Matt does freezer paper stencils quite well

Matt has been messing around with some freezer paper stencil designs.  He has some put away for the boys for Christmas but also has done a few here that I can post.

A really cool Moguera shirt that was crazy complex!

Then, some undies for his Dad...

He is having a lot of fun with this, especially with stuff for the boys.  There are a lot of good tutorials out there, like this one from a great blog named http://www.dana-made-it.com/

while Mom's away, the boys will play

This is the kind of stuff that goes on when I'm at work.  Add a camping play set made by my Mom with some figures from He-man and throw in some marshmallows and you get this...

Or maybe you'd like some gum?

  And reason 1,000,001 of why i love my husband is...  He leaves love notes for all of us!

Appreciating the vintage...

Just looking at some of my favorite vintage kitchen stuff makes me feel like I ate a big bowl of mac-n-cheese with stewed tomatoes and cornbread.  Comforted.

milk glass, a star-bottomed pitcher, trivets and a favorite tablecloth.

Grandma's old measuring cups, icepicks (which is one of my most useful kitchen tools), a juicer,  ice cream spade and a double boiler that I received for my birthday.

A special tablecloth I got on my last day of  living in Washington at a local thrift store and a new-to-me cake carrier in  amazing condition from the thrifty peddler in Lakewood.  I got that baby for just a couple bucks!

What things do you use all the time that bring you comfort and joy?  A favorite mug?  a special blanket?  There is something about making the mundane  into something special that makes life immensely enjoyable for me. 

Something for Winter, Something for Spring

     I whipped myself up a couple of things lately that have made me happy.  First of all, I know it is almost Thanksgiving, but I made a skirt for Spring.  I found 2 pristine vintage pillowcases and couldn't keep my hands off them!  So what if it was practically snowing when I sat down at Hazel (my sewing machine, yeah, I also name my cars!)  Those pillowcases demanded to be reworked into something more fabulous!

Then, reality set in and the knitting needles came out!  Time for something warm!  I had picked up a cute vintage swing coat  for a steal at $10 and needed a hat to go with it.  I used a pattern I found on Ravelry by Rachel Iufer .  I of course, screwed up and knitted too many rows but salvaged it by flipping the brim.  On the bright side-- my ears will be even toastier!

I have fallen in love with the color!!!!!!!!

While I was busy making this stuff, my daughter was busy making my grand baby!  She was a little early, but her Mom tried her very best to keep the little bun baking as long as possible!  I have had the chance to finally hold her now that she is out of the NICU and it was heavenly!!!!!!!!!

What a dolly!!!!!!!!!  Olivia Jean!!!