Austin Dam Show 2009!

This year's Dam Show was fabulous! Awesome music, lots of kind folks, new friends and old. I'm telling you guys, start planning for next year! If you love bluegrass and jam band music, the Dam Show is the place to be!

My booth...dry and sunny!
Come on in!

There's something for everyone!

...and not so dry!

The crowd were real troopers in all that rain!

Happy, muddy foot! Ah...dancing in mud...my favorite!

Hoopin Mama's!

My homie Mitch, from Free Grass Union!

Customers! Lots of kind families!

Friends and helpers!

Drum workshop with the Buddahood!

Yoga!

Frisbee!

The Gentle and Forgotten art of Blessing

Let the season begin!

The Craft show/festival/ market season has officially begun for me! This first one was a new one for me ...and probably not a repeat for years to come. It was indoors and fairly quiet for all the tables that were set up...very different from what I'm used to! I missed the sunlight, the music and grass under my feet....

I'm glad I checked it out, and I look at it as an opportunity to get back into the flow, to remember how everything goes and write down what I've forgotten. I had great company with Mama Betsy at the table right next to me, selling her gorgeous paintings! Baby Miles was there too and we did have quite a day!

This was not the crowd for us, but we got it all out there and I managed to cram everything onto one small table and keep a smile on my face! Harrumph! Just try to confine me to one table!

Bring it on! I'm ready now!

"Tie One On" Giveaway!

Hey There Friends,

Hop on over to All Natural Me to be entered for a chance to win one of my "Tie One On" upcycled vintage necktie water bottle holders! Here's where you'll find it:

http://www.allnaturalme.com/blog
Hurry Now! The winner will be announced on April 5th...no time to waste!

Just in time for hiking season! Wear that bottle in style folks...this one fits: Siggs, Kleen Kanteens, Camelbacks, and my fave, the recycled vinegar bottle! (sorry, the fatty Nalgenes won't fit this one.)

Be clean, Be green, drink water!

Best of Luck!!

There's a Monster...

...In my basket!

Monster softies were my priority today (among other things like raising peaceful children) and we all had fun with them! By bedtime, everyone had either made one for themselves or had been gifted with one and I still had five in the basket for the craft show this weekend! Gotta love those monsters!

Decisions

I'm running behind on my to-do list for an upcoming craft show this weekend and when I turned over my card for the day, it made me take a deep breath and smile....the decision card! Reinforcing the need to cut out what is not an absolute necessity. Permission to decline. I am definitely the person who needs to hear that! So helpful!

Think Green!

Everything is greening up nicely! I'm longing for those warm, green days when laundry blows on the line and bread rises in the kitchen while I get stitchy outside with my children! It's on it's way, right?

You know you're off to a good start...

..when you try to eat your cereal with a fork!

You'd think I would be more with it after just having completed my morning yoga series, eh?

Ahhh,to be a crafty mother

Upon climbing out of bed and rubbing the crust out of my eyes, I logged on to check my email and what did I find? Mothering! dot com, that is! Mothering sent me their weekly newsletter and what a week! So many great, inspiring pieces...makes me wonder if I ever did renew....hmm?
Anyway, I am feeling so inspired to create after watching the video clips...You will too!

Fellow crafty mamas, grab your mug and take a few minutes to check out this page:
http://www.mothering.com/interactive/mothering-media/mothering-media.html

There are so many great little videos! One on how to applique...a discussion that has been brought up recently over at gypsyroad.....
One beautiful mama paints up her belly bump! What else? Oh, a video on the Gardisil vaccine........., one that the fam and I might use today, called "How to make an african animal headdress with your child"....I feel strongly that my children will be all over that one!
Oh, and another fave that got me up and dancing in my sewing studio.....the breakdancing pregnant mamas trying to raise up some awareness!

I'm telling you, you NEED to take a minute to smile, to be inspired, to be in awe, to be thankful, to feel the unity between us all! (did you like how I slipped unity in there? That is the word of the day for the season of non-violence we've been participating in! http://www.64-days.org)

Okay, the screen time is up! Time to whip up some Tassajara blueberry muffins and relish in the sweetness of time spent with the most beautiful peeps I know!
I'm loving you all and wishing you a super crafty, satisfying day in union with your loved ones.

Shop Update!

Hey Friends! It's here!! The shop update! I did it! Met my weekly goal while overcoming sometimes insurmountable obstacles!!

What do I have for you this week?

Hmmm...well, let's see:

• MMM...cocoa--legwarmers!


• Get cha Striper on--legwarmers!


• Burgundy felted hand warmers!
• Shroom messenger bag!
• Recycled Tshirt tote!
• Om prayer flag!
• Celestial Goddess flag!

I'm loving them all and I hope you do too!

I did stitch up some other fun stuff, but due to my lack of photography skill, they'll have to wait for next week's update....so, stay tuned and check back!

Rasta Balls!

This was a project I had put off during the handmade holiday 2008 rush...they were meant to be juggling balls for my son....but then I realized the pattern was too large and didn't have time to mess with it. While cleaning off my sewing table this morning, I came across the pieces and thought," I really should just make these and see what they look like." And so I did. Cute rasta colored balls, perfect for little ones to play with in the house on cold, winter days! Too big for juggling, but I let the testers have a go at them and I believe they were a success. I think I'll whip up a few sets for the shop update this Friday!

He's Crafty!

This proud boy is at it again! Gettin all stitchy and everything! He crafted himself a "tie one on" waterbottle holder with very minimal help from me! Child-sized and everything! He's dedicated to the cause of reusing and is very interested in improving his skill and earning some green this summer, come festie/market time! Luvin You, Nolie!

Slow Down!

It felt good to take a moment to sit and just "be".....it doesn't happen as often as it should. I enjoyed a nice evening with my local sistas, in celebration of a sweet Lil' mama's birthday! Sisterhood, I truly cherish it these days. We have to have each other's backs...there's just no other way!

To Market, To Market...

...Jiggety Jig!

These sturdy repurposed denim market totes are in the shop now! Rush on over and check them out! Boy, it feels good to go through the stash!

Prayer Flags

Celestial Goddess
Om

It is still so very cold here! I've been working on several of these sweet prayer flags this week, but I really want to get a pic of them hanging outdoors for the shop update. I'm enjoying using up all the little bits in the fabric stash to create these reverent reminders. Hopefully, it'll warm up a bit so I can get good pics and update the shop by Friday.

Shop update?

Well, let me tell you..I have been so stitchy lately! Really! I've just completed a custom order for an etsy customer, sewn up some sturdy market bags, and several prayer flags, not to mention altering a dress for my sweet girl to wear on her trip to Williamsburg...and all the accompanying articles (pocket, mob cap, petticoats, neckerchief, etc, etc, etc.)...but do I have any pics to show for all this crafty wonder? NO! It is drizzly here in north central pa! I keep thinking "today's the day" for picture taking...but it doesn't happen!
SO, rest assured that I am being super crafty, and super productive! That shop update will come soon!
For now, it's just me and my Husky! Oh, and a sweet seven year old boy who has recently become so into crafting that he's getting a bit more time on the machine than I am! But really, who could refuse such an energetic, smiling, eager, happy boy? Not I...not I!

The sun'll come out...tomorrow?

Self-Portrait Monday

I still feel so naked....without all my hair....

I keep taking pics to reassure myself that I'm not bald!

Shrooms!

Gotta love shrooms! I put this applique on a bag that's been hanging around here looking unfinished and it really made it pop! Look for it soon on the shop update!

i love packages!

I really do! When I saw this one and noticed it was from my crafty mama friend Kelly,( and Spencer, TJ, and Aurora) I couldn't help but let out a little squeal! I ripped into it and immediately felt inspired to create! She is so generous. She showered me with crafty goodness! Bits of felted wool, a wool soaker, tons of little gloves and a book about making glove animals...., eco fil, yarn and floss, a colonial cd for the kiddos, jewelry for Teah, heavenly perfume for me, chocolates from Belgium....valentine love and all kinds of sweet things!

I can't wait to put together a package for my mama, sister, friend! I love you, Kelly!

Prayerful

There is nothing like the feeling you get when your child comes to you and asks to create with you! That is what happened today. Nolan wanted in on the prayer flag action! He created his own celestial goddess applique, and followed along as I showed him how to create a prayer flag! He was so proud of himself! He lovingly wrote out a tag and placed it in a folder so it wouldn't get wrinkled and tucked it away until the market season starts! Sweet, sweet, crafty boy!

Ahh...

... Husky! I believe we have met before!

It's so nice to be back in a creative space!

Self-Portrait Monday

Halo?

It's there...right above my head!

Hair...

...CUT!

I've been away awhile...I needed some family time, a different scene, some unplugged time. I took a month-long trip with my children and during that time, I decided to cut off my locks. The story is too long and crazy to post here, but the short version is that I started having dreams about combing my hair!

So, I'm back now and feeling much better and am ready to focus on preparing for the upcoming market/festie season.

I have a new look and I'm embracing it now. I miss my locks terribly and who knows? Maybe someday in a few years from now, I'll lock it all up again! For now, I'm enjoying brushing it and running my fingers through it!