Makeover Monday: 4/29

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 I started this pretty neutral rag rug with the idea of making her 5 feet across.  This was months ago.  Then I got sidetracked, and she sat and sat.  Unfinished and unhappy :(

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I picked her up again this weekend and decided she deserved to be finished- even if she wasn't going to grow as large as I had hoped.  Her "done" size is 32" across, and she seems delighted.  She's ready to leave the nest!

Wednesday's Works

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I had a little lull in orders, so I finished my pretty robin's egg rug.  She is SO soft, and a great size- measuring in at 42" long and 28" wide.  Keep or sell, keep or sell?

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I've also been putting these pretty fabrics together for their debut in sosovintage.  Their pretty spring colors and flowers soothe the soul.

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How about you?  Any works in progress to share?

Tuesday's Treat

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The treat today is not just that I have these beautiful vintage towels to list in sosovintage.  It is that I am beginning to feel my thrifting and listing mojo stir once again.  It has been absent for many weeks, but I am determined to keep myself from giving all of my joys over to stress and sorrow.  I'm sending strength and smiles to anyone needing them today!

Back to Nature

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It was a beautiful weekend to spend outdoors!  My folks, Sophie and I ventured to one of our favorite northern Virginia parks to visit in the springtime: Huntley Meadows.  The last time Sophie was here, she was in a stroller!

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After a stop in at the Visitor Center to see the exhibits and purchase a souvenir visor, we were off on our adventure.

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As soon as we got to the boardwalk part of the trail, we were treated to the sight of this baby muskrat lunching on some grass.  So cute!  Looks like a beaver til you see his ratty tail...

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The frogs are so hard to see, but we managed to catch sight of a few.

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We saw at least 35 giant snapping turtles, but they were very hard to photograph.  This little guy was east to "catch" as he made his way across the mud.

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SO many tadpoles, in various stages of metamorphosis.

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My dad spotted this snake sunning himself on top of some rushes.  Not sure what kind he is, but I would have just walked on by if it hadn't been pointed out to me!

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And, most exciting of all for Sophie, she got to leave the park with a new pet.  Her inchworm "Inchy" has survived transport in a bag and a cup, and is now comfortably situated in a plastic container that has been all pimped out by Sophie.  Inchworm heaven!

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Was it outdoor weather in your corner of the world this weekend?  What did you do?!

Thursday's Treasure

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Sophie clearly loves her "Halloween Slug".  This little guy is her Earth Day Trash-to-Treasure project for school.

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She knew just how she wanted him to look, so we gathered the "trash" from the recycle bin for the slug body.  Two water bottles glued end to end, eyestalks made from pizza box cardboard, and bottle cap eyes. 

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He sat naked on the kitchen table for about a week while I tried to figure out how we were going to make him green the way Sophie wanted.  At this time of year in our neighborhood, the leaves are all beginning to grow.  So, she didn't want just any green- she wanted spring green. 

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I went down to my recycled bedsheet fabric stash and found the perfect fabric.  While I worried over how to attach the fabric, she fell in love with him as a "ghost" - a slit cut for eye stalks and the rest just draping down.  Problem solved.  He does look pretty cute, if I do say so myself.  This was a super fun project... my favorite school project to date :)

Tuesday's Treat

 

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As I know you know, life sometimes has a way of putting us on unexpected and sometimes very arduous journeys.  My days are not what they were 6 months ago, and I hope that in the same amount of time they will not be what they are today.  They will be better.  Happier.  I believe that, and I thank you for continuing to follow my sporadic posts of late.  For those of you who have become good friends, thank you for your encouragement and thoughts during this difficult time.  And for all of you who have ever questioned your true beauty, this wonderful new ad by Dove is for you.  Click the photo or HERE to enjoy.

Wednesday's Works

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Whew, it's been a busy week!  It's hard to tell from the photo, I think, but this basket is hat box size.  She measures about a foot in diameter, and stands almost 6.5" high.  She's just waiting for her lid to be made.  I hope to have lidded photos for you tomorrow.

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I finished the twin sister of the coaster I shared on Monday, so these are ready to head off to Oklahoma today.  Would love to see photos of them in their new home!

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In my spare time, I tried my hand at something I've wanted to do for a long time- a cat toy.  This is the first one I whipped up.

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Then I tweaked the size a bit, added organic catnip, and gave it a nose job and whiskers.  Sinatra is in heaven with his new toy, and I have them listed in sosorosey now, too.

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What have you been working on these days?

Makeover Monday: 4/8

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You may remember awhile back when I made the custom red ombre fabric bowl.  And that it turned out to not be right for what the customer wanted.  Then she decided on two round coasters instead of a bowl, but I had trouble finding the right red with black fleck fabric.  So I tried a mix of black and red yarn, but that wasn't right either.

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At that point, this very patient customer asked if they could send me the fabric they liked.  Yes!!!  It arrived the other day, and here is what she found.  It is brand new from a fabric store, and while this would not be the type of fabric I'd typically be cutting up (just because it is not upcycled), it sure works for this purpose.

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I'm not sure that I've ever seen a crocheted product look so much like the original fabric!  So anxious to hear how she likes it!

Art Show: Proud Mom Alert

Sophie had not one but TWO works of art selected for exhibit at the 43rd annual Prince William County Schools Arts Festival 2013!  We attended the festival today and were blown away by the talent showcased from every PWC school, grades K-12.  I told Sophie we should have brought a notebook with us to write down all of the cool ideas for things to create.  Here are her beautiful entries:

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Color Mixing Birds

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Texture Owl

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Sophie will also receive a Festival Certificate awarded by her art teacher.  In addition to visual arts, there were dance, music and theatre performances throughout the event.  I know my girl felt very proud to have been chosen to exhibit, and a fun time was had by us both.  Can't wait for these to come home and be displayed on the walls of our home :)

 

Makeover Monday: 4/2

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I have many bunny faces and jute appliques to make this week, but I also have this beginning post for a wonderful makeover that will be happening in the next 10 days or so.  All of these fabrics will combine to make an heirloom lidded clutter keeper that will make its way to Australia upon completion.  Looking forward to working with a spectacularly kind and fun repeat customer on this project!

Easter Memories