Tree Branch Towels

Last June, Martha Stewart featured an article on using wood in the house for a rustic appeal. One of the pictures had a bathroom where they showed a shelf made of driftwood and a towel rack made out of an old tree branch.



I got so excited, but of course, I was a gazillion months pregnant, and couldn't be bothered searching for the perfect piece of wood. My neighbors cut down an old white birch last week. Being the ecological type, they had no intention of just ditching the wood. So when I asked for a piece of it, they were happy to oblige. I picked up this piece with the intention of turning it into a floor to ceiling towel tree in my bathroom. I still need to coat it in shellac before I can even consider moving it upstairs. But we are on our way!

Time to BIKE!




One Bike Helmet and a trip to Philadelphia later, we are the proud owners of an ibert seat. Patrick loves it. As you can see here, we were just testing it out. He now has a helmet so that he can go riding with me. I'm so excited to be back on my bike. I feel like it's been way too long! Looking forward to a summer, once again, bike filled!

Praying for Stellan

I'm not sure why, perhaps it's some kind of message to me...but this is the second little heart patient I've followed through the years. Many of you, I'm sure, know of Stellan's story. It can be found here: http://www.mycharmingkids.net Stellan underwent an ablation the other day, but things aren't looking so bright at the current moment. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts as you go about your day.

Organizing the Studio




It was about a year ago when I said "Au revoir!" to my old studio as it turned into Patrick's room. All of its contents made their way into the famous "purple room" to find a new home.

"You can just organize it when the baby gets here!" Joe said to me. Of course, as pregnant as I was, I headed up there that week to at least create a makeshift sewing space that was mine.

It certainly never quite returned to the same glory of having a studio space with 4 glorious windows. It was quaint, functional, but most importantly, my studio recreated.

Well, here I am, 8 months later. The creative bug seemed to have bitten me hardcore lately, and with that, comes the inert urge to really ramp up my studio space. I took out all of my fabric yesterday to organize it by color with the plans to get shelves for it. Having limited space in an attic, I had shelves in mind, but they didn't quite work out. I was stumped. Then it hit me! These shelves are perfect! They can be put in any which way I want!

Now, to find the best source for them.

Finn does They Might Be Giants!!

Magnolia




One of the things I love about Spring is how everything is like a surprise again, each and every year! One plant that particularly amazes me is the Magnolia. The flowers arrive and cover every branch of the tree. They look beautiful for about two weeks before they all fall off, and when they do, it's like magic! The tree is covered in leaves! It's almost like Spring happens behind those flowers, like they are wrapping paper, and when they come off, we get a whole new tree!

The magnolia flowers are out already. I can't help but think that in a week or two, all the other trees will follow in suite! Spring is really here!

Turtles and Time Spent with the Expecting



Marissa came to visit Patrick and I today! We knew we had crafty time in mind when she came. I remember vividly trying to sew the week before Patrick came. Getting down on the floor to cut fabric wasn't so easy to do. Knowing that, I wasn't expecting her to get down and cut with me. I was happy for the company and the ideas. She wanted a sling, so we were easily able to whip her up one. We also took some time to craft her up a taggie turtle. She said she'd tried, but couldn't get it quite right. How could my friend who loved turtles so very much not have her very own taggie turtle for her expectant little one!?! After some thought, I was able to put one together for her. Of course, she loved it. Hopefully, Q will love it too!

Under the Sea



Joe and I always promised ourselves that we'd be the type of parents to give our kids experiences of all kinds. We'd "culture" them, so to speak. Museums, parks, music, you name it, we'll do it. As Joe and I both enjoy our time off for Spring break, we've done just that. Joe took Patrick to the museum of Natural History in Philadelphia on Monday, and yesterday, we went to the Adventure Aquarium.


We thought that by picking Thursday, the aquarium would be less filled. Boy were we wrong. Apparently, more people have off from school on Passover than I had thought! None the less, we did manage to get there. We were excited to see the new portions of the aquarium. After visiting the Atlanta Aquarium, Camden is nothing to shake a stick at, but it's still not bad. Patrick enjoyed looking around....at both fish *and* people.

12 Days of Easter

It's here! Finally! I've survived 2 months of work and Spring Break is finally here! And boy do I have QUITE the agenda! Of course, I can't imagine getting to everything on my list, but I'm sure going to try!

*Make Patrick a cute variety of bibs

*Bake bread, soon, like tomorrow maybe, I'm really craving homemade toast and jelly

*Visit friends and family

*Perhaps start an Etsy shoppe! Yes, the creativity is really going on around here!

*Fix the back door

*Fix Joe's closet door

*Clean all extraneous surfaces in my house

*Take long walks to appreciate the spring happenings all over town with Patrick

*Garden! Oh my, is it that time already!?

*Go to the aquarium with Joe! Today we think!


I hope you have marvelous plans for your Easter week! Have a wonderful time!

Avon by the Sea

A day at the beach...good friends...good food....and a little ice cream to top it all off. Does a Saturday get much better?