sitting still

I've been working like crazy making all sorts of things for Silver Bella swaps. I started making these tiny little sweet things for one of them and I couldn't stop! I'm itching to make more...I have an idea of something fun to do with them.

This weekend we went to my hometown for the annual Crab Carnival. It was great seeing friends and family. My sister Jennifer had a health scare last week. She's doing better but is out of work on bedrest for three weeks. She's the kind of person who can't sit still, especially if the carpet needs vacuuming or laundry put in the dryer, so it's going to be hard for her to sit still.

Me? I can sit and make little cakes for a whole day and then dream of making more.

Heidi Y. (and your daughter!)

Guess what, Heidi Y. (and your daughter!) You won the giveaway. I'll email you soon!

giveaway time!

Leave a comment below (be sure to leave your name) and you'll be entered into a drawing to win this fun little jean pocket purse with a vintage flower pin! It's perfect for fleamarketing, with just enough room for your cellphone, cash, and id.

Winner will be announced tomorrow afternoon. Good luck!

inspiredfriend: Cari Kraft

I'm so excited to present my sweet inspiredfriend Cari Kraft. Click here to see.

She's cooked up all sorts of tricks and treats to share, all with a spooky Halloween theme.

I still have just a little bit of work to do...one more witch canvas to put up (Somehow I missed photographing it the other day!) and I have to add how-tos for the last two projects. But I just couldn't hold you back a moment longer!

Enjoy!

allelujahs and tidying up

I got up this morning before the sun, determined to tidy up before my cleaning angel arrives. If I don't, she will just dust my piles of clutter.

I'm feeling very strong at times. I heard a radio program over the weekend on NPR about how important vocabulary building is for a child of Baby's age. It made me feel very happy about this very tangible gift we've given him.

At church on Sunday I broke down in the middle of singing the allelujahs, just imagining his sweet voice belting it out along with us. We went to church in Petaluma the last time we visited and I was a little disappointed to note that they sang a different version, and almost no one sang along.

While Rich watched his Redskins beat Dallas, which is just about the best thing that could happen to help Rich feel better, I searched for some new family room furniture. When we first started talking about replacing these dingy, saggy old sofas, which have aged significantly with sticky fingers and leaky sippy cups, I asked Rich how much we should budget for such an update. When he answered $1000, I knew I had my work cut out for me.

I really like this fun upholstery, and I'm thinking that I should try to combine greyish french blue with red to go with the bookcases and tv cabinet.



And I think I like the contrasting welting and buttons in this version:



Both by Rowe Furniture.

I have lots of work to do to get the next update ready for you on Wednesday. I can't wait to share it all with you...I just hope I can get it together in time! Meanwhile, just another quick swig of coffee and then it's more picking up before Judit arrives to clean.

hey, I remember this life...

Today I worked on lots of projects, including my zombie in a jar and a project for one of the Silver Bella swaps I signed up for. I made a big ol' mess in the family room floor, complete with pins and needles, and I'm just leaving it all there until tomorrow.

We went out for lunch in the 2-seater convertible, which I haven't sat in since January.

Yes, I remember this life.

So, today was a bit better. It was comforting to have Rich around. More than a few times during the day, we talked about sweet Baby. Rich said "I just wish I could hold him". Me too.

p.s. I think a 50 lb. box of toys arrived today at his new home...it makes me smile to think of him rediscovering them all.

how I'm doing...

I stayed in my pajamas until after lunch.

Then I spent about an hour in the bathtub.

I talked on the phone with friends, catching up and crying and remembering Baby.

When I saw his car seat in the backseat, I wept.

Then I went to the fabric store and just stared at stuff.

I called to see how he's doing and when his father put him on the phone, I choked up. I sang him a song and he sang a little bit back.

I really, really miss him. I wish I could hold him and give him a butterfly kiss and then an eskimo kiss and then a kiss each on his chubby cheeks.

Oh, but I love him. Sweet, sweet baby. A dream made to order.

Lots of people have said to me of foster care "I don't know how you can do it. I couldn't do it." I never really know how to respond. I mean, truly, I wouldn't think I could do it either. But here I am. I'm sad, sure. But I think of that little baby and the gift that was given to us and I'm proud.

Club Little House!

Are you ready?

Click here to sign up for Club Little House.

just got back...

We just got back from delivering sweet Baby to his family in California. It's so sad and the house feels so empty without him but please know that we are going to be okay. We miss him like crazy but we'll be okay.

We woke up late on Tuesday morning and were running like crazy out the door...I completely forgot to put out all the orders I'd prepared the night before so if you're waiting for an order, that's what happened.

I'll pop in again tomorrow morning...thank you, everyone, for all your nice emails.

p.s. I've gotten lots of proposals for Club Little House...if you emailed me one, look for a response tomorrow morning too.

clarification...

I just wanted to clarify that you can send your proposal for the Club Little House juried positions anytime...in fact, if you send them in before Friday you'll know whether or not to try for one of the 11 open positions.

Also, wanted to make sure you know that I'm on Eastern Standard Time.