do so? Would love to hear from you about this!

If you are anything like me, when you have a spare minute, (or you are sick and have energy for little else), you visit blogs. Lovely blogs. Beautiful blogs, where the lady (or gentleman) seem to live in this altered sort of reality where everything is...lovely and beautiful. Well, obviously being sick, my sink is full of dishes and my laundry room needs an overhaul. However, the beauty is still there! I see it in the basket stuffed full of half finished embroidery projects. It's there in the tiny toes peeking out from under blankets in my children's room. You see it again when you look out the front window as the sun breaks open the day and peeks through the tree on the property across the street. The beauty is there, all around. Where will you see it today?

As promised, a sneak peak at a corner of our freshly painted master bedroom. And I do mean a "sneak" and a "corner"! One of those nasty upper-respiratory bugs has made itself comfy in our home over the last week, and has banished us all to the comfort of our bed. It has, in the process, reduced our room to a mish-mash of blankets and pillows, toys and tissue boxes, half full glasses and piles of dvds. Simply speaking, it's a mess. But I thought I'd at least give you a glimpse:) I was determined not to spend the entire weekend lazing about though, so on Saturday I rolled out of bed and made my first trip to our local farmers market. Don't you love the farmers market? Everything is so laid back, and the people so happy to see you. Ours happens to be this teeny tiny little event, with maybe 10 venders. My favorites were this veggie stand, above, with everything arranged so pretty in baskets, and the nice German lady who was selling her bread and baked goods. I'm a strudel fan, so of course that was my breakfast. And I couldn't leave without getting a shot of this sign hanging above it all... How great is that! The whole thing was so cute, it made me want to rent a space and set up a table just to hang out in the happy atmosphere and enjoy the local banjo-playing band for a few hours. Now, if you'll excuse me, I am off to grab some more tissues and take up residence on my bed again with my embroidery and enjoy some National Geographic. Wish you a happy beginning to this week!

Hello dear friends. This day has come and gone with out so much as a moment of stand-still time. At least that is what it feels like. The projects that I've been working towards completing are now collecting a thin layer of dust on my work table as the craziness of school and extra curricular activities, doctors appointments and house projects take over. My pace has slowed, much like the heat of summer is dwindling. We're enjoying the cooling off and the gentle breezes that have picked up. The kids and I are trying to take advantage of the last little bits of summer weather. Although, the rain does seem to come and go a lot around these parts. A native of California, I am more used to summer being hot and dry rather than humid and blistering with rain mixed in to throw you off a bit. The ground stays very moist and things grow beautifully here. I suppose one of the ups and downs of being a military family and relocating is the task of learning the climate of a different place and adapting to it. Military family life aside, being Semper Gumby is something I try to live by anyway, just to get through life a little easier. Always flexible. Those arts and crafts items will still be sitting there when I can tend to them.

Little paint brushes and pens, needles and thread...my love for you has not dwindled. I shall hold you lovingly once again. Very soon. I promise.

It's hard for me to play catch-up after I've taken a few days "holiday". But I'm putting forth the effort, and getting back into the groove of things won't take too long. My palate is still on holiday as I eat up this chicken salad I made with the left over BBQ'd chicken we had to celebrate Labor Day. The only thing we didn't labor over yesterday was the chicken! And it turned out so good. The chicken salad it made was especially yummy, with a nice smokey flavor. Then I took to some work on a project for the upcoming holidays. Can you believe they are getting so close already? Amazing! My husband and I spent the day priming and painting our bedroom, and we just finished today. We're very proud ourselves, if I do say so myself. Now I'm up to clean up and put things away. A happy evening to you!

In the spirit of nesting, I decided to make myself a nursing pillow since I'll be needing one and they can be quite pricey. There are a lot of free patterns out there for them, which all are very similar and very simple to make. I added a little handle to the outside for convenience. One side is flannel, the other cotton. Both were remnants that I had laying about. Originally, I planned on using the pieces for cloth diapers, but since I had large enough pieces I decided to make the pillow instead. Perhaps over the weekend I'll make a couple of covers for it just for variety. I have a couple of other items I'm working on, but I'm planning on taking the weekend a little slow so I can spend some time with the family. My husband just returned from a week away training and I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with him. Wishing a good holiday weekend to everyone!

My home is in need of some curtains and I've set out to find some that I can make myself. My cousin recently charged me with "nesting" because of all the projects I've been taking on lately. My thinking was that I've taken this opportunity to try to jump start my creative/artistic desires to succeed in an artistic business sort of way. But I figured since I'm preggers, and the desire to nest should be there, (and I've already been accused of it:) perhaps I'll take on a project or two here at home to prepare the way for the little one. After all, I really should have the bedroom all painted and in order before he gets here. Right?

In one of my handy dandy monthly magazines I found a picture of some curtains made a burlap! It sounds sort of...umm...interesting...at first, but the more I looked at them the more I liked them. The potential to spruce up burlap is huge! The ones in the magazine had some bobble border/fringe on them, which I wasn't very fond of. But I could print something on them. Maybe something simple like these and printed at the bottom with a simple design...(picture from Patina Green)

Or even sew some doilies on them like those I've seen on Martha Stewarts website and in Country living. I'm also quite fond of these.......from Anthropologie. Lovely, but a little out of my price range. They would look great in my bedroom. As soon as I finish priming and painting the walls, that is. Our paint tone is very similar to that beige, but it's called FoxTrot and it has sand mixed in for a textured look and feel. I also found these ... ...that are made by tealtown on etsy. Not sure I could convince my husband to put these up. He's more traditional I think:) But they are super fun, aren't they?

Some days it's just good to stop and look around. Some days you just need to move at a slower pace, relax a little and let something enjoyable come your way. Today I'm enjoying.... The DIY Pennant Stamp that I found via Liz at Say Yes to hoboken. So cute I'm going to have to try it. Comfy looking clothes... (can't recall where I found this image, but if you know, let me know!) And a nice sit-about on my bed with lots of pillows. In the words of Martha, "It's a good thing".