a Living Picture

Guess what?  My mom and I had a date for mother's day.... a succulent date.   Look what I made!

I've long been drawn to succulent wreaths and vertical gardening.  Not that I have/do any, but I admire them.   From afar.   I like succulents, plain and simple, but bringing them inside, away from weeds and bugs and the hot, hot sun - genius!  Discovering these beautiful redwood frames, made by Succulent Gardens, absolutely pushed the idea over the edge.  For some reason, I'm just not a circle person.  The "square" version... I LOVE!

So this Sunday my mom (who is a total green thumb, btw) came over and together we gardened... inside.   In case you'd like to try your hand at it, here are some tips.

First, read this tutorial on Prudent Baby.  We mostly followed those directions, except that we got our succulents from Succulent Gardens.  A brown paper bag full of beautiful rosette succulents came with my frame shipment.  They were in excellent condition and already ready to root!  I kept them spread out on paper towels and misted them occasionally, until our date.

You could also try buying succulents at your local nursery.  If so, buy a few big gallon-sized plants and make cuttings from them, rather than buying many small plants, to keep costs down.



We used: one 12" redwood frame, one wire wreath (same as tutorial), sphagnum moss by Miracle Grow (which was more like dirt than moss...), wire and fishnet stockings to hold the "moss" in place on my mom's wreath, rooting hormone and bobby pins to hold each succulent clipping in place.



These frames are made as one solid piece, so you must drop the moss in through the wire mesh.  It took some time to really work it in, which my mom said was important.  Didn't like this part.  My sink and I got pretty dirty.



Since the Miracle Grow sphagnum moss was soooo loose, my mom figured she'd need to net it to prevent it from falling away from the wreath. A trip to the store was avoided when I found an old pair of fish net knee highs.  Whaaaaat?  Yeah, don't think I need those.



Then the fun part... the plants!  We dipped the stems into the root hormone or used a spoon to sprinkle the hormone directly on the dirt.  Once the plants were in place, we'd attach them by sliding a black bobby pin around some bottom petals and into the wire mesh frame or wreath.  At first I was going really slow because I hated to hurt the plants.  But, my mom says succulents are really resilient.  I hope so!



Here's mom's wreath!  Because we used bobby pins, she could hang it right away rather than waiting for the plants to root.  Even so, I noticed she had it still sitting flat when I came by her house today for our walk.



Me too, mom.  I just love, love, love how it came out and want to give the plants every opportunity to relax and survive after being brutally bobby pinned.  I'm keeping this baby flat for a bit.  It's kind of like a center piece like this.  So pretty!



This is how it really goes... vertical.  When it's upright the plants show off their texture.



When I feel ready, we'll hang it on the wall among the picture frames and little shelves we've arranged on that (previously) Big Empty Wall.  See that spot kind of center and to the right? 



I'll have to take down my succulent frame to water it by misting with a spray bottle.  Succulents don't like much water, so it won't be about soaking the soil.  Fingers crossed it survives!

Well, that's another home decor project tackled and thoroughly appreciated.  Our dining room exudes so much more personality now.   But just wait 'til I get those curtains up!  Mmmmmm, it's going to be good!

know what i love?

how every day is a chance to start fresh!  I am so enjoying today, the long silent moments, the opportunity for working rest, the pretty bits of fabric brightening up my table.



See there?  What first, you say?  Mmm... let's talk about that stack of Anna Maria Horner voile trimmings.  I've cut up all my voile for dining room curtains, which created a tempting little pile of slinky voile remnants.   Hmm... what to do with glowing bits and bobs of voile?

Meanwhile, I'm working away on The Penny Sampler.  I you think those Comma periods served handily!  I wanted understated centers for these petite square blocks, which are just meant to be little embellishments tucked here and there in finished quilt.

Oh, and quite to my surprise... yesterday a package of Sarah Watson Indian Summer arrived on my doorstep.  I vaguely remember sharing my address with Sarah months and months ago.  I don't often receive fabric gifts, so yesterday was such perfect timing.  I've actually been hankering after this collection.  Love that Menagerie print and the Basket prints especially.  I want to make a pillowcase for Liam!



Look, I just finished something!  It's a zippy pouch for a Camper who'll use it to store her hand piecing on the go.   I referenced this zipper tabs tutorial, since I don't make pouches often enough to have internalized the flow.  For this side I used scraps from my Sparklers quilt...



and for this side, I went with a favorite Field Study print.  Did my quilting on this side in little x's over the raindrops.  Too fun!



Lined it with a medium gray text print from Tim Holtz' Eclectic Elements, which is a new fabric line by Coats brand premiering now at fabric market.  A sneak preview was sent to me by the folks at Westminster.  Yes, sometimes, I get crazy lucky.



But, anyway, it has an very earthy, rough vibe with some interesting text prints.  It seems text prints are not going to be hard to find anymore.  Everyone is doing it now.  Which is fine with me.  I still like them!

But, you know what I love most of all?  I love all the kind, encouraging comments you're sending about yesterday's post.  Thank-you for celebrating with me!  It means a lot that I can be real and messy around here and even so you're still willing to listen.  Thanks!

p.s. this post is a wee shout out to my friend Ara Jane, a sweet friend who blogs at "you know what i love?".  Thanks for reminding us, Ara Jane, to share the things that we love!

the big Good News

I'm struggling to find the words to write today, not because anything is significantly wrong, but because we had such an "off" morning.  For the second week in a row we've tried to insert a new outing into our Monday rhythm, a morning Bible study at a friends house.  And for the second time in a row we left emotionally tuckered out.

I knew it would be hard to add this in because I don't like to go out in the mornings and Monday is our weekly Laundry Day.  The outing interrupts so much of our flow.  Even though it sounds fun and it is good, it undercuts the supportive currents that nurture the kids and I.  It's that flow, that rhythm that enables me to do so much and for us to feel good and balanced and connected despite that productivity. 

But not today. 

So, here I am sitting down wanting to tell you some really good news and instead my heart is heavy and crowded.  Liam's heart broke at playgroup.  He was just not in a place to process and deal with some things that went poorly amongst the kids.  It makes me see that he is like me.  For us, the details matter, routines matter.  I've given him my hugs and my love and now we are all having our rest time.  I trust we will come back together refreshed.

*******

Now this is my time to write.  I could have waited until later, but today I wanted to share my heart.  Mess and all.  I know the internet can allow us bloggers to give the impression that we have everything together, that our life is all sunshine and beautiful snap shots.  Today I choose to write now, to bring this very special announcement along with my tears.

We're planning to have another baby!

In February my husband gave me the best gift of all - he decided we will have another child, something I've been longing for for years and years.  He wanted to keep it to ourselves a bit, so I've been holding it in, not even telling Aria and Liam.  Then just last night we celebrated a late Mother's Day with his mother and gave her this present...



Two yellow bottles, our way of announcing that we're going to try for another little one after all.  We thought the grandparents would enjoy seeing the kids' original reaction to the news, so I included some little gifts that I though Aria and Liam would enjoy using someday with baby.  It does not escape me that the baby gown is pink...



No, we're not pregnant.  There's a reversal between us and that goal, a surgery not scheduled until December, but we're going to at least try.  And I am so happy.  And grandma was SO happy.  And it really is THE happiest Good News.

Sometimes I'm fearful as well as joyful.  Fearful about finances, ability to keep working, to keep homeschooling, and to make a child happy who will be so much younger than my other two and probably have no siblings (unless we have twins, please God!).  But, you know, the good things usually are Hard.  They can be SO HARD.  Just like a fiddly, tricky quilt that's in some ways a true pain in the arse, but if you can relax and enjoy it and take it one day at a time... 

Today I claim joy.  And I pray God that joy would come. I've been keeping this verse by my side, as sort of a personal motto.  Today it seems fitting to share it with you...

"Seize life!  Eat bread with gusto,

Drink wine with a robust heart.

Oh yes - God takes pleasure in your pleasure!

Dress festively every morning.

Don't skimp on color or scarves.

Relish life with the spouse you love

Each and every day of your precarious life.

Each day is God's gift.  It's all you get in exchange

For the hard work of staying alive.

Make the most of each one!

Whatever turns up, grab it and do it.  And heartily!"

- Ecclesiastes 9 from The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language

with blessings and
such gratitude for this space,

Rachel

String Fever: more Prizes

Thank goodness it's Friday.  This week has been a bit rough for me, just some things that didn't turn out as expected and also some disruptions to our regular routine that leave me feeling lurchy.  Sorry if yesterday's melodramatic post made you worry.  Everything's ok.  Just life, which has its ups and downs, really does require one to be brave.... often.  And, yes, I was also mourning the news of Kathreen of Whip Up's passing.



Today I spent a quiet morning being with my children, stitching while Aria copies a book and prattles on, listening to Liam's sandbox play drift in through the open windows and later giving my much-requested feedback on the piano pieces they're practicing.  It's funny, actually, how much like homeschool is our summer vacation.  But more restful. Yes, it was restful.

So now I have a moment to spend with you, and I'd like to share a few more prizes offered by my sponsors for our String Fever quilt-along.  Each string quilt top (finished in 2013 of any size) that you enter in our Festival of Strings will give you a chance to win one of these door prizes.  The festival will be open for entries May 28-30th.   

Thanks to Fabricworm, one of you will win 2 yards total, winner's choice, from the Yay Day Collection by Emily Isabella for Birch Fabrics Organic!  There are 8 happy little prints to choose from, so you could have a fat quarter set or narrow it down for more yardage of your favorites.  How sweet for children's clothes or a baby quilt!

This prize ships internationally too.  Appreciated, Fabricworm!







From Lark Cottons we have Spring Lilac, a custom fat quarter bundle.  It's a 16 piece mix of prints and solids created by Heather, the owner of Lark Cottons, just for our festival!   I spot some Anna Maria Horner, Joel Dewberry, Lizzy House, Denyse Schmidt... quite the collection of pretties.




This bundle ships to the U.S. only.  If an international festival participant wins this door prize, he or she can choose to gift it to a U.S. friend or pass it by to another participant.  

How about some thread?  Connecting Threads has it in spades, so they're providing one winner with a double pack of thread.

This door prize includes both the Salt & Pepper basics set AND the Rainbow set in all it's colorful glory.

That's 15 large spools of thread - oh... just 18,000 yards!

How incredibly useful!  This prize ships to U.S. or Canada, and again, if that's not you, we're sorry that international shipping rates are limiting the fun.  But, if it helps, you are welcome to direct us to send this anywhere in the U.S. or Canada.  Could still be some fun! 


I hope you've been enjoying this bit of motivation to get creative with your string scraps.  The first round of prizes were announced last week.  I'll have more next Friday, and then it'll be time to celebrate!

Here's to a productive and refreshing weekend!

brave

Trying to be brave today... on a couple different levels.



May you also be brave today.



There's color, there's life on the other side.

Registration Open for HOMESCHOOL. handmade.

"Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in the wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by.  And that has made all the difference."- Robert Frost

artist unknown

If your road less traveled begins at home, then this lovely month of May is just the perfect time for you to make a start.  Today registration opens at my pattern shop for HOMESCHOOL handmade at Stitched in Color!  This two-week course will get you acquainted with all your options, while helping you discern the unique path that's all your own.  I wish with all of my heart that your journey is sweet, rewarding and true.  Class begins Monday, May 20th.  And guess what?  You're already ready.

Do you know what made me first consider homeschooling?  A friend.  And over the years I've seen other friends (not all, but several) decide to give this road less traveled a hesitant try.  Not one of them has regretted it.  I absolutely love helping people find their own way - their very own way - on this path, so when a Stitchy friend suggested I write a class, well... I couldn't resist.   It turns out I have really a lot to say!

Like many big life decisions, learning about homeschooling tends to be incredibly overwhelming.  There is so much out there to discover, process, categorize and consider.  I've been in research mode for about 5 years and I can still while away endless hours online learning more.  My goal here is to provide an easy-to-digest course that saves you time and energy, yet still gives you a generous taste of diverse options, so that you can go about the important task of choosing for yourself.

This class is designed for anyone just thinking about homeschooling, wanting to understand it better and visualize how it works.  It's even more ideal if you've decided to homeschool and are kind of starting or Not Starting Yet or turning around in circles, not quite sure if you're starting... or not.  Ha!  Yes, this class is a big sign that says, "please, Start Here".



And if you've already started and are feeling stalled, then this class is going to help you gain a fresh momentum by looking at all the choices you have.  So often folks start out just buying regular old textbooks to recreate school at home.  Ok, that can work, but is that best for your family?  Is that really the way you want to do it?  And, even if so, are you taking charge to make those resources work for your family or are you feeling a bit trapped?  Time to get some fresh air.


How does class work?  HOMESCHOOL handmade is a two-week course delivered via a private blog interface (check out the screen shot below).  Soon after you purchase your spot ($55 at my shop) you'll receive access by email to the HOMESCHOOL handmade blog.  Class runs May 20 - May 31st.  Each "school day" I'll be publishing bite-sized posts as well as an audio compilation of the day's lessons, so you can listen or read.  You'll also have homework.  Mmm-hm.  To help you get the most out of class, I have a series of exercises designed to help you get your ideas, questions and "aha" moments onto paper so you can figure this thing out.  At the end of class you'll receive the complete audio file as well as an eBook version of HOMESCHOOL handmade for your personal use.  This course is packed with uber useful links, so you'll want that!  I guess you don't have to take notes...

 

Your access to the blog will remain open throughout the month of June, during which time I will continue answering questions pertaining to the material I'm presenting.  After June the blog will be closed and you will no longer be able to login, but you'll still have the audio file and eBook.  This provides much-needed motivation for us to get everything we can out of the class in real time, rather than leaving it open ended for "someday."

As a special bonus, I am making myself available for private consulting to those who take HOMESCHOOL handmade.  It's been a blast to write this course with the aim of creating a comprehensive introduction to homeschooling. But, homeschooling is such a vast topic and so personal that there's no way one course could answer every single question that's important to you. If you find yourself needing some personal support, I'll carve out time to consult by phone or Skype (your preference) in 30 or 60 minute sessions for an extra fee (based on a $50 per hour rate).




What's covered in HOMESCHOOL handmade?   So glad you asked!  I'm a tidy thinker, so this course is divided into 5 segments.  Some segments are longer than others, but still they're like 5 chapters each with one or more exercise each.

We're going to...
- pinpoint your motivations for considering homeschooling
- get to know a bunch of diverse homeschooling styles
- find a match between your unique family and the options
- go through curriculum possibilities for all of the above, including shopping tips
- and finish by tackling common concerns that keep you up at night

 

Of all the segments, I think Your Family is the most important.  This is where you can refine your vision of all that's possible in the big old world to understand what it would look like in your own home.  Yep, that segment is longer than others! 

At the close of each segment you'll also find a post about My Story as it relates to our focus.  I hope that this vignette of my family's personal journey will add color and context to the entire story.  Plus, it's fun!



Homeschooling is not for everyone, but if you're reading this far... it's probably for you.  I'm excited to help you get started with all the stuff you need to make a strong, personalized homeschooling start.  Please do join us at HOMESCHOOL handmade.  I can't wait for Monday!

testing. testing.

After the great iron discussion of April, I narrowed my shopping list to these four replacement irons, each of which comes highly recommended by readers:

*Black & Decker D2030 Digital Advantage- affordable.  It does shut off automatically (which I like), but it also beeps when it's not fully heated (which would bug me).
*Reliable Velocity V50 - this orange iron has looks, but it's also twice as much as I'd usually pay. Seams very well made and the auto shut off can be disabled.
*Rowenta DW5080 Focus- this is one of the most affordable Rowentas made in Germany.  The Germany Rowenta's are famous for steam and longevity, but it's not cheap.
*Panasonic NI-C78SR - my same old iron is the most affordable option.  I liked its auto shut off feature and loved the detachable refill tank.  But, it only lasted 2 years...

After hemming and hawing, I was about to pull the trigger on buying another Panasonic - the exact same one.  It seemed like the most practical option since I do use water in my iron and leave it in all the time, both of which are known to drown irons.  May as well kill a cheap one that I know I'll like, right? 

I'm so cruel.



But, at the last minute, I asked Reliable to donate this Velocity V50.  Happily they agreed.  So now I'll get to test this baby and report back to you!  Score.  I can already tell you it's going to be close for me, comparing the Reliable to my sainted Panasonic.  They both have pros and cons.  But, look how great that sassy orange looks with my aqua shelf.  Ooh-la-la!

testing.  testing.

P.S.  Uncle Sam wants me to tell you that my links for products on Amazon (like the irons) are linked to me so that if you buy something I get a little Amazon store credit.  I started doing this because I was linking to Amazon anyways (hello, we all shop there) and I figured you wouldn't mind if Amazon has to send me some free books or rotary blades now and then.  Just FYI to keep things legit around here. Tally ho!