Before and After (aka, what I did today!)

Our great neighbors gave us these chairs a while back. While they are very sturdy and great chairs, they needed some desperate TLC. Today I thought I'd update one of them for my craft room. A $3 can of spray paint and a piece of already-owned fabric later, and I have a rockin' new chair!


Before shot


Spray painting away...


Taking off the staples


Tools of the trade


Ta-da!!


Isn't it cute? I got the fabric years ago at a store in Portland. I'm so glad I kept it for this project!

FUNemployment Update

Cadence is 4!
Well, today marks the first real week of my unemployment. How have I spent the morning so far? Yelling at my chickens. Yes, you heard that right. One of my girls (I think it's Rafiki) seems to think she's a rooster. That, or she's just very vocal. Every time another hen gets ready to lay an egg in the nest, she marches up into the coop and yells/crows at them. Maybe she's jealous they are laying an egg? Maybe she just wants them to play with her? I'm not sure, but it's getting annoying. Almost makes me wanna make chicken soup. I mean, I have 3 more adorable chicks just waiting for a spot in the chicken mansion. Rafiki better shape up or she's gonna make a nice coq au vin!

In other news, I signed up for the dole today. Marie graduated from medical school, and Cadence had a birthday party on Sunday (more pics to come). I took a fun workshop at Papersource on Saturday with my friend Marcelle (read about that here). I'm filled with so much crafting inspiration it's making me antsy. Which leads me to the task for the day: clean up the neglected craft room. I can't seem to produce anything in a messy space. Ready, set, GO!

The end of an era....

So folks, today's the day. My last day here at the NWP. I've been here for 3 and a half years, and I have to say, it's a pretty bittersweet goodbye. I've learned so much here and have made so many incredible friends from across the country. I've been inspired by teachers who are deep in the trenches, serving kids (our future) with passion. I've also had wild nights with these teachers - from 4am snack runs in cabs to running to catch a flight because we're late, and many (many!) shenanigans in between. Thanks for that, friends!

I'm so so excited about the next chapter of my life. There's lots of things in the works, and a summer full of fun and sun as well. As the great rapper Tupac says, "life goes on!" Yes,it will!

Staff retreat...what??

TLN ladies in Little Rock, AR

Me in Tubac, AZ

Silly in Austin

Spike and I in DC

Babies galore at the staff picnic

Pig races in Montana

Best boss ever

My first (and probably only) trip to Disneyworld

BBQ in Austin with Babs

Paul Oh (my work husband) and I in Boston

Kareen and I at the Christmas gift exchange

Casey and I in Kansas City

Summer sewing

How About Orange has compiled a list of skirt tutorials for ladies and little girls. I think my favorite is this one by Angry Chicken. She says it takes 5 minutes, but it'll probably take me a few hours. We'll see!!

The awkward stage

It's true - my babies are growing up so fast! Only 2 weeks ago, our new chicks were cute little fluff balls...


And now, they are awkward teens...






They are named (in no particular order...) American Honey (or Moscato or Christy Swanson), Lemonade Cookie, and Ginger.

Outdoor Inspiration

If you've been reading my blog recently, you probably know that I've been prepping the soil and growing starters in anticipation for an awesome garden this summer. Paul and I have spent the last week digging, tilling, and planting. I will post those pics this weekend, but in the meantime, here's an inspiration board I created for my dream outdoor set up. Now granted, I'll never have the money to purchase this stuff, but I can still dream, right? (click on image to see a bigger version).


Everything is from CB2 and Crate & Barrel

Tea towels!

Whip up has compiled a list of resources on how to make your own tea towels here. This sounds like a fun project I could do this summer. Maybe screen print my chickens on towels? What would you do?

Birthday ideas

My adorable niece Cadence's birthday is coming up, and although we already picked something up for her at Makerfaire, I really want to make one of these for her. You can get the free tutorial at Grosgrain. Check it out!

Makerfaire Recap

Here are some of my favorite shots from Makerfaire. I'm so glad that Paul and I made the trek to San Mateo. There were so many cool demonstrations, crafts and talks, and I left feeling inspired by so many things. We had the greatest time, and can't wait until next year!

hand knit breakfast hat!

Diner doggies

train that went around the fairgrounds

Marshmellow man made out of Legos

The view in Expo hall

Paul chowing down on a polish sausage

Drummers big and small

Makerfaire!

Makerfaire is coming to the bay area this weekend - wahoo! Paul and I are so excited to go again this year (here's my recap from last year). I'm excited to be around so many creative people, to browse the Bizarre Bazaar, to attend a panel discussion on "Crafting your Online Presence" (for makers of all kinds of things!) and meet the folks that run Dog Island Farm, an urban farm in Vallejo! I'll be taking lots of pics and notes, in hopes that this stirs my creativity for things to do post-NWP (last day is June 1 - it's coming up fast).

There's also a workshop on urban goats...sign me up!!

Summer of crafting

It looks like I'll be watching my niece this summer while looking for a job - wahoo! I love my niece and I can't wait. I have lots of plans for us - going to the beach, gardening, crafting, swimming, napping...etc. etc. While making a list of the cool things we could do this summer, I spotted a great list of kids crafts on thelongthread.com. Check out the link here!

Almost time to transplant!

Here they are, (most of) my starts - almost ready to transplant outside!
On the windowsill - tomatoes (4 varieties), cosmos, sunflowers, jalepenos, bell peppers, cucumbers, and an unknown squash






Still to come: beets, peas, lettuce and carrots!

Newest additions!

I have the best husband - really. I've been wanting to get new chicks for our mansion chicken coop, but thought I should put it off until after June 1 (my layoff date) since I'll have more time to give to them. However, much to my surprise, Paul got me 3 new girls yesterday! In addition to our 3 Plymouth Barred Rocks, we now have a White Leghorn, a Buff Orpington, and a Rhode Island Red. They are 4 days old today!





I'm in Kansas City right now for my last NWP event, but I can't wait to get home and snuggle with these ladies!

Pickling Carrots

Another sweet thing I got for my birthday was a book of labels to use for homemade food items (i.e. canning jars, cookie bags, goodies, etc):


I figured I'd put them to good use and pickle some carrots! (they are super yummy and great as a snack or in bloody mary's):

Carrots cut and in the jars

Grinding mustard seeds, salt and peppercorns with garlic

The finished product - 3 days in the fridge and they are ready to eat!