Of the summer variety… mostly.  See credits after mosaic.

1. Untitled, 2. picking up…, 3. New arrangement, 4. Dresses on a Clothes Line, 5. Frances, 6. butterflies, 7. Untitled, 8. Untitled, 9. Untitled

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys

Our family spent the weekend traveling up to Galena, Illinois for a family reunion.  When I say family, I mean 170+ people descending from Evan’s Grandmother.

She turned 95 yesterday.

(Happy Birthday, Grandmother Eleanor!)

Every year, the family has a huge campout.  Here’s the group:

They’re so much fun!  And I feel like I really know at least a fraction of the group.  Which is definite progress. ;)

While we were there, I ventured out to beautiful downtown Galena.

And visited some antique stores.

And showed tremendous restraint.

It was a great trip.

And now it’s time to house-hunt.

Evan just returned from Haiti.

And now we’re at a family campout in Galena, Illinois.

This is not the laziest summer ever…

but it is a good one. :)

1. studio, 2. Pale Posies, 3. Dresser in our kitchen, 4. 9 granny apples, 5. Variation on the crochet garland, 6. march challenge interior styling, 7. in a little girl’s room, 8. 5 july, 9. Untitled

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys

I saw something very cool today at the Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke.

Jimmy Grashow spent 3 years making this larger-than-life-sized corrugated cardboard sculpture.  Can you imagine?

He plans to install it outside in 2011 and use it as a real fountain until it disintegrates.  I don’t understand this really, but I’m so thankful I got to see it.

And I look forward to this film too.

I forgot to tell you all that Evan’s in Haiti for 10 days.  Meanwhile, his mom and I are reading The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.   It’s a 12 week program for effectively tapping into your creative side. 

Here are the two important tools that Julia swears by.

From what I’ve read so far, looking at beautiful images is an important part of feeding your creativity.  Julia says it, and I agree!

Thus, this week’s Friday Favorites:

1. Untitled, 2. I heart coffee, 3. The studio before it became wrapped in a big plastic bag, 4. hand-picked, 5. Bedroom Pip studio wallpaper, 6. Untitled, 7. DSC05469, 8. when love was the law, 9. sweet dreams

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys

Happy Weekend!

I’m here.  Really here. 

We moved halfway across the country, and then we vacationed in NC for a week.

And now I am here — here being Virginia.

It’s pretty.

All our belongings are piled in a corner of the basement.  Except our Sleep Number bed.  It’s assembled in another corner.

Oh, and the TV.  It’s at the foot of the bed.

This picture was taken on our dining table, which is covered with cords, Wal-Mart bags, the Brita container, and junkity-junk.  And a tiny space for me.

And Friday, we officially set out on our journey to Virginia.  Tulsa has been a fantastic home for us for almost 5 years.  Evan made his first short film here.  I began to blog, sew, crochet, and take pictures of it all right here.

We had two babies here.

And we bought a house.

And we made some really great friends.

We are sad to leave our friends and home–but always game for new adventures!

Goodbye, Tulsa!  We heart you.

It’s a little late on a Friday to be posting, but my brain isn’t working right.  Our air conditioner died.  Six days left in our house–all of which should be spent packing–and I can’t move away from the ceiling fans.

See credits below the mosaic.

1. Andalusia, 2. Cranes, 3. The kitchen with beautiful orange flowers…, 4. Mid-century candle holder, 5. a summer frock…, 6. 3Dvision, 7. All from the same crewel piece, 8. Cheveux Jaunes Dollie, 9. I Can See a Rainbow

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys

I just finished this family tree for my friend, Mandy, who lives in Maryland (and who is a very talented photographer).  Her father just got married, and she wanted a tree to represent the new family.

It’s completely handstitched with applique and embroidery, and I made it with a combination of new and vintage fabrics.

Although I might alter the design a bit, I’d like to offer custom family trees in my shop.

I’m also kinda wanting one for my own family… made with bits of our old clothing.

Maybe I’ll start one after we move. :)

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers for our family.

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials” -James 1:2 (NASB)

Joy (not to be confused with the emotion happy) is something we have in abundance right now.

We’ll be moving in 2 weeks to live closer to family.  (Yes, our house finally sold!)  I’ll try to update regularly in the mean time.  Thanks again for your prayers!  We are thankful for each and every one.