OH my darling! Shirt & Tie

Smashing!

Shirt: H&M
Tie: H&M
Pants: H&M
Socks: H&M
Accessories: Guitar and Karate Kick

Blooming trees

Maybe not the best day to capture the beauty of the flowering trees ... or maybe its because they are drive-by snapshots from my car window! Pretty, none the less.


Blooming trees:

I love this weeping, skinny trunk tree:

And then there is this W I D E weeper:

Any my Japanese Maple that I bought and planted last year. I am happy & relieved to see some sprouting leaves.

And my little buds:

{this moment}

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

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If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Inspired by Soulemama.

OH My darling! Daffodils and Tunics

A yellow tunic for the spring:

Tunic: Kate Quinn - organic cotton
Pants: H&M - purple velvet
Shoes: Old Navy - soft sole converse style w/ dinosaurs
Socks: Old Navy
Accessories: Thumbdrive

Small storage solutions: upcycle: cigar boxes

In the open, displayed on bookshelves:

Collection of cigar boxes, circa 1998

Collection of coasters, matches & notes from travels

Magazine clippings of things I liked

Buttons

In the supply room, shelved:

Miscellaneous beads

Colour coded beads

On the desk, decorated:

A decorated jewelery box

♥Mothers day gift from 2nd grader♥

Cotton castle

I am reminded of our trip to Pamukkale (Cotton castle) in 2008 after our recent visit to the local caverns.  The tour guide pointed out a tiny bit of some calcite, (calcium carbonate in its crystallize form).

Now check out this calcium carbonate:

Here are some pictures of our climb up the travertine:

the bus station

When you reach the top you can bathe in Cleopatra's pool of healing mineral waters.

And take some pictures of the sun setting.

The town of Pamukkale is tiny. Many people bus in, climb the travertine and bus out at night. In the tourist posters around Istanbul, they depict bathing in the travertine. This is no longer possible, (in an effort to preserve the historical site), but the place is amazing and worth the trip and you do get to walk through the waters. It took me several trips to Istanbul before I got to Pamukkale. Both Sun and his mom thought nothing of it. BUT once he was there, he was impressed as well.

A little holdfast

I love the colours and calming effects of stones.

So does this itty bitty holdfast.

Inspired by a post @ Love Life Project (subtly, the stone jar)

Taken on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver Island 2/2011

Burlap curtain project

Firstly, lay out and admire material.

Test material on window. I didn't like it here and decided to use it for my porch window. Burlap has a strong smell.

I had 5 yards (of 10 ounce burlap) and cut it in half to sew together.  I wanted a loose joining so light would filter through the seam and highlight the hemp rope.

Prepare to dye the fabric. I chose the laundry machine method. Have never dyed this way; it was easy and recommended for bulk material.

Get magnifying glass to read instructions

Wet fabric before adding it to the dye solution

Soak

Dye job foiled. I had skipped over the "test material for dying potential". Intentionally. I also threw in ALL 5 yards, rather then the recommended 1-2 yards / package. I wasn't that invested in successful dye results. I wanted to see the finale.


Back to sewing the two pieces together.... When you hit the fabric store for a grommet tool, I suggest you pick up a large needle (unless you have a fully stocked sewing room). Sewing the two pieces together without a needle is doable; the fabric separates easily enough to guide shove the rope through. But now a days, in this fast paced tech age of flipping through channels and websites ... well, gone are the days of Zen and the Art of Tedium. I used to be able to do this.

It took  several days to get to a store equipped with sewing tools but once I had the large needle in hand, the piecing together was done in a half hour.

And adding grommets.  I used the scientific technique "halving material" for the grommet placement. First put one grommet on each end, then fold material in half and add grommet in middle. Then fold two grommets together, add another in middle, etc.

Grommet = fun

I used the hemp rope to hang the curtains over existing hooks in the wall.

Mid job check.

And the completed curtain (almost, I need to add a few more hooks for consistent hanging and a couple grommets in each bottom corner, for a cross hanging)

The two pieces did need to be sewn together, to cover the vast window, but I also wanted some interest added to the large piece.  Right now, the "interest" is not that interesting. I may loosen the seam so light comes through. And possibly cut the piece and sew in 2 more seams.

And, although the dye job foiled, the washing machine stage was useful in fraying the edges!

IDEA Inspiration here.