home. happy and exhausted.

goodness what an amazing show the farm chicks put on. a fun time had by all surrounded by the most wonderful women! (i will share links and other fun things over the next few days.)

i've been home since 1 AM yesterday and i am a bit exhausted though as i am sure most vendors are. and even though it was 32 years old that i turned on saturday, i am feeling a bit more like i turned a few years older than that. while driving home, my helper extraordinaire and good friend anne and i talked about how we ached like two women just a bit older than ourselves (that is we talked about that when we weren't singing billy joel or lionel richie or fleetwood mac or the indigo girls or prince.... while trying to stay awake). set up took one day. tear down took two hours. enough said on that i think. wow.

i really loved how the booth turned out. it truly was a little room. and we now know that a ford expedition (rented for the occasion) does indeed have enough space to hold the contents of a little room and two people.

i have much more to share but need to keep taking naps and working my full-time job and taking more naps and fighting off this cold that is trying to settle in and unpacking and patting my sewing machine on the head for a job well done so that she doesn't feel neglected when i don't sit with her late into the night for a while. i have many emails to respond to and phone calls to return. if you are reading this, you know who you are, and thanks for your kind understanding in how long it is going to take me to do those things because i need to take a few more naps than usual...like right now. i am taking my new vintage quilt and going back to bed after i post this.

i wanted to check in though to let you know that the show went really well. i learned so much and had the best time! i met some amazing people. sending natasha aprons and maude bags and other creations out into the world while connecting face to face with people was really wonderful. i also wanted to check in to say how much i appreciate all your support these last few weeks as i worked so hard in preparation. (thank you.)

it is nice to come home with a few things (i made so many items. when we had them all out, i just looked around in amazement as i didn't quite realize all the work i had done until seeing everything in its perfect spot). and, i am starting to add these items to my little etsy shop.

patchwork pillows have begun to appear (i can't stop making them...they are too much fun and i will share some photos tomorrow but you can probably see a few glimpses in these photos). pin cushions will be coming later today, followed by some bags and aprons later this week. i will also share some new designs with you that debuted at the farm chicks show.

thanks again for your support...well, thanks for everything really.

blessings,
liz

a peek into pieces of the weekend.

Number of spice drops consumed: over 100
Number of spice jars filled with buttons according to color: 17
Number of buttons sorted: between 6,000 and 12,000
Number of button flower pins made: 26
Number of hot glue burns: 1
Number of perfect comfortable standing on concrete while also looking cute shoes found: 1
Number of crying breakdowns: 0 (almost 5…all me)
Number of deep breaths taken: many
Number of trips to the thrift store: 1
Number of cups of coffee consumed: at least 8
Number of turkey sandwiches consumed while walking between the coffee shop and the car: 1
Number of interesting swear words uttered: too many to count
Number of times "Rocks and Water" sung aloud: about 9
Number of times chocolate stash raided: 2
Number of trips to Target for emergency supplies: 1
Number of almost calluses caused by pinking shears: 1
Number of trips to Bremerton, WA to pick up a Craig's List purchase that is the perfect finishing touch to my candy-store inspired booth: 1
Number of items crossed off the to-do list: a lot

Having a friend spend the weekend with you (and stay an extra night) with the sole purpose of supporting you and helping you cut, glue, sort, package, create, plan, dream, and organize; and chauffeuring you; and listening to (putting up with) the music that makes you happy…all the while always being supportive, never complaining, and simply making you feel good about yourself…and having a husband who keeps said friend and you fed and is the king of all things needing to be stamped with number/letter stamps and ink: the blessings that make up this moment right now…

groovin'

in between sewing fabric together and running errands and spending time with jonny and breathing in the sunshine for just a few minutes at a time and solving the problems of the world with my friend heather while she tolerates the whir of the sewing machine as we talk on the phone and spray painting display pieces and crossing items off my "to do" list with a smile on my face and winding vintage twine onto spools and trying not to panic and waking up in the middle of the night with a mind abuzz and deciding to just go ahead and start working for three hours as the birds chirp before the sun comes up and emailing with a dear friend and watching movies while hand sewing and eating dinner with friends and hoping and trusting and believing and laughing and so many other things, i have been taking dance breaks while getting my groove on listening to this.

(you should take one. right now. go on. dare you.)

a winner...and a few peeks

congratulations to miss supafly aka Christine from The Sweet Flypaper of Life (aka my boarding school roommate for two years!). she is the winner of the pink and white apron! (i used random.org to choose a number based on the number of comments.) christine, send me an email with your address and i will get the apron out to you next week!

i have been having a lot of fun with fabric this week. i have hit that point where a panic attack is not an option, and i just know i will fit it all in before the big show. (at least that is what stephanie and i keep telling each other. she will be at the farm chicks show too. we are pretty sure that our booths will be next to each other...fantastic fun!)

i am loving patchwork right now. just makes me so darn happy. and one thing i am learning while in the midst of being a bit of a one-woman sewing factory is that you must, must create what makes you happy.

natasha aprons are making me smile too as i dive into and pair up some of my favorite fabrics...love thinking about where these aprons will go exploring with their new owners...

hope you are in the midst of a beautiful day, wherever you are...

thinking of you...yes, you.

Dum spiro, spero.
While I breathe, I hope.

Latin proverb

Sending you peace.
Sending you light.
Sending you health.
Sending you hope.

five (really) good (little) things on a wednesday afternoon

1. eating a turkey and cheddar sandwich on a fresh croissant

2. the smell of lilacs

3. emails that bring a smile to my face and even invite laughter to bubble up inside me

4. crossing several things off the neverending to do list (feeling luck blow my way)

5. singing in the shower

what are your five really good things? maybe they are little things like mine...just sit for a minute and think about it. then share if you want...i would love to read them.

an apron giveaway

as i mentioned friday, i have been finding quite a few vintage aprons lately and wanted to share...so i am hosting a little giveaway for this springy pink and white checked smocked apron and a few other surprises.

(did you catch alicia's joy while smocking earlier this year? i suddenly started to notice smocking everywhere after her series of posts on the topic. items that are "smocked" really are quite adorable.)

to enter this little giveaway, all you need to do is leave a comment on this post. i would love it if you would share a favorite apron memory or story in your comment. if you don't have one, share something that has made you smile lately. i will close the comments on thursday evening and draw a winner friday.

comments have been closed for the giveaway. thanks so much for participating. check back friday afternoon for the winner.

a heatwave, some good food, and some aprons

we are having a heatwave out here in the pacific northwest. temps to get near 90. i am not a fan of that kind of heat especially because no one has air conditioning here. i begin to feel like i might melt. so today i have played the "keep the windows open even though the morning is chilly and close them as soon as it is warmer outside than inside" game.

instead of getting my grumpy self on though, i decided to think happy summer thoughts and make myself some guacamole for lunch and brew some iced tea. a perfect summer treat that doesn't involve using the oven.

here's my recipe for easy guacamole:

slice 2 ripe avocados and use a spoon to scoop them into a bowl. take a fork and smash the avocados until they are...well...smashed. they should be a bit creamy in texture.
dash in a bit of crazy jane salt and some crazy jane pepper (though we haven't been able to find the pepper, so i am using lawry's lately).
shake in some hot sauce of choice (to taste and optional).
slice up a small tomato (or cut up some grape tomatoes like i did today) and add them to the bowl.
squirt in a bit of lime (or lemon) juice. (if you are going to eat this right away, you don't need the lime juice as it really only to prevent the avocado from browning. however, i also like the taste so i add it when i have it. you don't need much.)
stir.
eat.
smile.

a tip about storing guacamole in the fridge. you don't want any air hanging out with the guac. so, put it in the smallest bowl it will fit in and then tear yourself a piece of plastic wrap. cover the bowl, but before you wrap the plastic wrap along the outside of the bowl, push it in toward the guacamole so that it sits right on top of it. use your finger to "seal" it in and then wrap it around the bowl.

***

if you have been on my flickr page this week, you might have noticed that i've been wearing an apron each day and taking a photo. i am someone who wears an apron whenever i am creating anyway, but i seldom document my outfits daily. it is helpful to wear one when i am sewing because i can put my ipod in the pocket and the little threads that get cut end up on the apron instead of all over my clothes. though, i learned the hard way that if i am listening to my ipod while standing and bending over with scissors and cutting the threads from the ends of fabric that just got out of the dryer, i might just cut the headphone cord. yep. delightful. it was actually really funny.

aprons also just make me happy. they connect me to the women who came before me, they look cute, they can totally complete an outfit, they can make you feel like you are playing dress up, they are the kitchen accessory, they make me feel feminine, they are useful...how the list goes on.

i have been making several trips to local thrift stores lately looking for a few things i need for my booth at the farm chicks show, and i have been finding some really great vintage aprons. i want to share some...so, check back monday as i am going to have a little giveaway for one of these aprons.

happy friday to you all!