one month

hoot hoot wooly owl

Made an owl out of cashmere sweaters for a friend's daughter with my new sewing machine. I think once fall comes back around I will make some more wooly animals, but I want to move on to more springy projects. I have been itching to craft but have had no time the last two months. I can feel the bottled up creativity getting more and more agitated inside me- I need to paint! Take photographs! Draw! Luckily, school/grading/planning will be over in two weeks and I can move away from creating lesson plans to creating art.

welcome baby parker!

Wednesday, February 8th became one of the greatest days for my family: Parker was born! Now there are whole new roles: sister turns mom, parents into grandparents and I am now an aunt. Everyone is ready to develop their part to nurture this little one.

deadwood

Last year I drove through Deadwood, SD in the middle of the night. I had to keep driving, but I desperately wanted to stop. It was such lovely looking place, with pristine and preserved buildings from the 1860s quietly nestled in the Black Hills. After that I read about it and devoured HBO's characterization of the town. I finally got to go back and stayed for the day. Deadwood was not always quiet; the region was called 'The Bad Lands' for a reason. During the gold rush, everyone carried guns and any free time meant hanging out with booze, cards, and women. I got to visit the museum, the graves of Buffalo Bill and Calamity Jane, and the site where the first pieces of gold were found. The entire city is now a protected National Historic Landmark.

tea party ii: baby shower!

One of the best things EVER is happening in my family right now: a baby is on the way! My sister is pregnant and due in a few weeks. During winter break I had a baby shower for her titled "Tea for Two." There were lots of family and friends, stories told, and desserts. The cradle my dad made transformed into a the greatest gift holder. And everyone got to leave with a gift- a mini tea party for later.

tea party i

My good friend's daughter has started getting interested in fancy things. She is six now, and is now drawing clothes and jewelry so she is a girl after my own heart. Of course I had to put on a tea party for her. Her mom is not as interested in dressing up so when they came over we both whisked her upstairs and dressed her up in as many pink and rhinestone items we could find in my closet and jewelry box (we did good). And then we had a lovely afternoon snacking and sipping and chatting.

holiday recap: stocking stuffers' stuffing

If only Pirate would rip through JUST the wrapping and not the presents themselves.