I don’t think they are difficult to make, but the outcome is fantastic. He hung the first one at the foot of Pea’s bed, and she’s in love with it as much as I am. It looks great. It’s very low-profile, neat and different from the expected basket of books that’d been housing her nighttime reads, on the floor next to her bed, up until yesterday afternoon.

And I could easily have bought this shelf, and not thought twice about it. But how much more meaningful that rather than simply clicking on the “add to cart” button, my little girl’s father handcrafted a similar shelf for her? In his own wood-shop? While she played in the yard, next to his shop, with her little sister. You can’t put a price on that…

I love that my husband is so capable. I also love that I’m steadily learning that there are things I can live without, that there are things we can make ourselves. We made a vow to try and simplify our lives, and it looks to me like it’s working. And sometimes, as I’m sitting in front of the television at night, my knitting in hand (I’m making my first official sweater for Pea – from this book), I have to giggle at how old-fashioned it all seems. I’ve always been a traditionalist, but I also have always been a huge consumer. If I wanted it, I bought it. And most of what I was buying could not be accounted for a mere six months after the purchase was complete. And that’s so sad, to buy just for the sake of buying. So, we promised one another that we are going to be more mindful of the things we bring into our home.

I still believe firmly in quality over quantity. I buy the best that I can because it makes me feel good, but also because I know that over time, that item will pay for itself. Quality lasts. In fact, I still have the first cashmere sweater my mother ever bought for herself, over 30 years ago. She passed it along to me a few seasons ago, because although she was bored with it, it was a good sweater. And I’m enjoying it now. And with a little extra care, it looks nearly as good today as the day my mother bought it for herself. Splurged on it, really, all those years ago, when I was still a snot-nosed kid in the single-digits. She couldn’t really afford it, she was a single mother with two small children, new to the workforce. But she bought it, and all of those years, she’d held onto it. Long after she’d actually stopped wearing it. That beautiful black cashmere sweater with the boatneck held so many memories for her. And now, the sweater holds so many memories for me. There’s a story in that sweater. And I’m reminded of it every time I see it. I love that.

I just caught Coco with a cornflower blue Sharpie pen in her hand, and I will tell you that those pens are going to be the end of me. They come in all of these tempting colors now, and for some reason, you can find them all over our house. And Coco had one, cap off, in her little hand, searching for paper. And I just knew what was going to come next… Sharpie pen lines all up and down the front of her dress. And while I am good with the laundry, no one is that good. It’s not coming out. And the old me? Would’ve taken the dress off of her and thrown it in the trash. But the new me? Has left her in it, after all, it’s still ‘clean.’ And I’m now eying it with endless possibilities in my mind of how I can alter it, fix it, change it up…

Growth is good, don’t you think?

Into knitting or crocheting? Get on Ravelry! You have to register, and then it takes about two days to receive your log-in account information, but it is so worth the wait… (And if you’re not into knitting or crocheting? This site will make you want to learn…)

Want to be inspired by real people who make beautiful things? Sugar City is my newest obsession (thanks, Dancer!). I’m working on the Village Frock for Pea and just ordered the pattern for the Servant Frock. (Don’t you just love the names? Talk about evoking another era.) The patterns are easy to work with, come with very detailed instruction booklets and many variations on the same pattern that makes these fantastically chic little girl’s dresses a must.

This dress for a little girl. It’s made from a refashioned men’s dress shirt. The tutorial says it’s easy. And I’m dying to try it. And also? Kicking myself for that huge bag of my husband’s discarded button-downs that I recently dropped off at Goodwill. So this project? It’ll have to wait. But it’s on… the list.

Finally! Something to do with that huge Ziploc bag of fabric scraps… Love these fabric remnant necklaces. So cute on a little girl. Such a perfect project for a mama to make with her little girl. Here’s a tutorial. But it’s those necklaces with the flowers on them that really have my imagination on overdrive. How gorgeous are they?

This little book arrived from Japan yesterday. Apparently, the “Nina” doll that it’s all about is quite popular over there. Little did I know that you could make your own Nina doll, and this book? Gives you the pattern and the instructions. Needless to say, it’s in Japanese, but I’ve used Japanese sewing patterns before, and if you have a basic understanding of sewing, you can work with them just fine. And if you are confident in logic? It’ll be a cinch. Anyway, the book also (and more importantly!) includes patterns (and gorgeous color photographs) for Nina’s very own chic little wardrobe. It’s a project that the girls and I will tackle this summer. And it will be an ongoing one, but one that will bring much delight (and satisfaction!) to theirs (and my) faces!

And courtesy of Unruly Things, I have been inspired to make more of an effort. I’ve been slacking lately. Running out the door every morning in the same sweatpants that I’ve been wearing for the past three days. And my favorite sneakers that have been chewed up by sweet little Lola on the left side of the right shoe. And the same tee-shirt that I slept in the night before. My grey roots are showing and really? Would it kill me to put on a little blush? Wake up my tired-looking visage? Anyway, I am human and have fallen into one of those… what do you call them? Slumps. Or ruts. But Unruly Things is going to pull me out of it. I just know it will. And this is the perfect time to try – summer (well, almost). As in summer + dresses = effortless grace. Throw one on, and then even with yesterday’s hair and flip-flops, you look great. And speaking of dresses, this is the one (in ‘Johnnie’s Favorite Print’), found while perusing the past posts on the Unruly site, that caught my eye and imagination. I want this dress! The cut, the print, the fabric… It’s too perfect for words.

This French woman’s blog. I am obsessed. No one can put together such a stunningly simple and chic outfit as a French woman can. I love to scan through the photos of her ensembles. Most of them with hand-made items. Just impeccable. And again, inspiring. In my next life? Please, please, please let me come back as a fantastically modern French woman with style to spare. Please.

Love You Baby. My favorite new children’s store. I haven’t bought anything from them yet, but I cannot stop looking at the clothes! Just so simple, sumptuous and timeless. But with an edge. And you know me, I love that ‘edge.’ How incredible is this little skirt? With a pair of Havaiana flip-flops and a plain white tank-top? Pea would be in heaven.

Superga sneakers. I used to hoard these on trips to Italy. I’d hit every store in town, looking for my size, specific colors, and then lug them back to the States. I adored them. But somewhere along the path of my life, I let them go. And now? They are making them in tiny kid sizes, and my passion has been reignited. So cute, so practical, so many choices.

This Zodiac watch. I love a good and sporty watch. This one is chunky, but not so oversized that I’d look as if I borrowed my husband’s watch. Just perfect for an active lifestyle.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! And Happy Mother’s Day…

Aargh.

They say not to congregate. Not to have our kids around other kids, healthy or not. To stay inside. In our own homes. And do things that we all know we should do. Wash our hands. Do not touch our faces. Cover our mouths when we sneeze. You know, stuff that heretofore only rocket scientists and brain surgeons knew to do.

Kidding. I kid.

Kinda’.

I’m irritated. We’re all irritated. It’s crazy over here, the level of fear that the local government offices involved in this decision have set into motion.

It’s the flu.

Yes, I know the big picture is that ‘they’ are trying to prevent this particular strain from morphing into a more virulent strain, come fall, but seriously? What are we going to have to do to make sure that’s not going to happen?

Apparently, home schooling is the answer. A life of solitude enjoyed in the comfort of one’s own home.

Open the schools back up! Please! We’re running out of things to do over here. And that one kid? Who had the only documented case of this flu in our school district? He’s all better now. Has been for two weeks…

And, so… a brief rundown of the last few days for our family…

Sidewalk chalk? Check.

Summer dresses on the sewing machine using this gorgeous Heather Ross print? Check.

New Princess crowns? Check.

Handmade fabric flowers lovingly cut out, formed and sewn onto the front of a plain white tee-shirt? Check. And ouch.

Homemade Ginger Chocolate Chip cookies? Check. And yum.

New books read over and over? Check.

“Charlie and Lola” on TV? Check. (Even mama watches this one; so darn appealing…)

The natives are getting restless…

Are you? Getting restless? What are you and yours doing to pass the time, if your schools are also shut down? I need ideas! We’re running out of projects, and we’re barely into the first full week of being out of school!

And by the way, Mr. Schools’ Superintendent? And Mr. Guy From the County Health Department? Really? We should 1) keep our kids inside, away from others? 2) Not congregate? And 3) Take our families out to shop and eat? Huh? What the?

My suggestion? Hire new speech writers. Or maybe? Think before you open your mouths…