Happy Moment #51: The Rocks are Multiplying

A Friday ritual with Soulemama.  A single (or a few) photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary, happy moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments too.

And if you missed the earlier episode of us knocking down the retaining wall... check it out!

“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.”

~Omar Khayyam

Awesomeness from the Weekend

Oh what a long sunny weekend!  Here are some snips of what I've been up to.

A little creating time.  Can't show the whole finish... it's a surprise -- Monika, watch your mailbox love... this one's headed your way!

A Bridal Shower for my soon to be sister in law.  Finally an excuse to play with embroidery on paper and decorate a package with handmade origami flowers!  It was fun to see my brother too!

We ate.  Sushi!!  This was called the Love Boat.  And let me tell you... it was a lovely dinner with the mister.  So much fun and lively conversation.  Just the way I like it!

We've been keeping an eye on a Robin who has not one or two, but three nests under our deck. (sorry for the blurriness)

Here is mamma bird keeping an eye on me while I try and sneak a few photos.  I even got to see her sitting on a nest.  We aren't really sure if it's one mamma or many, but either way I am so excited to see all this up close and personal!

We took down some dead trees and chopped it all up into kindling.  Look at all that warmth sitting there in that pile!

And almost the best for last... remember the bird house?  Well... we have Guests!!!  I have seen two very busy birds build a nest most of the weekend!  I am not sure if they have laid eggs yet, but I am beyond tickled to again see this whole dance up close.  Truly magical!

And I did say almost... as in, I have an even bigger surprise for tomorrow.  You won't want to miss the big news.  

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan 

Happy Moment #27: Home Tweet Home

A Friday ritual with Soulemama.  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary, happy moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments too!

Tonight, I will also be sewing away in the hopes of finishing the quilting on my king size Happy Garden as a part of this months FNSI (Friday Night Sew In) with Heidi from Handmade by Heidi and Bobbi from Crafty Vegas Mom. 

It's all about taking a few moments for yourself to indulge in a crazy amount of sewing time!  Take a look and hopefully you can join us -- after all there are prizes involved!

“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.”

~Omar Khayyam

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan

Creative Tuesday: Purple

It's Creative Tuesday!  Do a little dance, shake all around!  It's that time of the week where I open my sketch pad -- or do I? -- and see what comes out for the theme over at Mr. Toast's Creative Tuesday's assignment!

This week's theme was Purple. yes. As in the color.  As in the creative we come up with should be mostly purple.  I have to admit I was totally stumped.  I mean I could think of purple things like grapes and flowers.  I also thought of drawing something random like a hippo and coloring her purple.

But, in the end I took a totally different direction and even went away from my safe and comfortable color pencils.  It was all spurred by this... a bird house!

Yup, Katie gave me a hand crafted, one of a kind, bird house for Mother's Day!  Isn't she talented!  I'm sure, the mister helped her a little.  I was smitten!!  Been wanting my very own bird house for sometime now!

So, I gathered up my paints.  It's been a long time.. oh how I missed thee Paints!!

And I started to apply purples.  Purples mixed with pink, purples that were mostly blue, purples mixed with orange.. serious.  Check it out!  This unit even comes with blooming tulip gardens!

 I couldn't resist being my spunky self and adoring the front of the house with "Home, Tweet Home!"  And the back with "No Twig, like home"  (likened to No Place, like home)  Fun, right?

Then a large wash with Mod Podge.   Yummy!

And because that wasn't funky enough...out came the fake spanish moss to finish the job!

And there you have it.  A one of a kind, purple infused, ready to move in, freshly painted Purple Love Shack!

Mr. Toast, your incredible sir!  Thank you for the challenging them and I already say YES! to accepting your next challenge! 

I had so much fun unleashing my creative through this process, hope you consider joining in this or the next assignment (and I hope you do) feel free to check out other artists in the community here.

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan

Creative Tuesday: Little House

It's Tuesday!!  I have to admit that I have been really looking forward to showing you what I came up with this week for Mr. Toast's Creative Tuesday's assignment!

Lookie!!  lookie!!

This week's theme is "Little House," which all on it's own sounds pretty darn adorable!

I started by sketching all the types of houses that I could think of ... and well, I wasn't all too impressed with myself.  Then I started drawing some of the same houses in a very small scale.  I decided that was a bit too literal for the theme.

Then it happened.  I decided to try a sketch loosening technique and then freehand.  So, with my hand all warmed up I started in with a new idea -- in ink!  A bit gutsy on my part as I typically start with pencil and then erase and re-do until I'm happy.  Then when I'm satisfied I trace what I like in ink.

Well, not this week.  I was bold.  I was gutsy.  I am loving the results!!

Hope you're feeling creative today too and also don't forget to check out the other artists here.

Happy House

Seeing a happy house = happiness!

How cute is this? Tell me didn't smile after seeing it... you can't, right?