Back from Vacation

Well I'm finally back from vacation. My husband and I spent just under a week in mid-coast Maine. It was slightly in honor of our five year anniversary (today!) and also just to recharge our batteries as parents and human beings. We spent time hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, sleeping, eating good food and watching sailboats pass by.

Speaking of good food, I loved being in a town where it felt like every other restuarant was touting their local food menu. I've done some reading and soul searching and really felt like I wanted to affect the economy and my health by eating as locally as I could this summer. My husband and I finally went to try the one restaurant in our area that offers a local menu. It was delicious (and slightly on the high end of price), but well worth it. But it was only one place. We don't live in a rural wasteland. We actually live in a beautiful county chock full of agriculture, farmer's markets and CSAs. But we only have ONE restaurant offering local food. It's starting to tick us off. Especially after visiting Camden, ME and seeing so many many local choices. Our nearby, small urban area could defintely support a few more places, or at least we think so. So there you have it Glens Falls, NY. We're calling you out. Start offering more local food. I'll eat it if you cook it!

And speaking of eating, our favorite eateries in Camden, ME were

1. Paolino's Way - crab pizza was excellent and we heard the baked oysters are to die for!

2. Cappy's - classic clam chowder and a surprising healthy salmon dish that my husband loved. Please - DO NOT skip out on dessert. Their cake and pies are heavenly. I had the lemon blueberry cheesecake. I told the waitress how wonderful it was and she said she was going to go have a piece herself. There was half a cake left and they were going to throw it out if it didn't all sell. I seriously contemplated buying the rest of the cheesecake and taking it back to the hotel with me. It wouldn't have lasted the night. My husband gave me the hairy eyeball. I backed down.

3. Shepherd's Pie - technically in Rockport, ME, but still delicious. Their signature shepherd's pie dish and fried squid were oh so tasty!

Well that's all I have time for tonight. But I'll leave you with a sneak peek from the beginnings of the end of the rainbow blocks. Did that make sense? Anyone?

Off on Vacation

Guess what I did yesterday? SEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you tell I'm excited? I spent a whole day of my vacation jsut sewing. Well, alright, I did spend one hour exercising. Priorities people. But now all the rainbow blocks are done! Such a relief. Until I think about what to do with them next! Oy.

But now I'm off on a more "real" vacation while my husband and I celebrate five years of marriage. He's the best decision I ever made. I love you handsome.

I'll be back with pictures of upcoming projects. You know all those finished blocks have to be turned into something. And I've already got a couple ideas. Until then, enjoy these pictures.

New Items in the Shop

I added 8 new flower hair pins to the shop tonight.

I tried to yesterday, but let's just say technology and I were not getting along.

And remember how I've posted before about the importance of adding "model" shots of how the items look when worn and my trouble with getting those shots? Well I haven't found a better method yet. I have a specific idea of how I want the shot to look, that and my too short arms leave me out as a model. My husband offered to be my model for me, but that just doesn't seem right, with women's hair accessories and all. So who out there wants to be my model? =)

Cranberry Sour Cream Muffins

You'd think I'd been doing nothing but sewing based on my last few posts, but alas, it is not true! I also have a love for baking. I can't resist turning on the oven when the summer heat starts to fade. My daughter and I cranked these out last weekend. Just tart enough for even my husband to enjoy (for those who don't know, his sweet tooth never came in).

Funny story...I let my daughter mix the dry ingredients while I mixed the wet. I look over to see her scooping tiny handfuls of flour out onto the counter top and floor. Yikes! I salvaged what I could, but was prepared for an overly soggy mix, especially since I use maple syrup instead of sugar. Of course they came out perfect! She must know more about baking than I do.

Wave Your Freak Flag

Okay, these aren't really freak flags, but it's a saying my husband likes to pull out from time to time and it was too good to pass up.

I obviously seem to be more into party banners than my original rainbow project from the beginning of the summer. C'est la vie. I like the red in this one, but the blue and white triangles are looking boring to me now. It's what I had on hand, already pre-cut and everything, and we know how much I dislike the tedious task of cutting.

I also do not like how thick the red border is compared to the original khaki one. But again it's what I had on hand and I also dislike buying new things. This post is getting really negative really quickly.

Well what I really want to say is that I'm reading "Bend the Rules with Fabric" by the fabulous Amy Karol, and I'm feeling inspired to "bend" the rules. Stamping? Bleach pen? Fabric paint? We shall see...

Flirty Flowers

The results of the power outage last week have finally come to fruition. Look for them in my Etsy shop soon.

Fall is in the Air

I'm not one for 90 degree heat and humidity, but putting a sweater on in the morning seemed a little ridiculous for summer weather. I can see leaves on the ground, trees are starting to change. I don't like it. Then one night I made apple pie. My husband and I both ate fresh from the oven slices while wrapped in a blanket on the couch. It smelled like Fall. I'm ready now.

At last!

All it took as a power outage and a sleeping baby to get out of my creative funk.

I spent two hours creating this week and it felt wonderful.

Releasing.

Calming.

Beautiful.

Centering.

I loved it.

Thanks for taking a nap baby. Mommy really needed it.

Home sweet home...

This is where I'm headed this weekend...

I hope to do some of this...

And if I'm lucky a little bit of this...

What are your weekend plans?

Bad Summer Sewer

I am a bad summer sewer. It's just not in me to defeat the heat and overcome the humidity. Instead I have become a human processing machine for our garden's bounty. I've processed zucchini like it's my job, well maybe it is my job...that's just depressing.

The tomatoes are starting to ripen. They taste so sweet! I am nervous for the full crop. I've been blessed with everything I need to can this year. So I've promised myself I will can tomatoes, pickles and relish. Oh boy. I can do this, I'm just not sure I know that!

But I didn't sign on today just to tell you about my garden and how sick I am of it. I wanted to let you all know that yes, I did indeed sit down at my sewing machine yesterday! And it felt good. I just made a couple seams and voila - I upholstered a toddler bed my husband made for our daughter. Alsmost a year ago I found this wonderful tutorial at Design*Sponge, courtesy of Design Mom. I am very thankful for a handy (and handsome) husband who can help me bring these projects to fruition.

We are now on day 2 of using said toddler bed. My daughter is sleeping the hallway. Oh boy. Wish me luck...

ps - I would show you pictures of this fantastic trip back into the land of sewing, but alas, our camera is broken. I'll drown my sorrows in zucchini bread.