Things With Wings

Summer brings us things with wings...

Remember how much Ivy loves Cinderella?  She has been practicing her twirling and curtsey-ing for her dances with the prince in her new butterfly twirly skirt.  I've been wanting to make a skirt like this for days!  I used the basic market skirt pattern and added some extra layers.  The butterfly fabric is from Momo's Freebird line that goes swell with the Wonderland fabric I have been hoarding.  

I also embellished a tank from Old Navy with another butterfly.  I heart them. They are fun to make and so darling.  If you are looking for a good butterfly template, head over to Martha Stewart.  That's where I got mine and it is the perfect size!

Blueberries for Ivy

Yesterday we had our first trip to the blueberry farm.  There is an organic farm a few miles out of town that does U-Pick.  It is seriously one of our favorite things to do in the summer.

Last year all that little girl did was eat blueberries.  I probably should have payed for an extra pound every time we went for all the ones she stuffed in her mouth!  This year she was very meticulous about only picking the blue ones.  *sigh*.  She is growing up too fast these days.

She couldn't stand it any more when we got home.  She was hugging the bowl and then just dove in. 

Of course you have to make a blueberry pie with your first fresh berries of the season right?!  

What is your favorite thing to make with blueberries?

{Summer}

We love the things that summer brings.  

It brings the sun.   It brings the heat.

It brings the things we like to eat!

Summer brings so many things.  Summer brings us rides on swings.

 We swing up high into the trees.  We swing so fast we make a breeze.  

Bags for Laney

Just a quick post to document that I've made something in the last week!  My sister in law had me make her a couple of purses.  Of course I forgot to take pictures of the first one and I took crappy pictures of the second one.  The first one I just made up as I went and it was super cute.  This one I used the Flouncy bag pattern from One Yard Wonders.  It is a black linen with a white and black polka dot lining.  The photos in the book (and my photo) make it seem bigger than it looks, but its a great bag.

 It was a little plain so I made this super cute butterfly pin to go on it.  I saw the tutorial last week on Blessed Lttle Nest during her Blogger's Guide to Summer and just knew that I was going to make my own. 

Blessed Little Nest is a new fave of mine, so you should go check out her Guide to Summer and all of the cute things she has going on. 

Gorgeous

This is the most fabulous dress of all time. All of that red and aqua.  Ric rac, ruffles, its got it all.  Really I need to step up my game...

See more fabulous-ness here!

S'mores

I LOVE perfectly toasted marshmallows.  I have even been known to toast them inside over the burner.  I seriously consider throwing them in the fire if they get scorched though.

I could actually do without the whole s'more part of it.  I'm content to just eat all of those golden brown marshmallows. 

I got some chalkboard vinyl this last week and here's my first project with it!

  My sister in law LoLo had her birthday and she shares my love of that tasty campfire treat so I whipped up a basket for her new backyard and firepit.  I got the bucket at Target and put in all the makings for S'mores.  I also threw in a couple boxes of chalk so that she can always change it with the contents of her cute bucket! 

i

image via country living

Aren't there too many great parts about summer?!.  My other sister in law has roasting marshmallows down to a science where she toast it, then eats the outside, toasts it again and then eats it.  So tell me, do you like your marshmallows golden brown or burnt to a crisp?!  Any other favorite toasty treats?  I have been wanting to try the starburst thing but haven't ever done it.  I think I better go check our marshmallow stock!

Mirror to Chalkboard Revamp

Somewhere I have a before picture for this.  I'm just too lazy to find it right now so you are going to have to imagine the before! We got one of those pub mirrors when we got married 9 years ago.  It was a dark wood so I painted it white.  And I didn't do a very good job.  When we moved here it just sat propped against the wall in our bathroom for about 6 months because Ivy likes to make faces (and watch herself cry) in the mirror.  Then I got sick of it just sitting there so probably three months ago I spraypainted the mirror part with chalkboard paint.   Then it sat propped against the wall in the laundry room until I got the right color of paint.  

I used Valspar Crystal Aqua. {You will be seeing it quite a bit in all my projects I have to show you!}

I was SO bugged because I taped off the chalkboard paint and was extremely careful and used a razor blade and everything when it came time to peel off the tape.  But it still peeled up some paint.  Thank heavens for distressing though!  After sanding down and staining the blue I decided I like the couple of chipped areas.  I also spraypainted  the hooks with oil rubbed bronze paint.  And now its finally hanging in my entry way just waiting for me to write  message on it! 

Summer Onesies

Once Memorial Day comes around I fall in love all over again with red, white and blue.  My favorite combo this year?

You know it had to have damask and polka dots!  These were some of the onesies I made for the Farmer's Market.

There isn't anything much sweeter than a red polka dot bow.

And some ties for the little guys (also in red polka dot).  Doesn't it make a tiny part of your heart wish you had twins?!

Market Day

My favorite day of the week! 

I didn't get as many pictures this week since I had a booth.  I made a batch of market skirts this week to sell, and they were a hit.  I also had hair bows and pins, onesies, kids clothes and some other odds and ends.  The main reason for doing a booth is to keep the space in front of Greenies focused on Greenies.  And hey if I can make some spare cash what the heck!.

Go Local!

Last week I stumbled on a fabulous website called The 3/50 Project.  It is a website dedicated to promoting independent retailers and restaurants.  Of course this kind of thing directly affects {or effects, not really sure, its early!}me, being a local business myself, but it is such a great cause so I want to help spread the word.

The goal of The 3/50 Project is to get you to think about supporting your community.  Here's what you do.  Every month spend $50 at your favorite local shops.  Not $50 at each one.  But $50 during the month.  Easy peasy right?!  Their website will tell you all the reasons why this would be so awesome if everyone did that. 

Like... if half of the employed population did what I just mentioned, it would generate over 42 BILLION in revenue.  And that for every dollar you spend locally 68% of it returns to your community.  But if you buy it online.  NONE of it does.  Crazy huh. 

So head to the Farmer's Market this weekend, or eat at your favorite little restaurant for me.   Grab their button (mines on my sidebar) and help out this awesome cause.  I'm not the only one who would appreciate it!

Powerful?

I try not to get too personal on here but whats more crafty than being a Mom? 
We have struggled with infertility for several years and were blessed enough to be able to do IVF and have Ivy join our family on the first try.  Second and third round, not so lucky.  And since then we have decided to adopt.  We have a wonderful opportunity that we hope works out for us.   If you could please keep us in your prayers over the next few weeks we would appreciate it. 
Love,

Farmer's Market Day

Finally!
The weather hasn't been very summer like around here.  But look at those berries!  Nothing says its time for summer like that. 

The Richland Farmer's Market started today.  It is literally right outside Greenies door.

It is the highlight of my week in the summer.  I love all of the gorgeous colors and fabulous smells,

and the interesting people selling their wares.

I love how it is different every week, as the season passes.   

There are some new vendors this year which I am excited about too.  

Um yeah, aren't those almost too pretty to eat?!  Yep, almost.  

What is your favorite treat at the farmer's market?!

Just an Excuse!