lauradodson:art+craft

Boerne Handmade Market April 18

Are you coming? It's going to be a funfilled day with lotsa vendors, food, music, and creative folks. Put it on your calendar now. 

I've been stitching and painting my little fingers to the bone preparing for Boerne Handmade Market! More embroidered hearts and a few whimsical paintings and a few other little bits of happiness will be offered in my booth.

There's a long history of hand stitchers in my family.  My mom, Nana, aunts, and grandmother were all stitchers. I grew up either surrounded by their work or watched them sew. It's my turn now! And I am happy to take the next spot. 

The process of cutting hearts, stitching sayings, and appliqueing the felt is quite relaxing to me. I enjoy stitching in the evening while we watch TV. This year I decided to try to make some key rings, too. I'm pleased with how they are turning out! I hope you will be, too.

As a young girl, my mom enrolled me in painting class at a local frame shop. One evening a week, I opened the doors to color, possibility, and the scents of oil paint and turpentine. Heaven on earth! I have painted in a variety of styles, but I always seem to go back to a place of whimsy and color.

 

Stop by my happydreamer booth and say Hi. I hope to see you there!

Wonder Land

Adventuring in Wonder Land. I'm in awe. The beauty of the glittering snow is too lovely for words.

Joy to the World the Lord is Come!

 

 

 

What a whirlwind of a fall semester! Back to school has turned into Christmas time. Time sure flies the older I get. Thanksgiving was wonderful--family, football, food, fun, long walk, soccer, visiting, sewing. What more could you ask for?  One more week til break and I can hardly wait.  

Halls are decked and we're reading from several Children's Bibles in the evening the story of Jesus' birth, Zacharias & Elisabeth & John, Wise Men & Herod, shepherds and the glorious angel with the multitude of heavenly host who proclaimed Salvation, Praise, and Good News to men--not of condemnation but of mercy and grace. The boys have loved climbing onto our big bed and reading before sleep. It's a nice way to wind down. 

"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;

but that the world through him might be saved."

~John 3:17 KJV

Summer School: Sewing Galore

Summer is fast approaching. 3.5 days left of school! Translation~3.5 days to NO ALARM. Aaaaah. 

Swimming. Sewing. Crafting. Playing. Board games. Art projects. Walking. Planning. Organizing. Bliss.

I have two sewing projects for me, and if they go well, then maybe a few more.

Shearwater Kaftan by Make It Perfect
 

The Kaftan looks super comfy and that's what I like. This go around, I am making a muslin or two before cutting into my good fabric. I've never done that before due to over eager desires to wear it NOW. The downside is I am always a bit let down that I didn't S L O W down and tweak the pattern to fit me. 

Waterfall Blouse by Make It Perfect

(Yes, the model/designer is expecting and NO this is not a maternity specific pattern.)

I like how the yoke is a bit fitted but the body of the blouse is loose. I like loose and flowy and comfy. I am on my 4th muslin yoke and it is just about right. One more tweak, and I'll be ready to break out my cute batik fabric. I have two other fabric choices lined up after my first one is made. 

I also have lotsa lotsa dresses and shorts to make for the kiddos at Welcome Home in Uganda. Super yay!  I love sewing for them. I have several boys wishing for more lion-ee shorts. I will most certainly oblige those cuties.

Boy Shorts pattern from TieDyeDiva

Oh these five were so happy to wear their new shorts. There's about 20+ MORE BOYS. Eeek. Anyone want to help sew with me? The only thing I did not do when making these shorts is add the pocket. They are hard are their clothing, the washers are hard on their clothes, and boys + pockets = treasures that will get washed and potentially damage the washers at the home. This is a wonderfully made pattern in all respects.

Come on Summer!

Purple people

I downloaded 1,400 pictures from my iphone the other day. Yes.

I found a few I wanted to put up here. This was a science experiment during the Fantastic Firsties' Valentine party. I love working at the same school where my children attend. I can sneak over and play almost at any time.

These two hooligans love their teacher. I am quite impressed with her myself. She is highly creative, patient, and fun. The high schoolers "fight" over who gets to assist in her class during the day. That says something!

Water + oil + food coloring + alka seltzer = this lovely gas bubble concoction. The boys poured all ingredients in themselves. 

Teamwork. Science rocks.

springing

If all appearances are correct, spring is here in S. Texas. Sun. Exquisite weather. Breezes. Lots of creative energy coarsing through my veins.

 

My scraggly little bush produces the sweetest rose buds ever. The roses themselves are lovely, but it's the buds I like best. Watching the petals unfurl is kind of exciting. Weird? In my reading this a.m. before church. I love Isaiah.

Happy Springing...one more week then SPRING BREAK. Guess what I'll be doing? Sleeping in! Those two words are a delight.

hello sparkle.

Long work day. Wee frustrating god's eye project...however, my middle schoolers are doing a decent job. They listened and worked as we sat on the floor of the art room sans tables. Our tables were hijacked for TAPPS competition on Monday. Needless to say, I had to stay late getting tables organized and labeled for art pieces and making a still life for on-site drawing.

I got us all home. Walked straight to the kitchen to do the lunch box dump and saw this...

hello sparkle. I just love it when things like this sneak up on you, when the sun blazes through our kitchen window and glitz shimmers on our little pass through. Wow. Serious happiness.

honestly. I took two photos of the same thing just in case I needed an extra dose of sunshine.

Then. Kerplop. {Oh look, Mr. UT.} I'll be here if you need me. Don't expect me to get up. 

Happy Sparkle.

QuiltCon

Headed to Austin for the day to gawk at all the wonderful quilts showcased at QuiltCon.

I made a super cute pillowcase at the Million Pillowcase Challenge which gives pillowcases locally (Dell Children's Hospital) to kids in need of some cheer. I love that!

One of my favorite quilts by Krista Fleckenstein.

Maura Rose made this star quilt. I believe she's an Austinite...she makes her dyes from nature.

pink and yellow tulips.

TULIPS! 

 

I usually do not like realizing I forgot the MEAT portion of our meal and having to book it to the store during the dinner hour rush. However! I thought to my little ol' self, "I wonder if tulips are in today?" Ta-dah! They were.

Did I mention I have a baby chair?

Um! Ohmygoodness, I fell in love with this baby chair over a week ago, and I played my thrifting trick ... "If it's still there when I get paid, I'll buy it." YES! SCORE! I love the shade of green and it's from the '40s. Hello '40s! I'm in my '40s, so why wouldn't I love something FROM the '40s? Cha-ching.