Get out there and vote for your favorite handmade top on Made by Rae!

Here are today’s tops:

Lots of inspiration and talent on display this week, so don’t miss it!  :)

Jacob had a great birthday!  He got to play on a fire truck, eat chocolate cake, and play with car- and truck-themed toys.  I don’t think it could have been more perfect.

At two years old, Jacob:

• is madly in love with the movie Cars
• is also wild about Toot-toots (Thomas the Tank Engine)
• and recognizes the different trains (”Hi Henry!  Hi Gordon!  Hi James!  Hi Percy!  Hi Toot-toot!”)
• asks for “cookies” regularly… which really means anything sweet
• loves “yellow digguhs” or yellow diggers
• will practically put himself down for a nap (thank goodness)
• appears to have rhythm
• is very good at roaring
• and likes when you roar at him
• can say his own name upon request (”I’m Jake-Jake!”)
• can also make requests (”‘boooouuuut… Cars!!!” he says with an air of authority and with his finger raised in the air.)
• is starting to fight back against the powers that be
• but generally is a ball of sunshine

Jacob, I love you!  Thanks for being the happy little monster that you are. :)

Here’s Jacob at 1.

This week we celebrate Jacob turning 2 and Evan turning 30!!!  I’ll have to share more details later, but I just wanted to say Happy Birthday to the handsome fellas in my life! :)  Love you guys.

We just put our house back on the market.  I don’t think I ever told y’all that it was off the market for a couple months.  Selling your house is stinkin’ hard work!

But we’re giving it another go.

Please pray for it to sell fast!

:)

That’s my son, making us all laugh for no less than an hour this morning.

And here are some Flickr Favorites for added happy:

1. father & daughter, 2. Tas-ka, 3. Figgjo sugar shaker, 4. Interior inspiration by Stadshem real estate, 5. Untitled, 6. Thrifted chair and potholder, 7. Untitled, 8. small office in a closet, 9. Her Advice?

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys

And…

What’s new in the shop:

Custom State embroideries

And a new mug!

Happy Friday!!! :)

For Rae and Dana’s Celebrate the Boy Month, I made a soft book for Jacob.  He loves so many simple things that I thought I’d just compile them into one toy.  Using old jeans, Heat ‘n’ Bond, and a variety of fabric scraps, I appliqued pictures and constructed a little book for him.  Which he seems to love.

Wanna see how?

Tutorial after the jump. :) (more…)

is being with the love of your life.  We’re celebrating 5 years today!

I stenciled the lyrics to our favorite song (U2’s The Sweetest Thing) as a Valentine’s Day/Anniversary present.  (Unfortunately, those celebrations get a bit lumped together for us.  But we try to make up for it by celebrating our engagement in the Fall.)  I got the idea from this picture of Candi Mandi’s bedroom.  But I’ve seen other versions of it since then.

He made me breakfast in bed.  (I love that man.)  All that’s left of it is this pretty mess.  I’m okay with that.

Happy Anniversary, Evan!  Thank you for 5 years of awesome. ;)

A little story:

Evan and I decided not to declare our “love” for one another until we were ready to get married.  Although a nice idea, it wasn’t altogether practical.  We just found creative ways to communicate the same message.  Much like Buttercup and Westley in The Princess Bride:

Grandpa: [voiceover] Nothing gave Buttercup as much pleasure as ordering Westley around.
Buttercup: Farm boy, polish my horse’s saddle. I want to see my face shining in it by morning.
Westley: As you wish.
Grandpa: [voiceover] “As you wish” was all he ever said to her.
Buttercup: Farm boy, fill these with water - please.
Westley: As you wish.
Grandpa: [voiceover] That day, she was amazed to discover that when he was saying “As you wish”, what he meant was, “I love you.” And even more amazing was the day she realized she truly loved him back.
Buttercup: Farm boy… fetch me that pitcher.
[It’s right over her head, so he has to stand next to her]
Westley: As you wish.
[Cut to them kissing]

“I am in like with you” became our “As you wish.”  And to this day, we are as in like with one another as ever.  ;)

Happy Valentine’s Day! <3