Day Tripping

The fog is hanging all cozy-like over this lovely morning. There's a pair of baby bunnies hopping around friskily on the dewy lawn. Funny little things. I saw a momma deer with two tiny speckled fawns too. SO cute! I feel very lucky to live in such a beautiful place. Here's a midday view of the lake we peek at from our window, it was taken from the top of the very steep hill that Dylan likes to climb. It was so beautiful and sunny yesterday that we just couldn't stay at home (pretty as that may be), so we headed down the road to McMinnville. It's about an hour away (distances out here in Oregon are measured in time it takes to get there ☺), but it's a lovely drive. That's where our favorite printer is. And we were lucky enough to make a stop there to get 3 new (and 1 old) patterns printed! hooray! We should be able to have them listed by Sunday.
We got Holiday Parade done- And Stars & Stripes (although, technically there are no stars on this particular Old Glory, but Circles & Stripes just sounded silly)- Amanita's Garden is my favorite (and a good beginner Cheater Quilt for those of you wising to try your hand at making one).-

And lastly, we got a second printing (with a few revisions) of our most popular pattern, Storybook Girls-

I can't wait til we can make the trip back to pick them up,

all fresh and shrink-wrapped in pretty little stacks. Whee!

Wings and Things

Here's what my work table had on it by Thursday-

It seems to be a week of wings. 6 of them, to be precise.

I had particular fun with this beastie-

It's the latest in my Househead series.

OK, this one's head isn't a house.

Guess I'll have to change what I'm calling the series.

How about Living Houses?

(I can change names of stuff whenever I like on account of they really only exist in my brain.)

Anyway, here's what Birdhouse looked like by Saturday-

Don't ya just love those birdy feet??

Now I wanna give everybody bird feet!

You can see more of her HERE.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, for your reading enjoyment. . .

What's the difference between a bird and a fly?

A bird can fly but a fly can't bird.

. . . . . . . . .

Thanks for coming out!

You've been great!

Remember to tip your waiters.

☺

Tiny Hookah-Smoking Caterpillar

"Who are YOU?" said the Caterpillar.

This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation.

Alice replied, rather shyly, "I--I hardly know, sir, just at present-- at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then. . ."

○ ○ ○

I know how Alice feels, don't you?

Repentance and a Guitar-Playing Goat

Circo Blanco has denounced their wicked ways, and has indeed become a service organization. (The deportation of their brave leader to Australia might have served as some sort of motivation.) Their first mission of mercy was to help me clean my studio, but I'm afraid there were casualties. I can't talk about it yet, the horror is still too fresh in my mind.

.

Anyway, it has been an achromatic week around The ole Cart.

I've been taking a break from making any color choices by NOT choosing any.

.

Here's a During picture of the reformed trouble makers:

And another, post-negotiations:

And finally, with much ado, here are the remaining members of Circo Blanco looking (rather-deceivingly) innocent for their group portrait. All I can say at this point is-- no matter how good of an idea giving a guitar to goat seems to be at the time, resist the urge!

Poetry House and Spinny Things

I just can't resist bragging on my kidlettes today.

J made the coolest project for his English class.

It's a self-portrait of sorts, that includes lots of poems in lots of styles.

J, being a normal-ish 13-year-old boy, was not so into it at first. But the more he worked on it the more he sunk his braces-clad teeth in. *

The "cover" had to be something that represented the kid making it, something they love. J loves being at home (as opposed to being at school), so he made a house.

He enlarged the paper mache house pattern I made some time ago, and changed it up a bit, hinging the front, draw-bridge style.

Inside are his poems.

I especially like his Haikus. . .

. . .and this one- I love it, of course, and will treasure it always! ........................................................................ * This past week he turned 14, and his braces happily came off. (woohoo!) ○ ○ ○ Lest I neglect to brag on both kidlettes evenly,

here's a very cool little animation that my eldest just did

for Daddy's other project. She is crazy talented!

You can see her blog here.

Oh heck, while I'm basking in the amazingness that is my household I guess I'll just have to brag on Dylan too. He just finished the first of 3 videos he has been working on. WARNING: It's got an R-rated word in it, so you might not want to blast it out loud with wee chitlins in the room. You can watch it HERE.

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OK, I'm off to do non-creative things now, like cleaning bathrooms and whatnots. SOMEBODY's gotta do it.

☺

Happy July!

July is here, and with it SUN, sun, sunny sun! That was a very BAD thing when we lived in Florida, but now that we're tucked away in the beautiful temperate rain forest of the Pacific Northwest it's GOOD.

So WHY, you ask, have I been up to such rainy creativities? I just don't know.

Maybe it's because rain is so much more romantic once your feet are dry.

Or maybe is has something to do with rainbows.

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On another note-- the rebellion has been quieted for the time being, once all Generalissima Meg's demands were met. The list was too long to go into here, but many many peanut butter sandwiches had to be made (with GRAPE, not STRAWBERRY jelly, thank you very much), beds were bounced on, and there was a matter of some sort of kite/hang-gliding experience. The negotiations were intense. Promises were made, tears were shed, limbs were unattached. I've promised to reattach limbs and maybe even paint on some mouths only when/if I've been allowed a bit of sleep.