Zakka Style Sewing

Don't you just love the library? You've probably heard me praise libraries before, just think, there are many places in the world where libraries don't even exist! Anyways, here's my latest find: Zakka Style- 24 projects stitched with ease to give, use and enjoy. The Japanese word Zakka loosely means 'many things' or 'miscellaneous goods' as well as a style that is simple, unique and handmade. Simple, unique and handmade? Sounds like something right up my alley! Apparently, I'm not alone in this alley, a quick search on the internet turns up hundreds of pages on Zakka Style sew-alongs (sew-alongs are web-supported groups of people who sew the same project at the same time, help each other and show off) so I was eager to get started.

Here's a photo of my pencil case which I completed in about an hour while the Kid was his crib singing: "Mommy, I don't close my eyes, I don't nap, Mommy."

What's fun about this style is the small amount of patchwork included in the sewing. I'm not much into making quilts and cutting a zillion little pieces of cloth, but with these small projects you can enjoy the combination of leftover fabrics without going bananas. The use of linen also gives the pieces a simple and natural look. I think I might repeat this project again, it was so much fun. Or invent something....

Oh and I finally got my hands on a copy of Simplicity Parenting- Using the extraordinary power of less to raise calmer, happier and more secure kids from the library, so I might have to slow down the artistic challenge so I can read it before the next person on the long, long, waiting list can have it. Gotta find out why so many people want to read this book! More on that later!

Artistic Challenge Heating Up

It's the middle of July, one sinus infection, a sun burn and some glorious sun and my artistic challenge is going well. I made a tourist rabbit for a one year old neighbor, some snack packs for a friend, bought an umbrella and rearranged our patio, and made new crayons.

Ferdinand, Ferdinand and the Beetle

Yesterday, my husband came home all smiles and said he got a raise at work, and to celebrate this, I bought him the Porsche bible: Porsche 911 Story. Not the flashiest title, I'm thinking as I write this, but as I flipped through it in the store, I noticed enough tables and diagrams of engines and other parts to keep my mechanical engineer husband reading late into the night. I decided to make a card to go along with the book and quickly read up on the history of Porsche makers, Ferdinand Sr. and his son, Ferry Porsche.

Turns out they also invented the Volkswagen. So I wrote a short story.

Ferdinand loved cars. At work, he was very serious. Building cars is a serious business, you know. But, every night, Ferdinand invented crazy, happy cars in his sleep.
Ferdinand also had a son named Ferdinand. It got a little bit confusing for Ferdinand's mother, so his parents called him Ferry. Ferry loved cars too.
One day, while Ferdinand and Ferdinand were having tea in the garden, a bug landed into their teapot.  This gave them the idea to build a car just like this bug.
The bug car had big headlights and a round body.
Everyone loved this car and soon everyone called it The Beetle.

Artful Moments

Nothing like sitting in a quiet house munching on leftover birthday cake and sipping on hot tea while the sun is deciding if it wants to stick around for the rest of the day. I'm on day 3 of my artistic challenge and managing to find little bits of time here and there for it. I spent a delightful afternoon at The Outpost drawing whatever was around and today I painted some sticks with the kid.

#3 Salt and Pepper

 #2 Painted sticks