GG's Apron

Can you believe it? Charlotte and I were at my favorite fabric store the other day (so what's new?) and we saw a special estate release of a fairy pattern that was on the wallpaper in an upstairs bedroom when I was growing up. I even took pictures of it before they took it down. It was such a sweet and magical print. Charlotte and I decided right on the spot to make an apron for GG with it. I trimmed it with some cutie pie amy butler prints.



Charlotte had a great playtime with her sweet friend Francesca. They went on a big baking adventure making a loaf of cinnamon swirl bread. The icings and toppings were awesome, but the bread itself was not. I've been working with the artisan bread in five minutes a day, which is so easy, but I think I'm tinkering too much with the ingredients by adding a lot of whole wheat. Next time I'll behave and follow the directions.






Charlotte also taught Francesca how to eat edamame, which was a big hit.



I also made a felt flower to go with a gardening-themed auction basket for William's school. It's the first one I've tried with so many petals.




That's all for now. Thanks for reading!

Movie Time!

Our dancing queen had her ballet recital tonight. I downloaded the video and along with it came a treasure trove of snippits from the last few months. Pop some popcorn! Here we go!




Gracie bear took her time learning to walk and was quite a proficient scooter. So cute!


Now she's walking! Here she is navigating a stick last weekend.



Gracie is obsessed with toe fluff. Everyday she looks for treasures. In fact, anytime she is barefoot, she's a-looking.




And a big tickle pile to finish it all off!

Felt forth, my friends!

Well, Charlotte is demanding that we update the blog, so I thought we would showcase some of our recent craftiness. Have I mentioned that I love making felted bowls? They are fast, easy, and they don't have to fit anybody's head, body, etc. Perfect! Here's my little family of felted bowls.






Here's the pink one before felting: Cool, huh?


I've also been a sewing maniac. I've got my own little sweatshop in the basement! Here are some of my recent productions. Pants and skirt for Gracie Bear from Portobello Pixie patterns.




Here's Gracie-boo in a skirt from some great Japanese import fabric and Amy Butler trim:


Charlotte wanted a skirt in all pink, but my favorites to sew are those rockin' patterns.


These pants are probably my favorite. Our friend Jordan was over with his kids when I finished them, and he said he needs a pair in red velvet. You'll look fabulous, Jordan!


I also was inspired to sew a skirt for myself. It turned out great! I'm so pleased. It's a barcelona skirt from Amy Butler in baby wale corduroy.


William and his dad got crafty (I mean manly) with their pinewood derby car. It's the coolest thing ever! It won awards for the best design.






Charlotte and Gracie in an early morning art session. Check out Gracie's back hair tuft. She's looking quite a bit like Benjamin Franklin with that 'do.





And for a final bit of craftiness, my little glass cozies that I make from felted sweaters and embroider with Japanese critters. So cute!! Everyone tells me I should sell them.



x
That's all for now. Thanks for reading! Love to you all.

Welcome to three little byrds at sunny house! It's a glimpse into our lives of giggling, cooking, and getting creative. We're glad you're here. And remember: make something today!


First, everyone's favorite topic: The Wee Byrdies (OK, I'm biased).

Charlotte is obsessed with fairies, and whenever she doesn't want to do something (which is often) she claims "I'm a fairy you know, and fairies don't need to ___ (sleep, eat veggies, etc.) Apparently, fairies fly around 24 hours a day in a sugar-fueled frenzy.



Charlotte is also a beautiful dancing ballerina, and just loves her new dance class. Here she is reading up on some new moves, and getting ready for class:




She also has developed a love of high heals, and wears this particular pair far more than mama does. Everyone in the house must guard their toes with Charlotte wielding those spikies!



We have been learning about the hidden folk (a wonderful, wonderful book about river sprites, gnomes, elves, fairies, selkies and the like). We have discovered we have a nisse (a house gnome) in our house who steals socks and mittens to use as bedding for his own children and he helps take care of Leo (no wonder Leo's coat is so shiny!). Every holiday, we leave a bowl of porridge out for the nisse, which he gobbles up when we're not looking.



William's notes read: Happy Saint Patrick's Day Nisse and Leprechans! Nisse thank you for taking care of Leo.





Kimberly's recent surge of unexplainable craftiness is reaching epic proportions. I think we have Aunt Sue to blame, who encouraged me to try knitting again. I spent 16 hours on a train back and forth to Chicago making pitiful looking dish cloths, but then I got it! And I couldn't stop. It all started with a little hat that turned out huge and then I felted it.

Since then I've made neck warmers, baby hats, a felted hat for myself from Lisa Cruse's Vivian Hat pattern (see below), and lots of bowls (ok, three) which are my favorite.



The brown Vivian hat before felting:And the rockin', cat-in-the-hat orange bowl before and after felting:

















More to come soon! Thanks for reading!