Updates

A lot of garden progress this week! It is shooting up like crazy. I had to trim off the top of one of the cages to allow more room for the peas to grow. They need taller stakes, too. In the foreground are my the 3 different types of pole beans, herbs, cucumbers and tomato's. We planted a ton of tomato's this weekend. Hopefully they will recover from being a little leggy.

Tonight I have a meal planned around the broccoli raab that is more than ready to be picked.

Some boat progress was made this weekend, too. We primed her with a white wash and Eliot is working on some water color. I was annoyed at myself for feeling so territorial about this project. I was really worried about him painting it and messing up my vision of the final project. I had to take a deep breath and let it go....

He was so excited about it. Of course, when I first mentioned working on 'our boat' he was a little miffed when I explained we weren't making a real boat with hammers and nails.

I did let him use a hammer (mallet) on this project. We gathered wild flowers from around the yard and hammered them like crazy to make some interesting paper designs on some watercolor paper. That made up for the lack of hardware on the boat.

To Do

In no particular order I have made a craft project to do list inspired by Leslie at OneGirl's blog . Maybe I'll stick it on the side bar to remind me to get to work instead of playing on the computer!

gravestone rubbings art project

finish baby quilt #3

leaf prints

try out gocco

finish alabama top

make a dress (maybe finish up some I started ages ago??)

finish ann wood boat

make leather purse

make bird bath out of cement

reconstructed t-shirt from a thrifted shirt

finish standing wool rug

finish e-book

*geeky footnote - I have been having some major issues with blogger and IE9. I just switched to Google Chrome and I'm sold. It's fast and no editing issues or comment issues on my blog or others.

Sewing and Baking

The Alabama Chanin top is going nicely. It took me forever to cut out the stencil but that is done and I have finished tracing it onto the tunic top. It was a little scary to use permanent marker but I took a deep breath and went for it. I'm glad I did because it will be easy to sew over it and not loose my spot looking for disappearing pen marks.
We are in rhubarb season now! Definitely my favorite spring food. I have already made a batch of lemonade and I think today I will have a pie making afternoon with Eliot. These rhubarb are huge! I could use the leaves as an umbrella. I couldn't toss them out after I cut them so they are sitting in the fridge until I think of a project. I want to try some leaf printing but I couldn't find any paper big enough! Might be a little ambitious.

Eliot, Kevin and I went down to the Old Port Festival this weekend. A cold rainy day. I got to wear my new leather hipster jacket that I got at the thrift store. I was worried I wouldn't be able to pull it off but I don't think it looks too conspicuous.

Garden Green

The garden is really coming along now. Lot's of veggies sprouting and some are already ready to eat! I will post my garden map when I put it into a more permanent form (not markers and crayons scribbled on construction paper).

I have had 2 salads from this bucket of greens so far. They keep coming! I planted a few squares in the boxes about a week ago to keep it up.

My peas, lettuce, spinach and raab are flourishing. The basil is starting to look like basil and I just saw the little true leaves from the carrots popping up this morning.

There are a lot of blackberry flowers strewn across the honeysuckle. I'm hoping for a bounty in a month or so.

A few more tomatoes and cucumbers and we will be nearly done the planting!

Alabama Chanin

I have found a new craft/style book that I have been carrying around with me from room to room for the past week. Alabama Studio Style by Natalie Chanin. It is all about hand sewing clothing made from cotton jersey. It is right up my alley. It is slow and has lots of needle work.

I've started making a tunic length camisole top. I was a little nervous about sewing with stretchy fabric but it has been really nice. I couldn't find affordable cotton jersey so I went with 95% cotton 5% spandex interlock. So far so good. I have the front and back finished so the flower details come next! I am anticipating some beading, relief applique and embroidery. It is one of those projects that I can carry around with me and work on from time to time. It goes quite fast for a hand work project.

Mama Flowers

I love all of the little flowers I am given throughout the day. It does make my day.

Sunny

The weather has finally turned to summer in our parts. It was a perfect day to sit in the shade of the lilac tree and do some crafting. I am determined to finish this rug soonish! Reading flower books for good measure, too.
The red birds keep coming to the feeder. They are really shy so we all freeze when they arrive. They have taken to feeding each other - very sweet. Hopefully we will see babies.

Some new fabric for a new project. I just can't help myself.