two straight lines

Thankful

OK, so I realize that I've pretty much become the world's lamest blogger.  A few months back I posted about how great blogging has been for me, and then my life took a turn that I felt coming, yet somehow I was completely unprepared for.  I've been busy enough with my two sweeties plus my Wondertime work (I'm happy to say that I now have several projects under my belt) and even the best laid plans have fallen to the wayside.  Now the end of the summer is staring me square in the face.

So, here is a tiny project for a rainy day.  I came up with it for the magazine, but it was a no-go. It would be cute on your desk at work, or several scattered down the center of a table.  Make one, make many, make them with your kids, make them to celebrate after your kids head off to school.  Just make them.

Materials

1 tin can (yay, recycling!)
1 piece of crepe paper (the folds you find at your party store for 59 cents are perfect, expensive double-sided crepe paper actually doesn't work for this at all)
1, 3 " styrofoam ball
T-pins (12 or so)
enough fabric or paper to cover the can
double-sided tape
serrated knife
scissors

Cut your styrofoam ball in half with a serrated knife.  Squeeze it just inside your tin can with the flat side up, so that the top of it is where the top of the can used to be.  Cut 12, 3 1/2" rounds out of your crepe paper.  I fold my paper to cut several at once.  Make a fist with one hand, and put a crepe paper round on top of the thumb side of it.  Now stick your index finger from the other hand in the "hole"  Get it?  That's the flower.  Now take a t-pin and stick it down inside your bud, being careful not to push it through.  Stick your bud in the center of your styrofoam ball.  Continue making little buds until the top of your can is blooming.  Now cut a piece of paper or fabric large enough to cover your can, and apply it with double-sided tape on one end.  Smile.

PS- I'm sure you could make these with tissue paper, but I LOVE crepe paper, so trust me and try it. 

The Beginning of a Beautiful Relationship

I ordered this beautiful matryoshka doll made by Ella Pedersen for Lucie for Christmas, but when it arrived, I couldn't resist giving it to her.  It is such a perfect size for a baby, I thought it would make a nice lovey for sleeping purposes.  It is stuffed really firmly with wool, and it actually keeps her from rolling over on her face, which is her latest obsession.  Her name was Filippa, but I think we'll rename her Ella.  I think the simple face really attracts her attention because of its high contrast.  She just lays and stares at it.  I still think it will be the centerpiece of her Christmas this year, though.  She will need a dolly bed, and quilt, no?

Look, there's one left...

PS- Lucie hates the car, any suggestions?  We've already moved her to a full-size seat (still backwards), and padded it with an insert.  There was some improvement, but I'm about to start driving Elliot 20 minutes to school 3 times a week, so I need to find some solutions...

And The Bidding Begins

Sorry I haven't posted my inspirations yet, we are having a week of rain, which is not so good for picture taking.  I'll get to it when the sun comes out.  For now, I just wanted to remind you that the One In Ten Charity Auction began yesterday, so get on over there and check it out.  If you click through to my scarf, then click "View sellers other items," and you'll see all of the beautiful items in the auction.

Seven Random Things

I was tagged a few weeks back by Patricia of Good + Happy Day to tell Seven Random Things about myself, so here goes.

1)  I like to talk a lot, and always got in trouble for it in school.  When I was little my Mom, who really didn't buy me printed t-shirts, bought me a shirt that said "chatterbox" on it.  My report cards ALL say something like-- "Courtney's a nice little girl who likes to talk a lot."

2)  Oddly, I hate the telephone.

3) I can't stand mismatched dishes.  I really require at least 4 of each item.  To me, that constitutes a set.  For a while I had two stray mugs which were each a gift.  I had to get rid of them because it made me unhappy when I opened the cabinet.  When you all show your thrifted mugs, I squirm in my seat.  I could buy some if I found a set, though.

4)  When I was small I wore a pink tutu constantly.  I did  not take ballet.  The top was (faded) pink satin with sequins which were sort of falling off.  The bottom was pink tulle, not overly perky.  I woke up my parents each day while wearing it.

5)  I did not take a single art class after 9th grade or at all in college.  I double majored in history and anthropology, planning be a curator of education at a museum.  A few years later I returned to college to study art.

6)  I love to window shop, always have.  When I was little my Mom would take me to the town where my grand-parents lived and give me some spending money.  I would walk to every shop in town debating about what to spend my $5 on, walking back and forth. 

7)  My favorite movie is Out of Africa. 

and a few extras--

8)  I'm named after Courtney Kennedy, (not because of anything she did, my Mom just liked the name) and am a Kennedy-o-phile.  We lived in Boston when JFK, Jr. died, and I swear, you would have thought it was a family member or something.

9)  I get star struck easily, and have seen a lot of stars in person.  When I lived in Chicago I saw Joan Cusack, John Cusack (not together), Robert Redford, Donny Osmond (oooooh...), and in New York- Clare Danes, Brooke Shields, Peter Fonda (he pet my corgis in an elevator at the Tribeca Grand), Nicole Kidman.  I would NEVER approach a star, but I love seeing them.

What inspires you?

Sorry I haven't been around much.  I've been working under some more deadlines for Wondertime, but its all good.  I have a few moments of quiet while my babes are sleeping, and I thought I'd post a picture of my inspiration board that I made way back in March. You know, the one with the hand-tied tacks? I think things will continue to be a little quiet around here, so I though I'd start a little exercise to fill in the gaps. 

What inspires you?  I'll do a post a week on the subject for the next little while-- I guess until I run out of things that inspire me.  Care to join in?  Let me know if you're participating so I can check out what inpires you too. So, I'll start with the obvious- my inspiration board.  There you'll find the work of Denyse Schmidt, Laura Normandin, Tamar Mogendorff, Poppy Treffry and many others.  And the board itself-- brown wool, robin's egg blue quilters cotton, ahhhhhh.

And speaking of inspiration, did you see Martha's new attic studio in her Bedford home?  Oh my.  And the new Martha Collection at Macy's?  I'm all over those blue-green cast iron pans.  Like, tonight.  Honey, want to go to the mall?

One in Ten

My contribution to the One in Ten Charity Auction-- a patchwork scarf.  Flax colored linen and a Japanese import, reversing to a blue-green botanical print.  The bidding begins August 19th on Ebay.