decisions, decisions.

I recently got an iphone. For Valentines Day. Kind of convenient for my husband, my phone contract is up for renewal every two years on Valentines Day. So he knows just what to get me (an upgrade). This year we switched to AT&T. Joe got his iphone a few months ago so I've been playing with his a little and waiting very patiently (of course) for my turn. Last week my time came. I have joined the club and am loving my new phone. So far, I haven't dropped it... but let's just say according to my history, it's just a matter of time. Before I got my phone, I was eyeing cases.

I thought I was settled on this one:

Incase Slider Case for iPhone 3GS

But when I went to the apple store (online) I found some others that I really liked too. Like this one:

Speck Fitted Case for iPhone 3GS

Then I spotted this one and thought it would be just the thing for someone like me who drops their phone often.

Speck PixelSkin Case for iPhone 3G

This one is super cute too (and also durable):

kate spade new york Case for iPhone 3GS

Another on the pretty list:

Contour HardSkin inked for iPhone 3GS

This one is super cute and springy too:

AGENT18 FlowerVest Refresh Cover for iPhone 3GS

Which one would you pick? Are you a phone dropper?

Labels: i phone

spring is springing!

I keep hearing about snow fall still happening in some parts of the US. Though we've had quite a big of rain lately, here in the San Francisco Bay Area, Spring is definitely on its way. I noticed our lovely plum tree in the backyard today full of white blossoms. Kind of resembles snow fall if you just glance at it quickly!

Notice the ever growing and changing tree house the kids are working on in the backyard with some neighbor friends! I love it so much.

We're even getting a few colorful blooms in our backyard. I love these cheery daffodils.

The kids have been doing a lot of playing outside lately. We're expecting more rain this weekend, but we're enjoying every bit of sunshine while it's here!

This is the type of play that happens in our backyard: riding around in these awesome pedal cars, swinging on the old swing, building/climbing the kid-made tree house, climbing every other tree in the yard, riding bikes and scooters, skateboarding (notice the grinding rail in the photo above), coloring with chalk, playing ball (football, basketball, soccer, and any other ball they can find) and plenty of make believe play.

Other signs of spring around here lately: I love that when I open the windows I can hear springtime sounds like lawn mowers mowing, birds singing, people talking as they walk on the path that runs beside our house, tennis balls bouncing in the nearby court, basketballs also bouncing out there, children laughing and playing.

Today Brooklyn even wore shorts to school. It's a really good thing it is such a nice day because I totally forgot that this is her early day and was pretty late picking her up. Oops. No super mom awards for me today!

All this sunshine and springtime goodness makes me want to get to creating some spring-inspired goodies. Full of bright colors and blooms. (shop update coming soon!)

our baby is two!

two years ago. sweet baby boy. sweet birth experience.

Here he is now. Such a sweet boy. Full of snuggles. One of my favorite things right now is when he walks around the house saying, "happy. happy. happy." I have to get a recording of this sometime soon!

Labels: family

sunshine in the soul

The amazing Jamie of Inspired Mess has put together Happy Mail, a super fun exchange of packages and mail between pairs of swap partners. New partners are paired up each month, and this was my first time participating. SO much fun. (It's nice to get things other than bills and grocery store ads in the mailbox! And maybe even more fun to put together things for someone else.)

I was matched up with the lovely Janel from Runs with Scissors. I did this little mixed media painting on a card for her after reading this post about having the winter blues where she lives. I wanted to send her a little California sunshine.

What's the weather like where you are?

Labels: inspiration and encouragement

happy valentines day!!!

Whether or not you have a "valentine" this year, I hope you're having a great day today! I know that this is a holiday that can bring sadness just looking at all the mushy stuff all around in the weeks leading up to this day. I do hope you know that the One who created you loves you deeper and more passionately than any love you could ever find in anyone else. When my soul is feeling lonely, I love to put on some lovey worship songs and dance and sing and feel His presence. His love is so amazing.

Joe and I surprised each other with handmade gifts for Valentines Day this year. (the very best kind of gifts are always handmade, in my opinion!)

My gift from Joe. I love his artwork, and custom just-for-me pieces are my favorite! (You can check out his blog and some of his artwork here. We're planning to get a portfolio with more of his work set up really soon. When we do, I'll link to it here. If you're ever in the San Francisco bay area and need/want a tattoo, I definitely recommend his work!)

I made this pillow for him. "yst1" is kind of our thing. It all started when we were engaged... One day when I was listening to "Still the One" by Orleans and I thought forward to our life together and hoped that we'd be saying one day "we're still having fun, and you're still the one." Yes, marriage is hard. Yes, this is a super hard season for us. But in the big picture, we've been through a lot and are going through a lot, but we're going through it together.

And Joe, you're still the one.

It was hard to find a good video recording of this song on youtube, because most were live recordings from concerts. The one I've posted here is full of cheesy images and has the lyrics. But the sound quality is good.

Next is Shania Twain's "You're Still the One". This is not the one that inspired the pillow, but it's good too. Enjoy your day with your loves!

exhausted.

source

pretty much how I'm feeling. Last night I realized that between Joe and I, we're working about 92 hours a week right now. And barely scraping by. Crazy I tell you. But we know that this is a season. And like those of you surrounded by snow (still), we know that this season will come to an end. Hopefully sooner rather than later. For now we draw strength from our Almighty God who knows the end from the beginning and already knows how this is all going to play out. All we can do is keep praying, keep believing, keep loving, keep keeping on.

On the bright side, I painted a little something this week. It's been a while, and it felt good. It was an excitement and so refreshing. I'll show it to you soon, but I have to wait until the recipient has received it. (oh I'm so mysteriouso!)

Labels: this is me

hope

today I wish you hope.

"hope" by jenny swanson. part ofThe Retrieval Project last summer. print available here.

Labels: inspiration and encouragement, retrieval project

two capes and an apron

Mercy was invited to a birthday party today. It's a princess party (as in Ariel will be coming to visit) and apparently the little girls are dressing up as princesses. We don't have any of the Disney princess costumes, but Brooklyn came up with this great idea to dress Mercy up as Snow White and asked if I had any red fabric for a cape.
I did a quick check in my stash and found this... umm not sure really what type of fabric. It's sort of suede-like soft and when you cut it, it doesn't fray. Score! It was a large piece, so I cut it in half. Since the fabric didn't fray, I decided not to finish all the edges. I just made a quick casing and decided to string some yarn through for a tie. Ribbon would be nice too, but yarn was handier.

After she was dressed she said, "where's my king?" And as I was sewing, Joe got Judah dressed. Sweet Prince Charming shirt and a Bible Man cape made him the perfect match for his big sister. She was thrilled.

Not sure why she's looking sad here....

but a quick hug from her "king" seemed to make it all better.

Brooklyn asked me to make the other half into a cape for her. She was happy to put it on and said she'll probably even wear it to school. Love that girl's style!

Two super simple red capes in about 20 minutes tops.

This craft apron is another Style School project. I'm not sure I'm loving it. I wanted to make one that I could use while doing crafts and also to wear to craft fairs. I love the fabrics and they're super soft (corduroys and the base is an upholstery fabric)... I think I made it too big though. I may tuck under the top and re-sew it so that it hits at a more comfy spot around the waist. I may add a few embellishments too, just wasn't sure exactly what yet.

Little loop for hanging things. I decided to sew the loop closed under the pocket, and will use a little carabiner to hang whatever I need.

This was my first ever attempt at using the decorative stitch settings on my sewing machine. I like how it turned out and will definitely use this more often!

I really really need to get some fabric labels made.

Labels: handmade, jenuine ruby

recent crafting

Today. Judah slept. I got a teensy bit of a nap myself. After being awakened a few times (phone, door, 10yo) I decided to get some crafting done. It was a nice, cozy, rainy day. Judah was sleeping, Pandora was soothing. The setting was just right.

the set up.

beginnings.

some fabric covered thumbtacks. project from Red Velvet Art's Style School.

the back.

close-up of my wreath. another style school project. I like the messy, overlapping, criss-crossing yarn look. The heart is cut from a felted wool sweater, and it's secured to the wreath with a pin.

Joe brought this cabinet home from his space in the tattoo shop. It now resides in our bedroom and is a perfect spot to store some crafting supplies, hang favorite necklaces and hold my coffee sleeve models.

What have you been up to?

Labels: handmade

wishing and dreaming

I've had this dream for a while of living on a farm. I found the perfect one while driving our daughter to her play rehearsals last month. This place was for sale, but last week when I went to take these photos, the for sale sign was gone. =(

I love so much about this place. It's rural yet close enough to the places we frequent. It's got lots of charm. Space for horses. Joe and Zeke like that there's space for a moto cross track. I imagine that space above the garage would be a lovely studio. Quaint, spacious, lots of room to romp and play and have big gatherings. I dream of a place like this. I'd love to have horses to ride, chickens to keep, and Brooklyn wants a cow "to pet". I'd love to have sheep to raise and to learn all about how to sheer them and make the wool into yarn or use it as roving in needle felting. We'd also have a garden. Oh my lovely dream home. Someday. Somewhere over the rainbow perhaps.

Labels: dreams

February goals

When I posted my goals for 2010, I was off to a good start. I started with my 40x40 list and made some goals for the year. I accomplished some of them in January but I realized I need a plan so I can make sure that by November I'm not stuck with half my list to complete in just a few weeks before the end of the year. I've decided to break my goals down monthly and post them here (accountability really is a good incentive for me.), and I'll also break them down weekly and schedule things in my planner. Otherwise this will just be a big to do list that seems too daunting and I'll end up with a big bowl of popcorn, watching online movies instead of accomplishing these goals.

So my February goals are as follows:

spiritual/physical:

1. I started this Praying the Names of God book and want to continue with the daily readings. SO good.

2. My favorite favorite way to read the entire Bible is using the Narrarated Bible in Chronological Order. My goal is to read for at least a half hour a day. If you've ever wanted to read the Bible all the way through, I highly recommend this Bible. You get narrative paragraphs throughout the text which include background info, context related tidbits, etc. and it reads like a story so it all flows and you really get the big picture.

3. I'm beginning an 8 week nutrition and fitness program with Kinetix next Monday (totally free, offered to Starbucks partners. woohoo!)

4. begin the Couch to 5k running plan

family/ home:

5. make bread

6. start planning backyard garden for this spring

7. weekly menu plans

8. try at least one new recipe this month

9. take the kids to a park we've never been to

10. date with Joe (this will be a tough one, but hopefully we can squeeze something in amidst the crazy work schedules)

business/ blog:

11. blog daily

12. contact head of local spring craft fair about having a booth

13. create new blog graphics

14. do collaborative paintings with Brooklyn, upload to etsy for prints

15. complete and upload spring collection to etsy

16. print and use these forms to keep track of etsy sales/ goals

creative:

16. complete Style School projects and upload to flickr

17. participate in Illustration Friday at least once this month

18. try a new craft or art project with the kids

19. make a doll for Mercy

20. complete Joe's drawing tattoo style roses course

And here are some things I accomplished in January:

1. Enrolled in RVA's Style School with Elsie and Leigh-Ann, which I'm having lots of fun with, and I'm also learning a lot about my own style. I'm trying new things and figuring out how to incorporate my (developing) signature look into my art, crafts, wardrobe and home.

2. made my own laundry detergent, with fantastic results.

3. made a skirt out of a repurposed sweater/shawl/poncho thingy (and wore it to church a few days later).

4. I'm pretty sure I tried more than one new recipe this month. Just yesterday I made a super yummy chicken and wild rice soup (recipe from my Minnesota friend Dawn. so so good. Everyone loved it).

5. I started learning to crochet (this is a very helpful website. I really want to start making granny squares like my great grandma Ruby used to make.)